U.S. patent application number 10/222681 was filed with the patent office on 2002-12-26 for liquid personal care products container and dispensing.
Invention is credited to Bergman, Daniel.
Application Number | 20020195369 10/222681 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 24485910 |
Filed Date | 2002-12-26 |
United States Patent
Application |
20020195369 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Bergman, Daniel |
December 26, 2002 |
Liquid personal care products container and dispensing
Abstract
A method of packing and container for a personal care product
use for single use comprising forming a container body from a
thermoplastic material such as polypropylene, polyethylene,
polystyrene and the like, to a size product sufficient to contain a
3-4 ounce amount of the liquid personal care product in a well
thereof; the container body comprises an open well with a
peripheral lip an open end thereof; a printed foil strip, sized to
cover the opening and at least a full circumferential portion of
the container lip is heat, resin or adhesive sealed to the
thermoplastic body after the product is disposed therein; the foil
and seal are of sufficient strength to retain the 3-4 ounces of
liquid product even in an obverted position with jostling such as
during transport; the container is not readily reclosable and
storable and the full contents are intended to be and may readily
be used once the container is opened, i.e., for a single use.
Inventors: |
Bergman, Daniel; (Brooklyn,
NY) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Marvin Feldman
Lackenbach Siegel LLP
One Chase Road
Scarsdale
NJ
10583
US
|
Family ID: |
24485910 |
Appl. No.: |
10/222681 |
Filed: |
August 16, 2002 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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10222681 |
Aug 16, 2002 |
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09620431 |
Jul 20, 2000 |
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6439387 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
206/524.1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D 2577/205 20130101;
B65D 77/2032 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
206/524.1 |
International
Class: |
B65D 085/84 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A method for packaging a single use amount of a liquid personal
care product in a non-closable, non-reusable, non-storable
container, comprising the steps of: a) forming a self-standing
container with an open well, of a size sufficient to contain enough
liquid personal care product sufficient for a single average use,
with said well having an opening, completely peripherally bounded
with a peripheral outwardly extending short ledge; b) filing the
container with an amount of the liquid personal care product,
sufficient only for about a single use; c) placing a cover sheet of
a sealable material on the ledge around the opening of the well and
enclosingly across the opening of the well and fully sealing the
cover sheet to sealingly enclose the liquid personal care product
within said container, wherein said cover sheet is sized to the
areal dimensions of the opening of the well and the ledge
therearound, and wherein a portion of the cover sheet is manually
accessible for gripping in peeling off the cover sheet from the
container when the liquid personal care product is to be used;
wherein the seal is of sufficient strength to resist accidental
opening of the container, but wherein the seal has a low peel
strength for facilitated peeling removal of the cover sheet without
jerking causing spillage of the product with use leaving residue
product.
2. The method of claim 1, wherein said cover sheet comprises a
printed metal foil sheet with indicia of manufacturer, trademark
and instructions thereon.
3. The method of claim 1, wherein said amount of liquid personal
care product is up to about 4 ounces and said container is adapted
for the containment thereof.
4. The method of claim 1, wherein said container comprises a
frusto-conical configuration, and wherein said container comprises
a closed base with a circular recessed offset therein.
5. The method of claim 1, wherein said molding comprising
thermoplastic sheet thermoforming without blow molding.
6. The method of claim 1, wherein said ledge is formed with a flat
upper surface adapted for heat or adhesive sealing to said cover
sheet and a channeled lower surface to impart rigidity to said
ledge.
7. A container, with a liquid personal care product sealingly
contained therein, for single use, said container being
self-standing and, formed from a leak resistant self supporting
material and having an open well, of a size sufficient to contain
enough liquid personal care product sufficient for a single use,
with said well having an opening, completely peripherally bounded
with a peripheral outwardly extending short ledge; said container
further comprising a cover sheet on the ledge around the opening of
the well and enclosingly across the opening of the well and fully
sealed to said ledge to sealingly enclose the liquid within said
container, wherein said cover sheet is sized to the areal
dimensions of the opening of the well and the ledge therearound,
and wherein a portion of the cover sheet is manually accessible for
gripping in peeling off the cover sheet from the container ledge
when the liquid personal care product is to be used; wherein the
seal is of sufficient strength to resist accidental opening of the
container, but wherein the seal has a low peel strength for
facilitated peeling removal of the cover sheet without jerking
causing spillage of the product or residue product.
