Abstract:
A fragrance product for dispensing and topically applying a viscous fragrance composition, such as a gel, is provided. The product includes an applicator which may house a charge of fragrance composition and which may comprise a hemispherical head portion for spreading a film of the fragrance composition onto a human integument. The product further includes a base for seating and storing the applicator. Methods of using the fragrance product are also described.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. 119(e) to U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 62/351,785, filed Jun. 17, 2016, and U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 62/351,770, filed Jun. 17, 2016, the entirety of which are hereby incorporated by reference herein for all purposes. 
    
    
     FIELD OF INVENTION 
     A product for dispensing and topically applying a viscous composition, such as a gel, is provided. The product includes an applicator which may house a charge of composition and which may comprise a hemispherical head portion for spreading a film of the composition onto a human integument. The product further includes a base for seating and storing the applicator. Methods of using the product are also described. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Traditionally, cosmetic products in the fragrance category are provided in the form of ethanolic solutions or essential oils which are sprayed or dabbed onto the skin. Recently, a gel-based fragrance composition has been described in U.S. Patent Publication No. 2015/0208647, the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference. While such gel-based fragrances have many advantages, including the ability to deliver prolonged fragrance release, they may be difficult to spray due to their high viscosity and therefore might not be ideally suited for conventional fragrance packaging. The highly viscous or thixotropic nature of some fragrance gels also may cause the material to adhere to the inner walls of the container and thus be unavailable for pumping or otherwise inaccessible to the consumer. This phenomenon is known as “coring,” and results from the central portion of the charge of fragrance composition being preferentially expelled by a pump, leaving a ring of material on the walls of the reservoir. Coring is particularly problematic with highly viscous gels which lack the bulk flow properties to readily redistribute within the container. A specialized applicator adapted to deliver fragrance gels and other viscous compositions would therefore be desirable. 
     It is therefore an object of the invention to provide a fragrance product adapted to store and/or deliver viscous compositions, such as fragrance gels. 
     The foregoing discussion is presented solely to provide a better understanding of the nature of the problems confronting the art and should not be construed in any way as an admission as to prior art nor should the citation of any reference herein be construed as an admission that such reference constitutes “prior art” to the instant application. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In accordance with one or more of the foregoing objectives and others, the present invention provides a fragrance product that includes an applicator suitable for applying a wide variety of cosmetic and personal care compositions to the user&#39;s skin. The product typically comprises an applicator for applying compositions and base portion for storage of the applicator when not in use. In some implementations, the applicator may be generally mushroom shaped, comprising a handle and a bulbous head portion adapted to spread a thin film of a composition onto a human integument (e.g. skin, etc.). In some embodiments of the invention, the product may comprise:
         (i) an applicator having a handle and a bulbous (e.g., substantially hemispherical, substantially hemiovoidal, etc.) head portion with an outer surface adapted to spread a liquid composition onto human skin; and   (ii) a base portion which may comprise on its top side a recess geometrically matching the outer surface of the head portion such that the applicator may be seated on the base by positioning the head portion of the applicator within the recess.       

     The applicator may comprise a chamber in its interior and contain a charge of composition (e.g., a fragrance composition, skin care composition, sunscreen, etc.) within the chamber. In the following description, references made to fragrance compositions and applicators therefor, although it will be understood that the applicators and methods of the invention are equally applicable to any flowable composition including skin care compositions, hair care compositions, sunscreen compositions, color cosmetics and the like. In some implementations, the applicator is capable of dispensing a portion of the fragrance composition, for example, through an exit orifice located on the head portion, optionally using a pump (e.g, atmospheric, airless, etc.) which also may be disposed within the chamber. The applicator typically has a handle configured to be gripped by a user to remove the applicator from the base and manipulate the applicator during application of the fragrance composition to the skin. The handle may be integral with the head portion, for example, joined together by a snap fit, weld, or the like, or may be separable such that the handle and head are moveable with respect to one another. The applicator head generally has a large surface area (e.g., up to about 200 cm 2 ) to help spread the fragrance composition onto a human integument. In some embodiments, the chamber is formed at least partially within the head portion of the applicator but may also extend into the handle portion. In some embodiments, a major portion of the fragrance composition is contained within the head portion. In other embodiments, at least 60%, or at least 70%, or at least 80%, or at least 90% of the volume of the composition is contained within the head portion. In one implementation, substantially all of the composition is contained within the head portion. The applicator may comprise a pump mechanism to facilitate expulsion of the fragrance composition from the chamber through an outlet orifice to the exterior of the applicator. The outlet orifice may be positioned at any location on the head portion but is typically at the terminal end of the head portion, e.g., along the axis through the applicator head and handle. An actuator, such as a button on the handle, may be included to control the pump. 
