ARRANGEMENT COMPRISING A CONTAINER FOR RECEIVING A COSMETIC PRODUCT AND A LID FOR CLOSING THE CONTAINER AND METHOD OF OPERATING SUCH AN ARRANGEMENT

An arrangement includes a container for receiving a cosmetic product and a lid for closing the container. The arrangement includes a circuit arrangement with a radio module that is arranged on or in the container and/or the lid, and which is adapted to detect an opening status of the arrangement and to output it via the radio module.

BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Exemplary embodiments of the invention relate to an arrangement of a container for holding a cosmetic product and a lid for closing the container, as well as to an operating procedure for such an arrangement.

Containers for cosmetic products or care products in general, which can be closed with a lid, are used in the form of jars or cans for cremes or other pasty products. Furthermore, containers in the form of bottles or flasks for perfume are used or in the form of oblong containers for lipsticks or mascara.

The containers usually have a capacity of a few milliliters (ml) to about 100 ml. Cosmetic products presented in these containers are usually sold in the container itself, with the sealable lid allowing safe transport. As additional protection, and as proof of intactness, the container may be sealed with a protective foil under the lid by the manufacturer. When used, the lid serves to safely re-seal the container in order to prevent contamination of the contents, e.g., by house dust, and to enable safe storage and transport, e.g., when travelling. The lid also protects the cosmetic product from drying out.

With many of the cosmetic products offered in such containers, the lasting success of these cosmetic products depends on regular use, if possible not interrupted by long breaks.

Exemplary embodiments of the present invention are directed to improving the above mentioned arrangement of a container for cosmetic products and a lid in such a way that regular application of the cosmetic product is made easier for the user. Exemplary embodiments are also directed to an operating procedure for such an arrangement for cosmetic products which assists the user in regular use.

An arrangement consisting of a container and a lid in accordance with the invention includes a circuit arrangement with a radio module arranged on or in the container and/or the lid, which is set up to detect an opening status of the arrangement and to output it via the radio module.

An arrangement in accordance with the invention is thus designed to automatically detect when the container is open or closed (i.e., whether the lid closes the container or not). Knowledge of the opening status of the container allows conclusions to be drawn about the use of the cosmetic product. It is also possible to detect whether the container is open for a longer period of time, which could accelerate the drying out of the cosmetic product. The integrated radio module allows the information about the opening status of the container to be passed on and recorded and evaluated by external devices.

In an advantageous embodiment of the arrangement, the radio module is designed to output the opening status according to a standardized protocol for short-range radio transmission. The 2.4 gigahertz (GHz) band is particularly suitable as a frequency band due to its approval and distribution. Usable protocols are for example Bluetooth, Bluetooth-LE (low energy), ZigBee or similar.

In another advantageous embodiment, a sensor, e.g., a switch, is integrated in the container and/or lid, which detects the opening status and whose status is evaluated by the circuitry. Such a switch can be a microswitch and/or also a magnetic switch, e.g., a reed switch. If a reed switch is used, the switch itself can be located in the container or lid and a magnet actuating the switch can be located in the other component, i.e. the lid or container.

Preferably a screw cap is used as the lid, which allows the container to be closed securely. The screw cap is also preferably fitted with a circumferential sealing plate or a sealing plate extending over the entire inner surface of the cap. This sealing plate can also preferably be coupled to the switch in such a way that pressure on the sealing plate, which is exerted when the container is closed with the (screw) cap, is used to actuate the switch. For this purpose, the lid can, for example, be mounted so as to be displaceable in an axial direction (relative to the screw connection between lid and container), whereby the sealing plate is pretensioned in the direction of the container by at least one spring. When the lid is screwed onto the container, the sealing plate is moved against the spring force relative to the remaining part of the lid, thereby actuating the switch.

An operating method according to the invention for such an arrangement comprising a container for containing a cosmetic product and a lid for closing the container comprises the following steps: An opening status of the arrangement is detected, the opening status indicating whether the container is closed by the lid. The detected opening status is then output by a radio module of the assembly. This results in the advantages mentioned in connection with the arrangement.

In an advantageous embodiment of the operating procedure, the opening status is output with a radio protocol for short-range radio transmission, in particular Bluetooth, Bluetooth-LE or ZigBee. It may be planned to output the opening status repeatedly, e.g., at regular intervals. In order to save energy during radio transmission, it may also be planned to output the opening status only when the arrangement is open.

In an alternative operating mode, it may be intended to output the opening status if it is detected that it has changed. This represents a very energy-saving transmission. The output of the opening status after a change can also be output several times in quick succession to ensure that the information is received correctly.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In theFIGS. 1 to 5described below, an example of a container10with a lid20according to the invention is shown in various representations.FIG. 6shows an alternative design of lid20. In all figures, the same reference signs indicate identical or similarly acting elements. For reasons of clarity, not all elements in all figures are marked with all reference signs. The information used in the description, such as left, right, top, bottom, refers to the exemplary representation in the figures.

