Abstract:
A dispenser includes a housing having a reservoir for containing a product. An applicator tip is coupled to the housing and has an applicator and a product delivery passageway extending through the applicator tip and terminating at an opening in the applicator. A thermal storage mechanism is disposed on the applicator spaced from the opening in the applicator and provides an application surface for contacting a user.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 14/313,601, filed Jun. 24, 2014, which claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/838,819, filed on Jun. 24, 2013, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety herein. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    Devices for dispensing cosmetics and medicinal products are known. One conventional configuration includes an outer tubular shell or housing having a reservoir containing a product and an applicator tip disposed on a distal end of the shell or housing. In the medical industry, applicators are used for applying products such as ointments to portions of the body. In the cosmetic and personal care industries, applicators may be used to apply lipstick, lip balm, creams, and lotions to portions of a user&#39;s body. 
         [0003]    In many cases, the medicinal and cosmetic products include skincare substances, such as aloe or lanolin, that provide a healing or therapeutic effect to heal damaged skin or to maintain healthy skin. In addition, these products may include therapeutic substances, such as topical anesthetics, analgesics, fragrances, or menthol. 
         [0004]    Conventional application of conventional products to the skin is sufficient in many instances, but in some instances it also is desirable to provide a thermal treatment to the skin contemporaneously with application of the product. For example, it may be desirable to apply a cooling or heating sensation via the applicator. In some instances, it may be desirable to have the applicator provide either a heating or cooling sensation, which may offset or enhance a thermal sensation from the product or be completely independent of the product. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0005]    This summary is provided to introduce simplified concepts of applicator tips with thermal members, which are further described below in the Detailed Description. This summary is not intended to identify essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended for use in determining the scope of the claimed subject matter. 
         [0006]    This disclosure describes an improved tip, such as for a cosmetic applicator, that includes a thermal member that is capable of storing and retaining thermal energy. The improved tips according to this disclosure are generally useful to allow a product to be applied locally or topically to a selected area of a user&#39;s skin, while providing a thermal effect. 
         [0007]    In one implementation, a cosmetic applicator includes an applicator tip having an opening therein through which a cosmetic product is dispensed, and a thermal member disposed on the tip, spaced from the opening. 
         [0008]    In some implementations, the thermal member is configured as a plate disposed on an applicator tip. The plate may provide an application face for applying product dispensed from the applicator tip to the user&#39;s skin. 
         [0009]    In still further implementations, a dispenser includes a housing having a reservoir for containing a product. An applicator tip is coupled to the housing and has an applicator face and a product delivery passageway extending through the applicator tip and terminating at an opening in the applicator face. A thermal member is disposed on the applicator face, spaced from the opening. 
         [0010]    In some implementations, a product delivery passageway extending through the applicator tip is offset from a central axis of the applicator tip. 
         [0011]    A better understanding of these and other implementations will be better understood with reference to the attached Figures and the following Detailed Description, in which features of this disclosure are illustrated and described. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0012]    The figures are described in more detail below in the Detailed Description section of this application. In the figures, the left-most digit of a reference number identifies the figure in which the reference number first appears. The use of the same reference numbers in different figures indicates similar or identical items. 
           [0013]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an illustrative applicator tip according to one implementation. 
           [0014]      FIG. 2  is a front view of the applicator tip illustrated in  FIG. 1 . 
           [0015]      FIG. 3  is a cross-sectional view of the applicator tip illustrated in  FIG. 1 , taken along section line  3 - 3  in  FIG. 2 . 
           [0016]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view of an applicator tip according to an alternative implementation. 
           [0017]      FIGS. 5A-5C  are perspective views of applicator tips according to alternative implementations. 
           [0018]      FIGS. 6A and 6B  are front views of applicator tips according to still further alternative implementations. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0019]    In one implementation, a product is dispensed from a reservoir in the container through one or more openings in the dispenser tip for application to a user&#39;s skin. The tip application surface contacts the user&#39;s skin during or after dispensing of the product, and the user may cause the application face to contact an even larger area of skin, for example, when the user causes the application face to spread the product on his/her skin. By virtue of the thermal member&#39;s thermal retention, thermal energy is applied to the user&#39;s skin for heating or cooling during application. Contact of the thermal member with the product may also result in transfer of heat to or from the product. Accordingly, in some embodiments the user will feel a thermal sensation (warm or cool depending on the thermal energy in the thermal member), in other embodiments the product will be warmed or cooled, and in still other embodiments both the product and user&#39;s skin will be thermally effected by the thermal member. 
