Patent Publication Number: US-11021299-B2

Title: Capping structure and container having the same

Description:
PRIORITY CLAIM AND CROSS-REFERENCE 
     This application claims priority of China application No. 201820455932.9 filed on Apr. 2, 2018, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present disclosure relates to a capping structure and a container, and more particularly, to a capping structure with a window to see through. 
     DISCUSSION OF THE BACKGROUND 
     Various containers and types of outer packaging have been introduced to the market in large quantities. A general purpose of a container is to protect contents contained in the container. However, as market competition increases, various features of luxury, beauty, color and quality of outward appearance of a container have become important in attracting consumer attention and enhancing sales. 
     To achieve desired functions, e.g. good outward appearance, good quality, long service life and good protection of the contents, material and manufacturing costs of a container have increased. In addition, a high quality and beautiful container or packing is conventionally made of metal or glossy colored material, for example, and customers need to open a container every time they want to check the product or contents inside the container. 
     This Background section is provided for background information only. The statements in this Background are not an admission that the subject matter disclosed in this section constitutes prior art to the present disclosure, and no part of this Background section may be used as an admission that any part of this application, including this Background section, constitutes prior art to the present disclosure. 
     SUMMARY 
     One aspect of the present disclosure provides a capping structure including a tubular shell and a cap window. The cap window is transparent and engaged with an inner sidewall of the tubular shell. The cap window includes a cover and a brace. The cover is disposed at an opening of the tubular shell, and the brace protrudes from the cover and has at least a surface being parallel to the inner sidewall of the tubular shell. 
     In some embodiments, the cap window is engaged with the tubular shell by friction between the brace of the cap window and the inner sidewall of the tubular shell. 
     In some embodiments, the tubular shell is made of fibrous material. 
     In some embodiments, material of the tubular shell includes at least one of paper, wood fiber, cellulose fibers, wood pulp, straw pulp, hemp pulp, mash pulp, sugar cane pulp, bamboo pulp, and rag pulp. 
     In some embodiments, the sidewall has a circular configuration extending from the first opening toward a second opening of the tubular shell and along the inner sidewall of the tubular shell, and the second opening is opposite to the first opening. 
     In some embodiments, the tubular shell has a curved end at the first opening of the tubular shell. 
     In some embodiments, the curved end is folded inward to form the first opening with a radius smaller than a radius of the second opening. 
     In some embodiments, the cover of the cap window is disposed at the first opening inside the tubular shell and against the curved end of the tubular shell. 
     In some embodiments, the brace of the cap window has a first length along the inner sidewall of the tubular shell, the inner sidewall of the tubular shell has a second length parallel to the first length, and the second length is greater than the first length. 
     In some embodiments, a ratio of a length of the brace to a width of the cover from a cross-section perspective is greater than 0.1. 
     Another aspect of the present disclosure provides a container for medicine, edible products, or cosmetic products. The container includes a tubular shell, a holder, and a cap window. The tubular shell has a first opening and a second opening, wherein the first opening is opposite to the second opening; the holder is engaged with an inner sidewall of the tubular shell from the second opening; and the cap window is engaged with the inner sidewall at the first opening of the tubular shell. The cap window is transparent and includes a cover and a brace. The cover is disposed at the first opening of the tubular shell, and the brace protrudes from the cover and has at least a surface being parallel to the inner sidewall of the tubular shell. 
     In some embodiments, the holder includes a base disposed outside the tubular shell and a body connected to the base and disposed inside the tubular shell. 
     In some embodiments, the container is a lipstick container, and the base and the body are rotated in different directions to push up or pull down a lipstick. 
     In some embodiments, the cap window is engaged with the tubular shell by friction between the brace of the cap window and the inner sidewall of the tubular shell. 
     In some embodiments, the tubular shell is made of paper. 
