U.S. patent application number 13/046312 was filed with the patent office on 2011-10-20 for attachment clip for threaded container.
This patent application is currently assigned to DGL CONSUMER PRODUCTS, INC.. Invention is credited to Thomas G. Smith.
Application Number | 20110253731 13/046312 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 44787464 |
Filed Date | 2011-10-20 |
United States Patent
Application |
20110253731 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Smith; Thomas G. |
October 20, 2011 |
ATTACHMENT CLIP FOR THREADED CONTAINER
Abstract
An annular attachment device is provided that is adapted to
engage the threads of a threaded container and provide a connection
point for the threaded container. In such an arrangement, the
threads of a container may be placed through a center aperture in
the attachment device. By threading a lid onto the container, the
annular attachment device may be trapped between the container and
its lid. An aperture or hook on an outer surface of the annular
attachment device allows the device and a supported container to be
tethered to a desired location.
Inventors: |
Smith; Thomas G.; (Denver,
CO) |
Assignee: |
DGL CONSUMER PRODUCTS, INC.
Denver
CO
|
Family ID: |
44787464 |
Appl. No.: |
13/046312 |
Filed: |
March 11, 2011 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
61312882 |
Mar 11, 2010 |
|
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Current U.S.
Class: |
220/751 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D 25/22 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
220/751 |
International
Class: |
B65D 25/20 20060101
B65D025/20; B65D 25/22 20060101 B65D025/22 |
Claims
1. A consumer product package, comprising: a recessed container
having an outside threaded rim; a lid having an inside threaded
rim, wherein the outside and inside threaded rims are sized for
complimentary threaded engagement; an attachment ring having: an
annular member with an internal diameter that is sized to be one of
disposed over and engaged with the outside threaded rim of the
recessed container, wherein the annular member is disposed between
the recessed container and the lid when the lid is in threaded
engagement with the container; and at least one protrusion that
extends beyond an outside of the container and the lid when the lid
is threaded onto the container; and an aperture extending through
the protrusion.
2. The package of claim 1, wherein the annular member has an inside
edge defining the internal diameter and an outside edge, further
comprising: an outer rim interconnected to the outside edge of the
annular member.
3. The package of claim 1, wherein the outer rim has an inside
surface that in cross-section is substantially perpendicular to the
annular member.
4. The package of claim 3, wherein an outside surface of the outer
rim has a rounded surface in cross-section.
5. The package of claim 2, wherein the protrusion extends from an
outside surface of the outer rim.
6. The package of claim 2, wherein the annular member comprises a
substantially flat disk, wherein the outer rim extends above and
below top and bottom surfaces of the flat disk.
7. The package of claim 2, wherein the outer rim covers an
interface between the recessed container and the rim when the lid
and container are in threaded engagement.
8. The package of claim 1, further comprising: a clip device
attached to the aperture.
9. The package of claim 1, where a thickness of a portion of the
annular member disposed between the recessed container and the lid
is less than one-third of the height of the threads.
10. The package of claim 1, wherein the recessed container and the
lid form a substantially spherical container when the lid is in
threaded engagement with the recessed container.
11. The package of claim 10, wherein an inside surface of the lid
further comprises: a reflective surface.
12. The package of claim 1, further comprising: lip gloss disposed
in the recessed container.
13. An attachment device for providing a connection point on the
outside surface of a threaded container, comprising: a ring having:
a substantially flat annular member with an internal diameter that
is sized to be one of disposed around and engaged with threads of a
threaded container; and at least one protrusion that extends beyond
an outside periphery of the annular member, wherein the protrusion
extends beyond the interface of a container and lid when the lid is
secured to the threads of such a container; and an aperture
extending through the protrusion.
14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the substantially flat
annular ring has an inside edge and an outside edge, further
comprising: an outer rim interconnected to the outside edge of the
annular lip.
15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the protrusion extends from
the outer rim.
16. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the rim has an inside
surface that in cross-section is substantially perpendicular to the
annular lip.
17. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein an outside surface of the
rim is rounded in cross-section.
18. The apparatus of claim 13, further comprising: a clip
interconnected to the aperture of the protrusion.
19. A method for use with a consumer product container, comprising:
removing a lid from a recessed container to exposed outside threads
on a rim of the recessed container; engaging a substantially flat
annular member with the exposed outside threads; engaging the lid
with the exposed outside threads, wherein the flat annular member
is trapped between the lid and the recessed container; tethering a
portion of the flat annular member that extends beyond the
interface of the lid and recessed container to an object.
