Patent Application
20140290681
This application claims benefit of Indian Provisional Application Ser. No. 995/DEL/2013, filed Apr. 2, 2013, which is incorporated by reference in its entirety.
1. Field of the Invention
Embodiments of the present invention generally relate to a wiper for a cosmetic container. The wiper allows for wiping excess product from an applicator upon removal from the container. More particularly, it relates to an elastomeric wiper which can be easily inserted into neck of the cosmetic container, and has novel locking features by which it can be retained in the neck of the container.
The wiper of the present invention can be particularly advantageous for use in the field of cosmetics, especially fluid cosmetic products such as mascaras, foundation, liquid rouge, eyeliners, eye shadow, lip tint, and lip gloss, but can also be used in other fields where wiping of the applicator is desirable.
2. Description of the Related Art
Typical applicator units for cosmetics such as mascara comprise a cosmetic container, a cosmetic contained in the cosmetic container, an applicator comprising a stem and an applicator head capable of being inserted in the cosmetic container in order to take the cosmetic, and a wiper comprising an elongated passage through which the applicator head passes longitudinally on being withdrawn from the container. The wiper is supported by a neck of the container. The wiper serves firstly to wipe the stem and secondly to remove excess cosmetic from the applicator head.
In certain cases such as where cross section of the applicator head varies along its length or the applicator head has small cross section relative to the stem, it is useful to employ a flexible wiper made up of an elastically deformable material.
Customarily, a flexible wiper is mounted in the neck of the cosmetic container to engage the applicator head as the applicator is withdrawn from the container. The wiper is advantageously a unitary body molded of a suitable elastomer, with an outer diameter dimensioned for a snug fit within the container neck, and may be assembled with the container by insertion into the neck. This flexible wiper removes excess product from the applicator head and/or the stem allowing the excess product to fall back or flow back into the container. Generally, this wiper is an open-ended tubular body which includes an elastic annular wiping lip, disposed in the container neck in surrounding relation to the path of the applicator through the neck. Such a wiper is shaped and dimensioned to engage the applicator snugly and conformingly as the applicator is withdrawn through the neck. At its upper end, the wiper includes an outwardly projecting annular sealing flange for overlying a rim of the neck.
Whenever the applicator head passes through a conventional wiper of the type just described, its engagement with the wiping lip exerts a force on the wiper, tending to move the wiper (relative to the container neck) in the direction in which the applicator is moving. If the applicator is being inserted into the container, the positive engagement of the upper sealing flange of the wiper with the rim of the neck prevents the wiper from being dislodged and pushed into the container. During withdrawal of the applicator, however, the sealing flange-rim engagement cannot act to hold the wiper in place, and owing to the inherent deformability of the elastomeric wiper, even interference fit between the wiper and the neck may not prevent the wiper from being pulled out of the container along with the applicator. Such accidental removal of the wiper is messy and inconvenient for the user.
In recent years several modifications have been done to overcome above-mentioned limitation. For Example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,617,948 discloses a wiper made of an elastically deformable material configured to be placed on an internal edge of the container, and held in place by an additional part forming a threaded neck. Such an arrangement, by entailing that the container be made in two parts, increases the number of assembly operations and raises the manufacturing cost of the unit.
In various prior arts, in order to retain the wiper in the container, it has been proposed to provide a solid bulge at the lower end of the wiper, the solid bulge configured to secure the wiper to the container. The bulge is configured to position itself behind the shoulder of the container, thus immobilizing the wiper in a position such that the wiper is secured to the container. Generally, the bulge has sufficient radial width to secure the wiper firmly to the container. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 7,476,044 discloses a wiper which includes an annular shoulder/ a bulge arranged at its lower end to snap under the neck of the cosmetic container. The annular shoulder makes it difficult to insert the wiper into neck of the container.
Similar wipers with one or more relatively “solid” bulges are also described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,884,634 and U.S. Pat. No. 5,875,791. Such a system presents a drawback because the bulge renders the insertion of the wiper into the neck of the container difficult due to high resistance generated by the bulge.
