Abstract:
Disclosed herein is a container assembly having a cap with a channel and a base with protrusions on a collar. The protrusions are received in the channel and guide the cap in a rotating motion onto the base. The cap and base may have magnets that provide an attractive force that brings the cap and base together. The container in cosmetics applications is also discussed.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    The present application claims the benefit of and priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 62/309,021, filed on Mar. 16, 2016, titled COSMETIC CONTAINER WITH CLOSURE, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     FIELD 
       [0002]    The present application relates to the field of product dispensers. Particularly, the present application relates to cosmetics containers with caps, more particularly to cosmetics containers with an applicator. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0003]    Devices exist for applying cosmetic or medicinal products. Such devices usually consist of an outer tubular shell or bottle for holding a product, a cap for closing the bottle and containing the product, and an applicator, often attached to the cap. In the cosmetics and personal care industries, applicators are used to apply lipstick, lip gloss, lip balm, skin creams, lotions, foundation, concealer, mascara, eye liner, and other cosmetic products to portions of the body. In addition, various cosmetics implements, such as, for example, foundation and lip-gloss applicators exist. These implements typically consist of a handle or cap with a stem and applicator tip that protrudes into a bottle of product. Liquid, gel, and cream products may evaporate or become dry if the cap is not connected tightly, resulting in alteration of the product and potentially wasting product. For caps that screw onto a bottle or container, it may be difficult for the user to know when the cap is secured. Accordingly, there remains a need in the art for improved cap securing mechanisms. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0004]    In an illustrative example, a container is provided comprising a base assembly including a reservoir for holding a product, and a collar with an opening extending therethrough attached to the reservoir, the collar including a first magnet and at least one protrusion on an outer surface of the collar. The container includes a cap assembly that is removably coupled to the base assembly, the cap assembly including a cap and a second magnet, wherein the cap includes at least one angled channel disposed along an inner surface thereof, the channel configured to receive the protrusion in sliding engagement. When the cap assembly is placed over the base assembly with the protrusion positioned in the channel, an attractive force between the first and second magnets pulls the cap assembly onto the base assembly, rotating the cap assembly into a secured position on the base assembly. In some examples, the cap includes an outer cap and an inner cap, wherein the at least one angled channel is disposed along an inner surface of the inner cap. 
         [0005]    In another illustrative example, a container is provided comprising a base assembly including a reservoir for holding a product, a collar with an opening extending therethrough attached to the reservoir, and at least one protrusion on an outer surface of the collar. The container includes a cap that is removably coupled to the base assembly, the cap including at least one angled channel disposed along an inner surface thereof, the channel configured to receive the protrusion in sliding engagement, the channel extending less than 360 degrees around the inner surface of the cap, the channel having a main portion, wherein an angle of the main portion relative to a transverse plane extending perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the container, is between 20 and 60 degrees. When the cap is placed over the base assembly with the protrusion positioned in the channel, the protrusion travels along the channel, guiding and rotating the cap into a secured position on the base assembly. 
         [0006]    In a further illustrative example, a self-closing container is provided comprising a base assembly including a reservoir for holding a product, and a collar with an opening extending therethrough attached to the reservoir, the collar including a first magnet and at least one protrusion on an outer surface of the collar. The container includes a cap assembly that is removably coupled to the base assembly, the cap assembly including a cap and a second magnet, wherein the cap includes at least one angled channel disposed along an inner surface thereof, the channel configured to receive the protrusion in sliding engagement, wherein each channel has a main portion and a proximal portion, wherein an angle of the main portion relative to a transverse plane extending perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the container, is greater than an angle of the proximal portion. When the cap assembly is placed over the base assembly with the protrusion positioned in the channel, the protrusion travels along the channel from the main portion to the proximal portion, thereby rotating the cap assembly as an attractive force between the first and second magnets pulls the cap assembly into a secured position on the base assembly. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0007]    In the drawings, which are not necessarily drawn to scale, like numerals may describe similar components in different views. The drawings illustrate generally, by way of example, but not by way of limitation, various embodiments discussed in the present document. 
