LIP BALM WITH SPHERICAL SURFACE AND METHOD FOR PRODUCING

• US 20130308993A1
• Filed: 07/12/2013
• Published: 11/21/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 12/07/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: EOS Products LLC
• Original Assignee: The Kind Group LLC
• Inventors: TELLER, Jonathan
• Granted Patent: US 8,888,391 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 401/88
• CPC Class Codes: A45D 2040/0012 with special decorative arrangements or form
• 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 40/0068 Jars
• CPC Class Codes: A45D 40/12 Casings with provision for preventing undesired movement of the stick A45D40/10 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A45D 40/16 Refill sticks; Moulding devices for producing sticks
• CPC Class Codes: A45D 40/26 Appliances specially adapted for applying pasty paint, e.g. using roller, using a ball
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 2800/87 Application Devices; Containers; Packaging
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 8/31 Hydrocarbons
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 8/922 of vegetable origin
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 8/925 of animal origin
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 8/927 of insects, e.g. shellac
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 8/9789 Magnoliopsida [dicotyledons]
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 8/9794 Liliopsida [monocotyledons]
• CPC Class Codes: A61Q 19/001 Preparations for care of the lips
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 39/026 characterised by the shape of the surface
• CPC Class Codes: B65B 5/103 for packaging pills or tablets

Abstract

A lip balm applicator product comprises upper and lower portions that are connectable together to define the applicator product being of a substantially spherical shape. A support platform is located in the lower portion and accommodates a quantity of lip balm having an arcuate surface. A lip balm comprises a composition of waxes and oils in solid form and formed to have an arcuate surface. The composition is formed to have the arcuate surface using a hot pour process. A method of manufacturing a lip balm comprises providing a receptacle having a concave arcuate surface. A lip balm material in a heated, liquefied phase is poured into the receptacle. Once poured, the heated, liquefied phase is allowed to solidify such that a surface of the solidified lip balm material has an arcuate configuration that corresponds to the concave arcuate surface of the receptacle.

Claims

1. A lip balm applicator comprising:

a sub-assembly comprising a lower portion detachably connected to a support platform, the support platform including;

an outer rim with an exterior edge and an interior edge; and

a plurality of platform surfaces extending from the inner edge of the outer rim,

an upper portion releasably attachable to the sub-assembly;

a solidified lip balm mounted on the support platform, the lip balm extending into the upper portion when the upper portion is attached to the subassembly;

wherein attaching the upper portion to the subassembly forms an enclosure around the lip balm.

2. The applicator of claim 1, wherein the enclosure is substantially spherical.

3. The applicator of claim 1, wherein the upper portion attaches to the sub-assembly by engaging surfaces that fit together frictionally.

4. The applicator of claim 1, wherein the upper portion attaches to the support platform by engaging surfaces that fit together frictionally.

5. The applicator of claim 1, wherein the upper portion is detachably connected to the sub- assembly by interengaging threads.

6. The applicator of claim 1, wherein said upper portion is detachably connected to the support platform by interengaging threads.

7. The applicator of claim 1, wherein the lower portion comprises a connecting structure comprising at least one indentation on the interior of the lower portion.

8. The applicator of claim 7, wherein the support platform comprises at least one protruding element located proximate a lower edge of the outer rim to facilitate the connection of the support platform to the at least one indentation.

9. The applicator of claim 8, wherein the support platform snappingly attaches to the lower portion with a press fit connection.

10. The applicator of claim 1, wherein at least one of the upper portion and the lower portion is composed, at least in part, of at least two layers.

11. The applicator of claim 10, wherein the at least two layers include an outer layer and an inner layer.

12. The applicator of claim 11, wherein the outer layer is softer than the inner layer.

13. The applicator of claim 12, wherein at least one layer of the upper portion or lower portion comprises a thermoplastic elastomer.

14. The applicator of claim 10, wherein at least one of the upper portion and lower portion comprises a thermoplastic elastomer injection molded over a plastic form comprising either acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene copolymer or polyethylene.

15. The applicator of claim 14, whereby the thermoplastic elastomer layer provides a relatively soft surface that can be easily gripped, thereby facilitating opening and closing of the applicator.

16. The applicator of claim 14, wherein the support platform has a first surface, an opposing second surface, and at least one continuous opening extending through the first and second surfaces.

17. The applicator of claim 16, wherein the lip balm is a continuous mass extending through the at least one opening in the support structure.

18. The applicator of claim 14, wherein the lip balm interlocks with at least a portion of the support platform.

19. The applicator of claim 14, wherein the lip balm encompasses at least a portion of said support platform.

20. The applicator of claim 16, wherein the lip balm is mounded on a first surface of the support platform and contacts the opposing second surface of the support platform.

21. The applicator of claim 14, wherein the lip balm is hooked at least partially around at least a portion of the support structure.

22. The applicator of claim 14, wherein the support platform comprises a plurality of elements to which the solidified lip balm can adhere.

23. The applicator of claim 14, wherein the support platform maintains the lip balm in a position spaced apart from a substantial portion of the lower portion.

24. The applicator of claim 14, wherein the support platform maintains the lip balm in a position spaced apart from the bottom of the lower portion.

25. The applicator of claim 16, wherein the lip balm is mounded on a first surface of the support platform by liquefying the lip balm, passing a portion of the lip balm through the support platform and solidifying the lip balm.