Patent Application
20130243513
The present invention relates to packaging for a consumer healthcare product, such as a skin care product, and a complementary applicator for the skin care product associated with such packaging. More particularly, the present invention relates to packaging for a consumer healthcare product with an applicator configured to mate with and to be coupled to such packaging.
Various products, such as cleaning products (e.g., for articles such as upholstery, floors, cars, or for humans, such as skin, teeth, hair), are advantageously used with an applicator that is used to apply the product to a surface. Such applicators may conveniently be sold with the packaging for the products with which the applicator is intended to be used. For additional convenience, such applicators may be coupled to the packaging so that the applicator remains with the packaging when stored for future use. Thus, the applicator for a particular product remains with the packaging for the product and is available for use with the product as desired.
An applicator for a product which preferably is used with such applicator may be coupled to the packaging for such product in any of a variety of manners. For instance, as shown in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,008,164 to Herman et al. and 3,565,541 to Vallis, a brush type applicator may be coupled to a container (such as a receptacle or can) containing the product to be applied with such brush via coupling arms (such as spring fingers or arms of a clamping sleeve) which extend greater than halfway around the circumference of the container. The combination dispenser and cleaning brush of U.S. Pat. No. 2,257,606 to Herbert has a brush applicator that is mounted to the cap of the container. The container in these applicator/packaging combinations may be used as a handle for the applicator, the applicator remaining coupled to the container during use. The applicators of these patents are each maintained on the exterior of a container for use as needed. It will be appreciated, however, that the applicators of these packaging/applicator combinations are generally not intended for individual use separate from the packaging. Accordingly, these packaging/applicator combinations are not particularly suited for use with products that preferably are applied with fine control, such as applicators that are to be manipulated with the user's fingers rather than being gripped in the palm of the user's hand.
Product containers that are specifically shaped to removably receive a portion of an applicator for applying the product in the container are also known in the art. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,558,453 to Bell et al. shows a container that has grooves specifically designed to receive portions of the applicator handle. And, U.S. patent D623,077 illustrates a container with a recess for receiving a scrub pad. The applicator accompanying both of these packagings may be removed, as desired, from the container to apply product from the container to a surface, and may be returned to coupled engagement with the container for storage. As may be appreciated, both of these applicator/packaging combinations have custom-shaped containers that are uniquely configured to receive a portion of the applicator selected to apply the product therein. Formation of containers to accommodate an applicator may result in increased overall container size to compensate of the loss of container volume resulting from the mating feature for receiving at least a portion of the applicator. Additionally, the applicators of these applicator/packaging combinations are uniquely shaped for mating with a particular container, and are not designed for being coupled to a stock container (i.e., one that is not custom-made for coupling with the applicator). Thus, added costs may be incurred for custom designing both the applicator and the container.
In accordance with principles of the present invention, a consumer healthcare product is contained within packaging that is configured to mate with and thereby to be coupled with an applicator for such consumer healthcare product. In accordance with one embodiment, the applicator is configured to mate with and thereby to be coupled with at least a portion of the packaging. Such container may have a substantially rigid element, and such applicator may be configured to be coupled with such rigid element in a substantially secure manner. In one embodiment, the container portion of the packaging is a tube and the rigid element of the packaging is a cap. The applicator in such embodiment has arms that extend around the cap to couple the applicator to the cap in a substantially secure manner.
The portion of the packaging to which the applicator (for applying the contents of the packaging) may be coupled advantageously may be a stock item that is not customized for the applicator. Instead, the applicator is customized for the stock item. As used herein, the term “stock” item is to be understood as one of ordinary skill in the art would understand such term, i.e., as an item which is commonly made for inventory (and stored until desired by a consumer for purchase) as well as for immediate sale to any of a variety of customers. As such, stock items are typically frequently ordered items, whether sold to one or many customers, and may be available from various sources as well (since the shape is not necessarily unique and therefore often not proprietary). A stock item may be contrasted with a non-stock item which is not manufactured for general purchase and stored, but, rather, is procured or made when needed, such as a custom-made or made-to-order item made according to a particular purchaser's specifications. Because various stock packaging for consumer healthcare products and the like exist, whereas applicators for the particular consumer healthcare product may have more particular specifications and thus require customization, the use of stock packaging (or at least a portion of the packaging) simplifies manufacture and reduces costs of a combined packaging and applicator formed in accordance with principles of the present invention by reducing the number of customized components by at least one.
