MXPA00003911A - Airtight container - Google Patents

Abstract

This invention provides an airtight cosmetic container, which comprises a cover (2), a base (1), and a hollow gasket (10) positioned on the cover or the base. As the cover is moved into the closed position, the gasket (10) deforms to a point where the gasket sealingly engages the cover and the base. The gasket surrounds a volatile solvent-containing product, and because the gasket deforms between the cover and the base, a seal is obtained which substantially prevents the loss of the volatile solvent from the product when the container is closed.

Description

HERMETIC AIR CONTAINER FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a cosmetic compact or container with a similar hinge. More particularly, it relates to an air-tight container which prevents the loss of a volatile solvent from the product contained therein by sealing the internal contents of the external environment.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION It is desirable to have products containing a volatile solvent because the volatile solvent provides a better "feel" of the product when applied to the skin. The problem encountered with these types of formulations is that they quickly lose the volatile solvent contained within their composition due to evaporation of the product. The loss of a volatile solvent from a product can adversely affect the physical properties of the product as well as reduce the delivery amount of volatiles. Even if it is not stored above room temperature, it has been noted that there is loss of the volatile solvent over time. A compact for standard cosmetics, which is used to store products containing non-volatile solvents, is composed of a base and a cover. The base and cover are joined to each other by a hinge which allows the cover to oscillate away from the base, thus exposing the product. To keep the cover in contact with the base when the cover is closed, a latch is typically provided. This latch is effective for keeping the dust cover closed, but does not provide airtight seal. This is because the cover and base of the compact have inherent manufacturing tolerances which do not allow an air tight seal to be made when the cover is in the closed position, thus making a standard compact ineffective for use with a product that It contains volatile solvents. Currently, there are many refrigerators that provide a seal that prevents the loss of a volatile solvent from a product. These compactors provide the sealing of the product of the external environment through the use of threaded lids, linings and gaskets, additional covers and combinations of these elements. Typical screw cap sealants are those described in JP 8256829. With this style of compact sealant, a separate compartment is provided for the product. This compartment has an external wall that contains a rope finish. On this external wall a lid with a matching internal cord is placed. The lid is then screwed onto the compartment just as a lid is screwed into a bottle. The inside of the lid can be provided with a deformable liner which will help to make a seal on the entire upper edge of the compartment wall when the lid is closed. The disadvantage of this type of sealing powder is that, in order to have access to the product, the consumer must first open the cover of the compact and then unscrew the lid. These multiple steps can sometimes be annoying and confuse a consumer, thus detracting from the consumer's acceptance of such packaging. Sealing pads, such as those of JP 9037838, use an elastic packing material to effect a seal. This packing material is in the form of a solid O-ring, placed within a slot in the base, in which the O-ring deforms as it contacts a protrusion of the cover. When the solid O-ring deforms, it makes a seal around the protrusion of the cover. This style of compact is, however, difficult to seal because it requires the exact manufacture of the protrusion that makes contact with the O-ring, the groove inside the base, and the O-ring itself. In addition, the solid O-ring requires the consumer to exert a large amount of force when closing the cover. This is because the consumer has to deform a solid structure before the cover can be held in place via the anchoring mechanism. The double covers have also been used to provide a seal inside a compact (see JP 8154730, JP 8140728, and JP 9037838). This configuration requires the consumer to basically open two compartments, first the cover, and then the cover over the product, before applying the cosmetic. This style is of intense work for the consumer, because it requires that you open the cover of the compact and then open the cover of the product to have access to it. After that, the consumer has to close the product cover so that she can see herself in the mirror placed inside the first cover while applying the cosmetic. The use of a liner within the shell, as described in JP 8191712, JP 816841 1, JP 8150016, JP 8140729, JP 8140728, JP 8126524, JP 8038243, JP 8238123, JP 8080961, JP 8080960, JP 8131248 and JP 8191714. , has also been used to obtain a seal inside the compact. The lining inside these pockets engage with a raised eyebrow that surrounds the product compartment to ensure a seal. This coupling causes the force required to close the compact to increase, and in turn, requires the use of a more secure locking mechanism that can withstand this added force without being released from its hold. Friction adjustment seals have also been used to seal a compact. The Patent of E. U. , No. 4,586,519, discloses the use of opposing annular rings that couple together circumferentially when the compact cover is closed. In order to provide a reliable seal for this type of compact, the annular rings must be precisely molded so that they will contact each other along all points. The molding accuracy required for this construction increases the cost of the compact, and if not properly controlled it will not result in an effective seal. This invention provides an air tight container that prevents the loss of a volatile solvent from the product. This invention also provides an air-tight container that does not require additional steps or a significant degree of force to open and close the cover. Also, this invention provides an air tight container that has few parts and is simple to assemble. This invention also provides an air-tight container that is a relatively simple device that avoids interference with package aesthetics.