FIELD OF INVENTION
Containers containing personal care products for which a mirror is typically used in the application or use of the product.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
People are busier than ever. Multitasking is common. It's not uncommon (for speed and/or convenience) for a man to combine shaving with bathing in the shower or bath. Whether it's his face, head or entire body, shaving in the shower saves time, resources (water), and eliminates the need to clean a dirty sink. The same can be said for a teenager wishing to apply a product such as a facial scrub in the shower.
People who use personal care products (in the bath or shower) sacrifice when the availability of a mirror is limited or restricted. Mirrors are typically made of glass or plastic which, when combined with the slippery environment of a bath or shower, create a potential hazard. Most mirrors are separate, hand-held instruments. Once used, it must be stored in the shower amongst the bottles shampoo, shave cream and soap.
Applicant provides a novel way to combine the convenience of a mirror and packaging of the personal care product. For example, a container would contain a mirror or reflective film surface on the side of the package. Combining the mirror with the packaging would add convenience and safety to the user's experience.
Applicant further provides in a container having a shaving gel or gel-like substance, a novel shape of a dispenser head. Applicant provides a novel container shape for a shaving stick of the pushup type, a novel concave shaped dispensing head. This novel shaped dispensing head for a pushup dispenser provides a more efficient spread and coverage of the shape composition, (gel, gel oil or otherwise), on the user's skin surface.
In one embodiment, no mirror is used, but the product upper surface, upper lip and/or top is concave.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
A shave system comprising a container having a body with an upper lip defining an at least partly open top, a front wall, a rear wall, two side walls, one of which includes a generally flat portion, and a base is provided. The container includes an interior. A lid is provided for removably engaging the container walls so as to removably cover the at least partly open top. A product for application to the face of a user at least partly engages the interior of the body. A product movement means moves the product upward in the body responsive to manual operation. A mirror engages the generally flat portion of one of the front or rear walls of the body of the container.
The mirror is non-fogging. A label may be dimensioned to removably cover at least part of the mirror. The label is typically a peel off label which will leave no residue on the mirror.
The product is a solid. The product may also be semi-solid and is sufficiently viscous so as not to flow through the cover openings except through manual operation of the product movement means. The product may have a concave upper surface. The upper lip may include concave walls. The top may include a concave cover having a multiplicity of openings therein. The product movement means may be a push plate or a base plate, a threaded rod, and a knob.
A member is adapted to releasably engage the body or the lid to a vertical wall, which member is a suction cup. A razor is provided, further including means to releasably engage a razor. The means to releasably engage the razor is, in one embodiment, an elastic band. The means to releasably engage the razor may be a hinged loop. The side walls may be concave and the body may be comprised of plastic or silicon.
A novel peel-off label has a reflective surface on the underside thereof. The peel-off label typically has indicia, trademarks written or other information on an outer face, visible from a product to which it is attached. The underside of the label typically includes an adhesive to releasably and removably attach it to a face of a mirror or reflective surface. The reflective surface is fixedly attached to a container.
In a preferred embodiment, the removable label and the reflective surface have similar length and width dimensions, such that the removable label portion substantially covers the reflective layer, which is itself attached to the surface of the container.
In an alternate preferred embodiment, at least part of the reflective surface underlying the label may be visible to the consumer.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIGS. 1 and 2 are front perspective and rear elevational views of Applicant's device.
FIGS. 3 and 4 are top and bottom elevational views of Applicant's device.
FIGS. 5, 6, and 7 are all side elevational views of three embodiments of Applicant's device.
FIGS. 8 and 9 are bottom elevational views of embodiments in FIGS. 6 and 7 of Applicant's device set forth herein.
FIGS. 10, 11, and 12 are rear, side, and front elevational views, respectively, of a “toggle” body embodiment of Applicant's device designed to releasably couple with a disposable razor or other shaving device, without the disposable razor coupled therewith.
FIGS. 13, 14, and 15 are rear, side, and front elevational views with the disposable razor incorporated therewith.
FIGS. 16, 17, and 18 are a squeezable to be embodiment of Applicant's device, including means for coupling a disposable razor therewith and rear, side, and front elevational views.
FIGS. 19, 20, and 21 are the views of FIGS. 16, 17, and 18 above, with a razor engaged therewith.
FIGS. 22, 23, 24, 25, and 25A are views of further novel embodiments of Applicant's various devices disclosed herein. More specifically, these figures illustrate, among other things, a novel concave contoured dispenser top or head, as best seen in FIGS. 22 and 23. They also illustrate a “flip-out” razor holder.
