Retractable Cosmetic Dispenser with Distal and Lateral Wiping

• US 20100139686A1
• Filed: 06/10/2009
• Published: 06/10/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 06/10/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: HCP Packaging USA Inc. (HCP Holdings, Inc.), Mosaic Media, Inc.
• Original Assignee: HCP Packaging USA Inc. (HCP Holdings, Inc.), Mosaic Media, Inc.
• Inventors: Dudienski, Stephen G., Holloway, Thomas F., Dobbins, Frederick J., Legassie, Raymond P.
• Granted Patent: US 8,231,297 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 132/218
• CPC Class Codes: A45D 40/264 movable within the container
• CPC Class Codes: A45D 40/267 comprising a wiper

Abstract

A cosmetic dispenser with a bottle and an applicator wand retained for slidable extension and retraction relative to the bottle. The applicator wand can be slid from a retracted position wherein a cosmetic applicator is retained within the bottle and an extended position wherein the cosmetic applicator projects through an aperture at a distal end of the bottle. A lateral dividing structure, which can be formed by an adapter insert and a rear seal, slidably receives the applicator wand and divides the inner volume of the bottle into a distal inner volume and a proximal inner volume. A laterally disposed distal wiping wiper with a plurality of radial slits can wipe a distal end of the cosmetic applicator, and a side wiping wiper with an inner throat can wipe a peripheral portion of the cosmetic applicator. A cap with a plug can matingly engage the side wiping wiper.

Claims

1. A cosmetic dispenser comprising:

a bottle with an open inner volume, a closed proximal end, and a distal end with an aperture;

an applicator wand retained for slidable extension and retraction relative to the bottle wherein the applicator wand has a proximal end and a distal end;

a base member fixed to the proximal end of the applicator wand;

a cosmetic applicator retained by the distal end of the applicator wand;

a means for enabling a selective sliding of the applicator wand from a retracted position wherein the cosmetic applicator is retained within the open inner volume of the bottle and an extended position wherein the cosmetic applicator projects through the aperture at the distal end of the bottle;

a lateral dividing structure that divides the open inner volume of the bottle into a distal open inner volume to a distal side of the lateral dividing structure and in fluidic communication with the aperture in the distal end of the bottle and a proximal open inner volume to a proximal side of the lateral dividing structure wherein the distal open inner volume is fluidically sealed in relation to the proximal open inner volume; and

an aperture in the dividing structure wherein the applicator wand is slidably received through the aperture.

2. The cosmetic dispenser of claim 1 wherein the means for enabling a selective sliding of the applicator wand comprises a slide channel that communicates longitudinally along the bottle in combination with a slide member and a means for engaging the slide member with the applicator wand through the slide channel.

3. The cosmetic dispenser of claim 2 wherein the means for engaging the slide member with the applicator wand comprises at least one leg with a first end fixed to the slide member and a second end engaged with the base member fixed to the proximal end of the applicator wand.

4. The cosmetic applicator of claim 1 wherein the lateral dividing structure comprises an adapter insert with a base and a peripheral wall wherein the aperture is in the base concentric with the bottle and wherein the peripheral wall has a size and shape corresponding to a size and shape of an inner wall surface of the bottle.

5. The cosmetic dispenser of claim 4 wherein the bottle is formed by a base shell with a closed proximal end and an open distal end and a bottle sleeve with an open proximal end for engaging the open distal end of the base shell.

6. The cosmetic dispenser of claim 5 wherein the adapter insert further comprises a peripheral rim that overlies the distal end of the base shell.

7. The cosmetic dispenser of claim 4 wherein the lateral dividing structure further comprises a rear seal with a through-hole that slidably receives the applicator wand.

8. The cosmetic dispenser of claim 7 wherein the rear seal comprises a base and a peripheral wall.

9. The cosmetic dispenser of claim 8 wherein the rear seal is matingly engaged with the adapter insert and wherein the bases of the rear seal and the adapter insert are disposed proximal to the peripheral walls of the rear seal and the adapter insert whereby the peripheral walls and the base portions cooperate to define a reception well.

