Container

Abstract: A Saturn-shaped container is provided which includes a receptacle (1) forming a lower portion of the container, a lid (2) forming an upper portion of the container, a ring member (3) surrounding the receptacle and supporting the lid, and a seal member (4) positioned between receptacle and lid so as to define a first and second compartment within the container. Advantageously, the lid is transparent and may serve as a magnifying means for viewing contents within the container.

Description: The present invention relates to a container with an improved sealing mechanism, and means for viewing the contents of the container. Containers, especially cosmetic jars, have been known since ancient times. Modern cosmetics do, however, require more sophisticated packaging, both for aesthetic appeal and for functional reasons. Certain types of cosmetic compositions as well as their delivery systems are moisture and/or oxidation susceptible. Extra sealing means are desirable in such situations. These means should be serviceable both for initial packaging of the cosmetic within its container and later when the manufacturing seal has been broken. Illustrative of sensitive cosmetic systems or vehicles are capsules formed from water soluble coatings such as gelatin. These capsules must be protected from moisture. Where capsules are involved, sometimes it also is desirable to restrain movement to a select area of a container. Another desirable aspect of a container is for its content to be easily viewable. Aesthetic appeal may thereby be enhanced. In WO-A-8707121 there is also described a cosmetic container which has a receptacle portion in which the cosmetic may be stored, a lid, a peripheral ring which supports the lid, and a sealing lid (66 in figure 6) positioned between the receptacle portion and the lid. Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a container with a sealing means sufficient to ensure the restriction of atmospheric moisture and oxygen from entering therein. It is also an object of the present invention to provide means for restraining the movement of capsules or the like to a select area within the container. Another object of the present invention is to improve the aesthetics of the container to such extent that its contents can better be viewed. A still further objective of the present invention is to provide a container for cosmetic capsules whose movement may be restricted within the container and which capsules may be readily viewed but still protected from moisture and/or oxidation. These and other objects of the present invention will become more readily apparent through the following detailed description. Thus, a container is provided comprising: a receptacle forming a portion of the container and having an area there within for receiving a substance; a lid forming an upper portion of the container; a ring member surrounding the receptacle and supporting the lid; and a transparent seal member positioned between the receptacle and the lid defining a first and second compartment within the container, the first container including the receiving area, characterised in that the lid is transparent and of thicker cross sectional width at an inner portion than at areas outward therefrom, the lid functioning as a magnifying means for viewing contents of the receiving area. The container can conveniently be used to package cosmetic compositions. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING Specific embodiments of the present invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of the container; Fig. 2 is an exploded part-separated view of the container shown in Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the container viewed along line 3---3 of Fig. 1; Fig. 4 is a top plan view of the container viewed along line 4---4 of Fig. 1; Fig. 5 is a bottom plan view of the container viewed along line 5---5 of Fig. 1; Fig. 6 is a top plan view of the lid viewed along line 6---6 of Fig. 2; Fig. 7 is a bottom plan view of the lid viewed along line 7---7 of Fig. 2; Fig. 8 is a top plan view of the ring member viewed along line 8---8 of Fig. 2; Fig. 9 is a bottom plan view of the ring member viewed along line 9---9 of Fig. 2; Fig. 10 is a top plan view of the seal member viewed along line 10---10 of Fig. 2; Fig. 11 is a bottom plan view of the seal member viewed along line 11---11 of Fig. 2; Fig. 12 is a top plan view of the receptacle viewed along line 12---12 of Fig. 2; Fig. 13 is bottom plan view of the receptacle viewed along line 13---13 of Fig. 2; Fig. 14 is an expanded cross-sectional view through a catch projection attached to the bottom of the lid viewed along line 14---14 of Fig. 7; Fig. 15 is an expanded cross-sectional view of a catch receiving member of the ring member viewed along line 15---15 of Fig. 8; Fig. 16 is an expanded cross-sectional partial view of the locking formation on the receptacle viewed along line 16---16 of Fig. 12; and Fig. 17 is an expanded cross-sectional partial view of the engaged catch member for securing lid to ring member and engaged locking system securing receptacle to ring member as shown in Fig. 3. Figs. 1 and 2 illustrate one embodiment of the container described by the present invention. This container may be constructed of four major parts including a receptacle 1, a lid 2, a ring member 3, and a seal member 4. The container and all of its parts may conveniently be manufactured out of plastics materials, for example by moulding, by conventional techniques known to the man skilled in the art. As shown in the drawings the container has an overall round shape which, in conjunction with the protruding ring member, is somewhat suggestive of the planet Saturn. Receptacle 1 forms a lower portion of the container and has an area 5 there within available for receiving a substance. A base 6 is formed as a flattened area centrally on an outer lower portion of receptacle 1. Base 6 allows the container to firmly rest upon a surface. Along an upper perimeter of receptacle 1 is formed a ledge 8 substantially parallel with base 6. Inward of ledge 8 is a wall segment 10 protruding upwardly away from base 6 and substantially transverse in direction to ledge 8. The ring member 3 surrounds as well as extends outward of both receptacle 1 and lid 2. Ring member 3 has a lower surface 12 resting upon ledge 8. Opposite lower surface 12 is an upper surface 14 formed on ring member 3. Lid 2 rests upon the upper surface 14 and is supported thereby along lid surface 16. Fig. 3 best illustrates the increasing cross-sectional width of lid 2 progressively inward from lid surface 16 toward a center of lid 2. When formed from a transparent material, lid 2, as a result of the increasing thickness profile, can serve as a magnifying means. Magnification of the contents of the container may be desirable for aesthetic reasons. Lid 2 and ring member 3 are securely joined through a catch projection and receiving system. The catch receiving portion of the system includes a plurality of elongate grooves 18 spacedly formed along upper surface 14 of ring member 3. See Fig. 8, 9, 15 and 17. Grooves 18 are each formed through a pair of curved parallel walls 20a and 20b cut transversely into the ring member. The walls 20a and 20b change direction at a depth of about 20-80% thickness of ring member 3 moving outward from area 5 at an acute angle to upper surface 14. A short distance thereafter, walls 20a and 20b are then redirected transverse to and pierce lower surface 12 at lower groove opening 24. As a consequence, lower groove opening 24 is outwardly displaced from upper groove opening 20. The catch projection portion of the system includes a plurality of hooks 30 oriented downward and outward from lid surface 16. Hooks 30 are constructed to form-fit within respective elongated grooves 18. Tip 32 at an exterior end of each hook 30 catches against the acutely angled wall segment 22 of groove 18 insuring a tight lock. See Figs. 14, 15 and 17. Circumferentially along the wall segment 10 of receptacle 1 are a plurality of elongated locking formations 40. Each locking formation 40 has a leg 42 curvedly parallel to ledge 8 and a foot 44 transverse thereto. Together with ledge 8, leg 42 and foot 44 define a curved receiving space 46. A plurality of lock projections 48 protrude horizontally from an inner circumference of ring member 3. Each lock projection 48 is profiled to engage within its respective curved receiving space 46 along wall segment 10. Engagement of lock projection 48 into space 46 is simply accomplished by placing ring member 3 onto ledge 8 and twisting member 3 in a circumferential planer direction until mating occurs. Seal member 4 is positioned between receptacle 1 and lid 2, forming a first and second compartment within the container, the second compartment being receiving area 5. Advantageously, seal member 4 is formed from a transparent plastic material. Fig. 2 shows seal member 4 as formed with a dome 50, which may be flattened towards its apex. An L-shaped edge 52 circumferentially surrounds and is unitarily formed with dome 50. Edge member 52 includes an arm 54 oriented transverse to a radius of the dome and a hand 56 forming a right angle with the arm protruding outwardly from a center of the dome. When seal member 4 is positioned onto receptacle 1, arm 54 will be sealingly positioned parallel directly against an inner wall 11 defining receiving area 5 and hand 56 will rest upon upper surface 9 of wall segment 10. Thereby, good sealing contact can be established along two separate surfaces of the receptacle 1. Although the invention has been described with reference to specific embodiments, it should be duly understood that it is in no way limited thereto and that various modifications of shape and materials may be brought thereto without departing from the teachings of the invention as defined in the claims.