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION This invention provides an air tight container, which comprises a cover, a base, and a hollow gasket placed on the cover or base. As the cover moves to the closed position, the joint deforms to a point where the joint sealingly engages the cover and the base. The seal surrounds a product containing volatile solvent, and because the joint deforms between the cover and the base, a seal is obtained which substantially prevents the loss of the volatile solvent of the product when the container is closed. In a preferred embodiment, the hollow joint is in fluid contact with one or more reservoirs, which are depressed upon closing the container, thereby inflating the seal and making a seal between the cover and the base.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DIAMETERS Further objectives and aspects of the present invention will be better understood in the light of the examples of modalities discussed below with the aid of a drawing in which: Figures 1A and 1B are cross-sectional views of a container in the open and closed positions with a hollow joint according to an embodiment of the present invention. Figures 2A and 2B are cross-sectional views of a container in the open and closed positions with a hollow joint according to a further embodiment of the present invention. Figure 3A is a top view of the base of a container having a joint with a reservoir, whose profile is indicated by the dotted line. Figure 3B is a top view of the base of a container having a joint with two tanks, whose profile is indicated by the dotted line. Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view illustrating one embodiment of the gasket of the present invention. Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a further embodiment of the gasket of the present invention. Figures 6A to 6H show various shapes of the gasket and according to the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION FIGS. 1A and 1B show an embodiment of the air-tight container of the present invention. The container includes a base 1 having an internal surface 6 and a compartment 3 for a product. Attached to the base 1 is a cover 2. The cover 2 has an internal surface 13 and is attached to the base 1 by means which will allow the cover 2 to assume an open position and a closed position. For example, the cover may be pivotally attached to the base, v. g. , via a hinge 4, as seen in Figures 1A and 1 B, where the hinge will allow the cover to pivot between an open and a closed position. The airtight container is further provided with a means 5 suitable for maintaining the cover 2 in engagement with the base 1 when the cover is in the closed position. The means 5 for storing the cover with the base can be a suitable latch assembly, a push button assembly, a friction fit assembly, a magnetic assembly, a quick-fit assembly, or any other suitable means. Figure 1 B shows the cover 2 held in the closed position in engagement with the base 1 through the use of a suitable latch assembly 5. Cover 2 and base 1 may be constructed of acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene (ABS), styrene-acrylonitrile (SAN), polypropylene, polyethylene, polycarbonate, polystyrene, polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polyvinyl chloride (PVC), acrylic, or any other suitable plastic material. In addition to plastic, the cover and base can be constructed of metal or metal alloys such as aluminum, gold, silver, brass and the like. A hollow gasket 10 having an internal channel 1 1 is placed in either the inner surface 13 of the cover 2 or the internal surface 6 of the base 1. The content of internal channel 1 can be filled with a liquid, such as oil or water, or a gas, such as nitrogen, carbon dioxide, or oxygen. Preferably, the internal channel 1 1 is filled with air. In order to maintain an internal channel 1 1 within the joint 10, the joint 10 can be formed as a ring-shaped member having a hollow center (as seen in Figure 4). Also, as shown in Figure 5, the gasket 10 can be formed as a "C", "U", or a similarly formed member having an open edge, and then placed on the cover or base for sealing the open edge and form the internal channel 1 1. When the gasket 10 is formed as a "C", "U", or similarly formed member, the open edge can be sealed through the use of an insert 21. The insert 21 has dimensions to effectively seal the contents of the internal channel 1 1. To further assist in sealing the open edge of the gasket 10, a ring 15 can be provided (see Figures 1A, 1B, 2A, 2B, and 5). The ring 15 can be placed on the inner surface 6 of the base 1, as seen in Figure 5, or on the inner surface 1 3 of the cover 2 (not shown). In alternate embodiments, the gasket 10 may be positioned on the inner surface of the cover 2 or base 1 through the use of a suitable adhesive, or by sizing the gasket 10 to fit within a similarly sized groove in the inner surface of the gasket. the base 1 or cover 2, or by a secondary molding process by which the gasket 10 is injection molded on the inner surface of the cover 2 or base 1, or by any other suitable means for placing a gasket on the inner surface of cover 2 or base 1. The gasket 10 is composed of an elastomeric material which will allow the gasket 10 to deform easily as the container cover comes into contact with the gasket. Suitable gasket materials are natural rubbers, synthetic rubbers, or a combination of natural and synthetic rubbers, such as butyl rubber, latex, silicone, neoprene, isoprene, nitrile rubber, buna rubber, and the like. The operation