U.S. patent application number 12/323776 was filed with the patent office on 2010-05-27 for wiper member for a container for packaging and dispensing products.
This patent application is currently assigned to Zen Design Solutions Limited. Invention is credited to Rahul Bose, Rajesh Deswal, Roger Hwang, Koushik Kohli, Leo Clifford Pires, Iti Seth, Bhavana Vashishtha.
Application Number | 20100129132 12/323776 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 42196418 |
Filed Date | 2010-05-27 |
United States Patent
Application |
20100129132 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Pires; Leo Clifford ; et
al. |
May 27, 2010 |
WIPER MEMBER FOR A CONTAINER FOR PACKAGING AND DISPENSING
PRODUCTS
Abstract
The present invention generally is a wiper for a container for
dispensing and dispensing cosmetic or care products. More
particularly, the invention relates to a wiper member that is novel
and inventive by way of its construction such that it prevents air
from getting pumped/entrapped inside the container during usage.
There is provided a wiper member that helps in increasing the life
of the product by allowing it to remain in its original fluid state
and prevents drying out of the product. Further, the wiper member
by virtue of its internal configuration results in efficient wiping
of the applicator element and at the same time provides an
anti-pumping action by allowing the air to pass through the air
vents in it. Also disclosed is a wiper member that is able to
regulate the amount of product retained on the applicator when a
force is either applied or removed from its central axis.
Inventors: |
Pires; Leo Clifford;
(Basking Ridge, NJ) ; Hwang; Roger; (Maple,
CA) ; Bose; Rahul; (New Delhi, IN) ; Seth;
Iti; (New Delhi, IN) ; Kohli; Koushik;
(Ghaziabad, IN) ; Deswal; Rajesh; (New Delhi,
IN) ; Vashishtha; Bhavana; (Ghaziabad, IN) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Patterson & Sheridan, LLP - ZEN Design
3040 Post Oak Boulevard, Suite 1500
Houston
TX
77056
US
|
Assignee: |
Zen Design Solutions
Limited
Wanchai
HK
|
Family ID: |
42196418 |
Appl. No.: |
12/323776 |
Filed: |
November 26, 2008 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
401/122 ;
401/121 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A45D 40/267
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
401/122 ;
401/121 |
International
Class: |
A46B 17/08 20060101
A46B017/08 |
Claims
1. A wiper member for a container for packaging and dispensing
products, said wiper member comprising at least a side wall wherein
the inner diameter of the sidewall of the wiper has a plurality of
flange-like projections that provide a passage for the air to
escape when the container is opened to retrieve the product.
2. The wiper member of claim 1 wherein said flange-like projections
cover the entire inner diameter of the wiper member.
3. The wiper member of claim 2 wherein the flange-like projections
are present at varying heights on the inside of the wiper.
4. The wiper member of claim 3 wherein the plurality of flange-like
projections occupy a relative proportion of the inner diameter of
the wiper so as to cover the entire diameter of the wiper.
5. The wiper member of claim 4 wherein the wiper is made from an
elastically deformable material.
6. The wiper member of claim 5 wherein the wiper is placed inside a
container, said container comprising a receptacle and a gripping
member: wherein the receptacle is a reservoir of the product;
wherein the gripping member comprises a stem and an applicator
element wherein the stem is connected to the applicator element at
its distal end and to the gripping member at its proximal end;
wherein the wiper member comprises at least a side wall wherein the
inner diameter of the sidewall of the wiper has a plurality of
flange-like projections; and wherein the wiper member is fitted
onto the neck of the container; wherein when the stem is withdrawn
from the container, the flange-like projections in the wiper member
provide a passage for the air to escape and not get entrapped
inside the container thereby causing an anti-pumping action to
occur.
7. A wiper member for a container for packaging and dispensing
products said wiper member comprising at least a side wall wherein
the inner diameter of the wiper has at least one flange-like
projection that regulates the amount of product retained on the
applicator element.
8. The wiper member of claim 7 wherein the wiper is made of
flexible material and is able to regulate the amount of product
retained on the applicator when a force is either applied or
removed from the central axis of the wiper member.
9. The wiper member of claim 8 wherein the flange-like projections
cover the inner diameter by being present at different heights,
thereby acting both as an anti-pumping agent as well as regulating
the retention of volume on the applicator when it is removed from
the container.