8. The container of claim 7, wherein the personal care product is
one selected from a hair care product and a skin care product.
9. The container of claim 8, wherein the hair care product is one
selected from a shampoo, conditioner, restorer, thickener and
cleanser.
10. The container of claim 8, wherein skin care product is one
selected from a body lotion hand lotion, moisturizer, sun block,
tanning lotion, body cleanser and hand cleanser.
11. The container of claim 7, wherein said ledge is formed with a
flat upper surface adapted for heat or adhesive sealing to said
cover sheet and a channeled lower surface to impact rigidity to
said ledge.
12. The container of claim 7, wherein said cover sheet comprises a
printed metal foil sheet with indicia heron.
13. The container of claim 12, wherein said indicia is at least one
selected from a manufacturer name, trademark and instructions.
14. The container of claim 7, wherein the seal is one selected from
a thermoplastic seal, adhesive seal and resin seal.
15. The container of claim 7, wherein said container comprises a
frustoconical body, a closed base having a circular recessed
offset.
16. The container of claim 7, wherein said container is rigid to
contain up to about 4 ounces of said personal care product in said
single use.
17. The container of claim 7, said container comprising a
thermoformed unitary thermoplastic body and said cover.
18. The container of claim 7, further comprising a travel set
comprising a plurality of said containers each having a different
personal care product for readily packaging as a personal care
travel pack.
19. The container of claim 7, wherein the product comprises a
fragrance.
20. The container of claim 7, wherein the container comprises a
frusto-conical body of thermoformed unitary sheet construction.
21. A container comprising a body and a cover sheet sealing
disposed on the body, with a liquid cleansing care product sealing
contained therein, for single use, said container being
self-standing and formed from a leak resistant self-supporting
material and having an open well of a size to contain enough liquid
cleansing care product for a single use, said body having a
peripheral outwardly extending ledge; said cover sheet being
sealingly disposed on said ledge around the opening of the well and
being fully sealed to said ledge to sealingly enclose the liquid
cleansing care product with the container, wherein the cover sheet
is congruently sized to the areal dimensions of the opening of well
and the ledge, and wherein a portion of the cover sheet is manually
accessible for gripping and peeling off the cover sheet from the
container body when the liquid cleaning care product is to be used;
and wherein the seal is of sufficient strength to resist accidenal
opening of the container but wherein the seal has a sufficiently
low peel strength for manually facilitated peeling removal of the
cover sheet with jerking the container to cause unwanted spillage
and for readily use with residual liquid cleaning care product.
Description
[0001] This is a continuation in part of co-pending application
Ser. No. 09/620,431, filed Jul. 20, 2000.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] This invention relates to liquid cleansing products such as
liquid personal care products and the packaging therefor.
Specifically this invention relates to containers for liquid
personal care products such as liquid soaps, shampoos and
conditioners.
[0003] Liquid care products are known for household care and
personal care use. Such liquid care products generally contain a
cleansing agent, buy may contain treatment agents, fragrancies and
the like well-known in the art. Liquid household care products
include e.g. laundry detergents and fabric softeners, which
generally contain cleansing, whitening, bleaching agents and/or
fragrances. Liquid personal care products include e.g. body and
hand cleansers and lotions, shampoos and hair conditioners, skin
lotions, sun blocks and tanning oils. These products often likewise
contain cleansing agents, treatment agents and/or fragrances.
[0004] Liquid household care products and liquid personal care
products are generally packaged and sold in blow molded bottles in
quantities sufficient for multiple uses.
[0005] Liquid personal liquid care products are generally not
packagaed in small quantities, except in tear open foil packages
for trial size use. These tear open foil packages require tough
leak tough leak resistant containment materials, and are difficult
and inconvenient to tear open especially without accidental
spillage.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] It is accordingly an object of the present invention to
provide a method and container for the economical containment of
measured small amounts of a liquid personal care product,
sufficient for an average single use, in a non-closable,
non-storable, non-reusable economical container which is resistant
to accidental spillage but which is readily openable for use.
