Container for a stick product

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11684138-B1
Application number	US-202217731425-A
Country	US
Kind code	B1
Filing date	Apr 28, 2022
Priority date	Apr 28, 2022
Publication date	Jun 27, 2023
Grant date	Jun 27, 2023

Abstract

A container for a stick product utilizes a novel inner body that has no gaps along its top perimeter. As a result, significant advantages in assembly and operation are realized. Containers according to the present invention may be useful for all types of stick products that are applied by drawing the product across a surface.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A container ( 10 ) for a stick product ( 7 ) that comprises:
a base ( 2 ) that comprises:
an interior space ( 2 e ); and
a first set of gear teeth ( 2 i ) located in the interior space;

a cylindrical A-shell ( 3 ) that comprises:
an opened bottom ( 3 a ) that rests in the interior space ( 2 e ) of the base ( 2 );
an opened top ( 3 b ); and
a side wall ( 3 d )

a cylindrical cam sleeve ( 4 ) that comprises:
an opened bottom ( 4 a );
an opened top ( 4 b ); and
a side wall ( 4 d ) that has at least one helical groove ( 4 c ) on an inner surface ( 4 f ) of the side wall;
wherein the cam sleeve is positioned entirely inside the A-shell and the A-shell and cam sleeve are able to rotate as one;

a cylindrical inner body ( 5 ) inserted into the cam sleeve ( 4 ) and comprising:
an opened bottom ( 5 a );
an opened top ( 5 b ) that has:
a continuous perimeter with no gaps; and
an overhang ( 5 h ) with an inwardly beveled surface ( 5 g );

a side wall ( 5 d ) that has:
at least one longitudinal slot ( 5 c ) that passes therethrough;
at least one horizontal bead ( 5 f ) that extends along the side wall of the inner body, above the at least one longitudinal slot, and rests on the top of the cam sleeve;
a flexible tab ( 5 j ) located below one of the longitudinal slots, such that the flexible tab is biased to protrude outward from the side wall of the inner body, and lies below the bottom ( 4 a ) of the cam sleeve ( 4 ); and
a second set of gear teeth ( 5 i ) located near the bottom of an inner surface ( 5 h ) of the side wall of the inner body;

wherein the inner body protrudes from both ends of the cam sleeve, and is rotatable with respect to the cam sleeve; and
the bottom of the inner body is received into the interior space ( 2 e ) of the base ( 2 ), such that the first set of gear teeth ( 2 i ) mesh with the second set of gear teeth ( 5 i ); and

a holder cup ( 6 ) that is able to receive and retain a stick product ( 7 ), the holder cup being located in the inner body, and having at least one lug ( 6 c ) that extend through the at least one longitudinal slot ( 5 c ) of the inner body ( 5 ) and into the at least one helical groove ( 4 c ) of the cam sleeve ( 4 ).

2. A container ( 10 ) for a stick product ( 7 ) according to claim 1 wherein:
the at least one helical groove is two helical grooves ( 4 c , 4 c ′);
the at least one longitudinal slot ( 5 c ) is two longitudinal slots ( 5 c , 5 c ′);
the at least one horizontal bead ( 5 f ) is two horizontal beads ( 5 f , 5 f ′); and
the at least one lug ( 6 c ) is two lugs ( 6 c , 6 c ′).

3. A container ( 10 ) for a stick product ( 7 ) according to claim 1 wherein the at least one lug ( 6 c ) is located on a flexible section of a side wall ( 6 d ) of the holder cup ( 6 ) that allows the lug to pinch inward as it passes over the beveled surface ( 5 g ) of the overhang ( 5 k ).

4. A method of assembling a container ( 10 ) according to claim 1 comprising the steps of:
a. partially inserting the inner body ( 5 ) into the cam sleeve ( 4 ) so that the flexible tab ( 5 j ) of the inner body exerts an outward pressure against the inner surface ( 4 f ) of the cam sleeve, and the horizontal slot extensions ( 5 e , 5 e ′) remain exposed above the cam sleeve; then
b. assembling the holder cup ( 6 ) into the top ( 5 b ) of the inner body ( 5 ) such that the holder cup sits in an extended position, protruding from the top of the inner body, with the lugs ( 6 c , 6 c ′) of the holder cup sitting in the horizontal slot extension ( 5 e , 5 e ′) of the inner body, and then
c. fully inserting the inner body into the cam sleeve by pushing down on the overhang ( 5 k ) of the inner body until the horizontal beads ( 5 f , 5 f ′) of the inner body contact the top ( 4 b ) of the cam sleeve, at which point the flexible tab of the inner body extends outward below the bottom ( 4 a ) of the cam sleeve, and the lugs of the holder cup enter the two helical grooves ( 4 c , 4 c ′) of the cam sleeve.

5. The method of claim 4 further comprising the step of assembling the cam sleeve ( 4 ) at a predetermined height within the A-shell ( 3 ), which step may occur before the step of partially inserting the inner body ( 5 ), or immediately after the step of fully inserting the inner body.

6. The method of claim 5 further comprising the step of inserting the bottom ( 3 a ) of the A-shell ( 3 ) and the bottom ( 5 a ) of the inner body ( 5 ) into the base ( 2 ) such that the second set of gears ( 5 i ) of the inner body ( 5 ) are meshed with the first set of gears ( 2 i ) of the base ( 2 ).

7. The method of claim 6 further comprising the step of inserting a stick product ( 7 ) into the holder cup ( 6 ).

8. A method of assembling a container ( 10 ) according to claim 1 comprising the steps of:
a. assembling the cam sleeve ( 4 ) at a predetermined height within the A-shell ( 3 );
b. assembling the inner body ( 5 ) and holder cup ( 6 ) such that the holder cup sits in its extended position, protruding from the top ( 5 b ) of the inner body, with the lugs ( 6 c , 6 c ′) sitting in the horizontal slot extension ( 5 e , 5 e ′);
c. inserting the bottom ( 5 a ) of the inner body into the top ( 4 b ) of the cam sleeve until the horizontal beads ( 5 f , 5 f ′) of the inner body contact the top ( 4 b ) of the cam sleeve, so that the flexible tab ( 5 j ) of the inner body extends outward below the bottom ( 4 a ) of the cam sleeve, the lugs of the holder cup enter the two helical grooves ( 4 c , 4 c ′) of the cam sleeve, and the top ( 5 b ) of the inner body is below the top ( 3 b ) of the A-shell ( 3 );
d. inserting the bottom ( 3 a ) of the A-shell and the bottom ( 5 a ) of the inner body into the base ( 2 ) such that the second set of gears ( 5 i ) of the inner body ( 5 ) are meshed with the first set of gears ( 2 i ) of the base ( 2 );
e. optionally, rotating the base with respect to the A-shell to lower the holder cup to its retracted position;
f. optionally, fitting a cap ( 1 ) is onto the base to complete the container ( 10 ).

9. The method of claim 8 further comprising the step of inserting a stick product ( 7 ) into the holder cup ( 6 ).

Assignees

• Elc Man Llc

Inventors

• Yan Jian
• Lyons Michael
• Garrison Chad

Classifications

• B65D83/768

  the piston or movable bottom being pulled upwards to dispense the contents · CPC title

• A45D2040/0025

  Details of lipstick or like casings · CPC title

• A45D40/04

  effected by a screw · CPC title

• A45D40/065

  with self-contained covering means · CPC title

• A45D40/06 Primary

  Casings wherein movement of the lipstick or like solid is a screwing movement · CPC title