Patent Application
20190320776
The present invention relates generally to nail polish containers, and, more particularly, relates to nail polish containers operably configured to be enable mixing of gel polish therein and/or refilling.
Nail polish is generally considered a lacquer that can be applied to human fingernails or toenails to decorate and protect the nail plates. The formulation has been revised repeatedly throughout the years to enhance its decorative effects, and to suppress cracking or flaking. Nail polish consists of a mix of an organic polymer and several other components, depending on the brand. Nail polish is pervasively used by many individuals across the world to express themselves or otherwise ornament their nails. As such, there are a variety of different colors, textures, and styles of nail polish available for use. Gel nail polish generally consists of methacrylate compounds and photo-initiating compounds, such as benzoyl peroxide. Unlike conventional nail polish, these mixtures aren't simply applied and left to dry. Instead gel polish is applied in layers which are exposed to ultraviolet light, thereby initiating a polymerization process which solidifies the polish. Many users desire to mix gel nail polish with paint polish, or otherwise insert a more viscous gel polish within a container.
One obvious disadvantage of prior manicuring polish containers is their openings, which are relatively small, making the inserting of any gel polish a messy and time-intensive process. A user could try to put conventional nail polish in the eyelet, and even glitter, or nail polish gel, but this is completely inefficient. A user would be forced to use syringes which were dangerous and could injure a user, particularly younger users trying to make glitter gel. The prior art required the use of funnels, and the funnel had a big surface area which kept all the nail polish and wasted most of it on the funnel instead of putting it into the bottle. The prior art bottle was overall inefficient and a hassle for a user. Moreover, many known polish containers do not have an applicator brush of a sufficient length that enables the brush to reach the bottom inside surface of the polish container.
Moreover, due to the amount of nail polish used in any one application and to keep the manufacturing costs down per bottle, nail polish is quickly exhausted, requiring a new bottle to be purchased. To that end, purchasing a new bottle of nail polish is generally required because re-filling the bottle is impractical or otherwise difficult in light of the size of the opening of the bottle. There are known re-fillable containers, but none of said known containers enable efficient and effective use of the container with respect to an applicator brush, namely a brush configured for use with an individual's nails.
Therefore, a need exists to overcome the problems with the prior art as discussed above.
The invention provides a separable nail polish container that overcomes the hereinafore-mentioned disadvantages of the heretofore-known devices and methods of this general type and that is configured for selective mixing or otherwise inserting gel polish therein. Said another way, the below-described polish container allows a user to clean the inside of the bottle, to insert a different nail polish, or to mix a glitter gel or nail polish gel inside of the bottle. The present invention is also advantageous over the known containers because it uses a long brush that extends all the way to the bottom of the bottle, so the user does not have to waste any nail polish.
With the foregoing and other objects in view, there is provided, in accordance with the invention, a separable nail polish container having a base with a bottom wall including a bottom outer surface and a bottom inner wall surface opposing the bottom outer surface. The base includes a sidewall surrounding the bottom wall and includes a sidewall outer surface, a sidewall inner surface, and an upper end defining an upper sidewall opening with an opening diameter, wherein the sidewall inner surface and bottom inner wall surface define a container cavity housing a paint material therein and having a maximum container cavity diameter, wherein the opening diameter at least 50% the maximum container cavity diameter. The assembly also includes a base cover having a lower sidewall selectively and removably coupled to the sidewall outer surface of the base in a threaded configuration, has an upper wall directly coupled to the lower sidewall of the base cover and covers the upper sidewall opening, and has an upper sidewall directly coupled to the upper wall of the base cover and defines an enclosed applicator channel. The assembly also includes an applicator brush having a handle portion with a top end and a bottom end opposing the top end of the applicator brush, wherein the applicator brush has an applicator stem coupled thereto that extends passed the bottom end of the handle portion, is disposed within the enclosed applicator channel, and includes a distal end with a plurality of bristles coupled thereto. The handle portion is also selectively and removably coupled to the upper sidewall in a threaded configuration.
In accordance with a further feature of the present invention, the bottom inner wall surface is of a concave shape and the opening diameter is at least 80% the maximum container cavity diameter.
In accordance with another feature, an embodiment of the present invention includes the bottom outer surface having an enclosed recess disposed thereon, wherein the bottom outer surface is of a spherical shape.
In accordance with an additional feature of the present invention, the upper sidewall of the base cover is disposed in an orthogonal orientation with respect to an upper surface of the upper wall. In other embodiments, the upper sidewall of the base cover is disposed in an upright orientation with respect to an upper surface of the upper wall.
In accordance with yet another feature of the present invention, the base, the base cover, and the applicator brush are selectively and removably coupled to one another in a watertight configuration.
In accordance with a further feature, an embodiment of the present invention also includes the plurality of bristles having a distal end disposed proximal to the bottom inner wall surface of the bottom wall.
