Lipstick Display Package

Abstract

A lipstick display package contains a lipstick of the type wherein a pomade is supported in a conventional housing for movement from a completely enclosed position therein to a fully extended position. The lipstcik is positioned in the package with a portion of the pomade extending from the housing and with a rigid at least partially transparent tubular cover surrounding the extended portion thereof. The display package includes a backing sheet having a hanging aperture at the top thereof for mounting the package to a support and a transparent plastic cover sheet having a portion thereof spaced from the backing sheet to provide a chamber wherein the lipstick is positioned. Gravitationally movable opaque means are provided within the tubular cover for covering the extended pomade portion when the display package is oriented with the hanging aperture at the top and uncovering the exposed pomade portion when the display package is inverted.

Description

This invention relates to a display package for lipstick, and more particularly it relates to a display package for lipstick having gravitationally movable opaque means for selectively exposing the pomade to visual observation.

A known and conventional means for commercial marketing of lipsticks is to merely display a rack of such lipsticks in a retail outlet. The lipstick is comprised of the colored cosmetic stick, known in the trade as a pomade, which is contained in a housing and provided with a drive mechanism to selectively move the pomade from and into the housing and an opaque tubular cover placeable over the housing to protect the pomade. In order for the purchaser to ascertain whether or not the lipstick is the desired color or shade, the cover is removed from the housing and the pomade is propelled out from the housing and visually observed. When the correct shade and color of pomade is found, the purchaser retracts the pomade into the housing, replaces the cover and purchases the same. However, three problems occur in displaying and selling lipsticks in this manner. The first problem is that the pomade is easily damaged by the handling thereof. The second problem is that the cosmetic preparation is exposed to unsanitary conditions during continued purchaser inspection and can be contaminated thereby. The third problem is that the lipsticks, being rather small and easily concealable, can be easily pilfered.

These factors, plus the advent of merchandising through convenience-type outlets have caused retailers of lipsticks to turn to a card-type display package wherein the lipstick is either completely enclosed in a sheet of plastic mounted to a backing card, or is otherwise securely mounted to a backing card. This package, which is sometimes referred to as a blister pack, can be easily mounted to a display rack, it prevents damage to the pomade, it prevents contamination of the pomade, and it is more difficult to pilfer due to the large size of the plastic blister and card. However, attempts to market lipsticks in blister packs have not been altogether satisfactory. Since the lipstick was completely enclosed by a clear film, could not be removed therefrom without destroying the film, and the pomade was covered by its cover tube, it was impossible to tell what color or shade of pomade was contained inside the lipstick cover and housing. An attempt was made to overcome this limitation by placing a label or swatch, indicating what color or shade of pomade was contained within the tube, on the display card in an easily observable position. However, this was not a total solution because various mistakes in labeling could occur and, more importantly, the indicia located on the outside of the package were never exactly equivalent to the actual color and shade of the pomade contained inside. Various attempts were then made to rigidly secure only one portion of the lipstick, i.e., either the cover or the housing containing the pomade, to the blister pack so that the other portion could be removed to visually observe the pomade color. But, if the cover of the lipstick was rigidly contained in the blister pack and the housing containing the pomade portion was removable therefrom, then the pomade could again be contaminated during inspection and the really valuable part of the lipstick containing the pomade could easily be pilfered. Likewise, if the housing containing the pomade was rigidly connected to the display package and the cover removable therefrom, then the contamination problems were still present.

To solve the problems of contamination and pilferage, while allowing for visual observation of the pomade, it has been suggested that the lipstick in the blister pack be provided with a transparent cover through which the color and shade of the pomade can be observed. However, such an approach overlooked the fact that in such a packaging arrangement the pomade would be constantly exposed to light. The combination of the natural light and the artificial radiation from the typical fluorescent lights used in a retail outlet would result in a discoloration or at least a change in the color of the pomade being displayed. Thus, such a marketing approach could not be used to display and sell lipsticks with assurance that the purchaser was obtaining the color and shade which the manufacturer intended to offer.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to overcome the limitations and drawbacks associated with the aforesaid prior art devices and known techniques and to provide a new and improved lipstick display package which will allow visual observation of the color and shade of a pomade while preventing contamination, reducing the risk of pilferage and eliminating harmful exposure to exterior light sources.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a cosmetic package with means for selectively exposing a colored cosmetic preparation therein to visual observation.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a lipstick display package wherein a simple inverting of the blister pack display package from its display position will allow for visual observation of the color and shade of the pomade contained therein.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a lipstick package wherein the pomade is normally covered and hence not visually observable, but wherein through a simple manual manipulation, and without disassembly of the lipstick package, the pomade is brought into view.