         [0020]    The thermal member includes a material capable of retaining and transferring heat or cold for a period of time. Accordingly, in some embodiments, the thermal member may be made in whole or in part of a material having a thermal conductivity above a threshold. For instance, in some embodiments, to retain and transfer sufficient heat or cold the thermal member may be made of a material having a thermal conductivity of at least 1 watt/meter-kelvin. In other implementations, thermal conductivities greater than about 5.0 watt/meter-kelvin are desirable and, in still further implementations, thermal conductivities greater than about 20.0 watt/meter-kelvin are desirable. 
         [0021]    Other material properties may also describe aspects of thermal members. For instance, heat capacity of the material may also be relevant. In some embodiments, the material from which the thermal member is made in whole or in part may also have a heat capacity of at most about  1 . 1  kilojoules/kilogram-kelvin. In other instances, heat capacities lower than about 0.75 J/kg-K may be desirable. Moreover, thermal effusivity, which factors in a material&#39;s thermal conductivity, heat capacity, and density may be of interest. Generally, the higher the effusivity, the greater will be the heat transfer to or from the user&#39;s skin. In some embodiments, materials having a thermal effusivity higher than about 150.0 J−m.sup.−2−K.sup.−1−s.sup.−½ may be preferred. 
         [0022]    In some embodiments, the heat or cold retained (for subsequent transfer) by the thermal member results from exposure to the ambient environment. That is, in some embodiments, after transfer of the heat or cold from the thermal member to the user&#39;s skin, the thermal member regenerates, i.e., reheats or re-cools, merely by being exposed to the ambient environment. For the purpose of this application, the term ambient environment refers to a comfortable indoor room temperature of between about 20.degree. C. (68.degree. F.) and about 25.degree. C. (77.degree. F.). In these embodiments and under the noted conditions, no additional heating or cooling may be required. In other embodiments, it may be desirable to introduce the thermal member to a higher or lower temperature than ambient to “charge” the thermal member with the desired heat/cold. 
         [0023]    In implementations of this disclosure, the thermal member may include one or more of metal, stone material, and ceramic, or composites thereof, whether natural or synthetic, capable of retaining and transferring heat or cold for a period of time. 
         [0024]    Some example metals that may be used in embodiments of this disclosure include, without limitation, stainless steel, aluminum, zinc, magnesium, tin, nickel, titanium, steel, tin, copper, brass, platinum, gold, and silver, and alloys, such as ZAMAK. 
         [0025]    Stone materials that may be used in embodiments of this disclosure include, without limitation, any stone, rock, mineral, ore, gemstone, imitation gemstone, glass stone (including naturally occurring and man-made forms of glass), volcanic stone, coral stone, metallic stone or ore, magnetic stone, concrete, or composites thereof, whether synthetic or naturally occurring. 
         [0026]      FIGS. 1-3  illustrate a dispenser tip  100  according to a first implementation. The tip  100  generally includes an applicator  102  disposed on a body  104 . In the illustrated implementation, the applicator  102  is generally disc-shaped and the body  104  is substantially cylindrical. In other implementations, the applicator  102  and/or the body  104  may take any shape. The applicator  102  has a face  106 , which, in the illustrated embodiment, is generally circular (because of the disc-shape of the applicator  102 ). An opening  108  is formed in the applicator face  106 . Product dispensed through the tip  100  via a product delivery passageway  110  exits through the opening  108 . 
         [0027]    A thermal member  112  is disposed on the face  106  of the applicator  102 . The thermal member  112  is spaced from the opening  108  in the face  106  of the applicator  102 . In this manner, product dispensed through the opening  108  via the product delivery passageway  110  does not contact the thermal member  112  during dispensing (or at any time before use). In  FIG. 1 , the thermal member  112  comprises a crescent-shaped plate, but may take any suitable shape. 
         [0028]    The Figures illustrate a plate of a certain shape, but this disclosure is not limited to that shape. In some implementations, the shape preferably provides a relatively large continuous application face  114  that is spaced from the opening  108 . Any number of shapes and sizes can provide this functionality. Moreover, although the plate is illustrated as generally having a planar application face  114 , such is also not required. The application face may include planar, convex, and/or concave surface features. Moreover, a portion or all of the application face  114  may be textured. As will be appreciated from this disclosure, the application face  114  is generally intended to contact the user&#39;s skin and the application face  116  may include any shape or feature that may provide a desirable feel to a user. In addition, in the illustrated embodiments, the thermal member  112  is continuous, i.e., it has no apertures, but this is not required. It may include apertures, such as holes or slots and those apertures may be located on any face of the application, e.g., front, side, back, either near to or far from the thermal member. Moreover, the application face  114  may be made up of several smaller thermal members, which may be spaced from each other, and some or all of which may be spaced from the opening  108 . 
