Toilet – Toilet kit – Powder box and applicator
Reexamination Certificate
2001-05-16
2002-05-14
Wilson, John J. (Department: 3732)
Toilet
Toilet kit
Powder box and applicator
C132S297000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06386210
ABSTRACT:
The present invention relates to a device, notably to a carrier for cosmetic compositions.
BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION
Many forms of cosmetic composition are put up in a solid formulation for application to the skin of the user with a brush or pad. Such compositions include lipsticks, eye shadowers or liners, face powders or blushers, and the term solid composition is used herein to denote in general compacted powders, for example in cake or pellet form, and lipsticks, perfumes and other compositions which are put up in stick or other self-supporting gelled or solid or semi-solid forms.
Such compositions are typically put up in a compact or other carrier housing which are normally in the closed state for transport and storage, for example in the handbag of the user. When the user wishes to apply the composition, the user opens the container to expose a surface of the composition in the container. The user then applies to composition to the skin, for example the lips, eyelids or cheeks, by using a brush, pad or other applicator to transfer some of the composition from the exposed surface to the desired locus on the skin. Such a method for storing and using cosmetic compositions usually requires the use of separate containers and applicators for each cosmetic composition. As a result, a user must often carry a plurality of such containers, which can be inconvenient and bulky. Alternatively, the user has to select which cosmetic is required in the forthcoming period and to discard those not selected. This carries the risk that one of the discarded compositions will in fact be required and is not available to the user.
We have devised a form of carrier, which is capable of carrying a plurality of cosmetic compositions, and yet which is compact and discrete for the user to carry in a handbag or pocket.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, the invention provides a carrier for a plurality of cosmetics, which carrier comprises a generally rectangular body member shaped in the form of a mobile telephone handset having two opposed axially extending major faces, two axially extending minor side faces and two transversely extending minor terminal faces and an aerial extending axially from or adjacent one of the minor terminal faces, characterised in that:
a. the body member has a plurality of recesses in one major face thereof which recesses mimic the shape and location of the buttons notionally required to operate the handset, at least some of the said recesses each containing or being adapted to receive a cosmetic composition to be applied to the skin of a user;
b. a cover member is provided which is moveable from a first position at which it overlies the recesses to a second position at which the surface of the composition in at least some of the recesses is exposed; and
c. an applicator for applying cosmetic composition from the exposed face of the composition to the skin of a. user, which applicator. comprises an axially extending member adapted to be removeably received by an applicator recess in the body member extending from at or adjacent the minor face of the body member carrying the aerial, the applicator having a terminal portion which mimics the tip of the aerial when the applicator is inserted into the applicator recess in the body member.
The use of such a shape of carrier for the cosmetic compositions provides a simple and compact carrier which can carry a plurality, typically 9 to 15, of different cosmetic compositions so that a user can have access to a wide range of cosmetics without the need to carry a large number of separate containers. Since the carrier is in the form of an article which many people carry with them, the carrier is not obtrusive and can be used discretely by the user. Since the applicator is housed within the carrier body member, the user does not have to carry a plurality of applicators and the risk of inadvertent transfer to cosmetic composition from the exposed tip of the applicator during storage is reduced. Since the carrier body is provided with a removable cover member, the risk of accidental leakage or transfer of the cosmetic compositions to other contents in a handbag or the like is reduced and the cover reduces drying out of the compositions within the recesses during storage.
The mobile telephone, which the carrier of the invention mimics, can be of a wide range of forms and sizes. The body member will be of a generally rectangular form with the “buttons” notionally required to operate the telephone located in a grid pattern on one of the major faces of the body. However, the “buttons” can be laid out in any other suitable pattern. If desired, there may be one or more dummy “buttons” which are decorative and serve to enhance the mimicking effect of the shape of the body member. If desired the body member can be provided with a dummy display screen or other features found on a mobile telephone handset. For convenience, the invention will be described hereinafter in terms of a body member carrying 9 “button” recesses to receive the cosmetic compositions lain out in a 3×3 grid with other dummy buttons and a display screen adjacent the aerial end of the body member.
The “button” recesses can be of any suitable shape and size. However, the recesses typically have a capacity of from 0.5 to 2 cls so as to provide an adequate supply of cosmetic therein for the user over a period of days or weeks. Typically, the recesses will have a circular or oval cross-section and a depth of from 0.5 to 1.5 cms. The optimum size and shape of the recesses can be selected within a wide range having regard to the specific cosmetic: composition which that recess is to receive.
When filled with cosmetic compositions, it will usually be desired that each of the “button” recesses contains a unique composition. However, some of the “button” recesses may be deliberately left empty for use in mixing one or more compositions from other recesses, for example to convert a powder composition to a paste or slurry by the addition of water or a perfume oil by the user. For convenience the invention will be described hereinafter in terms of a body member in which all the “button” recesses are filled with different cosmetic compositions.
As indicated above, the cosmetic compositions in the “button” recesses are in solid or semi-solid form so that they do not readily escape from the recesses during handling, transport or storage of the body member once charged with its cosmetic load. The cosmetics can be in, the form or cast or pressed powder blocks or in the form of semi-solid gels such as gelled perfume compositions or lip stick formulations. Such compositions are of conventional nature and commercially available compositions may be used in the present invention with little or no modification and filled into the “button” recesses using conventional filling techniques and equipment. If desired, a range of cosmetic compositions can be provided in individual plugs or pellets from which the user selects those required and inserts them as a drop or push fit into the appropriate “button” recesses.
If desired, the cosmetic compositions can be put up in a secondary cup or other container which is a loose fit within the recesses so that the user may select which cosmetic compositions are to be inserted into the recesses from a wide range of compositions provided in such secondary containers. The user can thus charge the carrier with different range of cosmetics according to the expected conditions under which the cosmetics will be used or according to the personal preference of the user for the identity of the cosmetic to be used. The secondary containers can be a simple push fit into the appropriate “button” recesses or can be secured in the recesses by any other suitable mechanism, for example a screw fit. If desired, the secondary containers can be provided as a tray like member carrying a plurality of cups formed therein which register with the “button” recesses in the body member so that the cosmetic compositions can readily be interchanged, for example from an outdoor range
Bracewell & Patterson LLP
Doan Robyn Kieu
Midland Cosmetics Sales plc
Wilson John J.
LandOfFree
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