Abstract:
The invention is a sleeve and cover for small glass bottles of the kind used to distribute and store nail polish and similar cosmetic products. A thin silicone sleeve is fitted to a particular size of nail polish bottle. The sleeve features a hole that may be positioned over the product label and through which the product label may be read. The sleeve further features a widened portion at the base of the bottle neck where the cap is inserted. The sleeve further features a concave tab that may be pulled up over the container cap. The result is that a shock-absorbing sleeve covers the whole bottle, including the fragile neck and cap, reducing the risk of breakage if the bottle is dropped.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    This application is related to and claims benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/720,115, filed Oct. 30, 2012, entitled Nail Polish Protector Sleeve, the entirety of which is incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present invention relates to containers for storing nail polish and other cosmetic products, and in particular to a device that covers glass containers that store nail polish and other cosmetic products. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    Nail polish, cosmetic gels, UV products, and cuticle oils are typically sold in small glass containers, which are sufficiently durable for light use by individual consumers, but become problematic in the context of a professional nail salon or other cosmetology establishment. In professional cosmetology establishments, particularly nail salons, many bottles of nail polish are stored together, often on open counters, and are used constantly throughout the day. The high level of use and concentration of products greatly increases both the likelihood that a bottle may be dropped and the likelihood that any individual bottle will be dropped. While such bottles are often thick-walled and able to withstand a fall, this is not always the case. The nail polish reservoir, as well as the neck and cap, are frequently damaged from falling. Often the contents is spilled or rendered unusable (for example, if the cap or applicator is damaged, it may not be possible to store and apply any product remaining in the bottle). A single consumer may easily absorb and ignore this loss, but in the context of a commercial nail salon, the loss represents a continual waste of inventory and contributes to the establishment&#39;s costs. A beneficial invention therefore would provide a low-cost way to reduce lost nail polish and other cosmetic products to dropped bottles. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0004]    Accordingly, the invention is a sleeve and cover for small glass bottles of the kind used to distribute and store nail polish and similar cosmetic products. A thin silicone sleeve is fitted to a particular size of nail polish bottle. The sleeve features a hole that may be positioned over the product label and through which the product label may be read. The sleeve further features a widened portion at the base of the bottle neck where the cap is inserted. The sleeve further features a concave tab that may be pulled up over the container cap. The result is that a shock-absorbing sleeve covers the whole bottle, including the fragile neck and cap, reducing the risk of breakage if the bottle is dropped. 
         [0005]    In accordance with an embodiment of the invention, a nail polish protector sleeve for protecting at least one of a reservoir portion and a neck portion of a nail polish bottle is disclosed. The protector sleeve comprises an elastic deformable body having a reservoir protection portion. The elastic deformable body has a deformable first aperture. The deformable first aperture is configured to deform, which allows entry of the nail polish bottle. 
         [0006]    According to an embodiment of the present invention, the elastic deformable body further has a neck protection portion. 
         [0007]    According to yet another embodiment of the present invention, the deformable first aperture is located at a distal end of said neck protection portion. 
         [0008]    According to yet another embodiment of the present invention, at least one viewing aperture is formed in a side of the deformable body. 
         [0009]    According to yet another embodiment of the present invention, one of the viewing apertures is configurable to allow a user to view at least one of a label of the nail polish bottle and contents held in a reservoir portion of the nail polish bottle. 
         [0010]    According to yet a further embodiment of the present invention, the protector sleeve further includes two opposing viewing apertures. 
         [0011]    According to yet another embodiment of the present invention, the deformable first aperture reforms snuggly against the nail polish bottle following entry of the nail polish bottle through said first aperture. 
         [0012]    According to yet another embodiment of the invention, a protector body for protecting a nail polish bottle is described. The protector body comprises a deformable shell has a shell upper portion and a shell lower portion, the shell upper portion includes a first deformable aperture for accepting the nail polish bottle. 
         [0013]    According to an embodiment of the present invention, the deformable shell is configurable to fit snuggly around a reservoir portion of the nail polish bottle. 
         [0014]    According to yet another embodiment, the protector further comprises a viewing aperture formed in a side of the deformable shell. The viewing aperture allows a user to view at least one of a portion of a label of the nail polish bottle and the contents held in the reservoir portion. 
         [0015]    According to yet another embodiment, the deformable shell is configured to fit snuggly around a neck portion of the nail polish bottle. 
         [0016]    According to yet another embodiment, the deformable shell has a thickness of approximately 1.5 millimeters. 
         [0017]    According to yet a further embodiment, the shell lower portion has a concaved portion. 
         [0018]    According to yet a further embodiment, the shell lower portion has a textured portion. 
         [0019]    According to an embodiment of the invention, a method of inserting a nail polish bottle into a protector sleeve is described. The method comprises deforming the protector sleeve and inserting a reservoir portion of the nail polish bottle through a deformable aperture of the protector sleeve. 
