Patent Publication Number: US-11382398-B2

Title: Cosmetic container

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims the benefit of Korean Patent Application No. 10-2020-0127808, filed with the Korean Intellectual Property Office on Oct. 5, 2020, Korean Patent Application No. 10-2020-0150814, filed with the Korean Intellectual Property Office on Nov. 12, 2020, and Korean Patent Application No. 10-2021-0022253, filed with the Korean Intellectual Property Office on Feb. 19, 2021. The disclosures of the above patent applications are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety. 
     BACKGROUND 
     1. Technical Field 
     The present invention relates to a cosmetic container that allows easy refills. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     To reduce environmental pollution and promote recycling, there is a growing demand for cosmetic containers that can be easily recycled or refilled. In particular, a recyclable cosmetic container can be fabricated entirely with the same material to facilitate recycling, for example by using a spring fabricated by plastic molding instead of the spring made of metal used in existing pumps. Also, by fabricating a cosmetic container with a replaceable part for refills, it is possible to reduce replacements costs and lower the recycling load. 
     Many cosmetic containers use a glass material for an aesthetic appearance. However, a container made from a glass material may be difficult to recycle compared to plastic containers and may entail a high fabrication cost. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention was conceived to resolve the problems described above and carries the objective of providing a cosmetic container that allows easy refills. 
     Other objectives of the present invention will be more clearly appreciated from the embodiments described below. 
     One aspect of the invention provides a cosmetic container that includes: an outer container; an inner container separably inserted into the outer container and configured to receive a content injected therein; a pump support coupled to an upper opening of the inner container and including a support body connecting to an inside of the inner container; a pump inserted through the support body and configured to discharge the content; and a shoulder separably coupled to an upper portion of the outer container to downwardly press the pump support with respect to the outer container, where separating the shoulder from the outer container may separate the pump from the support body and thereby enable a replacing of the inner container and the pump support. 
     A cosmetic container according to an embodiment of the invention can include one or more of the following features. For example, the outer container can be fabricated from a plastic or glass material, and the inner container and the pump support can be fabricated from a plastic or glass material. It is possible for the inner container, pump support, pump, shoulder, and nozzle to all be fabricated from the same plastic material. 
     The inner container can include a flange formed around its periphery, the flange can be configured to catch onto an upper end of the outer container, and the pump support can include a coupling member that may be formed around the periphery of the support body and configured to catch onto an upper end of the inner container. 
     The pump can include a tube or can include a piston that is movably inserted within the inner container. 
     The pump can include a flange, support protrusions and mounting protrusions can be formed on the inner perimeter of the shoulder protrusion with the mounting protrusions formed in a particular interval below the support protrusions, and the flange can be positioned between the support protrusions and the mounting protrusions. A support protrusion can include a downwardly sloping surface. 
     A ring can be positioned between the inner container and the outer container. The pump support can include support protrusions that may be positioned between the outer container and the inner container. 
     The inner container can include an inner container head, the pump can include a flange positioned over an upper portion of the inner container head, and a packing can be positioned between the inner container head and the flange. 
     The inner container and the outer container can be formed as an integrated body. 
     An embodiment of the invention described above can provide various advantages, including the following. However, a structure can constitute an embodiment of the invention without necessarily providing all of the advantages below. 
     An embodiment of the invention can provide a cosmetic container that allows easy recycling and refilling. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view illustrating a cosmetic container according to a first disclosed embodiment of the invention. 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the cosmetic container shown in  FIG. 1  with the overcap, shoulder, and pump separated. 
         FIG. 3  is a vertical cross-sectional view cut across the center of the cosmetic container shown in  FIG. 1  with the overcap excluded. 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective view illustrating an inner container and a pump support provided as a refill. 
         FIG. 5  is a vertical cross-sectional view cut across the center of the inner container and pump support shown in  FIG. 4 . 
         FIG. 6  is a cross-sectional view illustrating a shoulder. 
