Abstract:
A package based upon an air pump system is provided for dispensing a cosmetic composition. In one aspect, the package provides enhanced delivery of the composition without affecting the stability of the composition. The pump system includes a bulb system and a balloon element in fluid communication therewith. Compression of the bulb system transmits air from the bulb system into the balloon to inflate the balloon, applying pressure to the composition to extrude it through an exit orifice in the container. When the bulb system is decompressed, some air returns from the balloon to the bulb system, thereby releasing pressure on the composition.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    The present invention relates to improved packages for dispensing cosmetic compositions, and more particularly, to a package for dispensing an antiperspirant or deodorant composition using an air pump system.  
         BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    Cosmetic compositions, such as for example dental, skin, hair, and antiperspirant and deodorant formulations, can comprise a number of forms, such as a liquid or cream, or possibly a gel or micronized powder. Such compositions are dispensed in a variety of packages that are commercially available or otherwise known in the respective art.  
           [0003]    The antiperspirant and deodorant product group is designed to provide effective perspiration and odor control while also being cosmetically acceptable during and after application onto the underarm area or other areas of the skin. Antiperspirant creams have become increasingly more popular as an effective alternative to antiperspirant sprays and solid sticks. These creams can be applied by conventional means, or packaged into topical dispensers to make topical application more efficient and less messy. Many of these creams, however, are cosmetically unacceptable to a large number of antiperspirant users because application can be messy and extrusion from the container difficult. Moreover, the creams can be pressure sensitive so that application of a force to extrude the cream composition out of its container can cause pressure build-up within the container and thus affect the stability of the composition.  
           [0004]    Antiperspirant deodorant compositions are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,534,245 and International Patent Application WO 98/51185. International Patent Application WO 00/64302 discloses a package suitable for dispensing a flowable cosmetic composition. Use of pumps in connection with support devices is disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,113,599; 5,437,615; and 5,987,779.  
           [0005]    An object of the present invention to provide a package for dispensing a cosmetic composition, preferably a flowable antiperspirant composition, which provides enhanced delivery of the composition without affecting the stability of the composition.  
           [0006]    Another object of the present invention is to provide a packaging system for easy extrusion of a cosmetic composition from the package.  
           [0007]    Other objects of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art by reference to the specification.  
           [0008]    As used herein, the term “comprising” means including, made up of, composed of, consisting and/or consisting essentially of. Except in the operating and comparative examples, or where otherwise explicitly indicated, all numbers in this description indicating amounts or ratios of material or conditions of reaction, physical properties of materials and/or use are to be understood as modified by the word “about”.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0009]    A package based upon an air pump system is provided for dispensing a cosmetic composition, particularly an antiperspirant or deodorant composition. In one aspect, the package provides enhanced delivery of the composition without affecting the stability of the composition. The pump system includes a bulb system and a balloon element in fluid communication therewith, whereby compression of the bulb system transmits air from the bulb system into the balloon to inflate the balloon, applying pressure to the composition to extrude it through an exit orifice in the container. When the bulb system is decompressed, some air returns from the balloon to the bulb system, thereby releasing pressure on the composition.  
           [0010]    In one embodiment, the package includes:  
           [0011]    a container containing a cosmetic composition and having opposing first and second ends, the first end having at least one exit orifice; and  
           [0012]    a pump system for extruding the composition through the exit orifice located on the container in a position other than the first end, the pump system including:  
           [0013]    (b1) a bulb secured to the container and extending from it at a location other than the first end, the bulb having an opening therein;  
           [0014]    (b2) an internal member secured to the container and extending into the container;  
           [0015]    (b3) the bulb and the internal member being affixed to define an enclosed volume therein;  
           [0016]    (b4) a valve, preferably a one-way valve, located within the internal member and extending into the container.  
           [0017]    The pump system optionally includes a balloon element disposed within the container and adjacent the internal member. The valve extends from the internal member into the balloon element. Compression of the bulb transmits air through the valve and into the balloon element to inflate the balloon element, thereby applying pressure to the composition in the container to thereby extrude the composition through the exit orifice. In one aspect, the bulb may be made of a material with good memory, allowing it to return to a pre-depressed state.  
