Abstract:
A liquid cosmetic product retail unit includes a container and a plurality of dispensers disposed in the container. The container is dimensioned to fit onto a shelf in a retail store and includes a base, a lid and a plurality of receptacles formed in at least one of the base and the lid. A method for offering for sale a liquid cosmetic product is also disclosed.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
       [0001]    Liquid cosmetic products, such as deodorants, antiperspirants, fragrances and the like, have been packaged in aerosol cans for many years. Typically, a large cylindrical aerosol can contains a volume of the liquid cosmetic product that is the equivalent to many applications of the product. These known aerosol cans are large in that although the can is able to fit into a medicine cabinet or similar location in a person&#39;s washroom, the can is not easily concealed in a clothing pocket or in a person&#39;s hand. This makes the application of the liquid cosmetic product noticeable by onlookers. Typically this is not a problem, since one typically applies liquid cosmetic products in the privacy of his home in either a bedroom, dressing room or bathroom. 
         [0002]    Where one wishes to apply a liquid cosmetic product in public, the fact that the aerosol can is large and contains many applications is not particularly useful if one simply wishes to discretely apply the product. In such an instance, a small aerosol dispenser may be useful, but with the limitation in size also comes a limitation in the volume of cosmetic liquid product that the dispenser can hold. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0003]    A retail unit includes a substantially cylindrical container and a plurality of dispensers disposed in the container. The substantially cylindrical container is dimensioned to fit onto a shelf in a retail store. The container includes a base, a removable lid, and a plurality of receptacles formed in at least one of the base and the lid. The lid is configured to cooperate with the base for stacking an associated container having a same configuration as the base of the container onto the lid of the container. The plurality of dispensers each containing a liquid cosmetic product are each disposed in a corresponding receptacle. 
         [0004]    A consumer product, according to another embodiment, includes a container and a plurality of substantially cylindrical dispensers each containing a cosmetic chemical product disposed in the container. The container includes a base having a plurality of receptacles and a removable lid. Each dispenser is disposed in a corresponding receptacle. The dispensers extend above an upper edge of the container when the lid is removed. 
         [0005]    According to another embodiment, a retail unit includes a plurality of liquid cosmetic product dispensers, a first tubular housing, and a second tubular housing. The first tubular housing has a side wall and a closed end. The side wall of the first housing at least substantially surrounds the plurality of dispensers. The first housing at the closed end contacts each of the dispensers. The second tubular housing also includes a side wall and a closed end. The side wall of the second housing at least substantially surrounds the plurality of dispensers and contacts the side wall of the first housing. The second housing at the closed end of the second housing contacts each of the dispensers. 
         [0006]    A method of offering for sale a cosmetic chemical composition is also disclosed. The method includes displaying a first dispenser containing a cosmetic chemical composition on a retail shelf and displaying a plurality of second dispensers containing a cosmetic chemical composition on the retail shelf adjacent the first dispenser. The second dispensers are disposed in a package having a diameter that is about equal to a diameter of the first dispenser, whereby the package with the second dispensers disposed therein occupies about the same amount of retail shelf space as the first dispenser. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES 
         [0007]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a retail unit including a plurality of dispensers each containing a cosmetic liquid product where the dispensers are disposed in a container. 
           [0008]      FIG. 2  is an exploded view of the unit disclosed in  FIG. 1 . 
           [0009]      FIG. 3  is a second perspective view of the unit disclosed in  FIG. 1 . 
           [0010]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view of the retail unit depicted in  FIG. 1  prior to nesting onto another similar retail unit. 
           [0011]      FIG. 5  is a bottom plan view of the unit depicted in  FIG. 1 . 
           [0012]      FIG. 6  is a view of the retail unit depicted in  FIG. 1  placed next to a known larger cosmetic liquid product dispenser. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0013]    A retail unit  10  generally includes a plurality of dispensers  12  each containing a cosmetic liquid product and a container  14  for the dispensers. With reference to  FIG. 2 , each dispenser  12  includes an aerosol can  16 , an actuator button  18  and a locking ring  20 . The dispensers  12  contain a liquid cosmetic product, such as hairspray, body spray, deodorant, antiperspirant, fragrances including cologne and perfume, that is selectively dispensed by a user of the dispenser. In the depicted embodiment, each dispenser  12  has an internal free volume of between about 5 mL and about 15 mL. Examples of such dispensers depicted in  FIG. 2  are more fully described in an application entitled “Pocket Sized Fluid Dispenser,” which is assigned to the assignee of this invention and has been filed concurrently herewith. The aforementioned application is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. 
