GB2564857A

GB2564857A - A beauty product container

Info

Publication number: GB2564857A
Application number: GB1711830.8A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Samantha Leahy Joanne
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2017-07-24
Filing date: 2017-07-24
Publication date: 2019-01-30
Also published as: GB2570531A; GB201812018D0; GB201711830D0

Abstract

A container 10 suitable for a beauty product comprises a flexible body portion 12 defining an internal cavity. An applicator 14 is attached or attachable to the body portion 12, and is used to dispense the beauty product. The front and rear face of the body portion are preferably square or rectangular. The flexible body may be made of plastic such as PVC or laminated plastic and foil. The applicator 14 may be a solid wand or brush, and it may be releasably engageable with the body portion e.g. via screw thread 32. The applicator may be permanently engaged with the body portion and may have an opening communicating with the internal cavity and a channel through which product can be dispensed. A lid (not shown) may be provided to cover the applicator. The container may be rolled or folded to take up less space when the product is dispensed. The container may be sized to comply with airline security standards.

Description

The present invention relates to a container for a beauty product, and in particular to a flexible container for a lipstick or lip gloss.

Background

Beauty products, such as for example lipstick and lip gloss, are normally carried around in a user’s handbag, purse or pocket. Conventional lipsticks and lip glosses are normally contained within a solid, rigid, sometimes bulky container. The lipstick or lip gloss may therefore take up a significant amount of available space in handbag, purse or pocket.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a container for a beauty product, such as for example lipstick or lip gloss, which addresses this problem.

In particular, it is an object of the present invention to provide a container for a beauty product which requires significantly less storage space within a user’s handbag, purse or pocket than conventional beauty product containers.

Summary of the Invention

According to the present invention there is provided a beauty product container comprising:

a flexible body portion defining an internal cavity for receiving the beauty product; and an applicator attached or attachable to the body portion, the applicator being adapted to dispense the beauty product into the internal cavity.

The flexible body portion has a first end and a second opposed end. The applicator may be located at or adjacent the first end of the body portion. An opening may be provided at or adjacent the first end of the body portion. The opening is preferably in communication with the applicator. The first end of the body portion may provide an opening in communication with the applicator. The second end is preferably a sealed end. A longitudinal axis ideally extends between the first and second ends of the body portion.

The flexible body portion may comprise a front face, an opposed rear face, and a pair of side portions extending between the first and second ends.

The front face and opposed rear face of the flexible body portion preferably have a substantially square or rectangular transverse cross-section. The front face and opposed rear face of the flexible body portion may however have a substantially ovaloid or circular transverse cross-section depending on the particular requirements of the container.

The flexible body portion may be composed of any suitable resiliently deformable material that is capable of being folded and/or squeezed and/or rolled before and/or during and/or after application of the beauty product. The flexible body portion is preferably formed from a flexible synthetic plastics material, such as for example but not to be limited to polyvinyl chloride (PVC). Said material is ideally recycled and/or recyclable, wherein the material comprises a single printed material.

The flexible body portion may be composed of laminated plastic and foil, such as for example aluminium and polyethylene. At least a portion of the flexible body portion may include a region of clear material, for example clear flexible plastics material, enabling the user to view the contents of the container. The container is preferably disposable.

The maximum width of the container, as measured between the front and rear faces in a direction extending substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the body portion, is preferably no more than 20 mm, preferably no more than 15 mm, more preferably no more than 10 mm, more preferably no more than 7 mm, and most preferably no more than 5 mm. Ideally the container is arranged for hand luggage on a plane due to lightweight, flat packaging taking up minimal room. In this way it may be envisaged that the maximum fluidic content will be under prevailing airline security transportable fluidic volume standards.

The maximum thickness of a wall of the container is preferably at least 1 mm, more preferably at least 2 mm, for example at least 5 mm.

The maximum length of the container is preferably between 1 mm and 20 mm, more preferably between 2 mm and 15 mm, more preferably between 2 mm and 10 mm, for example between 2 mm and 5 mm.

The walls of the container may taper or decrease towards the side portions. The thickness of the container may taper inwardly or decrease in a direction extending from the first end towards the second end of the body portion.

