Patent Application
20210362932
The disclosed subject matter generally relates to a cosmetics sampler, and more particularly to a sampler for cosmetic or fragrance powder.
The field of cosmetics and fragrance is a popular and competitive industry. These products come in many forms, including liquids, sprays, creams, and the like. Powdery cosmetics and fragrance products such as blush, eye shadow, and the like are a popular choice. With such a high number of cosmetics and fragrances available to consumers, it is desirable to present products in samplers to allow consumers to easily identify the fragrance or cosmetic of interest.
Co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 16/988,838 describes a sampler for a scented waxy candle material wherein melted scented material is disposed between top and bottom vapor barrier layers by a roller applicator.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,439,172 describes a planar sampler for a liquid volatile material such as a perfume.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,562,112 describes a sampler for lipstick with a coated cover stock, upon which a lipstick is screen printed in any desired pattern. A perimeter adhesive is applied to the coated face stock and a clear cover sheet is laminated over the lipstick. The cover serves to prevent offset and projects the image of a clean, sanitary product.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,282,652 describes a fluid sampler including a transparent composite laminate sealed with a composite laminate having a foil barrier layer.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,326,069 describes a fluid sampler pouch with internal supportive structure within a cavity allowing the peel seal to withstand compressive force.
U.S. Pat. No. 9,475,615 describes a resealable label composed of a top layer and a bottom layer. The two layers adhere together via an adhesive layer. The bottom layer includes a concave perforation having a line defined by endpoints of the concave perforation.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,938,462 describes resealable packages, and more particularly a resealable blister type package for displaying packaged goods in a container which can be opened and resealed without obvious or apparent damage.
U.S. Patent Publication No. 2010/0002963 describes a reclosable food package, which has an easily accessed yet airtight seal via the use of a tamper evident rupture strip which provides the container or package with improved shelf life for the product contained therein.
U.S. Patent Publication No. 2005/0061710 describes a fragrance sampler for inserting into printed matter such as a magazine or a mass mailing. The sampler is made from a bottom ply and a top ply of material and an applicator.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,326,564 describes a spherical resealable cosmetic product having a first and second section. Each section is defined by a hemispheroidal chamber having an open mouth with a circumferential edge therearound and a flange projecting outwardly therefrom.
While there are known samplers for cosmetics and fragrances, there remains a need for a more effective sampler for powdery cosmetics and fragrance materials as well as a more efficient method of production.
The purpose and advantages of the disclosed subject matter are set forth in the following description, and additional advantages may be obtained by the practice and knowledge of those skilled in the art based on this description.
The disclosed subject matter provides, according to some embodiments, a new sampler for a powdery material (e.g., fragrance or cosmetic) sample including a sample of a powdery material applied to a selected area of a vapor barrier bottom layer, a vapor barrier top layer applied optionally without an intermediate layer over the selected area of the bottom layer, and a seal between the periphery of the bottom and top layers forming a barrier enclosure.
According to some embodiments, to prevent unwanted release of any odorous or volatile molecules in the powdery material, the sampler includes a repositionable adhesive seal, or a peelable perimeter seal (e.g., heat seal), or both, and a tab for the user to open the sampler and sample the contained powdery material. When a repositionable adhesive seal is used, the sample can be resealed for later use.
The slimness and flexibility of the sampler allow for placement upon or between pages of magazines, flyers, newspapers, postcards, and the like. The sampler can be used as an advertisement allowing the reader to discover the scents of the fragrance powder or to test the color cosmetic powder on the skin.
The foregoing summary and the following detailed description are exemplary and are intended to provide an explanation of the disclosed subject matter, which is further illustrated and explained by the accompanying drawings.
The sampler for cosmetic or fragrance powder presented herein allows a user to sample powdery materials such as cosmetics and fragrances in a slim-profile sampler, which can be efficiently manufactured with a roller application process, also described herein. The sampler is particularly suited for placement upon or between pages of magazines, flyers, newspapers, postcards, and the like, and can be used as an advertisement allowing the reader to discover the scents of the fragrance powder or to test the color cosmetic powder on the skin.