In accordance with a separate and independent aspect of the present invention which may advantageously be applied to the applicator of the above-described packaging and applicator combination, an applicator may be formed with arm elements configured to facilitate holding and stabilizing of the applicator during use. Such arms may also advantageously be shaped and configured to couple the applicator to the packaging. In one embodiment, the applicator may further be ergonomically formed by having an ergonomically configured applicator head shaped and configured to receive a user's finger to optimally use the applicator to apply the consumer healthcare product contained within the packaging to which the applicator may be advantageously coupled.
These and other features and advantages of the present invention will be readily apparent from the following detailed description of the invention, the scope of the invention being set out in the appended claims.
The detailed description will be better understood in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference characters represent like elements, as follows:
An exemplary embodiment, formed in accordance with principles of the present invention, of a packaging 100 for a product, such as a consumer healthcare product (e.g., skin care, wound care, oral care, hair care, etc.), and an accompanying applicator 200 for applying such product is illustrated in
Container 102 may be any type of container suited for containing a consumer healthcare product (e.g., a skincare product, a wound care product, an oral care product, a hair care product, etc.). Preferably, as discussed in further detail below, container 102 is a stock item available to the general public for purchase on demand and does not have any particular features uniquely designed to receive, to mate with, or otherwise to be coupled with an applicator. For instance, exemplary container 102 of
Closure 104 may be any type of closure which suitably closes the dispensing end of container 102 to maintain the product therein. Like container 102, closure 104 preferably also is a stock item, as well known in the art, and may be any type of closure such as, without limitation, a threaded or snap-on cap (which typically is completely removed from container 102 to dispense product from container 102) or a flip-top cap (such as with a living hinge to maintain the cap coupled with the packaging even when the cap is in an open configuration to allow for dispensing of product from container 102).
Proximal end 202 of exemplary applicator 200 of
In accordance with principles of the present invention, applicator 200 is shaped and configured to be coupled with at least a portion of packaging 100, and preferably to be maintained in coupled engagement with packaging 100. In one embodiment, applicator 200 is shaped and configured specifically to mate with (e.g., by corresponding in shape or other features to result in coupling of applicator 200 and packaging 100) at least a portion of packaging 100 and to be coupled therewith. In the embodiment of
As noted above, in accordance with one aspect of the present invention, applicator 200 preferably is shaped and configured based on a common, stock packaging (such term as may be understood by one of ordinary skill in the art as defined above, i.e., as a standard item that has not be formed, shaped, configured, or otherwise manufactured with any particular customer specifications and therefore does not have any specific feature shaped or configured for receiving or otherwise being coupled with an applicator or other element) which is not specifically shaped, configured, formed, or otherwise customized for use in the present invention. Examples of such stock include but not limited to tube, bottle or any other container along with its complementary closures, suitable for liquid or cream based materials and currently commonly available to the general public for purchase. Instead, coupling element 210 of applicator 200 is specifically shaped and configured to be coupled to at least a portion of packaging 100. In the exemplary embodiment of
It will be appreciated that use of a stock closure does not limit the shape of closure 104 to have a particular shape or configuration or outer surface selected to mate with or complement applicator 200, coupling element 210 of applicator 200 being shaped and configured to conform to closure 104 for coupling therewith. Preferably, coupling element 210 is shaped and configured for coupling to closure 104 from any side of closure 104. Coupling element 210 may be shaped to accommodate protrusions or recesses, such as living hinges, grooves, crevices or ridges for facilitating grasping of closure 104 (such as to open a flip-top cap), yet still engage with the outer surface of closure 104 to be coupled thereto. In the exemplary embodiment illustrated in
Preferably, for reasons as will become evident, a closure with a substantially symmetrical cross-sectional shape (at least about one plane in which a longitudinal axis L of packaging 100 lies) is selected for design of a complementary-shaped coupling element 210. For example, closure 104 may have a circular cross-section and may generally be readily available for purchase from any one of a number of suppliers (i.e., a closure 104 is a stock closure with circular cross-section). It will be appreciated that closures of other standard shapes may be used instead, applicator 200, particularly coupling element 210, being adapted for coupling with the stock closure 104. For instance, a closure with an oval or square cross-sectional shape may be used.