In accordance with an additional feature, an embodiment of the present invention also includes the lower sidewall and/or the upper wall of the base further having a friction-inducing material disposed thereon.
In accordance with an additional feature, an embodiment of the present invention also includes an annular-shaped paint barrier disposed on the upper surface of the upper wall, wherein the annular-shaped paint barrier defines, with the handle portion of the applicator brush, an annular-shaped channel surrounding the handle portion of the applicator brush.
In accordance with a further feature, an embodiment of the present invention also includes the handle portion of the applicator brush having a labeling member selectively and removably coupled and frictionally retained thereto.
With the foregoing and other objects in view, there is provided, in accordance with the invention, a separable nail polish container having a base with a bottom wall including a bottom outer surface and a bottom inner wall surface opposing the bottom outer surface. The assembly also includes a sidewall surrounding the bottom wall and including a sidewall outer surface, a sidewall inner surface, and an upper end defining an upper sidewall opening, wherein the sidewall inner surface and bottom inner wall surface defines a container cavity. The assembly also includes a base cover having a lower sidewall selectively and removably coupled to the sidewall outer surface of the base in a watertight configuration, has an upper wall directly coupled to the lower sidewall of the base cover and covers the upper sidewall opening, and has an upper sidewall directly coupled to the upper wall of the base cover and defining an enclosed applicator channel. The assembly also includes an applicator brush having a handle portion with a top end and a bottom end opposing the top end of the applicator brush, wherein the applicator brush has an applicator stem coupled thereto that extends passed the bottom end of the handle portion and is disposed within the enclosed applicator channel. The applicator brush includes a distal end with a plurality of bristles coupled thereto, each having a distal end disposed proximal to the bottom inner wall surface of the bottom wall, wherein the handle portion selectively and removably coupled to the upper sidewall in a watertight configuration.
In accordance with yet another feature of the present invention, the distal end of the plurality of bristles coupled are disposed proximal to the bottom outer wall surface of the bottom wall.
Although the invention is illustrated and described herein as embodied in a re-fillable nail polish container, it is, nevertheless, not intended to be limited to the details shown because various modifications and structural changes may be made therein without departing from the spirit of the invention and within the scope and range of equivalents of the claims. Additionally, well-known elements of exemplary embodiments of the invention will not be described in detail or will be omitted so as not to obscure the relevant details of the invention.
Other features that are considered as characteristic for the invention are set forth in the appended claims. As required, detailed embodiments of the present invention are disclosed herein; however, it is to be understood that the disclosed embodiments are merely exemplary of the invention, which can be embodied in various forms. Therefore, specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a basis for the claims and as a representative basis for teaching one of ordinary skill in the art to variously employ the present invention in virtually any appropriately detailed structure. Further, the terms and phrases used herein are not intended to be limiting; but rather, to provide an understandable description of the invention. While the specification concludes with claims defining the features of the invention that are regarded as novel, it is believed that the invention will be better understood from a consideration of the following description in conjunction with the drawing figures, in which like reference numerals are carried forward. The figures of the drawings are not drawn to scale.
Before the present invention is disclosed and described, it is to be understood that the terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting. The terms “a” or “an,” as used herein, are defined as one or more than one. The term “plurality,” as used herein, is defined as two or more than two. The term “another,” as used herein, is defined as at least a second or more. The terms “including” and/or “having,” as used herein, are defined as comprising (i.e., open language). The term “coupled,” as used herein, is defined as connected, although not necessarily directly, and not necessarily mechanically. The term “providing” is defined herein in its broadest sense, e.g., bringing/coming into physical existence, making available, and/or supplying to someone or something, in whole or in multiple parts at once or over a period of time. Also, for purposes of description herein, the terms “upper”, “lower”, “left,” “rear,” “right,” “front,” “vertical,” “horizontal,” and derivatives thereof relate to the invention as oriented in the figures and is not to be construed as limiting any feature to be a particular orientation, as said orientation may be changed based on the user's perspective of the device. Furthermore, there is no intention to be bound by any expressed or implied theory presented in the preceding technical field, background, brief summary or the following detailed description.
As used herein, the terms “about” or “approximately” apply to all numeric values, whether or not explicitly indicated. These terms generally refer to a range of numbers that one of skill in the art would consider equivalent to the recited values (i.e., having the same function or result). In many instances these terms may include numbers that are rounded to the nearest significant figure. In this document, the term “longitudinal” should be understood to mean in a direction corresponding to an elongated direction of the nail polish container, i.e., from a top end to a bottom end of the container.
The accompanying figures, where like reference numerals refer to identical or functionally similar elements throughout the separate views and which together with the detailed description below are incorporated in and form part of the specification, serve to further illustrate various embodiments and explain various principles and advantages all in accordance with the present invention.
While the specification concludes with claims defining the features of the invention that are regarded as novel, it is believed that the invention will be better understood from a consideration of the following description in conjunction with the drawing figures, in which like reference numerals are carried forward. It is to be understood that the disclosed embodiments are merely exemplary of the invention, which can be embodied in various forms.
