U.S. patent application number 12/989792 was filed with the patent office on 2011-03-03 for compact for liquid cosmetics.
This patent application is currently assigned to TOLY PRODUCT (UK) LIMITED. Invention is credited to Reginald Breese.
Application Number | 20110048451 12/989792 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 39537343 |
Filed Date | 2011-03-03 |
United States Patent
Application |
20110048451 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Breese; Reginald |
March 3, 2011 |
COMPACT FOR LIQUID COSMETICS
Abstract
A cosmetic compact (1) having a lid (3) hingedly connected to a
base (2). The compact further comprising a container (9) to hold
liquid cosmetics, in which the container comprises an inner
container (21) inside an outer container (20) so as to form an air
space between the inner container (21) and outer container (20),
the inner container (21) being in fluid communication with a
dispensing head (23) for dispensing the liquid cosmetic and the
outer container (20) comprising an air inlet valve (20a) wherein at
least one wall of each the inner container (21) and the outer
container (20) is flexible so that in use when pressure is applied
to the flexible wall of the outer container, the flexible wall of
the inner container deforms and expels a portion of the liquid
cosmetic.
Inventors: |
Breese; Reginald; (Kenton,
GB) |
Assignee: |
TOLY PRODUCT (UK) LIMITED
Kingston Upon Thames, Surrery
GB
|
Family ID: |
39537343 |
Appl. No.: |
12/989792 |
Filed: |
May 6, 2009 |
PCT Filed: |
May 6, 2009 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/GB2009/001118 |
371 Date: |
October 27, 2010 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
132/293 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A45D 2034/005 20130101;
A45D 34/04 20130101; A45D 2200/1018 20130101; A45D 40/22
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
132/293 |
International
Class: |
A45D 40/22 20060101
A45D040/22 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
May 6, 2008 |
GB |
0808209.1 |
Claims
1. A cosmetic compact having a lid hingedly connected to a base,
the compact further comprising a container to hold liquid
cosmetics, in which the container comprises an inner container
inside an outer container so as to form an air space between the
inner container and outer container, the inner container being in
fluid communication with a dispensing head for dispensing the
liquid cosmetic and the outer container comprising an air inlet
valve wherein at least one wall of each the inner container and the
outer container is flexible so that in use when pressure is applied
to the flexible wall of the outer container, the flexible wall of
the inner container deforms and expels a portion of the liquid
cosmetic characterised in that the flexible wall of the outer
container is accessible through an aperture in the base of the
compact.
2. The cosmetic compact as claimed in claim 1, in which the
flexible wall of the outer container is accessible when the lid of
the compact is opened.
3. The cosmetic compact as claimed in claim 1, in which the
container is an airless container.
4. The cosmetic compact as claimed in claim 1, in which the air
inlet valve comprises a slit valve.
5. The cosmetic compact as claimed in claim 1, in which the
dispensing head comprises a slit valve.
6. The cosmetic compact as claimed in claim 1, in which the inner
container is configured to move from a first position which defines
a maximum volume to a second position which defines a minimum
volume.
7. The cosmetic compact as claimed in claim 1, in which the inner
container comprises a plurality of flexible walls.
8. The cosmetic compact as claimed in claim 7, in which the inner
container has parallel fold lines.
9. The cosmetic compact as claimed in claim 7, in which the inner
container in its collapsed state has a star-shaped
cross-section.
10. The cosmetic compact as claimed in claim 1, in which the inner
container is impermeable to oxygen or air.
11. The cosmetic compact as claimed in claim 1, in which the inner
container is impermeable to ultra violet radiation.
12. The cosmetic compact as claimed in claim 1, in which the
container is tubular.
13. The cosmetic compact as claimed in claim 1, in which the
container is removably attached to a base of the compact.
14. The cosmetic compact as claimed in claim 1 further comprising a
stopper for the container connected to the lid by a further
hinge.
15. The cosmetic compact as claimed in claim 14, in which the
stopper comprises a protrusion that cooperates with a dispensing
orifice in the container.
16. The cosmetic compact as claimed in claim 14, in which the
stopper serves as a latch for the lid of the compact.