10. The wiper member of claim 9 wherein the wiper is placed inside
a container, said container comprising a receptacle and a gripping
member wherein the receptacle contains the product; wherein the
gripping member comprises a stem and an applicator element wherein
the stem is connected to the applicator element at its distal end
and to the gripping member at its proximal end; and wherein the
wiper is fixed inside the neck of the container so as to be able to
get constricted or relaxed upon application or removal of a force
on its central axis.
11. The wiper member of claim 10 wherein the receptacle further
comprise a manipulating means for adjusting the deformation of the
wiper member.
12. The wiper member of claim 11 wherein said manipulating means is
connected to the neck of the container such that actuation of the
manipulating means causes a force to be applied or removed from the
wiper member thereby causing a deformation in the wiper member.
13. The wiper member of claim 12 wherein the manipulating means
further comprises of an outer body which is connected to the
receptacle and the outer body of the manipulating means engages a
first housing body inside its shoulder proximal to the gripping
member and a second housing threadedly engaged with it at its
distal end such that the wiper member is encased in between the
first and the second housing respectively wherein the outer body
when actuated causes the wiper member to be either constricted or
relaxed depending on the force application or removal that happens
due to the movement of the first housing with respect to the second
housing.
14. The wiper member of claim 13 wherein the outer body has an
indicia to indicate to the user the amount of product retained on
the applicator element.
15. The wiper member of claim 14 wherein the manipulating means is
connected to the receptacle by a suitable arrangement such as a
dialer or a rotor or any other suitable arrangement.
16. The wiper member of claim 7 wherein the flange-like projections
are present as one continuous flange in the inner diameter of the
wiper.
17. The wiper member of claim 1 wherein the wiper member is used in
a container for packaging and dispensing a cosmetic or a care
product such as a mascara, lip-gloss, eye liner, hair coloring
product or like product.
18. The wiper member of claim 7 wherein the wiper member is used in
a container for packaging and dispensing a cosmetic or a care
product such as a mascara, lip-gloss, eye liner, hair coloring
product or like product.
19. A wiper member for a container for packaging and dispensing
products, said wiper member comprising at least a side wall wherein
the inner diameter of the sidewall of the wiper has a plurality of
flange-like projections that provide a passage for the air to
escape when the container is opened to retrieve the product and
wherein said flange-like projections cover the entire inner
diameter of the wiper member and wherein the flange-like
projections are present at varying heights on the inside of the
wiper and wherein the plurality of flange-like projections occupy a
relative proportion of the inner diameter of the wiper so as to
cover the entire diameter of the wiper and wherein the wiper is
made from an elastically deformable material.
20. A wiper member for a container for packaging and dispensing
products said wiper member comprising at least a side wall wherein
the inner diameter of the wiper has at least one flange-like
projection that regulates the amount of product retained on the
applicator element and wherein the wiper is made of flexible
material and is able to regulate the amount of product retained on
the applicator when a force is either applied or removed from the
central axis of the wiper member and wherein the flange-like
projections cover the inner diameter by being present at different
heights, thereby acting both as an anti-pumping agent as well as
regulating the retention of volume on the applicator when it is
removed from the container.
Description
BACKGROUND
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] Embodiments of the present invention generally relate to a
wiper member for a container for packaging and dispensing cosmetics
or care products. More particularly the invention relates to a
wiper member that provides for an anti-pumping action to take place
when the container is put to use and also provides for a product
with a longer life. The present invention also relates to the wiper
member being able to provide varying amounts of product to be
retained on the applicator as per user's convenience for
application of a cosmetic or a care product.
[0003] Wiper member of the present invention can be employed in
application of various products, such as for viscous cosmetics,
mascara, eye liner, lip gloss, coloring strands of hair and like
products.
[0004] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0005] Numerous kinds of cosmetic and care products are available
in the market today. Some such products include mascara, lip gloss,
eye liner or like products.
