Patent Application
20230263287
The present disclosure relates generally to a refillable container for a stick type cosmetic product.
Stick type cosmetic products such as lipstick for adding color, texture, and protection to the skin has been available in cylindrical metal tubes since 1915.
A user conventionally must buy a stick dispensing container with the stick product, such as for example lipstick, adding significant cost. Since the cost of the lipstick product and dispenser combination is relatively high, a manufacturer may limit the number of lipstick types or lipstick colors to be offered, to avoid an overstock of relatively expensive dispensers containing less popular lipstick colors or shade variations.
Refill containers for consumer products are considered environmental friendly in a way that lesser material is utilized in their manufacturing. These are also economical for the consumers as well as manufacturers. The consumers don't have to spend the same amount of money for the refills while for manufacturers they enable lower consumption of inputs such as raw materials and energy. Various attempts have been made to refine make-up packages such as compacts, lipsticks, etc. to provide an option of refilling the product.
The known refill containers for cosmetic products generally comprise of a refillable container that houses the product which may or may not have a propelling/dispensing mechanism therefore and such refills are then replaced into the refillable container once the product is used by the user. For example, there are available stick product packages which are refillable where a refill cartridge is replaced once the stick is used up by the user.
Most of the refillable packages are available for stick consumer products. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,505,607 to Sugiyama discloses a retractable-type cosmetic container that includes a holder having a cosmetic projecting-retracting means and adapted to be mounted on a manipulating member provided separately from the holder, and a cap closure. An inner tube of the holder is provided at its lower end with an opening of angular shape within which a hollow projection of the manipulating member is detachably engaged for unitary rotation of the member and the inner tube.
Similarly, U.S. Pat. No. 5,399,040 to Holloway discloses a refill cartridge comprising a cosmetic holder including a tubular inner body, a tubular cam sleeve covering tubular inner body, and an elevator cup within inner body and a retaining means is provided to hold the refill and the base member together.
U.S. Pat. No. 9,723,907 B2 to Huang et al. discloses a lipstick dispenser incorporates a screw type catch or magnetic catch that enables replacement of lipstick within the dispenser. Lipstick refills may be installed and removed from the dispenser with an extractor. In another implementation, the dispenser includes a sleeve that is arranged to extent and retract within the dispenser, to provide access to the lipstick for removal and/or installation.
There is still a need for an improved refillable container in which removal and attachment of the refill is simple and easy.
Accordingly, there is provided a refillable container for a stick type cosmetic product comprising a cap, a refill cartridge and a base assembly. The cap is detachably attached to the base assembly. The refill cartridge is configured to be detachably received at least partially within a cavity of the outer shell of the base assembly such that the refill cartridge can be replaced when a stick type cosmetic product held within the refill cartridge is used up by a consumer. The base assembly and the cap are thus retained for re-use, while the refill cartridge can be replaced with a new refill cartridge. The refill cartridge may be removed and replaced from said base assembly by pressing a button member provided in the base assembly.
According to an aspect of the present disclosure, the base assembly comprises an outer shell, the button member, a limiting member, a sliding member and a spring. The outer shell is a body with a sidewall, a bottom wall, an opening at its distal end, and defining the cavity to receive the refill cartridge therein.
According to an aspect of the present disclosure, the outer shell of the base assembly includes features on its outer surface to detachably connect to the cap. In a preferred embodiment, the outer shell comprises at least one bead on its outer surface and the cap includes a corresponding groove at its inner surface for snap fitment. In alternative embodiments, the cap and the outer shell of the base assembly may be removably secured to each other by any other method known in the art.
