Containers simulating collapsible tubes, packages including such containers, and methods of making them

• US 20030077104A1
• Filed: 04/30/2002
• Published: 04/24/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 05/31/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Henlopen Manufacturing Company, Inc. (Rio Tinto Limited)
• Original Assignee: Henlopen Manufacturing Company, Inc. (Rio Tinto Limited)
• Inventors: Schrepf, Volker
• Granted Patent: US 6,572,296 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 401/129
• CPC Class Codes: A45D 33/18 with special decorative arrangements or form
• CPC Class Codes: A45D 34/045 connected to the cap of the container
• CPC Class Codes: A45D 40/267 comprising a wiper

Abstract

A container for mascara or the like, including a substantially rigid hollow inner member with a large open end and a smaller closed end, and a surrounding flexible sleeve extending from the open end of the inner member beyond the closed end of the inner member to a closed and flattened extremity simulating the appearance of a tube of oil paint. A complete mascara package also includes a neck disposed at the end of the container and a cap mountable on the neck and bearing an applicator for insertion into the container through the neck. Methods for making the container include molding the hollow member and sleeve integrally of plastic, with the sleeve extremity initially open, and thereafter flattening and closing the sleeve extremity; and providing the hollow member and sleeve as separate elements, the sleeve being a flexible metal tube into which the hollow member is inserted.

Claims

1. A container for liquid material which is to be removed therefrom in small quantities by an applicator, comprising:

(a) a substantially rigid, hollow inner member having an open proximal end, a closed distal end smaller in cross-sectional area than the proximal end, and an axial length therebetween, the inner member tapering progressively toward the distal end over at least part of its length; and

(b) a flexible sleeve with an axial length greater than that of the inner member, laterally surrounding the inner member and having a first end adjacent the proximal end of the inner member and a closed and flattened second end disposed distally of the distal end of the inner member, simulating the appearance of a collapsible tube of oil paint or the like.

2. A container as defined in claim 1, further including a neck fixedly disposed in the open proximal end of one of the inner member and the sleeve, the neck being engageable by a closure member and having a central passage through which an applicator, carried by the closure member, is insertable into the interior of the container inner member for transporting a quantity of contained liquid material therefrom.

3. A container as defined in claim 1, wherein the inner member is a container member for holding a body of liquid material and the first end of the flexible sleeve is secured to the proximal end of the container member.

4. A container as defined in claim 3, further including a neck fixedly disposed in the open proximal end of the container member, the neck being engageable by a closure member and having a central passage through which an applicator, carried by the closure member, is insertable into the interior of the container member for transporting a quantity of contained liquid material therefrom.

5. A container as defined in claim 3, wherein the container member and the sleeve are integrally molded of plastic, the second end of the sleeve being open when molded and being subsequently flattened and closed.

6. A container as defined in claim 5, further including a neck fixedly disposed in the open proximal end of the container member, the neck being engageable by a closure member and having a central passage through which an applicator, carried by the closure member, is insertable into the interior of the container member for transporting a quantity of contained liquid material therefrom;

and wherein the neck is an initially separate member mounted in the open proximal end of the container member.

7. A container as defined in claim 3, wherein the sleeve is a flexible metal tube with a closed and flattened second end and an open first end into which the container member is inserted until the proximal end of the container member is pressed into the first end of the sleeve.

8. A container as defined in claim 7, further including a neck fixedly disposed in the open proximal end of the container member, the neck being engageable by a closure member and having a central passage through which an applicator, carried by the closure member, is insertable into the interior of the container member for transporting a quantity of contained liquid material therefrom;

and wherein the container member and the neck are integrally molded of plastic.

9. A container as defined in claim 2, wherein the sleeve is a thin walled flexible metal tube having an initially open distal end, said neck is a metal neck integral with the tube, and the inner member is a molded plastic crush shield having an open proximal end, the container being assembled by inserting the crush shield, proximal end first, into the open distal end of the tube, and then flattening, folding and crimping the distal end of the tube.

10. A package for liquid material, comprising:

(a) a container holding a body of liquid material and including

(i) a substantially rigid, hollow inner member having an open proximal end, a closed distal end smaller in cross-sectional area than the proximal end, and an axial length therebetween, the inner member tapering progressively toward the distal end over at least part of its length;

(ii) a flexible sleeve with an axial length greater than that of the inner member, laterally surrounding the inner member and having a first end adjacent the proximal end of the inner member and a closed and flattened second end disposed distally of the distal end of the inner member, simulating the appearance of a collapsible tube of oil paint or the like; and

(iii) a neck fixedly disposed in the open proximal end of the container and having a central passage;

(b) a closure member engageable with the neck; and

(c) an applicator carried by the closure member and insertable into the interior of the container inner member for transporting a quantity of the contained liquid material therefrom, the inner member having internal dimensions and configuration for accommodating the applicator therewithin when the closure member engages the neck.

11. A package as defined in claim 10, wherein the inner member is a container member holding the body of liquid material, the first end of the flexible sleeve is secured to the proximal end of the container member, and the neck is fixedly disposed in the open proximal end of the container member.