17. The cosmetic compact as claimed in claim 14, in which the
further hinge comprises a web.
18. The cosmetic compact as defined in claim 17, in which the web
is integrally formed with the stopper.
Description
FIELD OF INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates to a container for dispensing
liquid cosmetics. It particularly relates to a cosmetics compact
which conveniently stores and dispenses the liquid cosmetic
product. The compact may also store other items such as an
applicator sponge or mirror.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] Most cosmetic compacts contain cosmetic materials in solid,
paste or powder form. Compacts for applying more mobile liquid
cosmetics are known, but can be cumbersome to use. It can be
particularly inconvenient when the liquid cosmetic is stored in a
container having a separate removable stopper or cap. This requires
the user to set aside or separately hold the stopper when using the
compact. This can be messy and inconvenient, as well as risking
loss of the stopper.
[0003] JP2004208973 describes a cosmetic compact for dispensing a
liquid cosmetic product without the need to remove a separate
stopper from the liquid cosmetic container, thus reducing the
possibility of staining a user's hands. The cosmetic compact
comprises a main body having an inner lid, an outer lid and a base
connected by a hinge. The base of the compact comprises a recess to
contain a cosmetic puff and a further recess as a reservoir for
dispensed liquid cosmetics. The liquid cosmetic product is supplied
from a tubular container equipped with a pump-type dispenser. The
outer lid is coupled with the inner lid so as to enclose the
tubular container. A pushbutton of the pump type dispenser is
exposed in an opening in the outer lid. On pressing the pushbutton,
the liquid cosmetic product is dispensed into the reservoir recess,
for uptake on the puff.
[0004] JP2004208975 describes an otherwise similar cosmetic compact
in which the liquid cosmetic product is automatically dispensed
from the tubular container into the reservoir when the lid is
opened. Variants include a compact with a pump type dispenser
having a nozzle for dispensing the liquid product directly onto a
hand held sponge. The nozzle has a separate cover. In another
variant, a squeeze-to-empty product container hinges out of the
base of the compact and has a dispensing passageway leading to an
uptake reservoir which also serves as a recess for storing a
removable sponge.
[0005] Similarly, GB0614449.7 (Toly Products Ltd) describes a
cosmetic case for liquid products in which a stopper for a liquid
container is connected to the lid or base of the cosmetic case by a
further hinge.
[0006] With the continuing development of complex liquid cosmetic
formulations, liquid cosmetics can be chemically unstable and
sensitive to air/oxygen making them difficult to package and store
for sufficient periods without deterioration. For example, small
amounts of microorganisms in the cosmetic material tend to flourish
when exposed to an abundance of air/oxygen to a point that they
overwhelm the cosmetic formula's preservation system. In another
case, products such as skin bleaches and self-tanners are very
sensitive to sunlight (ultra violet rays) causing unwanted
discolouration to the product. As the technology in cosmetics
particularly in skin care products, forges ahead, sensitive and
fragile chemicals have been increasingly been used. Conventional
cosmetic cases for holding liquid cosmetics such as that described
in JP2004208973, JP2004208975, GB2434631 and also U.S. Pat. No.
4,343,397 and U.S. Pat. No. 6,536,447 do not provide an adequate
oxygen barrier for many of the sensitive or fragile cosmetic
formulas.
[0007] Due to the sensitivity of such cosmetic formulas, air-tight
or airless packaging has increasing been used by cosmetic companies
to prevent the influx of oxygen or air into the cosmetic product
during use. Conventional airless type containers described in
FR2905681 (Rexam Dispensing Systems), US2007164053 (Sik, S. D),
U.S. Pat. No. 6,375,045 (Hyun K, J) and FR2868709 (Rexam Dispensing
Systems) use a pump system and a piston inserted at the bottom of a
container or receptacle. During actuation of the pump system, air
is taken in through the bottom of the container through a one-way
valve as the container evacuates causing the piston to push the
cosmetic material out from a dispenser. In EP 1226874 (L'Oreal),
the container has a supple inner pouch to contain the cosmetic
product to be dispensed by an airless pump with a dip tube
extending half way down the depth of the pouch. An air space exists
between the outer container and the inner supple pouch. During
actuation of the pump, air is taken through an inlet into the
space. Thus atmospheric pressure causes the inner pouch to compress
and reduce in volume as material is exuded from the pump. Although
such systems provide a satisfactory airless dispensing system, it
still suffers from the disadvantage of the need to have a separate
mechanically operated pump to evacuate the contents of the
container thereby complicating the manufacturing of cosmetic
containers containing such airless systems. Moreover, the design of
such airless systems would mean that incorporating them into a
cosmetic case typically having a lid hingedly connected to a base
containing accessories of the usual kind such as applicator sponge,
puff, brush, mirror etc is made more difficult due to the need to
allow for the pump mechanism.
