U.S. patent application number 10/513872 was filed with the patent office on 2005-11-17 for casing for at least partially receiving an applicator for cosmetic products.
This patent application is currently assigned to Schwan-STABILO Cosmetics GmbH & Co. KG. Invention is credited to Roeder, Georg.
Application Number | 20050252823 10/513872 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 29594568 |
Filed Date | 2005-11-17 |
United States Patent
Application |
20050252823 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Roeder, Georg |
November 17, 2005 |
Casing for at least partially receiving an applicator for cosmetic
products
Abstract
A casing for at least partially receiving an applicator for
cosmetic products. The casing comprises a holder for holding the
applicator in the casing and a casing sleeve which at least
partially delimits a receiving space for the applicator. The
relative position of the holder is adjustable relative to the
casing sleeve.
Inventors: |
Roeder, Georg; (Schwabach,
DE) |
Correspondence
Address: |
BACHMAN & LAPOINTE, P.C.
900 CHAPEL STREET
SUITE 1201
NEW HAVEN
CT
06510
US
|
Assignee: |
Schwan-STABILO Cosmetics GmbH &
Co. KG
Heroldsberg
DE
|
Family ID: |
29594568 |
Appl. No.: |
10/513872 |
Filed: |
November 4, 2004 |
PCT Filed: |
May 8, 2003 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/EP03/04845 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
206/581 ;
206/361; 206/823 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A45D 2200/052 20130101;
A45D 40/265 20130101; A45D 34/045 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
206/581 ;
206/361; 206/823 |
International
Class: |
B65D 069/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Jun 17, 2002 |
DE |
102 26 887.8 |
Claims
1-11. (canceled)
12. A casing for at least partially receiving an applicator (24)
for cosmetic products, comprising a holder (14; 28) for holding the
applicator (24) in the casing (12; 30) and a casing sleeve (12; 32)
which at least partially delimits a receiving space (38; 36) for
the applicator (24), and means for adjusting the relative position
of the holder (14; 28) relative to the casing sleeve (12; 32).
13. A casing as set forth in claim 12, wherein the adjustment has a
component in a direction transversely with respect to a
longitudinal axis of the casing (12; 30).
14. A casing as set forth in claim 12 or claim 13, wherein the
adjustment is a pivotal movement.
15. A casing as set forth in claim 12, wherein the means for
adjusting comprises a deformable connecting means (18; 42) between
the holder (14) and the casing sleeve (12).
16. A casing as set forth in claim 15, wherein the deformable
connecting means comprises a bellows portion (18).
17. A casing as set forth in claim 16, wherein the bellows portion
(18) has at least one inward bulge portion and/or outward bulge
portion (20).
18. A casing as set forth in one of claims 15 through 17, wherein
the connecting means (18) is of a contour which is one of angular
and arcuate in section.
19. A casing as set forth in one of claims 15 through 17, wherein
the connecting means (18, 42) comprises an elastomeric
material.
20. A casing as set forth in claim 15 including a cover means (22)
for at least partially covering the connecting means (18, 42).
21. A casing as set forth in claim 12, wherein the casing is one of
cylindrical and bulbous.
22. A casing as set forth in claim 12, wherein the holder (14) has
a screwthread (16).
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The invention relates to a casing for at least partially
receiving an applicator for cosmetic products, comprising a holder
for holding the applicator in the casing and a casing sleeve which
at least partially delimits a receiving space for the
applicator.
[0002] Casings of the kind set forth in the opening part of this
specification are known. With known casings, particularly when they
are used for high-viscosity cosmetic products, the problem which
arises is that the cosmetic product, in the absence of fluidicity,
does not follow the force of gravity so that even tilting or
pivoting does not result in the working region of the applicator
being appropriately loaded. Therefore it frequently happens that
the casing together with the applicator has to be discarded
although there is still cosmetic product therein.
[0003] U.S. Pat. No. 5,951,186 discloses a casing with a holder
which is axially displaceable with respect to the casing. U.S. Pat.
No. 5,002,415 discloses a casing accommodating an applicator and
having a bellows arrangement. A holder with a screwthread is known
from DE 197 44 181 A1.