U.S. Pat. No. 7,186,044 discloses an outwardly projecting, flexible annular flange or lip adjacent the lower end of the wiper, so as to underlie the interior of the container at the shoulder formed at the lower extremity of the neck. This flexible retaining flange folds or deforms upwardly as the wiper is forced into the neck during assembly and flexes in opposite direction upon emerging into the interior of the container below the neck when the wiper has been fully inserted. Thereafter the retaining flange is supposed to prevent outward movement of the wiper (relative to the neck) by engaging the container around the neck shoulder. The retaining flange is configured to flex axially in two opposing directions and when the wiper is mounted on the container, the flexible flange is elastically stressed which reduces structural strength of the flange.
EP0659366 discloses a tubular elastomeric wiper disposed in the container neck. In assembled condition, there is provided a cylindrical retaining sleeve which surrounds the wiper and has an interference-fit with wiper to retain the wiper in the container neck. The outer diameter of the sleeve is selected to provide a snug fit within the neck. The employment of retaining sleeve around wiper increases the number of components in the assembly and raises the manufacturing cost of the unit.
It would therefore be desirable to provide a wiper for a cosmetic container, of the general type described above, that mitigates or overcomes the aforementioned problems.
It is a principal object of the invention herein to provide a wiper which is easy to fit into a cosmetic container.
It is an additional object of the invention herein to provide a wiper which is economical to produce.
It is a further object of the invention herein to provide a wiper for a cosmetic container with a good control on the amount of product carried by an applicator.
It is still a further object of the invention herein to provide a wiper configured to be mounted into a neck of a cosmetic container that contains a product to be applied by an applicator comprising a stem and an applicator head.
The present invention provides a wiper which provides substantial cost savings by allowing use of lower cost materials, such as elastomers, and does not require a separate part such as a neck insert to hold the wiper in place.
In accordance with one embodiment of the invention, a wiper, for use in a cosmetic container having a neck, comprises a tubular body; at least two collapsible members protruding from an exposed surface of the tubular body; and wherein each of the at least two collapsible members is capable of flexing in a plane, from a non-collapsed position to a collapsed position and wherein the plane is substantially normal to a longitudinal axis of the wiper. In the collapsed position, the at least two collapsible members are closer to the tubular body than in the non-collapsed position. The term “substantially normal” includes a plane which is absolutely normal to the longitudinal axis of the wiper as well as includes a plane which is at an angle of plus or minus 45 degrees with respect to the plane normal to the longitudinal axis of the wiper.
According to another embodiment of the present invention, the tubular body of the wiper has an interior surface and an exterior surface, which is tightly fittable into the neck of the cosmetic container. The wiper is fabricated from elastomeric material and includes a plurality of collapsible members protruding from the exterior surface of the tubular body. The plurality of collapsible members extends radially outward from the exterior surface of the tubular body. The collapsible members are resilient and are capable of collapsing horizontally on the exterior surface of the tubular body when under stress or at the time when the wiper is inserted into the neck of the cosmetic container. Due to presence of the collapsible members the wiper requires less push force for being inserted into the container than pull force which is required to remove the wiper from the container.
Furthermore, according to an alternate embodiment, the collapsible members may be oriented in a non-radial manner.
According to another embodiment of the present invention, there is provided an elastomeric wiper comprising: a tubular body; a top flange extending outwardly from an upper end of the tubular body; an annular wiping lip extending from an interior surface of the tubular body; a plurality of collapsible members extending radially outward from an exterior surface of the tubular body; wherein the collapsible members comprise fins that are regularly spaced around exterior surface of the tubular body and are inclined counter-clockwise; and wherein the annular wiping lip extends obliquely downwardly from the interior surface of the tubular body towards a longitudinal axis of the wiper and provides a circular opening for the passage of a stem and an applicator head of an applicator.
According to yet another embodiment of the present invention, the wiper comprises a tubular body; a top annular flange extending outwardly from an upper end of the tubular body; a plurality of regularly spaced flexible fins extending radially outward from an exterior surface of the tubular body, the fins are inclined in a counter-clockwise direction; and an annular wiping lip extending obliquely downwards from an interior surface of the tubular body. The tubular body has two opposing ends namely the upper end and a lower end. Further, the tubular body comprises an upper section and a lower section, more preferably the tubular body comprises an upper cylindrical section and a lower cylindrical section, which advantageously may have same inner diameter. More precisely, the plurality of flexible fins extends radially outward from the exterior surface of the lower cylindrical section of the tubular body and each of the plurality of flexible fins is positioned along at least a length of the lower cylindrical section of the tubular body. The annular wiping lip may be located at the interior surface of the tubular body, anywhere between the two opposing ends of the tubular body, more preferably, just above the lower cylindrical section. In alternate embodiments of the present invention, the lower section of the tubular body may have a frustoconical or funnel-like shape, which tapers towards the lower end of the tubular body and wherein the lower end act as a wiping lip. Furthermore, the fins are arranged to collapse horizontally against the exterior surface of the tubular body in response to an external stress.
