Field of the Invention

The present invention is in the field of personal care packaging, specifically a container for preparing cosmetic mask products for application to the skin.

Background

A variety of cosmetic masks, sheets and patches are commercially available. Often, these are described as being useful for moisturizing the skin and/or for the delivery of skin care actives. Commonly, cosmetic masks are comprised of woven or non-woven materials that have been moistened with a liquid personal care preparation. The mask is flexible so that is will conform to the target area where it is applied (the face or neck, for example). Mask products are typically sold pre- moistened with liquid product. When applied to the skin, the skin absorbs liquid product from the moistened mask.

A major concern with this type of system is dry out of the mask before reaching the consumer. Therefore, air tight, liquid tight packaging is essential. Either a single moistened mask is packaged in an air tight, liquid tight package (a packette, for example), or a stack of moistened masks are packaged in a resealable container that is air and liquid tight to an effective degree. One drawback of this type of packaging is that only one shape of mask is usually provided in the container rather than two or more shapes of mask for use on different parts of the body. It would be convenient to a consumer if the same container of liquid personal care preparation could be used with masks of different shapes.

Another drawback to this type of packaging is the inability to associate some ingredients with the mask and some ingredients with the liquid personal care preparation, and keep them separate until just prior to use. For example, let's say that a mask has been impregnated with a reactive skin care agent. Subsequently saturating that impregnated mask with a liquid personal care preparation, several weeks or months prior to use of the mask, may have an adverse effect on the efficacy of the active ingredient. This adverse effect could be a loss of efficacy or a using up of the efficacy before the consumer has had a chance to benefit. Or, perhaps the liquid skin care preparation might suffer an adverse effect, such as a breakdown in stability of the preparation. In these and similar cases, it would be beneficial if the mask and skin care preparation could remain separate until just prior to use. On the other hand, having a consumer moisten a cosmetic mask just prior to use is likely to be messy and wasteful. That is, unless the mask can be moistened inside the same sealed container that contains the liquid skin care preparation.

Objects of the Invention

A main object of the invention is to provide a container system for use with a cosmetic mask that allows the cosmetic mask to be treated with a liquid personal care preparation just prior to using the mask.

Summary

The objectives of the invention are met by a container system that comprises a container (1 ) for holding a flowable product (P), a closure (2) and a strainer (3). When the closure is assembled to the container, then the strainer and closure define a mask compartment (4) that is large enough to hold one or more cosmetic masks. The container may be in the form of a jar or bottle with a neck, either of which will have a finish that is capable of receiving the closure to seal the reservoir and the mask compartment from environment outside of the container system. When the reservoir (1 a) of the container is filled with a flowable product (P), and the container is in an upright position, then the flowable product in the reservoir may or may not reach to the level of the mask compartment, and may or may not be able to wet a mask that is stored in the mask compartment. Preferably, when the reservoir of the container is filled, and the container is in an upright position, then the flowable product in the reservoir does not reach to the level of the mask compartment, or is otherwise not able to wet a mask that is stored in the mask compartment. The invention includes a kit comprising a container system as described herein, and a set of cosmetic masks that have not been exposed to a flowable product (P). Description of the Figures

Figure 1 A is an elevation view of a container system according to the present invention.

Figure 1 B is a cross sectional view of the container system of figure 1 A. Figure 2 is an exploded view of the container (1 ), closure (2) and strainer (3). Figures 3 is a cross section of a closure (2) according to the invention.

Figure 4A, 4B and 4C show a strainer (3).

Figures 5-7 depict some types of cosmetic mask that may be used with the present invention.

Figure 8 depicts a rolled up cosmetic mask (9) placed into a strainer (3).

Detailed Specification

Throughout the specification "comprise" means that an element or group of elements is not automatically limited to those elements specifically recited, and may or may not include additional elements. Various features of some of the

embodiments will now be described. Certain described features may be used separately or in combination with other described or implied features. Some of the embodiments may use only one or more described features.

A container system for use with a cosmetic mask comprises a container (1 ) for holding a flowable product (P), a closure (2), and a strainer (3).

The Container (1 ) and Closure (2)

Referring to figures 1 A, 1 B and 2, the container (1 ) may be in the form of a jar or bottle, the interior of which forms a reservoir (1 a) for containing a flowable product (P). In the drawings, the container is a bottle having a neck (1 b). The bottom of the container is denoted (1 d), and the top (or land area) of the neck is denoted as (1 e). The reservoir is accessed through an opening (1f) in the neck. Generally, the container may be plastic or glass, but plastic is preferred because of the way that the container will be handled.

