Abstract:
Described herein are containers having a bottom portion, a bottom sifter, a dial sifter, and a removable cover having pins. A bottom sifter and a dial sifter are rotatably engaged, and both have at least one sifting hole for sifting materials with a powder-like consistency. Either the surface of the bottom sifter facing the dial sifter or the surface of the dial sifter facing the bottom sifter may have at least one raised portion, and the remaining surface may have at least one recessed depression. The dial sifter may have one or more cavities to engage the pins in the cover, thereby rotating the dial with the rotation of the cover.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     Cosmetic materials such as those used for cosmetic foundation are typically provided as a compacted or a loose powder. Loose materials, including loose powder, are becoming more common due in part to the fact that loose material provides improved coverage of the material on a surface. The loose material may be provided in a container with a perforated surface or sifter so that the powder is shaken out of the perforations and the powder can be applied onto an applicator. This configuration is problematic in that the loose material has a tendency to move up through the perforations during handling and/or jostling of the container, such as the movements associated with carrying the container in a handbag, pocket, or purse. The loose material may deposit above the perforated surface and/or on the cap and may at least partially spill out when the container is opened. 
     SUMMARY 
     This disclosure relates to containers usable for holding and dispensing, among other things, powdered or powder-like cosmetics products. According to one exemplary implementation, a container is disclosed that has a bottom portion, a bottom sifter, a dial sifter and a removable cover having pins. The cover has a radially extending top portion, and an axially extending side wall portion. The bottom sifter is engaged with the bottom portion and has at least one sifting hole for sifting materials with a powder-like consistency. The dial sifter is rotatably engaged with the bottom sifter and has at least one sifting hole to align with the at least one sifting hole in the bottom sifter. In an implementation, either the surface of the bottom sifter facing the dial sifter or the surface of the dial sifter facing the bottom sifter has at least one raised portion, and the remaining surface has at least one recessed depression. In other implementations, neither surface of the dial sifter, or the bottom sifter, or both sifters may have a raised portion or a recessed depression. When present, the raised portion and the recessed depression operate to inhibit the dial sifter from rotating relative to the bottom sifter, and to align the sifting holes in the dial sifter and the bottom sifter when the container is open. The upper surface of the dial has one or more axially extending cavities to align and engage axially protruding pins in the cover. When the cover is rotated, the axially protruding pins extend into the axially extending cavities on the dial surface. The dial may rotate with the rotation of the cover, such that when the cover is rotated into a closed position the dial is rotated in relation to the bottom sifter to offset the holes in the bottom sifter and the holes in the dial. When the cover is rotated into an open position the dial is rotated in relation to the bottom sifter to align the holes in the bottom sifter with the holes in the dial. 
     According to another exemplary implementation, a container is disclosed that is configured to be filled from the bottom of the container. This implementation includes a container having a top portion, an open bottom portion, a rotating sifter mechanism engaged with the top portion, a cover for enclosing the top portion, and a bottom cap for enclosing the open bottom portion. The rotating sifter mechanism includes a bottom sifter and a dial sifter, the dial sifter being engaged with the cover. Material may be supplied to the open bottom portion. The bottom cap is then affixed to the open bottom portion to enclose the material within the container. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  shows an exploded view of a container having a rotating dial sifter, according to one exemplary implementation. 
         FIG. 2  shows an elevational view of the container of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  shows a top plan view of the container of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 4  shows a cross-sectional view of the container of  FIG. 1 , taken along line  4 - 4  in  FIG. 3 . 
         FIG. 5  shows a cross-sectional view of the container of  FIG. 1 , taken along line  4 - 4  in  FIG. 3  and in which an elastomer layer is sandwiched between the bottom sifter and dial. 
         FIG. 6  shows a perspective view of the underside of the cover for the rotating sifter of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 7  is an exploded view of a container according to another exemplary implementation, having a rotating sifter mechanism including a bottom sifter and a dial, and a bottom cap for enclosing the bottom portion of the container. 
         FIG. 8  shows a cross-sectional view of the container of  FIG. 7 . 
