Vented mascara wiper

• US 7,914,220 B2
• Filed: 03/01/2005
• Issued: 03/29/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 03/01/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ELC Management LLC (The Estee Lauder Companies Inc.)
• Original Assignee: ELC Management LLC (The Estee Lauder Companies Inc.)
• Inventors: Bickford, William, Neuner, Charles P.
• Primary Examiner(s): LE, HUYEN D
• Application Number:
  US11/068,704
• Publication Number:
  US 20060198689A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,219 Days
• Field of Search: 401 21-122
• US Class Current: 401/122
• CPC Class Codes: A45D 40/267 comprising a wiper

Abstract

A vented wiper for a mascara bottle or other packaging and modified filling methods for containers that have vented wipers. During filling of a container, the vented wiper allows air to vent from the container, other than through the interior of the wiper.

Claims

1. A cosmetic wiper comprising a hollow cylinder having an outer wall, the outer wall comprising:

an upper section terminating in an upper orifice;

a tapered section located below the upper section and terminating in an a lower orifice;

upper and lower circumferential beads located on the upper section; and

a wiper groove recessed into the outer wall of the cylinder such that a first portion of the wiper groove is located below the lower circumferential bead and a second portion is located above the lower circumferential bead.

2. A cosmetic wiper according to claim 1 wherein the wiper groove comprises first and second ends.

3. A cosmetic wiper according to claim 2 wherein the first end is located below the lower circumferential bead and the second end is located above the lower circumferential bead.

4. A cosmetic wiper according to claim 3 wherein the wiper groove is straight and parallel to the longitudinal axis of the wiper.

5. A cosmetic wiper according to claim 3 wherein the wiper groove is helical.

6. A cosmetic wiper according to claim 2 wherein the wiper groove is U-shaped.

7. A cosmetic wiper according to claim 1 wherein the wiper groove has no end.

8. A cosmetic wiper according to claim 7 wherein the wiper groove is sinusoidal.

9. A cosmetic wiper according to claim 7 wherein the wiper groove is saw-toothed.

10. A cosmetic wiper according to claim 1 further comprising one or more additional wiper grooves recessed into the outer wall of the cylinder.

11. A cosmetic package with raised wiper comprising:

a bottle having a neck, the neck having a retention groove located on an inner wall of the neck;

a cosmetic wiper located in the neck of the bottle such that an airtight seal is formed between at least a portion of the wiper and the inner wall of the neck, the cosmetic wiper comprising;

a hollow cylinder having an outer wall, the outer wall comprising;

an upper section terminating in an upper orifice,

a tapered section located below the upper section and terminating in a lower orifice,

a lower circumferential bead located on the upper section and resting in the retention groove;

an upper circumferential bead;

a wiper groove recessed into the outer wall of the cylinder such that a first portion of the wiper groove is located below the airtight seal and a second portion is located above the airtight seal.

12. A method of filling a package that has a wiper, the method comprising displacing the air inside the package such that at least some of the displaced air flows out of the package without flowing through the wiper.

13. A method of filling a package that has a wiper, the method comprising:

displacing the air inside the package such that at least some of the displaced air flows out of the package without flowing through the wiper;

providing a pre-assembled package comprising;

a bottle having a neck, the neck having a top; and

a raised wiper partially located in the neck of the bottle and partially raised above the top of the neck;

inserting a filling tube into the wiper;

filling the bottle via the filling tube;

removing the filling tube from the wiper.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein the step of providing a pre-assembled package includes forming an airtight seal between at least one portion of the wiper and at least one portion of the neck.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein the filling tube forms an airtight seal against the lower orifice.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein, after the filling tube is removed from the wiper, the wiper is urged further into the neck.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein the step of urging the wiper is accomplished by applying pressure directly to the wiper.

18. The method of claim 16 wherein the step of urging the wiper is accomplished by applying pressure indirectly to the wiper.

19. The method of claim 18 wherein the a closure is positioned over the wiper and pressure is applied to the closure.