20. The method of claim 19, wherein tethering comprises attaching a
clip connected to the portion of the flat annular member.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE
[0001] The present application claims the benefit of the filing
date of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/312,882 entitled
"Attachment Clip for Threaded Container" and having a filing date
of Mar. 11, 2010, the entire contents of which are incorporated
herein by reference.
FIELD OF INVENTION
[0002] This disclosure relates generally to containers for consumer
products as lip balm, lip gloss and/or lipstick. More particularly,
the disclosure is directed to an attachment device that allows a
consumer to tether a consumer product container to a desired
location.
BACKGROUND
[0003] Containers that store various consumer products such as, for
example, makeup/blushes, lip balms, lip-glosses lipsticks etc,
employ a wide variety of designs. Many such containers have a lid
that screws onto threads of a recessed cup, which holds the
consumer product (i.e., threaded containers). When threaded onto
the cup, the lid covers the opening of the cup and maintains the
contents therein. When removed, a consumer may access the product
in the container using, for example, their finger or an applicator
brush. Typically, consumers maintain such containers within a
purse, bag or back pack. Due to the small size of many of these
containers, the products may be difficult to find when desired.
That is, such small product containers easily become misplaced with
other loose contents of a purse or bag.
SUMMARY
[0004] It is an object of the invention to provide a means engaging
a threaded container such that the container may be affixed to a
desired location or object.
[0005] According to a first aspect, a consumer product package is
provided that allows for the fixing or tethering the product
package to a desired location or object. In this aspect, a
container is provided having a recessed cup with an outside
threaded rim and a lid with an inside threaded rim. The threads of
the lid are adapted to engage the threads of the recessed cup in
order to open and close the container. Disposed between the lid and
recessed cup about the outside threaded rim of the recessed cup is
an attachment ring. This attachment ring includes an annular member
having an internal diameter that is sized to fit over/around or be
threaded onto the outside threaded rim of the recessed cup. This
attachment ring has at least one protrusion that extends beyond the
outside periphery of the container when the lid is threaded onto
the cup and includes a hook or aperture that allows for affixing
the container to a desired location. Such an arrangement is a
particular value for small consumer product packages such as,
without limitation, lipstick, lip gloss, and or other balms.
[0006] Generally, the annular member has an inside edge that
defines the internal diameter that is sized to be disposed over the
threaded rim of the cup. In addition, the annular member has an
outside edge that, in one arrangement, includes an outer rim. Such
an outer rim may have a surface that is substantially perpendicular
to the annular member. In such an arrangement, the annular member
may be a substantially flat member and the rim may be disposed
perpendicularly thereto when viewed in cross-section. In one
arrangement, the thickness of the annular member is less than about
one third of the height of the threads of the outside rim of the
cup. In this regard, disposing the annular member between the lid
and the container may not prevent the lid from fully engaging with
the threads. This also allows such an annular member may be
utilized with pre-existing containers. In one arrangement, an
outside surface of the outer rim has a rounded surface when viewed
in cross-section. In this regard, the rim may provide a smooth
interface between the lid and the container that is free of any
sharp edges. In embodiments that incorporate the outer rim, the
protrusion including the attachment point may extend from an
outside surface of the outer rim. In one arrangement, the rim
extends around the periphery of annular member and thereby defines
a recessed surface into which, for example, the bottom of the lid
may be received on a first side and the top of the container may be
received on the second side. In this regard, the rim may be sized
to cover an interface between the lid and the container.
[0007] The lid and container may have any appropriate
configuration. However, in one arrangement, the lid and the
container each are formed as half hemispherical mating components.
Accordingly, when the lid is engaged with the container, the
resulting package is a spherical container. In a further
arrangement, the inside surface of the lid may include a reflective
surface such as a mirror that may be utilized when applying a
consumer product, such as lip gloss, held within the container.
[0008] According to another aspect, an attachment device is
provided for use as a connection point for a threaded container.