The beauty product may be any suitable for dispensing on the skin of a user. For example, the beauty product may be lipstick or lip gloss. The beauty product may alternatively be mascara, eye shadow, bronzer, foundation or blusher.

The applicator may be any suitable applicator for dispensing the beauty product from the internal cavity to the skin of the user. The applicator may have a dispensing head configured to contact or be in fluid communication with the beauty product located within the internal cavity of the body portion. The applicator may, for example, be provided in the form of a solid wand, a brush, or a solid applicator providing an opening in fluid communication with the beauty product within the internal cavity of the body portion.

The applicator may permanently engage the body portion by way of an engagement means. The applicator may however releasably engage the body portion. The applicator may for example provide an interference fit with the adjacent portion of the body portion. The applicator may comprise a screw thread for threaded engagement with a corresponding portion of the body portion. The applicator may be moveable between a first closed position and a second open position.

The applicator may comprise a first end configured for releasable engagement with the body portion. Such releasable engagement is by way of, for example an interference fit or screw threaded engagement, with an adjacent portion of the body portion. Preferably engagement means is at or adjacent the first end of the body portion. The applicator may comprise a second opposed end comprising a dispensing head configured to be received within the internal cavity of the body portion. The dispensing head may be configured to contact the beauty product located within the internal cavity. The first end provides a handle portion for the user.

The applicator may be a wand or brush having suitable dimensions for being received within the internal cavity of the body portion. The wand or brush preferably has a slim, elongate profile.

The applicator may be configured to be permanently engaged with an adjacent portion of the body portion, preferably at or adjacent the first end of the body portion. The applicator may for example be engaged with the body portion using an adhesive.

The applicator may for example be a solid applicator. The applicator preferably comprises a first end providing an opening in fluid communication with the internal cavity of the body portion. The applicator preferably comprises a second opposed free end providing an opening for dispensing the beauty product from the internal cavity to the skin of a user. A channel preferably extends between the openings provided at each of the first and second ends of the applicator. The solid applicator may have any suitable shape, for example the solid applicator may be substantially circular or elliptical in cross-section.

In order to minimise cross-sectional dimensions of the container, the applicator preferably has an elliptical cross-section. In particular, the dimensions of the applicator (when in the first closed position) are greater when measured in a direction extending between the side portions of the body portion than when measured in a direction extending between the front and rear faces of the body portion.

The container may further comprise a lid configured to receive and cover at least a portion of the applicator, and to releasably engage an adjacent portion of the body portion. The lid may substantially cover the first free end of the applicator. The lid therefore helps to maintain the material to be applied in a hygienic environment.

The container may for example comprise a hinge extending between a lid and an adjacent portion of the body portion. The lid may be configured to provide an interference fit with an adjacent portion of the body portion. The lid may for example comprise a screw thread for threaded engagement with a corresponding portion of the body portion and/or the applicator, such as for example the first free end of the applicator.

The container may comprise one or more attachment features, such as for example openings or hooks, to enable the container to be attached to other personal items carried by a user, such as for example keys.

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying Figures, in which:

Brief Description of Figures

Figure 1 shows a schematic illustration when viewed from the front of one embodiment of the beauty product container of the present invention when in the first closed configuration;

Figure 2 shows a schematic illustration when viewed from the side of the beauty product container of Figure 1 when in the first closed configuration;

Figure 3 shows a schematic illustration when viewed from the first end of the beauty product container of Figure 1 when in the first closed configuration;

Figure 4 shows a schematic illustration of a perspective view of the beauty product container of Figure 1 when in the first closed configuration; and

Figure 5 shows a schematic illustration when viewed from the front of the beauty product container of Figure 1 when in the second open configuration.

Detailed Description of Figures

With reference to the Figures, the beauty product container 10 comprises a flexible body portion 12 defining an internal cavity (not shown) for receiving a beauty product. The container 10 further comprises an applicator 14 attached or attachable to the body portion 12. The applicator 14 is arranged in use to dispense the beauty product within the internal cavity.

The body portion 12 comprises a first end 16 and a second opposed end 18. The applicator 14 is located at the first end 16 of the body portion 12. The flexible body portion 12 comprises a front face 20, an opposed rear face 22, and a pair of side portions 24, 26 extending between the first and second ends 16, 18. The front face 20 and opposed rear face 22 have a substantially rectangular transverse crosssection.