[0006] Generally, the aforementioned fluidic cosmetic and/or care
products are provided in a device comprising of a tubular container
having a cap and in the cap is integrated a stem containing the
applicator at its distal end thereby allowing the cap to serve as a
handle to hold the applicator as well. Such devices generally also
include a wiping means situated at the neck of the container that
helps in removing the excess product on the applicator and/or stem
when the applicator is withdrawn from the interior reservoir of the
container. Further, these wiping means are made to be elastic in
nature. The users naturally tend to pump the mascara and lip-gloss
packages in an attempt to mix the bulk before getting the
applicator out of the container. It is generally suggested by the
experts not to pump the packages as it carries the air down the
bulk which in turn acts as a catalyst in causing drying out of the
product. Furthermore, the addition of air in the bulk causes the
product to become lumpy and may also lead to infection by bacteria.
However, this has not stopped the users from continuing with the
pumping actions which is a more natural and psychologically
satisfying response when trying to churn or mix the bulk. Although,
the pumped air causes the applicator stem to have a tendency to
jump out of the container as soon as the cap is unscrewed.
[0007] There exist some packages which have tried to solve this
problem of pumping of air while the package is used. For example,
U.S. Pat. No. 7,182,535 discloses a wiper having a plurality of
L-shaped walls provided by predetermined intervals at a lower
portion thereof, a plurality of vent holes formed between the
L-shaped walls, and a passage hole with a predetermined diameter
and extended to L-shaped walls to allow a brush-ended shaft of the
cap to be placed into or removed from the vessel body. However,
this wiper might not be able to fit onto narrow necked containers
as the extended holes would need a certain area to be able to
function as vent creating holes.
[0008] Therefore, there exists a need for a package that is
user-friendly and lets the user mix the bulk without causing
pumping of air into the container. The solution provided by the
present invention is that of a wiper that prevents this pumping of
air inside the container.
[0009] Furthermore, the users often like to apply different amounts
of the product for different looks. For example, while applying
mascara, the user would like that a lesser amount of product is
retained on the applicator for application on lower lashes while
for application on upper lashes, the user may wish to apply a
higher amount of product and accordingly would want the product to
be retained on the applicator. However, most of the conventional
devices available let a relatively constant amount of product to be
retained on the applicator. This is because a normal conventional
wiper is designed to be of a fixed diameter which wipes of a
constant amount of product every time the stem is withdrawn from
the container. Additional factors which may determine the user's
wish for a variable product retention on the applicator upon each
extraction of the stem from the container include, inter alia, the
nature of the lashes to be made up (i.e., the length of the lashes,
the thickness of the lashes and/or the spacing between the lashes)
as well as the look desired for the lashes (i.e., a thick, dark,
clustered look or a thin, light, softened look).
[0010] There have been attempts at manufacturing such devices which
provide user-controlled delivery of product on the applicator.
[0011] In U.S. Pat. No. 4,433,928, there is disclosed a wiper in
which the size of its orifice is adjustable. The disclosed wiper is
a truncated cone having a single slit forming portions which
overlap over each other. However, the disclosed wiper has a problem
that there are gaps created in the wiping zone which results in
appearance of product streaks on the applicator rod even after
being wiped. Further, the slits in the wiper may lead to a decrease
in the efficiency of the wiper with regular usage.
[0012] In U.S. Pat. No. 4,705,053, there is disclosed a cosmetic
container providing variable product take up. The device contains a
wiper element that has a wiping zone defining a passage whose cross
section is smaller than that of the brush in its state of rest. The
wiper element is formed by a lip whose internal edge defines the
brush-receiving passage and is joined at its periphery to a ring of
a greater thickness, which can sustain, by an axial compression
exerted on it, an elastic deformation leading to a variation of the
cross-section of the passage. An adjuster ring controls the
compression and a reservoir of mascara is accommodated in a barrel.
Thus the degree of compression of the wiper element can be adjusted
and, as a result, the force of the wiping action will be
adjusted.
[0013] U.S. Pat. No. 6,974,271 discloses a device for dispensing
mascara which includes a container assembly for holding the supply
of mascara and an applicator for dispensing an amount of mascara,
the applicator being sized and shaped to penetrate into the
container assembly. The container assembly includes a tubular
container which is shaped to define an interior cavity into which
the supply of mascara is stored. A funnel is disposed within an
open neck in the container and includes a rigid member and a
flexible member which together define an orifice. A button slidably
disposed in the container can be manually depressed so as to urge
against the flexible member of the funnel. Accordingly, depression
of the button regulates the size of the funnel orifice through
which the applicator passes and, in turn, the amount of mascara
which is retained onto the applicator upon removal from the
container assembly.
