U.S. patent number RE31,021 [Application Number 06/234,574] was granted by the patent office on 1982-08-31 for cosmetic applicator with transparent container portion.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Eyelet Specialty Co., Inc.. Invention is credited to Eric A. Hultgren, Eric J. Idec, Edward F. Klimeck.
United States Patent |
RE31,021 |
Idec , et al. |
August 31, 1982 |
Cosmetic applicator with transparent container portion
Abstract
The invention contemplates a propel-repel container for cosmetic
or the like substance wherein the color of the substance may be
externally viewable at a location near the point of
cosmetic-substance support, without requiring the container to be
opened or the substance to be propelled from its retracted position
within the container.
Inventors: |
Idec; Eric J. (Madison, CT),
Klimeck; Edward F. (Waterbury, CT), Hultgren; Eric A.
(Westport, CT) |
Assignee: |
Eyelet Specialty Co., Inc.
(Wallingford, CT)
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Family
ID: |
26701621 |
Appl.
No.: |
06/234,574 |
Filed: |
February 13, 1981 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
Issue Date |
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Reissue of: |
026755 |
Apr 3, 1979 |
04208144 |
Jun 17, 1980 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
401/194; 132/320;
401/78 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A45D
40/06 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
A45D
40/06 (20060101); B43K 005/12 () |
Field of
Search: |
;401/52,68-72,75-78,192,82,194 ;132/79C,88.5,88.7 ;206/385
;D28/85-90 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
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148761 |
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Oct 1952 |
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AU |
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2629316 |
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Jan 1978 |
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DE |
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2749088 |
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Oct 1978 |
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DE |
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925270 |
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May 1963 |
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GB |
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Primary Examiner: Coven; Edward M.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Hopgood, Calimafde, Kalil,
Blaustein & Judlowe
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. In a container of the variety in which a carrier cup adapted to
support cosmetic or the like substance at one end has cam-follower
tracking engagement with axial propulsion cams of inner and outer
rotatable tubular members, the outer tubular member being open at
one end and having a cupped base closing its other end, and the
inner tubular member being a sleeve including a portion projecting
beyond the open end of said outer member to provide manual access
for relative rotation of said members, the improvement in which
said carrier cup is characterized by such an axial distance between
the cam-follower location and said one end that in the retracted
position of said carrier cup (a) said one end of said carrier cup
is at substantially the open end of said outer member, and (b) the
manually accessible projecting portion of said sleeve is
translucent and enshrouds substantially the entire usable length of
cosmetic or the like substance carried by said carrier cup.
2. The improvement of claim 1, in which said sleeve is of
transparent plastic material, whereby colored cosmetic or the like
substance may be to an extent viewable via the manually accessible
projecting portion of said sleeve, for a retracted condition of
said carrier cup.
3. The improvement of claim 1, in which said manually accessible
projecting portion of said sleeve comprises a first radially
enlarged circumferential band adjacent the open end of said base
member, and a second radially reduced shell projecting axially
beyond said band to an extent sufficient to substantially
completely overlap cosmetic substance when said carrier cup is in
its retracted position.
4. The improvement of claim 3, in which said container includes a
cupped closure cap having removable friction fit over said shell
and to adjacency with said band, said sleeve being of transparent
plastic material, whereby in the closed condition of said
container, colored cosmetic or the like substance within the
container may be viewed for color via said band and near the base
end of the cosmetic substance, all without closure-cap removal.
5. The improvement of claim 1, in which said container includes a
cupped closure cap having removable friction fit over the
projecting end of said sleeve, said sleeve and cap having coacting
abutment formations to so limit the axial extent of said fit that
in the fully applied position of said cap there remains a region of
sleeve exposure between said cap and the nearby end of said outer
tubular member.
6. The improvement of claim 5, in which said closure cap is
opaque.