An exemplary sampler for a powdery material (e.g., fragrance or cosmetic) includes a sample of a powdery material applied directly to a selected area of a first face of a vapor barrier bottom layer, a vapor barrier top layer applied directly and without an intermediate layer over at least said selected area of the said first face of the bottom layer, and a seal between at least the periphery of said bottom and top layers whereby there is formed a barrier enclosure. The term “powdery material” is used throughout this application to refer to any sample material suitable for use with the disclosed sampler such as cosmetic products (e.g., blush, eye shadow), powdery fragrances, and the like.
According to some embodiments, a seal between at least the periphery of the bottom and top layers form a vapor barrier enclosure containing the sample. A user can separate at least part of said top layer from the bottom layer to expose at least part of the sample for allowing the fragrance to escape into the air or sampling the cosmetic. By using repositionable glue as the sealant, the top layer can be designed to be resealed to the bottom layer to prevent further release of volatile molecules in the sample.
The disclosed subject matter also provides a process for manufacturing the disclosed sampler including applying a powdery material directly to a selected area of a first face of a vapor barrier bottom layer, applying a vapor barrier top layer over at least said selected area of said first face of the bottom layer, and forming a vapor barrier seal between the bottom and top layers. That seal can form a vapor barrier enclosure for the volatile molecules in the case of a fragrance.
The powdery material can be dispersed in a fragrance or in a volatile solvent such as water, hydrocarbons (e.g., Isopar K, dodecane) to make a slurry that can be applied to the sampler. The solvent can be removed to obtain a dry powder in the case of a cosmetic product. A stabilizer can be added to the mixing to stabilize the product. A surfactant can be added to disperse the powder in the liquid more easily.
In some embodiments, the powdery material in slurry is applied to an intermediate pad and transferred to the base layer. The pad can be in any shape (e.g., disc, rectangle).
In some embodiments, the powdery material is applied to a substantially central area of a substantially vapor impermeable plastic or laminate sheet bottom layer, which can be in the form of disc, rounded rectangle, or the like. The top layer is provided by a corresponding layer of the same or another plastic or laminate sheet material. The seal between the bottom and top layers can be formed by surface-to-surface contact adhesion between the opposed faces of the bottom and top layers, or by an adhesive or other bonding (e.g., heat-sealing, Radio-Frequency sealing) between the opposed faces of the bottom and top layers.
In embodiments, such a seal is formed around the periphery of the contacting opposed faces of the bottom and top layers and is conveniently radially inset from the edges of the layers over at least part of its length to provide an unbonded tab or edge which can be gripped by the user to separate the bottom and top layers when desired.
Reference will now be made in detail to the various exemplary embodiments of the disclosed subject matter, which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. The structure and corresponding methods of operation of the disclosed subject matter will be described in conjunction with this detailed description.
The accompanying figures, where like reference numerals refer to identical or functionally similar elements throughout the separate views, serve to further illustrate various embodiments and explain various principles and advantages all in accordance with the disclosed subject matter. For purpose of explanation and illustration, and not limitation, exemplary embodiments of the sampler for cosmetic or fragrance powder in accordance with the disclosed subject matter are shown in
For purpose of illustration, and not limitation, reference is now made to
The bottom layer 101 can be made from odorless, plastic materials which are not degraded or dissolved by the fragrance or solvent used to make the slurry and will present good barrier properties in the case of a fragrance sampler. Examples of suitable materials for the bottom layer 101 are polyolefins, such as polyethylenes, polypropylenes, polyester, and the like.
Preferred polymers for use in the bottom layer 101 are polyester polymers, e.g. polyethyleneterephtalate. The bottom layer 101 can also be a laminate of two or more different materials. For example, a polyethylene or an amorphous polyester upper layer with a polyester under layer, bonded together by an adhesive interface such as a polyacrylic adhesive. This kind of laminate may be selected if a peelable heat-seal is desired.
In some embodiments, the bottom layer 101 is treated (e.g., by corona discharge) or coated in order to enhance the adhesion of the powdery material 102 and any adhesive to the surface of the polymeric bottom layer material.
The top layer 103 can be made from the same or similar materials as the bottom layer 101. The top layer 103 can be treated or coated to aid the adhesion of any adhesive or printing thereto.
