COSMETIC CONTAINERS, ESPECIALLY MASCARA CONTAINERS

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a cosmetic container according to the preamble of the claim.

[0002] Cosmetic containers of the type mentioned above are regularly designed as material hybrids, meaning that these containers, composed of multiple components, contain parts made of different materials. In the case of these containers, these are mostly material hybrids or mixtures of aluminum and plastic. Therefore, especially when the respective material composition exceeds a certain threshold, effective recycling requires separating the materials. This separation often proves to be very complex, and particularly when separation is not economically feasible, the lower-grade or less valuable material is sacrificed to enable the recycling of the more valuable component.This can be done, for example, by melting down cosmetic containers that contain both aluminum and plastic components for recycling, so that the materials are separated in this case by combustion or gasification of the plastic component.

[0003] For example, two different approaches can make it possible to recycle a cosmetic container made up of several components as comprehensively as possible. In the first approach, the cosmetic container is designed so that the individual components can be separated from each other in the simplest possible way. In the second approach, the aim is to have the lowest possible plastic content in order to minimize the non-recyclable part of the cosmetic container when sacrificing the plastic material.

[0004] From US 7,686,528 B2, a particularly in the Fig. 2 and 3The mascara container shown in D1 is known, comprising as components a container part, a container cap, a wiper inserted in a container neck arranged on the container part, and an applicator connected to the container cap, the applicator penetrating the wiper with a brush rod provided with an applicator brush at its free end, wherein material interfaces are formed at least partially for separation between the materials, which are designed as a detachable form-fitting, material-fitting or force-fitting connection, wherein a connecting end of the brush rod is connected to an applicator holder.

[0005] Another example of a mascara container is known from US5466081A.

[0006] The present invention is based on the objective of proposing a cosmetic container that allows for a high proportion of recyclable material.

[0007] To solve this problem, the cosmetic container according to the invention has the features of claim 1.

[0008] According to the invention, in the cosmetic container, where the wiper, unlike at least one of the aforementioned components, is made of a plastic material, material interfaces are formed, at least partially, to separate the different materials or components. These interfaces are designed as detachable form-fitting, material-fitting, or force-fitting connections, so that the cosmetic container according to the invention does not have to be subjected to a recycling process in its entirety. Instead, the components can be separated before recycling due to the material interfaces for subsequent feeding of the components into different recycling processes, or, if necessary, non-recyclable materials or materials that can only be recycled with very high effort can be separated from materials with comparatively better recyclability.To simplify material separation, even independently of any recycling issues, one end of the brush rod is connected to an applicator holder via a bayonet connection.

[0009] Even apart from recycling issues, a bayonet connection between an applicator holder and an applicator is advantageous in cosmetic containers, especially those designed as mascara containers, because it allows for easy applicator replacement. This advantage applies regardless of whether the container's components are made of different or identical materials. In the case of a mascara container, the wiper can therefore be made of any material, as long as it fulfills its function. The wiper can be made not only of plastic but also of a different material than the rest of the container.

[0010] According to the invention, the container cap comprises an outer cap part and an inner cap part, each of which has a sleeve part connected to one another by a press fit, adhesive bond, or welding connection. The differentiation into an outer cap part and an inner cap part optionally allows the use of different materials for the outer cap part and the inner cap part, with the formation of a suitable detachable material interface between the sleeve parts, in order to enable a high proportion of recyclable material in the container cap overall.

[0011] According to the invention, the applicator is held in the inner part of the cap by means of the applicator holder, so that the applicator holder defines an interface that allows for a particularly easy separation of the applicator from the container cap or the inner part of the cap.

[0012] It is particularly advantageous if the scraper, unlike at least one of the other aforementioned components, is made of a plastic material.

[0013] The cosmetic container according to the invention also offers the possibility of reducing the plastic content to the lowest possible level, approximately less than 10%, and of selecting a uniform recycling process for the remaining components, particularly if these consist of a single material, such as aluminium.

[0014] In any case, the cosmetic container according to the invention also enables a simplification of container recycling.

[0015] Preferably, the applicator holder has a connection area for connection with the inner part of the cap, so that separation between the applicator holder and the inner part of the cap is also possible.

