CA2187641A1

CA2187641A1 - Cosmetics container

Info

Publication number: CA2187641A1
Application number: CA002187641A
Authority: CA
Inventors: Josef Landwehr; Melvin Edwin Kamen
Original assignee: Revlon Consumer Products LLC
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1994-05-16
Filing date: 1995-05-16
Publication date: 1995-11-23
Also published as: DE59506852D1; AU2564495A; JPH10502545A; PL320632A1; DE9407891U1; WO1995031121A1; EP0790790B1; ATE184460T1; US5738067A; ES2139209T3; EP0790790A1

Abstract

The proposed cosmetics container comprises a housing which can be covered by a cap and contains a cosmetic or medicinal preparation such as lipstick which is protected in the housing and can be extruded for application to the skin.
Problems often arise as a result of using a solid but generally temperature-sensitive cosmetic agent. To prevent such problems arising, it is proposed that the preparation in question should have a consistency between that of a paste and a viscous liquid, and that the container takes the form of a dispenser with an actuation unit in the form of a push button and has a skin contact element with a delivery face and a dispensing valve. A particularly useful embodiment has the skin contact element arranged in a plane which is inclined in relation to the longitudinal axis of the housing.

Description

COSMETICS CONTAINER

The invention is directed to a cosmetics container comprising a generally cylindrical, oval or rectangular housing coverable with a cap for a cosmetic or therapeutic preparation that can be accommodated protected therein and removed for application to the skin.
Commercially obtainable containers for cosmetics, lipsticks, anti-perspirants, deodorants or the like contain a sleeve that is generally cylindrically fashioned and held in a housing. The content of the cosmetics container is usually made available with a screwing motion. Given lipsticks, the sleeve with shape-stable content is fashioned extensible and retractable with a screwing motion. The shape-stable cosmetic stick is usually manufactured of waxes and oils with the additional of mineral colors or organic pigments, for example eosin. The cosmetic stick should color and adhere smear-proof to the uppermost skin layers of the lips without damaging health. On a case by case basis, cosmetics containers are also provided with effective substances for therapeutic purposes that are employed, for example, against dry, cracking lips as a consequence of strong exposure to the sun.
What is disadvantageous given such shape-stable cosmetics is that they are temperature-sensitive and can become soft under warm summer temperatures, thereby tend to break off or become hard under cold winter temperatures and then present difficulties when applying the preparation or, respectively, cosmetic. In addition, the necessity of making cosmetics shape-stable means certain restrictions in view of their composition.
The invention is based on the object of specifying a cosmetics container with which the afore-mentioned 21~7641 difficulties are overcome and that contains the contents or, respectively, the preparation in a less temperature-sensitive consistency and can always be unprblematically applied.
This object is successfully inventively achieved with a cosmetics container of the species initially cited in that the preparation is present in a pasty through viscous consistency and the container is fashioned as a dispenser with an actuation element arranged as a push button and comprises a skin contact member with an application surface and a dispenser valve that can preferably be shaped like a round plate, like a tear drop or elliptically.
The pasty through viscous consistency of the preparation advantageously creates the possibility of storing this in a dispenser and, independently of temperature influences, discharging it from the dispenser dosed in a desired amount onto the application surface of the skin contact member and unproblematically applying it to the skin.
In order to facilitate this application procedure, a preferred development provides that the skin contact member is arranged in an plane slanting relative to the longitudinal axis of the housing.
Further expedient developments are provided in conformity with the subclaims.
The invention in schematic drawings in a preferred embodiment as lipstick, whereby further advantageous details of the invention may be derived from the drawings.
Shown are:
FIG 1 a longitudinal section through the cosmetics container along a plane of section placed through the center axis (x-x);5 FIG 2 a crossection of the lipstick according to the plane of section II-II in FIG 1;