[0004] The object of the present invention is to further develop
the casing of the kind set forth in the opening part of this
specification in such a way that a better yield is achieved even in
the case of a cosmetic product of comparatively high viscosity.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0005] According to the invention that object is attained in that
the relative position of the holder is adjustable with respect to
the casing sleeve, preferably with a component in a direction
transversely with respect to a longitudinal axis of the casing,
further preferably in the manner of a pivotal movement.
[0006] In that respect the invention is based on the realisation
that, with the relative position of the holder with respect to the
casing sleeve, the relative position of a working region on the
applicator will also change with respect to the casing sleeve so
that what virtually happens is that the working region of the
applicator moves towards the cosmetic product which is highly
viscous and therefore under some circumstances not capable of flow,
or can be moved into the product in order to remove cosmetic
product, whereby the yield is overall improved.
[0007] In accordance with an embodiment which is particularly
simply preferred, a deformable connecting means is provided between
the holder and the casing sleeve. In that case, deformation of the
connecting means is involved with adjustment of the relative
position of the holder with respect to the casing sleeve, which
ultimately results in a relative movement of the working region of
the applicator in relation to the cosmetic product. In that way
cosmetic product residues can be easily removed.
[0008] Preferably the connecting means has a bellows portion. This
structure again involves a configuration of a particularly simple
nature of the casing according to the invention.
[0009] The bellows portion in that case may have 1, 2 or more
inward bulge portions and/or 1, 2 or more outward bulge portions,
wherein the decision in that respect depends on the one hand on the
given geometries and on the other hand on the appearance which is
sought for the casing.
[0010] The connecting means can be of a contour which is angular or
arcuate in section. The decision in that respect will again be
taken in particular in consideration of design aspects.
[0011] The connecting means in accordance with the invention can
preferably comprise an elastomeric material. That applies not just
in relation to the structure with the bellows portion. Rather, in
accordance with the invention, the specified elasticity can be the
cause of adjustability of the relative position of the holder with
respect to the casing sleeve.
[0012] A further preferred embodiment of the invention provides a
cover means for at least partially covering the connecting means.
Such a cover means can be provided in particular for two reasons.
On the one hand, to conceal the connecting means if it is not
desired for the connecting means to be visible, for aesthetic
reasons. On the other hand however, for example by virtue of
coloring, the cover means can also represent information about the
color of the cosmetic product.
[0013] The casing can in principle be of any form. In accordance
with the invention it is preferably cylindrical or bulbous. In
particular, in consideration of the invention, it is also possible
to use such casings which, in the region in which the cosmetic
product is received, have a bulbous internal space because, even if
the cosmetic product is viscous, it can in fact be picked up from
the internal space which is increased in size by virtue of the
bulbous configuration.
[0014] In accordance with the invention the holder preferably has a
screwthread. That structure is advantageous in particular when the
applicator is to be held to the casing removably but nonetheless
sealingly.
[0015] The most widely varying materials are suitable for the
casing. Preferably it comprises thermoplastic material, in
particular polyethylene, polypropylene, PVC, polyamide, polyester,
PET and ABS.
[0016] Particularly when using plastic materials, the casing is
preferably produced by blow molding or by injection blow molding.
That provides that the manufacturing costs are particularly
low.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0017] The invention is described in greater detail hereinafter by
means of preferred embodiments by way of example with reference to
the accompanying drawing in which:
[0018] FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic sectional view of an applicator
with a casing in accordance with a first embodiment of the
invention, and
[0019] FIG. 2 is a diagrammatic sectional view of a casing in
accordance with a second embodiment of the invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0020] FIG. 1 shows a first casing 10 with a casing sleeve 12 and a
holding region 14 on which a male screwthread 16 is provided.
Disposed between the holding region 14 and the casing sleeve 12 is
a bellows portion 18 having four outward bulge portions which are
each of an angular contour in section and of which one is
identified by way of example by reference numeral 20. The bellows
portion is surrounded by a flexible shrink tube 22 which in color
corresponds to the cosmetic product which is to be introduced into
the first casing, that is to say in the case of black mascara for
example black.
