Abstract:
A cosmetics container for storing and applying a product has a bottle having a neck defining a neck opening to an interior product cavity, the neck having threads on the exterior thereof. A neck insert is mounted in the neck opening, the neck insert including a side wall substantially conforming to the neck opening and providing access to the product cavity. The neck insert includes a dispenser wall deployed between the neck opening and the product cavity and the dispenser wall has at least one supply opening. A cap has interior threads for removably securing the cap on the bottle in a closed position by interengaging the threads on the neck. The cap having a stem extending into the neck insert and an applicator pad mounted to the distal end of the stem. The threads of the neck and the threads of the cap configured to support the cap on the neck prior to threaded engagement of the threads with the applicator pad spaced from the dispenser wall to define a dosing space therebetween. The applicator pad is fabricated of compressed foam and is compressed against the dispenser wall when the cap is threaded to its closed position on the bottle.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims priority to U.S. provisional patent application serial No. 60/156,076, filed on Sep. 24, 1999. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention herein relates to a cosmetics container having an applicator cap for clean dispensing and application of the facial cosmetics. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Facial cosmetics which include concealers, blushers, foundations, and therapeutic creams, such as for acne and skin rashes, may be similarly applied and are therefore included under the term “product” herein. They are typically creamy liquids, and can be of relatively high viscosity. Some of the cosmetics are pigmented and require shaking to place the pigment in suspension. These pigments also remain as the cream dries, and pigmented creams require extra care in storing and handling to avoid agglomeration of dried pigment. 
     Such facial products are traditionally provided in a bottle having a neck opening sized to be covered by a fingertip. After removing a cap from the bottle, the cosmetics are accessed by placing a finger over the neck opening and shaking the bottle. This both mixes the product and deposits it on the fingertip at the neck of the bottle. The fingertip is then used to apply the product to the user&#39;s face. 
     This method of dispensing product from the bottle and applying it to the face is somewhat messy, both to the fingers and hands of the user and at the neck of the bottle. One alternative is to provide a paddle extending from the cap, so that the paddle will carry product from the bottle. However, the paddle is ergonomically incorrect for applying the product to the face, and still requires use of a finger or a separate pad to spread the product on the face. Further, it can be difficult to reload the paddle in order to dispense additional product without securing the cap on the container. 
     Accordingly, there is a need for an efficient, comfortable and clean way of dispensing and applying facial cosmetics. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is a principal object of the invention to provide a container having an applicator cap and applicator pad for facial cosmetics and other similar products. 
     It is an additional object of the invention to provide a container and applicator cap with applicator pad that is readily adaptable to product of varying viscosity. 
     It is a further object of the invention herein to provide a container and applicator cap with applicator pad for product that is comfortable and efficient to use. 
     It is another object of the invention to provide a container and applicator cap with applicator pad for product that controls dosing of the applicator pad and permits efficient redosing of the applicator pad. 
     It is a still further object of the invention to provide a container and applicator cap with applicator pad for product, and especially pigmented product, wherein the applicator pad is maintained in good condition between uses. 
     In carrying out the invention herein, there is provided a container generally comprising a bottle and an applicator cap. The bottle has a neck and a dispenser wall is disposed between the neck opening and a product cavity defined inside the bottle. The dispenser wall may be provided at the end of a neck insert. The dispenser wall has supply openings that control delivery of the product from the reservoir to the neck opening. The applicator cap has a handle portion including an interior wall configured for securing the cap over the neck of a bottle. A stem extends from the cap into the neck opening and neck insert, and an applicator pad is mounted on the stem for accumulating product dispensed through the supply openings. The cap is removed to expose the pad and product accumulated thereon for application, with the pad being manipulated by grasping the handle portion. The stem and pad mounted thereon may be reinserted in the neck opening to accumulate additional product. One of the pad and stem seals to the neck opening so that the bottle may be shaken to redose the applicator pad without leakage from the neck. 
     According to additional aspects of the invention, the supply openings in the dispenser wall are positioned to provide product to the applicator pad when the cap is placed on the neck of the bottle, but is spaced from its closed position. Also, according to this aspect of the invention, the applicator pad may be supported spaced from the dispenser wall for dosing, and may be positioned at the dispenser wall when the cap is secured in the closed position. Further, the applicator pad may be foam and may be compressed when the cap is secured in its closed position, limiting the amount of product on the pad during storage. The bottle neck is threaded and the cap is matingly threaded for attaching the cap to the bottle. The cap is spaced from its closed position by inference between the threads prior to screwing the cap to its closed position. 
     According to further aspects of the invention, the applicator pad is secured to the distal end of the stem. The pad is sized to engage the side wall of the neck insert as the stem is received therein. The pad may also extend along the stem and provide an interface between the stem and the side wall of the neck insert. Thus, the applicator pad substantially prevents product flow through the neck when the cap is not screwed to its closed position for dosing the pad. 