According to another aspect of the present disclosure, the refill cartridge includes an inner sleeve, a spiral cam sleeve, a carrier cup and an outer sleeve. The inner sleeve comprises an upper cylindrical portion having a cylindrical sidewall, an open top end, a closed bottom wall, and at least one longitudinal slot in the cylindrical sidewall thereof. Further, a tubular projection extends downwardly from an outer surface of the closed bottom wall of the upper cylindrical portion of the inner sleeve. The tubular projection of the inner sleeve comprises a cylindrical distal portion, a cylindrical rim portion and a conical portion. The conical portion is stepped in from the cylindrical rim portion and extends between the cylindrical distal portion and the cylindrical rim portion. The spiral cam sleeve surrounds the upper cylindrical portion of the inner sleeve and is provided with a spiral groove extending throughout the length of said spiral cam sleeve on an inner surface of the spiral cam sleeve. The carrier cup has an actuating pin projecting laterally from an outer surface of said carrier cup. The carrier cup is slidably movable inside said inner sleeve and wherein the actuating pin projects through the longitudinal slot of the inner sleeve engages with said spiral slot of the spiral cam sleeve, whereby turning movement of the inner sleeve relative to the spiral cam sleeve propels the carrier cup towards the open end of the inner sleeve or retract it therefrom. The outer sleeve is tightly surrounding the spiral cam sleeve and holding it in radially compressed condition whereby relative turning movement between the outer sleeve and the spiral cam sleeve is prevented.
After the refill cartridge is assembled with the base assembly, a user holds the outer sleeve, and rotates the outer shell of the base assembly, causing rotation of the inner sleeve, while the spiral cam sleeve remains static. As a result, the actuating pin of the carrier cup moves in the spiral groove of the spiral cam sleeve, driving the carrier cup to move up or down in the inner sleeve.
More particularly, during use, the user rotates the outer shell of the base assembly in a first direction, the carrier cup in an upward direction to expose the cosmetic product in the carrier cup from the opening at the distal end of the inner sleeve.
After use, the user rotates the outer shell in a second direction opposite to the first direction, which causes the carrier cup to move in a downward direction to hide the cosmetic product in the inner sleeve.
In alternate embodiments, other types of retractable operators may be used in place of the cam and slot arrangement which is explained in the present disclosure, such as vertical slide type or push type or any other mechanism known in the art.
According to yet another aspect of the present disclosure, the outer shell of the base assembly comprises at least one sidewall and the bottom wall. An aperture for receiving a portion of the button member is formed in the outer shell at one sidewall. An inner surface of the sidewall of the outer shell comprises an inner step near a distal end portion of the outer shell. A rotation lock portion is provided on the inner surface of the sidewall of the outer shell located above the inner step, and wherein the rotation lock portion comprises a plurality of first ribs, which is evenly distributed in a circumferential direction on the inner surface of the sidewall of the outer shell. Further, an annular cylindrical outer surface which is stepped out from a lower portion of the cylindrical sidewall of the inner sleeve comprises a plurality of second ribs which are evenly distributed in a circumferential direction. The plurality of first ribs of the outer shell engages with the plurality of second ribs of the inner sleeve to prevent the inner sleeve from rotation relative to the outer shell of the base assembly.
According to yet another aspect of the present disclosure, the outer shell of the base assembly is configured to receive the tubular projection of the inner sleeve of the refill cartridge within the cavity of the outer shell below the inner step of the outer shell, while the upper cylindrical portion of the inner sleeve is received within the cavity of the outer shell above the inner step such that the bottom wall of the upper cylindrical portion of the inner sleeve rests on the inner step of the outer shell.
According to yet another aspect of the present disclosure, the button member comprises a button portion and a gripping portion. The gripping portion comprises a pair of arcuate portions opposite to each other in a circumferential direction. When assembled to the outer shell of the base assembly, the button portion is exposed to an outer side through the aperture formed in the sidewall of the outer shell of the base assembly, while the pair of arcuate portions lies within the cavity of the outer shell. The pair of arcuate portions of the button member is elastically deformable. Further, a first end of each of the arcuate portions is connected to an inner surface of the button portion, while a second end of each of the arcuate portions is a free end i.e. each of the pair of arcuate portion comprises a free second end. The free second end of each of the arcuate portions faces each other, and a circumferential gap exists between the free second ends of the arcuate portions. The pair of arcuate portions of the button member is configured to be detachably fitted around the tubular projection, more particularly, around the conical portion of the tubular projection of the inner sleeve. Furthermore, the pair of arcuate portions of the button member includes at least three grip grooves located near the free second ends of the pair of arcuate portions. More particularly, an outer surface of the first arcuate portion includes a first grip groove near its free second end, and an outer surface of the second arcuate portion includes a third grip groove near its free second end. A second grip groove is a discontinuous groove which is partially formed on the first arcuate portion and partially on the second arcuate portion on their respective inner surfaces at the free second end portions, separated by the circumferential gap.
