Personal Care Product Applicator

This application is a continuation application of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 19/005,531, filed on Dec. 30, 2024, now U.S. Pat. No. 12,357,074, to Hilary J. Orr, titled “Personal Care Product Applicator,” which is a continuation-in-part application of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 18/139,893, filed on Apr. 26, 2023 to Hilary J. Orr, titled “Personal Care Product Applicator”, which application claims the benefit of the filing date of U.S. Provisional Patent Application 63/335,099 entitled “Aluminum Applicator” to Hilary J. Orr that was filed on Apr. 26, 2022, the entirety of the disclosures of which are hereby incorporated herein by this reference.

Aspects of this document relate generally to an applicator, and more specifically to an applicator for personal care products.

It is important to some consumers of personal care products to use containers that are eco-friendly and recyclable. In addition, some consumers make their own personal care products and re-use the containers to hold the personal care products they make. The containers for personal care products currently available on the market are single-use disposable containers that do not fit the requirements of these consumers.

Aspects of this document relate to an applicator including a body extending between a top end and a bottom end. A base is rotatably coupled to the bottom end of the body. A lift is positioned within the body having a slot extending through the lift, wherein the lift is rotatably fixed to the base through a fin coupled to the base and extending through the slot. When the base is rotated in a first direction, the lift is raised with respect to the body and when the base is rotated in a second direction opposite the first direction, the lift is lowered with respect to the body.

Aspects of this document relate to an applicator including a body extending between a top end and a bottom end, wherein an interior volume of the body is configured to hold a meltable solid. A cap is configured to couple with the top end of the body and enclose the interior volume. A base is rotatably coupled to the bottom end of the body. A lift is positioned within the body having a slot extending through the lift, wherein the lift is rotatably fixed to the base through a fin coupled to the base and extending through the slot. When the base is rotated in a first direction, the lift is raised with respect to the body and when the base is rotated in a second direction opposite the first direction, the lift is lowered with respect to the body.

Particular embodiments may comprise one or more of the following features. The base may further have an annular lip extending away from the base, the annular lip configured to engage with the bottom end of the body to rotatably couple the base to the body. The applicator may be manufactured from an aluminum material. The meltable solid may be a personal care product. The body may have a smooth outer surface. The fin may have a length shorter than a length of the body. The fin may be a flat elongated plate. The fin may have an H-shaped cross section. The cap may have a concave upper surface configured to be oriented away from the body when the cap is coupled with the top end of the body. The slot may extend through a center of the lift and the fin may be fixedly coupled to the base and extend upward through the slot.

Aspects of this document relate to an applicator including a body extending between a top end and a bottom end, the body having a threaded inner surface, wherein an interior volume of the body is configured to hold a meltable solid. A base is rotatably coupled to the bottom end of the body. A lift is positioned within the body having a slot extending through the lift, wherein the lift is rotatably fixed to the base through a fin coupled to the base and extending through the slot. When the base is rotated in a first direction, the lift is raised with respect to the body and when the base is rotated in a second direction opposite the first direction, the lift is lowered with respect to the body.

Particular embodiments may comprise one or more of the following features. The base may further have an annular lip extending away from the base, the annular lip configured to engage with the bottom end of the body to rotatably couple the base to the body. The applicator may be manufactured from an aluminum material. The meltable solid may be a personal care product. The body may have a smooth outer surface opposite the threaded inner surface. The fin may have a length shorter than a length of the body. The fin may be a flat elongated plate. The fin may have an H-shaped cross section. A cap may be included that is configured to couple with the top end of the body and enclose the interior volume. The cap may have a concave upper surface configured to be oriented away from the body when the cap is coupled with the top end of the body. The slot may extend through a center of the lift and the fin may be fixedly coupled to the base and extend upward through the slot. When the base is rotated in a first direction, the threaded outer surface of the lift engages with the threaded inner surface of the body to raise the lift with respect to the body and when the base is rotated in a second direction opposite the first direction, the threaded outer surface of the lift engages with the threaded inner surface of the body to lower the lift with respect to the body.

The foregoing and other aspects, features, and advantages will be apparent from the specification, drawings, and the claims.

