ES2651925T3 - Single-use cosmetic sample - Google Patents

Abstract

A single-use cosmetic container (1), comprising: A unit body formed integrally (2) molded into a single piece that includes: a portion of glass (3) defining a product storage tank (4), comprising the vessel portion an upper end wall (5) and a side wall (6) depending on the upper end wall to form a tubular housing (8), the wall side ending at a lower margin (9) adapted to seal Hermetically after the product reservoir has been filled, the vessel portion defining a longitudinal axis (10) from the upper end wall through the product storage reservoir., where the side wall (6) between the end wall upper (5) and the lower margin (9) has a first thickness sufficient to resist deformation when tightened and the lower margin (9) has a second thickness less than the first thickness, the second thickness selected to allow for formation of the side wall (6) sufficient to seal the package; and a rod (11) disposed along the longitudinal axis, the rod having a central part (12) formed integrally with the upper end wall, extending a first end (13) of the rod downward from the middle portion in a inner side (14) of the wall of the upper end to the product reservoir and ending at one end of the applicator (15), and a second end (16) of the rod extending from the middle part on the outer side (17) of the wall of the upper end and ending at one end of the handle (18) adapted to be grasped by a user; and a frangible connection (20) between the wall of the upper end and the middle portion of the rod, the frangible connection adapted to break and form an opening (21) of a predetermined size in the wall of the upper end when the end of the handle is Manipulated by the user, the default size selected to remove excess product from the end of the rod applicator.

Description

5

10

fifteen

twenty

25

30

35

40

Four. Five

fifty

55

60

65

Cosmetic sample of a single use Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates to containers of cosmetic products, such as disposable containers of sample cosmetic products, intended for single use only. In particular, the present invention is directed to a package of cosmetic product molded into a single unit body that includes a vessel, an applicator and a frangible connection between the vessel and the rod which, when broken, forms a means of windshield wiper for dosing The sample dispensed.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREVIOUS TECHNIQUE

[0002] Single-use vessels serve at least two important functions in the cosmetic field, that is, as unit dose dispensers or as samplers. The unit dose dispensers conveniently provide the user with a previously measured quantity of product, for example, sufficient product for a single treatment or application. Samplers (product sample size packages) are generally provided to consumers free of charge or at a nominal cost so that the consumer can experience a limited quantity of a product before making a purchase decision. With respect to samplers, it is important that the experience of sampling the product closely approximates the experience of using a salable package (the package available for purchase). It is also advantageous that, when used as a sampler, the package cannot be easily used several times. If a free sample is reusable and / or contains too much product, there is a significantly lower incentive for a consumer to buy a salable package.

[0003] Current samplers are often smaller versions of salable packages. For example, mask product samplers are often reduced volume versions of the salable package, complete with a sellable marketable container with a threaded neck and cap, a rod, a brush applicator and an elastomer cleaner insert. The cost of such samplers is relatively high due to the quantity and quality of parts (bottle, cap, rod, brush, cleaner), complexity of the structure, assembly and filling. In addition, as they can be hermetically resealed, the consumer can use said sample for several days or weeks and, therefore, has a reduced incentive to buy a corresponding package that can be sold.

[0004] Alternative samplers can be manufactured by blow molding, extrusion or vacuum formation of less expensive bottles, compression tubes or blister, respectively. However, these less expensive alternatives do not provide a quality sampling experience that closely approximates the experience of using a salable package. In addition, because these alternative sampler packages are generally not nested, the user may inadvertently apply too much pressure to the package and accidentally release or eject an unwanted portion of the product.

[0005] JP 2002 238655 A discloses an applicator for makeup comprising a shaft member, a clamping part and a glass molded integrally from a flexible synthetic resin material. U.S. Patent Nos. 4,732,287 and 4,711,354 to Bennett, respectively, describe cosmetic dispensers that include an elongated hollow cylindrical vessel with an opening, and an elongated plastic article (applicator rod) provided in the vessel with a portion enlarged sealed or welded in the opening of the vessel. The basic dispenser requires at least two main components, the cylindrical container and the article (applicator rod), which are manufactured separately and subsequently assembled, thus increasing the cost of production.