         FIG. 7  is a cross-sectional view illustrating a cosmetic container according to a second disclosed embodiment of the invention. 
         FIG. 8  is a perspective view illustrating the piston of the cosmetic container shown in  FIG. 7 . 
         FIG. 9  is a cross-sectional view of the piston shown in  FIG. 8 . 
         FIG. 10  is a cross-sectional view illustrating a cosmetic container according to a third disclosed embodiment of the invention. 
         FIG. 11  is a cross-sectional view illustrating a cosmetic container according to a fourth disclosed embodiment of the invention. 
         FIG. 12  is a cross-sectional view illustrating the pump support of the cosmetic container shown in  FIG. 11 . 
         FIG. 13  is a cross-sectional view illustrating the body of a cosmetic container according to a fifth disclosed embodiment of the invention. 
         FIG. 14  is a cross-sectional view illustrating the body of a cosmetic container according to a sixth disclosed embodiment of the invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     As the invention allows for various changes and numerous embodiments, particular embodiments will be illustrated in the drawings and described in detail in the written description. However, this is not intended to limit the present invention to particular modes of practice, and it is to be appreciated that all changes, equivalents, and substitutes that do not depart from the spirit and technical scope of the present invention are encompassed by the present invention. In the description of the present invention, certain detailed explanations of the related art are omitted if it is deemed that they may unnecessarily obscure the essence of the invention. 
     The terms used in the present specification are merely used to describe particular embodiments, and are not intended to limit the present invention. An expression used in the singular encompasses the expression of the plural, unless it has a clearly different meaning in the context. In the present specification, it is to be understood that the terms such as “including” or “having,” etc., are intended to indicate the existence of the features, numbers, steps, actions, components, parts, or combinations thereof disclosed in the specification, and are not intended to preclude the possibility that one or more other features, numbers, steps, actions, components, parts, or combinations thereof may exist or may be added. 
     While such terms as “first” and “second,” etc., may be used to describe various components, such components must not be limited to the above terms. The above terms are used only to distinguish one component from another. 
     Certain embodiments of the invention will be described below in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. Those components that are the same or are in correspondence are rendered the same reference numeral, and redundant descriptions are omitted. 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view illustrating a cosmetic container  100  according to a first disclosed embodiment of the invention, and  FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the cosmetic container shown in  FIG. 1  with the overcap  110 , shoulder  130 , and pump  150  separated.  FIG. 3  is a vertical cross-sectional view cut across the center of the cosmetic container  100  shown in  FIG. 1  with the overcap  110  excluded,  FIG. 4  is a perspective view illustrating an inner container  170  and a pump support  160  provided as a refill, and  FIG. 5  is a vertical cross-sectional view cut across the center of the inner container  170  and pump support  160  shown in  FIG. 4 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1 to 5 , a cosmetic container  100  according to a first disclosed embodiment may include an overcap  110 , a nozzle  120 , a shoulder  130 , a pump  150 , a pump support  160 , an inner container  170 , and an outer container  180 . Here, the inner container  170 , which may be filled with a content, and the pump support  160 , which may be coupled to an upper portion of the inner container  170 , can be replaced for a refill. Also, the remaining parts other than the inner container  170  and pump support  160  may all be recyclable. 
     Referring to  FIG. 2 , after the overcap  110 , nozzle  120 , pump  150  and shoulder  130  are separated from the outer container  180  and inner container  170 , the assembly of the inner container  170  and pump support  160  can be separated from the outer container  180  and replaced with a new set. 
     The overcap  110  may form an upper part in the exterior of the cosmetic container  100  and may be shaped as a hollow cylinder having an open bottom and an upper surface. The entirety of the nozzle  120  and portions of the shoulder  130  and pump  150  may be encased within the overcap  110 . A lower end of the overcap  110  may be positioned on a second curb  144  provided around a periphery of the shoulder  130 . 