7. A cosmetic container comprising inner and outer relatively
rotatable tubular members, a carrier cup within said members and
having an open end for support of cosmetic or the like substance,
propulsion cam formations in said members, radially outward
cam-follower means on said carrier cup engaging said cam formations
for axial propulsion of said carrier cup upon relative rotation of
said members, means coating between said members to retain their
axially overlapped relation, said cam formations and follower means
including formations limiting axial propulsion between a retracted
position and a forward position wherein cosmetic substance is
projected beyond an axial end of said container, said inner tubular
member including a transparent end formation extending axially
beyond said outer tubular member at the end through which cosmetic
substance is projectable, said open end of said carrier cup when in
said retracted position being at substantially the axial location
at which the transparent formation of said inner tubular member is
exposed beyond said outer tubular member, and a cupped closure cap
having removable closing fit to the axially extending end of said
inner tubular member, said closure cap and said inner tubular
member having coacting formations to limit closure cap placement to
a point short of total axial overlap of said transparent end
formation, whereby for a closed container and fully retracted
carrier cup, cosmetic or the like substance carried by said cup
will be externally viewable.
8. The container of claim 7, in which said outer tubular member is
an elongate cup with an internally grooved cam formation.
9. The container of claim .[.5.]. .Iadd.7.Iaddend., in which the
axially retaining means of said outer tubular member is a
circumferentially continuous radially inwardly open groove in the
inner wall thereof and near the open end of said inner tubular
member.
10. The container of claim 9, in which the maximum radial extent of
said axial-retaining groove exceeds the maximum radial dimension of
the bottom of said grooved cam formation.
11. The container of claim 9, in which the open end of said outer
tubular member has a counterbore, said axially retaining groove
being in said counterbore, and the bottom of said grooved cam
formation being of maximum radial dimension which is at least no
greater than that of the ungrooved part of said counterbore, said
grooved cam formation being axially open to said counterbore.
12. The container of claim 11, in which said axially retaining
means of said inner tubular member comprises a circumferentially
continuous radially outward bead having snap-fitted engagement with
said circumferential groove.
13. The container of claim 12, in which said bead projects radially
from an axially local radially outward band formation of said inner
tubular member, said band formation being of sectional dimensions
to be received with close clearance in said counterbore.
14. The container of claim 7, in which said inner tubular member is
an elongate injection-molded sleeve of transparent plastic material
with a slotted cam formation. .Iadd.
15. In a container of the variety in which a carrier cup adapted to
support cosmetic or the like substance at one end has cam-follower
tracking engagement with axial propulsion cams of inner and outer
rotatable tubular members, said tubular members each having an open
end at the container end through which cup-supported cosmetic or
the like substance is to be projectable, and the inner tubular
member being a sleeve including a portion projecting beyond said
open end of said outer member, the improvement in which said
carrier cup is characterized by such an axial distance between the
cam-follower location and said one end that in the retracted
position of said carrier cup (a) said one end of said carrier cup
is at substantially said open end of said outer member, and (b) the
projecting portion of said sleeve is translucent and enshrouds
substantially the entire usable length of cosmetic or the like
substance carried by said carrier cup. .Iaddend. .Iadd.16. The
improvement of claim 15, in which said sleeve is of transparent
plastic material, whereby colored cosmetic or the like substance
may be to an extent viewable via the projecting portion of said
sleeve, for a retracted condition of said carrier cup. .Iaddend.
.Iadd.17. A cosmetic container comprising inner and outer
relatively rotatable tubular members, a carrier cup within said
members and having an open end for support of cosmetic or the like
substance, propulsion cam formations in said members, radially
outward cam-follower means on said carrier cup engaging said cam
formations for axial propulsion of said carrier cup upon relative
rotation of said members, means coacting between said members to
retain their axially overlapped relation, said cam formations and
follower means including formations limiting axial propulsion
between a retracted position and a forward position wherein
cosmetic substance is projected beyond an axial end of said
container, said inner tubular member including a transparent end
formation extending axially beyond said outer tubular member at the
end through which cosmetic substance is projectable, said open end
of said carrier cup when in said retracted position being at
substantially the axial location at which the transparent formation
of said inner tubular member is exposed beyond said outer tubular
member. .Iaddend. .Iadd.18. The container of claim 17, in which in
said forward position said open end of said carrier cup is
substantially at the open end of said inner tubular
member. .Iaddend. .Iadd.19. In a container of the variety in which
a carrier cup adapted to support cosmetic or the like substance at
one end has cam-follower tracking engagement with axial propulsion
cams of inner and outer rotatable tubular members, said tubular
members each having an open end at the container end through which
cup-supported cosmetic or the like substance is to be projectable,
and the inner tubular member including a sleeve portion projecting
beyond said open end of said outer member, the improvement in which
said carrier cup is characterized by such an axial distance between
the cam-follower location and said one end that (a) in the
retracted position of said carrier cup said one end of said carrier
cup is at substantially said open end of said outer member, and (b)
the projecting portion of said sleeve is translucent and enshrouds
substantially the entire usable length of cosmetic or the like
substance carried by said carrier cup. .Iaddend.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to propel-repel containers of the variety in
which use of transparent material enables the shade or content of
the product to be displayed to the consumer at the point of
purchase.