[0006] US Pat. UU. No. 2,814,420 to Elder, Jr., et al. It shows a sealed package and a vessel with a tubular body, a truncated conical section that extends at one end of the body and a rod connected by an annular zone that can be broken to the truncated conical section. The body, the truncated cone section and the stem are formed as a unitary part. The tubular body is compressible to facilitate the expulsion of the product from the product tank. Consequently, the product could be inadvertently ejected during normal handling if the user inadvertently applies excessive pressure. To avoid this problem, the user reverses the truncated cone section from a position that extends inside the body to a position that extends outward from the body. While this feature seems to reduce the incidence of inadvertent product release, the problem may not be completely eliminated. In addition, the rod does not extend down below the truncated cone section, so it seems that it is difficult, if not impossible, for the rod to submerge into the product in the vessel. It seems as if the stem, to be used as an applicator, had to be loaded with product by squeezing the product from the tubular body.

[0007] US Pat. UU. No. 6,039,487 to Kristiansen, describes a disposable dispenser comprising

5

10

fifteen

twenty

25

30

35

40

Four. Five

fifty

55

60

65

a tube that extends from an upper end of a glass. An open bottom end of the container is sealed after the container is loaded with the product. Before filling and sealing, an applicator rod is inserted into the tube, which is adapted to receive internally and frictionally fit into the upper end of the applicator rod. The region where the tube and the container neck are weakened so that the tube can be separated from the container. Again, the basic package requires at least two components, the tube / container and the rod, which are manufactured separately and then assembled.

[0008] US Pat. UU. No. 5,826,600 to Rowe et al. describes a dry handle disposable mask applicator set. U.S. Patent No. 4,952,204 to Kortweg describes a dry cotton brush assembly and unit. The containers described in Rowe et al. and Kortweg are substantially the same as those described in Kristiansen, a tube that extends from the upper end of a container with an applicator rod secured in the tube. Each requires at least two basic components, the tube / container and the rod.

[0009] US Pat. UU. No. 6,709,181 of Montoli describes a mask product sampler substantially similar in construction to a salable package, that is, complete with a sealable glass with a threaded neck and cap, a rod, a brush applicator and a windshield wiper insert of elastomer. The relative complexity of manufacturing and assembly is evident.

[0010] Accordingly, there is a need for a single-use, less complex, nested container, substantially manufactured in one piece, and which includes an integral rod with an applicator end extending into a product reservoir, the rod capable of load and distribute the contents of the container.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0011] The object of the invention is to provide a single-use cosmetic container as defined in claim 1. The preferred features of the invention are set forth in the dependent claims.

[0012] Accordingly, a single-use nested cosmetic container is provided in which the basic elements, a tubular container and an applicator rod, are integrally formed as a unitary body. The rod extends inwardly from the top of the container to a product reservoir to form an applicator end. The rod extends upwardly from the upper end of the container to form a handle that may be provided in dimensions that approximate the lid of a salable package. The container and the rod are separated by a frangible connection at the top end of the container. The lower margin of the side wall of the container is provided with a reduced thickness to allow the container to pinch and seal tightly after the product tank is filled with a quantity of product.

[0013] The end of the rod applicator can be used as is, for example, a bucket to receive the product, or the end can be improved with texture (eg, grooves, edges, holes, bumps) or a flattened portion of spatula to improve the load and / or administration of the product. Alternatively, the end of the applicator can be improved by securing an applicator thereto. For example, a sponge, a fibrous material, flocking or a brush can be secured to the end of the applicator to improve the loading and supply of the product sample.

[0014] The frangible connection is adapted to form an opening in the upper end of the vessel that is sized to clean excess product from the applicator end and / or an applicator. The opening is preferably sized to approximate the size and function of the cleaner in a corresponding salable package for the same product.

[0015] Although the cosmetic vessel of the present invention appears to be a compression tube type vessel, the vessel is actually substantially nigged, that is, it is substantially inflexible under pressures associated with the typical handling of packages of this type. Consequently, the product and the applicator are well protected, and inadvertent spillage or expulsion of the product during handling is substantially avoided.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0016]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view, in cross section, of a first embodiment of the unitary body of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view, in cross section, of a second embodiment of the unit body;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 1 also showing schematically an applicator;

FIG. 4 is a partial view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, which shows the frangible connection in greater detail; Y

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 3 with the broken frangible connection and the