Other objects, advantages and salient features of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description, which, taken in conjunction with the annexed drawings, discloses preferred embodiments of the present invention.

Referring now to the drawings which form a part of this original disclosure:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of a lipstick display package in accordance with the present invention, shown in a display position;

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the lipstick, and its cover;

FIG. 3 is an elevational view, partly in section, of the first embodiment of FIG. 1 taken along lines 3--3 in FIG. 1 showing the pomade in its covered display position;

FIG. 4 is a longitudinal sectional view of a cap in accordance with the first embodiment of the present invention for covering the pomade from exposure to harmful light;

FIG. 5 is a view of the first embodiment, similar to FIG. 3, but showing the package in an inverted position so the cap no longer covers the pomade;

FIG. 6 is an elevational view, partly in section, of a second embodiment of a lipstick disply package in accordance with the present invention showing the pomade covered from observation by a sleeve;

FIG. 7 is a longitudinal sectional view of the sleeve used in the second embodiment to selectively cover and uncover the pomade;

FIG. 8 is a view of the second embodiment, similar to FIG. 6, showing the package in inverted position so the pomade is exposed to view;

FIG. 9 is an elevational view, partly in section, of a third embodiment of lipstick display package in accordance with the present invention showing the pomade covered from visual observation by an opaque liquid;

FIG. 10 is a longitudinal sectional view of a transparent double-walled tubular cover for containing the opaque liquid; and

FIG. 11 is a view of the third embodiment, similar to FIG. 9, but showing the package in inverted position so the opaque liquid has flowed to a position exposing the pomade.

The foregoing objects are attained by first mounting a conventional lipstick, comprising a pomade, a housing, drive means for moving the pomade into and out of the housing, and a partially or completely transparent tubular cover receivable on the housing for covering the pomade, within a chamber formed between a transparent plastic cover sheet and a backing sheet or card. Within the tubular cover there is provided a gravitationally movable opaque means which is movable from a first position covering a portion of the pomade extending from the housing to a second position uncovering that portion. When the package is in a first display position, the opaque means will be in a position to prevent visual observation of, and harmful light exposure to, the pomade. A simple inverting of the package will allow the opaque means to move from its first position covering the pomade to its second position uncovering the pomade. The opaque means can be a cap, a sleeve, an opaque liquid or other suitable means movable within the tubular cover.

Referring to the drawings in further detail, a first embodiment in accordance with the present invention is shown in FIG. 1. A display package generally designated 10 is shown comprising a shaped planar card or backing sheet 12, which can be formed from any suitable material such as cardboard, and a transparent cover sheet 14, fabricated of thin plastic or the like, and heat-sealed or sealed in any other suitable manner to one planar surface of the card 12. A portion of the plastic cover sheet 14 is spaced from the card 12 for defining a chamber 16 for reception of a lipstick 20. Midway along one side and adjacent the edge of the card 12 is an aperture or hanging hole 18 for the reception of a suitable display support rod. The chamber 16 is dimensionally adequate to receive and store the lipstick 20. If desired, additional means such as adhesive or elastic bands can be used to attach the lipstick 20 to the backing sheet 12 and the plastic cover sheet 14 can be heat shrunk thereover.

As seen in FIG. 2, the lipstick is of the conventional type and comprises a tubular housing or opaque casing 22 having a driving disc 24 at a bottom end 25 and a pomade 26 at a forward end 27. The driving disc 24 having a diameter greater than the housing 22 operates a drive mechanism which can move the pomade 26 from a position totally enclosed in the housing 22 to a variety of exposed positions wherein it extends out the housing 22 forward end 27. The drive mechanism can be of any suitable known type, such as a base plate for receiving the rear end of the pomade with an internal helical groove formed in the housing 22 and a pin from the base plate engaged in the helical groove. Thus, as the knob or driving disc 24 is turned, the base plate and hence the pomade 26 will move relatively to the tubular housing 22.

