Container for storing and dispensing flowable products

• US 6,981,814 B2
• Filed: 09/10/2002
• Issued: 01/03/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 09/10/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Revlon Consumer Products Corporation (Ronald Owen Perelman, MBA)
• Original Assignee: Redlon Consumer Products Corporation
• Inventors: Moore, Maxine Gayle, Miczewski, Melissa Jamie, Patel, Manharbhai Kantibhai, Corcoran, Michael, Vena, Lou Ann Christine, Geardino, Glenn Robert, Heron, William, Hutton, Barry
• Primary Examiner(s): Huson, Gregory L.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Le, Huyen
• Application Number:
  US10/238,671
• Publication Number:
  US 20040047674A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,211 Days
• Field of Search: 401/196, 401/202, 401/205, 401261-263, 401/265, 401/266, 401/192
• US Class Current: 401/205
• CPC Class Codes: A45D 2200/1009 Applicators comprising a pad, tissue, sponge, or the like
• CPC Class Codes: A45D 34/04 Appliances specially adapted for applying liquid, e.g. using roller or ball
• CPC Class Codes: A45D 40/00 Casings or accessories specially adapted for storing or handling solid or pasty toiletry or cosmetic substances, e.g. shaving soaps or lipsticks features common to containers for handling powdery or liquid toiletry or cosmetic substances A45D33/00-A45D37/00; cosmetic or like preparations A61K8/00, A61Q; sample tables or the like G09F5/00
• CPC Class Codes: A45D 40/26 Appliances specially adapted for applying pasty paint, e.g. using roller, using a ball
• CPC Class Codes: B05C 17/002 with feed system for supplying material from an external source; Supply controls therefor B05C17/02 takes precedence

Abstract

A container for storing and dispensing flowable products comprising a receptacle for storing the flowable product, and a combination closure and applicator integral with the receptacle, where the closure is operable to open and close the receptacle and the applicator to apply the product directly to the desired surface; and a method for applying the cosmetic compositions to the desired surface using the container.

Claims

1. A container for storing and dispensing flowable products comprising (a) a receptacle for storing the flowable product, wherein the receptacle has a first shoulder comprising a circumferential rim having an outer perimeter flush with the side wall of the receptacle and an inner perimeter which is smaller in circumference than the outer perimeter, and (b) a combination closure and applicator comprising a base portion comprising a depending peripheral skirt having a bottom edge and wherein the width of the bottom edge of the depending peripheral skirt is the same as the width of the circumferential rim of the first shoulder of the receptacle, and a closure and an applicator which is integral with the receptacle, said closure operable to open and close the receptacle and said applicator to apply the product directly to the desired surface when placed in contact therewith.

2. The container of claim 1 wherein the flowable product is a cosmetic product.

3. The container of claim 2 wherein the desired surface is a keratinous surface.

4. The container of claim 2 wherein the receptacle is made of a deformable thermoplastic material.

5. The container of claim 4 wherein the flowable cosmetic product is a semi-solid or solid that flows upon application of shear force by deforming the receptacle upon application of pressure.

6. The container of claim 2 wherein the receptacle is a bottle.

7. The container of claim 2 wherein the flowable cosmetic product is a liquid.

8. The container of claim 2 wherein the receptacle for storing the flowable cosmetic product has a base and side walls.

9. The container of claim 8 wherein the base is circular or oval.

10. The container of claim 9 wherein the side walls are perpendicular to the base in a continuous longitudinal plane.

11. The container of claim 1 wherein the circumferential rim has a diameter of about 0.1 to about 0.5 inch.

12. The container of claim 11 containing a second shoulder affixed to and on top of the first shoulder.

13. The container of claim 12 wherein the second shoulder comprises a side wall perpendicular to a plane which intersects the receptacle on the longitudinal axis.

14. The container of claim 13 wherein the side wall of the second shoulder contains depressions.

15. The container of claim 12 wherein the second shoulder further comprises a circumferential rim which is perpendicular to the side wall of the second shoulder.

16. The container of claim 15 wherein the circumferential rim of the second shoulder has an outer perimeter and an inner perimeter which abuts a threaded engaging means.

17. The container of claim 16 wherein the circumferential rim of the second shoulder has a diameter of about 0.1 to 0.5 inch.

18. The container of claim 16 wherein the threaded engaging means contains circumferential ridges.

19. The container of claim 1 wherein the applicator is in the form of a porous material.

20. The container of claim 19 wherein the porous material has a plurality of holes through which the flowable cosmetic product will flow.