12. A package as defined in claim 11, wherein the applicator comprises a stem projecting distally from the closure member and having a distal end, and a brush mounted at the distal end of the stem.

13. A package as defined in claim 10, wherein the sleeve is a thin walled flexible metal tube having an initially open distal end, said neck is a metal neck integral with the tube, and said inner member is a molded plastic crush shield having an open proximal end, the container being assembled by inserting the crush shield, proximal end first, into the open distal end of the tube, and then flattening, folding and crimping the distal end of the tube.

14. A mascara package comprising:

(a) a container holding a body of mascara and including

(i) a substantially rigid, hollow inner member having an open proximal end, a closed distal end smaller in cross-sectional area than the proximal end, and an axial length therebetween, the inner member tapering progressively toward the distal end over at least part of its length;

(ii) a flexible sleeve with an axial length greater than that of the inner member, laterally surrounding the inner member and having a first end adjacent the proximal end of the inner member and a closed and flattened second end disposed distally of the distal end of the inner member, simulating the appearance of a collapsible tube of oil paint or the like; and

(iii) a neck fixedly disposed in the open proximal end of the container and having a central passage;

(b) a closure member engageable with the neck; and

(c) an applicator carried by the closure member and insertable into the interior of the inner member for transporting a quantity of the contained mascara therefrom, the inner member having internal dimensions and configuration for accommodating the applicator therewithin when the closure member engages the neck.

15. A package as defined in claim 14, wherein the inner member is a container member holding the body of mascara, the first end of the flexible sleeve is secured to the proximal end of the container member, and the neck is fixedly disposed in the open proximal end of the container member.

16. A package as defined in claim 15, further including a wiper element mounted in the neck for removing excess mascara from the applicator when the applicator is withdrawn from the container interior through the neck passage.

17. A package as defined in claim 15, wherein the container member and the sleeve are integrally molded of plastic, the second end of the sleeve being open when molded and being subsequently flattened and closed;

and wherein the neck is an initially separate member mounted in the open proximal end of the container member.

18. A package as defined in claim 15, wherein the sleeve is a flexible metal tube with a closed and flattened second end and an open first end into which the container member is inserted until the proximal end of the container member is pressed into the first end of the sleeve;

and wherein the container member and the neck are integrally molded of plastic.

19. A package as defined in claim 14, wherein the sleeve is a thin walled flexible metal tube having an initially open distal end, said neck is a metal neck integral with the tube, and said inner member is a molded plastic crush shield having an open proximal end, the container being assembled by inserting the crush shield, proximal end first, into the open distal end of the tube, and then flattening, folding and crimping the distal end of the tube.

20. A method of making a container for liquid material which is to be removed therefrom in small quantities by an applicator, the container including a substantially rigid, hollow container member for holding a body of liquid material, the container member having an open proximal end, a closed distal end smaller in cross-sectional area than the proximal end, and an axial length therebetween, the container member tapering progressively toward the distal end over at least part of its length;

and a flexible sleeve with an axial length greater than that of the container member, laterally surrounding the container member and having a first end secured to the proximal end of the container member and a closed and flattened second end disposed distally of the distal end of the container member, simulating the appearance of a collapsible tube of oil paint or the like;

said method comprising;

(a) integrally molding the container member and the sleeve of plastic, the second end of the sleeve being open when molded; and

(b) subsequently flattening and closing the second end of the sleeve.

21. A method of making a container for liquid material which is to be removed therefrom in small quantities by an applicator, the container including a substantially rigid, hollow container member for holding a body of liquid material, the container member having an open proximal end, a closed distal end smaller in cross-sectional area than the proximal end, and an axial length therebetween, the container member tapering progressively toward the distal end over at least part of its length;

and a flexible sleeve with an axial length greater than that of the container member, laterally surrounding the container member and having a first end secured to the proximal end of the container member and a closed and flattened second end disposed distally of the distal end of the container member, simulating the appearance of a collapsible tube of oil paint or the like;

said method comprising;

(a) providing the container member and the sleeve as initially separate elements, the sleeve being a flexible metal tube with a closed and flattened second end and an open first end; and

(b) inserting the container member, distal end first, into the open end of the sleeve until the proximal end of the container member is pressed into the first end of the sleeve.

22. A method of making a container for liquid material which is to be removed therefrom in small quantities by an applicator, the container including a substantially rigid, hollow crush shield having an open proximal end, a distal end smaller in cross-sectional area than the proximal end, and an axial length therebetween, the crush shield tapering progressively toward the distal end over at least part of its length;

and a flexible sleeve with an axial length greater than that of the inner member, laterally surrounding the inner member and having a first proximal end and a closed and flattened second end disposed distally of the distal end of the inner member, simulating the appearance of a collapsible tube of oil paint or the like;

said method comprising;

(a) providing the crush shield and the sleeve as initially separate elements, the sleeve being a flexible metal tube having a proximal end with an integral metal neck and an initially open distal end,

(b) inserting the crush shield, proximal end first, into the open distal end of the tube, and

(c) flattening, folding and crimping the distal end of the tube.