STORAGE RECEPTACLE

Abstract: A storage receptacle (1) for skin care products is disclosed which comprises at least two compartments (3, 4). A first skin care product is contained within a first compartment (3) and formulated for a first skin type, e.g. oily type; a second skin care product is contained within a second compartment (4) and formulated for a second skin type, e.g. dry or normal type. The products are simultaneously accessible by the user.

Description: STORAGE RECEPTACLE TECHNICAL FIELD The invention relates to a storage receptacle for skin care products. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION It has long been known that many people have a so-called combination skin which is defined as skin which is part one skin type and part another, for example part oily and part dry or part oily and part normal. To date, consumers of skin care products who have a combination skin have tended to compromise on the different needs by selecting a single skin care product which is suitable for one skin type but not the other. Alternatively, consumers have had to select two quite separate skin care products in order to address the needs of combination skin. SUMMARY OF INVENTION The present invention provides a pack comprising a storage receptacle and at least two skin care products wherein the storage receptacle has at least two compartments; a first skin care product is contained within a first compartment and formulated for a first skin type; a second skin care product is contained within a second compartment and formulated for a second skin type; and wherein the first and second skin care products are simultaneously accessible by the user. The pack according to the invention is particularly suitable for use with at least two skin care products formulated for a combination skin wherein a first skin care product is formulated for an oily skin type and a second skin care product is formulated for a dry or normal skin type. Thus, the skin care products include one product which, on application, reduces oil and/or shine on the oilier areas of, for example, facial skin and another product which moisturises the drier or normal areas of facial skin. As used herein, the term "formulated for an oily skin type" means that the skin care product is formulated to include ingredients which help to reduce oil and/or shine on the face. General classes of such ingredients include, for example, oil/sebum absorbers, sebum suppressors, mattifiers, and sebum spreaders. Typical examples of ingredients which help to reduce oil and/or shine on the face include clays, talcs, silicas, starches, polymers, nicotinic acid, niacinamide, cucumber extract, panthenol, pantothenic acid, pyridoxine, riboflavin, hesperitin, phloretin, and mixtures thereof. Skin care products which are formulated for normal and/or dry skin types will typically contain lower levels of ingredients which help to reduce oil and/or shine on the face than skin care products which are formulated for oily skin types. Typically, skin care products which are formulated for normal and/or dry skin types are formulated to include ingredients which help to moisturise and/or maintain the water-level of the skin. General classes of such ingredients include emollients, humectants, and natural or synthetic oils. Typical examples of ingredients which help to moisturise and/or maintain the water-level of the skin include vegetable oil, mineral oils, animal oils, fats, waxes, fatty acid esters, fatty alcohols, fatty acids, silicone oil, glycerine, butylene glycol, propylene glycol and water-soluble polyglycerylmethacrylate lubricants. Skin care products which are formulated for normal and/or dry skin will typically contain higher levels of ingredients which help to moisturise and/or maintain the water-level of the skin than skin care products which are formulated for oily skin types. According to the invention, the storage receptacle has first and second compartments, the relative sizes of which can be selected according to consumer demands. For example, the ratio by volume of the first compartment to the second compartment may be in the range of from 1 :4 to 4: 1 , more particularly 1:3 to 3:1 and even more particularly 1 :2 to 2: 1. A storage receptacle in which the two compartments are of equal volume is convenient. The storage receptacle may include a third compartment or a sub- compartment containing a third skin care product or, for example, an active material. The pack may be adapted to accept refills into each compartment independently. According to one embodiment, the storage receptacle is provided with a lid common to the compartments. The lid may be, for example, hinged or of a press-fit type or preferably a screw lid. Thus, the separate skin care products are simultaneously accessible to the user when the lid is opened. According to another embodiment, the pack is in the form of a compact having either separate lids for each compartment, or a hinged lid common to the compartments. The under surface of such hinged lid can for example contain a mirror. The separate skin care products are made simultaneously accessible to the user by opening the separate lids or hinged lid. The storage receptacle may optionally include means for preventing or reducing cross-contamination of the skin care products. For example, the storage receptacle can be provided with a shive which can have a recessed surface in which the recesses are complementary to the compartments. According to a further embodiment, the pack further comprises means for dispensing the skin care products from their compartments. Such means can for example be a conventional pump system. The dispensing means allows the user simultaneous access to the separate skin care products. In use, the pack according to the invention has the advantage that two or more skin care products are accessible simultaneously. The consumer is able to select an appropriate amount of a first skin care product for use on for example the oily skin parts of facial skin and an appropriate amount of a second skin care product for use on for example the dry or normal skin parts of facial skin according to the individual needs of the consumer. The skin care products may be provided in the form of creams, gels, mousses, balms, lotions or tonics. Preferably, a first product is formulated to address the needs of oily facial skin by reducing oil and/or shine on the facial skin while a second product is formulated to address the needs of dry or normal facial skin by moisturizing the areas. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF SPECIFIC EMBODIMENTS The invention is further illustrated, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein: Figure 1 shows a storage receptacle in the form of a jar adapted to be fitted with a screw lid (screw thread and lid not depicted); Figure 2 represents a side view of the jar shown in Figure 1; Figure 3 represents a plan view of the jar shown in Figure 1; Figures 4 and 5 show a storage receptacle in the form of a compact (closed and open); Figures 6 and 7 represent plan views of the compact as shown in Figures 4 and 5; Figure 8 represents a frontal view of the compact as shown in Figure 4; Figure 9 shows a storage receptacle in the form of a pump dispenser; Figure 10 represents a side view of the pump dispenser shown in Figure 9; Figure 11 represents a frontal view of the pump dispenser shown in Figure 9; Figure 12 represents a top view of the pump dispenser shown in Figure 9; Figure 13 represents a vertical section of the pump dispenser represented in Figure 11. In its simplest form, the pack according to the invention is as illustrated in Figures 1 to 3, in the form of a jar, wherein the pack comprises a storage receptacle (1) consisting of a base (2) provided with two compartments (3, 4) separated by a dividing wall (5). The base (2) is threaded and adapted to receive a screw lid. A first skin care product is contained in the first compartment (3) while a second skin care product is contained in the second compartment (4). In a second form, the pack according to the invention is as illustrated in Figures 4 to 8, in the form of a compact. The storage receptacle (1) consists of a base (2) containing two compartments (3,4) separated by a dividing wall (5), each compartment being provided with a sliding lid (6,7). The lids (6,7) are pivotably mounted on opposite corners of the base (2) to enable each compartment (3,4) to be covered or exposed independently by sliding pivotal movement of the lids (6,7) over the base (2). Cooperating surfaces (8,9) on the lids (6,7) may engage with each other when the lids (6,7) are both closed over the compartments (3,4). In a third form, the pack according to the invention is as illustrated in Figures 9 to 13, in the form of a pump dispenser. The storage receptacle (1) comprises two compartments (3,4) containing respectively first and second skin care products, and each compartment (3,4) is provided with a pump (10,11) for enabling the first and second skin care products to be dispensed independently from their compartments (3,4) via exit nozzles (12,13). The pumps (10,11) may be operated manually by downward application of force on the pump tops (14,15).

