Container for products in liquid or gel form, in particular for cosmetics

Abstract

A container (10) comprises a reservoir (12) in turn comprising a main portion (18) in which a cavity (14) for containing a liquid or gel product is defined, and a neck (20) extending from the main portion (18) and having an upper aperture (22) opening into said cavity (14). A closure element (16) is removably couplable with said reservoir (12) to close said cavity (14) at said aperture (22). An annular body (24) is fixable to said reservoir (12) to encircle said neck (20). When the annular body (24) and the reservoir (12) are fixed to each other, a gap (26) is defined between the annular body (24) and the neck (20), the gap (26) being configured to collect part of the product intended to be contained within the cavity but which can protrude through the aperture (22) of the neck (20) (for example to collect the product dripping from a brush (38)), thus avoiding soiling the user.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present invention relates to a container for products in liquid or gel form, in particular for cosmetics. BACKGROUND

[0002] Containers for products in liquid or gel form, in particular for cosmetics, are known in the prior art. Such containers generally comprise a reservoir and a closure element. The reservoir comprises a main portion in which a cavity for containing a liquid or gel product is defined. Furthermore, the reservoir comprises a neck portion extending from the main portion and having an upper aperture opening into the cavity. Conversely, the closure element is removably couplable to the reservoir so as to close the cavity at the aperture. Furthermore, the closure element comprises an applicator assembly configured to pass through the aperture and into the cavity so as to collect the product and to be able to dispense it outside the reservoir.

[0003] However, all the containers known in the prior art have some drawbacks that it would be desirable to overcome. SUMMARY

[0004] It is an object of the present invention to provide a container for products in liquid or gel form, in particular for cosmetics, which is able to solve the drawbacks of the prior art.

[0005] According to the invention, this and other objects are achieved by a container having the technical features mentioned in the appended independent claim.

[0006] It is understood that the appended claims set forth the scope of the technical teaching provided herein, which is provided in the following detailed description of the invention. In particular, part of the preferred embodiments of the invention are defined in the appended dependent claims, which comprise optional technical features.

[0007] Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following detailed description, made with reference to the drawings, which are summarized hereinafter. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0008] Figure 1 is an axial or longitudinal sectional view of a container provided according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention. In the above figure, an enlarged view of some embodiment details is shown, which is enclosed by a circular dashed line.

[0009] Figure 2 and Figure 3 is Figure 1 are two partial views of the container of

[0010] Figure 4is a side view of the annular body of the container shown in the preceding figures.

[0011] Figure 5 is an axial or longitudinal sectional view of the container shown in the preceding figures, wherein the closure element equipped with an applicator is removed from the reservoir.

[0012] Figure 6 is an axial sectional view of an alternative embodiment of the annular body only of the container shown in the preceding figures.

[0013] For the sake of completeness, below is a list of reference numerals used to identify the parts, elements and components shown in the figures summarised above.

[0014] 10. container

[0015] 12. reservoir

[0016] 14. cavity

[0017] 16. closure element

[0018] 18. main portion

[0019] 20. neck

[0020] 21. external thread

[0021] 22. hole

[0022] 23. internal thread

[0023] 24. annular body

[0024] 26. gap

[0025] 28. tubular portion

[0026] 30. intermediate portion

[0027] 32. recess

[0028] 34. internal protrusion

[0029] 36. applicator assembly

[0030] 38. stem

[0031] 40. brush

[0032] 42. housing

[0033] 44. lower notch

[0034] 46. hook DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0035] Reference Figure 1, shows an axial or longitudinal sectional view of a container 10 for products in liquid or gel form, in particular for cosmetics. The container 10 is provided according to an exemplary embodiment of the present application.

[0036] As will be described hereinafter, the use of the container 10 is particularly advantageous for containing products such as nail polish or gels made of materials that cure by exposure to ultraviolet light. In fact, in the event of a leak, such materials tend to continue to dirty, since they do not dry, which naturally occurs very slowly, so that they do not dry and generally do not solidify in the air, but only in the presence of ultraviolet light, which naturally occurs very slowly. As will be clear to the person skilled in the art, such a container 10 can also be used very conveniently for any other type of product; for example, the container 10 can also be used to contain enamel or gel type products other than those described above, since the container 10 can protect the person applying the product from being soiled during the entire time required to dry the leaked product.