According to yet another aspect of the present disclosure, the sliding member is completely housed inside the outer shell of the base assembly and is slidable within the outer shell. The sliding member comprises a top flat wall and an annular skirt extending downward from a lower surface of the top flat wall of the sliding member. Further, at least one slide groove is formed in the top flat wall of the sliding member at a periphery of the top flat wall of the sliding member. The at least one slide groove of the sliding member is configured to engage a corresponding slide guide protrusion formed on the inner surface at a lower portion of outer shell to guide the sliding member to slide in an axial direction by a predetermined interval within the outer shell of the base assembly.
In a preferred embodiment, the sliding member has four slide grooves and the outer shell comprises corresponding four slide guide protrusions so that stability during a sliding movement may be achieved. However, in various embodiments, the number of slide grooves and slide guide protrusions may be more or less than four.
According to yet another aspect of the present disclosure, the base assembly houses the spring which biases the sliding member in an upward direction and forces the sliding member to slide upward when the spring expands on release of a compression force on it. The spring extends between the inner surface of the bottom wall of the outer shell and the annular skirt of the sliding member.
According to yet another aspect of the present disclosure, base assembly houses the limiting member with the cavity of the outer shell. The limiting member is coupled to the inner surface of the outer shell immediately below the step in the outer shell. The limiting member includes at least a coupling protrusion on an outer surface of the limiting member that snap fits into a corresponding coupling groove provided on the inner surface of the sidewall of the outer shell to secure the limiting member to the outer shell of the base assembly.
According to yet another aspect of the present disclosure, the limiting member has an annular ring like structure, and comprises at least three grip projections namely a first grip projection, a second grip projection and a third grip projection, that extend downwardly from a lower end of the limiting member. The limiting member further includes a concave cut out on the outer surface of the limiting member substantially opposite the at least three grip projections. A first grip projection and a third grip projection flush with the outer surface of the limiting member while the second grip projection flush with an inner surface of the limiting member. The limiting member further includes a positioning groove that extends in axially on the outer surface of the limiting member opposite the second grip projection of the limiting member.
According to an aspect of the present disclosure, the limiting member functions to hold the button member in an axially fixed position inside the outer shell of the base assembly. Further, the button member is mounted below the limiting member inside the outer shell of the base assembly. The at least three grip grooves of the pair of arcuate portions of button member are configured to receive the corresponding at least three grip projections of the limiting member to couple the button member to the limiting member, and wherein at least three grip grooves of the pair of arcuate portions of button member have widths into which at least three grip projections of the limiting member fit. More particularly, the first grip projection and a third grip projection of the limiting member are received respectively in the first grip groove and the third grip groove formed on the outer surface of the arcuate portions of the button member. The second grip projection of the limiting member is received in the second grip groove formed partially on the inner surfaces of the arcuate portions of the button member. Thus, the button member is firmly gripped by the at least three grip projections of the limiting member.
According to yet another aspect of the present disclosure, the inner surface of the sidewall of the outer shell of the base assembly comprises a longitudinal positioning rib that extends from the bottom wall of the outer shell up to the inner step of the outer shell along the sidewall of the outer shell. The positioning longitudinal rib is provided to orient the position of the limiting member within the cavity of the outer shell. Thus, the longitudinal positioning rib engages the positioning groove of the limiting member to orient the limiting member such that the grip projections of the limiting member circumferentially oppose the aperture of the outer shell, and the concave cutout of the limiting member aligns with the aperture of the outer shell. Similarly, the positioning longitudinal rib also orients the button member properly during assembling by engaging between the corresponding gap between the arcuate portions of the button member.
The free second end portions of the arcuate portions of the button member are firmly sandwiched or abut between the second grip projection of the limiting member and the sidewall of the outer shell which increases the installation stability of the button member and also ensures that the button member does not shift axially when the button portion is pressed. In other words, the spring bias the sliding member to slide and push the refill cartridge in an upward discharge position so that the refill cartridge is released from the base assembly.