Skilled artisans will appreciate that elements in the figures are illustrated for simplicity and clarity and have not necessarily been drawn to scale. For example, the dimensions of some of the elements in the figures may be exaggerated relative to other elements to help to improve understanding of implementations.

The present disclosure relates to a personal care product applicator. Detailed aspects and applications the present disclosure may be understood more readily by reference to the following detailed description and examples taken in connection with the accompanying DRAWINGS, which form a part of this disclosure.

For the purposes of explanation, numerous specific structural and functional details disclosed herein in order to provide a thorough understanding of the various aspects and applications of a personal care product applicator. It will be understood, however, by those skilled in the relevant art, that implementations of the personal care product applicator disclosed herein may be practiced without these specific details and that they are not to be interpreted as limits, but merely as a basis for teaching one skilled in the art to employ the present disclosure. The full scope of the disclosure herein is not limited to the examples that are described below. Specific examples enable the disclosure to be better understood. However, they are given merely by way of guidance and do not imply any limitation.

In describing various personal care product applicator implementations disclosed herein, the following terminology will be used in accordance with the definitions and explanations set out below. Notwithstanding, other terminology, definitions, and explanations may be found throughout this document as well. Unless specifically noted, it is intended that the words and phrases in the DESCRIPTION and CLAIMS be given their plain, ordinary, and accustomed meaning to those of ordinary skill in the art.

The singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” include plural referents unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. Thus, for example, reference to “an element” or “a step” includes reference to one or more of such elements or steps.

The word “exemplary,” “example,” or various forms thereof are used herein to mean serving as an example, instance, or illustration. Any aspect or design described herein as “exemplary” or as an “example” is not necessarily to be construed as preferred or advantageous over other aspects or designs. Furthermore, examples are provided solely for purposes of clarity and understanding and are not meant to limit or restrict the disclosed subject matter or relevant portions of this disclosure in any manner.

The words “comprise” and “contain” and variations of the words, for example “comprising” and “comprises”, mean “including but not limited to”, and are not intended to (and do not) exclude other components.

The term “plurality”, as used herein, means more than one.

All ranges are inclusive and combinable. When a range of values is expressed, another implementation includes from the one particular value and/or to the other particular value. Similarly, when values are expressed as approximations, by use of the antecedent “about,” it will be understood that the particular value forms another implementation.

For the exemplary purposes of this disclosure, a personal care product applicatoris configured to hold a meltable solid. The applicatormay hold a personal care product such as deodorant. Additionally, the applicatormay be formed from or manufactured from or with any aluminum material. This makes the applicatormore eco-friendly and allows for easier recycling of the applicator.

As shown in, the applicatorcomprises a body, a cap, a baseand a lift. As illustrated in, the bodyis hollow and may extend between a top endand a bottom end. Thus, the bodymay be tubular. Any cross-sectional shape may be implemented in the body. For example, the cross section of the bodymay be circular, making the body cylindrical. In particular embodiments, the cross section of the bodymay be rectangular, square, oval-shaped, or any other shape. Because the bodyis hollow and/or tubular, the bodyhas an inner surface. The inner surfacemay be threaded, as shown in. An interior volumeof the bodyis configured to hold a meltable solid. In some embodiments, the applicatormay be sold empty, and in other embodiments it may be filled with a personal care product such as deodorant, body balm, or any form of personal care or cosmetic product known in the art.

Returning to, the capis configured to slidably couple with the top endof the body. In some embodiments, the capslides around an outside of the body. In some embodiments, the capslides into the interior volumeof the body. As shown in, the capmay have a shelfthat is configured to contact the top endof the bodywhen the capis inserted onto or into the body. When the capis coupled with the body, the capencloses the interior volumeand thus is configured to protect the contents of the applicatorfrom contaminants.

Turning to, the baseis coupled to the bottom endof the body. In some embodiments, the baseis rotatably coupled to the body. This allows the baseto remain coupled to the bodywhile rotating with respect to the body. The basehas a top surface. The top surfacemay have a first anchorconfigured to provide a secure attachment point to the base. For example, the first anchormay have a hole extending through the first anchorthat allows other components to loop through the hole and thus attach to the first anchor. In some embodiments, the first anchorjoins to the top surfaceof the baseon both sides of the hole. Alternatively, the first anchormay only join at one point and may form a hook instead of having a hole.

