Abstract:
The present invention generally relates to containers for powder products. The present invention described herein relates to a container capable of generating powder in loose form.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    This application claims benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 61/237,285, filed Aug. 26, 2009, which is incorporated by reference in its entirety. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0003]    Embodiments of the present invention generally relate to a container for powder products. The present invention described herein relates to a container capable of generating powder in loose form. 
         [0004]    The container of the present invention can be used to store a wide variety of powder cosmetic products. 
         [0005]    2. Description of the Related Art 
         [0006]    The cosmetic industry generally uses cosmetic containers to store cosmetic compositions. A conventional case has a base and a cover which is pivotally attached to the base in which is provided a receptacle to receive the cosmetic product therein. Powder cosmetic products are an important class of cosmetics which find application in a plurality of cosmetic uses. Generally these are available in two forms either pressed or loose. Loose powder and pressed powder can be used on different occasions and times. The loose powder is usually used when applying for the first time. The pressed powder is good when re-application of make-up is required or for just doing the touch-ups later on. Loose powder containers are generally bulkier while the pressed powder containers are available in a compact form. The biggest disadvantage with loose powder is the fact that it can be quite messy and the user can not carry it in her make-up case or purse. Since loose powder is not easy to carry, the user generally uses loose form at home before going out and carries the pressed powder with her for use during the day. A pressed powder compact is easy to carry around without fear of destroying your pocketbook or spilling the powder. As is evident, there is a place for both pressed powder and loose powder in a woman&#39;s make-up collection. Working together, they give a quick and convenient way to subtly enhance complexion. 
         [0007]    There have been attempts at making the container portable and at the same time make loose powder available to the user as per convenience. There are available pressed powder compacts that convert pressed to loose powder. Great Britain Patent No. 2,236,673 to Lir France discloses a powder compact containing a compacted powder receiving base, a lid and a scraper movable relative to the base for producing free loose powder. 
         [0008]    However, the above container is inconvenient to the user as the user is unable to get a clue of the product getting finished. As the scraper always remains at a fixed position the user may keep rotating the scraper to get loose powder without knowing that the product below has finished. 
         [0009]    Therefore it is desirable that there is available a container for generating loose powder that can give an indication to the user of the amount of the product remaining as the product is utilized. 
         [0010]    Therefore, there is a need for a container that provides efficient conversion of pressed powder to produce loose powder. There is also a need for a container for generating loose powder that can give an indication to the user of the amount of the product remaining as the product is utilized. Further, it is also desirable that the container is portable and provides a cleaner and user-friendly interface to reveal the products stored therein. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0011]    The present invention generally relates to containers for powder products. The present invention described herein relates to a container capable of generating powder in loose form. 
         [0012]    According to an embodiment of the invention there is provided a container that is compact in form that can be easily carried in purse and at the same time gives the user freshly milled loose powder as per the convenience and requirement of the user. 
         [0013]    According to yet another embodiment of the invention there is provided a container that converts the pressed powder to loose powder efficiently and provides full evacuation of the product. The container of present invention is easy-to-use and does not create mess for the user. 
         [0014]    According to yet another embodiment of the invention there is provided a container for powder products capable of generating loose powder as per the convenience of the user. There is also provided a container that gives an indication of the amount of product remaining in the container to the user as the product gets utilized. 
         [0015]    According to yet another embodiment of the present invention there is provided a cosmetic container having an axially travel down scraper system which allows the visual indication of the amount of product remaining in the cosmetic container. 
         [0016]    According to yet another embodiment of the invention there is provided a container that is compact in form that can be easily carried in purse and at the same time gives the user freshly milled loose powder as per the convenience and requirement of the user. The container is easy-to-use and does not create mess for the user. 
         [0017]    According to yet another embodiment of the invention the container for generating loose powder comprises a base, a cover and a scraper. The base and cover are connected by a suitable attachment means in a manner permitting their relative movement with respect to one another to open and close the container. The attachment means may comprise a hinge, a snap, a hook, a screw, a magnet or any suitable means. In an alternative embodiment of the invention, the inside surface of the cover may be provided with a reflector such as a mirror. The base may comprise of a lower base and an upper base, said lower and upper base being rotatably connected to each other. The lower base houses a receptacle for storing the powder product. The upper base houses the axially travel down scraper system, said scraper system comprising a scraper and a biasing means. The scraper and the biasing means are so arranged that the scraper remains biased towards the receptacle. Further, the receptacle remains at a static position in the lower base while the scraper in the upper base is arranged to be axially movable while its rotational movement with respect to the upper base is restricted. 