           [0018]    In another preferred embodiment, pressure relief is provided after inflation, with a package for dispensing deodorant or antiperspirant compositions for topical application to human skin including:  
           [0019]    a container containing a cosmetic composition and having opposing first and second ends, the first end having an exit orifice or a plurality of exit orifices, the container having an opening in a position other than the first end;  
           [0020]    a pump system for extruding the composition through the exit orifice, the pump system located on the container in said position other than the first end, the pump system including:  
           [0021]    (b1) a bulb system secured to the container and extending from it at said position other than the first end about the opening therein, the bulb system including a first bulb having a perimeter edge and extending over the opening and a second bulb having a perimeter edge and and extending beyond and encompassing the first bulb, wherein the respective perimeter edges of the first bulb and the second bulb are concentrically adjacent, wherein the second bulb has an opening therein;  
           [0022]    (b2) preferably a one-way valve, located at said position other than the first end, preferably, between the respective perimeter edges of the first bulb and the second bulb;  
           [0023]    (b3) a balloon element disposed within the container, extending at least so as to enclose the valve and the opening in the container, to the first balloon.  
           [0024]    Compression of the second bulb compresses the first bulb, transmitting air through the valve into the balloon, inflating the balloon and extruding the composition through the exit orifices. Once the pressure on the bulbs is released, a volume of air returns from the balloon into the first bulb to provide pressure relief on the composition. The degree of pressure relief can be controlled by adjusting the ratio of the volume of the first bulb to the volume of the second bulb.  
           [0025]    In another aspect, the first and second bulbs are adjacent, with the first bulb extending about the opening in the container, and the second bulb extending about the valve.  
           [0026]    A cap seatable over said first end of said container is further provided. Optionally, a support member extending from the container and housing the bulb system may be provided. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0027]    The following figures are intended for purposes of illustration and example.  
         [0028]    [0028]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0029]    [0029]FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the embodiment according to FIG. 1;  
         [0030]    [0030]FIG. 3 is a bottom view of the embodiment according to FIG. 1;  
         [0031]    [0031]FIG. 4A is a partial cross-sectional view taken along line  4 A- 4 A of FIG. 3 with the bulb in a static position;  
         [0032]    [0032]FIG. 4B is a partial cross-sectional view similar to that of FIG. 4A but showing the bulb in an activated position;  
         [0033]    [0033]FIG. 4C is a partial cross-sectional view similar to FIG. 4B showing a second step of the activation, with the balloon element fully inflated;  
         [0034]    [0034]FIG. 4D is a partial cross-sectional view similar to FIG. 4C showing a third step of the bulb being re-inflated; and  
         [0035]    FIGS.  5 A-D are diagrammatical representations of a second preferred embodiment of the pump system of the present invention during operation; and  
         [0036]    FIGS.  6 A-D are diagrammatical representations of a variant of the embodiment of FIGS.  5 A-D. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0037]    The present invention relates to a package for dispensing a cosmetic composition, such as a dental, skin, hair, antiperspirant or deodorant composition. Preferably, for flowable compositions such as a flowable antiperspirant or deodorant composition, which may experience synerisis upon being subjected to pressure, the present invention provides enhanced delivery of the composition without affecting the stability of the composition. Flowable compositions are meant to encompass soft solid or cream cosmetic formulations having a hardness of at least about 0.003 N/mm 2  at 25° C. Hardness, especially of soft solids, can be measured by a conventional sphere indentation technique, using a Stable Micro systems TA.XT2I™ Texture Analyzer. In some antiperspirant and deodorant formulations in the form of soft solids herein, the so measured hardness is up to about 0.05 N/mm 2  at 25° C. and particularly up to about 0.02 N/mm 2  at 25° C.  