         [0020]    According to yet another embodiment, the method further comprises pulling a tab portion of the protector sleeve around a neck portion of the nail polish bottle. 
         [0021]    According to yet a further embodiment, the protector sleeve includes an aperture sized to allow a user to view at least one of a label of the nail polish bottle and contents held in the reservoir portion of the nail polish bottle. 
         [0022]    According to yet a further embodiment, the method includes forming the protector sleeve of a material, the material includes one of at least rubber and silicone. 
         [0023]    According to another embodiment of the present invention, the method includes forming the protector sleeve of unitary body. 
         [0024]    Additional features and advantages of the invention will be set forth in the description which follows, and will be apparent from the description, or may be learned by practice of the invention. The foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory and are intended to provide further explanation of the invention. 
         [0025]    Other objects will become evident as the present invention is described in detail below. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0026]    Embodiments of the present application are described herein in which similar elements are given similar reference characters, and a more complete understanding of the present invention, and the attendant advantages and features thereof, will be more readily understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein: 
           [0027]      FIG. 1  shows a front view of the first exemplary embodiment of a nail polish sleeve; 
           [0028]      FIG. 2  shows a front view of the second exemplary embodiment of a nail polish sleeve; 
           [0029]      FIG. 3  shows a perspective view of the third exemplary embodiment of a nail polish sleeve top portion and side portion; 
           [0030]      FIG. 4  shows a side view of the nail polish sleeve of  FIG. 3  thereof; 
           [0031]      FIG. 5  shows a top view of the nail polish sleeve of  FIG. 3  thereof; 
           [0032]      FIG. 6 . shows a perspective view of the third exemplary embodiment of a nail polish sleeve bottom portion and side portion; 
           [0033]      FIG. 7  shows a side view of the nail polish sleeve of  FIG. 6  thereof; and 
           [0034]      FIG. 8  shows a bottom view of the nail polish sleeve of  FIG. 6  thereof. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0035]    The present invention advantageously provides a nail polish bottle sleeve for protecting the reservoir and/or neck portion of a nail polish both. 
         [0036]    Accordingly, the system and method components have been represented where appropriate by conventional symbols in the drawings, showing only those specific details that are pertinent to understanding the embodiments of the present invention so as not to obscure the disclosure with details that will be readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art having the benefit of the description herein. 
         [0037]    Referring now to the invention in more detail in which like reference designators refer to like elements, the invention is directed to a protective sleeve cover for a nail polish bottle or other small cosmetic bottle. The sleeve is presently envisioned as a monolithic piece of silicone or other shock absorbing plastic or rubber material. The sleeve may be thin, only a few millimeters in depth, or other thickness. The portions surrounding the fragile neck and cap of the bottle may be thicker.  FIG. 1  shows the first exemplary embodiment. In the first exemplary embodiment, a sleeve  10  fits snugly over a cosmetic bottle  11 . The sleeve  10  is sized exactly to stretch over a particular size and shape of bottle, for example the exact dimensions of a bottle of a popular brand or line of product. The sleeve features a widened portion  12  around the bottle neck. The product cap  13  screws onto the bottle and fits snugly within or on top of the widened portion  12 . 
         [0038]      FIG. 2  shows the second exemplary embodiment having an optional integrated tab or sleeve which protects the bottle cap as well as the bottle. In the second exemplary embodiment, a top tab  20  is provided, which may be pulled snugly over the cap  13 . The top tab  20  may be attached monolithically to the sleeve  10  (and in  FIG. 1  hidden behind the bottle  11 ) or may be a separate piece that fits over the bottle cap  13 , and optionally may be left on the bottle cap  13 . In all embodiments, the sleeve  10  may be removable and replaceable and provided to product users for aftermarket application to cosmetic bottles. The material of the sleeve  10  is preferably sufficiently stretchable that the widened portions of the bottle may fit through an expanded neck opening for ingress and egress. In such embodiments, an establishment may re-use the invention, removing it from empty bottles and re-applying it to new ones. In alternative embodiments, the invention may be applied to newly manufactured bottles and may be molded or cast directly onto the glass, and need not be removable. 
         [0039]      FIGS. 3-8  show a third exemplary embodiment directed towards a protective sleeve  1000  for covering a nail polish bottle or other small cosmetic bottles. 
         [0040]    Referring now to  FIG. 3 , the sleeve  1000  is presently shown as a unitary piece of silicone or other shock absorbing plastic or rubber material. The sleeve may be thin, only a few millimeters in depth, or other thickness. In an embodiment, the body of the sleeve has a thickness between 1 to 5 millimeters. The portions surrounding the fragile neck and cap of the bottle may be thicker. For example, when the body portion is 1.5 millimeters thick, the portion that protects the neck of a nail polish bottle may be approximately two millimeters thick. However, it is contemplated that any portion of the sleeve may be thinner or thicker than as described herein without departing from the spirit and scope of the instant invention. 
