Abstract:
A device for containing and dispensing a product includes a housing configured to contain the product having at least one aperture formed in one end of the housing. A sealing member is provided separately from the housing and includes at least one projection on a first surface of the sealing member, wherein the at least one projection is configured to be engaged with the at least one aperture to prevent the product from being discharged from the housing through the at least one aperture.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    This invention is directed to a cap seal for an applicator configured to hold and dispense a product from the applicator. 
       DESCRIPTION OF THE RELATED ART 
       [0002]    Cosmetic products have been sold in applicators having a hollow portion, from which the product is dispensed through the hollow portion by a dispensing mechanism controlled by the user. One example of this type of applicator is a liquid lip dispensing pen. When not in use, a cover can be placed over the applicator to enclose the dispensing end of the applicator and thereby reduce undesired dispensing as well as to reduce scratches or other damage to the applicator. 
         [0003]    However, merely providing a cover over the applicator will not necessarily prevent the product from being dispensed from the applicator. For example, if the product has a low viscosity, the product can flow through the dispensing holes contained in the applicator and become trapped in the cover. As such, when the user removes the cover, the product could spill out onto the user, their clothes, the dispensing end of the applicator, or other undesirable locations. In addition to losing at least a portion of the product due to the spill, the remainder of the product could dry out due to exposure with the environment. This of course, can lead to an unacceptable product for the user. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0004]    As discussed above, a dispensing pen that can dispense a product through a series of holes can have product loss through the holes. Exemplary embodiments of this invention provide an apparatus that reduces or eliminates product that can flow through dispensing holes. 
         [0005]    Accordingly, an object of examples of embodiments of the present invention is to provide a container having a cap which addresses and/or overcomes the problems residing in the background art. According to an example disclosed herein, a cap seal is provided that reduces or prevents leakage of product from the applicator and creates an air-tight seal. By way of example, the cap seal can be a multi-seal insert. 
         [0006]    According to an example, a cap is provided that includes at least one projection to engage apertures formed at a discharging end of the product dispensing housing. By way of example, the cap can be configured to provide a seal that can accommodate varying dimensions of the discharging end of the applicator to maintain an air-tight seal. According to an example, a surface of the seal can be flexible, for example by providing a thinning of the material in and/or around a contoured surface of a seal, and/or providing a yieldable material. Such an arrangement can more reliably ensure a sealing engagement of the seal (and protrusion associated therewith) with the applicator. In addition, such an arrangement can advantageously accommodate for manufacturing variations or tolerances in the applicator, the seal and/or the cap. The seal surface can additionally, or alternatively, be a contoured surface configured to dynamically flex in order to substantially match a surface of the applicator. 
         [0007]    By way of example, at least one projection is provided on the sealing surface and are positioned to line up and engage at least one aperture provided in the dispensing end of the housing. 
         [0008]    According to an example, guiding devices are provided at one or more areas of the cap and/or seal insert. In addition, guides can be provided on the dispensing housing to facilitate alignment of the projections with the apertures when the cap is mounted on the dispensing device. 
         [0009]    As should be apparent, the invention can provide a number of advantageous features and benefits. It is to be understood that, in practicing the invention, an embodiment can be constructed to include one or more features or benefits of embodiments disclosed herein, but not others. Accordingly, it is to be understood that the preferred embodiments discussed herein are provided as examples and are not to be construed as limiting, particularly since embodiments can be formed to practice the invention that do not include each of the features of the disclosed examples. 
     
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0010]    The invention will be better understood from reading the description which follows and from examining the accompanying figures. These are provided solely as nonlimiting examples of the invention. In the drawings: 
           [0011]      FIG. 1  is a schematic cross-sectional view showing the cap seal insert in the cap according to an example of the invention; 
           [0012]      FIG. 2  is a schematic view showing an interior portion of the cap and cap seal insert according to an example of the invention; 
           [0013]      FIG. 3  is a schematic side view showing an applicator according to an example of the invention; and 
           [0014]      FIG. 4  is a schematic showing the applicator removably secured to the seal insert according to an example of an embodiment of the invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0015]    Reference will now be made in detail to the present preferred embodiments of the invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Wherever possible, the same reference characters will be used throughout the drawings to refer to the same or like parts. 
         [0016]      FIG. 1  illustrates a cross-sectional view of an example of a dynamic cap seal according to an example of the invention. The cap seal insert  10  can be configured to fit securely into and connect with a cap  5  or any other similar type structure. In order to fit with cap  5 , an end portion  9  of the cap insert  10  can be any shape or size and can have an open top or be completely enclosed, depending on, for example, design and aesthetic considerations. It should be appreciated that the cap seal insert  10  can be configured to be inserted into cap  5  as discussed above, or can be formed integrally with the cap  5  during manufacturing. Thus, while the cap seal is shown as an insert, it can be formed with the cap as one piece. 