[0008] A similar arrangement is described in FR2821766 (Airless
Systems) comprising a rigid head with an outlet dispensing valve, a
supple inner pouch containing the cosmetic pouch and an outer
compressible bulb with an air inlet valve. The outer bulb is made
from an elastomeric material and form an air space around the inner
pouch. The difference between this prior art and EP1226874
(L'Oreal) is that instead of having an airless pump system and dip
tube to dispense the product, the inner pouch is compressed to
expel the product when the outer bulb is squeezed in the hand. When
released, the bulb resumes its original shape by drawing in air
through the inlet valve. Thus the outer compressible bulb and the
air inlet valve serve as a kind of pump.
[0009] A cosmetic case for liquid cosmetics is needed incorporating
an airless dispensing system for sensitive cosmetic liquids and
having the ability to contain accessories of the usual kind such as
applicator sponge, puff, brush, mirror etc and yet still be easily
assembled by conventional manufacturing techniques.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0010] Accordingly, the present invention provides a cosmetic
compact having a lid hingedly connected to a base, the compact
further comprising a container to hold liquid cosmetics, in which
the container comprises an inner container inside an outer
container so as to form an air space between the inner container
and outer container, the inner container being in fluid
communication with a dispensing head for dispensing the liquid
cosmetic and the outer container comprising an air inlet valve
wherein at least one wall of each the inner container and the outer
container is flexible so that in use when pressure is applied to
the flexible wall of the outer container, the flexible wall of the
inner container deforms and expels a portion of the liquid
cosmetic.
[0011] Preferably the container for the liquid cosmetic is an
airless container. This provides the advantage of the ability to
hold liquid cosmetics that are sensitive or fragile to oxygen or
air in a convenient cosmetic compact containing the necessary
accessories of the usual kind such as applicator sponge, puff,
brush, mirror etc without the need to hold/carry a separate
container and accessory kit.
[0012] The cosmetic compact of the present invention removes the
need of any rigid airless pump mechanism connected to the container
and incorporated in the cosmetic compact. Such a rigid airless pump
mechanism has the disadvantage of increasing the bulkiness of the
cosmetic compact and complicating the manufacture of the cosmetic
compact. In the present invention, the pump mechanism is provided
by the user applying pressure to at least one wall of the outer
container.
[0013] Further preferred features and aspects of the invention will
be apparent from the dependent claims and the following description
of an illustrative embodiment, made with reference to the
accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0014] FIG. 1 is a schematic representation of a cosmetic compact
embodying the invention, shown when the lid is closed.
[0015] FIG. 2 is a schematic cross-section through the cosmetic
compact along the line I-I, shown when the lid is open.
[0016] FIG. 3 is a schematic cross-section through the cosmetic
compact along the line I-I, shown when the lid is closed.
[0017] FIG. 4 is a schematic cross-section through the container
along the line IV-IV in FIG. 3,
[0018] FIG. 5 is an embodiment of a cross-sectional shape of the
inner container along the line X-X in FIG. 4.
[0019] FIG. 6 is a further embodiment of a cross-sectional shape of
the inner container along the line X-X in FIG. 4.
[0020] FIG. 7 is a schematic cross-section through the cosmetic
compact along the line IV-IV in FIG. 3 when the lid is closed.
[0021] The cosmetic compact 1 shown in FIG. 1 comprises a lid 3 and
a base 2 connected by hinges 4. The hinges shown are held together
by hinge pins 4a. The lid 3 comprises a latch 5 to latch the lid
closed against the base, which also can serve as a stopper, as
described in GB2434361.