     According to other aspects of the invention, the distance of the applicator pad from the dispenser wall and the configuration and number of supply openings in the dispenser wall are varied to achieve the desired transfer of product to the applicator pad, with consideration of the viscosity and preferred amount of product. The supply openings may be a plurality of round openings, and also may be a plurality of slot openings as well as openings of various configurations. 
     Additional aspects of the invention include a finger space recessed into the cap to provide for comfortable manipulation of the cap, and an integral outer skirt of the cap to increase its thickness for comfortable manipulation and provide an outer shape complementary with the bottle. 
    
    
     Other objects and features of the invention will be readily understood by those skilled in the art with reference to the following description of preferred embodiments and their drawings. 
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of a cosmetics container according to the invention herein; 
     FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the applicator cap of the cosmetics container of FIG. 1, shown being manipulated for application of product; 
     FIG. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view of the cosmetics container of FIG. 1, partially cut away, with the applicator cap inserted for receiving a dose of product; 
     FIG. 4 is a top view of the neck insert of the cosmetics container of FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 5 is a longitudinal sectional view of another cosmetics container according to the invention herein; 
     FIG. 6 is a longitudinal sectional view of the cosmetics container of FIG. 5, partially cut away, with the applicator cap inserted for receiving a dose of product; 
     FIG. 7 is a top plan view of the neck insert of the cosmetics container of FIG. 5; 
     FIG. 8 is a perspective view, partially cut away, of another cosmetics container according to the invention herein, with its applicator cap spaced from its closed position; 
     FIG. 9 is a longitudinal section view, of the cosmetics container of FIG. 8 with the applicator cap spaced from its closed position; 
     FIG. 10 is a longitudinal sectional view of the cosmetics container of FIG. 8 with the applicator cap screwed to its closed position; and 
     FIG. 11 is a top view of the neck insert of the cosmetics container of FIG.  8 . 
    
    
     The same reference numerals refer to the same elements throughout various figures. 
     DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     A cosmetics container  10  according to the invention herein is shown in FIGS. 1-4. The cosmetics container  10  is adapted to apply creamy product, including concealers, blushers, foundation creams and therapeutic creams, as well as other makeups and creams of relatively high viscosity and which are suitable for application by an applicator pad. 
     The cosmetics container  10  generally comprises a bottle  12  and an applicator cap  14 . The lower body portion  16  of the bottle  12  defines a product cavity  18  and the body portion  16  transitions to a tubular neck  20  of the bottle  12 . The neck has exterior threads  22  formed thereon, providing means for engaging the cap  14 , and the interior side walls of the neck define a neck opening  21  to the product cavity  18 . 
     A cup-shaped neck insert  24  is mounted in the neck  20  and further defines the neck opening  21 , with the tubular side wall  26  of the neck insert adjacent the tubular interior surface of the neck  20 . A lip  28  supports the neck insert  24  on the neck  20 . The neck insert  24  has a dispenser wall  30  deployed between the neck opening and the product cavity  18 . The dispenser wall  30  is provided with a plurality of supply openings  32 , which are best seen in the top view of the neck insert shown in FIG.  4 . The supply openings consist of a plurality of circular supply openings  32 . It will be appreciated the product passes from the product cavity  18  through the supply openings  32 , and that the size, configuration and number of supply openings is selected for appropriate delivery of the product. The neck insert provides a convenient way of positioning a dispenser wall between the neck opening and the product cavity; however, the dispenser wall may be otherwise mounted or supported in such position. 
     The applicator cap  14  has a tubular handle  40  which is threaded at  41  on its lower interior surface, providing means to engage with the threads  22  on the bottle neck  20 . A tubular stem  42  extends from the lower portion of the handle  40  and is received in the neck insert  24  of the bottle when the applicator cap is secured or partially secured thereon. An applicator pad  44  is mounted to the distal end of the stem  42 . A recess  46  is provided at the end of the stem  42  for this purpose, and the pad has an integral mounting shank portion  45  secured in the recess. The pad  44  extends the entire diameter of the stem  42  and slightly beyond as required to engage in the side wall  26  of the neck insert. 
     The applicator pad  44  may be a latex pad, foam pad of various materials, fabric pad, flocked pad, or any applicator pad that is suitable for receiving, carrying and applying the product. The thickness and mounting of the pad may vary according to the material. 
     The applicator cap  14  further defines a finger space generally indicated at  48 , so that the applicator cap may be comfortably grasped and manipulated, as shown in FIG.  2 . 
