Patent Application
20170247146
The present disclosure relates to a container for warming wax, including a container for warming wax with an integrated handle.
Containers for storing wax, particularly containers storing wax used for personal hygiene, may be constructed of metal (e.g., aluminum). These containers, therefore, have a characteristic shared with metal, i.e., they conduct heat. As a result, metal containers for storing wax may be difficult to remove from a wax warming device, particularly if the wax has been warmed to temperatures over 37 degrees Celsius (100 degrees Fahrenheit). Additionally, such metal containers typically do not have handles, so in order to remove the container storing melted (e.g., liquid) wax, a user may be forced to either wait until the wax and/or container cool sufficiently, or attempt to grasp the portion of the rim that may be exposed above the wax warming device. Further, metal containers can be costly, making an alternative desirable. Consequently, a wax warming container with an integrated handle that may be constructed of a cost-effective material (e.g., polymer) that may also have reduced heat conductivity properties may be advantageous.
Embodiments of the present disclosure may include a wax warming container including a bottom portion configured to support the wax warming container on a surface, the bottom portion including at least one spacer and at least one air channel, a sidewall portion extending upwardly from the bottom portion, the sidewall portion including at least one spacer and at least one air channel, and an upper portion extending upwardly from the sidewall portion, the upper portion including at least one spacer, at least one air channel, a rim, and at least one handle.
Referring now to the drawings,
In embodiments, a container 100 may include an upper portion 102 with one or more spacers 108, one or more air channels 110, a rim 112, and/or a handle 114; a sidewall portion 104 with one or more spacers 108 and/or one or more air channels 110; a bottom portion 106 with at least one spacer 108, at least one air channel 110, and/or at least one foot 116. In embodiments, container 100 may be comprised of a polymer (e.g., plastic) material, such as, but not limited to, polypropylene (PP). Additionally or alternatively, container 100 may be comprised of a material with a lower (e.g., reduced) level of heat conductivity than found in metals (e.g., aluminum), such as, but not limited to, polymers, composites, and/or biodegradable materials.
Referring now to the drawings,
Spacers 108 and/or air channels 110 may be disposed on container 100 to create a separation (e.g., gap, void) between a wax warming receptacle 122 of a wax warming device 120 (such as shown in
Spacers 108 and/or air channels 110 may be disposed on a container 100 to reinforce (e.g., strengthen) container 100. In embodiments, arranging spacers 108 and/or air channels 110 on an upper portion 102, a sidewall portion 104, and/or a bottom portion 106 of container 100, the rigidity (e.g., stability) of container 100 may be improved.
Referring now to the drawings,
A rim 112 may be disposed on an upper portion 102 of a container 100. Rim 112 may include one or more handles 114. A handle 114 may be configured to permit a user to grasp handle 114 and/or lift container 100. In embodiments, handles 114 may be disposed in pairs (e.g., opposite one another) on rim 112. In embodiments, a plurality of handles 114 may be disposed on rim 112. For example and without limitation, handles 114 may be disposed quarterly (e.g., every 90 degrees) on rim 112. Additionally or alternatively, handle 114 may be disposed continuously (e.g., 360 degrees) on rim 112 such that a handle may be configured about the entirety of (e.g., encompass) rim 112.
A handle 114 may be configured to engage a portion of a user (e.g., a human hand). In embodiments, handle 114 may include surface treatments (e.g., texturing) that may permit a user to obtain a more secure grip on handle 114. In embodiments, handle 114 may include contouring (e.g., changes in profile), such as, but not limited to, a depression that may engage a fingertip. The depression in handle 114 may permit a user to obtain a more secure grip on handle 114.