           [0008]      FIG. 1A  is a perspective view of an illustrative container; 
           [0009]      FIG. 1B  is a cross sectional view of the container of  FIG. 1A   
           [0010]      FIG. 2  is an exploded view of the container of  FIG. 1A ; 
           [0011]      FIG. 3A  is a cross sectional view of the cap elements of  FIG. 1B ; 
           [0012]      FIG. 3B  is a cross sectional view of another cap structure; 
           [0013]      FIG. 4  is a cross sectional view of an internal component of a cap; 
           [0014]      FIG. 5  is a perspective cross sectional view of a portion of the internal component of  FIG. 4 ; and 
           [0015]      FIG. 6  is a cross sectional view of the container elements of  FIG. 1B . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0016]    In the following descriptions of the figures, the term proximal is used in reference to the upper portion of elements as they are shown in the drawings and the term distal is used in reference to the lower portion of elements as they are shown in the drawings.  FIG. 1A  is a perspective view of an illustrative container. The container may contain cosmetic products. 
         [0017]    Cosmetic products that the present invention may be used for may include, without limitation, mascara, lip gloss, eye liner, concealer, eye primer, lash primer, lip stain, nail polish, polish remover, and other products applied via brushes, sponges, or other cosmetic applicators. 
         [0018]    The parts of the container  100  that are visible when the container is closed include a cap  110 , a portion  174  of a collar, and bottle  180 . All of the individual elements of the container  100  are shown in  FIGS. 1B and 2 . The cap assembly as shown in  FIG. 3A  includes a cap  110 , at least one magnet  120 , an inner cap or stem  130 , and an elongate member  136 . An applicator (not shown) designed for the type of product to be used with the container may be inserted into an opening at the distal end of the elongate member  136 . 
         [0019]    The cap assembly may alternatively be a two part assembly as shown in  FIG. 3B . In such an assembly, the cap  1110  may have an elongate member  1136  extending downward through an inner cavity  1135  of the cap  1110 . The magnet  1120  may be disposed near the distal end of the cap. In another example, the magnet may be disposed above the channels (not shown). In a further example, the magnet may be disposed near the distal end of the cap, with notches in the magnet aligned with the channels (not shown). In a further example, a cap with channels on an inner surface thereof may have magnets disposed at the base of the cap, between the channels. The magnets may be disposed in recesses in the inner wall of the cap (not shown). 
         [0020]    The cap assembly may comprise additional parts (not shown) including, but not limited to, internal sealing components, application structures, external gripping elements, and decorative elements. The additional parts may be disposed on the outside and/or inside of the cap. 
         [0021]    The base assembly includes a tube or bottle  180  with a reservoir  185  to hold the product. In some examples, the bottle  180  may have a liner (not shown). The base assembly also includes at least one magnet  120 , a collar  170  and optionally a wiper  160 . As seen in  FIGS. 1B and 3 , the magnet  120  and stem  130  fit inside the distal end of the cap  110 . The magnet and stem may be secured to the cap by an interference fit, with adhesive, or have a snap fit. Alternatively, the stem may be attached to the cap directly via mating features not shown (i.e., a protrusion from the proximal end of the stem all the way to the inside top of the cap). In such a case, the stem and cap may be secured via adhesive, interference fit, snap fit, ultrasonic welding, etc. The magnet  120  may be one or more rings of magnetic material. For example, the magnet  120  within the cap may include a stack of 3 or 4 magnetic rings. The rings are sized and shaped so that when the cap is assembled, the magnetic rings  120  fit over the stem  130  and rest on a stem extension  134  that extends radially outward at the base of the stem. The cap  110  may have a cut-out region to accommodate the magnet  120 . 
         [0022]    The base portion of the container  100 , as shown in  FIGS. 1B and 6 , is an assembly including the bottle  180  with a reservoir  185  that contains the product, the collar  170 , and a magnet  120 . The bottle  180  may have a liner (not shown) within the reservoir  185  to hold the product. The magnet  120  is disposed at the proximal end of the bottle  180 . As with the magnet contained within the cap, the magnet  120  on the bottle  180  may include one or more magnetic rings. The collar  170  is disposed over the magnet  120  and bottle  180 . The collar  170  has a laterally extending lip  174  that engages the bottle  180  and reservoir  185 . The collar  170  may include a recess in the lip  174  that receives the magnet  120 . The collar  170  and magnet  120  may be secured to the bottle  180  by an interference fit, with adhesive, sonic welding, have a snap fit, or any other appropriate means. The outer surface of the collar  170  near the proximal end includes one or more protrusion  172  that engage a channel  132  in the stem  130 , as will be discussed below. A wiper  160  is disposed within an open channel of the collar  170 . The wiper serves to wipe excess product from the applicator and elongate member  136 . The wiper  160  may have an upper lip for securing it over the open channel of the collar  170 . The wiper  160  may be secured to the collar  170  by an interference fit, with adhesive, or have a snap fit. 