Present cosmetic containers of the character indicated commonly use
a clear cover to display the shade or other nature of the container
contents to the prospective customer, without requiring the
container to be opened for customer inspection. But such
configurations exhibit certain disadvantages, including color
fading due to relatively great light-exposure of the cosmetic
substance, particularly at the region of presumably initial use by
the customer. In addition, such containers require such exposure of
cosmetic substance a considerable distance beyond the top edge of
the casing, thus leaving the cosmetic substance vulnerable to
"clipping" or breakage. Further, such containers generally lack an
expensive or "quality look", they are prone to accidental smearing
of cosmetic substance on the inside of the cover, and there is a
lack of protection of contents while in self-service counter
displays.
BRIEF STATEMENT OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the invention to provide an improved container
construction of the character indicated, avoiding or very
substantially reducing the disadvantages of prior
constructions.
A specific object is to provide such a container wherein viewing
inspection for contents can be limited to a relatively small region
between ends of the container when in closed condition.
Another specific object is to provide such a container wherein both
ends of the closed container may be opaque and lend themselves to a
relatively wide variety of options for decorative contouring, color
and finish, all without impairing color evaluation of contents for
a fully closed container.
A further specific object is to meet the above objects with a
construction in which such color inspection of contents is an
available feature as long as usable product remains in the
container.
A general object is to meet the indicated objects with a
construction involving minimum numbers or complexity of parts,
simple and fool-proof operation, and inherent low cost.
The foregoing objects and other features are realized in a
preferred embodiment in which the inner one of two overlapped
rotatable tubular members is of transparent material and projects
beyond the end of the outer one of these members. A carrier for
cosmetic or the like substance is movable within the tubular
members via cam reaction upon their relative rotation. The
arrangement is such that for a retracted position of the carrier,
virtually all usable cosmetic or the like substance projects beyond
the end of the outer tubular member but is enshrouded by the
projecting transparent end of the inner tubular member. Finally, a
closure cap over the projecting end of the inner tubular member can
be thus fitted only to an extent short of adjacency with the outer
tubular member, thus leaving a relatively narrow axially central
band of the transparent material exposed near the point of
cosmetic-substance support by the carrier when in retracted
position.
DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
A preferred embodiment of the invention will be illustratively
described in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in
which:
FIGS. 1 and 2 are views in elevation for a container of the
invention, respectively shown for fully closed and open condition;
and
FIG. 3 is a collection of four views in elevation, to the same
enlarged scale, showing various separated parts of the container of
FIGS. 1 and 2, for different relative positions thereof.
Referring initially to FIGS. 1 and 2, the invention is shown in
application to a container of the propel-repel variety and
comprising inner and outer relatively rotatable tubular members
10-11, having internal propulsion coaction with a carrier cup 12
adapted to support a pomade 13 of cosmetic or the like substance
for upward projection, after removal of a cupped closure cap 14.
The outer tubular member or base 11 may also be cupped, and an
axially generally central band 15 of the inner tubular member 10 is
externally exposed between spaced but nearby open ends of the
cupped base and cap parts 11-14, when the container is fully
closed, and with the carrier cup 12 in its retracted position; it
is an important feature of the invention that for this closed and
retracted condition, the color of the pomade 13 is viewable through
an annular window, by reason of at least band 15 being of clear
colorless plastic.