         [0029]    The thermal member  112  may be made from any number of materials capable of holding a thermal charge. In some implementations, each of the members  112  may be made of any one of the materials described herein above. In the implementations illustrated in  FIGS. 1-4 , the thermal member  112  includes a contiguous plate having a substantially uniform composition. Such plates may be readily manufactured using known methods, such as stamping, molding, sintering, or machining In other implementations, the thermal member  112  may have a plurality of different compositions, which may be joined to form a relatively larger contiguous plate, such as the one illustrated as the thermal member  112 . Alternatively, as in the embodiment of  FIG. 6B  described below, for example, the thermal member may be provided as a plurality of separate contiguous plates, to be affixed or otherwise disposed on the applicator either spaced or abutting. 
         [0030]    As noted above, the thermal member may be embodied in any of a number of shapes, sizes, and compositions. In some embodiments, the thermal member may have a mass of at least about 0.1 grams to at most about 5.0 grams. In other embodiments, the mass is at least about 0.50 grams to at most about 2.0 grams. In one embodiment, each thermal member has a mass of about 0.75 grams. Also, in some embodiments, the thermal members may have a size of from at least about 25 to at most about 500 mm.sup.3. Volumes of at least about 75 mm.sup.3 to at most about 100 mm.sup.3 may be used in some implementations. However, in other implementations, the thermal members may have a mass and/or volume greater than or less than the ranges listed. As will be understood, several of the size and weight measurements will be dictated by the material chosen as the thermal member, and the area available on the applicator tip  100  to retain the thermal member. 
         [0031]    In one implementation, the thermal member  112  is applied directly on the face  106  of the applicator  102  using known methods. For example, the thermal member  112  may be adhered, welded, or otherwise fastened to the face  106 . In another implementation, which is best illustrated in  FIG. 3 , the thermal member  112  is retained in a recess  306  formed in the face  106 . As illustrated in  FIG. 3 , the depth of the recess is slightly less than the thickness of the plate-shaped member, such that the application face  114  of the thermal member  112  is offset a distance t relative to the face  106  of the applicator  102 . This offset t may be useful to ensure that the application face  114  of the thermal member  112  protrudes from the face  106  and contacts the user&#39;s skin when the tip  100  is pressed against the skin, i.e., not the face  106  of the applicator. In other implementations, the recess  306  may be deeper such that the application face  114  of the thermal member  112  is flush with or sunken relative to the face  106  of the applicator  102 . As should be appreciated, the depth of the recess  306  may be varied to provide any desired offset of the application face  114  relative to the face  106  of the applicator  102 , even a zero offset. 
         [0032]    The thermal member  112  may be retained in the recess  304  in any number of ways. For example, the recess may be configured to accept the thermal member  112  with a clearance fit, with the thermal member being retained therein using a conventional fastening means, for example an adhesive or spot welding. In still other implementations, the recess  304  is sized to provide an interference fit with the thermal member  112 . In such implementations, the thermal member is pressed into the recess. The interference between the member  112  and the recess  304  may be sufficient to retain the thermal member in the applicator tip, although in some implementations, another fastening means may be used in addition to the interference fit. In another implementation, the recess  304  and the member  112  may be sized such that the member  112  is retained in the recess  304  by a snap fit. With the benefit of this disclosure, those having ordinary skill in the art will appreciate other configurations that result in retention of the thermal member in the recess  304 . 
         [0033]    Several advantages are realized by forming the thermal member  112  separate from the remainder of the applicator tip  100 . For instance, conventional machining and manufacturing processes can be used. In example implementations, the thermal member  112  can be formed using a stamping process or conventional cutting or milling techniques. Moreover, when the thermal member  112  is disposed in the recess  304 , the thermal member may require less machining than when it is disposed directly on the face  106  of the applicator  102 . Specifically, a portion of the thermal member  112  is effectively buried in the recess  304 , and the buried portion need not be finished, because it will not contact the user. 
         [0034]    In the implementation illustrated in  FIGS. 1-3 , the opening  108  in the face  106  of the applicator  102  is offset relative to the center of the tip  100 . As shown best in  FIG. 3 , the product delivery passageway  110  provides a conduit to the opening  108  from a tip reservoir  308 , which is a volume defined by the neck  116 . In the illustration, the product delivery passageway is a generally cylindrical passageway having an axis  304  that is parallel to, but offset from, a central axis  302  of the dispenser tip  100 . Offsetting the opening  108  on the face  106  provides for a larger contiguous surface area, i.e., a larger solid surface area not interrupted by the opening, on a side of the opening  108  than would be achieved by placing the opening directly in the center of the face. In this manner, a larger thermal member that does not entirely or substantially circumscribe the opening  108  may be used. 