[0016] Preferably, the applicator holder has a cup-shaped receiving part for receiving the connection end with a connecting projection formed on a cup bottom, such that, for connection with the inner part of the cap, a projection of the connecting projection extending beyond the opening edge of a receiving opening formed in the base of the inner part of the cap engages behind the opening edge after forming, so that forming can be carried out, for example, by an ultrasonic welding process, with the result that, for material separation, only the material projection needs to be removed to separate the applicator holder from the inner part of the cap.

[0017] If the connecting end of the brush rod has two radially projecting pins arranged axially from a stop collar at a distance a for engagement in a locking groove formed in a cup wall of the applicator holder at a distance a from a cup rim, the bayonet connection can be formed with particularly little material.

[0018] Preferably, the stop collar simultaneously serves as a sealing element against an opening edge of an opening designed for the passage of the brush bar in the wiper, so that the provision of a separate seal is not necessary.

[0019] If the wiper has a stop collar in an axial end of a sleeve inserted in the container neck for external contact with an opening edge of the container neck, and several fastening tabs distributed around the circumference of a sleeve edge at an opposite axial end of the sleeve, which are radially outwardly formed and engage behind an inner shoulder formed on the container neck, a particularly easily separable material connection between the wiper and the container neck can also be formed.

[0020] Preferred embodiments of the cosmetic container are explained below by way of example with reference to the drawings.

[0021] They show: Fig. 1 an embodiment of a cosmetic container in isometric view; Fig. 2 the in Fig. 1 cosmetic container shown in longitudinal section; Fig. 3 a container part of the in Fig. 1 cosmetic container shown in exploded view; Fig. 4 a container cap of the in Fig. 1 cosmetic container shown in combination with an applicator in longitudinal section view; Fig. 5 an exploded view of the in Fig. 4 in conjunction with the container cap shown the applicator; Fig. 6 the in Fig. 5 The applicator shown, with an applicator holder separate from the applicator, is shown in a first isometric view; Fig. 7 Another isometric representation of the applicator holder separated from the applicator.

[0022] In the Fig. 1 bis 7 One embodiment of the cosmetic container according to the invention is a mascara container 400, which, as in particular Fig. 1 and 2 show a container part 401 and a container cap 402, which is equipped with an applicator 403.

[0023] How Fig. 2 As shown, the container cap 402 has an inner cap part 405 provided with a cap thread 404 and an outer cap part 406, wherein both the inner cap part 405 and the outer cap part 406 are sleeve-shaped and each have a cap base 407, 408 at one end and an opening rim 409, 410 at the ends opposite the cap bases 407, 408, between which a connection is formed which can be a press, adhesive or welded connection.

[0024] As can be seen particularly from a synthesis of the Fig. 4 bis 7 As can be clearly seen, the applicator 403 has a brush bar 411, the connecting end 412 of which is connected by means of a bayonet connection 413 to an applicator holder 414, which is received in a recess 415 formed in the cap base 407 of the inner part of the cap 405.

[0025] The applicator holder 414 has a cup-shaped receiving part 416 ( Fig. 5 ) for receiving the connecting end 412 with a connecting projection 417 formed on a cup bottom, wherein, for connecting the applicator holder 414 with the inner part of the cap 405, a projection 420 of the connecting projection 417 extending beyond an opening edge 418 of a receiving opening 419 formed in the cap bottom 407 of the inner part of the cap 405 engages behind the opening edge 418 after a forming process preferably carried out by means of an ultrasonic welding tool, which is not shown here.

[0026] To form the bayonet connection 413, the connecting end 412 of the brush rod 411 has two radially projecting pins 421, which are diametrically opposed to each other, as shown in particular Fig. 6 shown, are arranged at a distance a from a stop collar 423 of the brush bar 411 and allow engagement in a locking groove 426 formed in a cup wall 424 of the applicator holder 414 at a distance a from a cup rim 425.

[0027] How Fig. 7 As shown, for the insertion of the pins 421 into the locking grooves 426, an axially oriented insertion groove 427 is provided in the cup wall 424 for each pin 421, such that after insertion of the connecting end 412 into the applicator holder 414 by means of an axial feed movement, the pins 421 can be locked in the locking grooves 426 by a subsequent rotation of the brush bar 411 about its longitudinal axis. A preload securing the connecting end 412 of the brush bar 411 in the applicator holder 414 can be generated by a slightly rising design of the locking grooves 426 in the direction of rotation, with the stop collar 423 bearing against the cup rim 425.