According to an aspect of the present disclosure, the lower ends of the at least three grip projections of the limiting member define an upper slide limit for the sliding member as it limits further an upward travel movement of the sliding member by abutting the top flat wall of the sliding member. The limiting member thus also prevents the sliding member from getting out of the outer shell by abutting against the top flat wall of the sliding member when the sliding member slides upward.
According to another aspect of the present disclosure, the refill cartridge is inserted into the outer shell of the base assembly, preferably through the opening of the outer shell. On inserting the refill cartridge, the tubular projection of the inner sleeve is received in the cavity of the outer shell, and wherein the pair of arcuate portions of the button member pass over the cylindrical rim portion of the tubular projection of the inner sleeve and engage with the conical portion of the tubular projection which is stepped in from the cylindrical rim portion, thereby preventing the refill cartridge from being pulled out from grip of the pair of arcuate portions of the button member. The button portion of the button member acts as a disengaging means attached with the pair of arcuate portions. By pushing in the button portion, the pair of arcuate portions disengages from the tubular projection of the inner sleeve because of elastic deformation of the pair of arcuate portions. In various embodiments, the button portion and the pair of arcuate portions may or may not be integrally attached.
In a rested state, the pair of arcuate portions form a substantially oval or fusiform cross-section with its major axis substantially larger than a diameter of the cylindrical rim portion of the tubular projection of the inner sleeve and its minor axis is smaller than the diameter of the cylindrical rim portion. When the pair of arcuate portions is elastically deformed by pressing the button portion the pair of arcuate portions deform to attain a substantially circular shape, thus an inner diameter formed by the pair of arcuate portions becomes larger than the diameter of the cylindrical rim portion of the tubular projection of the inner sleeve.
The pair of arcuate portions and the button portion may be made of a resilient material such as resilient metal or a hard and elastic synthetic resin. The button portion is slidably received in the radial aperture formed in the at least one sidewall of the outer shell of the base assembly.
In an unstressed state, the pair of arcuate portions engages the conical portion of the tubular projection of the inner sleeve, keeping the refill cartridge from coming off the outer shell of the base assembly. During locking the refill cartridge with the base assembly, a lower end of the refill cartridge moves the sliding member downwardly to compress the spring. When replacing the refill cartridge, the button portion is pushed in by pressing, the pair of arcuate portions, is compressed from both ends of its major axis and deformed into a substantially circular shape having a larger diameter than the diameter of the cylindrical rim portion of the tubular projection of the inner sleeve. In this state, the pair of arcuate portions, disengages from the conical portion of the tubular projection of the inner sleeve. In other words, when the button portion is pressed so that the pair of arcuate portions, is outwardly expanded and elastically deformed, and the pair of arcuate portions is no longer crimped on the conical portion of the tubular projection of the inner sleeve. When the button portion is pressed and the refill cartridge is in a normally removable position, the spring expands causing the sliding member to slide and push the refill cartridge to assume an extended position thereby the refill cartridge is forcefully ejected from the outer shell of the base assembly. The refill cartridge pops out in a vertical direction providing a visual indication to a user that the refill cartridge is now unlocked from the base assembly and thus the refill cartridge may be easily and quickly removed from the base assembly. In other words, the refill cartridge can be removed from the base assembly simply by pushing in the button portion with one finger. Sliding of the sliding member stops in upward direction when it abuts a lower end of the limiting member. A new refill cartridge now can be inserted in the base assembly. Further, when the finger is released from the button portion, the pair of arcuate portions return to their original oval shape by their own resiliency, restoring their original shapes, and are crimped on the conical portion of the new refill cartridge again, thereby fixing the new refill cartridge.
In an embodiment according to a second embodiment of the present disclosure, a refillable container may include a different mechanism for propelling and retracting the stick type cosmetic or skincare product than disclosed for the first embodiment. According to an aspect of the second embodiment, the refillable container comprises a base assembly, a refill cartridge, and a cap. The base assembly is configured to house and detachably secure at least a lower portion of the refill cartridge. The refill cartridge includes a lifting member, a sleeve member, and a driving member. The base assembly comprises an outer shell and a button member. The rotation of the base member rotates the driving member of the refill cartridge, which in turn contributes to the elevating and lowering operation of the lifting member for exposing and hiding the stick product within the sleeve member. The button member that can be pressed by a user to eject the refill cartridge from the base assembly of the refillable container.