         [0035]    Although it is beneficial in some instances to offset the opening relative to the tip axis  302 , it is not required. In other embodiments, the product delivery passageway axis  304  may be coaxial with the tip axis  302 . Moreover, although an axial product delivery passageway is generally easiest to create from a manufacturing standpoint, the product delivery passageway may take any shape or form so long as it provides an effective conduit to dispense the product through the opening  108 . Likewise, the opening  108  may take any shape or form and may be the same or different shape than the product delivery passageway. 
         [0036]    Other modifications also are contemplated. For example, in the embodiments of  FIGS. 1-3 , the applicator  102  is angled relative to the body  104 . That is, the face  106  of the disc-shaped applicator  102  is angled relative to an axis of the cylindrical body  104  by an angle .alpha., as shown in  FIG. 3 . In other implementations, the applicator  102  may not be angled relative to the body  104 , i.e., .alpha.=0, or the angle may vary from what is illustrated (e.g., it may be any angle from 0-180. degree. 
         [0037]    In  FIGS. 1-3 , the dispenser tip  100  is generally illustrated as including a flange  118  formed on a neck  116 . In this implementation, the neck  116  facilitates attachment of the dispenser tip  100  to a container  400 , an example of which is shown in  FIG. 4 . The container  400  has a mating receptacle configured to receive the neck  116 . The flange  118  acts as a stop to prevent further insertion of the dispenser tip  100  into the container. The dispenser tip  100  is thereafter affixed to the container using conventional methods. For example, the neck  116  may consist of a relatively soft plastic that, when heated, will bond to material comprising the container. In other implementations, the neck  116  may be slightly larger than the mating receptacle in the container  400 , to create a friction fit between the neck and the container  400 . 
         [0038]    The neck  116  arrangement of  FIGS. 1-3  is generally shown as a generic implementation; the invention is not limited to that implementation.  FIGS. 5A-5C  show alternative implementations in which the neck  116  includes additional features to facilitate attachment of the dispenser tip  100  to a container containing a product to be dispensed through the dispenser tip  100 . 
         [0039]    In  FIG. 5A , the neck  116  includes an annular ring  502  disposed proximate its distal end. The annular ring  502  is provided to create a snap fit with the container to which the dispenser tip is to be connected. Although not illustrated, the container preferably has a mating recess or otherwise stepped profile into which the protruding annular ring  502  passes upon insertion of the dispenser tip into the container. Upon insertion, the annular ring is retained by the stepped or recessed profile in the container to prevent ready removal of the dispenser tip  100  from the container. The flange  118  is also illustrated in the embodiment of  FIG. 5A , again to prevent over-insertion of the applicator tip into the container, although those having ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that the flange may not be required, particularly depending upon the corresponding feature in the container. As with any of the implementations described in this disclosure, additional fastening means may also be employed. For example, an adhesive or the like may be disposed on the neck  116  to further aid in retaining the tip  100  in the container. 
         [0040]    In  FIG. 5B , the neck  116  includes a plurality of annular protrusions  504  or ribs spaced from each other. The annular protrusions  504  are similar to the annular ring  502  of  FIG. 5A , but are spaced along the neck  116 . Like in the embodiment of  FIG. 5A , the tip of  FIG. 5B  is intended to be inserted into an opening in a container. Although not illustrated, the container opening is preferably sized to have a clearance fit relative to the outer diameter of the neck  116 , but the annular protrusions  504  increase the outer diameter of the neck  116  at their locations. The annular protrusions  504  preferably provide an interference or friction fit with the inner diameter of the container opening. In one implementation, the friction fit between the annular protrusions  504  and the inner diameter of the container is sufficient to retain the dispenser tip  100  in the container. In other implementations, additional fastening means, such as adhesives, may be used to further affix the dispenser tip in the container. 
         [0041]      FIG. 5C  illustrates yet another method for retaining the dispenser tip  100  in a container containing a product to be dispensed through the dispensing tip  100 . As illustrated, a thread  506  is disposed on the outer surface of the neck  116 . This dispensing tip  100  is intended to be used with a container having a mating threaded opening, such that the dispenser tip  100  is threaded into the opening of the container. Although a single, continuous thread is illustrated in  FIG. 5C , the invention is not limited to one thread. Nor is it limited to a continuous thread. Moreover, as with other embodiments described in this disclosure, an adhesive or like may be used in connection with the thread  506  to aid in retention of the dispenser tip  100  in the container. 
