Abstract:
A combination lipstick and breath freshener barrel dispenser accommodates both lipstick and breath fresheners therein. A single tubular lipstick dispenser includes a hollow cap housing closing the lipstick barrel, wherein the cap separately dispenses breath freshener therefrom, such as mint tablets or dissolvable wafer film strips. The dispenser may include a miniature version of pump spray or aerosol propelled breath spray with integral dispensing cap, or a flexible liquid dispenser which attaches to the end of a standard lipstick cover. Alternatively, the cap may be a further cap upon the lipstick barrel cap, and may alternatively dispense a cosmetic cake block, such as lip gloss or lip balm therefrom.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]    This application is based in part upon provisional patent application serial No. 60/450,387, filed Feb. 26, 2003, and claims benefit under 35 USC 119(e) therefrom. 
     
    
     
       FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    The present invention relates to a combination lipstick and breath freshener barrel accommodating both lipstick and breath fresheners therein.  
         BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0003]    There are five distinctly different breath freshener types and/or dispensers in common use. The first type is breath mints as exemplified by TIC-TAC® lime mints distributed by Ferraro U.S.A. Inc. of Somerset, N.J. Another type is non-aerosol breath freshener spray with a pump dispenser as represented by SWEET BREATH® from Health Tech, Inc. of Totowa, N.J. A similar product using an aerosol dispenser is BINACA® peppermint breath spray as distributed by Playtex Products, Inc. of Dover, Del. Another type is breath drops, in a liquid such as SWEET BREATH® peppermint drops also distributed by Health Tech. Another type of breath freshener is a paper-thin strip, which dissolves on the tongue. One popular type is LISTERINE® POCKETPAKS™ as distributed by Warner-Lambert Consumer Healthcare of Morris Plains, N.J.  
           [0004]    Among related patents include U.S. Pat. No. 5,499,747 of Quennessen, dated Mar. 19, 1996, which describes a tubular breath freshener which uses a tubular lipstick-type barrel as a template prototype configured carrier structure to accommodate a vial of dispensable breath freshener therein. However, Quennessen &#39;747 does not suggest or describe dispensing both lipstick and breath freshener from a single, capped barrel.  
           [0005]    In addition, U.S. Patent Publication No. 2002/0162355 A1 of Andersen, dated Nov. 7, 2002, describes a fashion bracelet which includes a shallow make-up compact-shaped carrier, which is mounted upon a bracelet strap, for storing two separate tubular objects therein, such as a lipstick barrel and a breath freshener dispenser. But Andersen &#39;355 does not suggest or describe a single tubular lipstick dispenser, which includes a cap separately dispensing breath freshener therefrom.  
         OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION  
         [0006]    It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a single tubular lipstick dispenser which includes a cap closing the lipstick barrel, wherein the cap separately dispenses breath freshener therefrom.  
           [0007]    It is also an object of the present invention to provide a lipstick dispenser with a cap, wherein the cap separately dispenses cosmetic cake blocks, such as lip gloss, lip balm or lip protector medications, such as CHAPSTICK®, therefrom.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0008]    In keeping with the aforementioned objects and others, which may become apparent, the present invention integrates an example of each type of breath freshener with a lipstick dispenser for convenient use.  
           [0009]    Several embodiments are described in this invention. The first embodiment uses a modified lipstick cover cap, which is longer than the normal type to create a compartment for the housing and easy dispensing of breath freshener tablets, such as breath mints. Eight to twelve breath mints, or more depending upon the size of the breath mints and the storage capacity of the compartment, can be conveniently carried this way.  
           [0010]    Another embodiment is similar to the function of the first type, but it is an accessory compartment that is attached by friction fit to a standard lipstick cover.  
           [0011]    Yet another embodiment of this invention uses either an elongated lipstick cap or an attachable accessory to create a compartment for receiving a miniature version of pump spray or aerosol propelled breath spray with integral dispensing cap.  