         [0038]    Referring to the accompanying drawings, FIGS.  1 - 3  provide perspective, elevational, and bottom views of a preferred embodiment of the package of the present invention. In the preferred embodiment, package  10  includes a container  12  with opposing first and second ends,  14  and  16 , respectively, side wall  22 , and a cap  24  seated on container  12 . In the preferred embodiment, container  12  is constructed from thermoplastic materials. Polyolefins such as polyethylene and, preferably, polypropylene, are most suitable plastic materials. Other suitable material known to persons of ordinary skill in the art is contemplated to be within the scope of the present invention.  
         [0039]    First end  14  has exit orifice  18 . In other embodiments, first end  14  may contain a plurality of exit orifices, depending on the design desired for container  12 . In the preferred embodiment, a pump system  20  is located on side wall  22  of container  12 . It should be noted that pump system  20  may be located at any location on container  12  other than first end  14 . The flexibility of pump system  20  allows for any shape container  12 . Cap  24  is seatable over first end  14  to enclose exit orifice  18  when package  10  is not in use.  
         [0040]    In a first preferred embodiment of the present invention, with reference to FIGS.  4 A-D, pump system  20  comprises an internal member  26  disposed in and extending into container  12  and bulb  30  extending outwardly from container  12  beyond side wall  22 . Bulb  30  is affixed to internal member  26  and secured to container  12  by means commonly known to persons of ordinary skill in the art such as through a heat seal, ultrasonic welding, or a clip seal. Bulb  30  and support  26  define enclosed volume  28  therebetween. Bulb  30  may be constructed from materials such as rubber or other elastomeric material. Internal member  26  may be constructed from either a rigid moldable material or from elastomeric material, depending on the desired effect for pump system  20 . Bulb  30  and internal member  26  may optionally be disposed within support member  36 , which extends from container  12  and defines an opening to surround and house bulb  30 . Support  36  is constructed from any rigid moldable material such as thermoplastic polymers.  
         [0041]    As a variation, bulb  30  may be integrally formed, such as by bi-injection molding, with side wall  22 , where side wall  22  could be molded from a polyolefin thermoplastic and the area encompassing bulb  30  could be molded from an elastomeric or rubber material.  
         [0042]    Internal member  26  has a valve  32  disposed therein and extending from within enclosed volume  28  into container  12 . Valve  32  is preferably a one-way valve so that air may pass through valve  32  in the direction  42  from bulb  30  but cannot return through valve  32  into bulb  30 . Bulb  30  has a vent opening  34  therein. Preferably, opening  34  on bulb  30  allows for air movement between the outside environment and enclosed volume  28 . Vent  34  may optionally incorporate a valve system (not shown) to limit the direction and flow of air. In the most preferred embodiment, a balloon element  38  is disposed within container  12  and at least encloses valve  32  to be in fluid communication with enclosed volume  28 . Balloon element  38  may be constructed from rubber or another elastomeric material. However, it should be noted that the present invention is functional without the employment of balloon element  38 .  
         [0043]    During operation of pump system  20 , with reference to FIGS. 4A and 4B, pressure is manually applied to bulb  30  in direction  40 . In doing so, vent opening  34  is closed. The pressure causes bulb  30  to depress into enclosed volume  28  toward internal member  26  to cause air to be pushed through one-way valve  32  in direction  42  and into balloon element  38 . Balloon element  38  then expands with the increase in air pressure and pushes a composition  44  upward in direction  46  so that an amount of composition  44  is extruded through and thereby exits exit orifice  18 . Once bulb  30  is fully depressed, as shown in FIG. 4C, one-way valve  32  closes so that the air cannot retreat from balloon element  38  into bulb  30 . Bulb  30  re-inflates by the flow of air into opening  28  through vent opening  34 .  
         [0044]    In a second preferred embodiment, package  110 , similarly to package  10 , includes a container  112  with opposing first and second ends,  114  and  116 , respectively, side wall  122 , and a cap  124  seated on container  112 . In the preferred embodiment, container  112  is constructed from thermoplastic materials. Polyolefins such as polyethylene and, preferably, polypropylene, are most suitable plastic materials. Other suitable material known to persons of ordinary skill in the art is contemplated to be within the scope of the present invention.  