[0007] It is a further object of the present invention to provide
said single use amount of liquid product in a container suitable
for use in a vending machine.
[0008] It is yet a further object of the present invention to
provide a convenient packaged form for liquid personal care
product, which requires no measuring or other handling.
[0009] Generally the present invention comprises a method and
container package for conveniently packaging single use amounts of
a liquid personal care product in a non-re-closable, non-reusable,
non-storable container, comprising the steps of:
[0010] a) forming a self-standing leak resistant container with an
open well, of a size sufficient to contain enough liquid personal
care product for a single average use, said container being formed
preferably from a plastic such as a thermoplastic material (e.g.,
polypropylene, polyethylene, polystyrene and the like), with said
well having an opening, completely peripherally bounded with a
peripheral outwardly extending short ledge;
[0011] b) filling the container with an amount of liquid personal
care product sufficient only for about a single average use;
[0012] c) placing a cover sheet of a material which is preferably
heat sealable, on the ledge around the opening of the well and
enclosingly across the opening of the well and fully adhering, such
as by heat sealing, the cover sheet to sealingly enclose the liquid
within said container, wherein said cover sheet is congruently
sized to the areal dimensions of the opening of the well and the
ledge therearound, and wherein a portion of the cover sheet is
manually accessible for gripping in peeling off the cover sheet
from the container when the liquid product is to be used,
[0013] wherein the seal is of sufficient tensile strength to resist
accidental opening of the container but wherein the seal has a low
peel strength for facilitated peeling removal of the cover sheet,
preferably without jerking or the leaving of a remaining
residue.
[0014] Alternatively, a peelable adhesive seal or resin seal is
utilized in lieu of the heat seal. It is understood that the
adhesive strength is of a similar tensile strength to resist
accidental opening of the container prior to use. It is preferred
that the adhesive or resin loses a substantial portion of its
adherence when the seal is broken in order to discourage re-closure
and the likely spilling of any residue product.
[0015] The cover sheet is preferably a thin metal foil such as of
aluminum and is preferably pre-printed with manufacturer
identification, trademark(s), and usage instructions. The metal is
dimensioned to provide sufficient retaining strength for the
contained liquids even under jostling shipping and handling
conditions. A cover sheet of the same material as the container is
to be avoided with a full heat seal since the resultant seal is
more of a material weld and may be difficult to separate,
especially without leaving a torn residue.
[0016] The cost of the single-use liquid personal care packaging of
the present invention, which is non-reusable and non-storable, is
lower than the cost of packaging currently utilized.
[0017] The above and other features and advantages of the present
invention will become more evident from the following discussion
and drawings in which:
SHORT DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0018] FIG. 1 is a partial sectioned side view of a container made
in accordance with the present invention with a cover sheet being
placed thereon;
[0019] FIG. 2 is a top view of the open container of FIG. 1;
and
[0020] FIG. 3 is the container of FIG. 1, having been sealed by the
cover sheet and filled with liquid detergent, as it is being
opened.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0021] The containers made in accordance with the present invention
are formed with frusto-conical sloped walls whereby the cups can be
nested within each other for facilitated storage and processing.
The peripheral ledges are preferably configured with a flat upper
surface for heat sealing with the cover sheet and with a channeled
lower surface to enhance structural rigidity. A peripheral indent
in the wall of the container permits offset nesting of the
containers for easy removal separation from each other. The
peripheral ledges are minimized in lateral extent to concomitantly
minimize peeling effort but are sufficiently wide enough to effect
a heat seal of the requisite strength or the application of
sufficient adhesive for adherence of sufficient strength. A 1/8
inch extension is an effective width for a container with
approximate dimensions of 1.8" height and 2.75" diameter opening.
Because of the frusto-conical structure, the base of the cup has a
smaller diameter of about 2.4" to provide a well sufficient to
contain the requisite maximum of four ounces of liquid. Though the
containers may be larger and capable of containing more liquid, it
is preferred that the volume of the container not be more than 25%
above the volume actually required by the liquid.
[0022] The containers are preferably made of polystyrene with an
indent base to increase structural strength thereof.