The top surfaceof the basemay also have a plurality of clipsextending up from the top surface. The clipsmay be configured to engage with the bottom endof the bodyto rotatably couple the baseto the body. In some embodiments, the bottom endof the bodyincludes an annular ridgethat is configured to engage with the clipsto hold the baseto the body. Any number of clipsmay be implemented, and the clipsmay be arranged in any pattern on the top surfaceof the base. In some embodiments, the clipsform a circle and surround the first anchor.

The liftis positioned within the body, as shown in. Illustrated in more detail in, the lifthas a threaded outer surfacethat is configured to engage with the threaded inner surfaceof the body. This allows the liftto move up and down within the bodyas the liftrotates within the body. For example, when the liftrotates in a first direction, the liftmoves up within the bodyand when the liftrotates in a second direction opposite the first direction, the liftmoves down within the body. Thus, the liftmay be sized to fit within the body, with the threaded outer surfacein contact with the threaded inner surfaceof the body. In some embodiments, the outer surfaceof the liftand/or the inner surfaceof the bodymay not be threaded, and the up and down movement of the liftmay be effectuated in another manner, such as through the use of a central threaded post, telescopic twist engagement, hook/teeth structures, or any other means know to those skilled in the art.

The lift has a bottom surface. The bottom surfacemay have a second anchorextending down from the bottom surface. The second anchormay be similar in form and function to the first anchordescribed above. Thus, the second anchoris configured to provide a secure attachment point to the lift. For example, the second anchormay have a hole extending through the second anchorthat allows other components to loop through the hole and thus attach to the second anchor. In some embodiments, the second anchorjoins to the bottom surfaceof the lifton both sides of the hole. Alternatively, the second anchormay only join at one point and may form a hook instead of having a hole.

The lift also has a top surface. The top surfacemay have a texture formed, engraved, or etched into the top surface. The texture may help the top surfaceto engage with and hold the meltable solid within the bodyonce the meltable solid has solidified. For example, as shown specifically in, the top surfacehas a cavity in the top surfacethat is bounded by the plurality of curved surfaces on the outside and the cross at a center of the top surface. When the meltable solid is poured into the body, it fills the texture on the top surfaceand then solidifies in that shape, thus allowing the meltable solid to move with the lift.

The liftmay be rotatably fixed to the base. In some embodiments, the liftis rotatably fixed to the basethrough a spring. The springhas a first endand a second end. The first endmay be attached to the first anchorand the second endmay be attached to the second anchor. The benefit of using a springto connect the liftto the baseis that the springcan transmit the rotation of the baseto the liftwhile allowing for a variable distance between the baseand the lift. Thus, when the baseis rotated with respect to the body, the liftrotates with the baseand is able to move up or down within the body.

In some embodiments, the springis an accordion spring, as shown in. An accordion spring is typically formed from a flat plate and bent into an accordion shape by alternating the direction of the bend. This increases the torsional rigidity of the springbecause of the wider dimension of the plate as compared to a coil spring formed from a wire. As mentioned above, the increased torsional rigidity helps to rotatably fix the liftto the basewhile allowing for a variable distance between the liftand the base.

When the baseis rotated in the first direction as discussed above, the threaded outer surfaceof the liftengages with the threaded inner surfaceof the bodyto raise the liftwith respect to the body. Conversely, when the baseis rotated in the second direction as discussed above, the threaded outer surfaceof the liftengages with the threaded inner surfaceof the bodyto lower the liftwith respect to the body. Thus, the personal care product or other meltable solid within the bodycan be raised and lowered to dispense more of the product or retract the product into the body.

For the exemplary purposes of this disclosure, a personal care product applicatoris illustrated in. The applicatormay have any of the features discussed above with respect to the applicator. Thus, the applicatormay be configured to hold a meltable solid such as deodorant or another personal care product. In some embodiments, the applicatorcomprises a body, a cap, a base, and a lift. The bodymay be hollow and may extend between a top endand a bottom end. As with the applicator, the bodymay have any cross-sectional shape. The bodyhas an inner surfaceand an outer surfaceopposite the inner surface. The bodymay have an interior volumethat is configured to hold the meltable solid. As with the applicator, the applicatormay be sold empty, or may be filled with a personal care product such as deodorant, body balm, or any form of personal care or cosmetic product known in the art.