[0014] Similarly, U.S. Pat. No. 6,270,273 discloses a liquid
cosmetic container which has a secure mechanism for defining the
limit of the aperture regulation of a wiper. There is provided an
aperture-regulating ring in the container that engages with an
upper outer face of a container main body. A neck which has an
aperture regulating section on the rear end moves in an axial
direction in response to rotations of the aperture-regulating ring,
thereby varying the diameter of a central aperture of the
wiper.
[0015] However, in aforementioned volume control wipers, there is
an external body being used to cause constriction or relaxation of
wiper to control the aperture diameter. Further, the as the wiper
makes physical contact with the rigid external body, there are
chances that the product might get clogged at such spaces.
Therefore, there is a need for a wiper that provides for effective
control of volume with no contact of any external body with the
wiper, thereby providing a clean and longer life product to the
consumer. Also, most of the existing devices are typically complex
in construction and costly to manufacture. Further, such devices
are often ineffective in removing excess mascara from the
applicator. As a result, the consumer is still often required, in
an additional step, to manually remove excess mascara from the
applicator using a tissue or other similar item. As can be
appreciated, this additional step renders the entire mascara
application process more time consuming and results in a greater
waste of mascara.
[0016] Most of the existing wipers use an additional component to
cause changes in the wiper aperture. Further, these wipers are not
able to provide a simultaneous anti-pumping action. Therefore,
there exists a need for wiper that provides anti-pumping action as
well as is modifiable to provide varying quantities of product on
the applicator as per the requirement of the user.
SUMMARY
[0017] The present invention generally is a wiper for a container
for packaging and dispensing cosmetic or care products. More
particularly, the invention relates to a wiper member that is novel
and inventive by way of its construction such that it prevents air
from getting pumped/ entrapped inside the container during usage.
There is provided a wiper member that helps in increasing the life
of the product by allowing it to remain in its original fluid state
and prevents drying out of the product. Further, the wiper member
by virtue of its internal configuration results in efficient wiping
of the applicator element and at the same time provides an
anti-pumping action by allowing the air to pass through the air
vents in it.
[0018] In accordance with an embodiment of the invention, the wiper
member of the present invention is cylindrical and is adjusted onto
the neck of the container. The wiper member comprises of at least a
side wall wherein the inner diameter of the wiper has at least one
flange-like projection. This flange-like projection may be present
as a continuous flange covering the entire diameter of the wiper
member.
[0019] According to another embodiment of the invention, there may
be present a plurality of the flange-like projections on the inner
diameter of the wiper. Further, these flange-like projections may
be present at varying heights inside the wiper i.e. in multi-levels
on the inside of the wiper. Further, they may occupy any proportion
of the inner diameter of the wiper so as to cover the entire
diameter of the wiper. Provision of flange-like projections at
multiple levels helps in efficient wiping action and the air
passage thus formed allows for smoother retrieval of the applicator
element from the reservoir thereby avoiding the jumping out of the
applicator stem from inside of the container. Whereas these
flange-like projections when present as one continuous flange in a
wiper made of flexible material is able to regulate the amount of
product retained on the applicator when a force is either applied
or removed from the central axis of the wiper.
[0020] According to yet another embodiment of the invention, the
placement of these flange-like projections may vary, for example
the projections may be present near the distal end of the wiper or
in the middle of the wiper or an y other suitable position.
[0021] In accordance with yet another embodiment of the invention,
such a wiper may be produced from an elastomer or any other
deformable material allowing compression and expansion of the
wiper.
[0022] Independently or in combination with the above, exemplary
embodiments of the invention provide a container for packaging and
dispensing a substance, for example, a cosmetic, comprising a wiper
as defined above. The container may comprise a gripping member and
a receptacle. The gripping member may further comprise a stem and
an applicator element wherein the stem may be connected to the
applicator element at its distal end and to the gripping member at
its proximal end. The said container further comprises a wiper
member as described above fitted onto the neck of the container.
The gripping member may comprise a cap for closing the receptacle.
Further, the wiper member has a plurality of flange-like
projections covering its inner diameter. These flange-like
projections may be placed at varying heights or in multiple levels
i.e. one above the another thereby providing an efficient
anti-pumping action when the applicator stem is removed from the
container for application. Further, the flange-like projections may
occupy any proportion of the inner diameter of the wiper member.