The present invention provides a novel and efficient separable nail polish container with an applicator brush disposed therein for applying a nail polish or paint material to one or more of user's nails. Referring now to
The base 102, which is preferably of a durable, thick, and transparent glass material, includes a bottom wall 200 with a bottom outer surface 500 (shown best in
With specific reference to
In one embodiment, the paint material 402 may be of a film-forming polymer dissolved in a volatile organic solvent, e.g., nitrocellulose that is dissolved in butyl acetate or ethyl acetate. Additional additives or agents may be added, however, e.g., plasticizers such as dibutylphthalate and camphor to yield non-brittle films, dyes and pigments, stearalkonium hectorite, mica, bismuth oxychloride, natural pearls, and aluminum powder, and adhesive polymers, among others known by those of skill in the art.
Beneficially, the container cavity 210 includes a maximum container cavity diameter 404 where the paint material, or the like, is poured therein and through the upper sidewall opening 302. In one embodiment, the opening diameter 400 is at least 50% the maximum container cavity diameter 404. In other embodiments, the opening diameter 400 is at least 75-100% the maximum container cavity diameter 404 to enable easy filling of the cavity 210. For example, in one embodiment, the sidewall inner surface 208 is circular or rectangular in shape and has a maximum diameter 404 of approximately 1-2 inches, wherein the diameter 400 of the opening 302 is approximately 0.75-1.5 inches. The bottom inner wall surface 202 may also be of a concave shape to effectively enable pooling of the paint material housed therein and for enabling the applicator 106 to effectively utilize the paint material 402.
The assembly 100 also includes a base cover 104 having a lower sidewall 212 selectively and removably coupled to the sidewall outer surface 206 of the base 102 in a threaded and/or watertight configuration. The threaded configuration may also include a tongue-and-groove configuration in some embodiments. The base cover 104 also includes an upper wall 214 directly coupled to the lower sidewall 212 of the base cover 104 and is sized and shaped to cover the upper sidewall opening 302. The base cover 104 also includes an upper sidewall 216 directly coupled to the upper wall 214 of the base cover 104 and defines an enclosed applicator channel 218 wherein an applicator stem 310 of the applicator 106 may be inserted and/or disposed therein for accessing the opening 302 and cavity 210. Said another way, the upper wall 214 may include a protruding male member 216 operably configured to couple with the applicator member 106. In one embodiment, the upper sidewall 216 of the base cover 104 is disposed in an orthogonal orientation with respect to an upper surface 108 of the upper wall 214. Said differently, the upper sidewall 216 of the base cover 104 may also be disposed in an upright orientation with respect to an upper surface 108 of the upper wall 214 to enable effective and efficient removal and tightening of the applicator brush 106 with respect to the base cover 104. The sidewalls 212, 216 and upper wall 214 may be one unitary piece of material or formed from individual components coupled together.
The applicator brush 106 includes a handle portion 304, which may be elongated as shown in the figures, wherein the applicator brush 106 includes a top end 306 and a bottom end 308 opposing the top end 306 of the applicator brush 106. The applicator brush 106 also includes an applicator stem 310 coupled thereto. The applicator stem 310 may be cylindrical and may be friction fitted within the handle portion 304. The applicator stem 310 extends passed the bottom end 308 of the handle portion 304, is disposed within the enclosed applicator channel 218, and includes a distal end 312 with a plurality of bristles 314a-n coupled thereto, wherein “n” represents any number greater than one. The plurality of bristles 314a-n may be of a polymeric fiber material or other known material and coupling configuration with respect to the stem. Similar to the coupling configuration of the base 102 and the base cover 104, the handle portion 304 may also be selectively and removably coupled to the upper sidewall 216 in a threaded and/or water tight configuration.
As best seen in
With reference to
With reference to
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With reference to
More specifically, in one embodiment, the base may be empty, thereby requiring the user to rotate, e.g., counter clockwise, the base cover to access the opening. Then, the user may insert a paint material, i.e., a viscous gel or paint, within the base and base cavity and place the base cover on the top of the based and rotate in the opposite direction, e.g., clockwise. The closing of the base cover over the base encapsulates the paint material. Thereafter, when desired for use, the user will then unscrew or rotate the applicator brush handle to remove the stem and plurality of bristles, which are covered with the paint material, i.e., paint or gel material. The user will then utilize the applicator brush as known by those of skill in the art. When finished, the user will then screw or rotate the applicator brush back on the base cover. The user will then repeat the above-describe steps to refill the base with a paint material.
Various modifications and additions can be made to the exemplary embodiments discussed without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. For example, while the embodiments described above refer to particular features, the scope of this disclosure also includes embodiments having different combinations of features and embodiments that do not include all of the above described features.
This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/660,826 filed Apr. 20, 2018, the entirety of which is incorporated by reference.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 62660826 | Apr 2018 | US |