     In some embodiments, the applicator is symmetric about a common axis through the handle portion and the head portion (the primary axis of the applicator) and may be axisymmetrical with respect to the primary axis. The head portion may take any shape and be composed of any material useful for spreading a fragrance composition. In some embodiments, the outer surface of the head portion is substantially hemispherical. In some embodiments, the head portion has a smooth surface, and may be composed of metal, plastic or glass. Typically the head portion has a large surface area to help facilitate the application of fragrance composition into a thin film. In some embodiments, the outer surface of the head portion has a surface area of from about 2 cm 2  to about 200 cm 2  (e.g., about 3-100 cm 2 , about 5-50 cm 2 , or about 10-30 cm 2 ). In one embodiment, the outer hemispherical surface of the head portion may have a surface of about 20-30 cm 2 . 
     Typically, the fragrance composition is expelled from the chamber within the applicator through the outlet orifice upon actuation of a pump mechanism. In some embodiments, the outlet orifice is surrounded by a sensorial element, which may be a different material than that of the surface of the head. This sensorial element provides a feeling on the skin that is different from the surface of the head portion. This different sensorial feeling may be any sensorial feeling to help a user locate the approximate position of the outlet orifice on their skin (e.g., temperature differential, texture, etc.). For example, the sensorial element may be ceramic, metallic or flocked. In some embodiments, the sensorial element is an annular ring or disc with an orifice positioned directly coincident with the orifice in the head. 
     In various embodiments, the applicator comprises a chamber which may be located at any position within or on the applicator. In some embodiments, the chamber may be formed, at least partially, within the head portion of the applicator. The flowable composition may be disposed within the chamber. In some embodiments, the volume of the chamber may range from about 5 mL to about 100 mL (e.g., 10 to about 50 mL, etc.) and may contain anywhere from 0.1-100 mL or from 1-50 mL or from 10-30 mL of composition. In some embodiments, the chamber further comprises a pump mechanism in order to help expel the flowable composition contained within the chamber through the orifice to the exterior of the applicator. In some embodiments, the fragrance composition may be contained within a flexible, collapsible bag, which is positioned within the chamber. In some embodiments, the collapsible bag is airless. A pump mechanism may be attached to the bag, for example, by sonic welding to create an air-tight seal between the interior of the bag and the inlet side of the pump. Actuation of the applicator by a user causes a portion of the fragrance composition, in contact with the inlet side of the pump to be expelled through the pump and out of the orifice, with a concomitant decrease in the volume of the bag. The bag may be composed of a multilaminate material, such as aluminum foil, polyethylene, or combinations thereof. 
     The fragrance product of the invention also comprises a base portion in order to seat and/or store the applicator when not in use and/or to close off the orifice when the applicator is not in use. Typically, the base portion has a recess that is geometrically matched with a portion of the applicator. In some embodiments, the base portion may comprise a recess which geometrically matches the head portion of the applicator. This geometrical matching allows the applicator to be seated on the base by positioning of the head portion within the recess. In some embodiments a protrusion may be provided on the surface of the recess to engage the outlet orifice when the applicator is seated on the base. The engagement of the protrusion and the outlet orifice may substantially seal the outlet orifice and help align and stabilize the applicator within the base. 
