The present invention relates generally to containers for powder. More specifically, the present invention relates to a container for cosmetic powder having an integrated applicator.
Powder is a solid substance in the form of tiny loose particles. Powder that is used for application on the human body, especially the face, is known as cosmetic powder.
Cosmetic powder is mainly available in two forms—compressed or compact, and loose. Compressed cosmetic powder has a consistent solid cake form and it is usually packaged in flat-shaped compact cases. Typically, the case also includes a puff or a brush to help a user to apply the powder. A puff is a soft applicator device made from fluffy or deformable fibers. Whereas, a brush is an applicator device with a tuft of hair or bristles that is firmly attached to a holder. The puff or brush is rubbed over the compact powder surface to loosen some surface powder. The loosened powder sticks to the applicator device, which is then applied to the face.
However, loose powder as the name suggests, is loose and therefore it must be specially contained to avoid its spilling. Conventionally, loose powder is contained in a dispenser with a multiplicity of perforations on one end of the dispenser. A cap is provided to seal the perforations and to prevent spilling of the powder. For application, the cap is removed and the powder is shaken out of the perforations directly onto a puff, or into a dish from which it is picked up by a puff or a brush. This may lead to a waste of powder in case when excess powder is dispensed than what is required for application. Additionally, the loose powder may fall out from the perforations into the cap during handling or transportation of the powder dispenser resulting in a mess when the cap is removed.
Moreover, an applicator is required to be carried separately. This results in extra space requirements in order to store the applicator. If not handled appropriately, the applicator may also be deformed.
It is apparent from the above discussion that there is a need for a powder container having an integrated applicator and which addresses the stated shortcomings.
The shortcomings set forth above are addressed by the present invention which is a loose powder container including a brush for application of the powder.
It is an object of the invention to provide a loose powder container comprising an applicator brush, so that a user is not required to carry an applicator separately.
Another object of the invention is to provide a container for loose powder and a brush integrated with the container, so that a user may directly use the brush to apply the powder from the container without the need to dispense the powder onto an external surface.
Still another object of the invention is to provide a loose powder container which incorporates an apparatus to prevent the spilling of the loose powder during handling of the container.
Yet another object of the invention is to provide an apparatus to protect the bristles of the brush from being deformed resulting from continuous contact with its surroundings.
Yet another object of the invention is to provide an ergonomic powder applicator.
The present invention is a container for loose powder having an integrated applicator brush. The container comprises a receptacle and a cap. The receptacle stores powder and also includes a perforated panel through which powder can be picked up for application. The cap securely seals the receptacle through a sealing means. The cap also has a brush integrated into the cap and a rotational means to effect the protrusion and retraction of the brush. The cap is further comprised of an upper section and a lower section such that the upper section and the lower section are aligned with respect to each other in an initial position. In this initial position, the brush is in a retracted state in the cap. A user can remove the cap from the receptacle and rotate the upper section with respect to the lower section of the cap in a first direction to misalign the two sections. This misalignment of the upper section and the lower section in the first direction results in the brush to protrude from the cap. The brush is completely protruded once the upper section and the lower section are re-aligned at 180 degrees in the first direction. The user can then twirl the fully protruded brush inside the receptacle over the perforated panel to pick powder for application. Once the powder has been applied using the protruded brush, the upper section is rotated in the reverse direction to align with the lower section in the initial position, in which position the brush is completely retracted into the cap. The cap is then screwed onto the receptacle.
The various features and advantages of the present invention will be appreciated, as they become better understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein:
The present invention provides a container for loose powder. The powder container includes a cap that securely seals the container through a sealing apparatus. The cap is split into two sections which are aligned with respect to each other in an initial position. A brush is integrated into at least one of the sections of the cap, thereby eliminating the need for a user to carry a powder applicator separately. Once the cap has been unscrewed from the container, an upper section of the cap can be rotated with respect to a lower section of the cap to extend or protrude the brush so that the user may apply the powder using the protruded brush.
In accordance with an embodiment, a rotation complete indicator 204 is provided on the cap, which indicates the direction in which the user should rotate upper section 110 with respect to lower section 108. Further, rotation complete indicator 204 only permits the upper section 110 and the lower section 108 to be rotated for alignment and realignment to the extent of approximately 180 degrees and prevents further rotation between the two sections. In accordance with an embodiment of the cap, a stopper between upper section 110 and lower section 108 can prohibit further rotation of upper section 110 in the direction of its rotation, once upper section 110 is aligned with lower section 108 at 180 degrees.
Bottom disc 302 provides the base for outer jar 304 on which outer jar 304 can be positioned. In accordance with an embodiment, bottom disc 302 is made from Polypropylene or other suitable material. Bottom disc 302 can be detached from outer jar 304 to fill outer jar 304 with powder. Thus in accordance with an embodiment, bottom disc 302 affords a refilling apparatus for the loose powder container of the present invention.