The sample of powdery material 102 can be applied directly to the bottom layer 101 in liquid form (slurry) after dispersion with a fragrance or an appropriate solvent. The solvent may be water or an organic oil such as a hydrocarbon (isoparaffin, linear alkanes . . . ). The addition of the diluent such as a vegetable oil (isopropyl palmitate, isopropyl myristate . . . ), a silicone may help to adjust the rendition in the case of a fragrance powdery sample.
The amount of powdery material 102 in the form of a slurry which is applied to the bottom layer 101 can be adjusted having regard to the strength of the scents desired or the quantity of product available to the customer.
The bottom and top layers 101, 103 can be selected to adhere, or to be sealed to one another and form a vapor barrier seal around the area to which the powdery material has been applied. However, where this is not the case, an adhesive 104 or similar bonding material can be applied, preferably around the area to which the powdery material 102 has been applied to the bottom layer 101. It is preferred to provide at least part of the radially outward edge of the sampler as an unbonded edge or tab 105 so that a user may easily pull off the top layer 103.
The adhesive 104 used to bond the bottom and top layers 101, 103 together may be a water or solvent base adhesive. A pressure sensitive adhesive such as a polyacrylate adhesive or a hot-melt adhesive can be used for example. In the case of the adhesive use with water or solvent that needs to be removed, it is preferred that the removal step is done before the application of the powdery material 102 in order to avoid contaminating the sample. In embodiments, the use of water-based polyacrylic adhesive is preferred.
In some embodiments, the sampler can be printed on the bottom layer 101 and/or the top layer 103. In such cases, the ink can be applied in a separate printing operation from the powder application. This printing may be achieved before or after the application of the powdery material 102 to the bottom layer 101.
As shown in
An exemplary process of manufacturing the sampler for cosmetic or fragrance powder is shown in
As shown in
After the adhesive 304 is applied and dried, the powdery material sample 302 is applied in slurry form in a similar manner using a conventional sculptured roller applicator 312, and then dried by a hot air blower 313 (or hot tunnel) to remove most liquid from the slurry to create the powdery sample.
Once the adhesive 304 and powdery material 302 are applied on a bottom layer 301, then covered with a top layer by passing the two layers 301 and 303 carrying the adhesive 304 and the powdery material 302 through the nip of a pressure roller 314.
The top layer 303 can then be printed by using a printing unit 315. If necessary or desired, the composite laminate can be heated or dried by a hot air blower 316 or other means to remove residual water or solvent and/or cured, such as by UV light 317.
Alternatively, the top layer 303 can be preprinted before the production of the sampler. In that case, a registration system can be used and the corresponding steps shown in
At the end of the process, the completed sampler 319 can be separated from the composite by a stamp or an air blade cutter 318 in the desired shape (e.g., rectangle, disc, and the like).
The shape of liquid material application 402 can be defined in function of the pad shape 409 used on the roller. For instance, to apply an adhesive ring, a ring-shaped pad can be used. The liquid material 402 can also be applied by a non-contact or ink-jet printer technique.
In an alternative embodiment, shown in
Optionally, as shown in
An exemplary embodiment of the sampler for a powdery material and method for making the same in accordance with the present disclosure will now be described.
This example describes the process to make a clear sampler containing a cosmetic powder material.
A water-based adhesive (Purethane 20914 Laminating Adhesive from Ashland) is applied in the shape of a rectangular ring to the bottom clear polyester film (coated on the back face by an adhesive and protected by a silicon liner) by using a roller applicator. The adhesive is dried by a hot air blower. Then, a cosmetic powder dispersed in a solvent Isopar K is applied in an area inside the adhesive ring. Then the solvent is removed by heating. The bottom material is covered by a top treated clear polyester film by passing the two films through the nip of a pressure roller. The sampler is cut by a stamp cutter.
The foregoing description of exemplary embodiments, including examples, is presented only to describe, explain, and illustrate the broad concepts of the disclosed subject matter, and is not intended and should not be construed to limit the scope of the of the present disclosure. Various modifications and improvements may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope. Thus, the disclosed subject matter includes all modifications and improvements that are within the scope of the following claims and their equivalents.
This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 63/026,950, filed May 19, 2020, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 63026950 | May 2020 | US |