According to an aspect of the second embodiment, the cap is detachably attached to the base assembly by snap-fitment. In alternative embodiments, however, the cap and the outer shell of the base assembly may be removably secured to each other by any other method known in the art.
According to an aspect of the second embodiment, the refill cartridge assembly comes with a temporary dust cover that may be removed after the refill cartridge is assembled with the base assembly. The purpose of the temporary dust cover is to prevent the stick product from being exposed to the external environment and getting contaminated. The temporary dust cover achieves this by covering an upper open end of the sleeve member of the refill cartridge.
According to another aspect of the second embodiment, the outer shell of the base assembly is elongated along a longitudinal direction and includes an upper open end and a closed bottom end. The outer shell further includes at least one sidewall defining an opening at the upper open end of the outer shell and a bottom wall defining the closed bottom end of the outer shell. The sidewall and the bottom wall of the outer shell define the cavity for receiving the refill cartridge. Further, the outer shell has an aperture on the sidewall for receiving and accommodating at least a portion of the button member therein.
According to another aspect of the second embodiment, an annular inner skirt is located within the cavity of the outer shell, the annular inner skirt extends upwards from an inner surface of the bottom wall of the outer shell. The annular inner skirt and the sidewall of the outer shell are aligned coaxially. The annular inner skirt is situated at a radial distance inward from the sidewall of the outer shell. On an upper free edge of the annular inner skirt, there are provided two mounting protrusions. The two mounting protrusions are circumferentially spaced from each other at least 180 degrees apart. Furthermore, there are provided two longitudinal ribs on an inner surface of the sidewall of the outer shell. The two longitudinal ribs extend from a bottom end of the sidewall up to a certain length of the sidewall. The two longitudinal ribs help in positioning and supporting a portion of the button member of the base assembly. The longitudinal ribs are circumferentially spaced apart on the sidewall and are located substantially opposite the aperture of the sidewall of the outer shell. Each of the two longitudinal ribs tapers slightly towards its upper end.
According to yet another aspect of the second embodiment, the button member comprises a button portion and a gripping portion. The gripping portion comprises a pair of arcuate portions opposite each other in a circumferential direction. When the button member is assembled to the outer shell of the base assembly, the button portion is exposed to an outer side through the aperture formed in the outer shell of the base assembly, while the pair of arcuate portions are located inside the cavity of the outer shell. The pair of arcuate portions of the button member are elastically deformable. Further, a first end of each of the arcuate portions is connected to an inner surface of the button portion, while a second end of each of the arcuate portions is a free second end. The free second end of each of the arcuate portions faces each other, and a circumferential gap exists between the free second ends of the arcuate portions. The pair of arcuate portions of the button member are configured to be detachably fitted around the driving member. Further, the pair of arcuate portions of the button member include at least two grip grooves near the free second ends of the pair of arcuate portions. More particularly, an outer surface of the first arcuate portion includes a first grip groove near its free second end, and an outer surface of the second arcuate portion includes a second grip groove near its free second end.
The two longitudinal ribs of the outer shell are configured to orient the position of the pair of arcuate portions of the button member within the cavity of the outer shell. Particularly, each of the two longitudinal ribs engages with one of the grip grooves to orient the button member such that the button member aligns with the aperture of the outer shell.
According to yet another aspect of the second embodiment, the lifting member of the refill cartridge includes a lifting rod of a certain length and a cosmetic cup formed on the upper portion of the lifting rod. The lifting rod has a hollow rectangular rod structure with two curved walls and two flat walls. The two curved walls are opposing each other, and the two flat walls are opposing each other. The flat walls are flat in the vertical direction. Screw threads are formed at the outer surface of the curved walls. Further, a stopper protrusion is formed at a lower end of each of the two flat walls of the lifting rod. The cosmetic cup for carrying a stick product includes a sidewall and a bottom wall with a central opening that communicates with the hollow interior of the lifting rod. The cosmetic cup includes a plurality of axial ribs for anchoring the stick product within the cosmetic cup. The central opening at the bottom wall enables the cosmetic stick product to be bottom filled into the cosmetic cup during a product molding process.