         [0045]    First end  114  has exit orifice  118 . In other embodiments, first end  114  may contain a plurality of exit orifices  118 , depending on the design desired for container  112 . In the preferred embodiment, a pump system  120  is located on side wall  122  of container  112 . It should be noted that pump system  120  may be located at any location on container  112  other than first end  114 . The flexibility of pump system  120  allows for any shape container  112 . Cap  124  is seatable over first end  114  to enclose exit orifice  118  when package  110  is not in use.  
         [0046]    Further with reference to the second preferred embodiment, providing for pressure relief after inflation, FIGS.  5 A-D are diagrams of pump system  120 . Pump system  120  comprises a first bulb  130  extending over an opening  132  on side wall  122  of container  112  from its perimeter edge  148  defining a mouth thereof. A second bulb  131  extends beyond first bulb  130  from its perimeter edge  150  and is concentric with perimeter edge  148 , so as to encompass bulb  130 . When bulbs  130  and  131  are semi-spherical, as in the illustrative example of FIGS.  5 A- 5 D, perimeter edges  148  and  150  are concentric circumferential edges. An exhaust valve  134  is located on second bulb  131 , preferably, at a location on the same plane perpendicular to side wall  122  as opening  132 . A valve  136  is located on side wall  122  between perimeter edge  148  of first bulb  130  and perimeter edge  150  of second bulb  131 . Valve  136  is preferably a one-way valve, in the direction of container  112 . A balloon element  138  extends within container  112  about valve  136  and opening  132  to be in fluid communication with the volumes of bulbs  130 , 131 . In another aspect, as a variation, bulb  130  and bulb  131  can be disposed adjacently.  
         [0047]    Bulb  131  may be integrally formed, such as by bi-injection molding, with side wall  122 , where side wall  122 , could be molded from a polyolefin thermoplastic and the area encompassing bulb  131  could be molded from an elastomeric or rubber material.  
         [0048]    During operation, with reference to FIG. 5B, second bulb  131  is manually compressed in direction  140 , shutting exhaust valve  134 , so that air is transferred into container  112  through valve  136  to expand balloon element  138  and push composition  144  through container  112 . As seen in FIG. 5C, first bulb  130  also compresses to push air into balloon element  138  through opening  132 . During decompression, as seen in FIG. 5D, some air can return back from balloon element  138  into first bulb  130  through opening  132  releasing pressure from balloon element  138 . This feature is designed to accommodate compositions  144  that are sensitive to pressure during operation of package  110 . Second bulb  131  re-inflates through valve  134 . The percentage of air that can return from balloon element  138  to first bulb  130  is about 5% to about 95%. Preferably, about 10% is released back into first bulb  130 . Thereby, pressure relief on composition  144  is achieved. The degree of pressure relief varies with the percentage of air returning into first bulb  130  and can be controlled by adjusting the ratio of the volumes of first bulb  130  and second bulb  131 . The ratio of the volumes of first and second bulbs  130  and  131  may be about 1:20 to about 1:5.  
         [0049]    With reference to FIGS.  6 A-D, as a variation, first bulb  130  can be omitted and the functionality of first bulb  130  can be achieved by controlling the flexibility of a defined section  123  of side wall  122 . This can be achieved through variations in the material position and/or distribution, or bi-injection. Section  123  is an integral segment of side wall  122  and, preferably, projects outwardly from container  112  in its static state, as shown in FIG. 6A. The shape or geometry of section  123  may be varied or adjusted, allowing the control of flexibility thereof, thereby achieving functionality similar to that of first bulb  130  of the variant of FIGS.  5 A-D. Section  123  could be molded in a preferential position in relation to second bulb  131 , preferably inverted into the air volume captured within second bulb  131 . By virtue of the physical characteristics imposed on the defined section  123  of side wall  122 , section  123  will preferably wish to return to its molded position. In operation, as second bulb  131  is manually depressed, section  123  of side wall  122  will flex from its molded position in direction of  140  into balloon element  138 . Once section  123  has flexed to its maximum extent, air from second bulb  131  will pass through valve  136  into balloon element  138 . Upon decompression, a controlled degree of pressure relief will be achieved by the change in geometry of balloon element  138  as described by the change in the geometric position of wall section  123 , moving from its maximum extension state back to its preferential molded position. The degree of pressure relief can be varied by adjusting the geometry of wall section  123 .  