5

10

fifteen

twenty

25

30

35

40

Four. Five

fifty

55

60

65

rod removed from the container.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0017] With reference now to FIGS. 1-5, a single use cosmetic vessel is generally shown in reference number 1. The vessel comprises a unit body 2 that includes a portion of vessel 3 that defines a product storage tank 4. The portion of vessel 3 has an upper end wall 5 with an outer penimeter 7. On the penimeter 7, a side wall 6 depends on the wall of the upper end 5 to form a tubular housing 8. The side wall 6 ends at a lower margin 9 defining a passage temporary filling 27 (Figs. 1 and 2). The lower margin 9 is adapted to seal tightly after the product tank 4 is filled through the filling passage 27. The lower margin 9 is provided with a reduced thickness relative to the rest of the side wall 6 to facilitate sealing . The lower margin 9 is sealed, for example, by heating to soften the reduced wall thickness of the margin, and then pinch the margin between sf to close the temporary filling step 27. The pinched margin is joined to each other by, for example, sonic welding, hot melting, adhesive or other known method. The vessel portion 3 further defines a longitudinal axis 10 that extends through the upper end wall 5, the product storage tank 4 and the filling passage 27.

[0018] A rod 11 is disposed along the longitudinal axis 10. The rod 11 has a middle part 12 formed integrally with the upper end wall 5. A first end 13 of the rod 11 extends downward from the middle portion 12 on an inner side 14 of the upper end wall 5 in the product storage tank 4 and ends at an applicator end 15 of the rod 11. A second end 16 of the rod 11 extends from the central part 12 in a outer side 17 of the upper end wall 5 and ends at a handle end 18 adapted to be grasped by a user.

[0019] A frangible connection 20 is located between the penimeter 7 of the upper end wall 5 and the middle portion 12 of the rod 11. The frangible connection 20 is adapted to break and form an opening 21 (see FIG. 5) which It has a predetermined size in the wall of the upper end 5 when the user handles the end of the handle 18, for example, by twisting the end of the handle 18 relative to the part of the vessel 3. In FIG. 5, the reference numbers 20 'and 20' 'indicate the corresponding opposite surfaces of a broken frangible cone connection 20. Before breaking, the frangible connection 20 surrounds the central part 12 of the rod 11. The breakable connection 20 comprises the minus an annular groove 32 on the inner side 14 of the upper end wall 5. The groove could similarly be provided on the outer side 17 of the upper end wall 5. The groove 32 is illustrated immediately adjacent to the rod 11, without However, it can be spaced at any distance from the suitable rod to form the opening 21 in an appropriate predetermined size to remove excess product from the applicator end 15 and / or applicator 22. An additional annular groove 33 can be provided on the rod 11 to facilitate the formation of the opening 21.

[0020] For clarity, the unit body 2, including the container portion 3, the rod 11 and the frangible connection 20 is integrally formed as a single unit per injection molding. This greatly reduces the cost of manufacturing and handling the container.

[0021] The end of the applicator 15 of the rod 11 can be used in the manner shown in FIG. 2 as, for example, a bucket, to load cosmetic products and transport them to a user treatment area. Alternatively, to improve the loading and administration of the product, the end of the applicator can be improved with texture, for example, holes, grooves, bumps, patterns or cutouts, or form, for example, a spatula (not shown). However, the end of the applicator 15 is preferably further adapted as shown in FIGS. 1, 3 and 5 to facilitate loading, transporting and applying the cosmetic product, for example, by securing an applicator 22 (shown schematically) to the end of the applicator 15. The applicator 22 may take the form of a fiber or foam pad , a sponge, a brush, a spatula, a flocked tip, a profiled elastomer tip or any other suitable means for loading, transporting and applying cosmetic products. The applicator 22 can be secured by conventional means, such as adhesive or sonic welding. Preferably, the applicator end 15 is adapted to support an applicator 22, for example, by providing a hole 23 sized to receive a rod 24 of an applicator 22 (FIG. 3). The rod 24 may take the form of a twisted wire core 25, such as the wire core of a typical mask brush 26 (shown schematically). The wire rod or core 24, 25 can be fixed in the hole 23 by any suitable means including, among others, adhesive, sonic welding, pressure adjustment or heat treatment.

[0022] Although in a preferred embodiment, the filled and sealed cosmetic vessel of the present invention appears to be a compression tube type vessel (see FIGS. 3, 5), the container is actually substantially nid, that is, it is substantially inflexible under pressures associated with the typical handling of packages of this type. The rigidity of the container is the result of several factors. First, unit body 2 is injection molded. Injection molded vessels of this size and type tend to be more tight than, for example, extruded, blow molded or vacuum formed vessels. The rigidity is further enhanced by selecting a material for the unit body 2 and a thickness dimension for the side wall 6 between the upper end wall 5 and the margin

5

10

fifteen

twenty

25

30

35

40

Four. Five

fifty

55

60

65

bottom 9 to substantially resist deformation. The material and the thickness of the side wall 6 are also selected to maximize compatibility with the product and avoid breakage.