FIGS. 26 and 27 illustrate front and rear perspective views of an embodiment of Applicant's device, including two variations of a razor holder, as well as a suction cup to retain the dispenser to a vertical support surface.
FIG. 28 illustrates a contoured dispenser cover top apart from the rest of the container in perspective view.
FIG. 28A illustraes a bottom perspective view of a push plate for moving product upward in the container body.
FIGS. 29, 30, and 31 are front, side elevational and bottom views of an embodiment with the razor engaged therewith.
FIGS. 32 and 33 are front elevational and side cross-sections showing a product movement means.
FIG. 34 illustrates use of an embodiment of Applicant's device as engaging a vertical side wall of a shower stall.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
10 Container
12 Container lid
14 Container front label
14
a Container front wall
15 Container body
16 Container bottom
17 Container side wall
18 Product push plate or twist knob or other product movement means
19 Container side wall
20 Container back label
20
a Container back wall
21 Product
21
a Upper surface
22 Mirror or reflective material, non-fogging surface
23 Upper lip of body
24 Convex protruding surface
26 Concave indent surface
27 Push plate
28 Flat surface
29 Twist knob/rod/plate
30 Indents
32 Molded groove
34 Cutaway section
36 Disposable razor
37 Contoured dispenser cover top
38 Holes or perforations
39 Shaver holder
40 Finger indent
41 Hole for shaver
42 Shaver
47 Product push plate
48 Elastic band
50 Hinged foldout loop mechanism
52 Suction cup
FIGS. 1-9 illustrate embodiments for Applicant's novel container 10, which embodiments include a removable top 12 and container bottom 16. The cross sectional shape of a container body 15 is made of substantially round, oval, or flat surfaces or combinations thereof (FIGS. 3, 4, 8 and 9), but typically at least one wall has a generally flat portion adapted to receive a mirror 22 or similar reflective sheet.
Applicant's system includes a container 10, which container may have a container front wall 14a, a container back wall 20a, and container side walls 17 and 19. The container front wall, rear wall, and two side walls in cross-section in one embodiment are generally rectangular. Container 10 may include a container bottom 16 for engaging body 15. Container bottom 16 may be configured to receive product movement means 18, which may be a product push plate 47 (see FIG. 28A) or a twist knob/rod/plate combination 29 (see FIGS. 32 and 33).
A product 21 is provided for at least partially engaging the interior of body 15 and the product movement means 18 provides upward movement in response to manual operation of the product movement means.
Container body 15 contains an at least partially open top for product 21 to emerge therefrom. Top may be completely open for receiving the product therethrough as seen in FIG. 1, or may include a contoured dispenser cover top 37 as seen in FIGS. 22 and 28 (concave contoured dispenser cover top) or FIG. 25 (convex contoured dispenser cover top). When contoured dispenser cover top 37 is used, the top is at least partly open and the product provided within the body is usually sufficiently viscous or thick that it can be pushed through the holes or perforations 38 by manual operation of the product movement means 18, yet will not, on its own, flow out from holes or perforations 38. In other words, product 21 is not a hard solid or a flowable liquid, but is a semi-solid that, under the impetus of manually operated product movement means 18, will squeeze out holes 38 for application to the face of the user. For example, a gel or a paste may be used, which gel or paste will comprise product that sufficiently lubricates the skin for shaving purposes. Indeed, product 21 as solid (usually in open top container) or semi-solid shave cream (usually used in partially open top) has properties that provide sufficient lubrication for shaving, as in shaving with a straight razor 36. Products may be found in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,950,094 and 5,174,992, which patents are incorporated herein by reference. Any suitable product may be used.
A container lid 12 has walls configured to removably engage an upper portion of container body 15, so as to removably cover the at least partially open top.
Applicant's novel container typically has a front label 14, and a rear label 20. The rear label typically may be placed over the mirror or reflective material 22 in a temporary fashion (to display ingredients, for example, then peeled off by the user to expose the mirror 22 or reflective material.
Front or back (rear) walls are typically flat, but may include a concave 26 or convex 24 walls and either protrude 24 (FIG. 7) from the container or be indented 26 (FIG. 6) into the container to engage. Mirror or reflective material 22 is attached to the container on these flat surfaces or may be attached as in FIG. 5 with a water resistant adhesive or other suitable means. The mirror may be non-fogging.