           [0012]    Another embodiment of this invention is configured as a squeezable flexible liquid dispenser which attaches to the end of a standard lipstick cover. By pulling it off the lipstick cap, unscrewing the cap, and squeezing the body of the dispenser, a drop or two of liquid breath freshener is dispensed onto the user&#39;s tongue.  
           [0013]    Additionally, the most compact breath freshener dispenser embodiment is for dispensing breath freshener wafer film strips which are either stored in a stacked configuration within the dispenser, or which are stored in an annular space created around the periphery of a standard lipstick cap.  
           [0014]    Finally, instead of dispensing various breath fresheners, the cap dispenser can dispense cosmetic cake blocks, such as lip gloss, lip balm or lip medications, such as CHAPSTICK®, therefrom. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0015]    The present invention can best be understood in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:  
         [0016]    [0016]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a breath freshener dispenser of this invention housed in an elongated lipstick cover cap;  
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 2 is a side crossectional view of the breath freshener dispenser of FIG. 1 showing breath mints within;  
         [0018]    [0018]FIG. 3 is a top view of the dispenser of FIGS. 1 and 2 showing the method of operation of the dispenser cover;  
         [0019]    [0019]FIG. 4 is a perspective view of an alternate embodiment of breath mint dispenser configured as an accessory compartment that attaches to a standard lipstick cap;  
         [0020]    [0020]FIG. 5 is a side elevation of a lipstick dispenser for breath sprays which attaches to the cover cap of a lipstick;  
         [0021]    [0021]FIG. 6 is a side elevation of a lipstick dispenser for liquid breath drops which attaches to the cover cap of a lipstick;  
         [0022]    [0022]FIG. 7 is a perspective view of an alternate embodiment which is used to house breath strips in an annular space around a standard lipstick cap;  
         [0023]    [0023]FIG. 8 is a side crossectional view of the breath freshener dispenser of FIG. 7;  
         [0024]    [0024]FIG. 9 is a top view with cap removed of the dispenser for breath strips shown in FIG. 7;  
         [0025]    [0025]FIG. 10 is a side elevation of a preferred embodiment for attaching a spray type breath freshener to a lipstick;  
         [0026]    [0026]FIG. 11 is a perspective view of an alternate embodiment for a cap dispenser which is retrofitted over a lipstick barrel;  
         [0027]    [0027]FIG. 12 is an exploded view thereof;  
         [0028]    [0028]FIG. 13 is a close up perspective view of the cap dispenser;  
         [0029]    [0029]FIGS. 14 and 15 are crossectional side views of alternate embodiments for cap dispensers for breath freshener tablets and wafer films respectively;  
         [0030]    [0030]FIG. 16 is a partial crossectional side view of an alternate embodiment for a cap dispenser having a cosmetic cake block therein, with a height adjustment washer therein;  
         [0031]    [0031]FIG. 17 is a partial crossectional side view thereof, further illustrating manual raising of the cosmetic cake block;  
         [0032]    [0032]FIG. 18 is a top plan view thereof, further illustrating the manual raising of the cosmetic cake block;  
         [0033]    [0033]FIG. 19 is a perspective diagrammatic view in partial crossection of the height adjustment washer and its relation to the cap dispenser interior;  
         [0034]    [0034]FIG. 20 is an enlarged close-up top plan view of the guide keying of the height adjustment washer, preventing rotation thereof;  
         [0035]    [0035]FIG. 21 is an enlarged diagrammatic close up view, shown in partial crossection, depicting the protruding attachment of a further slidable height adjustment member, engageable with the cosmetic cake block of FIGS. 16 and 17; and,  
         [0036]    [0036]FIG. 22 is an exterior elevational view of the sliding means of the further height adjustment member as in FIG. 21. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0037]    The following embodiments are meant to be illustrative of the present invention, which make disclose further embodiments, known to those skilled in the art, in connection with the novel features as described herein.  
         [0038]    For example, breath freshener dispenser  20  shown in FIG. 1 is integrated with standard lipstick  25  with actuator ring  23 . It is housed in elongated lipstick cover/cap  21  with access cap  22 .  
