Patent Publication Number: US-2013243513-A1

Title: Packaging and applicator for skin care product

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to packaging for a consumer healthcare product, such as a skin care product, and a complementary applicator for the skin care product associated with such packaging. More particularly, the present invention relates to packaging for a consumer healthcare product with an applicator configured to mate with and to be coupled to such packaging. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Various products, such as cleaning products (e.g., for articles such as upholstery, floors, cars, or for humans, such as skin, teeth, hair), are advantageously used with an applicator that is used to apply the product to a surface. Such applicators may conveniently be sold with the packaging for the products with which the applicator is intended to be used. For additional convenience, such applicators may be coupled to the packaging so that the applicator remains with the packaging when stored for future use. Thus, the applicator for a particular product remains with the packaging for the product and is available for use with the product as desired. 
     An applicator for a product which preferably is used with such applicator may be coupled to the packaging for such product in any of a variety of manners. For instance, as shown in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,008,164 to Herman et al. and 3,565,541 to Vallis, a brush type applicator may be coupled to a container (such as a receptacle or can) containing the product to be applied with such brush via coupling arms (such as spring fingers or arms of a clamping sleeve) which extend greater than halfway around the circumference of the container. The combination dispenser and cleaning brush of U.S. Pat. No. 2,257,606 to Herbert has a brush applicator that is mounted to the cap of the container. The container in these applicator/packaging combinations may be used as a handle for the applicator, the applicator remaining coupled to the container during use. The applicators of these patents are each maintained on the exterior of a container for use as needed. It will be appreciated, however, that the applicators of these packaging/applicator combinations are generally not intended for individual use separate from the packaging. Accordingly, these packaging/applicator combinations are not particularly suited for use with products that preferably are applied with fine control, such as applicators that are to be manipulated with the user&#39;s fingers rather than being gripped in the palm of the user&#39;s hand. 
     Product containers that are specifically shaped to removably receive a portion of an applicator for applying the product in the container are also known in the art. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,558,453 to Bell et al. shows a container that has grooves specifically designed to receive portions of the applicator handle. And, U.S. patent D623,077 illustrates a container with a recess for receiving a scrub pad. The applicator accompanying both of these packagings may be removed, as desired, from the container to apply product from the container to a surface, and may be returned to coupled engagement with the container for storage. As may be appreciated, both of these applicator/packaging combinations have custom-shaped containers that are uniquely configured to receive a portion of the applicator selected to apply the product therein. Formation of containers to accommodate an applicator may result in increased overall container size to compensate of the loss of container volume resulting from the mating feature for receiving at least a portion of the applicator. Additionally, the applicators of these applicator/packaging combinations are uniquely shaped for mating with a particular container, and are not designed for being coupled to a stock container (i.e., one that is not custom-made for coupling with the applicator). Thus, added costs may be incurred for custom designing both the applicator and the container. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In accordance with principles of the present invention, a consumer healthcare product is contained within packaging that is configured to mate with and thereby to be coupled with an applicator for such consumer healthcare product. In accordance with one embodiment, the applicator is configured to mate with and thereby to be coupled with at least a portion of the packaging. Such container may have a substantially rigid element, and such applicator may be configured to be coupled with such rigid element in a substantially secure manner. In one embodiment, the container portion of the packaging is a tube and the rigid element of the packaging is a cap. The applicator in such embodiment has arms that extend around the cap to couple the applicator to the cap in a substantially secure manner. 
     The portion of the packaging to which the applicator (for applying the contents of the packaging) may be coupled advantageously may be a stock item that is not customized for the applicator. Instead, the applicator is customized for the stock item. As used herein, the term “stock” item is to be understood as one of ordinary skill in the art would understand such term, i.e., as an item which is commonly made for inventory (and stored until desired by a consumer for purchase) as well as for immediate sale to any of a variety of customers. As such, stock items are typically frequently ordered items, whether sold to one or many customers, and may be available from various sources as well (since the shape is not necessarily unique and therefore often not proprietary). A stock item may be contrasted with a non-stock item which is not manufactured for general purchase and stored, but, rather, is procured or made when needed, such as a custom-made or made-to-order item made according to a particular purchaser&#39;s specifications. Because various stock packaging for consumer healthcare products and the like exist, whereas applicators for the particular consumer healthcare product may have more particular specifications and thus require customization, the use of stock packaging (or at least a portion of the packaging) simplifies manufacture and reduces costs of a combined packaging and applicator formed in accordance with principles of the present invention by reducing the number of customized components by at least one. 