[0023] An advantage of making the vessel substantially nested is that the applicator 22 is protected from damage or deformation. This is particularly important for precision applicators such as the braided wire mask brush applicator 26. The filaments of said brush can be damaged or deformed by constant or repeated unwanted contact with the flexible walls of the vessel. Another very important advantage of a nested container is that it prevents the user from inadvertently squeezing the product through the opening 21. This avoids inconvenient spills or stains that may result from the unexpected expulsion of the product from the container.

[0024] A disadvantage of making the container substantially nigged is that the airtight sealing of the lower part of the container is substantially more difficult due to the inflexibility of the side wall 6. The present inventors have overcome this difficulty by reducing the thickness in the side wall 6 along the bottom margin 9 of the side wall. Accordingly, the side wall 6 between the upper end wall 5 and the lower margin 9 has a first thickness sufficient to resist deformation when gripped or squeezed under normal use. The side wall 6 in the vicinity of the lower margin 9 has a second thickness less than the first thickness. The second thickness is selected to accommodate the deformation of the side wall 6 sufficiently to allow airtight sealing of the filling passage 27. In the preferred embodiment, the lower margin 9 is compressed under heat and pressure to seal the filling passage 27 by sealing after the product has been filled in the product storage tank 4.

[0025] Alternatively, not in accordance with the present invention, to pinch the bottom margin 9 to seal the filling passage, a plug (not shown) sized to fit in the filling step 27 can be inserted. The plug can be tightly secured to the lower margin 9 by adhesive, welding, pressure adjustment or other suitable means.

[0026] In the preferred embodiment shown in FIGS. 1, 3 and 5, the handle end 18 of the single-use cosmetic container is provided with an expanded hollow housing 19 that closely approximates the dimensions of a typical lid closure in a salable cosmetic package (i.e., non-sampler ). As illustrated, the sample is for a mask product. The vessel portion 3 which includes the tubular housing 8 and the hollow housing 19 imitate proportionally and in real dimensions the size of a typical marketable mask container. In this way, the present invention provides the consumer with a product sample with the appearance of a salable item, and thus provides the consumer in a sample with a quality product experience that closely approximates the experience of the salable product available for your purchase The hollow housing 19 has an open end 30. To improve the appearance of the hollow housing handle, the open end 30 can be closed with a plug of appropriate size (not shown) that can be secured by adhesive, welding or snap fit.

[0027] The frangible connection 20 is adapted to form an opening 21 in the upper end wall 5 which is sized to clean excess product from the applicator end 15 or applicator 22. The opening 21 is preferably sized to approximate the size and function of a windshield wiper in a typical marketable package. Typical conventional cleaners have an opening with a diameter in the range of 3.5 mm to 4.5 mm. Therefore, the frangible connection 20 must be adapted to have an opening 21 in the same range, although some adjustment of the dimension of the opening 21 may be required to take into account differences in salable applicators versus samplers, or differences in the structure of the Typical cleaner and opening 21. For example, in the preferred embodiment, the central part 12 and the first end 13 of the rod 11 have a diameter of approximately 3.7 mm. The opening 21 formed by breaking the frangible connection 20 is slightly larger than the diameter of the rod 11, that is, slightly larger than 3.7 mm.

[0028] The unit body 2 of the single use cosmetic vessel of the present invention is preferably made in one piece by injection molding. The preferred material is high density polyethylene (HDPE). Alternatively, the unit body material may be low density polyethylene (LDPE), polypropylene (PP) or other suitable plastic material. A mold is provided comprising two or more sections with a cavity sized to form the unitary body 2. Suitable molten plastic is injected through the doors into the cavity. The doors are positioned to facilitate the flow of molten plastic to all parts of the cavity, including the part of the cavity adapted to form the frangible connection 20. The mold cools sufficiently to allow the molten plastic to harden. The mold parts are separated to release the entire unit body. After the unit body is formed, an applicator 22 (if desired) is applied to the applicator end 15 of the rod 11 within the product reservoir 4. The product reservoir 4 is then filled and the bottom margin 9 sealed tightly , for example, welding, hot melt, adhesive or other known means. In the preferred embodiment, the lower margin 9 is clamped or held under heat and pressure to hermetically seal the filling passage 27 by welding a section approximately 5 mm wide along the lower edge 31 of the lower margin.