         [0039]    [0039]FIG. 2 shows breath mints  30 , such as TIC TAC® tablets, housed in upper compartment  32 , with cap  22  and wall  26  that isolates the lipstick compartment from the mint  30  compartment.  
         [0040]    As shown in FIG. 3, cover  22  is attached to wall ridge  33  via pin  24  which permits cover  22  to rotate with respect to cap  21 . Cover  22  has one or more nibs  28  which protrude slightly downward to engage the inner wall of compartment  32  to lock in a closed position. By pushing sideways on cover  22  to overcome resistance from each nib  28 , it can be opened a small amount to conveniently discharge a single breath mint, or it can be swung open, as in FIG. 3, to permit easy replenishment of breath mints from a purchased container.  
         [0041]    Other openable covers may be applicable to cover dispenser  21 , as hinged covers (not shown), or friction fit covers, such as shown in FIG. 11- 13 , wherein cap dispenser  80  fits by friction fit upon lipstick barrel cap  81 , or as shown in FIG. 8 herein, wherein cover cap  62  fits upon housing  61 .  
         [0042]    An alternate embodiment  36  shown in FIG. 4 implements the breath mint dispenser as an accessory that attaches to standard lipstick cover/cap  37  via a friction fit of housing  38  over cap  37 . This can be aided by a well known technique using molded axial ridges on the internal coupling recess (not shown) of housing  38 .  
         [0043]    [0043]FIG. 5 shown another embodiment of breath freshener dispenser  40  which will accommodate either a pump spray or aerosol spray breath spray insert  41 . Although illustrated as an accessory which attaches by friction fit (at recess  43 ) to standard lipstick cap  37 , dispenser  40  can be integrated into an elongated lipstick cover/cap similar to item  21  in FIG. 1. Compartment  44  has internal ribs (not shown) which grasp insert  41  by friction fit. Insert  41  is a shortened version of the commercially available type of container for non-aerosol or aerosol (pressurized) breath liquid. Dome cap  42  is attached to the discharge valve/nozzle such that a force P exerted on cap  42  will discharge breath freshener through the discharge orifice shown on the side of cap  42 . When depleted, a full insert  41  is substituted for the depleted one. Cap  42  can either be an integral part of the disposable insert  41 , or it can attach to the nozzle by force fit and thereby be transferred from insert to insert.  
         [0044]    [0044]FIG. 6 shows yet another embodiment of breath freshener attached to a lipstick. This one dispenses breath drops which are highly concentrated as compared to breath sprays.  
         [0045]    Therefore, as shown in FIG. 6, dispenser  50  can be somewhat shorter than spray embodiment  40  since less volume is required. Dispenser  50  is designed to be attached by friction fit to the end of a standard cover/cap  37 . For ergonomic reasons, it is not desirable to integrate dispenser  50  with an elongated cover/cap since it is more convenient to disassociate dispenser  50  (at recess  53 ) from lipstick cover  37  prior to use. Also, housing  52  should be molded of resilient material such that it can be easily squeezed at points A to discharge one or two drops onto the user&#39;s tongue. Cap  51  screws onto nozzle extension  54  at threads  55 . The operation for use is simply to pull off dispenser  50  from cap  37 , unscrew cap  51 , and squeeze.  
         [0046]    [0046]FIG. 7 shows a dispenser  60  of breath strips attached to standard lipstick cover/cap  37 . Since the volume of each breath strip is negligible, it is not surprising that this embodiment is most compact. This dispenser minimally increases the length of the lipstick and barely increases its diameter beyond operating ring  23 .  
         [0047]    Breath strips  64  (as in FIGS. 8 and 9) are easily wrapped around the outer periphery of cap  37  and stored in annular space  63  formed by housing  61  which attaches to cover  37  via a friction fit ring at its base. Since they extend above the upper edge of housing  61 , they can be easily inserted and retrieved from recess  63  when cap  62  is removed. A typical breath wafer strip  64  is tissue paper thin and measures about 0.8″ by 1.2″ (21 by 31 mm). Since it is wrapped around cap  37  lengthwise, it would fit as shown in FIG. 8. Strips  64  can be easily transferred from a purchased container to recess  63  for replenishing.  