     The nozzle  120  may be coupled to an upper portion of the pump  150  to provide a passage through which the content discharged by the pump  150  may be ejected. To this end, the nozzle  120  may include a nozzle protrusion  124  that may be coupled with the valve  154  of the pump  150 , where the nozzle protrusion  124  may connect with the discharge hole  122 . The content pumped by the pump  150  can be discharged through the valve  154 , nozzle protrusion  124 , and discharge hole  122  to the outside. 
     The nozzle  120  can include a peripheral surface  126  and can have a circular horizontal cross section. The nozzle  120  may be structured to have an open bottom. Also, when the nozzle  120  is pressed down, the peripheral surface  126  can be inserted to the inside of the receptacle part  136  of the shoulder  130 , and when the external force is removed, the nozzle may be returned to its original position as shown in  FIG. 3  by the elastic restoring force of a spring (not shown) provided on the pump  150 . 
     The pump  150  may be coupled to the pump support  160 , which may be coupled to an upper portion of the inner container  170 , to pump the content filled inside the inner container  170 . The pump  150  may include a valve  154  and a housing  156 , the structures and operations of which are well known in the art and thus are not described here in further detail. The pump  150  can, for example, have the same structure as the pump disclosed in Korean Registered Patent No. 1963619, but the present invention is not to be limited by the composition of the pump  150 . 
     A flange  152  may be provided around the periphery of the housing  156 , where the flange  152  can be caught on the upper end of the support body  162  and the mounting protrusions  140  of the shoulder  130 . As a result, the pump  150  can be secured in place at an upper portion of the inner container  170 . 
     A pump  150  according to this embodiment can include a tube  158 . The tube  158  may be a hollow pipe of which one end can be coupled to the housing  156  and the other end can be positioned close to the bottom surface at the lower portion of the inner container  170 . The suctioning force of the pump  150  can move the content through the tube  158  to the inside of the pump  150 . 
     The outer container  180  may form the lower part of the exterior of the cosmetic container  100  and may have an empty space within. The inner container  170  may be inserted into the empty space inside the outer container  180 . The shoulder  130  may be screw-joined onto an upper portion of the outer container  180 . The outer container  180  can be formed with a diameter somewhat larger than that of the inner container  170 , so that a particular gap can be formed between the inner container  170  and the outer container  180 . 
     At an upper portion of the outer container  180 , an outer container head  182  may be formed, which may have a smaller diameter compared to other portions of the outer container  180  and which may have a curb  184  formed at its lower end. A screw thread (no numeral assigned) may be formed in the outer perimeter of the outer container head  182 , and this screw thread may engage the screw thread  134  (see  FIG. 6 ) formed in the inner perimeter of the coupling part  132  of the shoulder  130  for the screw joint. The lower end of the shoulder  130  can be positioned on the curb  184  of the outer container. 
     The outer container  180  can be fabricated from a material (e.g. a transparent plastic, transparent glass, etc.) different from that of the other parts of the cosmetic container  100 . In cases where the outer container  180  is fabricated from a transparent material, the inner container  170  would be visible from the outside, allowing the user to readily check the remaining amount of the content held in the inner container  170 . 
     Of course, the outer container  180  can also be fabricated from the same material as the other parts of the cosmetic container  100 . 
     The pump support  160  may be coupled to an upper portion of the inner container  170  and may serve to support the pump  150 . The pump support  160  may include a support body  162 , through which the pump  150  may be inserted, and a coupling member  164 , which may be formed on the periphery of the support body  162  and which may be coupled to an upper portion of the inner container  170 . 
     The support body  162  may have the shape of a hollow cylinder of which both the upper and lower ends are open, where the lower end may connect to the inside of the inner container  170 . The pump  150  may be separably inserted through the inside of the support body  162 . The support body  162  can have a particular length so as to prevent the pump  150  from being shaken or forming a gap and allow a stable manner of operation. Also, when coupled with the inner container  170 , the support body  162  can have an upper portion thereof protruding over the upper portion of the inner container  170 . 
