Coating implements with material supply – Solid material for rubbing contact or support therefor – Including means to advance material
Reexamination Certificate
1999-05-07
2001-05-08
Huson, Gregory L. (Department: 3751)
Coating implements with material supply
Solid material for rubbing contact or support therefor
Including means to advance material
C132S318000, C401S086000, C401S087000, C401S088000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06227733
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to the field of lipstick and cosmetic dispensers having a propelling and retracting mechanism for a cosmetic stick contained within the dispenser.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
There has been a trend in the cosmetics product market towards “non-transferable” lipstick products. These products are heavy, silicone filled lipsticks that do not transfer from the wearers lips, and leave residue, such as on a coffee cup or clothing. These lipstick formulations have a significant quantity of volatile components in their formulations. As such, they must be kept enclosed in an airtight container when not in use. If not enclosed in an airtight container, they will dry out and shrink. They will become unusable to the consumer, particularly if the lipstick shrinks and falls out of the dispenser cup. These products were first introduced to the market in slim lipstick dispensers because these dispensers had the necessary airtight construction. However, these initial slim dispenser designs also have disadvantages. These slim dispenser designs typically include an elevator cup that has a threaded rod extending downwardly into and engaging a threaded base element, and which can be operated with a twisting action to extend the cosmetic stick from a nose member. One such design is shown, for example, in my U.S. Pat. No. 5,018,893.
A disadvantage of these designs is that in order to load the dispenser with a cosmetic stick, the cosmetic stick must be formed and carefully loaded into the dispenser or cast in place in the tubular nose of the dispenser. The elevators of these dispensers cannot be bottom filled with a molten cosmetic product which is allowed to cool, in place, in a mold, so that the cosmetic is molded in place onto an elevator cup. It is to be appreciated that bottom filling of an elevator cup of a cosmetic dispenser is considered a preferred method of loading the cosmetic stick into a lipstick dispenser because it simplifies the cosmetic loading operation and reduces product loss arising from breakage of the cosmetic stick on loading. Such bottom filling methods are used with conventional lipstick dispensers where the cup size is on the order of 0.50 inches diameter. Such bottom filling methods are not generally usable in slim dispenser designs because they will use a small diameter solid threaded rod element engaged in a cam or nut element to drive the elevator. In contrast, the conventional dispensers use a combination of an innerbody with straight tracks working in combination with helical tracks on a cam sleeve to move an elevator cup by engagement with the elevator cup lugs.
Lastly, the “feel” of the existing slim dispenser designs is sometimes slack; desirably, a cosmetic dispenser should have a sufficient amount of swivel drag to give the dispenser a feel that is smooth and luxurious.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of a preferred embodiment of the invention to provide a slim cosmetic dispenser which is capable of being bottom filled with a molten cosmetic product to allow a cosmetic stick to be formed in place in the elevator cup of the dispenser. It is an object of a preferred embodiment of the invention to provide such a dispenser with an enhanced swivel drag. It is an object of the preferred embodiment of the invention to provide such a dispenser which seals to prevent premature drying and deterioration of a cosmetic stick.
These objects, and other objects which shall become apparent hereafter are accomplished by a cosmetic dispenser in accordance with one embodiment of the invention, comprising a tubular A-shell, an elevator and a base.
The A-shell is preferably a decorative aluminum A-shell, but has a plurality of longitudinal splines provided with the interior wall of the A-shell, either as ribs formed integrally with the wall, or as part of a plastic insert. Preferably, there are from four to eight of such splines. The elevator has an elevator cup at an upper end and an elevator stem extending down from the cup. The elevator stem is preferably hollow, and open at its lower end.
The elevator cup is fitted inside the A-shell and has a plurality of notches around its outer wall. The longitudinal splines fit into the notches to keep the elevator cup in a fixed orientation relative to the A-shell. In one preferred embodiment, the elevator cup notches are formed in an annular bead extending around the outer wall of the elevator cup; for ease of manufacture, the bead is deformable, and the elevator cup notches are made by the pressure of the A-shell splines on the bead when the cosmetic dispenser is operated. In another embodiment, the elevator cup notches are molded or otherwise formed in the outer wall of the elevator cup.
The elevator stem has an exterior wall with a circular cross-section and lugs extending radially outwardly therefrom which fit into and follow an internal helically threaded track of the base. The base is rotatably-attached to the A-shell, preferably by an annular bead extending around a perimeter of the interior wall of the A-shell in snap fitting engagement with a channel extending around a perimeter of an outer wall of the base. Accordingly, the cosmetic dispenser is operable to cause the elevator cup to travel longitudinally in the A-shell by rotation of the base element relative to the A-shell, because the rotation causes the lugs to track upwardly in the helically threaded track, with the A-shell splines received in the elevator cup notches maintaining the elevator cup in a fixed orientation relative to the A-shell.
In a preferred embodiment, a desired swivel torque is provided by a plurality of separate tabs formed with and extending upwardly from the base into frictional contact with the interior wall of the A-shell to generate friction between the base and the A-shell upon relative rotation of the base and A-shell.
The invention reduces the number of parts used in a dispenser by eliminating the innerbody found in most conventional lipstick dispensers. It provides a slender appearance and an airtight option. It provides a desirable feel due to the friction of plastic friction tabs against a metal A-shell.
Other objects, aspects and features of the invention in addition to those mentioned above will be pointed out in or will be understood from the following detailed description in conjunction with the drawings.
REFERENCES:
patent: 2980246 (1961-04-01), Leshin
patent: 3256980 (1966-06-01), Bau
patent: 3275132 (1966-09-01), Hultgren
patent: 3310168 (1967-03-01), Landen
patent: 3807881 (1974-04-01), Seidler
patent: 3907441 (1975-09-01), Idec et al.
patent: 5018893 (1991-05-01), Holloway
patent: 5437513 (1995-08-01), Favre
patent: 5551787 (1996-09-01), Rosenthal
patent: 1351560 (1963-12-01), None
Crown Cork & Seal Technologies Corporation
Huson Gregory L.
Prunner Kathleen J.
St. Onge Steward Johnston & Reens
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