     With reference to FIG. 1, the end surface  43  of applicator pad  44  is positioned closely adjacent to or touching the dispenser wall  30  when the applicator cap is screwed down on the bottle  12 . With the cap in this position, product is applied directly to the pad  44  through the supply openings. The cap is then removed, as shown in FIG. 2, and the product is applied via the pad  44  to the face or other skin area. 
     With reference to FIG. 3, the applicator pad  44  can be redosed with product by inserting the applicator cap on the neck  20  of the bottle, but without screwing the cap closed, so that the cap will be supported on the threads  22  of the neck. Thus, the end surface  43  of the applicator pad  44  is spaced from the dispenser wall  30 , and a dosing space  49  is defined between the dispenser wall and applicator pad. Upon holding the cap  14  and shaking the bottle  12 , product is delivered through the supply openings  32  into the dosing space  49  to redose the applicator pad  44 . As noted above, the applicator pad is sized to contact the side wall  26  of the neck insert  24 , so that the product does not leak past the applicator pad during this redosing. The supply openings are, of course, selected so that the product is adequately, but not excessively delivered to the applicator pad. In general, less viscous products can be initially dosed to an applicator pad adjacent the dispenser wall through relatively small supply openings, and the relatively small supply openings also work for redosing the pad when it is spaced from the dispenser wall as shown in FIG.  3 . The low viscosity product readily passes through the supply openings to dose the pad  44 , and also readily drains back to the product cavity. 
     The dosing amount of higher viscosity products is limited by the dosing space  49 . Thus, an excessively large glob of product cannot be picked up by the applicator pad, and product also cannot accumulate on the sides of the applicator pad. The size of the dosing space may also be made appropriate to the product by selection of the dimensions of the stem  42  and/or neck insert  24 . 
     With reference to FIGS. 5-7, another cosmetics container  50  according to the invention herein is illustrated. The cosmetics container  50  has bottle  52  and applicator cap  54 . The bottle  52  has a body  56  defining a product cavity  58 . The bottle  52  includes a neck  60  with exterior threads  62  for engaging the cap  54 , and the neck  60  also defines a neck opening  61  to the product cavity  58 . 
     A neck insert  64  is mounted in the neck  60  and has a side wall  66  further defining the neck opening  61  and a dispenser wall  70 . The dispenser wall  70  separates the neck opening  61  of the bottle from the product cavity  58 , and defines supply openings  72  for delivering product. The supply openings  72  are in the form of rectangular slots, and a polygonal central opening  72 a adds transfer capacity. 
     The applicator cap  54  includes a generally tubular handle  80  with threads  81  on its interior surface for screw engagement on the threads  62  of the neck  60 . The cap  54  further includes a stem  82  which extends into the neck insert  64  when the applicator cap is on the bottle, and the stem  82  has an applicator pad  84  secured thereon at its distal end. The applicator pad includes a head portion  86  and a stem tubular side wall  88  that is fitted over the stem  82  and is deployed between the stem  82  and the side wall  66  of the neck insert when the applicator cap is on the bottle. The handle  80  is formed with an outer skirt  90  which provides thickness to the handle, and a finger space  92 . These help the user to comfortably grip and manipulate the applicator cap  54 . A plug  94 , shown in phantom, is optionally provided to close the finger space or recess  92  between uses or to provide an alternative handle configuration during use. 
     With reference to FIG. 5, the head  86  of the applicator pad is spaced from the dispenser wall when the applicator cap is screwed onto the bottle to provide a dosing space  96 . This dosing space  96  between the head  86  of applicator pad  84  and dispenser wall  70  allows a more viscous product to accumulate and dose the applicator pad when the cap is screwed to its closed position. When the applicator cap is removed and the dose of cosmetics present on the applicator pad has been utilized, the applicator cap  54  is returned to the bottle  52  as shown in FIG. 6, with the cap  54  supported on the threads  62  but not screwed thereon. This provides increased dosing space  96   a  between the applicator pad and the dispenser wall as compared to the position in FIG. 5; however, by proper sizing and configuration of the supply openings  72 , the pad  86  may be redosed with a desired amount of product by shaking the bottle. The side wall  88  of the applicator pad engages with the interior of the neck insert during the redosing of the applicator pad  86 , so that the product does not leak from the bottle  12 . 
     Referring now to FIGS. 8-11, another cosmetics container  100  according to the invention generally comprises a bottle  102  and a cap  104 . The bottle  102  has a body  106  that defines a product cavity  108 . The body  106  transitions to a neck  110 , which is provided with threads  112  on its exterior surface. Interiorly, the neck defines a neck opening  114  providing access to the product cavity  108 . 
     A neck insert  116  has a tubular side wall  118  that fits in the neck opening  114 . A dispenser wall  120  is provided at the product cavity end of the neck insert, with supply openings  122  permitting the product to exit the product cavity  108 . A lip  124  at the upper end of the neck insert  116  fits over the distal end  126  of the neck  110 , and supports and positions the neck insert  116  on the bottle  102 . 