         [0018]    According to yet another embodiment of the present invention a locking means is provided in the cover and base to prevent opening of container when not in use. The locking means may comprise of a fastener piece on the cover that matches a fastener unit on the base for securing purpose. Further, a snap, a magnet or a button or any suitable locking means could be provided to secure the container. 
         [0019]    In accordance with yet another embodiment of the invention there may be provided a scraper holder for holding the scraper in place. The scraper holder is then arranged to be axially movable while its rotational movement with respect to the upper base is restricted. Also, alternatively a receptacle holder may be provided to keep the receptacle in place. Furthermore, according to an alternative embodiment the lower base may be so configured to allow the receptacle to be replaced, thereby making the container refillable. 
         [0020]    In accordance with yet another embodiment of the invention the scraper aids in milling of the pressed powder product contained in the receptacle. The scraper has a suitable scraping profile on it wherein the profile may be a projection, a blade, a tooth or any other suitable profile. Further, the scraper may have any suitable shape and may occupy at least a section of the base for scraping the pressed product. The scraper may have any suitable cross-section and profile. 
         [0021]    According to yet another embodiment of the invention, during operation, the user rotates the lower base with respect to the upper base which causes the scraping of the pressed powder in the receptacle by the scraper. As the scraper is always biased towards the receptacle while the receptacle is static in the lower base, the scraper moves axially downwards as the product level in the receptacle goes down thereby indicating to the user the amount of product remaining in the container post-usage. 
         [0022]    In accordance with yet another embodiment of the invention the cover and the lower base are so arranged as to restrict the relative movement of the upper and lower base in closed condition of the container. The cover and the lower base may be provided with a suitable locking arrangement to lock the lower base from being rotated while the container is closed. The locking arrangement may comprise of complementary profiles on the cover and the lower base that get engaged when the container is closed thereby restricting the movement of the lower base with respect to the upper base. 
         [0023]    According to yet another embodiment of the invention the base may also serve as a guiding tool with mark indicia providing additional information about the amount of product remaining in the container to the consumers. For example, the mark indicia may be present on the inner surface of upper base and may help in identification of the percentage of product remaining in the container depending on the position of the scraper. 
         [0024]    In accordance with another embodiment of the invention the container for generating loose powder may be made to be airtight. 
         [0025]    In accordance with another embodiment of the invention the container may be of any shape such as square, rectangular, circular polygonal or any suitable shape, such that the cover and the base having identical configuration of varying depths. 
         [0026]    These and further aspects which will be apparent to the expert of the art are attained by a container for powder products in accordance with the main claim. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0027]    So that the manner in which the above recited features of the present invention can be understood in detail, a more particular description of the invention, briefly summarized above, may be had by reference to embodiments, some of which are illustrated in the appended drawings. It is to be noted, however, that the appended drawings illustrate only typical embodiments of this invention and are therefore not to be considered limiting of its scope, for the invention may admit to other equally effective embodiments. 
           [0028]      FIG. 1  illustrates the perspective view of a container for generating loose powder in a closed position according to one embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0029]      FIG. 2  illustrates an exploded view of the container of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0030]      FIG. 3  illustrates a perspective view of the container of  FIG. 1  in an open position; 
           [0031]      FIG. 4  illustrates a cross sectional view of the container of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0032]      FIG. 5   a ,  5   b ,  5   c  illustrate the cross sectional view of the container showing the downward movement of the scraper member as the product is being utilized; 
           [0033]      FIG. 6  illustrates a partial sectional view of container of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0034]      FIG. 7  illustrates a partial sectional view of container of  FIG. 3 ; 
       
    
    
       [0035]    To facilitate understanding, identical reference numerals have been used, where possible, to designate identical elements that are common to the figures. It is to be noted, however, that the appended drawings illustrate only typical embodiments of this invention and are therefore not to be considered limiting of its scope, for the invention may admit to other equally effective embodiments. 
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0036]      FIG. 1  shows one embodiment of the present invention illustrating the perspective view of a container  200  in a closed storage position. As illustrated in  FIGS. 1 ,  2 ,  3  and  4 , the container  200  comprises a base  210  and a cover  215 . The base  210  and cover  215  are connected by an attachment means  225  in a manner permitting their relative movement with respect to one another to open and close the container  200 . The attachment means  225  may comprise a hinge, a snap, a hook, a screw, a magnet or any suitable means. In an alternative embodiment of the invention, the inside surface of the cover  215  may be provided with a reflector such as a mirror. The base  210  may comprise a lower base  210   a  and an upper base  210   b . The lower base  210   a  and the upper base  210   b  are rotatably connected to each other. The lower base  210   a  houses a receptacle  230  for storing the powder product. Further, alternatively a receptacle holder may be provided to keep the receptacle  230  in place. Furthermore, according to an alternative embodiment the lower base  210   a  may be so configured to allow the receptacle  230  to be replaced, thereby making the container  200  refillable. 