The flexible body portion 12 is composed of PVC which is capable of being folded and/or squeezed and/or rolled before and/or during and/or after application of the beauty product.

The maximum thickness of the container, and in particular the body portion 12 is between 2 mm and 15 mm. It can be seen from the Figures that the body portion 12 tapers inwardly in a direction extending away from the centre of the body portion 12 and towards each side portion 24, 26. The body portion12 also tapers inwardly in a direction extending from the first end 16 towards the second end 18 of the body portion 12.

The container 10 may comprise any suitable beauty product, such as for example lipstick, lip gloss, mascara, eye shadow, bronzer, foundation or blusher. Preferably, the container 10 comprises lipstick or lip gloss.

The applicator 14 is moveable between a first closed position in which the beauty product is not dispensed and a second open position allowing the beauty product to be dispensed.

In the illustrated embodiment, the applicator 14 is a brush which is releasably engaged to the body portion. A first end 30 of the applicator 14 comprises a threaded portion for releasable engagement to the threaded portion 32 provided by the body portion 12. The second opposed end 34 of the applicator comprises a dispensing head 28 configured to be received within the internal cavity of the body portion 12 in order to contact the beauty product.

The present invention therefore provides a flexible beauty product container which minimises the amount of room required in a user’s handbag, purse or pocket for transportation. Furthermore, the product is flexible and as such allows the user to fold or roll the container enabling a further reduction in the storage space required. The container may in one embodiment be disposable.

With respect to the specification therefore, it is to be realised that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent 5 relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by the present invention.

Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention, with variation and implementation on the basis of either common general 10 knowledge or of expert knowledge in the field concerned. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope ofthe accompanying claims.

Claims

1. A beauty product container comprising:

2. A container as claimed in claim 1, in which the body portion comprises a first end and a second opposed end, and in which the applicator is located at or adjacent the first end of the body portion.

3. A container as claimed in either of claim 1 or 2, in which the flexible body portion comprises a front face, an opposed rear face, and a pair of side portions extending between the first and second ends, and in which the front face and opposed rear face have a substantially square or rectangular transverse cross-section.

4. A container as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the flexible body portion is composed of material capable of being folded and/or squeezed and/or rolled before and/or during and/or after application of the beauty product.

5. A container as claimed in claim 4, in which the flexible body portion is composed of flexible plastic material.

6. A container as claimed in claim 5, in which the flexible plastic material is PVC or laminated plastic and foil.

7. A container as claimed in any preceding claim, in which at least a portion of the flexible body portion is composed of clear flexible plastic material.

8. A container as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the maximum thickness of the container is between 2 mm and 15 mm.

9. A container as claimed in any preceding claim, further comprising a beauty product is selected from: lipstick, lip gloss, mascara, eye shadow, bronzer, foundation or blusher.

10. A container as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the applicator comprises a dispensing head configured to contact or be in fluid communication with the beauty product located within the internal cavity of the body portion.

11. A container as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the applicator is selected from: a solid wand, a brush, or a solid applicator.

12. A container as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the applicator is moveable between a first closed position in which the beauty product is not dispensed and a second open position allowing the beauty product to be dispensed.

13. A container as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the applicator is releasably engaged to the body portion, and in which the applicator comprises a first end configured for releasable engagement to the body portion, and a second opposed end comprising a dispensing head configured to be received within the internal cavity of the body portion.

14. A container as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 12, in which the applicator comprises a solid applicator permanently engaged to an adjacent portion of the body portion, and in which the applicator comprises a first end providing an opening in fluid communication with the internal cavity of the body portion, and a second opposed free end providing an opening for dispensing the beauty product from the internal cavity to the skin of a user, and in which a channel extends between the openings provided at each of the first and second ends of the applicator.

15. A container as claimed in claim 14, in which the solid applicator has a substantially elliptical cross-section.

16. A container as claimed in any preceding claim, further comprising a lid configured to receive and cover at least a portion of the applicator, and to releasably engage an adjacent portion of the body portion.