         [0050]    The present invention package is particularly suitable for flowable cosmetic compositions, particularly antiperspirant and deodorant compositions, preferably in cream form. Examples of suitable antiperspirant and deodorant compositions are as follows.  
         [0051]    An antiperspirant composition includes an antiperspirant active. The proportion of antiperspirant active present in the composition according to the invention may be about 1% to about 35% by weight of the composition, preferably at least about 5% by weight and more preferably about 15% to about 30% by weight of the base composition. A base composition herein excludes any propellant that may be employed.  
         [0052]    Examples of suitable actives include aluminium salts, zirconium salts, aluminium and/or zirconium complexes, for example aluminium halides, aluminium hydroxy halides, zirconyl oxyhalides, zirconyl hydroxyhalides, and mixtures thereof. Specific examples include activated aluminium chlorohydrate, aluminium chlorohydrate, aluminium pentachlorohydrate and aluminium zirconium chlorohydrate. Useful zirconium salts include zirconium hydroxy-chloride and zirconium oxychloride. Other generally used actives will be known to those skilled in the art. Preferred actives include ZAG (Zirconium Aluminium Glycine), AAZG (Activated Aluminium Zirconium Glycine), and AACH (Activated Aluminium Chlorohydrate). The antiperspirant active can be present in particulate form whereupon it is normally suspended in a suitable carrier fluid, which usually is water-immiscible, and which can be structured or thickened. Alternatively the active can be dissolved in a polar solution, such as for example in aqueous solution or in a polar low weight polyhydric alcohol such as propylene glycol, advantageously about 30% to about 60% by weight solution.  
         [0053]    The deodorant compositions normally comprise about 0.01 to about 90% of a deodorant active. The deodorant active used in the cosmetics of the invention can be any deodorant active known in the art such as alcohols, in particular aliphatic monohydric alcohols such as ethanol or propanol, antimicrobial actives such as polyhexamethylene biguanides, e.g., those available under the trade name Cosmocil™ or chlorinated aromatics, e.g., triclosan available under the trade name Irgasan™, non-microbiocidal deodorant actives such as triethylcitrate, bactericides and bacteriostats. Yet other deodorant actives can include zinc salts such as zinc ricinoleate.  
         [0054]    The carrier material for the compositions according to the invention can comprise one or more of volatile carrier fluids, one or more of non-volatile emollients, and it can be structured or thickened by one or a combination of thickener and/or structurant materials if required. The carrier material, including, where relevant, carrier materials providing additional properties such as emolliency, can often comprise up to about 99 wt %, in many instances about 5 to 90 wt % and particularly about 10 to about 70 wt % of the composition, or of the base composition, if mixed subsequently with a propellant. Where the composition comprises both hydrophilic and hydrophobic phases, the weight ratio of the two phases is often in the range of about 10:1 to about 1:10.  
         [0055]    The antiperspirant or deodorant composition can consist of a mixture of particulate solids or a suspension of solids in a liquid medium, which can be thickened to reduce the rate of segregation or structured to produce a cream (soft solid) or even solid. Alternatively, the composition can be a mixture of liquid constituents, including a solution of an active in a carrier, such a composition often adopting the form of an oil-in-water or water-in-oil emulsion, which may be thickened or gelled.  
         [0056]    The carrier material, which may be a fluid or a mixture of fluids, is often selected according to the physical form of the cosmetic composition, e.g. volatile low viscosity silicones, low molecular weight hydrocarbons, alcohols and water, and can be selected by those skilled in the art to provide appropriate physical and sensory properties for the product. It will be understood that certain fluid alcohols such as in particular ethanol can constitute both a carrier and a deodorant active simultaneously, though advantageously formulations containing such a material also contain an additional deodorant and/or antiperspirant active.  