The parts thus far identified are shown in longitudinally
correlated but laterally spaced array in the several component
drawings of FIG. 3. FIGS. 3a, b, c, respectively depict the
relative longitudinal positioning of the base member 11, carrier
cup 12, and the inner tubular member or sleeve 10, for the
carrier-retracted situation; and FIGS. 3a, d, c, respectively
depict the corresponding relation of the same parts for the
carrier-projected situation. Each of these three parts 10-11-12 may
be a single injection-molded piece of suitable plastic, the parts
11-12 being preferably opaque, and the part 10 being at least
translucent and preferably of clear colorless plastic.
As shown, the base member 11 is a tube open at its upper end and
closed at its lower end, and with two interlaced helical cam
grooves 16-16', for propulsion engagement with diametrically
opposed cam-follower projections 17-17' forming part of carrier 12.
The radial depth of cam grooves 16-16' substantially matches the
radial depth of a counterbore 18 at the open end of the bore of
member 11 so that grooves 16-16' communicate axially with but
terminate at intersection with counterbore 18. Finally, axially
retaining means in the form of a circumferential groove 19 in
counterbore 18 extends to a slightly greater maximum radius than
counterbore 18. It is indicated that the material and dimensions of
member 11 are selected so that the injection-molded part is
strippable from the mold, particularly at 19.
The inner tubular member 10 is shown to comprise an elongate lower
sleeve portion 20 having two diametrically opposed straight cam
slots 21, with detent-protected lateral offsets 22-23 at the
respective retraction-limiting and propulsion-limiting ends of the
range D.sub.1 of coaction with cam followers 17-17'. Sleeve portion
20 is of reduced diameter, compared to band 15, so as to be
smoothly journaled in the bore of member 11 and to present band 15
at substantially the outer diameter of member 11, for ease of
manual grasp, for rotary actuation purposes. Near juncture with
band 15, the sleeve portion 20 includes a circumferential land 24
of rectangular section to substantially fill and also to have
running clearance in the counterbore 18, and a circumferentially
continuous radially outward bead 25 on land 24 has snap-action
engagement with groove 19 to retain an assembled relation between
the parts 10-11.
The carrier cup 12 is unusually elongate such that the distance
D.sub.2 by which its cam followers 17-17' are axially offset from
its pomade-supporting end 26 is sufficient to assure substantial
registry of the pomade-supporting end 26 with the open end of base
member 11, and hence with the lower end of band 15, when the
carrier 12 is in its retracted position. An integrally formed
bulkhead 27 provides bottoming support for insertion of pomade 13
via end 26, and plural ribs 28 in the bore of this end 26 provide
enhanced directionally stabilized retention of the inserted
pomade.
The inner tubular member or sleeve 10 is completed by an unusual
upward projection or shell 29 formed integrally with band 15 as a
reduced extension thereof, and shell 29 will be understood to
receive a suitable friction fit to the bore of cap 14, upon
closure, to the point of abutment with band 15. The bore 30 of
member 10 extends continuously for its length within sleeve portion
20, band 15 and shell projection 29. The full extent of projection
29 is a distance D.sub.3 above the upper cam offset 23, and D.sub.3
is preferably slightly less than D.sub.2, so that, as shown in FIG.
2, the upper end 26 of carrier 12 is slightly beyond the projection
29, for the carrier-elevated position. This relationship will be
understood to assure a piloting exposure of the carrier for clean
pomade-loading guidance, i.e., free of possible contact with
projection 29.
The described construction will be seen to have achieved all stated
objects. The clear band 15 provides pomade viewing at all times of
container closure and carrier retraction, and this viewing access
applies for the shortest or most spent condition of a used and
still usable pomade. The three parts 10-11-12 represent the
irreducible minimum for a propel-repel container, and no unusual
die requirements are imposed to increase complexity or expense of
molding dies. The basic simple outer forms (contours) disclosed for
parts 11-14 will be understood to indicate that these parts may be
externally decorated and contoured to achieve a very wide variety
of overall appearances, serving the most demanding requirements of
a variety of discriminating customers (cosmetic houses).
While the invention has been described in detail for a preferred
form, it will be understood that modifications may be made without
departure from the claimed scope of the invention.
* * * * *