As seen in FIGS. 10-21 (container is a squeezable “tottle”), mirror 22 may be removable (using a non-permanent pliable or releasable adhesive) and using indents 30 to pry off. Mirror 22 may be attached with adhesive or snapped on with buttons molded into the plastic container 10. Container 10 may also contain a molded groove 32 or cutaway section 34 or other suitable walls configured to removably hold a disposable razor 36 or other shaving instrument. Container body 15 in FIGS. 10-15 is generally oval and may be squeezable to squeeze a flowable product out of an open top. Mirror 22 may be a solid, for example, acrylic member with a reflecting surface or a flexible reflective film, like Mylar, which will flex when squeezed, but reform to the flat wall surface when released. Likewise, as seen in FIGS. 16-21, mirror 22 may engage a flat front wall 14a of a body 15 comprising a squeezable tube containing a flowable product 21. Disposable or other razor 36 may also engage the body.
As seen in FIGS. 22, 23, 24, and 25, contoured dispenser top 37 is attached to the body of the container, or is molded as a part of the container so as to be one part. This top is to be in contact with the skin and is meant to help spread the product, which may be a shave cream, gel or oil. It may be hard or firm plastic or a soft, silicone, rubber-like or other suitable material. It may include a textured pattern to assist the spreading of the product. This contour is concave so as to remain in contact with the user's face, head, leg, etc. The material may be clear, patterned or solid colored.
Holes or perforations 38 are situated in a manner to assist the flow and spread of the product. They would also protect the product from the water in a shower or bath environment.
Shaver holder 39, a pull down/snap closed, hinged-type loop assembly is built into the top of the container 12. This may be molded into and as part of the top or may be molded separately and attached via a hinge built into the top 12.
A small indent, finger indent 40, may be molded into the top 12 so the user could use their fingernail to open the otherwise flush shaver holder 39.
Hole 41 for razor 36 may be round, square or other suitable shape. This is to place the shaver, so the shaver is held in proximity to the container and is kept out of the water, which may be left pooled in the shower or bath.
FIGS. 26 and 27 illustrate another preferred alternate embodiment of Applicant's device, here, having concave side walls 17/19 and the container back wall having mirror 22 with container back label 20 peelingly affixed thereto. Further, razor retainer means, here, an elastic band is engaged to wrap around the container and hold a razor 36 against the container. Elastic band 48 is typically wide, for example, maybe ¼ inch to 1 inch in width. Moreover, a groove may be provided in one or more walls of body 15 for seating of the elastic band therein. For example, it is seen in FIG. 26 that a groove is provided to allow the band to be seated beneath mirror 22, which is flush against exposed surface of container back wall 20a as the mirror is indented therein and the indented channel carrying the elastic band is indented below the rear surface of the mirror. Product 21 is seen to have an upper surface 21a that is concave and is solid, but will lubricate the surface of the face when applied thereto. Upper lip 23 of body 15 is also seen to define a concave shape, at least in front and rear elevational views. FIGS. 26 and 28 also illustrate use of a hinged loop mechanism 50 for folding from the non-use position, as seen in FIGS. 26 and 27, to a use position where the element is hinged outward and capable of receiving the handle of a razor in the loop thereof.
FIGS. 29, 30, and 31 illustrate further the views of an embodiment having curved side walls and an elastic band 48 for retainment of razor 36 or other shaving instrument thereto. A suction cup 52 is provided, here, illustrated to be part of lid 12, but in other embodiments may be on the front or rear wall, usually whichever of the two walls does not have the mirror. In FIG. 34, it may be seen that the suction cup 52 may hold container 10 to a vertical support surface, such as a shower stall. In FIG. 34, the lid is right side up and the base is below it. However, in an alternate preferred embodiment, the body could be reversed 180° so gravity would tend to hold body 15 in lid 12. That is to say, the container would be mounted upside down against a vertical support surface.
Typically, elements 48/52, which comprise means for retaining a razor to the container, are used in the alternative. It may be seen with reference to FIGS. 22 and 23 that shaver holder 39, elastic band 48, and hinged foldout loop element 50 are structurally different, but are designed to achieve the same function, retaining razor 36 adjacent container 10.
FIG. 28A illustrates the use of push plate 27 as known in the art of deodorant sticks, for example, but for use with Applicant's shave stick and product 21.
Although the invention has been described in connection with the preferred embodiment, it is not intended to limit the invention's particular form set forth, but on the contrary, it is intended to cover such alterations, modifications, and equivalences that may be included in the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.
Patent Application
20120103362