         [0042]    Other features may also be used to aid in retention of the dispenser tip  100  in a container. For example, in the embodiments illustrated in  FIGS. 5A and 5B , the dispenser tip  100  may be free to rotate relative to the container, even when the dispenser tip  100  is retained in the container. To prevent this rotation, a key or similar feature may also be provided, either on the neck  116  or for use in cooperation with the neck  116 . 
         [0043]    Additional implementations of the dispenser tip  100  are illustrated in  FIGS. 6A and 6B . In those figures, the opening  108  is modified. Specifically,  FIG. 6A  shows a rectangular opening  608   a  instead of the circular opening  108 . In  FIG. 6B , the circular opening  108  is replaced with a plurality of smaller holes  608   b . Although those holes are illustrated as being circular, they may be any shape without departing from the spirit and scope of this disclosure. Those having ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that varying the size and shape of the opening  108  will result in different application amounts and/or profiles, which may be useful in applying different products. The varying openings  108 ,  608   a ,  608   b  may be to help spread or distribute the product, or for aesthetic purposes. In other implementations, the opening(s) may be further designed to take the shape of a logo or other identifying mark associated with the provider of the product dispensed through the dispensing tip. For example, the opening may take the shape of a number or letter. 
         [0044]    In still further implementations, the size and shape of the opening may cooperate with the size and shape of the thermal member  112  to provide an overall aesthetic of the dispenser tip. For example, the opening may be shaped as a portion of a logo whereas the thermal member is shaped as a separate or additional portion of the same logo, to provide the overall aesthetic. Such an arrangement may be more readily achievable according to embodiments of this disclosure, because the thermal member  112  is formed separately from the remainder of the dispenser tip  100  in some implementations. 
         [0045]      FIG. 6B  also illustrates a modified thermal member  612 . As with the thermal member  112  described above with respect to  FIGS. 1-3 , the thermal member  612  is disposed on a face  606  of an applicator  602 . In this embodiment, though, the thermal member  612  includes three smaller thermal members  612   a ,  612   b ,  612   c , each differently shaped. Although the smaller thermal members  612   a ,  612   b ,  612   c  are illustrated as spaced relative to each other, they may abut. Depending upon the application, some or all of the smaller thermal members  612   a ,  612   b ,  612   c  may have different compositions and/or they may have different surface features, e.g., coloring, texturing, profiling. Such varied characteristics may add to the functionality and/or to the aesthetic. 
         [0046]    In some implementations, this disclosure provides advantages over previous dispenser tip arrangements. For example, the thermal member is not in contact with any of the product delivery passageway  110 . In this manner, the product is applied to the user unaffected by the thermal member. Because the thermal member is not in constant contact with the product, product/thermal member combinations that were previously not achievable, for example, because one or both of the product and the thermal member may degrade, e.g., rust, when there is constant contact between the thermal member and the product, are now attainable. Another advantage over other previous dispenser tip arrangements is that the thermal member may be formed separately from the tip, allowing for greater design and manufacturing freedoms. For example, the thermal member may be formed in any number of shapes and sizes. Also, conventional techniques may be employed to form the tip and to form the thermal member. In the implementation of  FIGS. 1-3 , for example, the tip is formed as a unitary piece, which may be accomplished using a conventional technique such as injection molding. Moreover, because the tips may be made independently of the thermal members, they can be created in bulk and stored for later attachment of the thermal member. Thermal storage members having different compositions may thus be used with a single tip design. A still further advantage over previous dispenser tip arrangements is that the separate thermal member may have a larger size, while still providing a uniform composition. 
         [0047]    The tip  100  need not be formed as a unitary piece. It may be formed as separate parts and thereafter assembled. For example, it may be desirable to form certain portions of the tip  100  from different materials. By way of non-limiting example, the neck may comprise a softer, more malleable plastic while the applicator  102  is formed of a clear acrylic. Forming the two parts separately and then attaching them is one way to accomplish such a tip  100 . Of course, a multi-material tip may also be formed as a unitary piece, e.g., in a single mold (such as by co-molding or over-molding), and such is also contemplated by this disclosure. 
         [0048]    In addition, although the thermal member  112  and the tip  100  may be formed separately, in other implementations the manufacturing processes may overlap. 
         [0049]    Although embodiments have been described in language specific to the structural features and/or methodological acts, it is to be understood that the claims are not necessarily limited to the specific features or acts described. Rather, the specific features and acts are disclosed as illustrative forms of implementing the embodiments.