For example, there may be present two flange-like projections such
that one of the projections covers three-quarter of diameter of the
wiper member and the other flange-like projections being present
slightly above it covering the rest of the proportion of the inner
diameter so as to form a discontinuous ring on the inside of the
wiper.
[0023] Independently or in combination with the above, there is
provided a wiper member that helps in regulating the amount of
product which is retained onto the applicator upon its withdrawal
from the container. The wiper member may contain at least one
continuous flange-like projection on its inner diameter, thereby
providing a single wiping zone in the wiper. Alternatively, the
flange-like projections may cover the inner diameter by being
present at different levels, thereby providing different wiping
zones in the wiper and also, thereby acting both as an anti-pumping
agent as well as controlling the retention of volume on the
applicator when it is removed from the container.
[0024] In accordance with yet another embodiment of the present
invention, there is provided a container comprising the wiper as
described above. The container thus provided has a limited number
of parts, is inexpensive to manufacture and is easy to use.
[0025] According to an embodiment of the invention, the flanges in
the wiper are so arranged as to cause progressive modification in
the amount of product being retained onto the applicator element.
The flange-like projections when present in middle portion of a
wiper made from a flexible material help in controlling the amount
of product retained on the applicator. The wiper is fixed inside
the neck of the container and when a force is applied or removed
from its central axis, the wiper gets either constricted thereby
causing the flange-like projections to come close together and
cause maximum interference with the applicator element which in
turn results in close wiping of the applicator and lesser product
is available for application. Alternatively, when the wiper is in
relaxed position the flange-like projections are spaced apart and
therefore cause lesser interference with the applicator and hence a
higher quantity on the applicator for application would be
available.
[0026] Independently or in combination with the above, exemplary
embodiments of the invention provide a container for packaging and
dispensing a substance, for example, a cosmetic, comprising a wiper
as defined above for controlling the volume of retention of product
on the applicator. The container may comprise a gripping member and
a receptacle. The gripping member may further comprise a stem and
an applicator element wherein the stem may be connected to the
applicator element at its distal end and to the gripping member at
its proximal end. The said container further comprises a wiper
member. The gripping member may comprise a cap for closing the
receptacle. Further, the receptacle may further comprise a
manipulating means for adjusting the deformation of the wiper
member. The said manipulating means could be connected to the neck
of the container such that actuation of the manipulating means
causes a force to be applied/removed from the wiper member thereby
causing a deformation in the wiper member. Also, the manipulating
means may be connected with the receptacle in any other suitable
arrangement as well.
[0027] According to yet another embodiment of the invention, there
is provided a wiper wherein the user has control over the amount of
the product retained on the applicator. Further, there is no
additional component inserted or withdrawn to achieve the
deformation in the wiper.
[0028] These and further aspects which will be apparent to the
expert of the art are attained by an adjustable applicator in
accordance with the main claim.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0029] So that the manner in which the above recited features of
the present invention can be understood in detail, a more
particular description of the invention, briefly summarized above,
may be had by reference to embodiments, some of which are
illustrated in the appended drawings. It is to be noted, however,
that the appended drawings illustrate only typical embodiments of
this invention and are therefore not to be considered limiting of
its scope, for the invention may admit to other equally effective
embodiments.
[0030] FIG. 1 illustrates an isometric view of the wiping member
according to an embodiment of the invention;
[0031] FIG. 2 is a top view of the wiping member shown in FIG.
1;
[0032] FIG. 3 is a perspective bottom view of the wiping member of
FIG. 1;
[0033] FIG. 4 is an align section view of the wiping member of FIG.
1;
[0034] FIG. 5 is a top view of the wiping member according to
another embodiment of the invention;
[0035] FIG. 6 is a perspective bottom view of the wiping member of
FIG. 5;
[0036] FIG. 7 is an align section view of the wiping member of FIG.