     The coupling member  164  may be formed on the periphery of the support body  162  as an integrated part and with its edge formed in the shape of a ring and may be coupled to the upper portion of the inner container  170 . A coupling groove  166  may be formed at the end portion of the coupling member  164 , where the upper end of the inner container  170  may be coupled to the coupling groove  166  by press fitting, etc. 
     The inner container  170  may have the shape of a hollow cylinder, and a content may be filled in the empty space within. There is no limit to the type, form, and usage of the content filled in the inner container  170 , and a cosmetic container  100  based on the present invention is not to be limited by the filled content. 
     The upper portion of the inner container  170  may have an opening, and onto this opening, the pump support  160  may be separably coupled. At an upper portion on the outer perimeter of the inner container  170 , a flange  172  may be formed, which may be caught on the upper end of the outer container  180 . 
     When the content filled in the inner container  170  is used up completely or to an amount that makes further use difficult, the inner container  170  and pump support  160  can be separated and removed from the other parts and replaced with another inner container  170  filled with the content. Here, the refill inner container  170  can have a pump support  160  coupled to its upper portion, and a separate plug (not shown) can be coupled at the center of the support body  162  formed in the center of the pump support  160 . The separate plug can be removed when the inner container  170  and pump support  160  are coupled to the outer container  180 . 
     The lower portion of the inner container  170  may have a hollow spherical shape instead of being formed flat, so that the content can be used through the tube  158  until there is no or a minimal amount remaining. 
       FIG. 6  is a cross-sectional view illustrating the shoulder  130 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 3  and  FIG. 6 , the shoulder  130  may be coupled to the outer container head  182  corresponding to the upper portion of the outer container  180 , to thereby couple the pump support  160  and inner container  170  to the outer container  180  and couple the pump  150  to the pump support  160 . The shoulder  130  may include a coupling part  132 , two curbs  142 ,  144 , and a receptacle part  136 , with the diameters gradually decreased from the coupling part  132  positioned at the bottom towards the receptacle part  136  positioned at the top. 
     The coupling part  132  may be structured to have the shape of a hollow cylinder with both the upper end and lower end open. The coupling part  132  may correspond to the portion of the shoulder  130  having the largest diameter. A screw thread  134  may be formed in the inner perimeter of the coupling part  132 , and this screw thread  134  may be screw-joined with the screw thread formed in the outer perimeter of the outer container head  182 . 
     At an upper portion of the coupling part  132 , a second curb  144  and a first curb  142  may sequentially be formed. The diameter of the shoulder  130  may be gradually decreased by each of the curbs  142 ,  144 . A horizontal plane formed by the first curb  142  may press down on the coupling member  164  of the pump support  160 , so that the pump support  160  can be coupled to the upper end of the inner container  170  in a stable manner. 
     At an upper portion of the first curb  142 , a receptacle part  136  can be formed that has the shape of a hollow column which is gradually decreased in diameter towards the top. The upper end and lower end of the receptacle part  136  may both be open, and on the inside, there may be formed a shoulder protrusion  138  that is shaped as a hollow cylinder. 
     The shoulder protrusion  138  may be connected with the inner perimeter of the receptacle part  136  and may have a length shorter than that of the receptacle part  136 . On the inner perimeter of the shoulder protrusion  138 , a multiple number of mounting protrusions  140  may be formed in a particular interval. The end portions of the mounting protrusions  140  can be in contact with the outer perimeter of an upper portion of the support body  162 , and the flange  152  of the pump  150  can be positioned on the upper surfaces. 
     On the inner perimeter of the shoulder protrusion  138 , inwardly protruding support protrusions  141  can be formed in a particular interval. The upper surface of a support protrusion  141  may form a downwardly sloping surface. The mounting protrusions  140  may be formed in a particular interval below the support protrusions  141 . 