According to yet another aspect of the second embodiment, the driving member of the refill cartridge is configured to be inserted into the cavity of the outer shell and mounted on the annular inner skirt. This driving member is rotated by the rotation of the outer shell. The driving member is a hollow tubular body with a sidewall. A screw thread is formed on the inner surface of an upper portion of the sidewall of the driving member so as to engage the screw threads formed on the curved walls of the outer surface of the lifting member, when the lifting rod of the lifting member is accommodated inside the driving member. In a state where the lifting member is positioned inside the driving member, the lifting member is elevated by the rotation of the driving member.
According to yet another aspect of the second embodiment, the driving member includes two axial protrusions on an outer surface of the sidewall thereof. The two axial protrusions and circumferentially spaced part by 180 degrees on the sidewall. Each of the two axial protrusions extends from a bottom end of the sidewall up to at least ¾th of a length of the driving member. Each of the two axial protrusions includes a mounting groove. The two mounting grooves receive the two mounting protrusions of the annular inner skirt of the outer shell for mounting the driving member on the annular inner skirt in a non-rotatable and detachable manner. The upper ends of the two axial protrusions serve to support lower ends of the pair of arcuate portions by providing an abutment surface for the pair of arcuate portions. This abutment limits the possibility of a downward axial movement of the pair of arcuate portions.
According to yet another aspect of the second embodiment, the sleeve member of the refill cartridge has a sidewall with an open upper end and an open lower end. The sleeve member includes a rotation limiting part that contacts the lifting rod of the lifting member in order to prevent the lifting member from rotating. The rotation limiting part includes an inner transverse wall with an opening located inside the sleeve member. The cosmetic cup is housed inside the sleeve member on an upper side of the inner transverse wall. The inner transverse wall abuts a lower end of the cosmetic cup to limit a downward movement of the cosmetic cup. The opening has two opposing flat edges and two opposing curved edges with a curved shape in contact with the curved walls of the lifting member. In a state in which the lifting member is inserted into the rotation limiting part, the flat edges are in contact with the flat walls of the lifting rod, and the curved edges are in contact with the curved walls of the lifting rod. Accordingly, the lifting rod is not rotated, and the lifting rod is raised and lowered by the rotation of the driving member. However, the lifting rod passes through the opening of the rotation limiting part of the sleeve member while ascending and descending. As the driving member rotates, the lifting rod rises, but the stopper protrusion formed at the lower end of each of the two flat walls of the lifting rod is caught on the flat edges of the rotation limiting part, preventing a complete upward movement of the lifting rod in to upper portion of the sleeve member and preventing the possibility of disengagement of the lifting member with the driving member.
According to yet another aspect of the second embodiment, an annular groove on its outer surface at an upper portion of the sidewall. Further, an inner surface of the sleeve member includes at least one bead on an inner surface of the sidewall of the sleeve member below the rotation limiting part. When the driving member is received inside a lower portion of the sleeve member, the at least one bead of the sleeve member receives the annular groove of the driving member such that the driving member can rotate with respect to the sleeve member. In other words, when the driving member rotates, the sleeve member does not rotate with the driving member.
According to yet another aspect of the second embodiment, the refill cartridge is inserted into the outer shell of the base assembly, preferably through the opening of the outer shell. On inserting the refill cartridge, at least a lower portion of the sleeve member and the driving member are received in the cavity of the outer shell. The pair of arcuate portions, of the button member engage and grip the outer surface of the driving member. In a rested state, when the button is not pressed, the pair of arcuate portions, form a substantially oval or fusiform cross-section with a major axis and a minor axis. The minor axis is smaller than the diameter of the driving member which allows the pair of arcuate portions, to form a grip on the outer surface of the driving member and thus, keep the refill cartridge from coming off the outer shell of the base assembly.
