Receptacle including an anti-spill piece, and an anti-spill piece

• US 6,132,123 A
• Filed: 12/04/1998
• Issued: 10/17/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 12/19/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: L'Oreal SA
• Original Assignee: L'Oreal SA
• Inventors: Gueret, Jean-Louis
• Primary Examiner(s): Walczak, David J.
• Application Number:
  US09/205,284
• Time in Patent Office: 683 Days
• Field of Search: 401/126, 401/131, 401/14, 401/48, 401/124, 401/129, 401/88
• US Class Current: 401/129
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 23/001 Supporting means fixed to the container

Abstract

A receptacle comprising an applicator and a body forming a reservoir suitable for containing a fluid substance, said body being provided with a top opening. The receptacle includes at least one anti-spill piece fitted to the outside of said body, said piece being suitable for holding the opening of the body of the receptacle above the level of the liquid in the body of the receptacle when the receptacle is resting on a plane surface.

Claims

1. A receptacle, comprising:

an applicator;

a body forming a reservoir suitable to contain a fluid, the body having a neck and a top opening;

at least one anti-spill device, each anti-spill device having a first portion and a second portion assembled about the body to form a cage, the cage being suitable to hold the top opening of the receptacle above a level of the fluid substance contained in the body when the receptacle is resting on a plane surface, wherein a shape and material of the cage are chosen to protect the body from shock; and

wherein the first and second portions each comprise a coupling, the coupling of the first portion and the coupling of the second portion forming a collar around the neck of the body when the first and second portions are connected together.

3. The receptacle according to claim 1, wherein the coupling of the first portion and the coupling of the second portion comprise one of either a web and a rim of elastomer material to permit the couplings to fit around necks having different diameters.

4. The receptacle according to claim 1, wherein the first and second portions are connected together by a hinge.

5. The receptacle according to claim 3, wherein the first and second portions each further comprise a curved bar, the coupling of the first portion and the coupling of the second portion being connected to the hinge by the curved bars.

6. The receptacle according to claim 1, wherein the at least one anti-spill device is made of an elastically deformable material.

7. The receptacle according to claim 1, wherein the at least one anti-spill device is fixed on the body such that the at least one anti-spill piece cannot rotate relative to the body.

8. The receptacle according to claim 1, wherein the neck is threaded and the applicator is screwed onto the neck.

9. The receptacle according to claim 1, wherein the receptacle has a capacity less than or equal to 100 milliliters.

10. The receptacle according to claim 1, wherein the at least one anti-spill device is designed to be fixed to the body of the receptacle.

20. The receptacle according to claim 10, wherein the cage comprises walls that are spaced from the reservoir.

2. A receptacle, comprising:

an applicator;

a body forming a reservoir suitable to contain a fluid, the body having a neck and a top opening; and

at least one anti-spill device, each anti-spill device having a first portion and a second portion assembled about the body to form a cage, said first portion being moveable with respect to the second portion and assembled to the second portion, the cage being suitable to hold the top opening of the receptacle above a level of the fluid substance contained in the body when the receptacle is resting on a plane surface, wherein a shape and material of the cage are chosen to protect the body from shock.

11. The receptacle according to claim 2, wherein the coupling of the first portion and the coupling of the second portion comprise one of either a web and a rim of elastomer material to permit the couplings to fit around necks having different diameters.

12. The receptacle according to claim 2, wherein the first and second portions are connected together by a hinge.

13. The receptacle according to claim 2, wherein the first and second portions each further comprise a curved bar, the coupling of the first portion and the coupling of the second portion being connected to the hinge by the curved bars.

14. The receptacle according to claim 2, wherein the at least one anti-spill device is made of an elastically deformable material.

15. The receptacle according to claim 2, wherein the at least one anti-spill device is fixed on the body such that the at least one anti-spill device cannot rotate relative to the body.

16. The receptacle according to claim 2, wherein the neck is threaded and the applicator is screwed onto the neck.

17. The receptacle according to claim 2, wherein the receptacle has a capacity less than or equal to 100 milliliters.

18. The receptacle according to claim 2, wherein the receptacle comprises means to prevent the reservoir from being withdrawn from the cage when said first and second portions are assembled.

19. The receptacle according to claim 18, wherein the cage has a cross section adapted to prevent the reservoir from being withdrawn.