     In accordance with a separate and independent aspect of the present invention which may advantageously be applied to the applicator of the above-described packaging and applicator combination, an applicator may be formed with arm elements configured to facilitate holding and stabilizing of the applicator during use. Such arms may also advantageously be shaped and configured to couple the applicator to the packaging. In one embodiment, the applicator may further be ergonomically formed by having an ergonomically configured applicator head shaped and configured to receive a user&#39;s finger to optimally use the applicator to apply the consumer healthcare product contained within the packaging to which the applicator may be advantageously coupled. 
     These and other features and advantages of the present invention will be readily apparent from the following detailed description of the invention, the scope of the invention being set out in the appended claims. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The detailed description will be better understood in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference characters represent like elements, as follows: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a packaging and accompanying complementary applicator coupled thereto in accordance with principles of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is an end elevational view of the complementary applicator of  FIG. 1 ; and 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view of an applicator such as may be used in the combined packaging and applicator illustrated in  FIG. 1 , showing a user-engaging surface of the working end. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     An exemplary embodiment, formed in accordance with principles of the present invention, of a packaging  100  for a product, such as a consumer healthcare product (e.g., skin care, wound care, oral care, hair care, etc.), and an accompanying applicator  200  for applying such product is illustrated in  FIGS. 1-3 . Exemplary packaging  100  is illustrated as including a container  102  in the form of a tube, with a closure  104  in the form of a cap. However, other types of packaging may be used in accordance with the present invention, as will be discussed in further detail below. Applicator  200  is illustrated as having a proximal end  202  coupled to packaging  100 , a distal end  204  forming the working end of applicator  200 , and a neck or extension  206  (hereinafter “extension” for the sake of convenience, without intent to limit) therebetween. It will be appreciated, however, that other configurations of applicator  200  are within the scope of the present invention, as will be discussed in greater detail below. 
     Container  102  may be any type of container suited for containing a consumer healthcare product (e.g., a skincare product, a wound care product, an oral care product, a hair care product, etc.). Preferably, as discussed in further detail below, container  102  is a stock item available to the general public for purchase on demand and does not have any particular features uniquely designed to receive, to mate with, or otherwise to be coupled with an applicator. For instance, exemplary container  102  of  FIGS. 1-3  is a common tube, as well known in the art. Depending on the product to be contained therein, container  102  may be sufficiently flexible to be squeezed by a user&#39;s hand or fingers to dispense product therefrom. 
     Closure  104  may be any type of closure which suitably closes the dispensing end of container  102  to maintain the product therein. Like container  102 , closure  104  preferably also is a stock item, as well known in the art, and may be any type of closure such as, without limitation, a threaded or snap-on cap (which typically is completely removed from container  102  to dispense product from container  102 ) or a flip-top cap (such as with a living hinge to maintain the cap coupled with the packaging even when the cap is in an open configuration to allow for dispensing of product from container  102 ). 
     Proximal end  202  of exemplary applicator  200  of  FIGS. 1-3  includes a coupling element  210  shaped and configured to couple applicator  200  to packaging  100 . As may be appreciated, distal end  204  of applicator  200  is coupled to packaging  100  via proximal end  202  and is not directly coupled to packaging  100 . Distal end  204  of exemplary applicator  200  of  FIGS. 1-3  carries or is formed with an applicator element  220  configured to apply product from packaging  100  to a surface (e.g., the user&#39;s skin). In the exemplary embodiment of  FIGS. 1-3 , applicator element  220  faces away from packaging  100 , opposite the direction in which coupling element  210  extends to couple applicator  200  to packaging  100 . As such, packaging  100  need not be specifically shaped or configured to receive or otherwise to accommodate applicator element  220 . Exemplary applicator element  220  illustrated in  FIGS. 1-3  is a brush with a plurality of tufts  222  of bristles. For use with a skincare product, the bristles of tufts  222  may be made of PBT (polyester) resins that are tapered, the taper occurring over approximately 40% the bristle length. Standard toothbrush stapling technology may be used to form and to anchor tufts  222  to base  224  of applicator element  220 , with staples punched from, e.g., stainless steel roll stock. It will be appreciated that applicator element  220  may be any type of applicator element, preferably formed and selected to apply the product contained in packaging  100  in a suitable manner. For instance, applicator element  220  may be a foam applicator or a single tuft of elongated bristles (in contrast with the shorter bristles of the multiple tufts of the illustrated brush), or a disposable pad. Alternatively, distal end  204  may be formed as a rigid element which is preferably shaped and configured to apply the product contained within packaging  100  to a surface. 