         [0017]    The cap seal insert  10  includes a sealing surface  12  that can extend from the side wall surfaces of the insert  10  to enclose a top portion of the insert  10 . The sealing surface  12  can be any size or shape, for example circular or oval. Preferably, the surface  12  extends completely across the circumference of the insert  10 . The sealing surface  12  can also only extend across only a portion of the insert  10  and can be located at any position along the length of the insert  10 . Further, the sealing surface  12  can be formed at an angle with respect to side surfaces of the insert  10 , such as for example, at an oblique angle with respect to the side surfaces. However, it should be appreciated that the sealing surface  12  can be provided at any desirable angle at any location along a length of the cap insert  10 . For example, as shown in  FIG. 2 , if the cap insert  10  is formed in a substantially circular shape and the sealing surface  12  extends at an angle across a diameter of the insert  10 , then the sealing surface  12  will be formed in a substantially oval shape to sufficiently extend across the entire interior area of the insert  10 . Accordingly, because the cap seal insert  10  can be any desirable shape, for example a circle, square, pentagon, or oval, the sealing surface  12  can likewise be any shape in order to enclose the interior area of the cap insert  10 . 
         [0018]    As best shown in  FIG. 4 , the sealing surface  12  of the cap seal insert  10  is configured to at least substantially match a shape of a nose piece  22 . Generally, the nose piece  22  could have a flat or contoured surface. Accordingly, it should be appreciated that the area of the sealing surface  12  could be contoured or flat or have any other desirable characteristics as long at the shape substantially matches the corresponding shape of the mating surface of the nose piece  22 . Further, it should be appreciated that the different cap seal inserts  10  can be configured to be connectible to and removable from the cap  5 . For example, the different cap inserts  10  can have varying shapes, sizes, number and/or size of projections, material makeup, or any other characteristic in order to match with the characteristics of the nose piece  22 . Accordingly, the user can remove and replace the insert  10  as desired. 
         [0019]    By way of example, the sealing surface  12  can include a dynamic flex area  14  made from material having a thinner area that the material of surrounding portions of the sealing surface and/or insert  10 . That is, a cross-sectional area of the dynamic flex area  14  can be smaller than an area of the cap seal insert  10  side walls. Accordingly, the dynamic flex area  14  can include part or all of the sealing surface  12  and can be made of the same, similar, or different material than the sealing surface  12 . It should be appreciated that the thinning of the material and thus, providing a flex area  14 , could be in areas other than the sealing surface  12  in order to allow flexing and to provide desirable contact between various components of the device. Selection of a proper material, such as for example plastic, allows for the flexing and movement of the flex area  14 . In this way, the flex area  14  can contact portions of the device, such as the nosepiece  22 , in order to maintain a desirable amount contact and pressure between those components. Further, providing the dynamic flexing area  14  with the sealing surface  12  can compensate for tolerance variations that can arise due to production molds and various other factors and can help maintain contact between the surface  12  and for example, the nosepiece  22 . 
         [0020]    As shown in  FIGS. 3 and 4 , an applicator  20  of examples of embodiments of the invention, is a generally hollow structure with side walls with an end forming a nosepiece  22 . For example, the applicator  20  can be a cylindrical structure or have any other desirable shape. The hollow interior portion of the applicator  20  can be a reservoir or containing area  21  for the product to be stored and discharged from the applicator  20  through the nosepiece  22 . The product can be for example, a lip, a skin, or other type of dermatological product and can be in the form of for example, a liquid, a gel, a cream, powder and can have the consistency of, for example, a solid, pasty, semi-soft, or flowable product. The product can be introduced into the hollow portion through opening  23  formed at an end opposite to the nosepiece  22 . Associated with the applicator  20  is a discharge device, not shown, located at or near an opposite end of the applicator in order to facilitate the movement of the product out of the applicator  20  and through the discharge apertures  25  located at the nosepiece  22 . It should be appreciated that the discharge device can be any known or later developed device capable of moving product through a housing and dispensing the product to the user. 
         [0021]    When the applicator  20  and cap  5  are connected together, the nose piece  22  and at least a portion of the remainder of the applicator  20  are configured to fit into the interior of cap  5 . As an example, a ridge  28  is formed with the applicator  20  and can contact a side wall of the cap  5 . Further, a sealing bead  6  can be provided with the cap  5  or cap seal insert  10 . The sealing bead  6  can be configured to surround at least a portion of the applicator  20  in order to form an airtight seal. By way of example, the sealing bead  6  can be a raised portion of the cap  5  and/or cap seal  10  to engage an outside surface of the applicator  20 . The airtight seal can be beneficial when the product contained in the applicator  20  is a product that might evaporate, dry-out, or otherwise would have characteristics change if not for an airtight seal. 
