U.S. patent application number 16/164041 was filed with the patent office on 2019-04-25 for cosmetic container with an improved sifter for loose powders.
The applicant listed for this patent is David Prague. Invention is credited to David Prague.
Application Number | 20190116958 16/164041 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 66170336 |
Filed Date | 2019-04-25 |
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United States Patent
Application |
20190116958 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Prague; David |
April 25, 2019 |
COSMETIC CONTAINER WITH AN IMPROVED SIFTER FOR LOOSE POWDERS
Abstract
A container for loose powder having an improved sifter which
allows for controlled dispensing of the powder through the sifter.
The sifter surface provides enhanced loading onto and between the
bristles of a brush or other types of applicators to yield good
product payoff and even application of the target surface. Two-way
flowability of the powder through the sifter insures excess powder
flows back into the powder compartment of the container creating
improved cleanliness.
Inventors: |
Prague; David; (Ringos,
NJ) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Prague; David |
Ringos |
NJ |
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
66170336 |
Appl. No.: |
16/164041 |
Filed: |
October 18, 2018 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
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62575435 |
Oct 21, 2017 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A45D 33/003 20130101;
A45D 33/025 20130101; A45D 33/006 20130101 |
International
Class: |
A45D 33/02 20060101
A45D033/02; A45D 33/00 20060101 A45D033/00 |
Claims
1. A container having a reservoir holding granular material and a
sifter having a top and bottom and located on top of said reservoir
to control passage of said granular material through said sifter,
said container comprising a housing located above said reservoir,
said sifter located in said housing and comprising a resilient
porous pad of an open cell structure resin having pores of
sufficient size to allow said granular material to pass through
said pad from said bottom to said top when said container is turned
upside down, and from said top to said bottom of said pad when said
container is in its normal vertical position, and a removable cover
attached to said container.
2. The container of claim 1, wherein said container, said housing
and said pad are cylindrical.
3. The container of claim 1, wherein said resilient porous pad
comprises a natural cellular material.
4. The container of claim 3, wherein said natural cellular material
comprises Luffa.
5. The container of claim 1, wherein said container has a bottom
wall, an upwardly projecting side wall connected to said bottom
wall which together define said reservoir, said side wall extending
above said reservoir, said side wall terminating in a top, said
removable cover attached to the top of said side wall and to said
container, said pad located above said reservoir and below said
cover.
6. The container of claim 5, wherein said housing for said pad is
located above said reservoir, the top of said pad being spaced from
said removable cover when said removable cover is attached to said
container.
7. The container of claim 6, wherein said foam pad is compressed to
fit within and be held in said housing.
8. The container of claim 6, wherein the top of said pad is
flat.
9. The container of claim 6, wherein the top of said pad is
concave.
10. The container of claim 6, wherein the top of said pad is
convex.
11. The container of claim 6, wherein said granular material
comprises a powder, wherein said powder which passes from said
reservoir to the top of said pad rests on the top of said pad for
easy access by a user when the removable cover is removed from said
container.
12. The container of claim 11, wherein said powder on the top of
said pad may pass down through said pad into said reservoir.
13. The container of claim 12, wherein said powder comprises
cosmetic powder.
14. The container of claim 2, wherein said resilient porous pad
comprises polyurethane.
15. The container of claim 2, wherein said resilient porous pad
comprises polyvinyl chloride.
16. The container of claim 2, wherein said resilient porous pad
comprises polyester.
17. The container of claim 1, wherein said removable top is sealed
to said container when said top is closed onto said container.
18. The container of claim 1, wherein said housing comprising
support straps located below said pad on which said pad rests, said
support straps defining the opening for the pad to pass said
granular material to and from, said reservoir through said pad.
19. The container of claim 1, wherein said housing for said pad
comprises a support frame for holding said pad, wherein said
support frame is supported by said container above said
reservoir.
20. The container of claim 1, wherein said resilient porous pad
comprises a synthetic resin.