     In accordance with principles of the present invention, applicator  200  is shaped and configured to be coupled with at least a portion of packaging  100 , and preferably to be maintained in coupled engagement with packaging  100 . In one embodiment, applicator  200  is shaped and configured specifically to mate with (e.g., by corresponding in shape or other features to result in coupling of applicator  200  and packaging  100 ) at least a portion of packaging  100  and to be coupled therewith. In the embodiment of  FIGS. 1-3 , proximal end  202  of applicator  200  is configured for engaging with, and preferably mating with, at least a portion of packaging  100 . Distal end  204 , extending from proximal end  202  via extension  206 , may be free from direct engagement with packaging  100  if the coupling of proximal end  202  with packaging  100  is sufficiently secure. Thus, distal end  204  need not contact or otherwise be engaged with packaging  100 , as proximal end  202  sufficiently coupled applicator  200  to packaging  100 . However, it will be appreciated that any other portion of applicator  200  (or more than one portion of applicator  200 ) may be configured for coupling applicator  200  to packaging  100 . 
     As noted above, in accordance with one aspect of the present invention, applicator  200  preferably is shaped and configured based on a common, stock packaging (such term as may be understood by one of ordinary skill in the art as defined above, i.e., as a standard item that has not be formed, shaped, configured, or otherwise manufactured with any particular customer specifications and therefore does not have any specific feature shaped or configured for receiving or otherwise being coupled with an applicator or other element) which is not specifically shaped, configured, formed, or otherwise customized for use in the present invention. Examples of such stock include but not limited to tube, bottle or any other container along with its complementary closures, suitable for liquid or cream based materials and currently commonly available to the general public for purchase. Instead, coupling element  210  of applicator  200  is specifically shaped and configured to be coupled to at least a portion of packaging  100 . In the exemplary embodiment of  FIGS. 1-3 , coupling element  210  is shaped and configured to be coupled to and preferably to mate with closure  104 , which preferably is a standard closure of a common shape. The outer surface of closure  104  preferably does not contribute to the coupling of applicator  200  thereto, and may be smooth or ribbed or have any other desired surface texture. As such, a unique mold is not required for such closure  104 , and preferably the only customized element of the present invention is applicator  200 . 
     It will be appreciated that use of a stock closure does not limit the shape of closure  104  to have a particular shape or configuration or outer surface selected to mate with or complement applicator  200 , coupling element  210  of applicator  200  being shaped and configured to conform to closure  104  for coupling therewith. Preferably, coupling element  210  is shaped and configured for coupling to closure  104  from any side of closure  104 . Coupling element  210  may be shaped to accommodate protrusions or recesses, such as living hinges, grooves, crevices or ridges for facilitating grasping of closure  104  (such as to open a flip-top cap), yet still engage with the outer surface of closure  104  to be coupled thereto. In the exemplary embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 3 , coupling element  210  has a recessed area  211  and container-engaging surfaces  212   a ,  212   b  preferably adjacent recessed area  211 . As such, exemplary coupling element  210  of  FIGS. 1-3  may readily be coupled to a variety of stock closures, including flip-top closures with living hinges that protrude somewhat, from any side of the closure. 