FIG. 1first shows an embodiment of a container10for cosmetic products with a lid20unscrewed but still above the container10. In this embodiment, container10and lid20are cylindrical. However, the basic idea described in this application is independent of the exact shape and dimensions of both container10and lid20and can be implemented in particular for containers and lids with other basic geometric shapes and/or proportions.

The shape of the container10shown in the examples is typical for a pasty cosmetic product, e.g., a creme. A container in accordance with the application can also be suitable for cosmetic products such as lipsticks or mascara in other dimensions or proportions. Furthermore, the container may also be designed to hold liquid cosmetic products and may take the form of a bottle or flask.

The container10has an external thread12on which the lid20is screwed with an internal thread (not visible inFIG. 1). The use of a screw connection is advantageous in terms of reclosability and tightness, but is not mandatory. There may also be other connection mechanisms such as a frictional connection, a bayonet lock and/or a snap-in lock between the container and the lid.

FIG. 2shows the container10with the lid20according toFIG. 1in a sectional view, the section being made along the central axis of the container10or the lid20.

The sectional view shows that the container10has a cavity11, which is used to hold the cosmetic product. With typical dimensions of the container10in terms of its diameter and height in the range of centimeters, the volume of cavity11can range from a few milliliters to several 10 ml or about 100 ml in typical applications. At the top, the container10ends in a circumferential and level upper edge13which seals it against the lid20.

The container10is preferably constructed in several parts and has an inner part, which provides the cavity11and on the outside of which the thread12is formed at the top. This part is the actual sealed vessel14of container10. Below the thread12, this vessel14is inserted into a circumferential grip edge15and locked to it. The container14and the grip edge15can be made of plastic in an injection molding process. A glass container14can also be used. An outer sleeve16is connected to the grip edge15, which surrounds the lower part of the container14and forms the lower part of the container10. The grip edge15can be made of plastic, but can also be made of optical reasons or, to achieve a higher quality rating, of a metal, for example deep-drawn aluminum. The multi-part construction of the container10makes it possible, when using the same vessel14, to give the container10a different appearance by using differently designed grip edges15and/or outer casings16.

Lid20is also of multi-part design and has an outer hood21, which can be made of deep-drawn aluminum or plastic. An insert22is inserted into this hood, which is preferably made of plastic and which carries all other components arranged in the lid20.

A threaded insert23is inserted into the insert22and connected to the insert22, e.g., snapped or glued. The threaded insert23provides the internal thread already mentioned, with which the lid20is screwed onto the thread12of the container10.

A sealing plate24is inserted into the threaded insert23. This can be a preferably thin plastic plate on which a sealing soft material is mounted. When screwing the lid20onto the container10, the sealing plate24is pressed onto the upper edge13of the container10and thus seals the cavity11of the container10.

The sealing plate24is pressed into a circumferential groove of the threaded insert23, in which it has a small clearance of movement in axial direction, i.e., in the direction in which the lid20moves in relation to the container10when screwed on. Above the sealing plate24and supported internally by the insert22, two springs25are arranged in the example shown, which pre-tension the sealing plate24in the direction of the container10. Furthermore, a circuit arrangement30is arranged in a cavity between the sealing plate24and an upper inner surface of the insert22, the function of which is explained in more detail in connection with the drawings described below.

InFIGS. 3aand 3b, the structure of the lid20is shown in more detail in an iso-metric exploded view. In these drawings it can be seen in particular that a circumferential groove231is formed in the threaded insert23, in which the sealing plate24engages with its outer edge241. However, the groove has a height in the axial direction that is greater than the thickness of the edge241, which gives the described vertical movement range of the sealing plate24. On the upper side of the sealing plate24(seeFIG. 3b) a circumferential support ring242is formed on which the springs25press. This ensures that there is a suitable support surface for the springs25, even if the sealing plate24is twisted in relation to the insert22, which usually occurs when the lid20is opened or closed and the sealing plate24rests on the upper edge13of the container10.

FIGS. 3aand 3balso show the layout of circuit arrangement30, which has a circuit board31on which all other components are arranged. These components are, in particular, a radio module32, a battery holder33with a button cell battery and a switch34. The switch34is an example of a sensor with which the opening status of the arrangement can be detected.

FIGS. 4 and 5show the container10with the lid20screwed on in the same way asFIGS. 1 and 2. In this position the sealing plate24rests on the upper edge13of the container10and is pressed upwards within its clearance in the threaded insert23relative to the threaded insert23. In this position, the sealing plate24with the support ring242presses on an actuating element of the switch34, which in the example shown is a push-button microswitch. When the container10is opened by unscrewing the lid20(status shown inFIGS. 1, 2), the sealing plate24is pressed down relative to the threaded insert23by the springs25and, correspondingly, the switch34is no longer actuated. In this way the opening status of container10can be detected via switch34.