In the embodiment of figure 3, the closure (2) comprises a side wall (2b, shown as cylindrical) and a top (2e). An inner surface of the cylindrical wall has screw threads (2c). Also on the inner surface of the cylindrical wall, above the screw threads of the closure, is a circumferential lip (2d). (2a) denotes an interior space that is defined by the top (2e) and the cylindrical side wall (2b), above the circumferential lip (2d). In preferred embodiments of the closure (2), the height (2h) of this interior space will be on the order of 10 - 30mm, and the diameter (2f) will be in the range of 25 - 210mm. Generally, the closure will be molded in plastic. The neck (1 b) of the container (1 ) is able to receive the closure (2) in a sealing engagement, such that the opening to the reservoir may be sealed from the ambient environment (i.e. the environment outside of the container). For example, the neck and closure may seal via a threaded engagement, as is well known in the art.

Threads (1 c) on the container neck cooperate with threads (2c) in the closure. Near the top of the threads (2c) of the closure, is a circumferential lip (2d). Optionally, but preferably, an O-ring shaped liner (5) is disposed between the circumferential lip (2d) and the flange (3e) of the strainer (3, see below). The Strainer (3) and Mask Compartment (4)

Referring to figures 4A and 4B, the strainer (3) comprises a cylindrical wall (3b) that has an inner diameter. A top end (3e) of the strainer may be formed as a flange. When the strainer is inserted through the opening (1f) in the neck (1 b) of the container (1 ), the flange (3e) will come to rest on the top (1 e) of the container, and the rest of the strainer will depend downward from the neck of the container.

The top end of the strainer defines an opening (3f) through which a cosmetic mask may easily be inserted into and removed from the strainer. The inner diameter of this opening may typically be in the range of 25 - 210mm, preferably matching the inner diameter (2f) of the interior space (2a) of the closure (2). The bottom end (3d) of the strainer may be formed as a bowl (as shown) or may be flat or some other shape. The cylindrical wall (3b) and the bottom (3d) of the strainer define an interior space (3a), that may be occupied by a cosmetic mask. The height (3h) of this interior space may typically be in the range of 25 - 50 mm, but this range is only provided for guidance of what may be typical, and may be exceeded. When inserted into the container (1 ), the bottom end of the strainer may intrude into the reservoir (1 a).

The strainer (3) may be unitary molded with the container (1 ), or it may be molded separately and subsequently attached to the container, as shown. The outer diameter of the cylindrical wall (3b) of the strainer is sized to fit inside the opening (1f) of the neck (1 b). When the strainer is fully inserted into the neck, then the flange (3e) rests on the land area (1 e) of the neck. The flange should not extend laterally beyond the land area of the container finish. The strainer may be permanently affixed in the neck by welding or adhesive. A temporary attachment could be a snap fit or friction fit. Preferably, a friction fit is used. In this case, the outer diameter of the cylindrical wall (3b) of the strainer may be a little greater than the inner diameter of the opening (1f) of the container neck. With sufficient interference between the cylindrical wall of the strainer and the neck, the strainer will not back out of the container, even when the container is inverted. For example, the outer diameter of the cylindrical wall of the strainer may be 0.8 - 1 .3 mm larger than the inner diameter of the neck. To assist this friction fit, the strainer is preferably made out of plastic, or more preferably it is made out of an elastomeric material that is inert with respect to the contents of the reservoir (1 a).

When the closure (2) is screwed down onto the neck (1 b) of the container (1 ), then the circumferential lip (2d) comes to bear down against the flange (3e) of the strainer (3). Preferably, this contact is sufficient to form an air tight and liquid type seal. Optionally and preferably, however, an O-ring shaped liner (5) may be disposed between the circumferential lip (2d) and the flange (3e) of the strainer. The liner provides additional sealing integrity. Optionally, the liner may be glued onto the circumferential lip of the closure.

When the closure (2) is seated on the neck (1 b), the interior space (2a) of the closure, and the interior space (3a) of the strainer (3) are contiguous, creating one large space or mask compartment (4) that extends from the top (2e) of the closure to the bottom (3d) of the strainer (see figure 1 B). A first portion (4a) of the mask compartment (4) is located within the container (1 ), and a second portion (4b) of the mask compartment is located in the closure (2), but outside of the container. The mask compartment is sealed from environment outside of the container. This mask compartment must be large enough to accommodate at least one cosmetic mask. Preferably, a mask will be rolled up and/or folded neatly before it is put into the strainer (3, see mask (9) in figure 8), but this is not required. Figure 5 depicts a full face mask (6). Figure 6 depicts a cosmetic mask (7) for the lip and mouth area.

Figure 7 depicts a cosmetic mask (8) for the eye area. These depictions are only for illustration. Many other types of cosmetic mas may find use with the present invention.

The cylindrical wall (3b) and the bottom (3d) of the strainer (3) are perforated with a number of perforations (3g). The perforations are large enough to allow a flowable product (P) to flow into and out of the mask compartment easily, but small enough to prevent the cosmetic mask (5) from falling or being pushed into the reservoir (1 a). For example, the largest dimension of a perforation may be in a range of 2 - 6 mm. The perforations do not all have to be the same size or shape, as shown in figure 4A.