~ ~ ~ / b 4 1 -FIG 3 a longitudinal section through another embodiment of the lipstick.
The cosmetics container shown in FIG 1, a lipstick in this case, is fashioned as dispenser with a push button actuation element (10) and comprises a flat skin contact member (31) at the discharge side with an application surface (32) as well as with a plate-shaped dispenser valve (33).
For facilitating application of the make-up, the skin contact member (31) is arranged in a plane slanted relative to the longitudinal axis (x-x) of the housing (1). The valve (33) thereby comprises a skin contact member (31) of elastic thermoplastic material arranged in the slanting plane that can be closed with a flat valve disk (34) under restoring force, whereby the valve disk (34) is fashioned with a mounting element (35) proceeding in the axis (x-x) of the housing (1) and this can be clipped into the end of the dispenser (30) at the discharge side. Assembly of the dispenser valve (33) is significantly simplified as a result thereof. The skin contact member (31) can be circular or shaped like a tear drop or can also comprise some other shape, for example elliptical. As a result of fashioning the valve (33) with a valve disk (34) that seals the edge of the skin contact member (31), a slight, dosable amount of make-up emerges as desired from the edge of the application surface (32) thereonto and can be readily distributed thereon and applied onto the lips.
A development of the container for cosmetics provides that this comprises a reservoir (40) for the preparation that can be filled from the bottom and has a centrally arranged delivery nozzle (41) at the discharge side that can be closed with a swing-type check valve (42) in a direction opposite the discharge and that accepts a piston (44) at the lower region closable with a snap-in floor element (43). The reservoir (40) can be shaped circular, oval, polygonal or the like in crossection. Both the reservoir (40) as well as the snap-in floor element (43) and the piston (44) arranged movable in the reservoir (4) are uncomplicated in structure, rugged and compact and enable both a cost-beneficial manufacture and assembly of the parts as well as an unproblematical filling of the reservoir (40). This structure also enables a refilling of the lipstick after being emptied of its contents.
The reservoir (40) comprises an upper, peripherally graduated shoulder (45) that serves for the acceptance of a dispenser cap (30). In its central region, this dispenser cap has an elastic displacement member (20) emplaceable on the delivery nozzle (41) of the reservoir (40) that is fashioned with a push button (10) laterally arranged at the dispenser cap (3) for reducing the volume and, thus, for the partial displacement of its pasty or viscous contents in the direction of the valve (33).
A development further provides that the mounting element (35) is fashioned with a stem (36) leaving passages free in the crossection and with a thickened, lower head part (37) for snapping into the upper region of the displacement member (20). The displacement member (20) is thereby an elastically fashioned hose with restoring force of its shape that lies against a supporting element (29) at one long side and can be charged with the push button actuation element (10) at the opposite long side. This arrangement makes it possible to have small and extremely small portions of the preparation emerge dosed as desired at the dispenser valve (33) as needed.
A further development provides that the end of the displacement member (20) at the discharge side comprises, on the one hand, a peripheral supporting flange (21) that engages under a shoulder (28) fashioned in the dispenser cap (30) under the skin contact member (31) and, on the other hand, is fashioned with a conically expanding central opening (22) that comprises an inner, shallow annular channel (23) for snapping in the head part (37) fashioned at the stem (36) of the valve disk (34).
It is provided according to an expedient development that the push button (10) is an element arranged in an outer recess (27) of the dispenser cap (30) that terminates flush with the outer contour of the dispenser cap (30) on all sides in idle position and that has a cylindrical plug-on muff (11) directed against the displacement member, and that the displacement member (20) comprises a plug-on cam (24) projecting radially toward the center axis (x-x) that are fashioned to be coupled with one another. This fashioning not only yields an advantageously uncomplicated manipulation of the lipstick but also enables an uncomplicated and, potentially, fully automated, cost-beneficial assembly.
It is also provided in an expedient development that the head part (46) of the piston (44) comprises a shaping with a central plug (47) and an annular bead (48) compatibly adapted to the shaping of the wall (39) of the reservoir (40) at the discharge side. This shaping assures that the lipstick or, respectively, the make-up supply thereof in the reservoir can be practically completely emptied.
The cosmetics container can be manufactured of a variety of thermoplastic materials and, in particular, the displacement member (20) as well as the valve (33) and the piston (44) are composed of a plastic grade that comprises clearly greater elasticity than the plastic grade of the other elements.