Description
RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This application claims priority of U.S. provisional patent
application Ser. No. 62/575,435, filed on Oct. 21, 2017, which is
incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
BACKGROUND
[0002] Currently available loose powder containers include a
housing portion which serves as a cup or reservoir for the loose
powder or other powdered type cosmetics. A perforated plate or net
is disposed over the opening of the reservoir and then a top or
cover is provided to enclose both the housing and the perforated
plate. The perforated plate allows the consumer to transfer the
powder from the reservoir onto either a flat surface of the
perforated plate or net, or onto some other surface such as, for
example, the inside of the container cover when the container is
turned upside down. The perforated plate is intended to facilitate
dispensing of the loose powder for application onto a desired
substrate such as a person's face in the event the loose powder is
a cosmetic product such as a powdered foundation for one's
face.
[0003] Customers tend to prefer to apply these powders onto their
face and body with a brush applicator or another type of applicator
having either fibers and or a sponge type material, therefore,
loose powder containers are also oftentimes sold with a brush or
other type of applicator. The brush or applicator is used to gather
the powder present on the flat surface of the perforated plate or
net for application onto the target area.
[0004] A problem associated with the use of a perforated plate or
net, which acts as a sifter for the loose powder, relates to the
difficulty associated with sifting a proper amount of powder
through the plate or net, then to load a sufficient amount of loose
powder evenly onto a brush or other applicator in order to achieve
good "payoff". Payoff is a term of art relating to the amount of
color applied onto a treated surface with a single application
gesture. A product is deemed to have good payoff when a sufficient
amount of powder is easily and evenly applied onto a target surface
with minimal repeat application gestures. The better the payoff,
the easier it is to apply the requisite amount of powder in order
to obtain good coverage of the color. Failure to gather a
sufficient amount of powder evenly onto the bristles of a brush or
applicator results in poor payoff, which in turn requires numerous
application attempts in order to get a desired amount of coverage
onto the targeted area. One way to avoid the color payoff problem
is to eliminate a sifter/perforated plate altogether. A brush can
then be placed directly in contact with the loose powder found at
the bottom of the container. However, elimination of the sifter
precludes a consumer from being able to gather a desired amount of
powder onto the brush in a controlled manner.
[0005] A second issue with conventional perforated plate or net
sifters is that the amount of powder presented on the surface of
the perforated plate or net is not controlled. Excess powder on the
sifter plate or net can get pushed out of the sifter and outside
the powder container causing the powder to be spilled thus creating
possible consumer dissatisfaction and the potential need to clean
up the unwanted powder that is outside the container and associated
surfaces.
[0006] Thus, an object of the present invention is to provide a
container for loose powder having an improved sifter which allows
for controlled dispensing of the powder through the sifter and to
enable a sufficient amount of powder to be evenly gathered onto and
between the bristles of a brush or other types of applicators so as
to yield good product payoff of during application onto the target
surface.
[0007] Other objects, advantages and features of this invention
will be more apparent hereinafter.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0008] The present invention is directed to a container for storing
and dispensing loose powder, the container having a bottom wall and
an upwardly projecting side wall which together define a product
storage compartment, a resilient porous pad serving as a sifter for
the loose powder and a removable cover.
[0009] Loose powder for cosmetics is but one use of the novel
invention which can advantageously be used with any granular
material.
[0010] The resilient porous pad is comprised of an open cell
synthetic resin with pores of sufficient size to allow loose powder
or granular material present in the storage compartment to pass
through the pad and rest on an upper surface of the pad, ready for
gathering by brush bristles or a flocked or sponge type
applicator.
[0011] The container of the present invention has a separate
housing or support frame located above the loose powder present
within the product storage compartment, upon which the resilient
porous pad rests. The spacing between a bottom surface of the
resilient porous pad adjacent to the loose powder, and the loose
powder itself, must be sufficient to allow the loose powder to pass
through the resilient porous pad and onto a top surface of the
resilient porous pad to allow it to be gathered from the top
surface by brush bristles. Similarly, the spacing between the top
surface of the resilient porous pad and the bottom of a removable
cover must be sufficient to allow loose powder, passing through the
pad, to collect within the space between the pad and the cover so
that the powder can be collected on to the brush or other
applicator types when the container is turned upside down.