Outer jar 304 is filled with powder and serves as the container for the powder. In accordance with an embodiment, outer jar 304 can be a pot-shaped circular jar with vertical sides and a narrow opening on the top. The shape of the outer jar 304 has been described in detail in conjunction with
Outer jar 304 includes an inner jar 306 which is detachable from outer jar 304. Inner jar 306 is circular and has curved concave side walls. In accordance with an embodiment, inner jar 306 is made of Polypropylene or any suitable material. The bottom of inner jar 306 is substantially flat and includes perforations like a sieve. The perforations enable the powder in outer jar 304 to be picked through inner jar 306 by twirling brush 202 in it. In accordance with an embodiment, inner jar 306 includes the perforated panel of the receptacle 104 and through which powder can be picked up by brush 202. The shape of inner jar 306 has been described in further detail in conjunction with
The various components which are comprised in cap 106 are now described. As described in conjunction with
Seal disc 308 is attached to lower cap 310. In accordance with an embodiment seal disc 308 may be made of polypropylene. Seal disc 308 is a circular disc with a concentric hollow circle in its center. The concentric hollow circle is preferably surrounded by a circular and vertical wall with vertically protruding channels on two opposite sides. The hollow circular center of seal disc 308 enables a brush to pass through seal disc 308 to inner jar 306. The circular and vertical wall acts as a protective collar for the brush and its bristles. The brush protector collar protects the bristles of the brush from deformation when the brush protrudes and retracts. The vertically protruding channels on the circular and vertical wall enable seal disc 308 to permanently fit itself inside the inner wall of lower cap 310. The inner wall of lower cap 310 also includes hollow vertical channels to fit the protruding channels of seal disc 308.
Lower cap 310 is circular in shape and configured such that it fits onto the narrow opening on the top of outer jar 304. In accordance with an embodiment, lower cap 310 has helical grooves on the bottom part of its inner wall. These helical grooves cooperate or interface with the lower cap 310 with outer jar 304 to enable the sealing and opening of the powder container. However, the invention should not be construed to be limited to the use of interlocking helical grooves as the sealing apparatus means for the powder container. Other commonly known mechanisms can also be used for the purpose.
In accordance with an embodiment, lower cap 310 has a narrower shape on its top and widens towards its bottom. Also, in an embodiment, lower cap 310 is oval and flat in shape towards its top. Further, lower cap 310 is hollow in shape to allow a brush to pass through lower cap 310 into inner jar 306. In addition, the inner part of the flat top of lower cap 310 includes opposite pair of vertical hollow channels. These channels provide a mechanism to fit brush holder 312 to lower cap 310. In accordance with an embodiment lower cap 310 may be made of Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene (ABS).
Brush holder 312 has a circular base with a hollow circular center. Outer walls of the circular base have a pair of opposite protruding channels that fit into the vertical hollow channels of the flat top of lower cap 310. The hollow circular center of brush holder 312 is surrounded by a vertically protruding wall. The inner side of the vertically protruding wall holds the brush. The outer side of the vertically protruding wall of brush holder 312 has a pair of opposite protruding notches. These notches fit inside sliding channels on the vertical walls of center bar 314. In accordance with an embodiment brush holder 312 may be made of polypropylene.
Center bar 314 is a cylindrical device which has a spiral-shaped hollow channel on its wall. In accordance with an embodiment center bar 314 may be made of Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene (ABS). Protruding notches of brush holder 312 are engaged in the hollow channel. Center bar 314 is further attached to upper cap 316. Upper cap 316 is configured in an oval shape to match the shape of the upper part of lower cap 310. Upper cap 316 can be rotated with respect to lower cap 310. The brush is fixed to the inner top part of upper cap 316. In an embodiment, the inner top part of upper cap 316 is flat. The brush fixed inside upper cap 316 passes through center bar 314 and brush holder 312. In accordance with an embodiment upper cap 316 may be made of Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene (ABS).
The operation of the powder container for application of the powder is described hereafter in accordance with the embodiment described in
In accordance with an embodiment, the diameter of the broad top side of inner jar 306 is approximately 36.6 mm and that of its narrow bottom side is less than approximately 35 mm. Also, in accordance with an embodiment, the height of inner jar 306 is approximately 23.04 mm. However, all the dimensions of inner jar 306 should not be construed to be limited to the numbers mentioned above. These dimensions may vary with other embodiments.
In accordance with another embodiment of the invention, inner jar 306 is covered with a protective disc. Protective disc seals the perforations in inner jar 306 to prevent the spilling of the powder from the receptacle during handling or transportation of the powder container. The protective disc should be removed to apply the powder from the powder container in accordance with the various embodiments of the invention. In accordance with an embodiment, the protective disc may be made from polypropylene. An exemplary protective disc 602 is illustrated in
While various embodiments of the present invention have been illustrated and described, it will be clear that the present invention is not limited to these embodiments only. Numerous modifications, changes, variations, substitutions and equivalents will be apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention as described in the claims.
Number | Name | Date | Kind |
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6474346 | Jang | Nov 2002 | B1 |
6764239 | Kim | Jul 2004 | B2 |
6799582 | Kim | Oct 2004 | B2 |
6883990 | Shih | Apr 2005 | B2 |
20080092916 | Song | Apr 2008 | A1 |
Number | Date | Country | |
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20080060674 A1 | Mar 2008 | US |