         [0022]    A side wall area of the applicator  20 , for example at a top side of ridge  28 , can include at least one protruding portion  24 . The at least one protruding portion  24  is configured to engage with a corresponding number of protrusion receiving portions  30  formed in the seal insert  10  and/or cap  5 . Similarly, at least one additional protruding portion  24  can be located between the ridge  28  and the nose piece  22  configured to engage receiving portions  30  formed in the cap seal insert  10 . The protruding portions  24  and receiving portion  30  can guide the mating surfaces of cap  5  and cap seal insert  10  to an appropriate connection with the applicator  20 . Thus, the protruding portions  24  and receiving portions  30  can have any desirable shape, such as, a square, rectangle, triangle, or can be in the form of a clasp or snap or similar structure in order to facilitate the connection there between. It should be understood that the at least one protruding portion  24  and receiving portion  30  can be any type of structure capable of guiding and/or securely connecting the applicator  20  with the cap  5 . The guiding portions of the cap  5  and applicator could also be in the form of a marking or other visible display aiding the user with connecting the cap  5  and applicator  20 . In this way, the applicator  20  can be connected to the seal insert  10  and/or the cap  5  in an appropriate and desirable position to, for example, align projections and apertures discussed in more detail below and to prevent the applicator  20  and cap  5  from twisting or disconnecting from one another. 
         [0023]    According to an example of the invention, at least one projection  7  can be formed on the sealing surface  12  of the cap seal insert  10 . The at least one projection  7  is positioned to line up with a corresponding one of the at least one apertures  25  formed in the nosepiece  22  in order to help reduce or prevent migration of product out of the applicator  20  through the nosepiece  22 . It should be appreciated that any number of projections  7  having any desirable shape and size at any location can be formed on the sealing surface  12 . For example, a single aperture  25  can be formed at or near a center portion of the nose piece  22 . The single aperture  25  can have a smaller opening than the product containing cavity of the applicator  20 . As such, an equal number of apertures  25  can be formed having similar characteristics so that the projections  7  can enter the apertures  25 . Accordingly, at an undesirable time, for example, when a temperature of the package in at an elevated level causing the product viscosity to be lower, the at least one projection  7  of the sealing surface  12  engaging the at least one aperture  25  of the nosepiece  22 , can reduce or stop the product flow from leaving the applicator  20 . 
         [0024]    According to one or more embodiments of the invention, when the cap  5  and applicator  20  are connected together using the aide of the at least one protruding portion  24  and the at least one protrusion receiving portions  30 , the projections  7  can engage the apertures  25 . For example, the projections  7  can extend partially through the apertures  25  to effectively close off the aperture  25  and reduce or prevent product from dispensing through the aperture  25 . According to an example of the invention, the at least one projection  7  can extend completely through the aperture  25  with at least a tip end of the projection  7  entering into the hollow interior portion of the applicator  20  containing the product. Further, in accordance with another example of the invention, the at least one projection  7  can be configured to engage an outside end or exit of the aperture  25  at the outer surface of the nosepiece  22 . That is, it is not necessary for the projection  7  to enter the aperture  25  to seal the aperture  25 . Thus, it should be appreciated that, in accordance with an example of the invention, the at least one projection  7  can be configured to extend any length of the aperture  25  from an outside end to completely though the aperture  25  in order to help reduce or prevent the migration of the product out of the nose piece  22 . 
         [0025]    Accordingly, one or more embodiments of this invention described above, provide for a cap seal device configured to reduce or stop product flow as so desired, for example, during a filling of the applicator with product and while the package is stored by the user. Further, providing a seal to cover the dispensing holes reduces or eliminates the product drying out and becoming otherwise unacceptable for use by the user. As such, liquid dispensing pens that dispense a product through a series of holes can reduce or prevent product loss through the holes in accordance with various examples of the invention 
         [0026]    While exemplary embodiments of this invention have been described in conjunction with the embodiments outlined above, it is evident that many alternatives, modifications and variations will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Accordingly, the exemplary embodiments of the invention, as set forth above, are intended to be illustrative, not limiting. Various changes may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. 
         [0027]    Obviously, numerous modifications and variations of the present invention are possible in light of the above teachings. It is therefore to be understood that within the scope of the appended claims, the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described herein.