According to yet another embodiment of the present invention, each of the fins has at least four surfaces. Each of the fins is attached to the exterior surface of the tubular body via at least one surface of the at least four surfaces along the longitudinal axis of the wiper. Optionally, the fins may have a fillet on one of the at least four surfaces in order to strengthen structure of the fin.
According to yet another embodiment of the present invention, at least one of the four surfaces is a joining side surface. Each of the fins is attached to the exterior surface of the tubular body via the joining side surface such that the joining side surface makes an angle of 0 degree to plus or minus 45 degrees with respect to the longitudinal axis of the wiper. According to a preferred embodiment, each of the fins is attached to the exterior surface of the tubular body via the joining side surface such that the joining side surface is parallel to the longitudinal axis of the wiper.
According to yet another embodiment of the present invention, the joining side surface of each of the fins is elongated along the longitudinal axis of the wiper and wherein the fins are attached to the exterior surface of the tubular body via their joining side surfaces such that the joining side surface is parallel to the longitudinal axis of the wiper.
According to yet another embodiment of the present invention, each of the fins has a concave side surface and a convex side surface, and wherein the concave side surface faces the exterior surface of the tubular body and the convex side surface faces away from the exterior surface of the tubular body.
According to an embodiment of the present invention, outer diameter of upper section of the tubular body is more than outer diameter of the lower section of the tubular body. The term “outer diameter of the lower section” as used herein refers to outer diameter of the lower section of the tubular body measured in a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the wiper without taking into account dimensions of the fins in that plane.
According to an embodiment of the present invention, there may be provided at least two grooves, extending parallel or non-parallel to the longitudinal axis of the wiper, on the lower section of the tubular body such that a major length of each of the groove is hidden by the respective inclined overlying fin. The at least two grooves allow easy bending of the fins so that a portion of the fins can be positioned in the grooves when the fins are bent against the tubular body in response to external stress. In alternate embodiments of the present invention, the at least two grooves may extend parallel to the joining side surface of each of the fins.
According to another embodiment of the present invention, the fins may have a quadrant shape or other differing shapes such as a wedge, ear-like shape or any triangular shape.
In an alternate embodiment of the present invention, wings can be used instead of fins to implement the present invention.
According to an alternate embodiment of the present invention, the plurality of regularly spaced fins extends radially outward from the exterior surface of the tubular body and is inclined in a clockwise direction.
The wiper, when outside the container, is present in a first position, wherein the fins are in a non-collapsed position and an outer dimension of lower section of the tubular body is greater than an outer dimension of the upper section of the tubular body. The term “outer dimension of the lower section” as used herein refers to maximum transverse dimension of the lower section measured in a sectional plane that is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the tubular body. Similarly, the term “outer dimension of the upper section” as used herein refers to maximum transverse dimension of the upper section of the tubular body measured in a sectional plane that is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the tubular body. During insertion of the wiper into the neck of the container, the wiper takes a second position, wherein the fins are in a collapsed position due to a uniform radial stress which in turn causes the lower section of the tubular body to deform radially inwardly to produce wrinkles or undulations thereon. The plurality of fins on the lower section collapse horizontally against the exterior surface of the tubular body such that a portion of the fins are disposed in respective grooves, as a result of which the outer dimension of lower section of the tubular body becomes equal or less than the outer dimension of the upper section of the tubular body. The deformation of lower section and collapsing of fins make it easy to fit the wiper into the neck of container as it allows decreased resistance to insertion of the wiper into the neck of the container. Once the wiper is fully inserted, it regains the first position in which the lower section along with fins resiliently returns to their original non-collapsed position. In the non-collapsed position, at least one surface of the at least four surfaces of the fins is positioned below an inner shoulder of the container and locks against the inner shoulder of the container offering resistance to extraction of the wiper from the neck of the container, when the wiper is tried to be pulled out of the container.