     When the pump  150  is coupled to the shoulder  130 , the flange  152  may pass over the sloping surfaces of the support protrusions  141  to be mounted on the mounting protrusions  140 . Thus, as the flange  152  of the pump  150  is positioned in the gap between the support protrusions  141  and the mounting protrusions  140 , the pump  150  and the shoulder  130  can be coupled and separated as an integrated body. Therefore, when the shoulder  130  is separated for a refill, the pump  150  can be separated together. 
     A cosmetic container  100  according to the first disclosed embodiment can have the overcap  110 , nozzle  120 , shoulder  130 , pump  150 , pump support  160 , and inner container  170 , with the exception of the outer container  180 , all formed from a same plastic material such as, for example, polypropylene. 
     Referring to  FIG. 2 , when the inner container  170  is replaced with a refill, the plug (not shown) coupled to the support body  162  of the pump support  160  may be removed, and then the assembly of the pump  150 , shoulder  130 , nozzle  120 , and overcap  110  may be coupled as in  FIG. 2  to complete the replacement of the refill container. 
       FIG. 7  is a cross-sectional view illustrating a cosmetic container  200  according to a second disclosed embodiment of the invention.  FIG. 8  is a perspective view illustrating the piston  210  of the cosmetic container shown in  FIG. 7 , and  FIG. 9  is a cross-sectional view of the piston shown in  FIG. 8 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 7 to 9 , a cosmetic container  200  according to the second disclosed embodiment may differ from a cosmetic container  100  according to the first disclosed embodiment in that the pump  150  may have the tube  158  removed and instead may include a piston  210 . A cosmetic container  200  according to the second disclosed embodiment may have the structure of an airless pump, in which the piston  210  rises when the content is discharged by the operation of the pump  150  and the amount remaining in the inner container  170  is decreased. Such airless pump corresponds to general technology, disclosed in Korean Registered Patent No. 1202284, etc., and thus is not described here in further detail. At a lower portion of the inner container  170 , an air hole (not shown) may be formed for allowing the rising of the piston  210 . 
     The piston  210  may be configured to be raised and lowered while maintaining tight contact with the inner perimeter of the inner container  170  and may include a piston body  212  having a semispherical shape and a contact member  214  formed at an upper end of the piston body  212 . 
     The piston body  212  may have the shape of a hemisphere with an empty space therein, and the piston body  212  having such a shape can be readily deformed (elastically compressed) to enable the contact member  214  to more tightly contact the inner perimeter of the inner container  170 . In particular, compared to the piston disclosed in Korean Registered Patent No. 1202284 in which a contact member is formed around the peripheral surface of a hollow cylinder, the structure having a semispherical shape as in this embodiment may provide the advantage of allowing easier elastic deformations. 
     The contact member  214  may be formed at the upper end of the piston body  212 . The contact member  214  may be formed thinly so as to tightly contact the inner perimeter of the inner container  170 , and as a result, the contact member  214  may be readily deformed. 
     A cosmetic container  200  according to the second disclosed embodiment can also be refilled by removing the assembly of the inner container  170  and pump support  160  and replacing these with a refill, in the same manner as for the first disclosed embodiment. 
       FIG. 10  is a cross-sectional view illustrating a cosmetic container  300  according to a third disclosed embodiment of the invention. 
     Incidentally, although the cosmetic container  300  shown in  FIG. 10  is illustrated as an airless type having a piston  210 , the cosmetic container can obviously also be implemented as one having a tube  158 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 10 , a cosmetic container  300  according to the third disclosed embodiment may be the same as or similar to a cosmetic container  200  according to the second disclosed embodiment, and as such, the following will focus on the differences. 
     A cosmetic container  300  according to the third disclosed embodiment may include a ring  310  between the inner container  170  and the outer container  180 . The ring  310  may be placed between an outer container  180  and an inner container  170  fabricated from a glass material to prevent the glass material from being damaged by an impact. The ring  310  can be fabricated from a material that is softer than glass, such as plastic, rubber, silicone, etc. The ring  310  may have a cross section shaped as an inverted “L” and may be inserted onto the upper end of the outer container  180 . 