The lipstick 20 also includes a plastic tubular cover 28 which is at least partially transparent, comprising a cylinder having a closed end 30 and an open end 29, and is capable of being moved along the exterior surface of the housing 22 and enclosing that housing therein with the end 29 of the tubular cover 28 abutting the top of the driving disc 24. A snug fit is provided between the interior surface of the tubular cover 28 and the exterior surface of the housing 22 so the cover will remain frictionally engaged with the tubular housing. The longitudinal length of the tubular cover 28 is dimensioned such that it can completely cover the length of the housing 22 and have its closed end 30 spaced from the forward end 27 of the tubular housing for the reception of a forwardly extending portion of the pomade 26.

As seen in FIG. 1, the lipstick 20 is enclosed in the chamber 16 and is resting against the surface of the card 12. Alternatively, the lipstick can be positioned within an aperture in the card 12 and retained in position by transparent plastic sheets or film surrounding the front and rear of the lipstick and card. When the card 12 is hung in a display position, as by passing a support rod through the hanging hole 18, the lipstick 20 is disposed vertically in the chamber 16.

In this first embodiment, the gravitationally movable opaque means is a cap 40 within the tubular cover 28, concentric to and having one end 42 resting on the forward end 27 of the housing 22. As seen in FIG. 4, the cap is a right cylinder having a closed end 41 and an open end 42 and is formed from opaque material. Although a right cylinder is described, this is only by way of example and any type of cylinder having an open end and a closed end may be used. The exterior diameter of the cap 40 is slightly smaller than the interior diameter of the tubular cover 28. The longitudinal length of the cap 40 is substantially equal to one-half the distance between the forward end 27 of the housing 22 and the closed end 30 of the tubular cover 28 when the tubular cover is fully received on the housing 22 and has its open end 29 abutting the top of the driving disc 24.

Now referring to FIG. 3, which is a partial sectional view of FIG. 1, the lipstick 20 therein is oriented in a vertical position with the pomade 26 pointing upwards towards the mounting aperture 18 and partially extending from the housing 22. The cap 40 has its open end 42 abutting the end 27 of the housing 22 and covers the extending pomade 26 from visual observation and exposure to light. The pomade is covered from observation and light because, although the plastic cover sheet 14 and the plastic tubular cover 28 are at least partially transparent, the cap 40 is formed from material which is opaque. Thus, in this position, the lipstick may be attractively displayed in a display, and yet the pomade is unexposed.

When it is desired to ascertain what color or shade of pomade is contained in the package which is mounted in an orientation as shown in FIG. 1, the prospective purchaser need only invert the package 10. This, of course, can be accomplished by removing the package from its display support and turning it upside down or merely rotating the package around its connection to a display support rod through 180.degree.. As seen in FIG. 5, this new position allows the force of gravity to act on the cap 40, which is slidably movable along the inside of the tubular cover 28. As seen therein, the cap 40 will slide from its position having its open end 42 adjacent the forward end 27 of the housing 22 to a position wherein its closed end 41 is adjacent and abutting the closed end 30 of the tubular cover 28. In this position the portion of the pomade 26 which is partially extending out from the forward end 27 of the housing 22 is exposed to view through the transparent cover sheet 14 and the transparent tubular cover 28. Thus, the prospective purchaser can visually observe the actual color and shade of the pomade contained in the display package.

Referring now to FIGS. 6, 7 and 8, a second embodiment in accordance with the present invention is shown. The package 10 in this second embodiment is the same as it was in the previously described first embodiment. The lipstick 120 is similar in design and construction to the lipstick 20 and comprises a housing 122, a driving disc 124 connected thereto, a partially or completely transparent tubular cover 128, having an open end 129 and a closed end 130, and a pomade 126 movable through the housing 122 by manipulation of the driving disc 124.