21. The container of claim 20 wherein the porous material is made of a hard thermoplastic material or glass.

22. The container of claim 20 wherein the porous material is made of a soft thermoplastic material.

23. The container of claim 22 wherein the soft thermoplastic material is an open celled foam.

24. The container of claim 23 wherein the porous material is in the form of a flat planar surface.

25. The container of claim 1 where the bottom edge of the depending peripheral skirt is seated on the circumferential rim of the first shoulder.

26. The container of claim 1 wherein the receptacle contains a first shoulder, and a second shoulder with a side wall, and the side wall of the second shoulder contains depressions, and wherein the depending peripheral skirt has protrusions, and the protrusions of the depending peripheral skirt mate with the depressions on the side wall of the second shoulder of the receptacle.

27. The container of claim 1 wherein the depending peripheral skirt contains a circumferential rim perpendicular to the depending peripheral skirt and on the top surface thereof, said circumferential rim having an outer perimeter and an inner perimenter wherein the inner perimeter is smaller than the outer perimeter.

28. The container of claim 27 further comprising threaded engaging means abutting the inner perimeter and affixed thereto.

29. The container of claim 28 wherein the threaded engaging means containing concentric rings.

30. The container of claim 1 wherein the base portion further comprises a platform perpendicular to and forming the top surface of the threaded engaging means.

31. The container of claim 30 wherein the platform comprises a conduit and the conduit is perpendicular to the platform and has an inner surface and an outer surface.

32. The container of claim 31 wherein the conduit provides a channel through which the cosmetic product can flow from the receptacle.

33. The container of claim 32 wherein the conduit comprises a stop in the form of a fin that extends perpendicularly from the outer surface of the conduit.

34. The container of claim 32 wherein the outer surface of the conduit comprises two parallel ridges.

35. The container of claim 31 wherein platform contains two openings extending through the platform and the openings abut the outer surface of the conduit.

36. The container of claim 35 wherein the openings are about 180 degrees apart.

37. The container of claim 36 wherein the conduit comprises a stop in the form of a fin that extends perpendicularly from the outer surface of the conduit, and wherein the fin is situated about 90 degrees from one of the two openings.

38. The container of claim 37 wherein the two parallel ridges are situated on the same portion of the platform as at least one of the two openings.

39. The container of claim 35 wherein the conduit is secured to the platform in at least two areas.

40. The container of claim 39 wherein the wherein the base portion further comprises at least one second under surface wherein said second under surface comprises at least one depending side wall having at least one abutment.

41. The container of claim 40 wherein the second under surface comprises two depending side walls each having one abutment.

42. The container of claim 40 where the receptacle comprises threaded engaging means and the abutment on the depending side wall of the second under surface mates with the threaded engaging means on the receptacle to secure the base portion to the receptacle.

43. The container of claim 31 wherein the conduit contains a channel and the channel extends through the inner surface of the conduit.

44. The container of claim 43 wherein the conduit has an opening and around the channel opening is a plug.

45. The container of claim 44 wherein there is a plurality of pegs around the channel opening on the plug.

46. The container of claim 45 where there are four pegs and the pegs are about 90 degrees apart.

47. The container of claim 1 wherein the base portion has an inner surface in the form of a sidewall, an inner shoulder, and an inner neck affixed to the inner shoulder.

48. The container of claim 47 wherein the base portion further comprises at least one first under surface which forms the interior surface of the areas where the conduit is secured to the platform.

49. The container of claim 48 wherein the under surface connects with the inner surface of the conduit.

50. The container of claim 1 wherein the closure comprises a top surface containing an orifice, and a channel.

51. The container of claim 50 wherein the top surface of the closure contains a plurality of reservoirs for containing cosmetic product.

52. The container of claim 51 wherein the top surface of the closure contains four reservoirs.

53. The container of claim 51 wherein the convex dome is affixed to a neck portion.

54. The container of claim 53 wherein the neck portion comprises a lower edge and affixed to the lower edge is a intermediate platform.

55. The container of claim 54 wherein the intermediate platform has a plurality of downwardly extending fins.

56. The container of claim 55 wherein there are two downwardly extending fins and said fins are spaced about 180 degrees apart.

57. The container of claim 56 wherein the base portion comprises a conduit with an outer surface and on the outer surface there are two parallel ridges, and wherein downwardly extending fins are designed to mate with parallel ridges on the outer surface of the conduit.

58. The container of claim 54 wherein the neck portion has one or more extending walls.

59. The container of claim 50 wherein the base portion contains a channel and channel in the closure mates with the channel in the base portion to permit the cosmetic composition to flow out the orifice in the closure.