         [0023]      FIG. 4  illustrates details of the inner surface of the stem  130 . The stem  130  has an open bottom and an inner cavity  135  that receives the collar  170  and wiper  160 . An elongate member  136  extends through the cavity  135  from a proximal end of the stem  130 . The distal end of the elongate member  136  may include an applicator tip designed for a particular product. For example, a doe foot applicator tip (not shown) may be used with lip gloss, a sponge applicator tip (not shown) may be used with concealer, or various brush type applicator tips (not shown) may be used with mascara, eye liner, or nail polish. 
         [0024]    One or more track, groove, or channel  132  extends along the inner surface of the stem  130 . The channel  132  is sized and shaped to receive the protrusion  172  on the outer wall of the collar  170 . Each protrusion  172  is a discrete structure extending laterally from the outer wall of the collar. The protrusion  172  may have any shape that fits into the channel  132 . For example, the protrusion  172  may be a rounded bump, nub, sphere, or cylinder. In other examples, the protrusion may have a decorative shape such as a square, diamond, star, half moon, or product logo shape. A single channel  132  and protrusion  172  would provide for the cap  110  being applied to the bottle  180  in a single orientation. A single orientation cap and bottle connection may allow for a design element to extend along both the cap and bottle and always be in correct alignment. Two opposing channels  132  and protrusions  172  provide for the cap  110  to be placed onto the bottle in two orientations, 180 degrees apart. In the example illustrated in the figures, four evenly spaced apart channels  132  are present in the stem  130  with four corresponding protrusions  172  on the collar  170 . 
         [0025]    The channels  132  extend from a distal end  131  to a proximal portion  133 . The distal end  131  of the channel  132  extends to the bottom opening of the stem to allow the protrusion  172  to enter the channel  132  as the cap and stem  130  are seated over the collar  170 . The protrusion  172  travels along the channel  132  as the cap and stem  130  are lowered, causing the cap to rotate. The channels  132  extend at a steep angle relative to a transverse plane X of the container. For example, the main portion  137  of the channels  132  may extend at an angle of between 20 and 60 degrees, between 25 and 55 degrees, between 30 and 50 degrees, between 35 and 45 degrees, 40 degrees, or any specific angle within these ranges. The steep angle and short length of the channels  132  allow the cap to be secured to the bottle with less than a full 360 degree turn of the cap relative to the bottle. Each channel extends less than 360 degrees around the inside of the stem  130 . For example, each channel may extend three quarters, two thirds, one half, one third, one quarter, or less, of the distance around the inside of the stem. When two channels are present, each channel may extend one half, one third, one quarter, or less, of the distance around the inner wall of the stem. When three channels are present, each channel may extend one third, one quarter, or less, of the distance around the inside of the stem. When four channels are present, each channel may extend one quarter or less of the distance around the inside of the stem. The channels may be angled so the protrusion travels the entire length of the channel, thereby securing the cap, with less than a quarter turn, a quarter turn, a third of a turn, a half turn, three quarters of a turn, etc. 
         [0026]    The above configuration of channels also applies to the two part cap assembly shown in  FIG. 3B . The cap  1110  is a single part that includes the features described above for the cap  110  and stem  130 . The cap  1110  may have channels  1132  as discussed above disposed on an inner surface of the cap. The number, orientation, angle, overall structure, and spacing of the channels  1132  is as discussed above with reference to the three part cap shown in  FIG. 3A . 
         [0027]      FIG. 5  shows a cross section of the stem with the elongate member  136  not shown to better illustrate the channel configuration. The proximal portion  133  of the channel extends at a more shallow angle compared to the main portion  137  of the channel. For example, the proximal portion  133  of the channel may extend at an angle of between 5 and 20 degrees, between 10 and 15 degrees, or any specific angle within these ranges. A bump or other suitable feature may be included in the proximal portion  133  to give a “clicking” sensation when the cap assembly is fully secured to the base assembly, and to give a clicking sensation when the user un-assembles the cap assembly from the base assembly. 