     In some embodiments, the cap window is made from at least one of polyamides (PA, or nylons), polycarbonate (PC), polyester (PES), polyethylene (PE), high-density polyethylene (HDPE), low-density polyethylene (LDPE), polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polypropylene (PP), polystyrene (PS), polyurethanes (PU), polyvinyl chloride (PVC), polyvinylidene chloride (PVDC), polyethylene terephthalate modified glycol (PETG), polycyclohexane dimethyl terephthalate modified by glycol (PCTG), polylactide (PLA), crystallized polylactic acid (CPLA), post-consumer recycled plastic (PCR), and acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS). 
     In some embodiments, the sidewall has a circular configuration protruding from a peripheral region of the cover extending from the first opening toward the second opening of the tubular shell and along the inner sidewall of the tubular shell. 
     In some embodiments, an end of the tubular shell is folded toward the inner sidewall to form the first opening. 
     In some embodiments, the cover of the cap window is disposed at the first opening inside the tubular shell and against a curved end of the tubular shell. 
     In some embodiments, a radius of the first opening is smaller than that of the second opening. 
     The foregoing has outlined rather broadly the features and technical advantages of the present disclosure in order that the detailed description of the disclosure that follows may be better understood. Additional features and advantages of the disclosure will be described hereinafter, and form the subject of the claims of the disclosure. It should be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the conception and specific embodiment disclosed may be readily utilized as a basis for modifying or designing other structures or processes for carrying out the same purposes as those of the present disclosure. It should also be realized by those skilled in the art that such equivalent constructions do not depart from the spirit and scope of the disclosure as set forth in the appended claims. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       A more complete understanding of the present disclosure may be derived by referring to the detailed description and claims when considered in connection with the Figures, where like reference numbers refer to similar elements throughout the Figures, and: 
         FIG. 1  is an assembled side view of a capping structure in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 2  is a cross-sectional perspective of the capping structure shown in  FIG. 1  in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 3  is an exploded perspective of the capping structure shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2  in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure. 
         FIGS. 4 to 5  are 3D views from different directions of a cap window in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 6  is a 3D view of a cap window in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 7  is a cross-sectional perspective of a cap window in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 8  is a 3D view of a cap window in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 9  is a cross-sectional perspective of a cap window in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 10  is a cross-sectional perspective of a capping structure in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 11  is an assembled side view of a container in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 12  is a cross-sectional perspective of the container shown in  FIG. 11  in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 13  is an exploded perspective of the container shown in  FIGS. 11 and 12  in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 14  is an assembled side view of a container in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 15  is an exploded perspective of the container shown in  FIG. 14  in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 16  is a cross-sectional perspective of the container shown in  FIGS. 14 and 15  in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The following description of the present disclosure accompanies drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a cosmetic case of this specification, and illustrate embodiments of the disclosure, but the disclosure is not limited to the embodiments. In addition, the following embodiments can be properly integrated to complete another embodiment. 
     References to “one embodiment,” “an embodiment,” “exemplary embodiment,” “some embodiments,” “other embodiments,” “another embodiment,” etc. indicate that the embodiment(s) of the disclosure so described may include a particular feature, structure, or characteristic, but not every embodiment necessarily includes the particular feature, structure, or characteristic. Further, repeated use of the phrase “in the embodiment” does not necessarily refer to the same embodiment, although it may. 
     In order to make the present disclosure completely comprehensible, detailed steps and structures are provided in the following description. Obviously, implementation of the present disclosure does not limit special details known by persons skilled in the art. In addition, known structures and steps are not described in detail, so as not to limit the present disclosure unnecessarily. Preferred embodiments of the present disclosure will be described below in detail. However, in addition to the detailed description, the present disclosure may also be widely implemented in other embodiments. The scope of the present disclosure is not limited to the detailed description, and is defined by the claims. 
       FIG. 1  shows a capping structure  10  in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure.  FIG. 2  is a cross-sectional perspective of the capping structure  10 , and  FIG. 3  is an exploded perspective of the capping structure  10 . 
     In some embodiments, the capping structure  10  includes a tubular shell  120  and a cap window  140 . The cap window is engaged with an inner sidewall S 121  of the tubular shell  120  as shown in  FIG. 2 . The cap window  140  includes a cover  142  and a brace  144 . The cover is disposed at an opening O 123  of the tubular shell  120 , and the brace  144  protrudes from the cover  142  and has at least a surface S 141  being parallel to the inner sidewall S 121  of the tubular shell  120 . 