In an embodiment in which packaging 100 has a rigid as well as a flexible element (such as packaging 100 of the embodiment of
As illustrated in the embodiment of
In the exemplary embodiment illustrated in
In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, which may be applied separately from or in conjunction with any of the other aspects of the present invention (described herein, either above or below), coupling element 210 may comprise one or more elements that not only couple applicator 200 to packaging 100, but also facilitate use of applicator 200. Advantageously, exemplary coupling arms 214a, 214b preferably may be shaped and configured to facilitate grasping or manipulation of applicator 100 during use, and, specifically, may be ergonomically shaped and configured for optimal comfort during use. As such, coupling element 210 define a receiving area 215 (e.g., an area between coupling arms 214a, 214b) shaped and dimensioned to receive at least a portion of packaging 100 or at least a portion of a user's hand. It will be appreciated that the manner of using applicator 100 (and thus the portion of the user's hand to be received in receiving area 215 of coupling element 210) typically depends on the product contained within packaging 100 and which applicator 100 is intended to apply. For instance, if packaging 100 contains a skin care product such as a facial product (e.g., a scrub or exfoliator or acne product or other product intended to be applied with a brush), then applicator 100 may be sized for grasping with the user's hand, and, typically with the user's fingers (in contrast with being held in the palm of the user's hand). As such, coupling arms 214a, 214b preferably are sized and shaped for comfortable grasping with the user's fingers. For instance, coupling arms 214a, 214b may be sized and shaped to extend about one or more fingers, such as the user's index finger, with one arm being grasped between such finger and the adjacent thumb and the other arm being grasped or stabilized between such finger and the adjacent middle finger. Preferably, for improved handling and manipulation, coupling arms 214a, 214b are sized and shaped to receive only one finger (typically the index finger). One of ordinary skill in the art may readily determine particular dimensions of coupling arms 214a, 214b for grasping with the user's fingers, such as with reference to publicly available anthropometric data, such as the 1988 Anthropometric Survey of U.S. Army Personnel: Summary Statistics Interim Report, Technical Report NATICK/TR-89-027, March 1989, United States Army Natick Research, Development and Engineering Center, Natick, Mass. For instance, average (50th percentile) female index finger width measured at the proximal joint is 1.98 cm, the 5th percentile being 1.78 cm, and the 95th percentile being 2.20 cm; average (50th percentile) female finger width measured at the distal joint is 1.72 cm, the 5th percentile being 1.54 cm, and the 95th percentile being 1.94 cm; and the average (50th percentile) female index finger circumference measured at the distal joint is 5.09 cm, the 5th percentile being 4.77 cm, and the 95th percentile being 5.40 cm. Average (50th percentile) male index finger width measured at the proximal joint is 7.17 cm, the 5th percentile being 6.79 cm, and the 95th percentile being 7.75 cm; average (50th percentile) male finger width measured at the distal joint is 2.39 cm, the 5th percentile being 2.19 cm, and the 95th percentile being 2.64 cm; and average (50th percentile) male index finger circumference measured at the distal joint is 5.72 cm, the 5th percentile being 5.48 cm, and the 95th percentile being 6.03 cm. It will be appreciated that if a stock closure is used, the size of stock closure is preferably selected to permit formation of an applicator 200 with a coupling element 210 with the desired dimensions and shapes to facilitate grasping or manipulation of applicator 100 during use in accordance with this aspect of the present invention. Preferably, the space formed between coupling arms 214a, 214b is at least approximately 1.94 cm and up to approximately 2.585 cm in diameter, fitting 95% of the female and male index fingers and thus permitting users to have increased control of applicator 200 during use to target specific areas (e.g., of the face) while applying just right force (to apply the product and also to reduce pain and irritation as a result of the force of application). Preferably, coupling arms 214a, 214b are symmetrical for equally comfortable right or left handed use.