         [0048]    Alternatively, breath wafer strips can be stacked within a cap dispenser, as shown in FIG. 15 herein.  
         [0049]    In two additional embodiments of lipstick dispensers for spray type breath fresheners, two different approaches to preventing possible accidental discharge in purse or pocket are described. The first embodiment involves the removal of the discharge orifice from cap  42  as shown in FIG. 5. Cap  42  is then redesigned into an overcap (same outer shape otherwise) for a discharge nozzle which is integral with insert  41 . Cap  42  will then have a friction fit on the outer surface of the housing of dispenser  40 . Modified cap  42 , in this embodiment, would be removed to gain access to the nozzle atop insert  41 .  
         [0050]    [0050]FIG. 10 shows a preferred alternate embodiment, which retains discharge through cap  72  at orifice  73 . Cap  72  is integral with insert  41  within. Housing  71  has one or more pegs  74  (one shown) protruding from opposite sides. These engage one or more stepped cutouts  77  on the sides of cap  72 . By rotating cap  72  slightly clockwise such that pegs  74  touch limit stop wall  75 , cap  72  is prevented from moving when force P is applied. This is the lock position for storage. By rotating cap  72  slightly counterclockwise so that pegs  74  touch “unlocked” limit wall  76 , cap  72  is free to move downward relative to housing  71  thereby discharging a spray of breath freshener from insert container  41  within.  
         [0051]    [0051]FIGS. 11 and 12 show a further embodiment for a cap dispenser  80  which can be retrofitted over an existing lipstick barrel cap  81  of an existing cylindrical lipstick barrel  82 . Cap dispenser  80  can be opened at a top thereof by any means, however, preferably slidable top  83  is used, similar to slidable top  22  of FIG. 3 herein. As shown in FIG. 13, cap dispenser  80  preferably has interior friction fit members  84  for fixation upon existing lipstick barrel cap  81 . Although other friction fit means may be applied, such as a texturized interior wall, in FIG. 13, there is shown three equidistant, longitudinally extending liquid applied rubber or other elastomeric ribs  84 .  
         [0052]    As shown in FIGS. 14 and 15 a hollow recess  87  includes storage of breath freshener tablets  85  (as in FIG. 14) or breath freshener wafer films  86  (as in FIG. 15). A preferably arcuate bottom wall  88  supports the breath freshener tablets or wafer films within recess  87 . Optional top arcuate wall  89  may be provided for the breath freshener tablets, with an orifice  90  for dispensing a limited number of tablets therethrough. While bottom wall  88  is shown arcuate, it may be flat or bear any other geometric configuration.  
         [0053]    FIGS.  16 - 22  show a further alternate embodiment, where cap dispenser  100  includes hollow recess  101  for supporting a cosmetic cake block type of material block  102 , such as lip gloss, lip balm or lip medication. While a convention twist windup mechanism (not shown) may be provided for advancing the declining cosmetic cake block  102  upward to expose the remaining material for application upon the lips of the user, a further embodiment includes an upwardly advancing bottom wall  103  supporting cosmetic cake block  102  within hollow recess  101 .  
         [0054]    The cosmetic cake block  102  is advanced upward since bottom wall  103  is a flexible disk washer with opposite grooves  104  engaging longitudinally extending ribs  105  extending longitudinally within cap dispenser  100 , as shown in FIGS.  19 - 20 .  
         [0055]    An alternate adjustment mechanism is also shown in FIGS.  16 - 22 , where handles  106  protrude therethrough a recess  101  into cosmetic cake block  102  by projections  107 , which are manually moved by external finger engagable handles  106  through slot  108 .  
         [0056]    While top  83  can have other configurations, such as being hinged (not shown), FIGS.  16 - 22  show horizontally slidable cap  109 , which pivots about pin  109   a.    
         [0057]    It is further noted that other modifications known to those skilled in the art may be made to the present invention, without departing from the scope of the invention, as described herein.