[0037] The container 10 comprises a reservoir 12, inside which a cavity 14 is defined, configured to contain a liquid or gel substance. In the illustrated embodiment, the reservoir 12 is made of transparent material, for example glass.

[0038] Furthermore, the container 10 comprises a closure element 16, configured to removably close the cavity 14. In the illustrated embodiment, the closure element 16 is made of plastic material.

[0039] In Figure 1 , the container 10 is shown in a coupled condition between the reservoir 12 and the closure element 16. In this condition, the closure element 16 closes the cavity 14 in a substantially airtight manner, to preserve the properties and characteristics of the product intended to be contained in the container 10.

[0040] The reservoir 12 comprises a main portion 18, in which the cavity 14 is defined, and a neck 20, which extends from the main portion 18. The neck 20 has an upper aperture 22, which opens into the cavity 14 and is configured to pass the product, so that the cavity 14 is filled, and subsequently the product is extracted from the reservoir 12.

[0041] The closure element 16 can be removably coupled with said reservoir 12 to close said cavity 14 at said aperture 22. In particular, the closure element 16 can be removably coupled at the neck 20 of the reservoir 12, for example by screwing around the neck 20. In the illustrated embodiment, the neck 20 has external threads 21 and the closure element has internal threads 23, configured to be coupled with the external threads 21, to ensure the removable coupling between the neck 20 and the closure element 16.

[0042] The closure element 16 comprises an applicator assembly 36 configured to pass through the hole 22 and enter the cavity 14. In particular, the applicator 36 is configured so as to enable the collection of the product intended to be contained in the cavity 14 and the dispensing of the product to the outside. For example, the applicator assembly 36 comprises a substantially centrally extending stem 38 and a brush 40 located at the end of the stem 38 and configured to collect a quantity of the product intended to be contained in the cavity 14.

[0043] The container 10 further comprises an annular body 24 which can be fixed to the receptacle 12 so as to surround the neck 20. When the annular body 24 and the receptacle 12 are fixed to each other, a gap 26 is defined between the annular body 24 and the neck 20 and is configured to collect the portion of product which can leak out of the receptacle 12.

[0044] As will be seen in the following description, when the applicator assembly 36 is removed, in the event of liquid leakage and undesired falling of the liquid towards the receptacle 12, the annular body 24 can collect such liquid in the gap 26. Figure 5

[0045] As will be clear to the skilled person, for the fixing of the annular body 24 and the receptacle 12, in particular around the neck 20 thereof, the seal between them is not essential. In fact, the quantity of product which generally leaks from the receptacle 12 and / or flows from the applicator assembly 36 is minimal, so as not to generally exceed the contact border between the annular body 24 and the receptacle 12.

[0046] In the illustrated embodiment, the annular body 24 is made as a separate piece with respect to the receptacle 12, since the glass moulding techniques generally do not allow to obtain the form of a container made directly on the neck 20 of the receptacle 12 by the annular body 24, in particular when made of glass.

[0047] Preferably, the annular body 24 can be removably coupled with the receptacle 12. For example, as will be described in greater detail hereinafter with reference to alternative technical features, the annular body 24 can be coupled with the receptacle 12 by snap coupling means.

[0048] In the illustrated embodiment, for example in Figures 2 to 4 The annular body 24 comprises a tubular portion 28 configured to define the gap 26 together with the neck 20.

[0049] ​In particular, the reservoir 12 comprises an intermediate portion 30 axially interposed between the main portion 18 and the neck 20 and configured to be coupled with the annular body 24. In the illustrated embodiment, the intermediate portion 30 has a cross section greater than that of the neck 20 and, correspondingly, smaller than that of the main portion 18. In particular, the intermediate portion 30 provides a "stepped" shape interposed between the main portion 18 and the neck 20, as seen in axial section.