     When the applicator is seated in the base, the base may serve to keep the applicator in a specific orientation with respect to the surface plane upon which the base sits. In some embodiments, the applicator and the base together form a substantially continuous outer contour when the applicator is seated on the base. The applicator is typically seated such that the outlet orifice faces downward and the handle portion faces upward, such that the flowable composition may settle over time near the outlet orifice while permitting the handle to be easily gripped by the user to remove the applicator from the base. For example, the applicator may be positioned on the base such that the outlet orifice is located at the deepest point of the recess. In some embodiments, the primary axis of the applicator and the surface plane are either normal or parallel when the applicator is seated in the base. 
     In some embodiments of the invention, the fragrance product may comprise:
         (i) an axisymmetric applicator having a handle portion and a head portion having an outer surface adapted to spread a fragrance composition onto human skin, and a chamber formed at least partially within the head portion for holding a charge of the fragrance composition, a pump disposed at least partially within the chamber capable of expelling the fragrance composition through an outlet orifice in the head portion upon actuation, and an actuator adapted to permit the user to actuate the pump mechanism, and optionally a sensorial element proximate (e.g., surrounding) the orifice; and   (ii) a base portion having a top and a bottom, the base comprising on its top side a recess configured to geometrically match at least a portion of, or substantially all of, the outer surface of the head portion, such that the applicator may be seated on the base by positioning the head portion of the applicator within the recess, the base further including a protrusion extending from the surface of the recess for engaging said orifice.       

     The pump mechanism may include any mechanism that exerts a force on a flowable material contained in the applicator to expel the flowable material through the outlet orifice. The pump mechanism may be, for example, atmospheric or airless. In some embodiments, the pump mechanism includes at least one one-way valve, and is in fluid communication with the chamber of the applicator and with the outlet orifice. In some embodiments, the pump mechanism comprises an elastic membrane which may be actuated to expand to reduce the volume within and thereby cause the expulsion of the fragrance composition through the outlet orifice. The actuation of the elastic membrane may be, for example, impingement of a physical element (e.g., a rod, post, plunger, piston, etc.) onto the membrane to cause displacement, or actuated by increasing the pressure of air on one side of the membrane. In other embodiments, the pump mechanism may comprise multiple chambers designed to control the flow of the composition between each chamber. In some embodiments, control of flow is achieved through mechanisms on each chamber designed to allow passage between chambers at certain points during actuation. In other embodiments, control of the flow may be achieved by one-way valves situated between chambers. The pump mechanism may consist of as many one-way valves as necessary for the pump mechanism to work. For example, the pump mechanism may consist of zero, one, two, three, four five, ten, etc. one-way valves. 
     The pump mechanism may be actuated by an actuator located at any position on the applicator. Typically, a user will actuate the pump mechanism by applying an actuating force to the pump actuator. In some embodiments, the handle of the applicator may comprise the actuator. The actuator may be, for example, a button on the handle. In other embodiments, actuation of the pump mechanism may occur via movement of certain portions of the applicator with respect to one another. For example, in some embodiments, the applicator may be configured to actuate the pump by movement of head portion with respect to handle. The head portion and the handle portion may be separate pieces capable of undergoing a movement that brings them closer to one another than when in an unperturbed position (i.e. the position no actuating force has been applied to the applicator) to actuate the pump. The applicator may further comprise a spring mechanism bias motion of the head relative to the handle and to return the applicator to the unperturbed position once the actuating force is removed. 