[0028] How especially the Fig. 2 and 3As shown, the container part 401 has a container body 429 provided with a base 428, which has a receiving opening 430 at its end opposite the base 428 for receiving a container neck 431. The container neck 431 is inserted into the receiving opening 430 with a connecting end 432 whose outer diameter corresponds to the inner diameter of the container body 429, such that a shoulder 434 formed in the transition to a threaded part 433 of the container neck 431 is arranged flush with an opening edge 435 of the receiving opening 430.

[0029] A plastic scraper 436 is inserted into the threaded part 433. At the upper axial end of a sleeve 438 inserted into the container neck 431, the scraper 436 has a stop collar 439 for external contact with an opening rim 440 of the container neck 431. The stop collar 439, with an opening rim 444, defines an opening 445 formed in the scraper 414 for the passage of the brush rod 411. At its lower axial end, the sleeve 438 is provided with a plurality of fastening tabs 443 distributed around the circumference of a sleeve rim 442. After the scraper 436 is inserted into the container neck 431, these tabs are radially deformed outwards and engage behind the shoulder 434 formed on the container neck 431 to fix the scraper 436 in its position within the container neck 431.

[0030] The forming process for shaping the fastening tabs 443 can be carried out using an ultrasonic tool, in accordance with the forming process of the connecting projection 417 on the applicator holder 414. For this purpose, the forming process – comparable to the forming process of the connecting projection 417, which is carried out before the inner cap part 405 is inserted into the outer cap part 406 – can be performed before the container neck 431 is inserted into the container body 429.

Claims

1. A cosmetics container, in particular a mascara container (400), whose components are a container part (401), a container cap (402), a wiper (436), which is inserted into a container neck (431) disposed on a container part (401), and an applicator (403), which is connected to the container cap (402) and passes through the wiper (436) with a brush rod (411) provided with an applicator brush on its free end, material intersections, which are realised as detachable form-fit, detachable substance-to-substance or detachable force-fit connections, are at least partially formed between the different or coinciding materials for separation purposes, a joining end (412) of the brush rod (411) being connected to an applicator holder (414) by means of a bayonet joint (413), the container cap (402) comprising a cap outer part (406) and a cap inner part (405), which each comprise a sleeve part, which are connected to each other via a press-fit connection, an adhesive connection or a welding connection and the applicator (403) is held in the cap inner part (405) by means of the applicator holder (414).

2. The cosmetics container according to claim 1, wherein the wiper (436) is made of a plastic material in deviation from one of the other previously mentioned components.

3. The cosmetics container according to claim 2, wherein the applicator holder (414) comprises a joining area for being connected to the cap inner part (405).

4. The cosmetics container according to claims 1 to 3, wherein the applicator holder (414) comprises a cup-shaped receiving part (416), which serves for receiving the joining end (412) and has a connective protrusion (417) formed on a cup bottom, such that a projection (420) of the connective protrusion (417), which protrudes over an opening edge (418) of a receiving opening (419) formed in the cap bottom (407), engages behind the opening edge (418) after deformation in order to be connected to the cap inner part (405).

5. The cosmetics container according to claim 3 or 4, wherein the joining end (412) of the brush rod (411) comprises two radially protruding pins (421), which are disposed axially at a distance (a) from a stop collar (423) and serve for engaging in a locking groove (426) each formed in a cup wall (424) of the applicator holder (414) at a distance (a) from a cup edge (425).

6. The cosmetics container according to claim 5, wherein the stop collar (423) simultaneously serves for the sealing abutment against an opening edge (444) of an opening (445) formed for passing the brush rod (411) through the wiper (414).

7. The cosmetics container according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the wiper (414) comprises a stop collar (439) on an axial end of a sleeve (438), which is inserted in the container neck (431), for the outer abutment against an opening edge (435) of the container neck (431) and comprises several fastening tabs (443) on an opposite axial end of the sleeve (438), the fastening tabs (443) being distributed across the circumference of a sleeve edge (442) and engaging behind an inner shoulder (434) formed on a container neck (431) when deformed radially outward.