         [0014]    Generally, each dispenser  12  is a small capless aerosol-type dispenser that can be easily hidden in the palm of one&#39;s hand. The liquid cosmetic product can then be quickly dispensed in a discrete manner and then placed into the person&#39;s pocket. Because the dispenser does not include a cap that covers the fluid outlet of the dispenser, the locking ring  20  cooperates with the actuator button  18  so that the liquid cosmetic product is not accidentally dispensed, for example in a person&#39;s clothing pocket. The locking ring  20  rotates with respect to the can  16  between a locked position where it precludes the button  18  from moving and dispensing product to an unlocked position that allows the button to move to dispense product. 
         [0015]    With reference back to  FIG. 1 , the container  14  houses the plurality of dispensers  12 . In the embodiment depicted in  FIG. 1 , the container  14  is generally cylindrical in configuration and is transparent. In alternative embodiments the container may have a non-cylindrical or non-circular configuration. Moreover, the container may be translucent, opaque, or opaque including a transparent window. The container  14  provides a means for conveniently providing a plurality of small, easily concealable, dispensers to a consumer in lieu of a single large dispenser that cannot be easily concealed. The dispensers  12  are arranged in the container  14  in a generally vertical orientation. A longitudinal axis of each dispenser  12 , the longitudinal axis being along the dispenser&#39;s greatest dimension, is aligned generally parallel with a longitudinal axis of the container  14 , the longitudinal axis being along the container&#39;s greatest dimension. Moreover, the longitudinal axis of each dispenser  12  is equidistantly radially spaced from the central axis of the container  14 . 
         [0016]    With reference back to  FIG. 2 , the container  14  holds the plurality of dispensers  12  and is sold along with the dispensers as part of a retail unit. The container in the depicted embodiment has a diameter of between about 40 mm and about 65 mm in one embodiment. In another embodiment, the container  14  has a diameter of between about 50 mm and about 55 mm. The container  14  generally includes an upper housing  32 , which can also be referred to a lid, and a lower housing  34 , which can also be referred to as a base. The lid  32  is removable from the base  34  in the depicted embodiment, the lid  32  slides over the base  34 . Alternatively, the lid  32  can slide into the base. Also, the lid  32  can simply move with respect to the base  34  to provide access to the inside of the container  14 . 
         [0017]    The lid  32  includes a generally cylindrical side wall  40  that defines a lower (per the orientation depicted in  FIG. 2 ) open end  42 . The lid  32  also includes a closed end  44 . An outer annular wall  46  extends radially inwardly from the cylindrical side wall  40  at the closed upper end  44  of the lid  32 . A cylindrical inner wall  48  depends downwardly from the outer annular wall  46  to generally define an outer radial surface of a stacking indentation  52 . An inner annular wall  54  extends radially inwardly from the circular side wall  48  and is axially spaced from the outer annular wall  46  a distance along a symmetrical axis of the container. A cross-shaped indexing indentation  56  spans the area disposed inside the inner annular wall  54  and defines a plurality (four in the depicted embodiment) of pie-shaped protrusions  58  that extend upwardly in an axial direction from the cross-shaped indexing indentation  56 . Each pie-shaped protrusion is defined by a planar upper surface  62  that resides in a plane that is generally parallel to a plane in which the outer annular wall  46  resides. Each pie-shaped protrusion also includes planar side walls  64  and  66  formed by the cross-shaped indentation  56  that intersect one another at a right angle near a central axis of the container and a curved outer surface that generally follows a radius that the outer annular wall  46  follows. Each pie-shaped protrusion corresponds to a pie-shaped receptacle  68  formed in the lid  32 . The receptacles and protrusions formed in the lid can take other configurations without departing from the scope of the invention. 
         [0018]    The base  34  includes a generally cylindrical side wall  80  defining an open upper end  82 . The base also includes a lower (per the orientation of  FIG. 2 ) closed end  84 . A circular indentation  86  extends inwardly toward the central axis of the container  14  and is disposed about the periphery of the cylindrical side wall  80 . The indentation  86  is axially spaced from the closed end  84 . The indentation  86  is used to retain a paper label pressed against the side wall  80  and inserted between the indentation and the closed end  84 . 