60. The container of claim 50 wherein the top surface of the closure is a convex dome.

61. The container of claim 1 wherein the closure comprises a top surface, a neck portion, an intermediate platform, and a cylindrical portion.

62. The container of claim 61 wherein the cylindrical portion has threaded engaging means thereon.

63. The container of claim 62 wherein the base portion comprises a conduit having an inner surface, said inner surface having threaded engaging means, and wherein the threaded engaging means on the cylindrical portion of the closure mate with the threaded engaging means on the inner surface of the conduit when the closure is affixed to the base portion.

64. The container of claim 61 wherein the closure has an orifice and a channel having an inner surface, and at the end of the channel there is a peg suspended from the sides of the channel inner surface.

65. The container of claim 64 wherein the peg is suspended from the sides of the channel inner surface by two cross bars.

66. The container of claim 65 wherein the base portion comprises a channel and a second orifice, and the peg is of a size and shape sufficient to close the second orifice.

67. The container of claim 65 wherein the base portion comprises a conduit having outer surface and on the outer surface thereof are two parallel ridges having a space therebetween, and the closure comprises an intermediate platform having two downwardly extending fins, a channel, and a second orifice, and the peg closes the second orifice when the closure is rotated in a clockwise direction to cause one of the downwardly extending fins to seat in the space between the two parallel ridges.

68. The container of claim 67 wherein an audible click is heard by the consumer when one of the downwardly extending fins is seated in the space between the two parallel ridges.

69. The container of claim 1 wherein the combination closure and applicator further comprises a circumferential ring.

70. The container of claim 69 wherein the closure comprises a convex dome and the applicator is affixed to the convex dome with the circumferential ring.

71. The container of claim 70 wherein the circumferential ring contains two depressions on the inner surface thereof.

72. The container of claim 69 wherein the closure comprises an intermediate platform having two downwardly extending fins and the two depression on the circumferential ring mate with the two downwardly extending fins when the circumferential ring is affixed to the closure.

73. The container of claim 69 wherein the circumferential ring contains a plurality of protrusions on the inner surface thereof.

74. The container of claim 1 further comprising a cap.

75. The container of claim 74 wherein the cap hermetically seals the container.

76. A method for applying flowable cosmetic products to a keratinous surface comprising storing the cosmetic product in the container of claim 1 opening the closure and deforming the receptacle by application of pressure to express the cosmetic from the receptacle onto the applicator;

stroking the applicator surface across the keratinous surface to deposit the flowable cosmetic product thereon.

77. A method of applying a flowable semi-permanent or temporary hair color composition to the hair comprising storing the hair color in the container of claim 1 opening the closure and stroking the applicator surface across the hair to deposit the flowable hair color on the hair.

78. A method of applying a flowable lip cosmetic composition to the lips comprising storing the lip cosmetic composition in the container of claim 1 opening the closure and then stroking the applicator surface across the lips to deposit the flowable lip cosmetic composition on the lips.

79. A method of applying a flowable cosmetic composition to facial skin comprising storing the cosmetic composition in the container of claim 1 opening the closure and then stroking the applicator surface across the facial skin to deposit the flowable cosmetic composition on the facial skin.

80. A method of applying a flowable nail composition to the nails or cuticles comprising store the nail enamel in the container of claim 1 opening the closure and then stroking the applicator surface across the nails or cuticles to deposit the flowable nail composition on the nails or cuticles.

81. A container for storing and dispensing flowable products comprising (a) a receptacle for storing the flowable product, and (b) a combination closure and applicator comprising a base portion, a closure and an applicator which is integral with the receptacle, said base portion comprising a depending peripheral skirt, said closure operable to open and close the receptacle and said applicator to apply the product directly to the desired surface when placed in contact therewith;

wherein the receptacle contains a first shoulder and a second shoulder with a side wall, and the side wall of the second shoulder contains one or more depressions, and wherein the depending peripheral skirt has protrusions, and the protrusions of the depending peripheral skirt mate with the depressions on the side wall of the second shoulder of the receptacle and wherein the base portion comprises a platform having a conduit which provides a channel through which the flowable product can flow and wherein the conduit comprises a stop in the form of a fin that extends perpendicularly from the outer surface of the conduit.