10. The cosmetic dispenser of claim 1 further comprising a laterally disposed distal wiping wiper wherein the distal wiping wiper comprises a bottom wall that communicates laterally across the open inner volume of the bottle distal to the cosmetic applicator and the applicator wand when the applicator wand is in a retracted position and wherein there is at least one slit in the bottom wall for permitting a passage of the cosmetic applicator through the distal wiping wiper and for enabling a wiping of a distal end of the cosmetic applicator.

11. The cosmetic dispenser of claim 10 wherein the bottom wall of the distal wiping wiper has a plurality of radial slits.

12. The cosmetic dispenser of claim 10 further comprising a side wiping wiper within the bottle wherein the side wiping wiper has a longitudinal inner wall portion adjacent to a distal end thereof and a frusto-conical inner portion that narrows to an inner throat.

13. The cosmetic dispenser of claim 12 wherein the side wiping wiper is disposed distal to the distal wiping wiper within the bottle.

14. The cosmetic dispenser of claim 12 further comprising a cap for sealing the distal open inner volume of the bottle wherein the cap has a concentric plug that projects proximally to mate with the side wiping wiper.

15. The cosmetic dispenser of claim 14 wherein the plug of the cap has a tip for being received within the throat of the side wiping wiper and a frusto-conical portion corresponding to the frusto-conical inner portion of the side wiping wiper.

16. A cosmetic dispenser comprising:

a bottle with an open inner volume, a closed proximal end, and a distal end with an aperture;

an applicator wand retained for slidable extension and retraction relative to the bottle wherein the applicator wand has a proximal end and a distal end;

a base member fixed to the proximal end of the applicator wand;

a cosmetic applicator retained by the distal end of the applicator wand;

a means for enabling a selective sliding of the applicator wand from a retracted position wherein the cosmetic applicator is retained within the open inner volume of the bottle and an extended position wherein the cosmetic applicator projects through the aperture of the distal end of the bottle wherein the means for enabling a selective sliding of the applicator wand comprises a slide channel that communicates longitudinally along the bottle in combination with a slide member and a means for engaging the slide member with the applicator wand through the slide channel;

a lateral dividing structure that divides the open inner volume of the bottle into a distal open inner volume to a distal side of the lateral dividing structure and in fluidic communication with the aperture in the distal end of the bottle and a proximal open inner volume to a proximal side of the lateral dividing structure wherein the distal open inner volume is fluidically sealed in relation to the proximal open inner volume;

an aperture in the dividing structure wherein the applicator wand is slidably received through the aperture;

a laterally disposed distal wiping wiper wherein the distal wiping wiper comprises a bottom wall that communicates laterally across the open inner volume of the bottle distal to the cosmetic applicator and the applicator wand when the applicator wand is in a retracted position and wherein there is at least one slit in the bottom wall for permitting a passage of the cosmetic applicator through the distal wiping wiper and for enabling a wiping of a distal end of the cosmetic applicator; and

a side wiping wiper with an annular inner throat wherein the side wiping wiper is disposed distal to the distal wiping wiper within the bottle.

17. The cosmetic applicator of claim 16 wherein the lateral dividing structure comprises an adapter insert and a rear seal wherein the adapter insert has a base and a peripheral wall wherein the aperture is in the base concentric with the bottle and wherein the peripheral wall has a size and shape corresponding to a size and shape of an inner wall surface of the bottle and wherein the rear seal has a base with a through-hole that slidably receives the applicator wand.

18. The cosmetic dispenser of claim 17 wherein the rear seal further comprises a peripheral wall, wherein the rear seal is matingly engaged with the adapter insert, and wherein the bases of the seal and the adapter insert are disposed proximal to the peripheral walls of the seal and the adapter insert whereby the peripheral walls and the base portions cooperate to define a reception well.

19. The cosmetic dispenser of claim 16 wherein the side wiping wiper has a longitudinal annular inner wall portion adjacent to a distal end thereof and a frusto-conical inner portion that narrows to the annular inner throat.

20. The cosmetic dispenser of claim 19 further comprising a cap for sealing the distal open inner volume of the bottle wherein the cap has a concentric plug that projects proximally to mate with the side wiping wiper.

21. The cosmetic dispenser of claim 20 wherein the plug of the cap has a tip for being received within the throat of the side wiping wiper and a frusto-conical portion corresponding to the frusto-conical inner portion of the side wiping wiper.