     The pump support  360  may have the pump  150  coupled inside and may be the same as the pump support  160  according to the first disclosed embodiment in terms of including a support body  362 , a coupling member  364 , and a coupling groove  366 . However, the pump support  360  of a cosmetic container  300  according to the third disclosed embodiment may be distinguished by including an air hole  368 . 
     The air hole  368  allows outside air to enter between the outer container  180  and the inner container  170 . As a result, air can enter the inside of the inner container  170  through the hole (no numeral assigned) formed in a lower portion of the inner container  170 , and the piston  210  can be raised more smoothly. 
       FIG. 11  is a cross-sectional view illustrating a cosmetic container  400  according to a fourth disclosed embodiment of the invention, and  FIG. 12  is a cross-sectional view illustrating the pump support  460  of the cosmetic container  400  shown in  FIG. 11 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 11 and 12 , a cosmetic container  400  according to the fourth disclosed embodiment may be the same as or similar to a cosmetic container  100  according to the first disclosed embodiment, except that the structures of the shoulder  430 , the pump support  460 , and the inner container  470  may be modified. 
     The shoulder  430  may be the same as the shoulder  130  of a cosmetic container  100  according to the first disclosed embodiment in terms of downwardly pressing the pump support  460 . Further, in the shoulder  430  according to this embodiment, the shoulder protrusion  138  at the center may be omitted. 
     The inner container  470  may be inserted inside the outer container  180  and may have a content (not shown) injected therein, to be replaced later when the content is used up. The inner container  470  may include an inner container head  472  at its upper portion, and a screw thread  474  may be formed in the outer perimeter of the inner container head  472 . 
     At an upper portion of the inner container head  472 , a ring-shaped packing  410  can be positioned. The packing  410  may be positioned between the flange  152  of the pump  150  and the upper portion of the inner container head  472  to prevent foreign substances from entering the inside of the inner container  470  or prevent the content from leaking out. The packing  410  can be formed from a material such as plastic resin, rubber, silicone, etc. 
     The pump support  460  may include a support body  462 , and the pump  150  may be inserted through a through-hole (no numeral assigned) formed in the center of the support body  462 . A pressing protrusion  463  may protrude inward at the inner perimeter of an upper portion of the support body  462 . The pressing protrusion  463  may downwardly press the flange  152  of the pump  150 . Also, in the inner perimeter of the support body  462 , a coupling thread  464  may be formed, which may be coupled with the screw thread  474  formed in the outer perimeter of the inner container head  472 . 
     The pump support  460  may include a support protrusion  468  that protrudes downward. A multiple number of support protrusions  468  can be arranged in a particular interval. The support protrusions  468  may be placed between the outer container  180  and the inner container  470  to prevent the inner container  470  and outer container  180  made from a glass material from being damaged by an impact. 
       FIG. 13  and  FIG. 14  are cross-sectional views illustrating the bodies  510 ,  520  of cosmetic containers according to a fifth and a sixth disclosed embodiment of the invention. 
       FIG. 13  illustrates a body  510  in which the outer container  512  and the inner container  514  are formed as an integrated body. This type of body  510  can be formed from a glass material, where the inner container  514  and the outer container  512  can be formed as an integrated body for reductions in costs associated with molding and assembly. The lower end of the outer container  512  can be structured to allow a screw joining of a cover  516 . 
       FIG. 14  illustrates a body  520  in which the outer container  522  and the inner container  524  are formed as an integrated body. This type of body  520  can be formed from a glass material. 
     While the foregoing provides a description with reference to an embodiment of the present invention, it should be appreciated that a person having ordinary skill in the relevant field of art would be able to make various modifications and alterations to the present invention without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention set forth in the scope of claims below.