Device for storing and dispensing cosmetic compositions

• US 20070158372A1
• Filed: 02/08/2007
• Published: 07/12/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 08/09/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Avon Products Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Avon Products Incorporated
• Inventors: Chastain, David, DeVito, Ralph, Kurek, John, McNamara, William, Giesecke, Tonia
• Granted Patent: US 7,537,406 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 222/612
• CPC Class Codes: A45D 2200/051 Airtight containers
• CPC Class Codes: A45D 2200/055 Piston or plunger for supplying the liquid to the applicator
• CPC Class Codes: A45D 2200/056 Reciprocating pumps, i.e. with variable volume chamber wherein pressure and vacuum are alternately generated
• CPC Class Codes: A45D 40/265 connected to the cap of the container

Abstract

A drive screw having an axial bore is disposed within a tubular container. A cap for closing the container has mounted therefrom an applicator that is insertable in the bore of the drive screw. A first seal and a second seal, on the drive screw, form with the inner wall of the container and the outer wall of the drive screw an annular compartment for housing a cosmetic composition. A normally closed channel is provided between the compartment and the bore of the drive screw. A drive on the cap and a complementary drive on the drive screw cooperate with the first seal and the second seal to decrease the volume of the compartment in which the composition is housed each time the container is opened by removing the cap. A valve opens the channel in response to the decrease in volume in the compartment when the cap is removed so as to permit composition to flow through the channel into the bore of the drive screw to contact the applicator.

Claims

1. A dispensing device for a flowable composition comprising:

a tubular container;

a drive screw having an axial bore, the drive screw being disposed within the tubular container;

a cap for closing the container;

a first seal and a second seal on the drive screw, the first and second seals forming with the inner wall of the tubular container and the outer wall of the drive screw an annular compartment for containing the flowable composition;

at least one channel providing fluid communication between the annular compartment and the bore of the drive screw; and

a drive associated with the cap and a complementary drive associated with the drive screw, the drives cooperatively decreasing the volume of the compartment each time the container is opened;

the second seal, normally closing the channel, opening the channel in response to the decrease in volume in the compartment and permitting composition to flow through the channel into the axial bore of the drive screw.

3. The device, as claimed in claim 1, wherein the annular compartment contains a flowable composition.

4. The device, as claimed in claim 3, wherein the flowable composition contains one or more volatile agents.

5. The device, as claimed in claim 4, wherein the mascara composition is a post-foaming mascara composition.

6. The device, as claimed in claim 1, wherein the annular compartment contains a lip gloss or lip gel composition.

7. The device, as claimed in claim 6, wherein the lip gloss or lip gel composition contains one or more volatile agents.

8. The device, as claimed in claim 7, wherein the lip gloss or lip gel composition is a post-foaming lip gloss or lip gel composition.

19. The device, as claimed in claim 1, further including an, to facilitate application of composition deposited thereon.

20. The device, as claimed in claim 1, further including an end cap in the container, at the bottom, for maintaining the drive screw axis vertical and for sealing the bottom of the bore of the drive screw while permitting rotation thereof.

21. The device, as claimed in claim 1, further including a wiper for removing excess composition from the applicator when it is removed from the container for purposes of applying the composition.

22. The device, as claimed in claim 21, wherein the wiper is a constriction in the bore of the drive screw.

23. The device, as claimed in claim 1 wherein the annular compartment contains a concealer or foundation composition.

24. The device, as claimed in claim 1, wherein the annular compartment contains a composition whose stability is decreased when exposed to normal atmospheric conditions.

25. The device, as claimed in claim 1, wherein the annular compartment contains a mascara, lip gloss, lip gel, concealer, foundation, eyebrow enhancer or eyeshadow composition.

