Patent Publication Number: US-5897263-A

Title: Cosmetic dispensing package

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates to dispensing packages for solid cosmetics. More particularly, this invention relates to a dispensing package for a solid lipstick or deodorant/antiperspirant. Further, this invention relates to a method of filling such a cosmetic package. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     There is a need for a low-cost package for dispensing cosmetics such as lipsticks, deodorants and antiperspirants. These particularly are needed for use in countries where consumers have lower incomes. One way to deliver these products at a lower cost is to have a lower cost dispenser. Generally a lower cost dispenser will have fewer parts than the usual dispenser package that can have five or six parts. Fewer parts will mean fewer molds are needed, less plastic is used and less assembly is required. This all translates into a dispensing package that can be produced at a lower cost. In the dispensing package of the present invention, there only will be three primary parts. 
     The prior art with regard to the present low-cost cosmetic dispenser is illustrated by U.S. Pat. No. 4,721,403; U.S. Pat. No. 5,167,462 and U.S. Pat. No. 5,219,448. In U.S. Pat. No. 4,721,403 there is disclosed a simple dispenser for a solid that consists of three parts. However, the cosmetic must be separately formed and placed in the dispenser. This is a disadvantage since it raises the cost of the product. In U.S. Pat. No. 5,167,462 there is disclosed a related dispenser that is comprised of about five primary parts. This is an interesting structure but it is rather complex and requires more production equipment and more assembly than the cosmetic dispenser of the present invention. U.S. Pat. No. 5,219,448 discloses an ointment applicator. This shows a dispenser where a piston is pushed from a lower end to dispense the ointment from the other end. This dispenser has many parts and a complex structure. 
     The present invention solves the problem of providing a low-cost solid cosmetic dispensing package. The dispensing package is comprised of three primary parts; a barrel, an elevator and a closure. These are easily assembled and filled. In addition, the solid cosmetic can be produced with a top surface of essentially any shape. This can be of a rounded or other shape. The dispensing package conveniently can be top filled and inverted to shape the top as the cosmetic sets to a solid while maintaining product adhesion to the elevating platform. Further, the package itself can be of various shapes, including an oval shape to produce a wide stick that is a useful form for deodorants and antiperspirants. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention solves the problem of a package for a solid cosmetic that has few parts and is of a low cost. The dispenser package has three primary parts. There is a barrel, an elevator and a closure. There also is an auxiliary closure that is needed only during filling and is discarded at the time of first use. 
     The cosmetic package is comprised of a barrel open at an upper end, and preferably substantially closed at a lower end. The barrel has an adjustment recess in one surface, the adjustment recess extending at least partially the longitudinal dimension of the barrel. The adjustment recess is open into the barrel interior at an upper end. 
     An elevator slideably fits into the barrel with an elevator well portion being of a shape complementary to the adjustment recess and fitting into the recess. The upper part of the elevator has a cosmetic support. The cosmetic support has a plurality of anchoring recesses. Each of the anchoring recesses is connected to the well by means of a vent channel. The vent channels function to vent air from the recesses during the filling process and when the package is inverted with the product in a liquid state of the package with the cosmetic. The well area of the elevator functions as a reservoir for the cosmetic during filling and during use as the means to raise the elevator to apply the cosmetic. 
     Above the barrel is an auxiliary closure and a permanent closure. The auxiliary closure can be supported on the top edge of the barrel. The permanent closure is supported by a ledge on the barrel. The auxiliary closure is supported on the upper edge of the barrel and is needed only for filling the package and usually is discarded at the time of first use. 
     The cosmetic package is filled by assembling the elevator into the barrel, lowering the elevator until the volume between the elevator and the auxiliary closure is of the desired volume, and filling the barrel to near the top edge. The auxiliary closure and the permanent closure then are put into place. The cosmetic package then is inverted and the cosmetic set to a solid, for instance by cooling. The cosmetic package then is uprighted. 
     It is an object to provide a low-cost cosmetic package having a minimal number of primary parts. 
     It is a further object to provide a cosmetic package that has three primary parts and a shaped upper surface. 
     It is an additional object to provide a cosmetic package in an oval form so that the cosmetic can be in the form of a wide stick. 
     These and other objects are described in more detail herein. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is an exploded view of the cosmetic dispensing package. 
     FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the elevator. 
     FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the elevator. 
     FIG. 4 is a front elevational view in section of the assembled cosmetic package. 
     FIG. 5 is a side elevational view in section of the assembled cosmetic package. 