     Preferably, for reasons as will become evident, a closure with a substantially symmetrical cross-sectional shape (at least about one plane in which a longitudinal axis L of packaging  100  lies) is selected for design of a complementary-shaped coupling element  210 . For example, closure  104  may have a circular cross-section and may generally be readily available for purchase from any one of a number of suppliers (i.e., a closure  104  is a stock closure with circular cross-section). It will be appreciated that closures of other standard shapes may be used instead, applicator  200 , particularly coupling element  210 , being adapted for coupling with the stock closure  104 . For instance, a closure with an oval or square cross-sectional shape may be used. 
     In an embodiment in which packaging  100  has a rigid as well as a flexible element (such as packaging  100  of the embodiment of  FIGS. 1-3 ), applicator  200  preferably is configured for engaging with and preferably mating with the more rigid portion of packaging  100  so that preferably a more secure coupling of applicator  200  with packaging  100  is achieved. In the embodiment of  FIGS. 1-3 , container  102  of packaging  100  is a tube, and thus typically is flexible (to facilitate application or dispensing of the product contained therein), and closure  104  typically is more rigid than container  102 , and typically considered to be substantially rigid (i.e., does not readily flex upon application of pressure thereto during normal use of packaging  100 ). Thus, at least a portion of applicator  200  preferably is shaped and configured for coupling with closure  104  of packaging  100 . As such, a stock tube may be used for container  102  without any particular feature for coupling with or otherwise receiving applicator  200 . 
     As illustrated in the embodiment of  FIGS. 1-3 , coupling element  210  (provided at proximal end  202  of exemplary applicator  200 ) is shaped and configured to extend around at least a portion of closure  104  of packaging  100 . An exemplary configuration of coupling element  210  may be appreciated with reference to the end view of applicator  200  illustrated in  FIG. 2 , showing the curvature of coupling element  210 . As may be appreciated, the curvature of coupling element  210  preferably is selected to complement (such as substantially matching) the curvature of the portion of packaging  100  to which applicator  200  is to be coupled. In the case of the embodiment of  FIGS. 1-3 , the curvature of coupling element  210  preferably is selected to complement (such as by substantially matching) the curvature of closure  104  of packaging  100 . Although various coupling elements (such as a groove and snap-in bead) may be provided to couple applicator  100  and packaging  200 , coupling element  210  may simply be formed to extend sufficiently around the circumference of closure  104  to couple applicator  100  thereto in a substantially secure manner so that applicator  100  does not readily disengage from closure  104 . It will be appreciated that such extensions of coupling element  210  about closure  104  of packaging  100  is generally dictated by the properties of the material from which coupling element  210 , is formed. For instance, the more flexible the material of coupling element  210 , the greater the extent coupling element  210  may extend about closure  104 , since greater flexing of coupling element  210  to remove it from engagement with closure  104  may be achieved with reduced risk of breaking coupling element  210 . Conversely, the more rigid the material of coupling element  200 , the lesser the extent coupling element  210  may extent about closure  104  to avoid the risk of a more brittle material cracking upon removal of applicator  200  from packaging  100 . According to the present invention, typical materials from which the applicator can be formed are characterized by having a density from about 0.88 to about 1.70 g/cm 3 , a melt flow from about 0.2 to about 50 g/10 min @ (230° C./2.16 kg), a tensile strength from about 12 to about 369 MPa, an elongation from about 3.5 to about 35% and a Notched izod impact from about 4 to about 90 J/m at 23° C. In one embodiment, coupling element  210  is formed of polypropylene resin, preferably a clarified grade polypropylene homopolymer. Preferably, coupling element  210  extends at least approximately 50% of the original circumference/perimeter. In order to facilitate repeated coupling to and removal from packaging  100 , coupling element  210  preferably does not extend more than approximately 99% about closure  104 . 