     In some embodiments of the present disclosure, the tubular shell  120  has a through hole, and the tubular shell can be in a circular or rounded configuration, e.g. a ring or a tube. In some embodiments, the tubular shell  120  has the opening O 123  and an opening O 124  opposite to the opening O 123 . A length L 120  of the tubular shell  120  can be varied depending on different applications, wherein the length L 120  is defined by a distance between the two opposite openings O 123  and O 124  of the tubular shell  120 . In some embodiments of the present disclosure, the length L 120  is greater than a length L 140  of the cap window  140 , wherein the length L 140  is defined by a distance between an end of the brace  144  and the cover  142 . 
     The cap window  140  is engaged with the tubular shell  120  by friction between the brace  144  and the inner sidewall S 121  of the tubular shell  120 . As the cap window  140  is plastic and can be formed to adapt to different sizes and shapes of the opening O 123 , a tightness of the engagement between the tubular shell  120  and the cap window can be adjusted. In addition, for secure engagement, the tubular shell  120  has a curved end E 123  at the opening O 123 . In some embodiments, the curved end E 123  is folded inwardly toward the inner sidewall S 121  to form the opening O 123  with a diameter R 123 , wherein the diameter R 123  is smaller than a width W 124  of the opening O 124 . The curved end E 123  is substantially parallel to the inner sidewall S 121 . 
     A shape or a configuration of the brace  144  of the cap window  140  is not limited herein. In some embodiments, as shown in  FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 , the brace  144  is a circular sidewall protruding from the cover  142  and extending from the opening O 123  toward the opening O 124  along the inner sidewall S 121  of the tubular shell  120 . The brace  144  has a width along the cover  142  being equal to a circumference of the cover  142  in the embodiments. The shape and the configuration of the brace  144  conform with the opening O 123 . In addition, for the purpose of firm engagement and structural stability between the tubular shell  120  and the cap window  140 , a ratio of the length L 140  of the brace  144  to a diameter R 142  of the cover  142  from a cross-sectional perspective is greater than 0.1. 
     In some embodiments, the cap window  140  is made of transparent material. In some embodiments of the present disclosure, the cap window  140  is made of at least one of polyamides (PA, or nylons), polycarbonate (PC), polyester (PES), polyethylene (PE), high-density polyethylene (HDPE), low-density polyethylene (LDPE), polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polypropylene (PP), polystyrene (PS), polyurethanes (PU), polyvinyl chloride (PVC), polyvinylidene chloride (PVDC), acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS), polyethylene terephthalate modified glycol (PETG), polycyclohexane dimethyl terephthalate modified by glycol (PCTG), polylactide (PLA), crystallized polylactic acid (CPLA), suitable post-consumer recycled plastic (PCR) materials, and other suitable materials. 
     In some embodiments of the present disclosure, a material of the tubular shell  120  is different from that of the cap window  140 , and the tubular shell  120  can be made of fibrous material. In some embodiments of the present disclosure, the tubular shell  120  may be made from at least one of wood fiber, cellulose fibers, wood pulp, straw pulp, hemp pulp, mash pulp, sugar cane pulp, bamboo pulp, and rag pulp. In some embodiments, the tubular shell  120  is made of coated paper for lower cost and flexible designing, and materials to be coated onto the paper are not limited herein. 