of the present invention is simple: as an example in which the gasket is placed on the inner surface of the base, when the cover 2 of the container of Figures 1A and 1B is pivoted to the closed position, the inner surface 13 of the cover 2 makes contact with the gasket 10. The contact of the inner surface 13 with the gasket 10 causes the gasket to deform. The inner surface 13 of the cover 2 has dimensions to deform the gasket 10 to a point where a seal is obtained between the cover 2 and the base 1, as shown in Figure 1 B. The action is simply reversed when the gasket is placed on the cover: when the cover is closed, the internal surface of the base makes contact with the joint, causing it to deform. The use of a hollow joint instead of a solid joint eliminates the need for an extra piece, v. g. , a disc, inside the compact to compensate the high tolerances associated with the manufacture and assembly of a compact with hinge. For example, when the cover and base of a compact are molded, the internal surfaces of the cover and the base, generally, are not given the most exact tolerances because they do not serve a function within the entire design of the compact, and if they are required to be exact in dimension, the cost of the compact will be increased considerably. Therefore, when a solid gasket is placed inside the compact to form a seal, any of the internal surfaces of the cover and base must be of exact tolerances, or an additional piece must be added for the solid gasket to seal. with that. In contrast, a hollow joint, such as contemplated for use with the present invention, is capable of being deformed in such a manner as to compensate for irregularities within the internal surfaces of a molded compact., and make an effective seal without the increased cost of precision molding, or the use of an additional component. In a preferred embodiment, the gasket 10 has an internal channel 1 1 and one or more tanks 12 (see Figures 2A, 2B, 3A, 3B, and 6A to 6H). The tanks 12 and the internal channel 1 1 are in fluid communication between them and sealed so as not to allow the contents of the tanks 12 and internal channel 1 1 to have access. When the cover 2 is closed, the inner surface 13 of the cover 2 operates to press the reservoir 12. This oppression of the reservoir 12 causes the reservoir to disperse its contents to the internal channel 1 1, thereby causing the gasket 10 to expand. With this embodiment, the inner surface 13 of the cover 2 is sized to displace a sufficient amount of the contents of the tank 12 so that the gasket 10 expands to a point where a seal is obtained between the cover 2 and the base 1. For example, the internal surface 13 may be sized to have raised portions positioned opposite the reservoirs 12 which form actuators that assist in the tightness of the reservoir 12. In the same manner, if the seal 10 were attached to the container cover, the internal surface 6 of the base 1 would act to press the reservoir 12. Although the illustrated container and gasket are of a certain shape, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that the shape and size of the container and gasket can be varied. For example, the container may be round while the joint has a generally oval shape, or the container may be rectangular while the joint has a generally round shape. In a preferred embodiment, the gasket 10 is formed substantially similar to the product compartment 3. In a more preferred embodiment, the gasket 10 defines a product compartment 3. Figures 6A to 6H represent some of the possible variations that are within the scope and spirit of the present invention. In one embodiment, as shown in Figures 2A and 2B, the gasket 10 is sealingly attached to the base 1 along a 15 which protrudes upwardly from the inner surface 6 of the base 1. The seal 10 thus defines the product compartment 3. The reservoir 12 is attached to the gasket 10 along the outer edge of the gasket 10 and sealed to the internal surface 6 of the container. As the cover 2 of the container closes, the inner surface 13 of the cover 2 engages and presses the reservoir 12, thereby causing the gasket 10 to expand and contact the cover 2. In addition, an opposite lip 22 may be placed. to the gasket 10 to provide a more airtight seal between the gasket 10 and the container. See Figures 2A, 2B, 4 and 5. The lip 22 is formed as a mirror image of the shape of the gasket 10. This will ensure that the gasket 10 will contact the lip 22 at all points, thereby making a seal. For example, when the gasket 10 is attached to the base of the container, the lip 22 is formed to depend on the cover, and is positioned directly opposite the gasket 10. The lip 22 may be formed as an integral part of the cover or base of the container, depending on the placement of the joint, or it may be provided as an insert inside the cover or base. Also, the container of the present invention may have one or more additional compartments 7 for housing product applicators, as seen in Figures 1 A, 1 B, 2 A, 2 B, 3 A, 3 B, and 6 A to 6 H. The applicator stored within the compartment 7 will depend on the product to be housed by the container, and may include such applicators as tassels, sponges, brushes, eye shadow applicators, or the like. The invention, in its broader aspects, is not limited to the specific details shown and described; rather, several modifications will be suggested to one skilled in the art, all of which are within the scope and spirit of this invention.

Claims (48)

1. REVIVAL NAMES 1. An air-tight container for cosmetics capable of an open or a closed position, comprising: a base having a first internal surface; a cover having a second internal surface; and a hollow seal placed in one of the first or second internal surfaces.
2. 2. A container as in claim 1, wherein the base has a compartment for cosmetic product.
3. 3. A container as in claim 2, wherein the seal is substantially identical in shape to the product compartment.
4. 4. A container as in claim 3, wherein the joint defines the product compartment.
