Pouch container cosmetic package

• US 7,398,898 B2
• Filed: 02/10/2003
• Issued: 07/15/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 07/20/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Color Access Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Color Access Incorporated
• Inventors: Thayer, Jonathan, Bouix, Herve F.
• Primary Examiner(s): DOAN, ROBYN KIEU
• Application Number:
  US10/361,384
• Publication Number:
  US 20030172950A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,982 Days
• Field of Search: 132/218, 132/317, 132/320, 401/126, 401/122, 401/129, 401/156, 401/157, 401/118, 401/119, 401/120, 222/183, 222/105, 222 92- 93
• US Class Current: 222/183
• CPC Class Codes: A45D 34/045 connected to the cap of the container
• CPC Class Codes: A45D 40/265 connected to the cap of the container
• CPC Class Codes: A45D 40/267 comprising a wiper

Abstract

A cosmetic package has a sheet material pouch defining a product storage chamber, a neck member with a passage to the storage chamber, a cap on the neck member to close the passage and an applicator wand extending from the cap through the passage into the storage chamber. The pouch is securely attached to the neck member by way of pairs of horizontally extending wedges. The wedges form opposite outwardly directed, semi-elliptical bonding surfaces that intersect at an acute angle. The semi-elliptical bonding surfaces allow the sheet material of the pouch to transition smoothly about the neck member, such that the material can be reliably and imperviously secured to the neck member.

Claims

1. A cosmetic package comprising:

a pouch container defining a product storage chamber, the container having an opening;

a neck member having;

a first end having a pair of horizontal wedges extending radially from opposite sides, each wedge attached to the first end by way of a base substantially as broad as a width of the first end, and each wedge tapering from the base to a distal edge defining an acute angle, the wedges and intervening portions of the first end defining opposite outwardly directed bonding surfaces, the opening of the pouch container fixedly attached to and forming an impervious seal with the bonding surfaces;

a second end opposite the first end; and

a passage from the first end to the second end of the neck member, the passage providing access through the neck member to the chamber;

a cap adapted to selectively open and close the passage by engaging cooperative means on the second end;

an applicator wand with a proximal end connected to the cap and a distal end extending from the cap, the wand dimensioned to be received in the passage and having a sufficient length to position the distal end of the wand within the chamber when the cap is at least proximal to the second end of the neck;

wherein the passage has a circular cross-section and the cosmetic package further comprises;

an elastic annular ring mounted about the wand and positioned at a location along a length of the wand corresponding to a point between the first end and the second end of the neck when the cap is engaged with the second end, the ring having an outer dimension that is the same as or slightly larger than an inner dimension of the passage, the ring configured and biased with respect to the passage such that compression in the chamber is released as the ring is pushed in the passage toward the chamber and a vacuum is generated in the chamber as the ring is withdrawn in the passage away from the chamber, wherein, the pouch container collapses a predetermined amount each time the wand is withdrawn from the passage.

2. The cosmetic package of claim 1 wherein the ring is fixedly mounted to the wand.

3. The cosmetic package of claim 1 further comprising a ferrule fixedly positioned on the wand between the proximal end and the distal end, wherein the ring is slidably mounted on the wand and is movable on the wand between the ferrule and the proximal end.

4. A cosmetic package comprising:

a pouch container defining a product storage chamber, the container having an opening;

a neck member having;

a first end having a pair of horizontal wedges extending radially from opposite sides, each wedge attached to the first end by way of a base substantially as broad as a width of the first end, and each wedge tapering from the base to a distal edge defining an acute angle, the wedges and intervening portions of the first end defining opposite outwardly directed bonding surfaces, the opening of the pouch container fixedly attached to and forming an impervious seal with the bonding surfaces;

a second end opposite the first end; and

a passage from the first end to the second end of the neck member, the passage having a circular cross-section and providing access through the neck member to the chamber;

a cap adapted to selectively open and close the passage by engaging cooperative means on the second end;

an applicator wand with a proximal end connected to the cap and a distal end extending from the cap, the wand dimensioned to be received in the passage and having a sufficient length to position the distal end of the wand within the chamber when the cap is at least proximal to the second end of the neck;

an elastic annular ring mounted about the wand and positioned at a location along a length of the wand corresponding to a point between the first end and the second end of the neck when the cap is engaged with the second end, the ring having an outer dimension that is the same as or slightly larger than an inner dimension of the passage, the ring configured and biased with respect to the passage such that compression in the chamber is released as the ring is pushed in the passage toward the chamber and a vacuum is generated in the chamber as the ring is withdrawn in the passage away from the chamber, wherein, the pouch container collapses a predetermined amount each time the wand is withdrawn from the passage; and

a ferrule fixedly positioned on the wand between the proximal end and the distal end, wherein the ring slidably mounted on the wand and is movable on the wand between the ferrule and the proximal end;

wherein an outwardly directed surface of the ring is provided with one of an annular ridge and an annular groove, and an inwardly directed surface of the neck member is provided with the other of an annular ridge and an annular groove, the respective ridge and groove engaging sufficiently to initially limit movement of the ring when the wand is withdrawn from the passage.