     In some embodiments, as shown in  FIGS. 4 to 5 , a cover  142  is substantially a circle, and the brace  144  includes three stands  1441 , wherein  FIG. 4  and  FIG. 5  are an oblique top view and an oblique bottom view respectively. Each of the stands  1441  protrudes from a periphery of the cover  142  and has a radian of 60 degrees to a center of the cover  142 . The stands  1441  are separated by a radian of 60 degrees to the center of the cover  142  along the periphery of the cover  142 . Moreover, a shape or a configuration of the cover  142  is not limited herein. In some embodiments, as shown in  FIGS. 6 to 7 , a cover  142  is in a rectangular configuration, and the brace  144  protrudes from four sides of the cover  142 , wherein  FIG. 6  and  FIG. 7  are an oblique top view and a cross-sectional view respectively. In the embodiments shown in  FIGS. 6 to 7 , an opening O 123  of a tubular shell  120  correspondingly can be in a rectangular configuration as well. In some embodiments, as shown in  FIGS. 8 to 9 , the cover  142  is in a circular configuration, and the brace  144  protrudes from the cover  142  having a thickness that gradually increases from a center toward a peripheral area of the cover  142 .  FIG. 8  and  FIG. 9  are an oblique top view and a cross-sectional view respectively. The cover  142  in the embodiments is a circle and the brace  144  has a recessed surface from a top view perspective. The above shapes and configurations of the brace  144 , the cover  142  and the tubular shell  120  are provided for illustration but are not intended to limit the present disclosure. 
     The curved end E 123  of the tubular shell  120  can be adjusted to have a different degree with respect to the inner sidewall S 121 . In some embodiments, as shown in  FIG. 12 , the curved end E 123  is folded inward to be substantially perpendicular to the inner sidewall S 121  of the tubular shell  120 . The curved end E 123  of the tubular shell  120  functions as a stop to hold against the cap window  140  inside the tubular shell  120 . In other words, the cover  142  of the cap window  140  is disposed at the opening O 123  inside the tubular shell  120  and against the curved end E 123  of the tubular shell  120 . The curved end E 123  and the brace  144  are at two opposite sides of the cover  142 . 
     The capping structure  10  provided by the present disclosure can be applied to various kinds of containers. The cap window  140  and the tubular shell  120  are tightly engaged by friction between the inner sidewall S 121  and the brace  144 , and no usage of glue or adhesive medium is required. The capping structure provides a capping structure with less possibility of contamination to the object contained inside a container that the capping structure is assembled with. For instance, the capping structure provided by the present disclosure is able to be applied to a medicine container, a food container, a cosmetic container, or a toiletry container. Various materials can be used to form the cap window  140  and the tubular shell  120 , and such variety of possible materials makes it possible to reduce material and manufacturing costs of the capping structure. Moreover, the transparent property of the capping structure of the present disclosure provides users with the convenience of being able to see contents inside a container without opening the container. 
     In some embodiments, the cap window  140  is made of PVC and the tubular shell  120  is made of coated paper to reduce material and manufacturing costs of the capping structure. The cap window  140  and the tubular shell  120  can be tightly engaged with each other and also provide sufficient hardness to protect the contents, e.g. lipstick or medicine tablets. Coated paper has advantages of low cost and also ability to be easily shaped or fixed with colored films to present different designation on a package of a product. 
     It should be noted that the capping structure  10  and the various possible configurations of different elements described above are for illustration of a general concept of the present disclosure, but are not intended to limit the present disclosure to specific embodiments. In addition, for the purpose of simplicity and clarity but not to limit the present disclosure, the same reference numerals are repeatedly used to refer to elements with same or similar functions or properties in various embodiments. 
       FIGS. 11 to 13  show a container  20  in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure from different views.  FIG. 14  is a side view of the assembled container  20 ,  FIG. 15  is an exploded view of the container  20 , and  FIG. 16  is a cross-sectional view of the container  20 . The container  20  includes a tubular shell  120 , a cap window  140  and a holder  160 , wherein the tubular shell  120  and the cap window  140  of the container  20  have similar or same properties or characteristics as illustrated above, and descriptions thereof are therefore not repeated herein. The holder  160  is engaged with an inner sidewall S 121  of the tubular shell  120  from an opening O 124 . The holder  160  includes a body  162  and a base  164 . The body  162  is connected to the base  164  and disposed inside the tubular shell  120  to engage with the inner sidewall S 121  of the tubular shell  120  when the container  20  is assembled. In the embodiments shown in  FIGS. 11 to 13 , the body  162  and the base  164  are two separate formed elements. The body  162  and the base  164  can be made of same or different materials. In alternative embodiments, the body  162  and the base  164  are a one-piece structure. In some embodiments, the tubular shell  120  and the holder  160  engage with each other via spiral threads that are disposed on the inner sidewall S 121  of the tubular shell  120  and correspondingly on an outer surface of the holder  160  (not shown). A type of engagement between the tubular shell  120  and the holder  160  is not limited herein. 