         [0037]    As shown in  FIGS. 2 ,  3  and  4 , the upper base  210   b  houses an axially travel down scraper system, said system comprises a scraper  220  and a biasing means  235 . The biasing means  235  may comprise of but is not limited to a spring, a bellow, a sponge, and any other suitable biasing means. The scraper  220  and the biasing means  235  are so arranged that the scraper  220  remains biased towards the receptacle  230 . Further, the receptacle  230  remains at a static position in the lower base  210   a  while the scraper  220  in the upper base  210   b  is arranged to be axially movable while its rotational movement with respect to the upper base  210   b  is restricted. Further, there is provided a scraper holder  245  for holding the scraper  220  in place. The scraper holder  245  is then arranged to be axially movable while its rotational movement with respect to the upper base  210   b  is restricted. The scraper  220  aids in milling of the pressed powder product contained in the receptacle  230 . The scraper  220  has a suitable scraping profile on it wherein the profile may be a projection, a blade, a tooth or any other suitable profile. The size and density of the scraping profiles may vary but are kept sufficient enough to produce required loose form of the powder. Further, the scraper  220  may have any suitable shape and may occupy at least a section of the upper base  210   b  for scraping the pressed product. The scraper  220  may have any suitable cross-section and profile. 
         [0038]    As shown in  FIG. 3 , a locking means  240  is provided in the cover  215  and base  210  to prevent opening of container  200  when not in use. The locking means  240  comprises of a fastener piece  240   a  on the cover  215  that matches a fastener unit  240   b  on the base  210  for securing purpose. Further, a snap, a magnet or a button or any suitable locking means may be provided to secure the container  200 . 
         [0039]    The  FIGS. 5   a ,  5   b  and  5   c  depict the movement of the scraper  220  axially downwards as the product is utilized in the container  200 . During operation, the user rotates the lower base  210   a  with respect to the upper base  210   b  which causes the milling of the pressed powder in the receptacle  230  by the scraper  220 . As the scraper  220  is always biased towards the receptacle  230  while the receptacle  230  is static in the lower base  210   a , the scraper  220  moves axially downwards as the product level in the receptacle  230  goes down thereby indicating to the user the amount of product remaining in the container  200  post-usage.  FIG. 5   a  shows the initial position of the scraper  220  when the container is filled with the product,  FIG. 5   b  shows the downward displacement of the scraper  220  as the product is utilized while  FIG. 5   c  shows the scraper  220  touching the base  210  when the product has been finished. 
         [0040]    As illustrated by  FIG. 6  the cover  215  and the lower base  210   a  are provided with a locking arrangement  250  as to restrict the relative movement of the upper  210   b  and lower base  210   a  in closed condition of the container  200 . The cover  215  and the lower base  210   a  are provided with complementary profiles  250   a  and  250   b  on the cover  215  and the lower base  210   a  respectively that get engaged when the container  200  is closed thereby restricting the movement of the lower base  210   a  with respect to the upper base  210   b . The complementary profiles  250   a  and  250   b  on the cover  215  and the lower base  210   a  are shown to be a toothed profile however any suitable profiles may be provided that get engaged when the container is closed thereby restricting the movement of the lower base with respect to the upper base. The locking arrangement  250  to lock the lower base  210   a  from being rotated while the container  200  is closed may comprise of any other suitable arrangement as well. 
         [0041]    As illustrated by  FIG. 7 , the complementary profiles  250   a  and  250   b  on the cover  215  and the lower base  210   a  get disengaged when the container  200  is opened, thereby making the lower base  210   a  available for rotation with respect to the upper base  210   b  for generating loose powder. 
         [0042]    The base  210  of the container  200  may also serve as a guiding tool with mark indicia providing additional information about the amount of product remaining in the container to the consumers as the scraper moves axially downwards in the container. The mark indicia may be present at any suitable surface of the base. For example, the mark indicia could help in identification of the percentage of product remaining in the container depending on the position of the scraper. 
         [0043]    All the components of the container  200  may be fabricated in a generally conventional manner using any suitable polymer material such as ABS, SAN, etc while any reflective material could be used as mirror. The material for biasing means and scraper may be any metal or any other suitable polymeric material. 
         [0044]    The container  200  may be of any shape such as square, rectangular, circular, polygonal or any suitable shape, such that the cover  215  and the base  210  having identical configuration of varying depths. 
         [0045]    While the foregoing is directed to embodiments of the present invention, other and further embodiments of the invention may be devised without departing from the basic scope thereof, and the scope thereof is determined by the claims that follow.