Claims: A container comprising: a receptacle (1) forming a lower portion of the container and having an area (5) there within for receiving a substance; a lid (2) forming an upper portion of the container; a ring member (3) surrounding the receptacle (1) and supporting the lid (2); and a transparent seal member (4) positioned between the receptacle (1) and the lid (2) defining a first and second compartment within the container, the first compartment including the receiving area, characterised in that the lid (2) is transparent and of thicker cross-sectional width at an inner portion than at areas outward therefrom, the lid functioning as a magnifying means for viewing contents of the receiving area. A container according to claim 1, wherein the lid (2) has a plurality of catch projections oriented downwardly to secure the lid (2) to the ring member (3). A container according to claim 2, wherein the ring member (3) on an upper surface thereof had thereinto spacedly formed a plurality of elongate grooves (18) for receiving the catch projections. A container according to claim 3, wherein the grooves (18) are each formed through a pair of curved parallel walls cut transversely through the ring member (3), the walls changing direction within ring member (3) moving outward away from the receiving area at an acute angle to the upper surface and at a short distance thereafter, being redirected transverse to and piercing a lower surface of the ring member (3). A container according to claim 2, wherein the catch projection is a plurality of hooks (30), the hooks being constructed to form-fit within elongated grooves (18). A container according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the receptacle (1) comprises a base (6) formed as a flattened area centrally on an outer lower portion thereof. A container according to claim 6, wherein the receptacle (1) comprises a ledge (8) along an upper perimeter of the receptacle substantially parallel with the base (6). A container according to claim 7, wherein the receptacle (1) further comprises a wall segment (10) protruding upwardly away from the base (6), being substantially transverse in orientation to the ledge (8) and positioned inward of the ledge (8). A container according to claim 8, wherein the receptacle (1) further comprises a plurality of elongated locking formulations (40) circumferentially positioned along the wall segment (10). A container according to claim 9, wherein the locking formations (40) each have a leg (42) curvedly parallel to the ledge and a foot (44) transverse thereto. A container according to claim 10, wherein the leg (42) and foot (44) define a curved receiving space. A container according to claim 11, wherein the ring member (3) further comprises on an inner circumference thereof a plurality of lock projections profiled to engage within a respective one of the curved receiving spaces. A container according to any of the preceding claims wherein the seal member (3) is a transparent plastic material comprising a dome (50) and an L-shaped edge (52) circumferentially and unitarily formed with the dome (50). A container according to claim 13, wherein the edge includes an arm (54) oriented transverse to a radius of the dome (50) and a hand (56) forming a right angle with the arm (54) protruding outwardly from a center of the dome (50). A container according to claim 14, wherein the dome (50) is flattened towards an apex thereof. A container according to claim 14, wherein the arm (54) is sealingly positioned parallel against an inner wall defining the receiving area and the hand (56) rests upon an upper surface of a wall segment of the receptacle. A container according to any of the preceding claims manufactured from plastics materials.

Inventors: LOMBARDI MICHAEL HENRY, WACKER SUSAN REGINA, LOMBARDI, MICHAEL HENRY, WACKER, SUSAN REGINA
Applicants: UNILEVER NV, UNILEVER PLC, UNILEVER N.V.
Application year: 1991
Main classification: A45D40
IPC codes: A45D33, A45D40