In some embodiments, the inner surfaceis threaded. In some embodiments, the outer surfaceis smooth to allow for printing on the outer surface. To facilitate manufacture of the body, the bodymay be formed of two components, an inner sleeveand an outer sleeve, as shown in. In embodiments where the inner surfaceis threaded, the inner sleevemay be formed with threads and the outer sleevemay be configured to encircle the inner sleeveto provide an outer surfacethat is smooth.

The capis configured to couple with the body. In some embodiments, the capslides over the inner surfaceof the bodyto enclose the interior volumeat the top endof the body. In some embodiments, the capis configured to snap onto the bodyor the base. For example, the capmay have an annular ridgeextending inward and the basemay have an annular groovethat is configured to receive the annular ridgewhen the capis coupled with the bodyor the base. The capmay have an upper surfacethat is configured to be oriented away from the bodywhen the capis coupled with the top endof the body. In some embodiments, the upper surfaceof the capis concave.

The baseis configured to couple to the bottom endof the body. In some embodiments, the baseis rotatably coupled to the body. This allows the baseto remain coupled to the bodywhile rotating with respect to the body. The basemay have an annular lipextending away from the basearound a perimeter of the base. The annular lipis configured to engage with the bottom endof the bodyto rotatably couple the baseto the body, as shown in.

The liftis positioned within the body, as shown in, and may have a threaded outer surfaceas shown in. In embodiments where the inner surfaceof the bodyis threaded, the threaded outer surfaceof the liftis configured to engage with the inner surfaceof the body. This allows the liftto move up and down within the bodyas the liftrotates within the body. For example, when the liftrotates in a first direction, the liftmoves up within the bodyand when the liftrotates in a second direction opposite the first direction, the liftmoves down within the body. Thus, the liftmay be sized to fit within the body, with the threaded outer surfacein contact with the inner surfaceof the body. In some embodiments, the outer surfaceof the liftand/or the inner surfaceof the bodymay not be threaded, and the up and down movement of the liftmay be effectuated in another manner, such as through the use of a central threaded post, telescopic twist engagement, hook/teeth structures, or any other means know to those skilled in the art.

The liftmay have a texture formed, engraved, or etched into the liftto engage with and hold the meltable solid within the bodyonce the meltable solid has solidified. For example, as shown in, the liftmay have a plurality of teethconfigured to extend into the meltable solid.

The liftmay be rotatably fixed to the base. The liftmay have a slotextending through the lift. The slotmay extend through a centerof the lift. The liftmay be rotatably fixed to the basethrough a fin. The finmay be fixedly coupled to the base, such as through a weld, a rivet, or some other coupling mechanism known in the art. The finmay be positioned on the baseto align with and extend up through the slot. The finmay be slidably coupled with the liftthrough the slot. Thus, the finis configured to rotate the liftto move the liftup and down within the body. Because the finis fixed to the base, when the baseis rotated, this also rotates the fin, and therefore the lift. The benefit of using the finto connect the liftto the baseis that the fincan transmit the rotation of the baseto the liftwhile allowing the liftto move along the fin, thus allowing for a variable distance between the baseand the lift. Therefore, when the baseis rotated with respect to the body, the liftrotates with the baseand is able to move up or down within the body, as shown in.

In some embodiments, when the baseis rotated in the first direction as discussed above, the threaded outer surfaceof the liftengages with the threaded inner surfaceof the bodyto raise the liftwith respect to the body. Conversely, when the baseis rotated in the second direction as discussed above, the threaded outer surfaceof the liftengages with the threaded inner surfaceof the bodyto lower the liftwith respect to the body. Thus, the personal care product or other meltable solid within the bodycan be raised and lowered to dispense more of the product or retract the product into the body.