         FIG. 9  is an exploded view of a container according to another exemplary implementation, having a rotating sifter mechanism including a bottom sifter and a dial, the bottom sifter being integral with a bottom portion of the container, and a bottom cap for enclosing the bottom portion of the container. 
         FIG. 10  shows a cross-sectional view of the container of  FIG. 9 . 
         FIG. 11  is a flow diagram showing an exemplary process to fill a container with powder via an opening in the bottom of the container. The order in which the method is described is not intended to be construed as a limitation, and any number of the described method blocks may be combined in any order to implement the method, or an alternate method. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Containers having rotating sifter mechanisms will now be described with reference to the figures. While the disclosure is described in the context of sifters for powdered cosmetics products, they may be useful for other powdered or powder-like products, such as baby powder, foot powder, medicinal powders, and the like. 
       FIGS. 1-6  show a container  110  including a cover  112  and a bottom portion  114 . As shown in the exemplary implementation shown in  FIG. 1 , the container  110  is provided with a bottom sifter  116  engaged with the bottom portion  114 . A dial sifter  118  is engaged with the bottom sifter  116 . The bottom sifter  116  has at least one hole  120  for sifting loose material, such as facial powder, makeup, or the like stored within a cavity  122  in the bottom portion  114 . The dial sifter  118  has at least one hole  124 , which is capable of aligning with the holes  120  in the bottom sifter  116 . Thus, a user may access the powder by at least slightly inverting the container  110  to sift the loose material through the holes  120  and  124  when they are aligned. 
     In this exemplary implementation, the surface of the bottom sifter  116  facing the dial sifter  118  has at least one raised portion  126 , which may be a co-molded thermoplastic elastomer (TPE), centrally aligned with each of the at least one sifting hole  120  in the bottom sifter  116 . The surface of the dial sifter  118  facing the bottom sifter  116  has at least one recessed depression  128  centrally aligned with each of the at least one hole  124  in the dial sifter  118 . The at least one raised portion  126  on the bottom sifter  116  is capable of engaging the at least one recessed depression  128  in the dial sifter  118 , thus aligning and maintaining alignment of the at least one hole  120  in the bottom sifter  116  with the at least one hole  124  in the dial sifter  118  while in an open position. Alternatively, the at least one raised portion  126  on the bottom sifter  116  is capable of engaging the at least one recessed depression  128  in the dial sifter  118 , thus offsetting and maintaining offset of the at least one hole  120  in the bottom sifter  116  with the at least one hole  124  in the dial sifter  118  while in a closed position. The tension associated with the engagement of the at least one raised portion  126  with the at least one recessed depression  128  is overcome by a predetermined force in order to release the engagement of the at least one raised portion  126  with the at least one recessed depression  128 , to rotate or change the position of the dial sifter  118  relative to the bottom sifter  116  during opening or closing of the container  110 . The engagement may reduce inadvertent alignment or misalignment of the dial sifter  118  and the bottom sifter  116  caused by, for example, incidental force or contact. 
     The implementation described above is exemplary only and is not intended to be limiting. For example, the at least one raised portion  126  may be provided on the dial sifter  118  and the at least one recessed depression  128  may be provided on the bottom sifter  116 . In another alternative implementation, the at least one raised portion  126  may be aligned in an offset or eccentric manner relative to the at least one sifting hole in the sifter, or with respect to the surface of the sifter. Additionally, the at least one raised portion  126  may have any shape such as a teardrop shape, an offset oval, or the like. In such an instance, the alignment and shape of the at least one recessed depression on one sifter may correspond to the alignment and shape eccentricities of the corresponding at least one raised portion on the other sifter, resulting in secure engagement of the sifters. Further, the at least one recessed depression may have a hollow cylindrical form, allowing it to securely engage with multiple possible shapes of raised portions on the opposite sifter. Moreover, the recessed depression may be provided at the end of a pedestal  129  extending axially away from the surface of the dial sifter  118 . This creates a flush contact between the dial sifter  118  and the bottom sifter  116  even if the two sifters have different surface contours. In alternate implementations, neither surface of the dial sifter  118 , or the bottom sifter  116 , nor both sifters may have a raised portion  126  or a recessed depression  128 . 