     Any flowable fragrance composition can be used in the applicator. In some embodiments, the fragrance composition is a liquid. As used herein, the term “liquid,” includes any condensed phase that has a measurable viscosity (e.g., 5,000 cps-1,500,000 cps) at 10 s −1  (25° C.), and includes gels. The liquid fragrance composition may be, for example, in the form of an ointment, cream, lotion, liquid-phase, gel, emulsion, emulsified gel, mousse or foam. In some embodiments, the fragrance composition is a fragrance gel. It is believed that the fragrance gel compositions described in U.S. Patent Publication No. 2015/0208647, the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference in its entirety, will be particularly useful. 
     Although the preferred composition for use with the fragrance product is a fragrance product, any cosmetic product can be used in the applicator. For example, the cosmetic product may be a skin care product, a sunscreen product, or a hair care product. 
     The base is transparent or translucent. In some embodiments, the head portion, including the substantially hemispherical surface is visible through the transparent base portion when the applicator is docked on the base. 
     In some embodiments, the fragrance composition is highly viscous, and may have a viscosity from about 1,000 cps to about 1,500,000 cps (for example, between about 5,000 cps and about 1,000,000 cps, or between about 10,000 cps and about 500,000 cps, etc). Unless otherwise indicated, viscosity is measured at 25° C. with a shear rate of 10 s −1 . 
     Advantageously, the applicator of the invention may ameliorate problems, such as coring, associated with highly viscous compositions. In some implementations, the applicator is capable of expelling at least 75%, by weight of the initial charge of the chamber over the useful lifetime of the product. In some embodiments, at least about 80% by weight (e.g. at least about 90% by weight, at least about 95% by weight) of the initial charge of fragrance composition (i.e., prior to first use) contained within the chamber can be expelled from the applicator over the useful lifetime of the product. As used herein, percentage of fragrance composition that can be expelled from the applicator is the amount of fragrance composition that is expelled relative to the initial charge of composition (i.e., the original “full” amount before the first use), from repeated actuations until successive actuation no longer expels any fragrance composition. 
     In another aspect, the present invention provides methods of applying a fragrance product to an integument comprising:
         (a) providing a fragrance product as described herein, for example, having an applicator and a base, wherein the applicator comprises a handle and a head portion with a substantially hemispherical smooth outer surface;   (b) removing the applicator from the base;   (c) actuating a pump within the applicator to release a portion of a charge of fragrance composition from within a chamber in the applicator out through an orifice to the exterior of the applicator;   (d) spreading the composition onto a human integument by rolling or rubbing the substantially hemispherical smooth outer surface of the head portion against the aliquot of fragrance composition to form a film of said fragrance composition on said integumentary surface; and   (e) optionally seating the applicator on the base after use.       

     These and other aspects of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art after a reading of the following detailed description of the invention, including the appended claims. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIGS. 1A-1C  depict three views of an embodiment of the present invention where the applicator is seated in the base.  FIG. 1A  is a top view of the embodiment.  FIG. 1B  is a side view of the embodiment and  FIG. 1C  is a perspective view of the embodiment. 
         FIG. 2  is an exploded view of another embodiment of the invention. 
         FIG. 3  is a cross sectional side view of an embodiment of the applicator shown in  FIG. 2 . 
         FIG. 4  is an exploded view of another embodiment of the invention. 
         FIG. 5  is a cross sectional side view of the embodiment depicted in  FIG. 4 . 
         FIG. 6  is a cross sectional side view of another embodiment. 
         FIG. 7  is a cross sectional side view of another embodiment. 
         FIG. 8  is a cross sectional side view of another embodiment. 
         FIG. 9  is a cross sectional side view of another embodiment. 
         FIG. 10A  illustrates an embodiment of the applicator of the invention comprising a flange shaped handle portion connected to a hemispherical head portion by a neck. The handle portion comprises a button actuator and the head has a sensorial element at its terminal end.  FIG. 10B  illustrates a view of the bottom of the embodiment shown in  FIG. 10A  looking from the bottom along a central axis through the head and handle, showing the sensorial element and the orifice at the central axis where the sensorial element surrounds the exit orifice. 