     FIG. 6 is an exploded view of the cosmetic package in an assembly for use. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The present cosmetic dispensing package will be described in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. The dispenser is comprised of three principal parts. There is a barrel, an elevator and a cap closure. A part of the elevator provides the means to move the elevator upwards to expose more of the cosmetic for use and to hold the cosmetic in a set position during use. Also, in a preferred embodiment the dispenser is oval, i.e. elliptical in shape. In deodorant use this is an advantage since it provides a wide surface which aids in the application of the deodorant to a person&#39;s underarm area. 
     The cosmetic package is shown in an exploded view in FIG. 1. The barrel 10 has an upper edge 12 and a bottom 18. The package is shown in its preferred form which is oval, i.e. elliptical. Surface 11 has an adjustment recess 16. The adjustment recess is open into the barrel at upper end 15. On an upper part of the barrel there is a ledge 14 which limits the portion of the barrel that will be covered by closure 50. 
     Elevator 20 slideably fits into the barrel 10. The elevator is comprised of cosmetic support portion 24 and side surface 23, with well 22 extending downwardly from the cosmetic support portion. The well has a length of about 50% to about 150% that of the adjustment recess. 
     The elevator is shown in more detail in FIGS. 2 and 3. The support portion has locking recesses 26 which are connected to the well 22 by vent channels 25. The recesses are filled with the solid cosmetic and anchor the cosmetic to the elevator. The vent channels provide a way to vent air from the recesses during the filing of the barrel and the well area 28 with the liquid cosmetic. The side surface 23 of the elevator contacts the inner surface of the barrel and stabilizes the upper part of the elevator in the barrel. Also, the friction fit between elevator side surface 23 and the inside of the barrel wall prevents the elevator and the product from moving downward during the application of the product to the underarm as well as preventing leakage of the liquid product out of or into the bottom of barrel 10 during filling. The elevator will have lateral dimensions of about that of the lateral internal dimensions of the barrel so as to produce the friction fit. Well wall 27 will contact the wall of barrel recess 16 and will align the elevator in the barrel. 
     The auxiliary closure 40 which is shown in FIG. 1 is a closure that is used during filling to shape the top of the cosmetic. As shown, this has a top edge 42 and an upper domed portion 44. The top of the cosmetic will have a shape similar to this domed portion 44. This auxiliary closure is shown in more detail in FIG. 4. It is seen in FIG. 4 that auxiliary closure top edge 42 sits on barrel top edge 12. Vertical wall 46 of the auxiliary closure connects the top edge 42 of the auxiliary closure to the domed portion 44. 
     FIG. 4 shows the dispensing container in a more detailed and assembled condition containing a solid cosmetic. This is a sectional view along the major axis. In this view the wall 27 of the elevator well that contacts the wall 17 of the recess is shown in more detail. The space 30 along with recesses 26 and upper part of well 22 will be that which will contain the solid cosmetic. 
     FIG. 5 is a sectional view of the cosmetic container along the minor axis. This shows the structure of the elevator well in more detail. The close proximity of the wall 27 of the elevator well and the surface 17 of the adjustment aperture also is shown in more detail. 
     FIG. 6 shows the cosmetic dispensing package in a condition for use. After the removal of closure 50, the auxiliary closure 40 is removed and discarded. This auxiliary closure only is needed during filling of the barrel. It is used to shape the top surface of the cosmetic. During the first use it is removed and discarded. In order to apply the cosmetic 32, the closure 50 is removed, the auxiliary closure 40 removed and discarded and the elevator supporting the cosmetic raised by pushing upwardly on the well 22 which raises the cosmetic above barrel edge 12 for use. This will be repeated until the cosmetic is depleted. The package is then discarded and replaced with another unit. 
     The cosmetic package is filled by assembling the elevator into the barrel and lowering the elevator until the space between the elevator and the top edge of the barrel has the volume of the amount of cosmetic to be delivered from the package. Usually this will be a point where the bottom of the well part of the elevator is at about the same level as the bottom of the barrel. The barrel, adjustment recesses and well are then filled to about 3 mm to 5 mm below the top edge of the barrel, the auxiliary closure 40 put into place and then the closure 50 put into place. The package then is inverted so that the liquid cosmetic will flow out of the well and will fill the volume of the package between the elevator and the auxiliary closure. Cosmetic will also be in the anchoring recesses and some will be at the top of the well. The cosmetic then is set, for instance by cooling. After the cosmetic sets, the package is uprighted. 
     The top of the set cosmetic will have a shape that is complementary to that of the auxiliary closure. The only requirement is that the well be of a volume that is the same as, or greater than, the volume above the liquid cosmetic after filling (and prior to inverting) and the auxiliary closure. The auxiliary closure can be of essentially any shape. 
     The cosmetic package can be constructed of the materials commonly used for lipstick or deodorant and antiperspirant stick products. This includes a wide range of plastic materials. 
     The best mode of practicing the invention has been described. However, variations of the concepts are possible. All such variations are considered to be within the scope of the present invention.