         [0028]    The proximal portion  133  of the channel allows the cap to tighten onto the collar  170 . The magnets  120  in the cap  110  and collar  170  facilitate proper and secure attachment of the cap  110  to the bottle  180  with little or no force applied by the user. As the user lowers the cap  110  onto the collar  170  with the protrusion  172  in the distal end  131  of the channel, the attractive force between the magnets  120  in the cap and the magnets  120  in the collar pulls the cap down toward the bottle  180 , and the protrusion  172  travelling along the channel causes the cap to rotate. The transition in angle at the proximal portion of the channel encourages the cap to be tightened onto the bottle  180 . 
         [0029]    The strength of the attraction between the magnets  120  in the cap  110  and the magnets  120  on the bottle  180  are sufficient to overcome any viscous forces of the product in the bottle  180  acting on the elongate member  136  as the cap  110  is lowered onto the bottle  180  and the elongate member  136  is inserted into the product. The strength of the magnets may depend on the viscosity of the product, with stronger magnets used in containers for a viscous product such as lip gloss, for example, compared to a thinner product such as nail polish. 
         [0030]    In order to replace the cap  110  on the bottle  180 , the user positions the cap over the collar with the protrusions  172  in the distal end  131  of the channel  132 . The user may release the cap, allowing the magnets to provide an attractive force that pulls the cap onto the bottle, as the protrusions  172  and channel  132  rotate the cap into a sealed configuration on the bottle. In this way, the container is self-closing. Alternatively, the user may apply additional rotational and/or downward force to aid the closure process. 
         [0031]    The figures illustrate a container with protrusions on the collar and channels on the interior of the stem. This structure provides a container in which product spills on the collar may be easier to clean than conventionally threaded bottle collars, as the protrusions on the exterior of the collar may not collect as much product as threading. However, the reverse construction to that illustrated in the figures is contemplated. The channels may be provided in the outer surface of the collar and the protrusions may be provided on the inner surface of the stem. The operation of the container would remain the same and have the same advantages provided by the magnets and changing channel angle. 
         [0032]    Each of these non-limiting examples can stand on its own, or can be combined in various permutations or combinations with one or more of the other examples. The above detailed description includes references to the accompanying drawings, which form a part of the detailed description. The drawings show, by way of illustration, specific embodiments in which the invention can be practiced. These embodiments are also referred to herein as “examples.” Such examples can include elements in addition to those shown or described. However, the present inventors also contemplate examples in which only those elements shown or described are provided. Moreover, the present inventors also contemplate examples using any combination or permutation of those elements shown or described (or one or more aspects thereof), either with respect to a particular example (or one or more aspects thereof), or with respect to other examples (or one or more aspects thereof) shown or described herein. In the event of inconsistent usages between this document and any documents so incorporated by reference, the usage in this document controls. 
         [0033]    In this document, the terms “a” or “an” are used, as is common in patent documents, to include one or more than one, independent of any other instances or usages of “at least one” or “one or more.” Moreover, in the following claims, the terms “first,” “second,” and “third,” etc. are used merely as labels, and are not intended to impose numerical requirements on their objects. 
         [0034]    The above description is intended to be illustrative, and not restrictive. For example, the above-described examples (or one or more aspects thereof) may be used in combination with each other. Other embodiments can be used, such as by one of ordinary skill in the art upon reviewing the above description. 
         [0035]    The Abstract is provided to comply with 37 C.F.R. §1.72(b), to allow the reader to quickly ascertain the nature of the technical disclosure. It is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims. 
         [0036]    Also, in the above Detailed Description, various features may be grouped together to streamline the disclosure. This should not be interpreted as intending that an unclaimed disclosed feature is essential to any claim. Rather, inventive subject matter may lie in less than all features of a particular disclosed embodiment. Thus, the following claims are hereby incorporated into the Detailed Description as examples or embodiments, with each claim standing on its own as a separate embodiment, and it is contemplated that such embodiments can be combined with each other in various combinations or permutations. The scope of the invention should be determined with reference to the appended claims, along with the full scope of equivalents to which such claims are entitled.