Generally, the attachment device includes a ring having a
substantially flat annular member with an internal diameter that is
sized to be disposed around or engaged with the outside threads of
a threaded container. The ring further includes at least a first
protrusion that extends beyond an outside periphery of the annular
member such that the protrusion extends beyond an interface of a
container and lid when the lid is secured to the threads of the
container. This protrusion includes a connection point such as an
aperture or hook that allows the attachment device to be secured to
an object. In this arrangement, the attachment device may be
removably secured to the threads of an existing container and may
be reused when the container is empty.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES
[0009] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of a lip
threaded container.
[0010] FIG. 2 is a view of the container of FIG. 1 when the
container is closed.
[0011] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the lid of the container of
FIG. 1.
[0012] FIG. 4A is a perspective view of an attachment device for
use with a threaded container.
[0013] FIG. 4B is a plan view of the attachment device of FIG.
4A.
[0014] FIG. 4C is a cross-sectional view of the attachment device
of FIG. 4A.
[0015] FIGS. 5A-5C illustrate cross-sectional side views of
insertion of the attachment device of FIG. 4A into a threaded
container.
[0016] FIG. 6 illustrates a clip device attached to the attachment
device of FIG. 4A.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0017] Reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings,
which assist in illustrating the various pertinent features of the
packaging design. Although the invention will now be described
primarily in conjunction with a lip balm container, it should be
expressly understood that aspects of the invention are applicable
to other containers. In this regard, the following description is
presented for purposes of illustration and description.
Furthermore, the description is not intended to limit the invention
to the form disclosed herein. Consequently, variations and
modifications commensurate with the following teachings, and skill
and knowledge of the relevant art, are within the scope of the
disclosure.
[0018] Referring now to the drawings, wherein like reference
numerals designate corresponding structure throughout the views,
and referring to FIGS. 1-3, a exemplary container 10 is provided
that is constructed to hold a viscous liquid such as lip balm or
lip-gloss or any one of a myriad of possible products. As shown,
the container 10 is generally spherical having an upper member 12
and a lower member 14 that, when connected, form a spherical body.
This spherical body is substantially hollow to provide an interior
area for holding a product 20 such as a lip balm or lip-gloss.
[0019] As shown, the lower member 14 of the body includes an
exterior threaded rim 18. Likewise, the upper member 12 has an
interior threaded rim 16. These threaded rims 16, 18 allow the
upper member 12 to screw on and off of the lower member 14 to close
and open the container 10. When the threaded rims are screwed
together (see FIG. 2) the peripheral edges 6, 8 of the upper and
lower members abut closing the container 10. In the illustrated
embodiment, the upper member/lid 12 further includes a mirror 30
that is disposed within its recessed interior surface. See FIG. 3.
This allows a consumer to utilize the mirror to apply the product
contained within the container 10.
[0020] The present inventors have recognized that containers that
hold products such as lip balms, glosses, make-up etc., are
frequently small containers that are typically intermingled with
the loose contents of a purse or bag. Due to their small size,
these containers are often hard to locate among other contents in
the purse or bag and are thus often effectively unavailable when
desired by a user.
[0021] Provided herein is an attachment device 50 that may be
utilized with a consumer product container such as, for example,
the container of FIGS. 1-3 as well as other threaded containers.
The attachment device 50 interconnects to a threaded container such
that the container may tethered to another object. For instance, in
the case of a small lip-balm container the container may be
tethered or clipped to a user's key chain, which they are rarely
without. In this regard, the product may be more readily available
to such users. Alternatively, the container may be attached to an
outside surface of a purse or bag where it is more visible and
readily available to the consumer. Attaching such a consumer
product to a user's keys or the outside of their purse or bag also
allows for potentially increased product usage.
[0022] FIGS. 4A-4C illustrate various views of an attachment device
50 that may be utilized with a threaded container to provide an
attachment point for that threaded container. As illustrated in
FIGS. 1-3, most threaded containers contain no structure that
allows the container itself to be tethered to another object. That
is, the mating peripheral edges of the lid and container as well as
the outside surfaces of the container are typically smooth surfaces
free of any attachment points. As shown in FIGS. 4A-4C, the
attachment device 50 is formed of an annular ring that is designed
for disposition between the upper and lower members 12, 14 of a
container. For instance, as illustrated in FIGS. 5A-5C, the
attachment device 50 may be disposed between the lid 12 and
recessed cup 14 of the container 10.
[0023] Referring again to FIGS. 4A-4C, it is noted that the
attachment device has a T-shaped cross section where the leg of the
T defines an interior annular lip 56 of the attachment device 50.