It will be appreciated that the flexibility or rigidity of coupling arms 214a and 214b is not critical to the invention so long as coupling arms 214a and 214b function to couple applicator 200 to packaging 100. In particular, the rigidity or flexibility of coupling arms 214a and 214b preferably is selected so that applicator 200 remains coupled to packaging 100 when packaging 100 is transported or otherwise moved. In addition, applicator 200 should be removable from packaging 100 for use, as desired, separate from packaging 100. If desired, coupling arms 214a and 214b may be flexible so that when a user's finger or fingers are inserted in receiving area 215 to use applicator 200, coupling arms 214a and 214b may be flexed to increase user comfort in grasping applicator 200.
According to a further aspect of the present invention, which may be applied with any or all or none of the above-described aspects of the present invention, distal end 204 of applicator 200 may be specifically shaped and configured for application of finger pressure thereto for application of the product contained within packaging 100. Thus, in accordance with this aspect of the present invention, applicator 200 may be a finger applicator configured to be implemented by application of a user's finger thereto to use applicator 200 to apply a material to a surface. As may be appreciated, it may be desirable to form a finger applicator in an ergonomic manner to facilitate application of a finger thereto for manipulation thereof by a user's finger during its ordinary use and typically receives pressure or force applied by a user's finger or fingertip. In particular, in accordance with this aspect of the present invention, user-engaging surface 228 of applicator element 220 is shaped and configured to receive a finger tip, such as an index finger tip. For instance, the curvature of user engaging surface 228 of applicator element 220 may be curved about longitudinal axis LA of applicator 200 to complement the curvature of average fingers or fingertips. According to the above-noted Anthropometric Survey, the average (50th percentile) circumference of a female index finger measured at the distal joint is 50.8 mm, the 5th percentile being 47.752 mm, the 25th percentile being 49.53 mm, the 75th percentile being 58.42 mm, and the 95th percentile being 53.848 mm; and the average (50th percentile) width of a female index finger measured at the distal joint is 17.272 mm, the 5th percentile being 15.494 mm, the 25th percentile being 16.51 mm, the 75th percentile being 18.034 mm, and the 95th percentile being 19.558 mm. The average (50th percentile) circumference of a male index finger measured at the distal joint is 57.15 mm, the 5th percentile being 54.864 mm, the 25th percentile being 56.134 mm, the 75th percentile being 52.07 mm, and the 95th percentile being 60.198 mm; and the average (50th percentile) width of a male index finger measured at the distal joint is 17.78 mm, the 5th percentile being 20.07 mm, the 25th percentile being 19.05 mm, the 75th percentile being 21.082 mm, and the 95th percentile being 22.86 mm.