Conversely excess powder on the top of the pad can fall back into
the container when in its normal vertical position either by the
movement of the brush or the applicator across the top surface of
the pad by tapping the container to sift the powder through the pad
back into the container.
[0012] The open cells of the resilient porous pad form a rough
surface on the top of the pad. This surface separates the
individual fibers of the brush or applicator allowing the powder
that is collected on the surface of the pad to disperse
substantially evenly onto the individual fibers.
[0013] The cellular structure of the resilient porous pad used as a
sifter may find use in other environments where controlled
dispensing of granular material is desired. For instance,
controlling dispensing of spices or other materials may take
advantage of the cellular structure present in the resilient porous
pad of the present invention. The resilient pad allows such dry
granular material to pass either from the container to be dispensed
or to move back to the container after some of the dispensed
granular material is utilized.
[0014] The following description applies and is described with
relationship to a loose powder product in the cosmetics industry.
Other embodiments or uses of the present invention will be apparent
from the description of the invention with relationship to the
loose powder being a cosmetic loose powder used in the cosmetics
industry.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0015] Further objects, features and drawings of the present
invention will better be understood in light of the embodiment
examples which are discussed below with the aid of a drawing
wherein:
[0016] FIG. 1 is a top plan view of the support frame inside the
powder container of the present invention, upon in which the
resilient porous pad rests above the product storage
compartment.
[0017] FIG. 2 is a top plan view showing the embodiment of the
resilient porous pad inside the support member located in the
powder container
[0018] FIG. 3 is a side cross-sectional view of the powder
container having the support frame located in the powder
container.
[0019] FIG. 4 is a side cross-sectional view of the loose powder
container having the embodiment of the resilient porous pad inside
the support frame
[0020] FIG. 5 is a side cross section view showing powder storage
container of the present invention with the cover sitting above the
resilient porous pad and the powder represented in the powder
storage area.
[0021] FIGS. 6a and 6b are perspective views showing the top
surface of the pad as convex or concave, respectively.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0022] In general, the loose powder container contemplated for use
with the resilient porous pad of the present invention will be of a
jar-type configuration, in that the container includes a
compartment portion for a loose powder product or a granular
material which has a closed end and an open end. Within the open
end is a support member or housing to house the resilient porous
pad of the present invention, thereby positioning the loose powder
product between the closed end of the compartment portion and the
resilient porous pad. Lastly, a removable cover is disposed about
the open end of the container, thus sealing the open end of the
container.
[0023] Referring now to the drawings, FIGS. 1 through 5 show a n
embodiment of the loose powder container of the present invention,
generally referred to as 10. A resilient porous pad 12 is disposed
within the container 10 and acts as a sifter for the loose powder P
(FIG. 5) present in the container 10. The resilient porous pad is
comprised of open cell synthetic or natural cellular material. The
synthetic resin can be comprised any suitable material such as for
example, polyurethane, polyvinyl chloride, and polyester. A natural
porous or cellular material can be Luffa. The pores (not shown) of
the resilient porous pad 12 are of a size sufficient to enable the
loose powder P to pass through the porous pad 12 when the container
10 is inverted and shaken and or tapped. In this way the porous pad
can also control product flow directly onto the intended site. The
pathways through the pores of the cellular architecture of the foam
pad to control release of powder passing therethrough compared to
substantially planer sifters such as plates or nets formed in the
prior art.
[0024] The shape and size of the porous pad 12 will typically
depend on the size and shape of the container 10 and to the related
aesthetic requirements for transfer of the Powder P to the brush or
applicator. For example the top surface 20 of the pad can be flat
as shown in a preferred embodiment. But it can be concave or convex
as shown in FIGS. 6a and 6b. With regards to its shape, the porous
pad 12 should substantially mirror the circumference or perimeter
formed by an interior wall 16 of a frame 34. This way, when the
container 10 is shaken or tapped in the inverted orientation, loose
powder P present in the bottom portion of the container 10 passes
through the porous pad 12 in order to be sifted. As to the size of
the porous pad 12, what is meant by size is the thickness of the
porous pad 12. In order for the loose powder P to be effectively
deposited onto the top or upper surface 20 of the porous pad 12,
there must be sufficient spacing 25 between the upper surface 20
and an inner portion 22 of a removable cover 24. The spacing 25
between the upper surface 20 and the inner portion 22 should be
from about 0 mm to about 2 mm, preferably from about 0.5 mm to
about 1.00 mm
[0025] Additionally, the container could be any shape so long as
the top can be secured to the bottom. A cylindrical shape is shown
as a preferred embodiment and all components for another shape
container would be consistent with said other shape.