         FIG. 11  is a perspective view of a base for the applicator of  FIG. 10A , formed from a transparent or translucent material, with a hemispherical recess that is geometrically matched to complement the hemispherical head portion of the applicator of  FIG. 10A . 
         FIG. 12  illustrates the applicator of  FIG. 10A  seated in the base of  FIG. 11 . 
         FIG. 13  illustrates the applicator of  FIG. 10A  in use, wherein a user grips the applicator with fingers beneath the flange of the handle portion and actuates the button actuator with the thumb (illustrated by the arrow). The sensorial element and exit orifice of the head portion are contacted with skin where a cosmetic product contained within the applicator will be applied and spread over the skin with the hemispherical head portion. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Detailed embodiments of the present invention are disclosed herein; it is to be understood that the disclosed embodiments are merely illustrative of the invention that may be embodied in various forms. In addition, each of the examples given in connection with the various embodiments of the invention is intended to be illustrative, and not restrictive. Therefore, specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to employ the present invention. 
     In some embodiments of the invention, the fragrance product comprises an applicator that can be seated and/or stored in a base. Referring to  FIGS. 1A-1C , a fragrance product comprises an applicator seated in a base  5 . The applicator comprises a head portion  20  with a substantially hemispherical outer surface  26  and a handle portion  30 . The handle portion comprises an annular or discoid feature  33  to allow the user to grip the applicator to remove the applicator from the base  5 , and to hold the applicator during use. Base  5  has a recess  7  on its top side that is geometrically matched with outer surface  26  of the head portion  20  so that the applicator can be snuggly mounted on the base. The applicator has a button actuator  56  on handle portion  30  upon which can actuate an internal pump mechanism and dispel a flowable composition contained within the applicator. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 2 and 3 , an applicator  110  with a head  120  geometrically matched to recess  107  in base  105  is depicted. The applicator  110  comprises head portion  120 , handle portion  130 , and a pump mechanism  150 . The head portion has an outer surface  126  geometrically matched with recess  107  in the base portion  105 . The head portion further comprises a sensorial element  121  which may be composed of a different material than the outer surface  126  of the head portion  120 . The head portion has a ring  124  that allows head portion  120  to be mated (e.g. press fit) with sleeve  132 . The handle portion comprises an annular feature  133  to allow a user to grip the applicator that accommodates a button actuator  156 . Atmospheric pump mechanism  150  comprises a pump  154  and a return tube  152 . Pump mechanism  150  is actuated by the actuator button  156 . Depressing the actuator button  156  causes the composition contained within return tube  152  to be expelled out the outlet orifice  122 . As the actuator returns to the original position, the composition contained within the chamber  162  is transported through the pump mechanism  154  towards the entrance of return tube  152 . Ultimately, the return tube  152  is refilled with the flowable composition. Return tube  152  is mated with the outlet orifice  122  and the sensorial element  121  to allow expulsion of the flowable composition. Additionally, base  105  has a flat or planar bottom  109  in order for the base to be stable on a surface plane. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 4 and 5  an applicator  210  and base  205  are shown. The applicator comprises a head portion  220 , handle portion  230 , and pump mechanism  250 . The outer surface of the head portion  220  is geometrically matched with recess  207  in base  205 . The handle portion comprises an annular feature  233  to allow a user to grip the applicator. Within annular feature  233  is a button actuator  256  that comprises a substantially cylindrical portion  258  extending into chamber  234  to engage pump  250 . A collapsible bag  252  filled with cosmetic composition surrounds cylindrical portion  258  and pump mechanism  250 . Collapsible bag  252  is sealed such that air is substantially unable to flow into or out of its interior volume  262 . The bag is sealed to the inlet of pump  250  so that inlet is in fluid communication with the composition within the bag. The pump  250  is in communication with the outlet orifice  222 . Interior volume  262  may contain a composition. Actuation of the pump mechanism causes the composition to be expelled through orifice  222  thereby decreasing the interior