The switch34is connected to the radio module32in such a way that the radio module32outputs the switching state of the switch34coded in a radio signal. It can be provided, for example, that a corresponding radio signal “Lid was opened” or “Lid was closed” is output each time the switching state of switch34changes. This radio signal may include a unique identification number of the circuit arrangement30in order to identify and thereby assign it.

It should be noted that it is not necessarily (only) the current opening status that can be output, but also past opening statuses that are stored in circuit arrangement30. In this way it can be achieved, for example, that the opening and/or closing of container10in a period of time in which there was no coupling with the mobile device (e.g., because it was outside the range of radio module32) is also taken into account. It may also be intended to transmit a time series in which several opening and/or closing operations of the container10are stored together with the respective time of the action.

The radio module32is preferably a Bluetooth and especially preferred a Bluetooth-LE module. In alternative designs, other energy-saving and short-range radio protocols can be used. In a design as a Bluetooth or Bluetooth-LE module, the radio module34can be coupled with a commercially available mobile device, e.g., a smartphone or a tablet computer, and thus the information about the opening status of container10can be transmitted to this mobile device.

The use of a short-range radio connection by the radio module32also serves to protect the user's privacy. If a longer-range connection is planned, it can be encrypted to prevent unauthorized access to information transmitted by the radio module32.

The mobile device with which the radio module32communicates is preferably equipped with a software (“App”), which evaluates the opening status of container10and passes appropriate instructions for the correct use of container10to the user of the mobile device. For example, at regular intervals, e.g., in the morning and/or evening, the user can be reminded of the use of the cosmetic product in container10. A warning signal can also be given if the container10is left unsealed unintentionally for a long period of time. This prevents the cosmetic product from drying out.

In a further application of the arrangement a coupling with a house control system, a so-called Smart Home System, can be provided. Depending on the state of the arrangement of container10and lid20, household appliances such as lamps or a radio can be controlled.

If the user agrees, it may also be planned to pass on information on the use of the cosmetic product to a manufacturer of the cosmetic product or an intermediary service provider on the basis of the opening status of container10. This service provider can use the information to compile statistics on the use of his products, which can contribute to the further development and/or improvement of the products. For reasons of data security and the protection of the user's privacy, the information is preferably passed on and evaluated anonymously to a manufacturer or service provider, whereby only (rough) location coordinates of the intermediate mobile device may be passed on in order to be able to evaluate the product data regionally.

It may also be planned to carry out an analysis of the estimated contents of container10on the basis of the number of opening or closing operations of the lid20. This can be designed to be self-learning, in that feedback from the user on the actual contents of container10is used to adjust a stored value for the quantity of product removed during each opening operation.

It should be noted that the basic structure shown, in which the circuit arrangement30and thus the entire additional functionality described is located in the lid20, is an advantageous embodiment, since the lid20shown, possibly with differently designed outer hoods21, can be used for a number of products with differently designed and also differently sized containers10.

In alternative embodiments, however, it is also conceivable to position the circuit arrangement30in container10and not in lid20. A switch can, for example, be located in the area of thread12and operated by a screwed-on lid20. It is also conceivable to position a magnetic switch in one of the two components—in container10or in lid20—and a triggering magnet in the other part of the arrangement.

In the example shown, a button cell battery is used for the energy supply of circuit arrangement30. By using the battery holder33, this battery can be replaced, so that the circuit arrangement30can be used longer than the life of the battery. It is conceivable, for example, to make the lid20available separately from the container10, so that the lid20with the circuit arrangement30can be used several times, whereas a container10with product content can be purchased or refilled. In alternative embodiments it is possible to use a rechargeable battery, whereby various methods for recharging the battery are conceivable. On the one hand, a charging socket could be formed on the lid or container, for example a micro-USB socket. Alternatively, inductive charging via charging stations for mobile devices, which are now commonplace, is also conceivable. Finally, a so-called energy harvesting can be used, whereby, for example, a piezo element is formed in the container or lid, which generates energy during each screwing process, which is used to recharge the rechargeable battery. A solar cell in the lid could also be used to recharge the rechargeable battery.

FIG. 6shows an alternative embodiment of a lid20, which can be used together with container10, for example, according to the examples shown above. Identical reference marks indicate identical or similarly acting elements. With regard to its basic design, lid20ofFIG. 6corresponds to the design shown in the previous figures. Explicit reference is made to the corresponding description.

The example inFIG. 6differs in the realization of the spring pre-tensioning of the sealing plate24, where there is only one centrally arranged spring25, which is guided on two cylindrical sockets, which are formed concentrically on the upper inner side of the insert22and the upper side of the sealing plate24. Depending on the dimensions of the components of the circuit arrangement, in particular the radio module32, the battery holder33or the inserted battery and the switch34, the arrangement of several springs25(FIG. 1-5) or the arrangement with the central spring25according toFIG. 6can be advantageous.

REFERENCE SYMBOL LIST