     In the exemplary embodiment illustrated in  FIGS. 1-3 , coupling element  210  includes one or more coupling arms  214   a ,  214   b  (collectively coupling arms  214 , for the sake of convenience and without intent to limit) that are curved to extend around the circumference of closure  104 . It will be appreciated that other shapes or forms of coupling element  210  are within the scope of the present invention, such shapes or forms preferably being selected to complement or correspond to the outer dimension of the element (e.g., closure  104 ) of packaging  100  with which applicator  200  is to be coupled. Only a portion of coupling arms  214   a ,  214   b  needs to mate with or at least somewhat conform to the outer shape of closure  104  to couple applicator  200  with closure  104 . Although the coupling arms  214   a ,  214   b  of exemplary coupling element  204  substantially match the outer shape and dimension of closure  104  and mate with closure  104 , it will be appreciated that coupling arms  214   a ,  214   b  of coupling element  210  may conform to only a portion of the outer shape of closure  104  or need not conform to the outer shape of closure  104  at all so long as coupling arms  214   a ,  214   b  may couple applicator  200  to closure  104 . 
     In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, which may be applied separately from or in conjunction with any of the other aspects of the present invention (described herein, either above or below), coupling element  210  may comprise one or more elements that not only couple applicator  200  to packaging  100 , but also facilitate use of applicator  200 . Advantageously, exemplary coupling arms  214   a ,  214   b  preferably may be shaped and configured to facilitate grasping or manipulation of applicator  100  during use, and, specifically, may be ergonomically shaped and configured for optimal comfort during use. As such, coupling element  210  define a receiving area  215  (e.g., an area between coupling arms  214   a ,  214   b ) shaped and dimensioned to receive at least a portion of packaging  100  or at least a portion of a user&#39;s hand. It will be appreciated that the manner of using applicator  100  (and thus the portion of the user&#39;s hand to be received in receiving area  215  of coupling element  210 ) typically depends on the product contained within packaging  100  and which applicator  100  is intended to apply. For instance, if packaging  100  contains a skin care product such as a facial product (e.g., a scrub or exfoliator or acne product or other product intended to be applied with a brush), then applicator  100  may be sized for grasping with the user&#39;s hand, and, typically with the user&#39;s fingers (in contrast with being held in the palm of the user&#39;s hand). As such, coupling arms  214   a ,  214   b  preferably are sized and shaped for comfortable grasping with the user&#39;s fingers. For instance, coupling arms  214   a ,  214   b  may be sized and shaped to extend about one or more fingers, such as the user&#39;s index finger, with one arm being grasped between such finger and the adjacent thumb and the other arm being grasped or stabilized between such finger and the adjacent middle finger. Preferably, for improved handling and manipulation, coupling arms  214   a ,  214   b  are sized and shaped to receive only one finger (typically the index finger). One of ordinary skill in the art may readily determine particular dimensions of coupling arms  214   a ,  214   b  for grasping with the user&#39;s fingers, such as with reference to publicly available anthropometric data, such as the 1988 Anthropometric Survey of U.S. Army Personnel: Summary Statistics Interim Report, Technical Report NATICK/TR-89-027, March 1989, United States Army Natick Research, Development and Engineering Center, Natick, Mass. For instance, average (50 th  percentile) female index finger width measured at the proximal joint is 1.98 cm, the 5 th  percentile being 1.78 cm, and the 95 th  percentile being 2.20 cm; average (50 th  percentile) female finger width measured at the distal joint is 1.72 cm, the 5 th  percentile being 1.54 cm, and the 95 th  percentile being 1.94 cm; and the average (50 th  percentile) female index finger circumference measured at the distal joint is 5.09 cm, the 5 th  percentile being 4.77 cm, and the 95 th  percentile being 5.40 cm. Average (50 th  percentile) male index finger width measured at the proximal joint is 7.17 cm, the 5 th  percentile being 6.79 cm, and the 95 th  percentile being 7.75 cm; average (50 th  percentile) male finger width measured at the distal joint is 2.39 cm, the 5 th  percentile being 2.19 cm, and the 95 th  percentile being 2.64 cm; and average (50 th  percentile) male index finger circumference measured at the distal joint is 5.72 cm, the 5 th  percentile being 5.48 cm, and the 95 th  percentile being 6.03 cm. It will be appreciated that if a stock closure is used, the size of stock closure is preferably selected to permit formation of an applicator  200  with a coupling element  210  with the desired dimensions and shapes to facilitate grasping or manipulation of applicator  100  during use in accordance with this aspect of the present invention. Preferably, the space formed between coupling arms  214   a ,  214   b  is at least approximately 1.94 cm and up to approximately 2.585 cm in diameter, fitting 95% of the female and male index fingers and thus permitting users to have increased control of applicator  200  during use to target specific areas (e.g., of the face) while applying just right force (to apply the product and also to reduce pain and irritation as a result of the force of application). Preferably, coupling arms  214   a ,  214   b  are symmetrical for equally comfortable right or left handed use. 