This lip is adapted to be received between the mating peripheral
edges of a container and its lid. Accordingly, the inside diameter
of this annular lip 56 defines a circular opening that is sized to
fit around the threads of a threaded container. In one embodiment,
the circular opening is sized to pass over the threads 18 of the
lower member. In this embodiment, the lip is maintained between the
upper and lower member when the lid/upper member is threaded onto
the lower member.
[0024] Alternatively, the inside diameter of the annular lip 56 may
be sized such that it engages the threads 18 of a threaded
container. As shown in FIG. 5B, this allows the attachment device
50 to be threaded onto the threaded rim 18 of the lower member 14
until the bottom surface of the annular lip 56 seats at the bottom
of the threads 18 on the peripheral edge 8 of the container. At
such time, the upper member 12 may be threaded onto the threads 18
of the lower member 14 until the peripheral edge 6 of the upper
member 12 rest on the top surface of the annular lip 56. Again, the
attachment device 50 is trapped between the upper and lower members
12, 14.
[0025] In the embodiment where the annular lip 56 engages the
threads of the container, the attachment device 50 is resistant to
accidental removal. That is, removing the lid of such a threaded
container will not result in container falling out of the
attachment device. It will be appreciated that while securely
seating at the bottom of the threads, the ring attachment device 50
may be removed from the container (unthreaded) once the container
is empty. In this regard, users may replace the container with
additional product or different product based on their product
usage.
[0026] As shown, the attachment device 50 includes a rim 58 that
extends around the outside edge of the annular lip 56. As shown,
the lip 56 extends substantially perpendicular from the inside
surface of the rim 58. In this regard, the upper and lower portions
of the rim 58 in conjunction with the annular lip 56 define upper
and lower annular recesses that are sized to receive the peripheral
edges 6, 8 of the upper and lower members 12, 14, respectively. See
FIG. 5C. When disposed in these annular recesses, the annular rim
58 extends around the interface between the upper and lower members
of the threaded container 10. In this regard, the rim 58 hides the
seam between these members. In one arrangement, this rim 58 is
rounded on its outside surface to provide an aesthetically pleasing
interface between the upper and lower members 12, 14. Specifically,
the rim 58 is designed to look like a continuous band (e.g.,
wedding band) extending around the outside surface of such a
container. This allows the connector to take on an ornamental or
jewelry-like appearance.
[0027] In order to permit the container 10 to be attached to a
desired location, the ring attachment device 50 further includes an
attachment point 60 that is defined by an protrusion 62. See FIGS.
4A and 4B. This protrusion is formed on an outside surface of the
rim 58 and includes at least a first aperture 64. This aperture may
allow for interconnection of the ring attachment device 50 to any
appropriate tethering means.
[0028] As illustrated in FIG. 6, the attachment point 60 is
interconnected to a clip device 70. Specifically, a ring or ferrule
68 extends through the aperture 64 of the attachment point 62 and
through a clevis of the clip device 70 securely fastening the two
together. It will be appreciated the clip may be device that is
operative to selectively connect the ring attachment device 50 and
a supported container 10 to a desired location. In the present
non-limiting embodiment, the clip 70 includes a spring-loaded lever
72 that allows for opening an internal aperture 74 defined within
an attachment ring 76 of the clip 70. By depressing the lever 72,
the ring 76 may be opened and placed around an object (e.g., key
ring, purse, bag, etc.), at which time the lever 72 may be released
thereby closing the ring 76 about the element disposed within the
aperture 74. At such time, the clip 70 and the ring attachment
device 50 securely fasten a threaded container such as threaded
container 10 to such an element.
[0029] The ring may be formed in any of a number of suitable
materials. Such materials include, without limitation, metals and
plastics. Further, the outside surface of the rim 58 may be
decorated in any appropriate manner including, for instance,
embossing.
[0030] The foregoing description of the packaging design has been
presented for purposes of illustration and description.
Furthermore, the description is not intended to limit the invention
to the form disclosed herein. Consequently, variations and
modifications commensurate with the above teachings, and skill and
knowledge of the relevant art, are within the scope of the
invention. The embodiments described hereinabove are further
intended to explain best modes known of practicing the invention
and to enable others skilled in the art to utilize the invention in
such, or other embodiments and with various modifications required
by the particular application(s) or use(s) of the invention.
* * * * *