[0021] An applicator 24 comprising POM with a working region 26 in
the form of a brush at its free end is held in a holding region 28
of a second casing 30. A casing sleeve 32 of the second sleeve 30
carries a female screwthread 34 which matches the male screwthread
16 of the first casing. The casing sleeve 32 extends around a
receiving space 36 for the applicator 24. Instead of the brush it
is also possible to provide flocked foam or a more pointed
brush.
[0022] In the same manner the casing sleeve 12 extends around a
receiving space 38 which in other respects is delimited by a bottom
40 of the first casing 10. The receiving space 38 serves at the
same time as a reservoir for a cosmetic product (not shown) of
comparatively high viscosity.
[0023] When the applicator 24 is pushed into the first casing and
thereupon the screwthreads 16 and 34 are screwed together the
working region 26 of the applicator 24 is disposed in the region
near the bottom of the first casing 10. In that situation the
holding region 14 serves to hold the applicator 24. If in that
operating position the holding region 28 of the second casing 30
and therewith the holding region 14 of the first casing 10 is
pivoted with respect to the casing sleeve 12 of the first casing 10
towards the left in FIG. 1 (and thus transversely with respect to
the longitudinal axis 44 of the casing 12), which is readily
possible by virtue of the flexibility of the bellows portion 18,
then the working region 26 approaches the casing sleeve 12 of the
first casing 10 at the right in FIG. 1 and can thus pick up
cosmetic product which is disposed near the inside wall of the
casing sleeve 12. In that way cosmetic material which is disposed
in FIG. 1 in the bottom right corner of the casing sleeve 12 can be
picked up with the working region 26 of the applicator 24. It will
be appreciated that the same also applies for other regions of the
internal space 38 of the casing sleeve 12.
[0024] In comparison with a rigid connection of the holding region
14 to the casing sleeve 12 therefore it is possible for
considerably more cosmetic product to be picked up with the working
region 26 of the applicator 24 from the internal space 38 of the
casing sleeve 12, and that considerably improves the yield
afforded.
[0025] The casing 10' shown in FIG. 2 differs from the first casing
10 shown in FIG. 1 only insofar as the bellows portion 18 is
replaced by an annular disk 42 of elastomeric material such as for
example rubber. The annular disk is glued or fused to the casing
sleeve 12 and the holding region 14. In that way--just as in the
case of the structure shown in FIG. 1--the holding region 14 can be
pivoted towards the left in the view shown in FIG. 2 with respect
to the casing sleeve 10 whereby the left-hand part of the annular
disk 42 is compressed whereas the right-hand part is stretched.
Accordingly that causes a working region 26 of an applicator 24,
which is disposed in the first casing 10', to move into the bottom
right corner of the casing sleeve 12 where it can pick up cosmetic
product, even if that product should be of high viscosity.
[0026] Although this is not shown in the drawing, there are further
alternatives in regard to the shrink tube 22.
[0027] For example, instead of the shrink tube, it is possible to
use a ring comprising a soft elastic plastic material which is
injection molded or extruded and which prior to filling with the
cosmetic product is firstly pushed over a mounting tube and then
pushed over the holding region 14.
[0028] Instead, it is also possible for a ring to be applied in a
pressure-less condition to the bellows portion 18 in an additional
injection molding or casting operation. In that case--as also in
all other structures--by way of example a soft flexible plastic
material such as for instance silicone is used.
[0029] Finally, instead of the shrink tube 22, it is also possible
to use a slitted ring or an open circular segment with mutually
overlapping ends comprising a thermoplastic material.
[0030] Thermoplastic materials, in particular PET, PVC, nylon,
polyamide and polyester are considered as the material for the
illustrated casing sleeves 12 and 32, the holding regions 14 and 28
and the bellows portion 18. The same applies for the applicator 24.
In particular the first casing 10 including the bellows portion 18
and the holding region 14 is most easily to be produced by blow
molding.
[0031] The two first casings 10 and 10' are shown in the drawing as
being cylindrical. In consideration of the invention, in particular
in respect of the bellows portion 18 and the annular disk 42
respectively, they can however also be of a bulbous or conical
configuration without the yield being adversely affected
thereby.
[0032] The features of the invention which are disclosed in the
foregoing description, in the claims and in the drawing can be
essential both individually and also in any combinations for
implementing the invention in the various embodiments thereof.
* * * * *