Cosmetic container having a clean corkage insert

Details Cosmetic container having a clean corkage insert Cosmetic container having a clean corkage insert

1998-08-13

2001-02-13

Walczak, David J. (Department: 3751)

Coating implements with material supply

Supply container and independent applicator

Applicator includes container closure or overlies material

C401S122000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06186689

ABSTRACT:

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention deals with color cosmetic liquid products that are traditionally applied with a brush, sponge or foamed mitt utilized with a rod or stem. These products may include nail coatings, liquid eyeliner, lip-liner or other facial products. The invention is designed to serve multiple functions as a sealing mechanism and as a means to keep product from locating on the top of a bottle finish or on the continuous threads of the bottle opening.
Existing cosmetic packages are subject to product migration onto surfaces where they can cause problems of inadvertent staining of ones clothes or other personal property. There is also the chance of product dry-out acting as an adhesive which binds the closure to the container, complicating subsequent use owing to the difficulty in cap removal. The function of the insert which is the subject of this invention, is to provide the means to maintain a product-free environment at the land seal and without, and at the same time, enhance the containment and sealing of the liquid product within the bottle.
An additional advantage offered by this invention is the pre-assembly feature of the insert and the applicator brush or rod. Accordingly, the filler and assembler of the primary container which provides the packaging for the product need not place the insert and the applicator in their proper orientation via separate steps. A single placement of the pre-assembled components will accomplish the proper registration.
In optional embodiments, the insert may be part of the bottle neck and may include inwardly projecting walls which act as a flow inhibitor. The lip of the container is also designed to be the smallest practical and to provide the minimum surface for the product which may be deposited thereon. This minimizes the amount of product which might reach the threads.
The prior art includes U.S. Pat. No. 5,190,389 to Vasas which discloses a rod and applicator brush for applying cosmetics. The main feature of this patent concerns a wiper for removing excess product from the brush. U.S. Pat. No. 3,896,823 to Spatz discloses an applicator for coloring eyelashes which includes a wiper for removing excess mascara from the applicator member.
Dahm U.S. Pat. No. 4,784,505 discloses a container with a stripper which prevents excess product from depositing on the applicator. Also of interest are U.S. Pat. No. 4,403,624 to Montgomery and U.S. Pat. No. 4,841,996 to Gueret.
The prior art does not disclose the unique insert of this invention used in conjunction with a cosmetic container or bottle.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to cosmetic containers and particularly to containers having a unique insert which serves multiple functions, namely sealing and preventing the product from locating on top of the container finish or the container threads.
The insert is held in the neck of the bottle or container by friction and mechanical attachment to a recessed ring about the thread root of a continuous thread finish. The insert is molded from a polymer that repels the cosmetic product by means of molecular polarity. Typical of these plastics are the polyolefins, fluoroplastics, nylons, acetals, polyesters, epoxy resins and elastomeric polyesters. The insert design also physically relocates the aperture at the top of the container a distance above the threaded neck, making the continuous threads less susceptible to product coating or contamination. Additionally, the insert provides multiple seals which prevent leakage or loss of solvents from the container.
More specifically, the container includes an insert which is preassembled to a brush by means of an undercut ring located beneath a brush flange and cooperating with an undercut recess in the neck of the container. The downwardly extending walls of the insert are held by friction in the container neck and the insert is anchored externally to the container by a ring which extends outwardly from the threaded container. The interaction between the external surface of the insert and the container's inner wall, together with the interlocking components at the finish exterior wall is more formidable than the preassembly lock between the insert and the brush. The insert is thus tightly locked in the neck of the container. The radial edge on the brush provides a means for wiping away excess product from the brush.
Alternatively, the insert may not be preassembled to the brush and it can be separate from a bottle neck or part of a one-piece neck. Further, the lip of the bottle or container opening is reduced in surface area to limit the product which may be deposited thereon and thus prevent liquid from reaching the threads.
Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide a new and improved insert for a container opening.
Another object of this invention is to provide a new and improved insert for sealing a cosmetic container.
A further object of this invention is to provide a new and improved sealed top for a cosmetic bottle having an elongated neck.
A still further object of this invention is to provide a new and improved cosmetic container which includes a primary seal of a valve type where the cone of the brush plugs the bottle corkage and a secondary seal or land seal between the brush flange and the lip of the container.
Another object of this invention is to provide a new and improved insert for a cosmetic container which is preassembled to a brush and which engages the container opening to maintain a product free environment at the land seal and without, while at the same time enhancing the containment and sealing of the liquid product within the container.
A more specific object of this invention is to provide a plastic insert having a pre-assembled brush mounted thereto which fits into the neck of a container to effect a functional seal, said insert also having an undercut flange on the upper portion thereof which engages the threaded outer ring on the container for sealing purposes.


REFERENCES:
patent: 3280421 (1966-10-01), Davidson
patent: 4761088 (1988-08-01), Zubek
patent: 4930919 (1990-06-01), Gueret
patent: 5242232 (1993-09-01), Kuhn
patent: 1436613 (1966-03-01), None
patent: 8802608 (1988-04-01), None

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