     The container  110  is provided with a mechanism to rotate the dial sifter  118  in relation to the bottom sifter  116  so that the sifting holes  120  and  124  are aligned when the container  110  is “open” to allow a user to access the powder. When the container  110  is “closed,” the sifting holes  120  and  124  are rotated out of alignment, which prevents powder from traveling from the bottom portion  114  through the bottom sifter  116  and the dial sifter  118 . In order to rotate the dial sifter  118  while opening or closing the container  110 , the dial sifter  118  has at least one axially extending cavity  130  in the surface facing away from the bottom portion  114 . The cover  112  has at least one axially protruding pin  132 , shown in  FIG. 6 , which extends into the at least one cavity  130  on the surface of the dial sifter  118 . The at least one pin  132  extends into the at least one cavity  130  during a rotation of the cover  112  to close the container. The at least one pin  132  engages with the at least one cavity  130 , thus rotating the dial sifter  118  with the rotation of the cover  112 . 
     The bottom sifter  116  is secured or fixed to the bottom portion  114  by friction, glue, threaded engagement, or other suitable means. As shown in  FIG. 1 , ribs  134  or other contoured features may additionally provide a surface for maintaining the bottom sifter  116  in the bottom portion  114 . The bottom sifter  116  is positioned to retain loose material within cavity  122 . 
     The dial sifter  118  is secured to the bottom sifter  116  by friction or other suitable means. The dial sifter  118  may additionally be secured to the bottom sifter  116  by a pin  136  protruding from the center of the surface of the dial sifter  118  facing the bottom sifter  116 . The pin  136  extends through a hole  138  in the center of the bottom sifter  116 , as shown in  FIG. 4 . The pin  136  may be have a hollow center  136   a  for convenience of manufacturing, and may have a flange, or a cap  136   b  located and/or affixed to the end of the pin  136  to secure the dial sifter  118  in place. Additionally or alternatively, one or more ribs  140  on the bottom sifter  116  may be configured to engage with one or more grooves  142  in the dial sifter  118 . The groove  142  shown in  FIG. 1  is a circular groove, gap, slot, or the like along the outer circumference of the dial sifter  118 . 
     The dial sifter  118  has a rim portion  144  that extends around the upper surface of the dial sifter  118 . At least one axial cavity  130  is positioned along the rim portion  144 . Additionally, there is a guide channel  146  positioned along the surface of the rim portion  144 , concentric to the circumference of the dial sifter  118 . The guide channel  146  intersects the at least one cavity  130 . The at least one pin  132 , which may be a polypropylene material, is configured to be axially protruding from the cover  112  to extend into the guide channel  146  when the cover  112  is positioned. During rotation of the cover  112 , the at least one pin  132  is guided along the guide channel  146  and may be in a spring-compression state caused by the deflection of the at least one pin  132  toward the cover  112  and one or more spring members  133  toward the pin  132 . In the spring-compression state, the at least one pin  132  may experience a higher level of compression than when the cover  112  is not engaged with the dial sifter  118 . Further rotation of the cover  112  allows the at least one pin  132  to encounter and engage the at least one cavity  130 , thus releasing at least a portion of the spring compression on the at least one pin  132 , extending it into the at least one cavity  130 , and rotatably securing the cover  112  directly to the dial sifter  118 . Rotation of the cover  112  thus rotates the dial sifter  118 . Additionally, the cover  112  has a threaded portion  148 , shown in  FIG. 6 , which engages with a threaded portion  150  on the bottom portion  114  of the container  110 . 
     In an exemplary implementation, the dial sifter  118  has a hollow, sloped, or concave surface  152  on the side of the dial sifter  118  facing away from the bottom sifter  116 , i.e., the surface facing upward from the bottom portion  114 . This surface  152  assists in directing powder or other material into the at least one hole  124  and, thus, into the loose material holding cavity  122 . This hollowed or sloped surface  152  reduces the amount of powder or other material above the dial sifter  118  when the container  110  is held in an upright position, such as when a user is preparing to close the container  110 . Reducing the amount of powder above the dial sifter  118  and maintaining the holes  120  and  124  in an offset configuration while the cover is closed reduces the amount of powder that may be spilled while the container  110  is closed or when the container  110  is initially opened. In other implementations, the dial sifter  118  does not have a hollow, sloped, or concave surface  152  on either side. 