[0022] FIGS. 2 and 3 show cross-sectional views of the cosmetic
compact on line 1-1 in FIG. 1, with the lid 3 open and closed
respectively. The latch 5 is a flap connected to the lid 2 by a
hinge 6. The hinge 6 is shown as a thin flexible web integrally
formed with the lid 2. However, other means to connect the latch 5
to the lid 2 by means of a hinge known in the art are
permissible.
[0023] In the particular embodiment, the latch 5 is shown to
comprise a protrusion which cooperates with a dispensing orifice 8
formed in a container 9 housed in the base 3 of the cosmetic
compact 1 or formed in a front wall of the lid or base. The
protrusion is shaped such that it either snugly fits into the
orifice 8 in the front face of the cosmetic compact 1 or is
inserted into and held in the orifice 8 by a snap-in
arrangement.
[0024] The liquid cosmetic product is contained in the container 9
that can be squeezed to expel the product through the orifice 8. As
shown in FIG. 4, the container 9 is an airless container comprising
an inner container 21 for holding the liquid cosmetic and sealed to
a dispensing head 23 for dispensing the liquid cosmetic. The inner
container 21 is arranged inside an outer container 20 which is also
sealed to the dispensing head 23. The dispensing head 23 is in
fluid communication with the dispensing orifice 8 and comprises a
one-way valve such as a slit type valve 23a so as to prevent the
intake of air or oxygen during and after expulsion of the liquid
cosmetic. At least one wall of each inner container 21 and the
outer container 20 is flexible so as to render them compressible.
In another arrangement, the inner container 21 can be a flexible
walled pouch. The outer container 20 comprises an air inlet valve
20a (shown as a simple flap valve. Alternatively, the air inlet
valve may be a slit valve or any other suitable form of valve). The
inner container is plastically deformable, e.g. formed as a supple
pouch. In use, the user applies pressure to at least one flexible
wall of the outer container 20 which in turn closes the valve 20a
and pressurises the interior of the outer container 20. This in
turn causes the inner container 21 to deform and reduce in volume
causing liquid cosmetic to be dispensed from the dispensing head
23. When the user releases pressure on the outer container 20, it
resumes its original shape and air is drawn in through the inlet
valve. Thus the exterior flexible wall of the inner container 21 is
always is subjected to atmospheric pressure and is placed under
compression when the user squeezes the outer container 20.
[0025] The arrangement of the inner container 21 is such that in a
maximum expanded configuration, the inner container 21 is of
substantially similar cross-section to the interior cross-section
of the outer container 20, i.e. the walls of the inner container 21
touch the inner walls of the outer container 20. This provides
maximum volume for containment of the liquid cosmetic material by
the inner container 21. Equally the height of the inner container
21 can be substantially equal height to the outer container 20 such
that their ends touch. FIGS. 5 and 6 show examples of typical
arrangements of the inner container 21 shown in a particularly
collapsed (discharged) condition inside the outer container 20. In
FIG. 5, the inner container 21 is shown as a supple pouch having a
plurality of parallel fold lines normal to the page and the pouch
is configured as a star-shape in the cross section shown. In FIG.
6, on the other hand, two of the walls 21a, 21b of the inner
container are collapsible, i.e. formed with a concertina
arrangement. Other arrangements of the inner container 21 are
possible that provide maximum volume in their expanded state and
may also be capable of deforming substantially symmetrically. In
order to control the contraction or collapse of the inner container
21, a number of fixing points may be strategically positioned to
the outer container 20 so as to define different shapes of
contraction of the inner container 21. For example, the inner
container 21 may be fixed to the outer container 20 at three points
such that as the cosmetic material is exuded from the inner
container 21, the inner container 21 assumes a generally triangular
shape before collapsing to a three-pointed star shape. Moreover,
the container 9 can assume a tubular shape but other shapes are
permitted that enables the container to snugly fit in the cosmetic
compact 1.