82. A container for storing and dispensing flowable products comprising (a) a receptacle for storing the flowable product, and (b) a combination closure and applicator, comprising a base portion, a closure and an applicator which is integral with the receptacle, said closure comprising a top surface, a neck portion, an intermediate platform and a cylindrical portion with threaded engaging means thereon and is operable to open and close the receptacle and said applicator to apply the product directly to the desired surface when placed in contact therewith wherein the base portion comprises a conduit having an inner surface, said inner surface having threaded engaging means, and wherein the threaded engaging means on the cylindrical portion of the closure mate with threaded engaging means on the inner surface of the conduit when the closure is affixed to the base portion.

83. A container for storing and dispensing flowable products comprising (a) a receptacle for storing the flowable product, and (b) a combination closure and applicator comprising a base portion, a closure and an applicator which is integral with the receptacle, said closure operable to open and close the receptacle and said applicator to apply the product directly to the desired surface when placed in contact therewith, wherein the closure comprises a top surface, a neck portion, an intermediate platform and a cylindrical portion and an orifice and a channel having an inner surface, and at the end of the channel there is a peg suspended from the sides of the channel inner surface, wherein a convex dome is affixed to the neck portion and wherein the base portion comprises a conduit having outer surface and on the outer surface thereof are two parallel ridges having a space there between, and the closure comprises an intermediate platform having two downwardly extending fins, a channel, and a second orifice, and the peg closes the second orifice when the closure is rotated into clockwise direction to cause one of the downwardly extending fins to seat in teh space between the two parallel ridges.

84. The container of claim 83 wherein the peg is suspended from the sides of the channel inner surface by two cross bars.

85. The container of claim 83 wherein an audible click is heard by the consumer when one of the downwardly extending fins is seated in the space between the two parallel ridges.

86. A container for storing and dispensing flowable products comprising (a) a receptacle for storing the flowable product, and (b) a combination closure and applicator comprising a base portion, a closure and an applicator which is integral with the receptacle, said closure operable to open and close the receptacle and said applicator to apply the product directly to the desired surface when placed in contact therewith, wherein the base portion comprises a platform perpendicular to and forming the top surface of the threaded engaging means wherein the platform comprises a conduit and the conduit is perpendicular to the platform and has an inner surface and an outer surface and provides a channel through which the flowable product can flow from the receptacle and the conduit further comprises a stop in the form of a fin that extends perpendicularly from the outer surface thereof.

87. A container for storing and dispensing flowable products comprising (a) a receptacle for storing the flowable product, and (b) a combination closure and applicator comprising a base portion, a closure and an applicator which is integral with the receptacle, said closure operable to open and close the receptacle and said applicator to apply the product directly to the desired surface when placed in contact therewith, wherein the base portion comprises a platform perpendicular to and forming the top surface of the threaded engaging means wherein the platform comprises a conduit and the conduit is perpendicular to the platform and has an inner surface and an outer surface and wherein the platform contains two openings extending through the platform and the openings abut the outer surface of the conduit wherein the conduit is secured to the platform in at least two areas and wherein the base portion further comprises at least one first under surface which forms the interior surface of the areas where the conduit is secured to the platform.

88. A container for storing and dispensing flowable products comprising (a) a receptacle for storing the flowable product, and (b) a combination closure and applicator comprising a base portion, a closure and an applicator which is integral with the receptacle, said closure operable to open and close the receptacle and said applicator to apply the product directly to the desired surface when placed in contact therewith, wherein the closure comprises a top surface containing an orifice and a channel and the top surface of the closure contains four reservoirs for containing a flowable product.

89. A container for storing and dispensing flowable products comprising (a) a receptacle for storing the flowable product, and (b) a combination closure and applicator comprising a base portion, a closure and an applicator which is integral with the receptacle, said closure operable to open and close the receptacle and said applicator to apply the product directly to the desired surface when placed in contact therewith, wherein the closure comprises a neck portion with one or more extending walls and a top surface which is a convex dome and wherein the applicator is affixed to the convex dome with a circumferential ring having two or more depressions on the inner surface which serve to affix or hold the circumferential ring to closure.

90. A container for storing and dispensing flowable products comprising (a) a receptacle for storing the flowable product, and (b) a combination closure and applicator comprising a base portion, a closure and an applicator which is integral with the receptacle, said closure operable to open and close the receptacle and said applicator to apply the product directly to the desired surface when placed in contact therewith, wherein the closure comprises a top surface containing an orifice and a channel and the top surface of the closure contains a plurality of reservoirs for containing the flowable product and wherein the top surface of the closure is a convex dome which is affixed to a neck portion and the neck portion comprises a lower edge and affixed to the lower edge is an intermediate platform.

91. The container of claim 90 wherein the top surface of the closure contains four reservoirs.