     The cover  112  has a sealing layer  154  engaged with the cover  112  for pressing or touching the dial sifter  118  to further prevent the unintentional spillage of powder from the container  110 . Additionally, there may be a ring-shaped gasket  156  between the dial sifter and the bottom sifter to prevent material from leaking around the sifters. 
     As shown in  FIG. 5 , the dial sifter  118  may be provided with an elastomeric layer  158 , which may be a co-molded thermoplastic elastomer (TPE). The elastomeric layer  158  is formed on the side of the dial sifter  118  facing the bottom sifter  116  and may deform and seal any gap between the bottom sifter  116  and the dial sifter  118 , particularly in the vicinity of the holes  120  and  124 . The elastomeric layer  158  may alternatively be provided on the bottom sifter  118  on the side facing the dial sifter  118 . 
     The bottom portion  114 , bottom sifter  116 , dial sifter  118 , and cover  112  may be constructed of polypropylene, polyethylene, other plastic, glass, wood, or other suitable material and may be molded or formed according to conventional methods. The sealing layer  154  may be waxed paperboard, Teflon, or other suitable material. 
       FIGS. 7 and 8  show a variation of the container shown in  FIGS. 1-6 , in which the bottom portion has a bottom cap. More particularly, the container  710  has a bottom portion  714  which includes a container wall portion  714   a  and a bottom cap  714   b . The bottom cap  714   b  allows a user to load powder into the loose material holding cavity  722  of the container after assembling the container  710 . This is accomplished by a process of inverting the assembled container  710 , filling the bottom portion  714  with powder, and affixing the bottom cap  714   b . The bottom cap  714   b  is secured to the bottom wall portion  714   a  by friction, glue, threaded engagement, and/or other suitable engagement means. Ribs  715  may assist in maintaining engagement of the bottom cap  714   b  with bottom wall portion  714   a.    
       FIGS. 9 and 10  show a variation of the container shown in  FIGS. 7-8 , in which the sifter and bottom portion are integral and the bottom portion has a bottom cap. More particularly, the container  910  has a bottom portion  914  which includes a container wall portion  914   a , an integral sifter  916 , and a bottom cap  914   b . The bottom cap  914   b  allows a user to load powder into the loose material holding area  922  of the container after assembling the container  910 . This is accomplished by a process of inverting the assembled container  910 , filling the bottom portion  914  with powder, and affixing the bottom cap  914   b . The bottom cap  914   b  is secured to the bottom wall portion  914   a  by friction, glue, threaded engagement, and/or other suitable engagement means. Ribs  915  may assist in maintaining engagement of the bottom cap  914   b  with bottom wall portion  914   a.    
       FIG. 11  shows an exemplary process  1100  for filling a container with powder via an opening in the bottom of the container. The order in which the method is described is not intended to be construed as a limitation, and any number of the described method blocks may be combined in any order to implement the method, or an alternate method. At  1102 , the user determines whether the bottom sifter is configured as a distinct component. If the bottom sifter is determined to be a distinct component, rather than integral to the bottom portion of the container, then the distinct bottom sifter is secured to the bottom portion of the container at  1104 . At  1106 , the container is assembled by engaging the dial sifter with the bottom sifter. At  1108 , the cover is engaged with the dial sifter and the bottom portion, with the cover placed in the closed position. At  1110 , the user positions the container so that the open bottom portion faces toward a filling mechanism. The filling mechanism supplies material, such as facial powder, to the open bottom portion at  1112 . At  1114 , the bottom cap is secured to the bottom wall portion to enclose the material within the container. 
     Although details of specific implementations and embodiments are described above, such details are intended to satisfy statutory disclosure obligations rather than to limit the scope of the following claims. Thus, the claims are not limited to the specific features described above.