5;
[0037] FIG. 8 illustrates a cross section view of the container
comprising the wiping member according to one embodiment of the
present invention;
[0038] FIG. 9 illustrates a cross section view of the container as
shown in FIG. 8 showing the wiping action of the wiping member;
[0039] FIG. 10 is an isometric view of the wiping member according
to one embodiment of the present invention;
[0040] FIG. 11 is a cross sectional view of the wiping member shown
in FIG. 10;
[0041] FIG. 12 illustrates the isometric view of the container
comprising the wiping member shown in FIG. 10;
[0042] FIG. 13 is a cross sectional view of the container showing
the wiping member of FIG. 12 in a relaxed position;
[0043] FIG. 14 is a cross-sectional view of the container showing
the wiping action of the wiper member of FIG. 13 on the applicator
being withdrawn from the container;
[0044] FIG. 15 is a cross sectional view of the container showing
the wiping member of FIG. 12 in a constricted position;
[0045] FIG. 16 is a cross-sectional view of the container showing
the wiping action of the wiper member of FIG. 15 on the applicator
being withdrawn from the container;
[0046] To facilitate understanding, identical reference numerals
have been used, where possible, to designate identical elements
that are common to the figures. It is to be noted, however, that
the appended drawings illustrate only typical embodiments of this
invention and are therefore not to be considered limiting of its
scope, for the invention may admit to other equally effective
embodiments.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0047] The wiper member of a container according to one embodiment
of the present invention is shown in FIGS. 1 to 4.
[0048] FIG. 1 is one embodiment of the present invention showing
the wiper member 100. As represented by FIGS. 2 and 3, there are
present flange-like projections 101 on the inner diameter of the
wiper member 100. FIG. 4 illustrates an align section view of the
wiper member 100 wherein it is visible that the flange-like
projections 101 are placed at varying heights inside the wiper.
Further, there are more than one flange-like projections 101
present in the wiper member 100.
[0049] FIGS. 5 to 7 represent the wiper member 200 according to yet
another embodiment of the invention. As can be seen from these
figures, there are present two flange-like projections 201 and 202
inside the wiper member 200 and one of the projections 201 occupies
a larger proportion than the other flange-like projection 202.
Further, these projections are placed at varying heights inside the
wiper. However, these are placed so as to cover the entire inner
surface of the wiper member 200.
[0050] FIGS. 8 and 9 illustrate a container 300 comprising the
wiper member 200 of the present invention. The container 300
comprises a gripping member 301and a receptacle 302. The gripping
member 301 further comprises of a stem 303 and an applicator
element 304 wherein the stem 303 is connected to the applicator
element 304 at its distal end and to the gripping member 301 at its
proximal end. The said container 300 further comprises a wiper
member 200 as described above which is fitted onto the neck 305 of
the container 300. The gripping member 301 may comprise a cap for
closing the receptacle 302. Further, the wiper member 200 has a
plurality of flange-like projections 201 and 202 covering its inner
diameter. These flange-like projections 201, 202 may be placed at
varying heights or multiple levels i.e. one above the another
thereby providing an efficient anti-pumping action when the stem
303 is removed from the container 300 for application. Further, the
flange-like projections may occupy any proportion of the inner
diameter of the wiper member. For example, there may be present two
flange-like projections such that one of the projections covers
three-quarter of diameter of the wiper member and the other
flange-like projections being present slightly above it covering
the rest of the proportion of the inner diameter so as to form a
discontinuous ring on the inside of the wiper member 200.
[0051] FIG. 9 represents the action of the wiper member 200 when
the stem 303 is being withdrawn from the container 300. The
flange-like projections interfere with the stem 303 as well as the
applicator element 304 thereby providing efficient wiping as well
as the vents formed because of the flange-like projections 201, 202
being placed at varying heights allow the air to escape and thereby
prevent the occurrence of pumping action in the container.
[0052] As per FIGS. 10 and 11, there is illustrated a wiper member
400 according to yet another embodiment of the invention. FIG. 11
clearly shows the presence of flange-like projections 401 on the
inner diameter of the wiper member 400. Further, these flange-like
projections 401 are shown to be placed at the middle area of the
wiper member 400. This kind of a wiper member 400 is useful in
providing control over the amount of product retained/wiped from
the applicator element during usage. Further FIG. 12 through to
FIG. 16 illustrate a container comprising this wiper 400. FIG. 13
shows the wiper member 400 in a relaxed state inside a container
500. The container 500 comprises of a gripping member 501, a
receptacle 502 and a manipulating means 503. The gripping member
501 further comprises of a stem 507 and an applicator element 508
wherein the stem 507 is connected to the applicator element 508 at
its distal end and to the gripping member 501 at its proximal end.