[0023] An extending tab section of the cover sheet is folded down
when not used and lifted as a starting lever for removal of the
cover sheet from the container when the liquid is to be used. After
removal of the cover sheet, the liquid is poured onto the desired
surface, without measuring or manipulation, and the container and
cover are discarded. No portion of the personal care liquid can be,
or is intended to be, readily stored since the contained amount of
liquid is pre-measured for the desired single-use. The container
cannot be practically re-adhered by merely folding back or
replacing the cover sheet. Further, a liquid in an open cup is not
readily practicably stored without spillage.
[0024] The container made according to the present invention are
particularly suited to liquid personal care products. Such as
shampoos, conditioners, hair creams and tonics, hand and body
soaps, cleansers and lotions; sun blocks, tanning oils,
moisturizers, antibacterial liquids, and the like.
[0025] In one manner of application, such as a hair care product,
the user pulls the extending tab of the cover sheet to peel off the
cover sheet from the container body. After removal of the cover
sheet, the user pours the e.g. liquid hair care product onto the
hair and scalp, without the need for measuring or manipulation. The
pre-measured single use quantity of hair care product is thus
readily applied. After pouring of the liquid hair care product, the
user discards the cover sheet and container into a bathroom waste
receptacle.
[0026] The liquid personal care product single use container is
particularly useful in travel applications. The user does not have
to carry conventional blow molded plastic or glass personal care
product containers in travel bags and luggage. Such prior art
containers are subject to breakage or spillage, particularly where
the replaced screw cap or multiply used dispenser valve is not
fully secured. Furthermore, with aircraft pressure changes, the
conventional dispensers and closings are subject to leakage,
whereby in the present invention, the high strength cover sheet
bonding such as by thermoplastic heat sealing, avoids such
leakage.
[0027] The present invention also permits the user to carry a
number of personal care products in a small travel or carry-on bag,
which is not practical with the prior art relatively large volume
bottles and containers.
[0028] A conventional amount of liquid personal care product single
use is about 3-4 ounces. The container is thus provided with a well
capable of containing at least the maximum of 4 ounces.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS AND THE PREFERRED
EMBODIMENT
[0029] With reference to the drawings, in FIG. 1 a thermoformed
container cup 1 having a capacity of about 4.5 to 5 fluid ounces of
liquid personal care product. The container 1 is of frusto-conical
shape with a wider opening 1a than the closed base 1b, whereby
multiple cups may be readily nested. Ledge 2 peripherally
completely surrounds the opening (as more clearly seen in FIG. 2)
with flat upper surface 2a for heat or adhesive sealing with foil
cover sheet 10. Lower ledge surface 2b is channel shaped for
rigidity and structural strength to withstand peeling forces when
the cover sheet 10 is removed therefrom (FIG. 3). Indent 3 is
adapted to rest on the succeeding ledge 2 of a second container
into which container 1 is nested, in a stack of containers used for
processing. The base 1b of the container comprises a circular
recess 4 to impart further rigidity to the base of the container
and to enhance standing stability.
[0030] As seen in FIG. 3, cover sheet 10 is printed with indicia of
manufacturer and trademarks 11 and instructions 12 and container 1
is substantially filled with liquid detergent 20, pre-measured for
a single wash load. Cover sheet 10 is sized to fit on ledge 2 with
tab extension 10 used to grasp the cover sheet for peeling removal,
as shown. Cover sheet 10 is not redeployable and is either entirely
or partially removed and the detergent 20 is poured into the wash
load, as required, and the cover sheet 10 and container are
discarded. With the minimal size of the containers and the standing
stability thereof, they may be individually sold in vending
machines use or they may be used as single use conveniences and
sold in travel packs such as six-packs with an appropriate
cooperative packaging or carrier.
[0031] Liquid care products within the contemplation of the present
include products which contain, by way of example, cleansing
agents,.treatment agents, medicaments, lubricants and/or
fragrances. Liquid care products within the contemplation of of the
present invention, particularly include liquid personal care
products, including by way of example, hair shampoos, hair
conditioners, hand soaps, body lotions, moisturizers, sun blocks,
tanning oils, mouthwash, hair thickeners and restorers, and the
like.
[0032] It is understood that the above description and drawings
showing a particular embodiment are merely illustrative of the
present invention and that changes may be made in the structure,
components and configuration of the container and cover without
departing from the scope of the present invention, as defined in
the following claims.
* * * * *