[0026] Preferably, as shown in FIG. 3 and FIG. 4 the resilient
porous pad 12 of the present invention is disposed within a support
frame or housing 34 which sits inside the top open end of the loose
powder container 10. The resilient porous pad is, preferably, sized
to substantially exactly fix inside frame 34 and be held therein by
friction between the perimeter of porous pad 12 and interior wall
16. In this way, powder P can not move from the compartment 30 to
space 25 without passing through sifter 12. The loose powder
container 10 contemplated for use with the present invention is
typically of a cylindrical jar-type configuration, in that the
container is provided with a bottom wall 26 and an upwardly
projecting side wall 28 which define a compartment 30 for the loose
powder P. An upper edge 32 of the upwardly projecting side wall 28
defines an opening through which the support frame is inserted. The
pad 12 is also cylindrical. Support frame 38 also has a lower lip
42 on which frame 34 sits.
[0027] The support frame 34 is comprised of an upper flanged lip 38
that sits on the upper edge 32 of the container wall. The frame and
flanged lip 42 comprise a housing 40 to hold the pad 12 in place.
The upper flange lip 38 is attached to vertical wall 39. Bottom
support straps 35 are integrally formed with frame 34 and intersect
perpendicular to the vertical wall 39.
[0028] The resilient porous pad 12 is held in relation above the
loose powder P present in the compartment 30. The location of the
bottom support straps 35 should be such that the resilient porous
pad 12 can be securely suspended over the loose powder P present in
the compartment 30. The support straps 35 will also define the
shape of the aperture 31 through which loose powder P will pass
from compartment 30, and then through the resilient porous pad 12.
In FIG. 1, the shape of aperture 31 is circular since the inwardly
extending wall 39 is in the form of a collar sitting in the inside
perimeter of the container 10.
[0029] As seen in FIG. 1, the support straps 35 may be in the form
of a cross-member. In this configuration it is seen that aperture
31 is in the shape of a pie slice. The precise form or shape of
support straps 35 is not critically important, so long as the
resilient porous pad 12 can be disposed securely within the
container 10, above the loose powder P in the compartment 30, and
form an aperture 31 sufficient to allow loose powder P to contact,
and then pass through resilient porous pad 12.
[0030] Additionally, the outside surface 36 of the upwardly
projecting wall 28 is provided with a means for removably mounting
the cover 24 on the container 10. Preferably, and as shown in FIG.
5, the means for removably mounting the cover 24 on the container
10 will consist of a set of opposing threads 37 and 37'. Additional
means for removably mounting a closure on a container are well
known within the art and include lug fasteners, vertical ribs,
snap-fit engagements, and the like.
[0031] As shown in FIG. 3 and FIG. 4 the flanged lip 38 of the
support frame 34 contacts the inner portion 22 of the removable
cover 24 forming a seal to prevent the powder P from leaking
outside container 10.
[0032] FIGS. 6a and 6b are perspective views of alternative
embodiments of the shape of the porous pad 6 with FIG. 6a
illustrating a convex shape 62 while FIG. 6b illustrates a concave
shape 64 of the pad sitting within frame 34.
[0033] It should be understood that the preferred embodiment was
described to provide the best illustration of the principles of the
invention and its practical application to thereby enable one of
ordinary skill in the art to utilize the invention in various
embodiments and with various modifications as are suited to the
particular use contemplated. All such modifications and variations
are within the scope of the invention as determined by the appended
claims when interpreted in accordance with the breadth to which
they are fairly legally and equitably entitled.
* * * * *