volume  228  of bag  262 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 6 , an applicator  310  seated in base  305  is depicted. Actuation of button actuator  356  causes movement of expandable piston  354  downward into chamber  362  in the non-linear column  352 . Movement of expandable piston  354  forces a flowable composition contained in chamber  356  into contact with pump mechanism  350  which expels the flowable composition out of outlet orifice  322 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 7 , an applicator  410  seated in base  405  is depicted. Actuation of button actuator  456  actuates pump mechanism  450  which exerts a force on an elastic membrane  460 . This force causes the elastic membrane to expand and move to, for example, position  461 . This movement decreases the volume in chamber  462  thereby resulting in the expulsion of a composition contained in chamber  462  out of orifice  464  in head portion  420 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 8 , an applicator  510  seated in base  505  is depicted. A composition is contained in chamber  562 . Chamber  554  is part of the pump mechanism and is separated from chamber  562  by wall  560  that may have one or more apertures  555  to permit a composition in chamber  562  to flow into and fill chamber  554 . Wall  560  is adapted allow plunger  553  and piston  552  entry into chamber  554  such that movement of actuator  556  translates to movement of piston  552  and plunger  553  in chamber  554 . If actuator  556  is depressed, plunger  553  decreases the volume in chamber  554  thereby expelling the composition through pump mechanism  550  and out orifice  522  on head portion  520 . As plunger  553  returns to its original position, the volume in chamber  554  increases thereby causing composition in chamber  562  to flow through aperture  555  and fill chamber  554 . Aperture  555  may comprise a one-way valve. 
     Referring to  FIG. 9 , applicator  610  is seated in base  605 . The applicator comprises head portion  620 , handle portion  630  and a chamber  662 . The applicator has a screw-type dispenser of the type commonly used with lip stick, antiperspirants, etc., whereby turning the screw using an actuator (e.g., a turnable wheel), advances a dam which restricts its volume of the the chamber, causing the composition to be expelled through an orifice. The volume of chamber  662  is defined by the interior of head portion  620 , handle portion  630 , and ceiling  652 . The handle portion comprises an extended gripping portion  633  and actuator  656  that is coupled to threaded column  654 . Rotation of actuator  656 , which occurs via the rotation of handle portion  630  with respect to head portion  620  causes downward movement of ceiling  652  via threaded column  654 , thereby reducing the volume of chamber  662  and expelling any composition contained therein through outlet orifice  622  located on the outer surface of head portion  620 . 
     In some embodiments, the handle comprises a radial flange. In some embodiments, the flange is radially symmetric. In other embodiments, the flange is radially asymmetric, such that portions of the lip may extend to a position above the top surface of the button actuator and other portions of the lip may extend to a position below the top surface of the button actuator. 
     In some embodiments, the applicator may comprise an internal wall underneath the wall connecting the head portion to the handle portion. The internal wall may define an internal volume connected to a chamber. The applicator may comprise a chamber in fluid contact with the pump mechanism. Actuation of the button actuator may cause the structure defined by the internal wall to move downward with respect to the external wall. This movement may actuate the pump mechanism. This movement is similar to the movement of a syringe although the operational mechanics of the pump mechanism may or may not be similar. Actuation of this pump mechanism may cause the expulsion of the composition to the exterior of applicator through outlet orifice. In some embodiments, the button and structure defined by the inner wall return to their original position following actuation, for example, by action of a spring mechanism. In other embodiments, the button and structure defined by wall do not return to their original position following actuation. In some embodiments, the chamber may further comprise a collapsible bag containing a flowable composition. The collapsible bag may be sealed such that air is substantially unable to flow into or out of its interior volume. The bag is sealed to the inlet of pump mechanism so that the inlet is in fluid communication with the composition within the bag. Actuation of the pump mechanism may cause the composition to be expelled through orifice while no air is transferred into the collapsible bag, thereby decreasing the interior volume of the bag.