Referring now to the drawings,
In embodiments, bottom portion 106 may include a foot (e.g., foundation) 116 that may engage a wax warming receptacle 122. Bottom portion 106 may include an indicia portion 118 that may be bounded (e.g., defined) by foot 116. Indicia portion 118 may be configured to provide an air gap G (as shown in
Referring now to the drawings,
In embodiments, spacers 108 may be disposed continuously (e.g., uninterrupted) on upper portion 102, sidewall portion 104, and/or bottom portion 106. Similarly, air channels 110 may be disposed continuously on upper portion 102, sidewall portion 104, and/or bottom portion 106. In embodiments, spacers 108 and/or air channels 110 may be disposed discontinuously (e.g., with interruptions) on upper portion 102, sidewall portion 104, and/or bottom portion 106.
In embodiments, an upper portion 102, a sidewall portion 104, and/or a bottom portion 106 may be configured with spacers 108 and/or air channels 110 that may have a cross-sectional wall thickness T1. In embodiments, upper portion 102, sidewall portion 104, and/or bottom portion 106 may be configured with spacers 108 that may have a cross-sectional wall thickness T2 and/or air channels 110 that may have a cross-sectional wall thickness T1. In embodiments, upper portion 102, sidewall portion 104, and/or bottom portion 106 may be configured with spacers 108 that may have a cross-sectional wall thickness T1 and/or air channels 110 that may have a cross-sectional wall thickness T2.
Referring now to the drawings,
A plurality of spacers 108 and/or air channels 110 may be disposed about an upper portion 102, a sidewall portion 104, and/or a bottom portion 106 of container 100 that may be disposed in a wax warming receptacle 122 of a wax warming device 120. Spacers 108 and/or air channels 110 may permit an air gap G between container 100 and/or wax warming receptacle 122. Air gap G may affect container 100 by moderating the heat transferred from wax warming receptacle 122 to container 100. In this way, container 100, that may be comprised of a polymer material, may be used to contain and/or melt wax without resulting in deformation and/or damage.
A rim 112 may be disposed on an upper portion 102 of a container 100. In embodiments, rim 112 may extend at least partially above wax warming receptacle 122. Rim 112 may prevent the contents (e.g., wax) of container 100 from entering wax warming receptacle 122 when container 100 may be placed in the wax warming receptacle 122.
A handle 114 may be disposed on an upper portion 102 of a container 100. Handle 114 may be configured to permit a user to grasp handle 114 and/or lift container 100, such as from wax warming device 120 and/or wax warming receptacle 122. Handle 114 may permit a user to lift container 100 even while the contents (e.g., wax) of container 100 may still be warm. For example, handle 114 may permit a user to remove a first container 100 storing warm wax from wax warming receptacle 122 and/or insert a second container 100 into wax warming receptacle 122. This may be desirable, for example, if first container 100 may be used to treat a first individual and second container 100 may be used to treat a second individual.
In embodiments, handles 114 may be disposed in pairs (e.g., opposite one another) on rim 112 of container 100. In embodiments, a plurality of handles 114 may be disposed on rim 112 of container 100. For example and without limitation, handles 114 may be disposed quarterly (e.g., every 90 degrees) on rim 112 of container 100. Additionally or alternatively, handle 114 may be disposed continuously (e.g., 360 degrees) on rim 112 of container 100 such that a handle may be configured about the entirety of (e.g., encompass) rim 112 of container 100.
A handle 114 may be configured to engage a portion of a user (e.g., a human hand). In embodiments, handle 114 may include surface treatments (e.g., texturing) that may permit a user to obtain a more secure grip on handle 114. In embodiments, handle 114 may include contouring (e.g., changes in profile) that may permit a user to obtain a more secure grip on handle 114 of container 100.
An indicia portion 118 may be configured to provide an air gap G between foot 116 and/or wax warming receptacle 122. In embodiments, indicia portion 118 may be configured with a concave or convex shape. Additionally or alternatively, indicia portion 118 may be configured with a planar (e.g., flat) shape for air gap G between foot 116 and/or wax warming receptacle 122. In embodiments, indicia portion 118 may include indicia (e.g., identifying marks). Air gap G may affect (e.g., moderate) heat that may be transferred (e.g., conducted) from wax warming receptacle 122 to indicia portion 118.
