Jar with Multi-Part Cap Assembly

The present disclosure relates to a jar with a multi-part cap assembly.

Jars with caps, as well as containers sold with applicators for different substances, for example creams, gels, ointments, powders, and/or cosmetics, are well known in the art. Known prior art jars require exposing both the contents of the container and the applicator to the exterior of the container at the same time, which may contribute to the application and/or contents of the container becoming dirty. Furthermore, in many prior art containers, a user cannot typically visually estimate the amount of contents remaining within the container without having to remove the cap assembly from the container.

Therefore, there is a need for a jar that overcome these and other drawbacks present in the relevant prior art devices.

In one respect, the inventive concept is a jar comprising a container and a cap assembly that is releasably attachable to the container, the cap assembly comprising a lower cap, the lower cap being releasably attachable to the container to provide the releasable attachability of the cap assembly to the container, an upper cap, the upper cap being releasably attachable to the lower cap, and an applicator that is locatable between the upper cap and the lower cap.

In another respect, the inventive concept is a cap assembly comprising a lower cap, an upper cap, the upper cap being releasably attachable to the lower cap, the upper cap including a lid surface that is all or partially transparent, and an applicator that is locatable between the upper cap and the lower cap, wherein at least a portion of the applicator can be seen through the lid surface while the cap assembly is fully assembled with the upper cap attached to the lower cap with the applicator located between the upper cap and the lower cap.

The ensuing detailed description provides exemplary embodiment(s) only, and is not intended to limit the scope, applicability, or configuration of the herein disclosed embodiment(s). Rather, the ensuing detailed description of the exemplary embodiment(s) will provide those skilled in the art with an enabling description for implementing the exemplary embodiments in accordance with the present disclosure. It should be understood that various changes may be made in the function and arrangement of elements without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, as set forth in the appended claims.

To aid in describing the disclosure and/or invention as claimed, directional terms may be used in the specification and claims to describe portions of the present disclosure and/or invention (e.g., upper, lower, left, right, etc.). These directional definitions are merely intended to assist in describing the embodiment(s) and claiming the invention, and are not intended to limit the disclosure or claimed invention in any way. In addition, reference numerals that are introduced in the specification in association with a drawing figure may be repeated in one or more subsequent figures without additional description in the specification, in order to provide context for other features.

It should be understood that when an element is referred to as being “connected” or “coupled” to another element, it can be directly connected or coupled to the other element or that intervening elements may be present. In contrast, when an element is referred to as being “directly connected” or “directly coupled” to another element, it should be understood that no intervening elements are present. Other words used to describe the relationship between elements should be interpreted in a like fashion (e.g., “between” versus “directly between,” “adjacent” versus “directly adjacent,” etc.). Features from different embodiments may be combined to form further embodiments. For example, variations or modifications described with respect to one of the embodiments may also be applicable to other embodiments, unless noted to the contrary.

Referring now generally to, one embodiment of a jarwith a multi-part cap assemblyaccording to the present disclosure will be described in detail.shows a jarthat includes a cap assemblyand a containerthat receives the cap assembly. The containercontains threadsnear an openingof the containerwhich are used, in this embodiment, to threadedly secure the cap assemblyto the container. In alternative embodiments the cap assemblycould be secured to the containervia other suitable means, for example a snap or pressure fit. Referring to, the containercomprises a side walland a bottom wallwhich create the structure of the jarand contain the contents placed in the jar. The openingallows access to the contents of the containerfor a user to use, empty, or fill the containerwith the same or new contents.

In the present embodiment, the cap assemblyincludes an upper cap, a lower cap, and an applicatorthat is located between the upper capand the lower capwhen the cap assemblyis fully assembled as shown in. The lower capincludes threadsthat are used, in this embodiment, to receive and threadedly secure the upper capto the lower capvia threadslocated on the interior of the upper cap. In alternative embodiments, the upper capand lower capcould be connectable together via other suitable means, for example a snap or pressure fit. An openingof the lower cap—on an interior side of the lower cap—includes threadsthat are used, in the present embodiment, to threadably couple the containerto the lower capof the cap assembly.

In the present embodiment, the threadsof the lower cap areare also located near the openingthereof, on an exterior side of the lower cap. The applicatorfurther includes scrubbers, a slot, a rim, and a lower body portionthat includes a bottom surface. In various embodiments according to the present disclosure, the lid surface(up to and including the entire upper cap) may be all or partially transparent so that a user may see at least a portion of the applicatorthrough the lid surfaceand from any residue left thereon visually determine the type of substance that is contained within the containerwithout removing the cap assemblyfrom the container. Moreover, in some embodiments according to the present disclosure, an upper surfaceof the lower capmay also be all or partially transparent so that a user can view the interior of the containerthrough the upper cap, the slotin the applicator, and the lower capto visually identify and/or estimate the amount of a substance that is located within the containerwithout having to disengage the cap assemblyfrom the container. In alternative embodiments, any combination of transparent, translucent, and/opaque surfaces for the lid surfaceand upper surfaceare possible within the scope of the present invention.

shows a cross-sectional view of the jarwith a multi-part cap assembly, taken along the line labeled “3-3” of.show, respectively, top and bottom exploded views of the jarcomprising the cap assemblyand the container. As noted above, the applicatorincludes a plurality of scrubbersthat may be used for applying product (e.g., creams, gels, ointments, powders, and/or cosmetics) and/or massaging, cleaning, and/or exfoliating the user's skin. In this embodiment the scrubbersare finger-like protrusions, but in alternative embodiments may be of any shape, for example studs of hemi-spherical, cylindrical, or other geometric shapes. As shown in, threadsextending along the openingof the lower capalign with the rimof the applicator, allowing the rimto be seated on top of an upper surfaceof the lower capwithin the cap assemblywith the lower body portionof the applicatorseated partially within the threadsof the lower capand sitting below the openingof the lower cap. When the cap assemblyis fully assembled, a spaceis created between the bottom surfaceof the lower body portionof the applicatorand the upper surfaceof the lower cap. The spacebetween the applicatorand the lower capprevents the bottom surfaceof the applicatorfrom becoming damaged or dirty by preventing the applicatorfrom sitting in any excess product that may collect atop the upper surfaceof the lower cap.

shows a top perspective view of the applicator. As noted above, the applicatorincludes the scrubbers, the slot, and the rimthat extends around the perimeter of the applicatorexterior to the scrubbersand the slot. The slotextends through the entire thickness of the applicatorand can be used as a finger grip by which a user can grasp the applicator, remove it from and return it to the lower capwithout touching the scrubbers, and hold the applicatorwhile it is used.

Although exemplary implementations of the herein described systems and methods have been described in detail above, those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that many additional modifications are possible in the exemplary embodiments without materially departing from the novel teachings and advantages of the herein described systems and methods. Accordingly, these and all such modifications are intended to be included within the scope of the herein described systems and methods. The herein described systems and methods may be better defined by the following exemplary claims.