Preferably, when a filled container (1 ) is in its upright position, the level of flowable product (P) in the reservoir (1 a) is below the lower end (3d) of the strainer (see figure 1 B), so that the product in the reservoir does not reach to the level of the strainer, or is not able to wet a mask stored in the strainer. If the level of product was above the bottom of the strainer, then a cosmetic mask (5) located in the mask compartment (4) could not drain excess product back into the reservoir. By keeping the product level below the strainer, a mask can only be wetted when the container is not upright; that is, when the container is tilted or inverted.

If a strainer (3) is permanently attached to the container (1 ) (i.e. by unitary molding, welding or adhesive), or if the strainer is assembled to the container before the container is filled, then the container must be filled through the strainer. In an automated filling operation, a problem can arise if the perforations in the strainer are too small to allow product to flow quickly through strainer. Therefore, in this case, the bottom center of the mask compartment may have one perforation (3p, see figure 4C) that is large enough for the filling nozzle of an automated filling operation to pass through (but not large enough for a cosmetic mask (5) to fall through or get wedged in). On the other hand, if the strainer (3) is not permanently attached to the container (1 ), then the container may be filled in the usual manner, and the mask compartment inserted thereafter. In the personal care consumer goods industry, the diameter of a filling nozzle will vary, but the perforation (3p) for the filling nozzle may typically be 3 - 12 mm, preferably at 5 - 10 mm, for example, about 7mm.

Preferably, the strainer (3) has multiple perforations (3g) all around its circumference and appreciably along its height. When there is only one perforation near the bottom of the strainer, or an insufficient number of perforations, product may not saturate through the whole mask if, for example, a user inverts the container (1 ) for too short a period of time. Also, when there is only one opening near the bottom of the strainer, much of the excess product in the mask compartment (4) has to drain through the mask (5) which can be a slow process. An impatient user may remove the mask from the mask compartment while it is still over-saturated, before the excess product has had a chance to drain. On the other hand, if a strainer (3) has multiple perforations (3g) all around its circumference and appreciably all long its height, the mask (5) will be evenly saturated faster (within 30 seconds; preferably within 10 seconds; more preferably within 5 seconds, for example), and excess product will drain from the mask compartment much more quickly (within 60 seconds; preferably within 30 seconds; more preferably within 10 seconds, for example).

Method of Use

A user is provided with a container system according to the present invention, and a dry mask (6). The container (1 ) is filled with a flowable product (P). By "dry mask" we mean that a mask has not been exposed to or treated with the same flowable product (P) that is in the container, although it may have been treated with other products. With the container (1 ) in the upright position, the flowable product (P) in the reservoir (1 a) does not reach to the level of the mask compartment (4).

Optionally, the user may roll up (as in figure 8) and/or fold the mask. The user removes the closure (2) from the container, places the dry mask (6) in the mask compartment (4), and recloses the container (1 ). The user inverts the container, at least until the flowable product has saturated the mask. This may be as short as 1 - 3 seconds, for example, or longer, like 5 - 10 seconds, for example). The user returns the container to an upright position, and may then wait at least several seconds or minutes to allow excess product to drain back into the reservoir. The user opens the closure, and either removes the saturated mask right away, or otherwise waits several seconds or minutes to allow excess product to drain back into the reservoir, and then removes the mask. The mask is unfurled and applied to the skin. Preferably, the mask remains on the user's skin for a recommended period of time, such as several minutes or hours. After this dwell time, the user removes the mask from the skin and discards the mask. The closure may be reapplied to the container.

The flowable product (P) may be any formulation that is able to flow through the perforations of the strainer when the container (1 ) is inverted, and that is able to wet a cosmetic mask located in the strainer in a reasonably short amount of time (within 30 seconds, for example). A flowable product that cannot pass through the perforations as a result of inverting the container, or that cannot thoroughly wet the cosmetic mask in a reasonable amount of time, is not suitable for this invention. A suitable flowable product (P), may contain any active ingredients. Preferably, the flowable product contains at least one skin care active, either in a natural or purified form. A natural form might be tea leaves or flower petals, for example. A purified form might be an extract of tea leaves or flower petals or other organic material.

The invention includes a kit comprising a container system that has a flowable product (P) in the reservoir (1 a), as described herein, and a set of dry cosmetic masks that have not been exposed to the flowable product (P). Multiple cosmetic masks, like a stack of masks, may be packaged in single container. However, unlike the prior art, these masks are dry, not pre-moistened. Preferably, a kit according to the invention will comprise a container system as described herein, and at least two dry masks (such as, 2 - 6 dry masks), preferably at least 7 dry masks (i.e. at least one week's supply), more preferably at least 30 dry masks (i.e. at least one month's supply); or any number of dry masks from 2 - 60. The container system and the set of dry masks may be packaged in a single outer package for retail sale.