A wax warming device 120 may be configured to heat (e.g., warm) a container 100. Wax warming device 120 may include a heating element, controls, a power supply, and/or a wax warming receptacle 122. The heating element of wax warming device 120 may provide heat to wax warming receptacle 122. A user may operate the controls of wax warming device 120 to select a level and/or temperature (e.g., 37 degrees C./100 degrees F.). The heat generated by wax warming device 120 may be conducted through wax warming receptacle 122 into container 100. However, since container 100 may include a plurality of spacers 108 and/or air channels 110, some of the heat generated by wax warming device 120 may be moderated by an air gap G between wax warming receptacle 122 and/or container 100. As a result, the contents (e.g., wax) of container 100 may be sufficiently heated to melt while not adversely affecting the characteristics (e.g., strength, rigidity) of container 100.
A wax warming receptacle 122 may be configured to receive a container 100. Wax warming receptacle 122 may be comprised of a heat conductive material, such as, but not limited to, metal (e.g., aluminum). Wax warming receptacle 122 may include a heating element that may be thermostatically controlled via wax warming device 120. A user may select a level and/or temperature using controls of wax warming device 120. The heating element of wax warming device 120 may be electrically and/or mechanically connected to wax warming receptacle 122. The heating element of wax warming device 120 may be energized and/or may produce heat that may be transferred to wax warming receptacle 122.
Referring now to the drawings,
Various embodiments are described herein to various apparatuses, systems, and/or methods. Numerous specific details are set forth to provide a thorough understanding of the overall structure, function, manufacture, and/or use of the embodiments as described in the specification and/or illustrated in the accompanying drawings. It will be understood by those skilled in the art, however, that the embodiments may be practiced without such specific details. In other instances, well-known operations, components, and/or elements have not been described in detail so as not to obscure the embodiments described in the specification. Those of ordinary skill in the art will understand that the embodiments described and/or illustrated herein are non-limiting examples, and thus it can be appreciated that the specific structural and/or functional details disclosed herein may be representative and/or do not necessarily limit the scope of the embodiments.
Reference throughout the specification to “various embodiments,” “embodiments,” “one embodiment,” or “an embodiment,” or the like, means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment. Thus, appearances of the phrases “in various embodiments,” “in embodiments,” “in one embodiment,” or “in an embodiment,” or the like, in places throughout the specification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment. Furthermore, the particular features, structures, or characteristics may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments. Thus, the particular features, structures, or characteristics illustrated or described in connection with one embodiment may be combined, in whole or in part, with the features, structures, or characteristics of one or more other embodiments without limitation given that such combination is not illogical or non-functional.
It should be understood that references to a single element are not so limited and/or may include one or more of such element. All directional references (e.g., plus, minus, upper, lower, upward, downward, left, right, leftward, rightward, top, bottom, above, below, vertical, horizontal, clockwise, and/or counterclockwise) are only used for identification purposes to aid the reader's understanding of the present disclosure, and/or do not create limitations, particularly as to the position, orientation, or use of embodiments.
Joinder references (e.g., attached, coupled, connected, and/or the like) are to be construed broadly and/or may include intermediate members between a connection of elements and relative movement between elements. As such, joinder references do not necessarily imply that two elements are directly connected/coupled and/or in fixed relation to each other. The use of “e.g.” throughout the specification is to be construed broadly and/or is used to provide non-limiting examples of embodiments of the disclosure, and the disclosure is not limited to such examples. It is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative only and not limiting. Changes in detail or structure may be made without departing from the present disclosure.
Furthermore, the mixing and matching of features, elements and/or functions between various examples is expressly contemplated herein so that one of ordinary skill in the art would appreciate from this disclosure that features, elements and/or functions of one example may be incorporated into another example as appropriate, unless described otherwise, above. Moreover, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation or material to the teachings of the present disclosure without departing from the essential scope thereof. Therefore, it is intended that the present teachings not be limited to the particular examples illustrated by the drawings and described in the specification as the best mode presently contemplated for carrying out the teachings of the present disclosure, but that the scope of the present disclosure will include any embodiments falling within the foregoing description and the appended claims.