       FIGS. 14 to 16  show a container  30  for lipstick in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure from different perspective of views.  FIG. 14  is a side view of the assembled container  30 ,  FIG. 15  is an exploded view of the container  30 , and  FIG. 16  is a cross-sectional view of the container  30 . The container  30  includes a tubular shell  120 , a cap window  140  and a holder  160 , wherein the tubular shell  120  and the cap window  140  of the container  20  have similar or same properties or characteristics as illustrated above in the capping structure  10  and the container  20 , and descriptions thereof are therefore not repeated herein. The holder  160  is engaged with an inner sidewall S 121  of the tubular shell  120  from an opening O 124 . The holder  160  includes a body  162  and a base  164 . The body  162  is connected to the base  164  and disposed inside the tubular shell  120  to engage with the inner sidewall S 121  of the tubular shell  120  when the container  20  is assembled. The body  162  and the base  164  are rotated in opposite directions relative to each other to extend or retract the lipstick in the container  30 . Conventional technologies can be applied to the body  162 , and detailed description of structure of the body  162  is omitted herein. In the embodiments shown in  FIGS. 14 to 16 , the body  162  and the base  164  are two separate formed elements. The body  162  and the base  164  can be made of same or different materials. For instance, the body  162  can be made of plastic material and the base  164  can be made of coated paper. In alternative embodiments, the body  162  and the base  164  are a one-piece structure. In some embodiments, the tubular shell  120  and the holder  160  engage with each other via spiral threads that are disposed on the inner sidewall S 121  of the tubular shell  120  and correspondingly on an outer surface of the holder  160  (not shown). A type of engagement between the tubular shell  120  and the holder  160  is not limited herein. 
     In conclusion, with the disposition of the cap window  140 , the capping structure can be assembled for presenting a desired function. In addition, with the disposition of the brace  144  of the cap window  140  and the inner sidewall S 121  of the tubular shell  120 , the container can be assembled with limited containing factors and for better preservation of the content in the container. 
     One aspect of the present disclosure provides a capping structure comprising a tubular shell and a cap window, which is engaged with an inner sidewall of the tubular shell. The cap window is transparent and comprises a cover and a brace, the cover is disposed at a first opening of the tubular shell, and the brace protrudes from the cover and has at least a surface being parallel to the inner sidewall of the tubular shell. 
     One aspect of the present disclosure provides a container comprising a tubular shell, a holder, and a cap window. The tubular shell has a first opening and a second opening, and the first opening is opposite to the second opening. The holder is engaged with an inner sidewall of the tubular shell from the second opening. The cap window is engaged with the inner sidewall at the first opening of the tubular shell. The cap window is transparent and comprises a cover and a brace, the cover is disposed at a first opening of the tubular shell, and the brace protrudes from the cover and has at least a surface being parallel to the inner sidewall of the tubular shell. 
     Although the present disclosure and its advantages have been described in detail, it should be understood that various changes, substitutions and alterations can be made herein without departing from the spirit and scope of the disclosure as defined by the appended claims. For example, many of the processes discussed above can be implemented in different methodologies and replaced by other processes, or a combination thereof. 
     Moreover, the scope of the present application is not intended to be limited to the particular embodiments of the process, machine, manufacture, composition of matter, means, methods and steps described in the specification. As one of ordinary skill in the art will readily appreciate from the disclosure of the present disclosure, processes, machines, manufacture, compositions of matter, means, methods, or steps, presently existing or later to be developed, that perform substantially the same function or achieve substantially the same result as the corresponding embodiments described herein may be utilized according to the present disclosure. Accordingly, the appended claims are intended to include within their scope such processes, machines, manufacture, compositions of matter, means, methods, or steps.