         [0041]    The sleeve  1000  fits snugly over a cosmetic bottle (not shown). The sleeve  1000  is sized to stretch over any sized nail polish bottle. In an embodiment, the sleeve is configured without limitation to fit around nail polish bottles having any of a cylindrical reservoir portion, a square reservoir portion and/or a spherical reservoir portion. 
         [0042]    In an embodiment, the sleeve is configured to fit only around nail polish bottles having a cylindrical reservoir for providing a snug fit to the cylindrical reservoir type nail polish bottle. 
         [0043]    Referring to  FIGS. 3-4 , a plurality of reservoir apertures  1004  are formed around the deformable body  1002 . In the instant embodiment, two pairs of opposing apertures are provided. In an embodiment, one or more reservoir apertures are configured to allow a person to read the label of the nail polish. In an embodiment, one or more reservoir apertures are configured to allow a person to view the nail polish color contained in the nail polish bottle reservoir. 
         [0044]    The protector sleeve  1000  includes an elastic deformable body  1002  having a reservoir protection portion. In an embodiment, the deformable body  1002  includes an upper portion  1010 , a lower portion  1012 , and a middle portion  1014 . 
         [0045]    The thickness of the upper portion  1010  and the lower portion  1012  is greater than the middle portion  1014 . In operation, the edges of upper portion  1010  and/or the lower portion  102  will contact the ground when the nail polish bottle falls, which reduces the forces against the weakest portion of the nail polish bottle, thereby reducing breakage of the nail polish bottle and spillage of its contents. 
         [0046]    In an embodiment, the edges  1014 ,  1016  are beveled, or otherwise rounded for spreading contact forces. 
         [0047]    Referring now to  FIG. 3-5 , the elastic deformable body has a deformable neck portion  1006  and a neck portion aperture  1008 , which is configured to cover the upper portion of the nail polish bottle reservoir and/or the neck of the nail polish bottle. The deformable neck portion aperture is configured to deform, which allows entry of the nail polish bottle therethrough. The deformable neck aperture  1008  reforms snuggly against the nail polish bottle following entry of the nail polish bottle through the neck portion aperture  1008 . 
         [0048]    Referring now to  FIGS. 6-8 , the protector sleeve  1000  is shown. A bottom portion  1017  of the protector sleeve includes a base portion  1018 . The base portion  1018  is configured for resting against a surface. In an embodiment, the base portion  1018  is textured to prevent the protector case—and the nail polish bottle being protected—from falling or otherwise being knocked over. The bottom portion  1017  includes a retaining portion  1020  for maintaining the nail polish bottle. In an embodiment, the side opposite of the retaining portion receives the bottom portion of the nail polish bottle. A central bottom portion aperture  1022  is positioned to allow easier removal of the nail polish bottle from the protector sleeve. In operation, the user is able to place their finger or other object through the bottom portion aperture  1022  to push the nail polish bottle out of the deformable neck aperture  1008 , shown in  FIG. 3 . 
         [0049]    While the foregoing written description of the invention enables one of ordinary skill to make and use what is presently considered to be the best mode thereof, those of ordinary skill in the art will understand and appreciate the existence of variations, combinations, and equivalents of the specific embodiment, method, and examples herein. The invention should, therefore, not be limited by the above described embodiment, method, and examples, but by all embodiments and methods within the scope and spirit of the invention. 
         [0050]    It will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art that the present invention is not limited to what has been particularly shown and described herein above. In addition, unless mention was made above to the contrary, it should be noted that all of the accompanying drawings are not to scale. A variety of modifications and variations are contemplated in light of the above teachings without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention. It will be readily apparent that various changes may be made thereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the disclosure or sacrificing all of its material advantages. The examples and embodiments described herein are merely exemplary of the instant disclosure. 
         [0051]    The terminology used herein is for the purposes of describing exemplary embodiments only. Such terminology is not intended to be limiting in any regard. 
         [0052]    As used herein, the singular forms “a”, “an” and “the” may be intended to include the plural forms, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. 
         [0053]    As used herein, when the term “and/or” is used, it shall include all combinations of one or more of the associated described items. 
         [0054]    As used herein, spatially relative terms may be intended to encompass the orientation of the different orientations of the system or device as it relates to the orientations depicted in the Figures. Such terms may include “inner”, “outer”, “above”, “upper”, “beneath”, “below”, “lower”, and the like. 
         [0055]    As used herein, the terms “comprises”, “comprising”, “including”, and “having” are inclusive and therefore specifically the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, or groups, or a combination thereof.