[0026] However, the inner container 21 in its expanded state does
not have to touch the inner surface of the walls of the outer
container 20 and a gap can exist between the containers. In all
cases, an air space 22 always exists between the inner container 21
and the outer container 20 as the inner container is discharged so
as to allow the proper function of the airless container. The inner
and outer container 21 may be made of thermoplastic material that
is chemically inert and impermeable to air or oxygen. Typical
materials include polyethylene. Moreover, the inner 21 or outer
container 20 may limit or prevent the penetration of ultra violet
(UV) light, which could otherwise affect certain sensitive cosmetic
materials.
[0027] The container 9 shown in FIG. 7 comprises an assembly of the
inner and outer containers 20 and 21 and substantially covers the
entire floor area within the base 2. An upper side wall of the
container is therefore exposed for application of finger pressure
when the lid 2 of the compact 1 is opened. The container assembly 9
has a neck 10 terminating adjacent to the latch 5, to dispense the
liquid cosmetic product. The dispensing orifice 8 may be provided
in a wider filling plug (not shown) sealingly positioned within the
neck 10. The container assembly 9 is held in the base 3 of the
cosmetic compact 1 by a snap-in arrangement 11 such that it can be
detachably removed from the cosmetic compact 1 when empty, or to
substitute one liquid cosmetic product for another. The snap-in
arrangement 11 comprises a circumferential ridge 11a on the neck of
the container. The ridge 11a snaps into an internal recess in a
collar 11b, integrally moulded with or fixed to the base 3 adjacent
the latch 5. Many other means to secure the container assembly 9 in
the base 3 of the cosmetic compact 1 known in the art are
permissible. For example, the container may be held in or beneath a
secondary housing or cover which fits in the recess in the base 3
of the cosmetic compact 1 by a snap-in arrangement. A finger access
hole may be provided, allowing the upper wall of the container
assembly 9 to be squeezed to dispense the cosmetic material.
[0028] Alternatively, the container assembly 9 may be permanently
held in the base of the cosmetic compact or form part of the base.
This simplifies the manufacturing process and hence further reduces
costs of manufacture. For example the base 3 of the cosmetic
compact 1 can be integrally moulded with the container assembly 9
by way of insert moulding. Alternatively, the container assembly 9
can be held in the base 3 by adhesive, ultrasonic welding, or the
like. The entire compact may be disposed of and recycled when the
container 9 is empty.
[0029] The lid 2 and the base 3 of the cosmetic compact 1 can be
separately moulded from a single material, for example, injection
moulded relatively rigid plastics resin. For ease of manufacture it
is preferable that the stopper 5 is integrally moulded with the lid
2.
[0030] When the lid 2 is in the closed position as shown in FIG. 3,
the latch 5 is shown with its protrusion 7 inserted into the
orifice 8 of the container assembly 9 in the base 3 of the cosmetic
compact 1. The lid 2 is opened by simply pivoting the latch 5 about
its hinge 6 such that the protrusion 7 is withdrawn from the
orifice 8. The lid 2 is now able to rotate about the hinges 4 to
the open position as shown in FIG. 2. The contents of the container
assembly 9 can then be dispensed by pressing on or squeezing the
outer container 20. This causes the liquid cosmetic product to be
expelled from the orifice 8. As well as squeezing the upper wall of
the container assembly 9, a finger hole 14 incorporated in the
underside of the base of the cosmetic compact 1 provides a means to
squeeze the container assembly from underneath. A cosmetic
applicator 13 such as a puff, sponge, etc can be stored in the
cosmetic compact 1 above the container 9, as shown in FIGS. 2 and
3. In addition, a mirror 12 can attached to the underside of the
lid 2 as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3.
[0031] An advantage of this arrangement over conventional cosmetic
compacts for dispensing a liquid cosmetic product is the provision
of an airless container for dispensing liquid cosmetics and the
ability to open the lid of the cosmetic compact and the container
holding the liquid cosmetic product without needing to provide a
separate stopper or cap to the container; the whole being simple to
manufacture, having few components. This further provides the
ability to compactly combine liquid cosmetic product with an
applicator used to apply the liquid product.
[0032] The stopper 5 is in fact optional, and therefore can be
dispensed with. In that case, any suitable conventional releasable
latch mechanism can be used to secure the lid and base closed.
* * * * *