The driving disc 124 has a reduced diameter shoulder or annular extension 125 at its one end surrounding the adjacent portion of the length of the housing 122. The interior diameter of the tubular cover 128 is substantially equal to the exterior diameter of the annular extension 125 and therefore the tubular cover can surround the housing 122 and engage the annular extension through a frictional fit with the open end 129 of the tubular cover abutting the top of the driving disc 124. The housing 122 has a diameter somewhat less than the interior diameter of the tubular cover and therefore an annular cavity 139 is defined between the housing and the surrounding tubular cover along the length of the housing 22. As seen in FIG. 6, the lipstick 120 is oriented with the pomade 126 facing downwards and away from the mounting aperture 18 and extending past the forward end 127 of the housing 122.

The gravitationally movable opaque means of the second embodiment is a sleeve 140 formed as a right cylindrical tube having two open ends 141 and 142, as seen in FIG. 7, and is positioned, as seen in FIG. 6, within the tubular cover 128 with the end 142 abutting the end 130 of the tubular cover. The thickness of the wall of the sleeve 140, is equal to or slightly less than the thickness of the annular cavity 139 so the sleeve can slide within the annular cavity. The longitudinal length of the sleeve 140 and the housing 122 is equal to slightly more than one-half the longitudinal length of the tubular cover 128. Thus, as shown in FIG. 6 the sleeve 140 has its end 141 positioned above the forward end 127 of the housing 122, and between the housing 122 and the tubular cover 128. The sleeve 140 is formed from an opaque material so that in the FIG. 6 position the pomade 126 will not be exposed to visual observation and light. The end 130 of the tubular cover 128 is additionally covered with an opaque material 143 to provide together with the opaque sleeve 140 a completely light-proof cover surrounding the pomade 126 in its position shown in FIG. 6.

The sleeve 140 has an interior diameter slightly larger than the diameter of the housing 122 and an exterior diameter slightly smaller than the interior diameter of the tubular cover 128. Thus, the sleeve 140 is capable of slidable movement through the cover 128 and along the housing 122 and through the annular cavity 139.

By simply inverting the package 10 the sleeve will slide from a first position as shown in FIG. 6 to a second position as shown in FIG. 8. In this second position the sleeve 140 will have moved under gravitational forces from a position having its one end 142 adjacent the closed end 130 of the tubular cover 128 to a position having its one end 142 adjacent the forward end of the housing 122. The other end 141 of the sleeve 140, which was adjacent the forward end 127 of the housing 122 in FIG. 6, will have moved to a position abutting the annular extension 125. In this position the sleeve 140 fills the annular cavity 139. Thus, at this time the extended portion of the pomade 126 will be visually observable and exposed to view through the cover sheet 14 and the transparent tubular cover 128. This will allow the prospective purchaser to ascertain exactly what color and shade of pomade is contained in the package.

Referring now to FIGS. 9, 10 and 11, a third embodiment in accordance with the present invention is shown therein. The package 10 is the same as in the previous two embodiments and the lipstick 20 is the same as that of the first embodiment. However, as seen in FIG. 10, a tubular cover 228 is provided which differs from the tubular cover 28 in the first embodiment in that it is a double-wall cylinder having an opaque liquid partially filling the space defined between the double walls, which walls are formed from transparent plastic.

Specifically, the tubular cover 228 is comprised of two concentric cylindrical tubes, wherein an outer tube 230 receives a smaller inner tube 232 with an annular space 234 defined therebetween. The inner tube 232 has a closed end 236 and an open end 238. The outer tube 230 has a closed end 240 and an open end 242. The inner tube 232 has its closed end 236 slightly spaced from the closed end 240 of the outer tube 230 while the open ends 238 and 242 of the tubes 230 and 232 are joined by a flat annular wall 244. Thus, an annular space 234 is defined between the tubular walls of the tubes 230 and 232 and such space communicates with a disc-shaped space 246 defined between the two ends 236 and 240. The annular wall 244 and the closed end 240 close off these spaces at respective ends. The spaces 234 and 246 are partially filled with an opaque liquid, which can be colored if desired, and which forms the gravitationally movable opaque means in the third embodiment.