         [0019]    With reference to  FIG. 3 , the base also includes a base wall  90  enclosing the closed end  84 . The base wall  90  is generally circular and planar in configuration. A plurality of circular protrusions  92  extend outwardly in an axial direction from the base wall  90 . Each protrusion  92  corresponds to a circular receptacle  94  formed inside the base  34 . Each receptacle is configured to snugly receive a corresponding dispenser  12 , e.g. via a friction fit where the receptacle maintains the dispenser in a generally vertical orientation. With reference back to  FIG. 3 , generally rectangular protrusions  96  also extend from the base wall  90  in the same general direction as the cylindrical protrusions  92 . The generally rectangular protrusions  96  interconnect adjacent cylindrical protrusions. 
         [0020]    With dispensers  12  packaged in the container  10 , the assembly comprises a compact retail unit that can be displayed on a retail shelf. Four dispensers  12  are shown in the retail unit  10 , but a fewer or greater number can be provided. The dispensers  12  are packaged so that a lower end of each dispenser contacts the base  34  of the container by being received in a corresponding lower receptacle  94  and also contacts the lid  32  of the container by being received in a corresponding upper receptacle  68 . The cross-shaped indentation  56  that defines the upper receptacles  68  inhibits the actuator buttons  18  from contacting one another during shipment of the retail unit. Also, when the container is shrink wrapped or the lid  32  is adhered to or held in place with respect to the base  34 , the dispensers  12  are contained axially with respect to the container. Accordingly, the retail unit can also include a shrink wrap at least partially surrounding the container  14 . 
         [0021]    The dimensions of the container  14  and the dispensers  12  are such that the dispensers can be easily removed from and nicely held in the base  34  after the lid  32  has been removed. The receptacles  94  in the base  34  are configured to snugly receive each dispenser so that the dispensers maintain a generally vertical orientation when disposed in a respective receptacle. The dispensers have a height d 1  that is greater than a height d 2  of the base  34  of the container. Accordingly, a portion of each dispenser  12  extends above the open end  82  of the base  34  when the lid  32  has been removed so that the dispensers can be easily removed from the base when the lid has been removed from the base. This provides a useful means for storing the dispensers in a medicine cabinet or the like without the need for the lid  32 . 
         [0022]    The lid  32  has a height d 3  that is greater than d 2  and less than d 1 . As more clearly seen in  FIG. 1 , the lid  32  is configured to be received over the base  34  such that the cylindrical side wall  40  of the lid contacts the cylindrical side wall  80  of the base. This allows the side walls  40  and  80  to reinforce one another which allows the container to be made from a thin plastic material reducing its weight and cost as well as the amount of material required to make the container thus reducing the environmental impact. 
         [0023]    The containers  14  that hold the dispensers  12  are also configured to allow for vertical stacking and nesting of the retail units  10 . With reference to  FIG. 4 , two retail units  10  are disclosed that are about to be stacked and nested upon one another. The stacking indentation  52  in the lid  32  of the lower container (as per the orientation in  FIG. 4 ) is configured to receive the protrusions  92  that extend downwardly from the base  34  of the upper container (as per the orientation in  FIG. 4 ). With reference to  FIG. 5 , which shows a bottom plan view of the retail unit  10 , the protrusions  92  are circumscribed by a circle having a diameter that is slightly larger than the indentation  52  in the lid so that the protrusions fit snugly into the indentation of a lid of the container disposed beneath it. In other words, a segment of each protrusion  92  contacts a respective segment of the cylindrical side wall  48  that defines the stacking indentation  52  of the container beneath it. 
         [0024]    With reference to  FIG. 6 , the retail unit  10  including the plurality of dispensers each containing a liquid cosmetic product can be sold side by side with a larger dispenser D also containing the same or similar liquid cosmetic product. The diameter of the container holding the dispensers  12  can have the same or very similar diameter to the larger dispenser D so that the retail unit  10  having the plurality of dispensers occupies the same amount of retail shelf space as the larger dispenser. The dispensers  12  that are placed in the container are vertically oriented, as is the larger dispenser D. If desired, the containers  14  that are containing the plurality of dispensers  12  can also be vertically stacked and/or nested on top of one another on the retail shelf. Alternatively, the containers having the plurality of dispensers can simply be nested when being shipped to the retailer and then removed from the nesting configuration prior to being displayed on the retail shelf. 
         [0025]    A retail unit including a plurality of dispensers each containing a liquid cosmetic product has been described in detail. Modifications and alterations to the depicted embodiment will occur to those upon reading and understanding of the detailed description. The invention is not limited to only those embodiments that have been shown and/or described. Instead, the invention is broadly defined by the appended claims.