In another preferred embodiment, the wiper is made of an elastically deformable material. The elastically deformable material may be chosen, for example, from thermoplastic or crosslinked elastomers, for example. EPDMs, natural rubbers and nitrile, butyl or silicone elastomers. In the case of a crosslinked elastomer, the wiper can be manufactured in a compression mould, heated to the appropriate temperature.
According to another embodiment of the invention, there is provided an applicator unit comprising a cosmetic container containing a product; an applicator comprising a closure cap for closing an opening of a neck; a stem fixed at one end to the closure cap such as to extend downwardly there from into the cosmetic container when the cap is placed to cover the opening of the container; an applicator head such as a brush fixed to the other end of the stem, immersed in the product and which can be used to apply the product. The container is fitted with a wiper of the present invention. The applicator head of applicator passes through the wiper when the applicator is withdrawn from the container, so as to reduce the excess amount of product on the applicator head. The container can be obtained by molding a material such as a polypropylene.
According to an embodiment of the present invention, there is provided an annular seat which extends from the interior surface of the tubular body of the wiper, located just above the annular wiping lip, and which aids in easy insertion of the wiper into the container neck. An insertion shaft, commonly employed to insert the elastically deformable wipers such as wipers made from elastomeric material, may come into abutment against the annular seat of the wiper of the present invention, and this particular arrangement prevents the occurrence of back folding of the deformable wiper during insertion into the cosmetic container.
According to an alternate embodiment of the present invention, the annular seat may be discontinuous.
A wiper in accordance with the invention can be used in a variety of applicator units.
The applicator can be, for example, an applicator for the eyelashes or eyebrows, e.g., in the form of a twisted or molded brush, a brush of the paintbrush type, an eyeliner, a block of foam, a frit, a pen or a felt. The product in the container can be a cosmetic product, or another type of product applied to the applicator, with the wiper preventing or reducing the presence of excess amount of the product on the applicator when the applicator is removed from the container. Mascara, lipstick, e.g. a liquid lipstick, lip gloss, foundation, nail varnish, eye shadow, eye liner. etc are a few example of the products that can be stored in the container.
The term “plurality” as used herein, refers to two or more collapsible members or grooves.
The above and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention 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 invention can be understood in detail, a more particular description of the invention, briefly summarized above, may be had by reference to embodiments, some of which are illustrated in the appended drawings. It is to be noted, however, that the appended drawings illustrate only typical embodiments of this invention and are therefore not to be considered limiting of its scope, for the invention may admit to other equally effective embodiments.
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 invention and are therefore not to be considered limiting of its scope, for the invention may admit to other equally effective embodiments.
Referring now to
As seen particularly in
As seen in
Referring to
The tubular body 11 has an interior surface 15a and an exterior surface 15b. The wiper 10 has a top annular flange 14 extending outwardly from an upper end 18a of the tubular body 11 for seating on an upper edge 23 of the neck 24.
Further, the tubular body 11 has a plurality of collapsible members such as flexible fins 13 extending radially outward from the exterior surface 15b of the tubular body 11. The flexible fins 13 are regularly spaced and are inclined in a counter-clockwise direction around the periphery of the tubular body 11. More particularly, the flexible fins 13 extend radially outward from the lower cylindrical section 11b of the tubular body 11. The fins 13 have a quadrant shape; each fin 13 comprises four surfaces namely a first joining side surface 13a (the first joining side surface 13a is not visible because it is joined with tubular body 11—as represented by the dotted line in
Referring to
Referring to
During mounting of the wiper 10 into the cosmetic container 20, the tubular body 11 is arranged inside the neck 24 of the cosmetic container 20 and the top annular flange 14 forms a stop retaining the wiper 10 in this position.
According to alternate embodiments of the present invention, the quadrant shape of the fins 13 may be replaced by other differing shapes such as a wedges, ear-like shape or triangular shape.
According to alternate embodiments of the present invention, wings can be used instead of fins 13 to implement the present invention.
In an alternate embodiment of the present invention, the plurality of regularly spaced fins extends radially outwardly from the exterior surface of the tubular body and is inclined in a clockwise direction.
According to an alternate embodiment of the present invention, the wiper 10 may be made of two different materials, wherein the upper section 11a may be made of a first material and the lower section 11b may be made of a second material softer than the first material.
While this invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to preferred embodiments thereof, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications in form and details may be made thereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 995/DEL/2013 | Apr 2013 | IN | national |