The said container 500 further comprises the wiper member 400 as
described above. The container 500 may optionally comprise a
conventional wiper 509 for wiping of the stem 507. The gripping
member 501 may comprise a cap for closing the receptacle 502.
Further, the wiper member 400 has at least one flange-like
projection 401 covering its inner diameter. The manipulating means
further comprises of an outer body 504 which is connected to the
receptacle 502. The outer body 504 of the manipulating means 503
engages a first housing body 505 inside its shoulder proximal to
the gripping member 501 whereas a second housing 506 is threadedly
engaged with it at its distal end and the wiper member 400 is
encased in between the first and the second housing 505 and 506
respectively. Further, the outer body 504 may have certain indicia
to indicate to the user the amount of product retained on the
applicator element. The flange-like projections when present in
middle portion of the wiper member made from a flexible material
help in controlling the amount of product retained on the
applicator. The said manipulating means 503 could be connected to
the neck of the container such that actuation of the manipulating
means causes a force to be applied/removed from the wiper member
thereby causing a deformation in the wiper member. Further, the
manipulating means may be in any suitable form such as a dialer or
a rotor or any other suitable arrangement is possible. During
operation, as the outer body 504 is rotated by a user to a desired
amount of retention, the wiper member 400 is either constricted or
relaxed depending on the force application or removal that happens
due to the movement of the first housing 505 with respect to the
second housing 506. FIG. 14 shows the stem 507 being taken out of
the container 500 wherein the flange-like projections 401 have
minimal interference with the applicator element 508 and thereby
provide a higher amount of product to be retained onto the
applicator element 508. FIG. 15 shows the wiper member 400 in a
constricted state inside a container 500. whereas FIG. 16 shows the
stem 507 being withdrawn from the container 500 wherein the
flange-like projections 401 have higher interference with the
applicator element 508 and thereby provide a lesser amount of
product to be retained onto the applicator element 508.
[0053] It is contemplated that there may be possible further
variations in the arrangement of the flange-like projections
without deviating from the essence of the invention. For example,
the flange-like projections may be present at varying heights
inside the wiper member i.e. one above the other or in
multi-levels. Further, the projections may occupy varying
proportions of the inner diameter of the wiper member so as to
cover the entire diameter of the wiper. Furthermore, the placement
of these flange-like projections may vary, for example the
projections may be present near the distal end of the wiper or in
the middle of the wiper or in any other suitable wiping
position.
[0054] The wiper members 100, 200 and 400 may be made from an
elastically deformable material. Further, they may be produced from
an elastomer or any other elastic material allowing their
compression and expansion.
[0055] The containers 300 and 500 thus provided have a limited
number of parts, are inexpensive to manufacture and are easy to
use.
[0056] The materials suitable for forming the receptacle of the
container may be any suitable polymeric material such as
polyprolpylene while the gripping member and the manipulating
member may be formed of any suitable polymeric member such as
acrylonitrile butadiene styrene. The material of applicator element
may be any suitable polymeric material as nylon or could be a
suitable metal. The stem may be formed of polyacetal or any other
suitable material. The material for forming wiper may be
low-density polyethylene or any suitable deformable material such
as HYTREL. The aforementioned materials for forming various parts
of the container of the present invention are provided as an
example, however other suitable materials may also be used.
[0057] Depending upon the substance being used in the receptacle, a
variety of sizes and shapes of the applicator element can be
utilized. The applicator element may be constructed of a porous or
non-porous rubber, fabric mesh, felt material, foamed polymers,
sponge material, HYDREL.TM., TPE or any other suitable material.
Also, the applicator could have any suitable shape depending on the
kind of application required. It could have a shape other than
cylindrical such as ovular, tapered or any other suitable
shape.
[0058] Although the above description and drawings show the
container being cylindrical, the shapes and profile cross section
thereof are not limited to the same.
[0059] These and further aspects which will be apparent to the
expert of the art are attained by an adjustable applicator in
accordance with the main claim.
[0060] While the foregoing is directed to embodiments of the
present invention, other and further embodiments of the invention
may be devised without departing from the basic scope thereof, and
the scope thereof is determined by the claims that follow.
* * * * *