     It will be appreciated that the flexibility or rigidity of coupling arms  214   a  and  214   b  is not critical to the invention so long as coupling arms  214   a  and  214   b  function to couple applicator  200  to packaging  100 . In particular, the rigidity or flexibility of coupling arms  214   a  and  214   b  preferably is selected so that applicator  200  remains coupled to packaging  100  when packaging  100  is transported or otherwise moved. In addition, applicator  200  should be removable from packaging  100  for use, as desired, separate from packaging  100 . If desired, coupling arms  214   a  and  214   b  may be flexible so that when a user&#39;s finger or fingers are inserted in receiving area  215  to use applicator  200 , coupling arms  214   a  and  214   b  may be flexed to increase user comfort in grasping applicator  200 . 
     According to a further aspect of the present invention, which may be applied with any or all or none of the above-described aspects of the present invention, distal end  204  of applicator  200  may be specifically shaped and configured for application of finger pressure thereto for application of the product contained within packaging  100 . Thus, in accordance with this aspect of the present invention, applicator  200  may be a finger applicator configured to be implemented by application of a user&#39;s finger thereto to use applicator  200  to apply a material to a surface. As may be appreciated, it may be desirable to form a finger applicator in an ergonomic manner to facilitate application of a finger thereto for manipulation thereof by a user&#39;s finger during its ordinary use and typically receives pressure or force applied by a user&#39;s finger or fingertip. In particular, in accordance with this aspect of the present invention, user-engaging surface  228  of applicator element  220  is shaped and configured to receive a finger tip, such as an index finger tip. For instance, the curvature of user engaging surface  228  of applicator element  220  may be curved about longitudinal axis L A  of applicator  200  to complement the curvature of average fingers or fingertips. According to the above-noted Anthropometric Survey, the average (50 th  percentile) circumference of a female index finger measured at the distal joint is 50.8 mm, the 5 th  percentile being 47.752 mm, the 25 th  percentile being 49.53 mm, the 75 th  percentile being 58.42 mm, and the 95 th  percentile being 53.848 mm; and the average (50 th  percentile) width of a female index finger measured at the distal joint is 17.272 mm, the 5 th  percentile being 15.494 mm, the 25 th  percentile being 16.51 mm, the 75 th  percentile being 18.034 mm, and the 95 th  percentile being 19.558 mm. The average (50 th  percentile) circumference of a male index finger measured at the distal joint is 57.15 mm, the 5 th  percentile being 54.864 mm, the 25 th  percentile being 56.134 mm, the 75 th  percentile being 52.07 mm, and the 95 th  percentile being 60.198 mm; and the average (50 th  percentile) width of a male index finger measured at the distal joint is 17.78 mm, the 5 th  percentile being 20.07 mm, the 25 th  percentile being 19.05 mm, the 75 th  percentile being 21.082 mm, and the 95 th  percentile being 22.86 mm. 