5. 5. A container as in claim 2, wherein a cosmetic product is placed within the product compartment.
6. 6. A container as in claim 1, wherein the container is provided with a means for holding the cover in engagement with the base when the container is in the closed position.
7. 7. A container as in claim 1, wherein the cover is pivotally attached to the base.
8. 8. A container as in claim 1, wherein the seal makes a seal between the cover and the base when the container is in the closed position.
9. 9. A container as in claim 1, wherein the gasket is composed of an elastomeric material.
10. A container as in claim 9, wherein the gasket is composed of a material selected from the group consisting of natural rubber, synthetic rubber, and a mixture of natural and synthetic rubber. eleven .
11. A container as in claim 1, wherein the gasket is attached to the inner surface of the base.
12. 12. A container as in claim 1, wherein the gasket is attached to a ring on the inner surface of the base.
13. 13. A container as in claim 1, wherein the gasket is attached to the inner surface of the cover.
14. 14. A container as in claim 1, wherein the gasket is attached to a ring on the inner surface of the cover.
15. 15. A container as in claim 1, wherein a lip is positioned on the internal surface opposite the joint.
16. 16. An air-tight container for cosmetics capable of an open or closed position, comprising: a base having a first internal surface; a cover having a second internal surface; an inflatable seal placed in one of the first or second internal surfaces; and a reservoir in fluid contact with the joint.
17. 17. A container as in claim 16, wherein the base has a compartment for cosmetic product.
18. 18. A container as in claim 17, wherein the seal is substantially identical in shape to the product compartment.
19. 19. A container as in claim 18, wherein the joint defines the product compartment.
20. 20. A container as in claim 16, wherein a cosmetic product is placed within the product compartment. twenty-one .
21. A container as in claim 16, wherein the container is provided with a means for holding the cover in engagement with the base when the container is in the closed position.
22. 22. A container as in claim 16, wherein the cover is pivotally attached to the base.
23. 23. A container as in claim 16, wherein the seal makes a seal between the cover and the base when the container is in the closed position.
24. 24. A container as in claim 16, wherein the container is depressed when the container is closed.
25. 25. A container as in claim 24, wherein the container is depressed by the first internal surface when the container is closed.
26. 26. A container as in claim 25, wherein the first internal surface has an actuator positioned opposite the reservoir.
27. 27. A container as in claim 24, wherein the container is depressed by the second internal surface when the container is closed.
28. 28. A container as in claim 27, wherein the second internal surface has an actuator positioned opposite the reservoir.
29. 29. A container as in claim 16, wherein the gasket is composed of an elastomeric material.
30. 30. A container as in claim 29, wherein the gasket is composed of a material selected from the group consisting of natural rubber, synthetic rubber, and a mixture of natural and synthetic rubber.
31. 31 A container as in claim 16, wherein the gasket is attached to the inner surface of the base.
32. 32. A container as in claim 16, wherein the gasket is attached to a ring on the inner surface of the base.
33. 33. A container as in claim 16, wherein the seal is attached to the inner surface of the cover.
34. 34. A container as in claim 16, wherein the gasket is attached to a ring on the inner surface of the cover.
35. 35. A container as in claim 16, wherein a lip is positioned on the internal surface opposite the joint.
36. 36. An air-tight container for cosmetics capable of an open or a closed position, comprising: a base having a first internal surface; a cover having a second internal surface; an inflatable seal placed in one of the first or second internal surfaces, the joint defining a compartment for cosmetic product; and a reservoir in fluid contact with the joint; wherein, when the container is closed, the container is depressed by an internal surface of the container, inflating the joint to make a seal between the cover and the base.
37. 37. A container as in claim 36, wherein a cosmetic product is placed within the product compartment.
38. 38. A container as in claim 36, wherein the container is provided with a means for holding the cover in engagement with the base when the container is in the closed position.
39. 39. A container as in claim 36, wherein the cover is pivotally attached to the base.
40. 40. A container as in claim 36, wherein the first internal surface has an actuator positioned opposite the reservoir.
41. 41 A container as in claim 36, wherein the second internal surface has an actuator positioned opposite the reservoir.
42. 42. A container as in claim 36, wherein the seal is composed of an elastomeric material.
43. 43. A container as in claim 42, wherein the gasket is composed of a material selected from the group consisting of natural rubber, synthetic rubber, and a mixture of natural and synthetic rubber.
44. 44. A container as in claim 36, wherein the gasket is attached to the inner surface of the base.
45. 45. A container as in claim 36, wherein the gasket is attached to a ring on the inner surface of the base.
46. 46. A container as in claim 36, wherein the seal is attached to the inner surface of the cover.
47. 47. A container as in claim 36, wherein the gasket is attached to a ring on the inner surface of the cover.
48. 48. A container as in claim 36, wherein a lip is positioned on the internal surface opposite the joint.