[0050] Preferably, the intermediate portion 30 is coupled with the tubular portion 28 of the annular body 24. For example, the intermediate portion 30 is provided with an external recess 32 and the tubular portion 28 is provided with an internal protrusion 34 couplable with the recess 32. In particular, the recess 32 and the internal protrusion 34 extend circumferentially with respect to the intermediate portion 30 and the tubular portion 28, respectively. In further alternative embodiments (not illustrated), as will be apparent to the skilled person, the arrangement between recess and internal protrusion can be interchanged, in particular by providing an internal recess on the tubular portion of the annular body and an external protrusion on the intermediate portion of the reservoir. As will be clear to the skilled person, in further alternative embodiments the coupling between the annular portion 28 and the intermediate portion 30 can occur in a different way than the hooking described above.

[0051] In the illustrated embodiment, as mentioned above, the external recess 32 and the internal protrusion 34 contribute to advantageously provide a coupling of the removable type, in particular of the snap type.

[0052] The annular body 24 also has a shell 42 extending transversely from the tubular portion 28 and overlapping the main portion 18 of the reservoir 12. In particular, the shell 42 develops from an axially intermediate region of the annular body 24. Advantageously, the shell 42 has a shape connectable to the shape of the reservoir 12, in particular to make the shape shown by the container 10 as a whole continuous.

[0053] In the illustrated embodiment, the shell 42 extends circumferentially from the tubular portion 28 to cover an upper portion of the main portion of the reservoir 12.

[0054] In particular, the shell 42 widens transversely downwards, for example having a substantially frustoconical development.

[0055] Reference is made to Figure 6, shows an alternative embodiment of the ring 24 of the container shown in the preceding figures. In this alternative embodiment, in the ring 24, the bottom edge of the tubular portion 28 has a plurality of lower notches 44 extending in the circumferential direction. These lower notches 44 divide the bottom of the ring portion into a plurality of resiliently flexible hooks 46. Each hook 46 is provided with a respective internal protrusion 34 able to couple with the recess 32. In this way, an improved type of snap connection is provided, which does not require the use of other means or elements (e.g. glue, etc.) to ensure the connection between the receptacle 12 and the ring 24.

[0056] Naturally, the embodiments and the implementation details can vary widely with respect to those described and illustrated purely by way of non-limiting example, without departing from the scope of the application as defined in the appended claims, without prejudice to the principle of the application.

Claims

1. A container for a product in liquid or gel form; The container includes: - Storage container (12), said storage container (12) further includes: The main body portion (18) defines a cavity (14) for receiving a liquid or gel product, and A neck (20) that extends from the main body portion (18) and has an upper hole (22) leading to the cavity (14); - A closure element (16) removably coupled to the reservoir (12) to close the cavity (14) at the orifice (22); the closure element (16) includes an applicator assembly (36) configured to pass through the orifice (22) and into the cavity (14) to collect the product and to be able to dispense the product to the outside; and - An annular body (24) that can be fixed to the reservoir (12) to surround the neck (20); When the annular body (24) and the reservoir (12) are fixed together, a gap (26) is defined between the annular body (24) and the neck (20), the gap (26) being configured to collect a portion of the product intended to be contained within the cavity (14) but which may leak through the hole (22) of the neck (20). The annular body (24) includes a tubular portion (28) configured to define a gap (26) with the neck (20) when the annular body (24) is coupled to the neck (20); the annular body (24) further includes a housing (42) extending laterally from the tubular portion (28) and overlapping the body portion (18) of the reservoir (12); and The outer shell (42) unfolds from the axial middle region of the annular body (24).

2. The container according to claim 1, wherein the annular body (24) is removably coupled to the reservoir (12).

3. The container according to claim 2, wherein the annular body (24) is coupled to the reservoir (12) by a snap-fit ​​coupling.

4. The container according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the reservoir (12) includes an intermediate portion (30) axially located between the body portion (18) and the neck (20) and configured to be coupled to the annular body (24).

5. The container according to claim 4, wherein the intermediate portion (30) is coupled to the tubular portion (28) of the annular body (24).

6. The container according to claim 5, wherein one of the intermediate portion (30) and the tubular portion (28) is provided with a groove (32), and the other of the intermediate portion (30) and the tubular portion (28) is provided with a protrusion (34) capable of coupling with the groove (32).

7. The container according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the outer shell (42) extends circumferentially from the tubular portion (28) to cover the upper portion of the main body portion (18) of the reservoir (12).

8. The container according to claim 1, wherein the product is a cosmetic.

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