[0029] Alternatively, before injecting molten plastic into the mold cavity, an applicator such as, by

5

10

fifteen

twenty

25

30

35

40

Four. Five

fifty

55

60

65

For example, a mask brush can be mounted in the mold such that the brush rod protrudes from the portion of the cavity adapted to form the end of the rod applicator. The molten plastic is subsequently injected so that the unitary body is formed, including the end of the rod applicator with the mask brush stem firmly embedded therein. Therefore, the mask brush rod is overmoulded in its final position. This method eliminates the need to separately install the mask brush at the end of the applicator after the unit body is formed. The product tank is full and the bottom margin is hermetically sealed by welding.

[0030] The single-use cosmetic vessel of the present invention serves as an excellent sampler since it provides the user with a quality product experience that closely approximates the experience of the commercially available salable product. However, it will contain a limited amount of product, and because the container has a frangible connection between the part of the container and the rod, the container and the product have a short life once opened (because the container cannot be re- seal). Consequently, it is only suitable for limited use, essentially only once. Since the container cannot be resealed, any unused part of the sample product dries quickly and its subsequent use is not advised. Therefore, by discouraging reuse, the vessel of the present invention minimizes any negative impact reuse may have on sales of marketable cosmetic containers. The single-use container can be used for treatment, makeup, cleaning or other products.

[0031] The cosmetic vessel of the present invention can also be used as a package for single-use type cosmetic applications. For example, some treatment products such as wrinkle reducers or stain removers are sold in single dose units. The present invention provides an ideal package for such marketable dosed products.

[0032] It is understood that various modifications and changes in the shape and construction of the various specific parts can be made without departing from the scope of the following claims.

Claims (8)

5 10 fifteen twenty 25 30 35 40 Four. Five fifty 55 60 65 Claims 1. A single-use cosmetic container (1), comprising: A unit body integrally formed (2) molded in one piece that includes: a vessel portion (3) defining a product storage tank (4), the vessel portion comprising an upper end wall (5) and a side wall (6) depending on the upper end wall to form a housing tubular (8), the wall side that ends at a lower margin (9) adapted to seal tightly after the product tank has been filled, the vessel portion defining a longitudinal axis (10) from the upper end wall to through the product storage tank., where the side wall (6) between the upper end wall (5) and the lower margin (9) has a first thickness sufficient to resist deformation when pressed and the lower margin (9) it has a second thickness less than the first thickness, the second thickness selected to allow deformation of the side wall (6) sufficient to seal the package; Y a rod (11) disposed along the longitudinal axis, the rod having a central part (12) formed integrally with the upper end wall, extending a first end (13) of the rod downward from the middle portion on one side internal (14) of the wall of the upper end to the deposit of the product and ending at one end of the applicator (15), and a second end (16) of the rod extending from the middle part on the outer side (17) of the upper end wall and ending at one end of the handle (18) adapted to be grasped by a user; Y a frangible connection (20) between the upper end wall and the middle portion of the rod, the frangible connection adapted to break and form an opening (21) of a predetermined size in the upper end wall when the handle end is manipulated by the user, the predetermined size selected to remove excess product from the end of the rod applicator. 2. The single-use cosmetic container (1) of claim 1, wherein the end of the applicator (15) is adapted to support an applicator (22). 3. The single-use cosmetic vessel (1) of claim 2 further comprising an applicator (22) secured to the end of the applicator (15). 4. The single-use cosmetic container (1) of claim 2, wherein the end of the applicator (15) further comprises a hole (23) for receiving an applicator (22). 5. The single-use cosmetic vessel (1) of claim 4 further comprising an applicator (22) with a twisted wire core (25), and a portion of the twisted wire core is secured in the animal by at least one of adhesive, sonic welding, pressure adjustment or heat treatment. 6. The single-use cosmetic package (1) of claim 5, wherein the predetermined size is further selected to clean the excess product from the applicator (22). 7. The single-use cosmetic container (1) of claim 1, wherein the end of the handle (18) further comprises an expanded hollow shell (19). 8. The single-use cosmetic container (1) of claim 3, wherein the predetermined size is further selected to clean the excess product from the applicator (22).