     The applicator cap  104  includes a molded head  128  having a tubular outer wall  130  received in an outer shell handle  132 . The outer shell handle  132  may be provided with a pleasing exterior surface and a flat end panel  133  for printing product information, displaying product color, or the like. This structure also permits the use of different exterior finishes, dimensions, shapes, and the like, with a single molded head  128  providing utilitarian features of the cap  104 . 
     The interior of the tubular outer wall  130  defines threads  134  for engaging the threads  112  of the neck. The threads cooperate for turning or screwing the cap to a lower, closed position shown in FIG. 10, and the threads  112  of the neck in the cap also cooperate to hold the cap in the position shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, spaced upwardly with respect to the bottle  102 . In particular, the lowest thread portion  134   a  of the cap threads engages and rests on the highest thread portion  112   a  of the neck to support the cap spaced from the body. 
     The head  128  further defines a stem  136  concentric with the outer wall  130 , and sized to fit within the neck insert  116 . The stem  136  mounts an applicator pad  140  in a recess  138  at its distal end. 
     In the cosmetics container  100 , the applicator pad  140  is fabricated of a compressible, open cell foam. It has a cylindrical side surface  142 , which is of sufficient dimension to contact the inside surface of the neck insert in order to prevent passage of the product past the applicator pad during dosing of the pad. The stem can also be sized to provide this function, or an auxiliary seal may be provided on the stem to seal the stem to the opening. 
     The applicator pad  140  has an uncompressed thickness T illustrated in FIG. 9, and the applicator pad is not compressed when the cap is supported on the neck spaced from the body as shown in FIGS. 8 and 9. The spacing is sufficient to provide a dosing space  150  between the dispenser wall  120  and the end surface  144  of the applicator pad  140 . 
     It may be noted that the supply openings can be located radially with respect to the dosing space  150 , i.e., it is only necessary that they open to a space that doses the pad. Openings in such a position are considered to be on the dispenser wall. 
     When the cap is screwed on the bottle to its closed position, as shown in FIG. 10, the applicator pad  140  is compressed against the dispenser wall  120  to a thickness C. The compression is preferably sufficient that the applicator pad holds a minimal amount of product in its compressed condition, i.e., it is “wrung out.” 
     The cosmetics container  100  is well adapted for use with viscous pigmented creams, such as concealers and blushers. It is difficult to store a foam pad in a container where it is exposed to viscous pigmented creams. In such a situation, the cream is generally present on the surface of the pad and penetrates the pad, and the cream can dry out unless the pad is immersed in the cream and thereby kept moist. It will be understood that the creams are often designed to dry out, leaving the pigment applied to the skin in a natural appearing manner. However, when the cream dries out on and in the foam pad, it also leaves an accumulation of pigment, which clogs the pad and makes it less effective for use in applying cream. 
     The cosmetics container  100  addresses this problem by compressing the applicator pad  140  when the cap  104  is twisted to its closed position, substantially removing excess cream from the applicator pad and limiting the ability of the pad to take up more cream from the product cavity  108 . Also, the dispenser wall  120  with its supply openings  122  limits the amount of product that can contact the surface of the applicator pad  140 , and tends to provide an accumulation of the product in the supply openings so that the product does not dry on the surface of the foam pad. This maintains the pad in good condition between uses of the cosmetics container  100 , and that product is remixed when the container is shaken for the next use. 
     When the user desires to apply the product, the cap  104  is loosened to the position shown in FIG. 9, and the bottle is shaken. This causes the product to mix and to enter the dosing space  150 , where it is absorbed by and deposited on the surface of the applicator pad  140 . The cap  104  may then be removed from the bottle and manipulated to apply the product. For additional applications, the cap is replaced on the bottle  102  in the position shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, and the cap  104  and bottle  102  are shaken as a unit to apply an additional dose of product to the applicator pad. When the user has finished applying the product, the cap  104  is replaced and twisted to its closed position shown in FIG. 10, which compresses the applicator pad  140  to remove product therefrom until the next use of the container. 
     It will be noted that all of the cosmetics containers  10 ,  50  and  100  providing a dosing space relationship with the dispenser wall to control the amount of cosmetics applied to the pad before use. The control is achieved both by the size and distribution of the supply openings and also by the space between the dispenser wall and the applicator pad when the applicator cap is supported on the neck of the bottle, but not closed. Contact of the applicator pad with the dispenser wall and compression of the pad, if desired, when the caps of the containers  10 ,  50  and  100  are in their closed positions is also beneficial in the manner described above. 
     Accordingly, cosmetics containers have been described which admirably achieve the objects of the invention herein. It will be appreciated that various changes may be made from the preferred embodiments described above without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, which is limited only by the following claims.