FIG 3 shows another, especially simplified embodiment of the lipstick. For greater clarity compared to the embodiment of FIGs 1 and 2, elements that are modified and/or differently arranged are indicated therein with reference numerals provided with a prime. In this embodiment of the lipstick fashioned as dispenser, the displacement member (20') simultaneously serves as actuation element since, due to the provision of a housing clearance (3) in the housing (1) of the dispenser cap (30'), it can be directly charged by hand without intervention of a push button, for example with the thumb.
Coinciding with the embodiment according to FIGs 1 and 2, the lipstick has a flat skin contact member (31) with an application surface (32) as well as a plate-shaped dispenser valve (33). The valve (33) likewise further comprises a flat valve disk (34) in the skin contact member (31) arranged in the slanted plane relative to (x-x), whereby the valve disk (34) is fashioned with a somewhat eccentrically arranged holder element (35') and an arrow-shaped head (37') thereof that can be snapped into an opening (26) of a supporting member (29') is held by overlapping edges of the opening (26).
The lipstick comprises a cylindrical reservoir (40') fillable from below with an upper, flat closure wall (38) that comprises a laterally displaced delivery nozzle (41'). The supporting member (29') against which the hose-shaped displacement member (20') is supported in which is likewise a laterally displaced arrangement is located in a lateral arrangement at the closure wall (38) and clamped between this and the shoulder (28) of the dispenser cap (30'). As a result thereof, the displacement member (20') lies directly against the housing clearance (3) from the inside and can be charged by hand as actuation element for 21~641 -dispensing make-up.
A simplification of the embodiment of the cosmetics container is also achieved in that the piston (44') comprises a flat head part (46') that, toward the end of the emptying of the reservoir (40'), places itself against what is the likewise flat underside of the upper closure wall (38) and, consequently, enables a nearly complete emptying of the content of make-up compound. The simplified shaping of piston floor (46') and closure wall (38) also enables the employment of simple and, thus, cost-beneficial manufacturing tools.
The lateral displacement of the displacement member (20') advantageously results therein that the make-up need not be conducted through at the stem (36') of the holder element (35') but freely emerges under the valve disk (34) into the space formed thereunder.
The possibility thereby also devices that the displacement member (20') can forego the fashioning with a flange at the discharge side and can be fashioned in the uncomplicated form of a hose section that can be supported at the top against the shoulder (28) of the dispenser cap (30').
The selection made with respect to the manufacturing material for the lipsticks of FIGs 1 and

2 also applies to the lipstick of FIG 3. Coinciding with the exemplary embodiment of FIG 1, this, moreover, comprises a shoulder (45) for plug-on of the dispenser cap (30') and a floor element (43) for the downward termination of the reservoir (40').
As the exemplary embodiments of FIGs 1 through 3 show, a person skilled in the art can, within the scope of the inventive fashioning of the lipstick, select varied embodiments deviating slightly from one another that, in particular, optimally correspond to the respective production conditions.
The inventive measures and developments are not 21876~1 -limited to the exemplary embodiments shown in the FIGs of the drawing. Possible modifications of the inventive device can be comprised therein that, for example, the valve and/or the reservoir comprise different crossectional shapes and that, instead of plastics, parts are also composed of metal. The respective design embodiment is at the discretion of a person skilled in the art in adaptation the specific uses.

Claims

THE EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION IN WHICH AN EXCLUSIVE
PROPERTY OR PRIVILEGE IS CLAIMED ARE DEFINED AS FOLLOWS.

1. Cosmetics container comprising a housing (1) coverable with a cap (2) for a cosmetic or therapeutic preparation that can be accommodated protected therein and removed for application to the skin that comprises a pasty through viscous consistency and the container, as dispenser, comprises an actuation element (10, 20') fashioned as push button for the partial displacement of the preparation, characterized in that it comprises a skin contact member (31) of elastic thermoplastic material with an application surface (32) fashioned as dispenser valve (33) that is arranged in a plane slanted relative to the longitudinal axis (x-x) of the housing and is shaped plate-like, round teardrop-like or elliptical.