2. A dispensing device for a cosmetic composition comprising:

a tubular container having a bottom end, a top end, an interior wall and an externally threaded neck at the top end, the container being open at the neck;

a drive screw having a top end, a bottom end, a vertically extending axial bore, an a threaded outer wall, the threading terminating at a point above the bottom end of the drive screw;

a drive within the bore proximate the top end of the drive screw;

a valve seat on the drive screw below the threaded outer wall, the wall of the drive screw below the valve seat having at least one aperture;

a piston threadably mounted on the drive screw;

a valve having a valve seal, the valve being mounted on the drive screw below the valve seat;

the drive screw with the piston and the valve mounted thereon being positioned within the tubular container, the piston and the valve each forming with the interior wall of the tubular container a frictional peripheral seal, the piston and the valve defining with the interior wall of the tubular container and the outer wall of the drive screw an annular compartment for the composition, the at least one aperture providing fluid communication between the annular compartment and the axial bore, the piston being rotatably movable downwards on the drive screw, and the valve being axially movable only in a direction downwards from the valve;

a biasing element for biasing the valve seal against the valve seat so that the at least one aperture in the wall of the drive screw is normally closed;

and a cap assembly comprising a cap;

a rod mounted from the cap and being removably insertable in the axial bore, the rod having at least one ratchet tooth about its circumference and a drive adapted to complement the drive within the bore of the drive screw, the rod drive engaging the drive within the drive screw bore when the rod is within the bore of the drive screw;

a cap insert mounted in the cap and having at one end internal threading that mates with the external threading on the neck of the tubular container and, at its other end, at least one angularly offset tab, the ratchet tooth on the rod engaging the angularly offset tab when the rod is turned in one direction and free wheeling when the rod is turned in a direction opposite to said one direction;

whereby, when the cap is threaded off the neck of the tubular container to open the container, the at least one ratchet tooth rotates about the longitudinal axis of the rod engaging the at least one tab and rotates the piston threading it downwards on the drive screw which increases pressure on the composition in the annular compartment which overcomes the upward biasing force of the biasing element and causes the valve seal to move downwards from the valve seat exposing the at least one aperture in the wall of the drive screw and permitting composition to flow from the annular compartment into the bore of the drive screw to contact the rod.

9. The device, as claimed in claim 2, further including an applicator mounted on the rod, to facilitate application of composition deposited thereon.

10. The device, as claimed in claim 2, further including an end cap in the container, at the bottom end, for maintaining the drive screw axis vertical and for sealing the bottom of the bore of the drive screw while permitting rotation thereof.

11. The device, as claimed in claim 2, further including a wiper for removing excess composition from the applicator when it is removed from the container for purposes of applying the composition.

12. The device, as claimed in claim 11, wherein the wiper is a constriction in the bore of the drive screw.

13. The device, as claimed in claim 2, wherein the annular compartment contains a flowable composition.

14. The device, as claimed in claim 13, wherein the flowable composition contains one or more volatile agents.

15. The device, as claimed in claim 14, wherein the flowable composition is a post-foaming mascara composition.

16. The device, as claimed in claim 2, wherein the annular reservoir contains a lip gloss or lip gel composition.

17. The device, as claimed in claim 16, wherein the lip gloss or lip gel composition contains one or more volatile agents.

18. The device, as claimed in claim 17, wherein the lip gloss or lip gel composition is a post-foaming lip gloss or gel composition.

26. The device, as claimed in claim 2, wherein the annular compartment contains a mascara, lip gloss, lip gel, concealer, foundation, eyebrow enhancer or eyeshadow composition.

27. The device, as claimed in claim 2, wherein the tubular container and cap are made of polyethylene terephtalate (PET) or poly(cyclohexylene dimethylene cyclohexanedicarboxylate) (PCTA);

the drive screw and applicator are made of acetal; and

the first seal and the second seal are made of low density polyethylene.

28. The device, as claimed in claim 14, wherein the tubular container and cap are made of polyethylene terephtalate (PET) or poly(cyclohexylene dimethylene cyclohexanedicarboxylate) (PCTA);

the drive screw and applicator are made of acetal; and

the piston and the valve are made of low density polyethylene.

29. A dispensing device for a flowable composition comprising a first compartment for containing the composition;

a second compartment in fluid communication with the first compartment, the second compartment being adapted to contain an amount of the composition suitable for a single use;

a valve in normally closed position preventing flow from the first compartment to the second compartment;

a cap adapted to removably close the second compartment, and a drive assembly affixed to the cap, the drive assembly opening the valve in response to the opening of the cap, whereby composition contained in the first compartment flows into the second compartment.