Claims: WHAT IS CLAIMED IS: 1. A pack comprising a storage receptacle and at least two skin care products wherein the storage receptacle has at least two compartments; a first skin care product is contained within a first compartment and formulated for a first skin type; a second skin care product is contained within a second compartment and formulated for a second skin type; and wherein the first and second skin care products are simultaneously accessible by the user. 2. A pack according to claim 1 , wherein the at least two skin care products are formulated for a combination skin wherein a first skin care product is formulated for an oily skin type and a second skin care product is formulated for a dry or normal skin type. 3. A pack according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the storage receptacle has two compartments. 4. A pack according to claim 3, wherein the compartments are of equal size. 5. A pack according to any of claims 1 to 4, wherein the storage receptacle is provided with a lid common to the compartments. 6 A pack according to claim 5, wherein the lid is screwable. 7. A pack according to any of claims 1 to 4, wherein the storage receptacle is provided with a separate lid for each compartment. 8. A pack according to claim 7, wherein the lids are slidable over the compartments. 9. A pack according to any of claims 1 to 8, which further comprises means for dispensing the skin care products from their compartments. 10. A pack according to any of claims 1 to 9, which further comprises means for preventing or reducing cross-contamination of the at least two skin care products. 11. A pack according to claim 10, wherein the means for preventing or reducing cross-contamination is provided by a shive. 12. A pack according to any of claims 1 to 11, wherein the skin care products are formulated as creams, gels, balms, lotions, mousses or tonics. 13. Use of a storage receptacle having at least two compartments for the storage of first and second skin care products formulated respectively for first and second skin types of combination skin. 14. Use according to claim 13 for the storage of first and second skin care products formulated respectively for oily skin type and dry or normal skin type.

Inventors: BROWN TIMOTHY OLIVER MICHAEL, HAIMES SALLY ELIZABETH, BROWN, TIMOTHY, OLIVER, MICHAEL, HAIMES, SALLY, ELIZABETH
Applicants: BROWN TIMOTHY OLIVER MICHAEL, HAIMES SALLY ELIZABETH, PROCTER & GAMBLE, BROWN, TIMOTHY, OLIVER, MICHAEL, HAIMES, SALLY, ELIZABETH, THE PROCTER & GAMBLE COMPANY
Application year: 1998
Main classification: A45D40
IPC codes: A45D40