     Preferably, applicator  200  has an extension  206  separating applicator element  220  and coupling element  210 , thereby further contributing to the overall ergonomic design of applicator  200 . Specifically, if coupling element  210  is shaped and configured to receive a single finger and to be grasped at least between such finger and the user&#39;s thumb, and if the fingertip of such single finger is to apply pressure to applicator element  220 , then applicator element  220  preferably is spaced apart from coupling element  210  to permit the user&#39;s finger to apply fingertip pressure to applicator element  220  and grasp coupling element  220  between a more proximal region of that user&#39;s finger and the adjacent user&#39;s thumb with the user&#39;s finger at least somewhat extended (only partially bent). Extension  206  preferably is sized, shaped, and dimensioned to accommodate comfortably the extent of a user&#39;s index finger between the index fingertip and the more proximal region at which the adjacent thumb would comfortably grasp coupling element  210  with such region of the index finger. More particularly, the length of applicator  200  is selected to accommodate a portion of a finger between receiving area  215  of coupling element  210  and user-engaging surface  228  of applicator element  220 . One of ordinary skill in the art would be able to determine optimal dimensions with reference to such data as provided in the above-noted Anthropometric Survey (giving the average (50 th  percentile) length of a female index finger as 6.9 m, the 5 th  percentile being 6.2 cm, and the 95 th  percentile being 7.7 m; and the average (50 th  percentile) length of a male index finger as 7.5 cm, the 5 th  percentile being 6.7 cm, and the 95 th  percentile being 8.4 cm). Preferably, the total length of applicator  200  along applicator longitudinal axis L A  is at least approximately 4.2 cm and less than approximately 8.4 cm, fitting 95% of the female index fingers and thus permitting users to have increased control of applicator  200  during use to target specific areas (e.g., of the face) while applying just right force (to apply the product and also to reduce pain and irritation as a result of the force of application). 
     When an ergonomically configured finger applicator is formed with ergonomically-shaped coupling arms  214   a ,  214   b  for grasping coupling element  210  during use, an overall advantageously ergonomic applicator  200  is formed. It will be appreciated that the inner, packaging-facing surfaces of applicator  200  are not necessarily shaped or configured to facilitate coupling of applicator  200  to packaging  100 . Accordingly, ergonomic configurations of any part of applicator  200  generally do not interfere with the above-described aspect of the present invention of coupling or mating applicator  200  (and particularly coupling element  210  of applicator  200 ) with packaging  100 . 
     In one embodiment formed in accordance with various aspects of the present invention described above, packaging  100  is a tube containing a consumer healthcare product such as a skin care product, and applicator  200  has a brush type applicator element  220  with bristles properties (e.g., thickness, material, length, etc.) selected for optimal application of the skin care product to a user&#39;s face upon application of finger pressure (typically via the user&#39;s index finger) to finger-receiving surface  228  of brush type applicator element  220 . If desired, the shape of applicator element  220  may be selected to be narrower at the distal-most end to facilitate access of the distal-most end thereof to hard-to-reach areas, such as the corners of the user&#39;s nose. As may be appreciated, the configuration of applicator  200  may be altered based on the consumer healthcare product to be contained within packaging  100 , and preferably is selected to optimize application of such consumer healthcare product. 
     It will be appreciated features described with respect to one embodiment typically may be applied to another embodiment, whether or not explicitly indicated. The various features hereinafter described may be used singly or in any combination thereof. Therefore, the present invention is not limited to only the embodiments specifically described herein. The exemplary embodiment illustrated in the figures has several separate and independent inventive features, which each, at least alone, has unique benefits which are desirable for, yet not critical to, the present invention. Therefore, the various separate features of the present invention need not all be present in order to achieve at least some of the desired characteristics and/or benefits of the present invention. One or more separate features may be combined, or only one of the various features need be present in a packaging and applicator set formed in accordance with principles of the present invention. 
     While the foregoing description and drawings represent exemplary embodiments of the present invention, it will be understood that various additions, modifications and substitutions may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. In particular, it will be clear to those skilled in the art that the present invention may be embodied in other specific forms, structures, arrangements, proportions, and with other elements, materials, and components, without departing from the spirit or essential characteristics thereof. One skilled in the art will appreciate that the invention may be used with many modifications of structure, arrangement, proportions, materials, and components and otherwise, used in the practice of the invention, which are particularly adapted to specific environments and operative requirements without departing from the principles of the present invention. For example, elements shown as integrally formed may be constructed of multiple parts or elements shown as multiple parts may be integrally formed, the operation of elements may be reversed or otherwise varied, the size or dimensions of the elements may be varied. The presently disclosed embodiments are therefore to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, the scope of the invention being indicated by the appended claims, and not limited to the foregoing description. In the claims, the term “comprises/comprising” does not exclude the presence of other elements or steps. Additionally, although individual features may be included in different claims, these may possibly advantageously be combined, and the inclusion in different claims does not imply that a combination of features is not feasible and/or advantageous. In addition, singular references do not exclude a plurality.