In order to use the stick product in the refillable container of the second embodiment, the user must remove both the cap and the temporary dust cover. More particularly, during use, the user rotates the outer shell of the base assembly in a first direction with respect to the sleeve member, causing the driving member to rotate. The rotation of the driving member causes the lifting member to elevate, and thus, the cosmetic cup moves in an upward direction to expose the stick product from the opening at the open upper end of the sleeve member. After use, the user rotates the outer shell in a second direction opposite to the first direction, which causes the cosmetic cup to move in a downward direction and hide the cosmetic product in the sleeve member. Once the lifting member is lowered, the cap can be placed to cover the refillable container.
According to yet another aspect of the second embodiment, the refill cartridge is configured to be detachably received at least partially within the cavity of the outer shell of the base assembly such that the refill cartridge can be replaced when the stick product held within the refill cartridge is used up by a consumer. The base assembly and the cap are thus retained for re-use, while the refill cartridge can be replaced with a new one. The refill cartridge may be removed and replaced from the base assembly by pressing the button member provided in the base assembly. The button member is secured to the outer shell of the base assembly.
According to yet another aspect of the second embodiment, to replace the refill cartridge, when the pair of arcuate portions is elastically deformed by pressing the button portion, the pair of arcuate portions are compressed from both ends of its major axis and are deformed to attain a substantially circular shape having a larger diameter than the diameter of the driving member. In this state, the pair of arcuate portions disengages from the driving member of the refill cartridge. Thus, the button portion of the button member acts as a disengaging means attached to the pair of arcuate portions. In various embodiments, the button portion and the pair of arcuate portions may or may not be integrally attached. In other words, when the button portion is pressed so that the pair of arcuate portions are outwardly expanded and elastically deformed, and the pair of arcuate portions is no longer crimped on the driving member.
According to yet another aspect of the second embodiment, when the button portion is pressed and the refill cartridge is in a normally removable position, it can be pulled out by the user, and the refill cartridge may be easily and quickly removed from the base assembly. A new refill cartridge can be inserted into the base assembly. Further, when the finger is released from the button portion, the pair of arcuate portions, return to their original oval shape by their own resiliency, restoring their original shapes, and are crimped on the outer surface of the driving member of the new refill cartridge, thereby fixing the new refill cartridge.
The foregoing description, for purposes of explanation, has been described with reference to specific examples. However, the illustrative discussions above are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the disclosure to the precise forms disclosed. Many modifications and variations are possible in view of the above teachings. The examples were chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the disclosure and its practical applications, to thereby enable others skilled in the art to best utilize the disclosure and various examples with various modifications as may be suited to the particular use contemplated.
The above and other objects, features and advantages of the present disclosure will become clear from the following description of the preferred embodiments when the same is read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
So that the manner in which the above recited features of the present disclosure can be understood in detail, a more particular description of the disclosure, briefly summarized above, may be had by reference to embodiments, some of which are illustrated in the appended drawings.
To facilitate understanding, identical reference numerals have been used, where possible, to designate identical elements that are common to the figures. It is to be noted, however, that the appended drawings illustrate only typical embodiments of this disclosure and are therefore not to be considered limiting of its scope, for the disclosure may admit to other equally effective embodiments.
Referring now more in detail to the drawings, and more particularly to
The cap 10 is detachably attached to the base assembly 30. As seen in
In alternative embodiments, the cap 10 and the outer shell 32 of the base assembly 30 may be removably secured to each other by any other method known in the art.
As shown in
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Further as shown in
After the refill cartridge 20 is assembled with the base assembly 30, a user holds the outer sleeve 28, and rotates the outer shell 32 of the base assembly 30, causing rotation of the inner sleeve 22, while the spiral cam sleeve 24 remains static. As a result, the actuating pin 26a of the carrier cup 26 moves in the spiral groove 24a of the spiral cam sleeve 24, driving the carrier cup 26 to move up or down in the inner sleeve 22.
More particularly, during use, the user rotates the outer shell 32 of the base assembly 30 in a first direction, the carrier cup 26 in an upward direction to expose the cosmetic product in the carrier cup 26 from the opening 22b at the distal end of the inner sleeve 22.