2. Cosmetics container according to claim 1, characterized in that the valve (33) thereby comprises a skin contact member (31) of elastic thermoplastic material matched in terms of shape to the dispenser valve (33) arranged in the slanting plane that can be closed with a flat valve disk (34) under restoring force, whereby the valve disk (34) is fashioned with a mounting element (35, 35') proceeding in the axis (x-x) of the housing (1) and this can be snapped into the end of the dispenser (30, 30') at the discharge side.

3. Cosmetics container according to claims 1 or 2, characterized in that this comprises a reservoir (40) for the preparation that can be filled from the bottom and has a centrally arranged through nozzle (41) at the discharge side that can be closed with a swing-type check valve (42) in a direction opposite the discharge and that accepts a piston (44) at the lower region closable with a snap-in floor element (43); and in that the reservoir (40) accepts at dispenser cap (30) at an upper, peripherally graduated shoulder (45) the central region of this dispenser cap having an elastic displacement member (20) emplaceable on the delivery nozzle (41) of the reservoir (40) that is fashioned with a push button (10) laterally arranged at the dispenser cap (3).

4. Cosmetics container according to one or more of the claims 1 through 3, characterized in that the holder element (35) is fashioned with a stem (36) leaving passages free in the crossection and with a thickened, lower head part (37) arranged thereat that can be snapped into the upper region of the displacement member (20).

5. Cosmetics container according to one or more of the claims 1 through 4, characterized in that the displacement member (20) is an elastically fashioned hose with restoring force of its shape that lies against a supporting element (29) at a long side and can be charged with the push button actuation element (10) at the opposite long side.

6. Cosmetics container according to one or more of the claims 1 through 5, characterized in that the end of the displacement member (20) at the discharge side comprises, on the one hand, a peripheral supporting flange (21) that engages under a shoulder (28) fashioned in the dispenser cap (30) under the skin contact member (31) and, on the other hand, is fashioned with a conically expanding central opening (22) that comprises an inner, shallow annular channel (23) for snapping in the head part (37) fashioned at the stem (36) of the valve disk (34).

7. Cosmetics container according to one or more of the claims 1 through 5, characterized in that the push button (10) is an element arranged in an outer recess (27) of the dispenser cap (30) that terminates flush with the outer contour of the dispenser cap (30) on all sides in idle position and that has a cylindrical plug-on muff (11) directed against the displacement member, and that the displacement member (20) comprises a plug-on cam (24) projecting radially toward the center axis (x-x) that are fashioned to be coupled with one another.

8. Cosmetics container according to one or more of the claims 1 through 7, characterized in that the head part (46) of the piston (44) comprises a shaping with a central plug (47) and an annular bead (48) compatibly adapted to the shaping of the wall (39) of the reservoir (40) at the discharge side.

9. Cosmetics container according to one or more of the claims 1 through 8, characterized in that this can be manufactured of thermoplastic plastics and the displacement member (20) as well as the valve (33) and the piston (44) are composed of a plastic grade that comprises clearly greater elasticity than the plastic grade of the other elements.

10. Cosmetics container according to claim 1, characterized in that this comprises a dispenser cap (30') with a laterally displaced supporting member (29') and with a laterally displaced displacement member (20') lying thereopposite that, within an axial-oblong housing clearance (3), lies open thereagainst and the underside thereof can be plugged onto a through nozzle (41') of the reservoir (40') that comprises the check valve (42); and in that the displacement member (20') is held supportable at the top against a housing shoulder (28).

11. Cosmetics container according to claim 10, characterized in that the supporting member (29') in the dispenser cap (30') is held between the upper closure wall (38) of the reservoir (40') and the shoulder (28) and comprises an opening (26) at its upper side for the snap-in head (37') of the holder element (35').