         [0057]    The thickening or structurant agent, when required, is selected according to the product form of the cosmetic composition. The thickening or structuring agent can be organic (monomeric or polymeric) or inorganic and is usually chosen depending on the physical nature of the liquid phase to be thickened or structured, such as whether it is hydrophobic or hydrophilic. The amount is normally selected in order to attain the desired viscosity of the liquid or cream or desired resistance to penetration of a solid in accordance with the present invention.  
         [0058]    Soft solid or cream formulations herein usually have a hardness of at least about 0.00003 N/mm 2 , preferably at least about 0.003 N/mm 2  at 25° C. Hardness, especially of soft solids, can be measured by a conventional sphere indentation technique, using a Stable Micro systems TA.XT2I™ Texture Analyser. In some formulations in the form of soft solids herein, the so measured hardness is up to about 0.05 N/mm 2  at 25° C. and particularly up to about 0.02 N/mm 2  at 25° C. In other and harder formulations in stick form, their hardness is greater than about 0.05 N/mm 2  at 25° C. and particularly greater than about 0.1 N/mm 2  at 25° C.  
         [0059]    The thickener or structurant can be any of a number of materials, including, for example, waxy structurants for a formulation containing a water-immiscible phase including hydrogenated vegetable oil, hydrogenated castor oil, fatty acids, such as 12-hydroxystearic acid (12-HSA), or ester or amide derivatives of such acids, beeswax, paraffin wax, microcrystalline waxes, silicone wax, and fatty alcohols, such as stearyl alcohol. The structurant can also be a fibre-forming gellant, of which 12-HSA is an example. Other examples include N-acyl amino acid amides and esters, including particularly GP-1 (N-Lauroyl-L-glutamic acid di-n-butylamide), lanosterol, combinations of a sterol and a sterol ester, such as especially β-sitosterol and χ-oryzanol, a polyesterified cellobiose, especially with a C8 to C10 aliphatic acid, threitol esters of and selected secondary amides of di or tri basic carboxylic acids, (e.g., 2-dodecyl-N,N′-dibutylsuccinimide) by themselves or in combination.  
         [0060]    Polymeric materials for thickening include polymers such as polyamides, hydroxypropylcellulose, and natural or synthetic gums, such as polyglycerides including agar, agarose, pectin, or guars or mixtures or combinations thereof. One class of materials worthy of attention for thickening a water-immiscible phase includes derivatives of hydrolyzed starch or other polysaccharides, including in particular esterified dextrins, such as dextrin palmitate. A further class of polymers that is particularly directed to structuring an oil phase containing a silicone oil comprises polysiloxane elastomers. Suspending agents such as silicas or clays such as bentonite, montmorillonite or hectorite, including those available under the trademark Bentone can also be employed to thicken liquid compositions according to the invention. The composition can be thickened with non-polymeric organic gellants, including selected dibenzylidene alditols (e.g., dibenzylidene sorbitol).  
         [0061]    The amount of structurant or thickening agent that can be employed in the invention compositions will depend upon the viscosity of a fluid formulation or extent of hardness of a solid formulation that the producer wishes to attain. The amount to be employed will, in practice, also vary depending on the chemical nature of the structurant or thickening agent. In many instances, the amount of structurant or thickening agent will be selected in the range of about 0.1 to about 25 wt %, and particularly about 1 to about 15 wt %.  
         [0062]    Other ingredients contemplated within the personal deodorant or antiperspirants art can also be included in the compositions according to the invention, depending on the nature and form of the finished product. These include, for example, surfactants/wash-off agents, fillers, fragrances, antioxidants, preservatives and colouring agents. Such ingredients and their amounts of use are usually selected according to the physical and chemical form of the cosmetic composition. Other optional ingredients are other cosmetic adjuncts conventionally employed or contemplated for employment in antiperspirant or deodorant products.  
         [0063]    Various other embodiments of the present invention are contemplated to be within the scope of the present invention.