As seen in FIG. 9, the pomade in the lipstick 20 is oriented downwards and away from the mounting aperture 18 in the package 10 and extends partially out of the forward end 27 of the housing 22. The tubular cover 228 fits snugly around the housing 22 because the interior diameter of the interior tube 232 is just slightly larger than the exterior diameter of the housing 22. The annular wall 244 abuts against the driving disc 24 and thus encloses the extending pomade 26. The longitudinal length of the housing 22 is equal to approximately three-quarters of the longitudinal length of the tubular cover 228. The amount of opaque liquid provided is that amount which will completely fill the disc-shaped space 246 and partially fill the annular space 234 to a height slightly greater than one-fourth the longitudinal length of the tubular cover 228 which has its closed end oriented downwards. This will allow the opaque liquid 248 to fill the spaces 234 and 246 to a height above the forward end 27 of the housing and cover the extending portion of the pomade 26 carried in the package 10 while the package is in the display position as shown in FIG. 9.

As seen in FIG. 11, a simple inverting of the package 10 will cause the opaque liquid 248 to flow under the influence of gravity from its position in FIG. 9 covering the pomade 26 to a position wherein the pomade 26 is exposed to visual observation through the transparent cover sheet 14 and the transparent walls of the tubular cover 228. This will allow the prospective purchaser to ascertain exactly what color and shade of pomade is contained in the package.

In the first embodiment in accordance with the present invention certain advantageous dimensions and materials may be utilized. For example, the tubular cover 28 may have an interior diameter of 0.630 inches and a longitudinal length of 2-47/64 inches. The cap member 40 may have an exterior diameter of 0.600 inches and a longitudinal length of 37/64 inches. Additionally, the tubular cover may be formed from clear polystyrene and the cap member may be formed from white polystyrene.

While three advantageous embodiments have been chosen to illustrate the invention, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications can be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims. While this invention has been described specifically in connection with lipsticks, it can also be used in connection with other colored cosmetic products and preparations.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A cosmetic package comprising:

a colored cosmetic preparation,

a housing means for said colored cosmetic preparation,

said housing means having a viewing portion through which said colored cosmetic preparation can be visually observed, and

opaque covering means normally covering said viewing portion,

said opaque covering means being gravitationally movable by manipulation of said package to a position where said viewing portion is exposed.

2. A cosmetic package according to claim 1 further including a backing sheet upon which said cosmetic package is mounted.

3. A cosmetic package according to claim 2 wherein said housing means includes an opaque casing and a transparent covering tube which forms the viewing portion through which said colored cosmetic stick can be visually observed.

4. A cosmetic package according to claim 3 wherein said opaque covering means is movably disposed within said transparent covering tube.

5. A lipstick package according to claim 4 wherein said opaque covering means is a slidable tubular member.

6. In a lipstick display package of the type including a backing sheet and a transparent cover sheet spaced at least partially away from the backing sheet to provide a chamber for the lipstick being displayed, an improvement which enables visual observation of the actual color and shade of the pomade being displayed, comprising:

a lipstick including a pomade, a housing for said pomade, and drive means for selectively moving said pomade into and out of the forward end of said housing;

a rigid transparent tubular cover removably coupled with said housing and extending beyond the forward end of said housing;

said pomade having at least a portion advanced beyond the forward end of said housing; and

opaque means gravitationally movable within said tubular cover toward and away from the forward end of said housing,

said display package being manually movable between a display position and an inverted position;

said opaque means being gravitationally moved when said display package is in said display position to a location where said advaced portion of said pomade is covered thereby and hence not visually observable, and

said opaque means being gravitationally moved when said display package is in said inverted position to a location where said advanced portion of said pomade is exposed and hence visually observable through said transparent cover sheet and said transparent tubular cover.

7. The improvement according to claim 6 further including an aperture means in said backing sheet adjacent the top thereof for mounting said package in said display position.

8. The improvement according to claim 6 wherein said opaque means includes a cap member having an open end and a closed end and being slidably disposed within said cover.

9. The improvement according to claim 6, wherein said opaque means includes a cylindrical tube having two open ends and being slidably disposed within said cover.

10. The improvement according to claim 6 wherein said cover is double-walled and wherein said opaque means includes an opaque liquid partially filling the space between said double walls.