In some embodiments, the finis a flat elongated plate, as shown in. This allows the rotation of the baseto be transmitted to the liftwithout requiring a large amount of material. In addition, manufacturing the finmay be simpler and therefore cheaper when forming the finas a flat elongated plate. In some embodiments, the finmay be replaced with a finwhich has an H-shaped cross section, as shown in. The finmay be configured to have a higher rigidity as compared to the findue to the geometry of the fin, and thus resists twisting deformation to a greater degree. However, either the finor the finmay be implemented successfully for the purposes of the present disclosure. Regardless of the shape of the finor the finused, the slotmay be sized and shaped to receive the fin,. The finand the finmay have a length that is shorter than a length of the body. This helps to ensure that the finor the findoes not extend out from the bodyand therefore helps to prevent scratching of the user when they use the applicatorto apply the personal care product to their body.

As mentioned above with respect to the applicator, the applicatormay be formed from or manufactured from or with an aluminum material. This makes the applicatormore eco-friendly and allows for easier recycling of the applicator.

It will be understood that implementations of a personal care product applicator are not limited to the specific assemblies, devices and components disclosed in this document, as virtually any assemblies, devices and components consistent with the intended operation of a personal care product applicator may be used. Accordingly, for example, although particular personal care product applicators, and other assemblies, devices and components are disclosed, such may include any shape, size, style, type, model, version, class, measurement, concentration, material, weight, quantity, and/or the like consistent with the intended operation of personal care product applicators. Implementations are not limited to uses of any specific assemblies, devices and components; provided that the assemblies, devices and components selected are consistent with the intended operation of a personal care product applicator.

Accordingly, the components defining any personal care product applicator may be formed of any of many different types of materials or combinations thereof that can readily be formed into shaped objects provided that the materials selected are consistent with the intended operation of a personal care product applicator. For example, the components may be formed of: polymers such as thermoplastics (such as ABS, Fluoropolymers, Polyacetal, Polyamide; Polycarbonate, Polyethylene, Polysulfone, and/or the like), thermosets (such as Epoxy, Phenolic Resin, Polyimide, Polyurethane, Silicone, and/or the like), any combination thereof, and/or other like materials; glasses (such as quartz glass), carbon-fiber, aramid-fiber, any combination thereof, and/or other like materials; composites and/or other like materials; metals, such as zinc, magnesium, titanium, copper, lead, iron, steel, carbon steel, alloy steel, tool steel, stainless steel, brass, nickel, tin, antimony, pure aluminum, 1100 aluminum, aluminum alloy, any combination thereof, and/or other like materials; alloys, such as aluminum alloy, titanium alloy, magnesium alloy, copper alloy, any combination thereof, and/or other like materials; any other suitable material; and/or any combination of the foregoing thereof. In instances where a part, component, feature, or element is governed by a standard, rule, code, or other requirement, the part may be made in accordance with, and to comply under such standard, rule, code, or other requirement.

Various personal care product applicators may be manufactured using conventional procedures as added to and improved upon through the procedures described here. Some components defining a personal care product applicator may be manufactured simultaneously and integrally joined with one another, while other components may be purchased pre- manufactured or manufactured separately and then assembled with the integral components. Various implementations may be manufactured using conventional procedures as added to and improved upon through the procedures described here.

Accordingly, manufacture of these components separately or simultaneously may involve extrusion, pultrusion, vacuum forming, injection molding, blow molding, resin transfer molding, casting, forging, cold rolling, milling, drilling, reaming, turning, grinding, stamping, cutting, bending, welding, soldering, hardening, riveting, punching, plating, and/or the like. If any of the components are manufactured separately, they may then be coupled with one another in any manner, such as with adhesive, a weld, a fastener (e.g. a bolt, a nut, a screw, a nail, a rivet, a pin, and/or the like), wiring, any combination thereof, and/or the like for example, depending on, among other considerations, the particular material forming the components.

It will be understood that methods for manufacturing or assembling personal care product applicators are not limited to the specific order of steps as disclosed in this document. Any steps or sequence of steps of the assembly of a personal care product applicator indicated herein are given as examples of possible steps or sequence of steps and not as limitations, since various assembly processes and sequences of steps may be used to assemble personal care product applicators.

The implementations of a personal care product applicator described are by way of example or explanation and not by way of limitation. Rather, any description relating to the foregoing is for the exemplary purposes of this disclosure, and implementations may also be used with similar results for a variety of other applications employing a personal care product applicator.