After use, the user rotates the outer shell 32 in a second direction opposite to the first direction, which causes the carrier cup 26 to move in a downward direction to hide the cosmetic product in the inner sleeve 22.
In alternate embodiments, other types of retractable operators may be used in place of the cam and slot arrangement which is explained in the present disclosure, such as vertical slide type or push type or any other mechanism known in the art.
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In exemplary embodiment, the sliding member 38 has four slide grooves 39, see
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According to an aspect of the present disclosure, the limiting member 36 functions to hold the button member 34 in an axially fixed position inside the outer shell 32 of the base assembly 30. As shown in
Referring to
As shown in
According to an aspect of the present disclosure, the lower ends of the at least three grip projections 361, 362, 363 of the limiting member 36 define an upper slide limit for the sliding member 38 as it limits further an upward travel movement of the sliding member 38 by abutting the top flat wall 38a of the sliding member 38. The limiting member 36 thus also prevents the sliding member 38 from getting out of the outer shell 32 by abutting against the top flat wall 38a of the sliding member 38 when the sliding member 38 slides upward.
Referring to
In a rested state, the pair of arcuate portions 341, 342 form a substantially oval (see
The button portion 343 is slidably received in the radial aperture 321 formed in the at least one sidewall 32a of the outer shell 32 of the base assembly 30.
In an unstressed state shown in
In various embodiments (not shown), the sliding member 38 and the spring 40 may be made integral.
The cap 600 is detachably attached to the base assembly 400. In the exemplary embodiment, as seen in
In alternative embodiments, the cap 600 and the outer shell 420 of the base assembly 400 may be removably secured to each other by any other method known in the art.
As shown in
Referring to
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As seen in the
The driving member 560 is inserted into the outer shell 420 and is mounted on the annular inner skirt 460, see
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Further, as shown in
The refill cartridge 500 is inserted into the outer shell 420 of the base assembly 400, preferably through the opening 431 of the outer shell 420. On inserting the refill cartridge 500, at least a lower portion of the sleeve member 540 and the driving member 560 are received in the cavity 540 of the outer shell 420, see
In order to use the stick product in the refillable container 1000, the user must remove both the cap 600 and the temporary dust cover 580. More particularly, during use, the user rotates the outer shell 420 of the base assembly 400 in a first direction with respect to the sleeve member 540, causing the driving member 560 to rotate. The rotation of the driving member 560 causes the lifting member 520 to elevate, and thus, the cosmetic cup 524 moves in an upward direction to expose the stick product from the opening at the open upper end of the sleeve member 540. After use, the user rotates the outer shell 420 in a second direction opposite to the first direction, which causes the cosmetic cup 524 to move in a downward direction and hide the cosmetic product in the sleeve member 540. Once the lifting member is lowered, the cap 600 can be placed to cover the refillable container.
As shown in
To replace the refill cartridge 500, refer
When the button portion 443 is pressed and the refill cartridge 500 is in a normally removable position, it can be pulled out by the user and the refill cartridge 500 may be easily and quickly removed from the base assembly 400. A new refill cartridge 500 can be inserted into the base assembly 400. Further, when the finger is released from the button portion 443, the pair of arcuate portions 441, 442 return to their original oval shape by their own resiliency, restoring their original shapes, and are crimped on the outer surface of the driving member 540 of the new refill cartridge 500, thereby fixing the new refill cartridge 500.
The components of the base assembly 30, 400, refill cartridge 20, 500 and the cap 10, 600 may be formed of any polymeric material such as acrylonitrile butyrene styrene, metal, wood or any other suitable material.
The pair of arcuate portions 341, 441, 342, 442 and the button portion 343, 434 may be made of a resilient material such as resilient metal or a hard and elastic synthetic resin
It should be understood that the foregoing description is only illustrative of the present disclosure. Various alternatives and modifications can be devised by those skilled in the art without departing from the disclosure. Accordingly, the present disclosure is intended to embrace all such alternatives, modifications and variations that fall within the scope of the appended claims.
This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 17/000,027 filed Aug. 21, 2020, which is incorporated by reference in its entirety.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parent | 17000027 | Aug 2020 | US |
| Child | 18311140 | US |