Preferably, applicator 200 has an extension 206 separating applicator element 220 and coupling element 210, thereby further contributing to the overall ergonomic design of applicator 200. Specifically, if coupling element 210 is shaped and configured to receive a single finger and to be grasped at least between such finger and the user's thumb, and if the fingertip of such single finger is to apply pressure to applicator element 220, then applicator element 220 preferably is spaced apart from coupling element 210 to permit the user's finger to apply fingertip pressure to applicator element 220 and grasp coupling element 220 between a more proximal region of that user's finger and the adjacent user's thumb with the user's finger at least somewhat extended (only partially bent). Extension 206 preferably is sized, shaped, and dimensioned to accommodate comfortably the extent of a user's index finger between the index fingertip and the more proximal region at which the adjacent thumb would comfortably grasp coupling element 210 with such region of the index finger. More particularly, the length of applicator 200 is selected to accommodate a portion of a finger between receiving area 215 of coupling element 210 and user-engaging surface 228 of applicator element 220. One of ordinary skill in the art would be able to determine optimal dimensions with reference to such data as provided in the above-noted Anthropometric Survey (giving the average (50th percentile) length of a female index finger as 6.9 m, the 5th percentile being 6.2 cm, and the 95th percentile being 7.7 m; and the average (50th percentile) length of a male index finger as 7.5 cm, the 5th percentile being 6.7 cm, and the 95th percentile being 8.4 cm). Preferably, the total length of applicator 200 along applicator longitudinal axis LA is at least approximately 4.2 cm and less than approximately 8.4 cm, fitting 95% of the female index fingers and thus permitting users to have increased control of applicator 200 during use to target specific areas (e.g., of the face) while applying just right force (to apply the product and also to reduce pain and irritation as a result of the force of application).
When an ergonomically configured finger applicator is formed with ergonomically-shaped coupling arms 214a, 214b for grasping coupling element 210 during use, an overall advantageously ergonomic applicator 200 is formed. It will be appreciated that the inner, packaging-facing surfaces of applicator 200 are not necessarily shaped or configured to facilitate coupling of applicator 200 to packaging 100. Accordingly, ergonomic configurations of any part of applicator 200 generally do not interfere with the above-described aspect of the present invention of coupling or mating applicator 200 (and particularly coupling element 210 of applicator 200) with packaging 100.
In one embodiment formed in accordance with various aspects of the present invention described above, packaging 100 is a tube containing a consumer healthcare product such as a skin care product, and applicator 200 has a brush type applicator element 220 with bristles properties (e.g., thickness, material, length, etc.) selected for optimal application of the skin care product to a user's face upon application of finger pressure (typically via the user's index finger) to finger-receiving surface 228 of brush type applicator element 220. If desired, the shape of applicator element 220 may be selected to be narrower at the distal-most end to facilitate access of the distal-most end thereof to hard-to-reach areas, such as the corners of the user's nose. As may be appreciated, the configuration of applicator 200 may be altered based on the consumer healthcare product to be contained within packaging 100, and preferably is selected to optimize application of such consumer healthcare product.
It will be appreciated features described with respect to one embodiment typically may be applied to another embodiment, whether or not explicitly indicated. The various features hereinafter described may be used singly or in any combination thereof. Therefore, the present invention is not limited to only the embodiments specifically described herein. The exemplary embodiment illustrated in the figures has several separate and independent inventive features, which each, at least alone, has unique benefits which are desirable for, yet not critical to, the present invention. Therefore, the various separate features of the present invention need not all be present in order to achieve at least some of the desired characteristics and/or benefits of the present invention. One or more separate features may be combined, or only one of the various features need be present in a packaging and applicator set formed in accordance with principles of the present invention.
While the foregoing description and drawings represent exemplary embodiments of the present invention, it will be understood that various additions, modifications and substitutions may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. In particular, it will be clear to those skilled in the art that the present invention may be embodied in other specific forms, structures, arrangements, proportions, and with other elements, materials, and components, without departing from the spirit or essential characteristics thereof. One skilled in the art will appreciate that the invention may be used with many modifications of structure, arrangement, proportions, materials, and components and otherwise, used in the practice of the invention, which are particularly adapted to specific environments and operative requirements without departing from the principles of the present invention. For example, elements shown as integrally formed may be constructed of multiple parts or elements shown as multiple parts may be integrally formed, the operation of elements may be reversed or otherwise varied, the size or dimensions of the elements may be varied. The presently disclosed embodiments are therefore to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, the scope of the invention being indicated by the appended claims, and not limited to the foregoing description. In the claims, the term “comprises/comprising” does not exclude the presence of other elements or steps. Additionally, although individual features may be included in different claims, these may possibly advantageously be combined, and the inclusion in different claims does not imply that a combination of features is not feasible and/or advantageous. In addition, singular references do not exclude a plurality.
