TECHNICAL FIELD

The invention relates to a container assembly of thin/economically produced parts which simulate an image and weight of an expensive cosmetic jar.

BACKGROUND ART

There have been many styles of plastic double walled containers devised over the years. For high-end cosmetic products, normally a single piece glass or plastic jar with a very thick wall cross section has been preferred. The objective was to offer a feeling of quality and heft. However, molding these thick walled jars in plastic is expensive, due to both the high volume of expensive resin, and the long molding machine cycle time.

A double walled container is typically made of two assembled parts; an inner cup, which serves as a vessel for the product when sealed with a cap, and an outer cosmetic jar part, which is shaped to look like a

cosmetic jar body. A threaded closure or cap would normally engage a threaded portion of the jar, allowing the contents to remain sealed until opened by the

consumer .

The use of clear plastic to create the outer wall of a typical double walled container usually allows any mechanical fitment means/features between the inner and outer parts to be visible by the consumer, which removes the image of quality and prestige the customer wants to convey in their packaging. With the use of a threaded closure and threaded neck form on a jar, any assembly of individual components to create this must be able to withstand the normal torque and axial forces associated with these types of features during filling and use. The use of clear Styrenic and Acrylic resins for the threaded portion of the jar for products containing volatiles or fragrance oils can lead to chemical compatibility issues and subsequent package failures, like stress cracking under load.

DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION

This invention offers a new and unobvious solution to the problem of clear cosmetic jar parts and the accompanying visibility of unsightly mechanical

securements needed to assemble them. With the invention, such mechanical securements are desirably positioned completely inside of the jar neck area. In cases where the use of an opaque resin for the threaded jar liner, there is obscured the consumer' s view of the mechanical securements needed to fasten the parts together.

Due to the placement of these securements within the neck area, the typical shoulder area of a common cosmetic jar can then be formed in the outer clear part. Visually, this is much more appealing than seeing mechanical securements within the shoulder area. The clear, unbroken shoulder area conveys a desired look and feel of a high end glass jar.

The invention provides a plastic jar for cosmetic materials, said jar being adapted to receive a screw cap, and said jar comprising, in combination a substantially annular inner side wall and a transverse bottom wall formed integrally therewith, said walls defining a compartment to hold the cosmetic material, a

substantially annular outer side wall defining an exterior of the jar, said annular inner side wall having an upper lip for sealing engagement with the screw cap, an exterior skirt integrally formed with said lip, said skirt being spaced from said annular inner side wall and provided with screw threads on its exterior surface, for engagement by the screw threads of said screw cap, said outer annular side wall having an upper lip, said upper lip of the annular inner side wall and skirt forming a downwardly facing groove to receive the upper lip of the annular outer side wall, said latter upper lip extending into said groove to an extent whereby it directly underlies the screw threads of the skirt, and

anti-rotation means on a wall of the groove and on the upper lip of the annular outer side wall, operative to prevent inadvertent rotation or shifting between the annular inner side wall and the annular outer side wall.

Other features and advantages will hereinafter appear.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Figure 1 is a vertical section of the double-walled jar of the invention as assembled. The jar comprises an annular inner side wall and an annular outer side wall, as well as a bottom plug connected to both walls.

Fig. 2 is an exploded view of the components of the jar of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a view like Fig. 1, except prior to assembly of the bottom plug of the jar to the annular walls thereof.

Figs. 4, 5 and 6 are detail views, respectively, of the construction of portions of the jar of Fig. 1.

Fig. 7 is a perspective view of the jar of Fig. 1, except with a broken-away area, showing the cooperation of the threads of the jar with the underlying outer annular wall. Fig. 8 is an exploded view of the jar of Fig. 1, and further including a screw cap therefor, constituting a jar lid.

Fig. 9 a perspective view of the annular outer side wall per se.

Fig. 10 is a view like Fig. 1, of a modified double- walled jar and wherein the bottom wall is integrally molded with annular side wall of the jar.

Fig. 11 is a front elevation of a further modified jar having a polygonal outer annular wall as opposed to the cylindrical configuration shown in the previous figures, and

Fig. 12 is a section on the line 12--12 of Fig. 11.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The present invention comprises essentially several separate thin-walled plastic components which are fitted together to form a double-walled jar. The jar is intended to hold a quantity of cosmetic product (not shown) , and at the same time, impart to the consumer, a heft or solid feel to the jar, simulating that of thick walled plastic, or else high quality molded glass.

Referring now to Figs. 1-6, there is shown in section, and fragmentary section, the inner member or compartment of the jar, comprising an annular inner side wall generally designated by the numeral 10, having a transverse bottom wall 12, and an annular outer side wall 14. Connected to the annular outer side wall 14 is a bottom plug 16 held in place by a retainer structure to be described below. The annular outer side wall 14 and bottom plug 16 thus define the exterior of the jar. In accordance with the invention, the annular inner side wall 10 extends upwardly to a lip 18, which is intended to seal against a liner 20 of a screw cap 22, the latter being shown in the view labeled Fig. Qi .

Connected integrally with the lip 18 is a downwardly extending annular skirt 24, the skirt 24 and outer surface of the lip 18 forming a downwardly facing groove 26, Fig. 2. Screw threads 23 are also provided on the skirt's outer surface, as shown. By the invention cooperable anti-rotation structures comprising shoulders 28 (Fig. 7) on the side wall of the groove 26 and cooperable shoulders 30 on the annular outer side wall 14, are arranged to engage one another, being operative to prevent relative turning movement between the

compartment defined by the walls 10 and 12, and the annular outer side wall 14. In practice the shoulders 28 and 30 are constituted as vertical ribs. The upper part of the annular inner side wall 10 has an external shoulder 32 which is engaged by the bottom edge of the skirt 24 as the latter becomes fully seated thereon.

Optionally, cooperable retainer means in the form of a bead and groove formation 33, Fig. 4, on the skirt 24 and on the annular outer side wall 14 at the external shoulder 32 thereof, are provided for increased strength and stability.

In accomplishing the securement of the plug 16, the latter is provided with an upstanding skirt 34, Fig. 6, which is arranged to mate with a similarly-sized

downwardly extending skirt 36 at the junction of the annular inner side wall 10 and transverse bottom wall 12. On the outer surface of the skirt 34 is a further retention arrangement involving cooperable bead/groove formations 38, which function to retain the bottom plug 16 in position. Preferably the plug 16 is snapped into the opening at the bottom of the annular outer side wall 12. The plug 16 can have a recess 42 to receive a label or applique (not shown) , that can contain advertising material or instructions relating to the product

contained in the jar.

Further by the invention, the upstanding skirt 34 of the plug 16 has, on its inner surface 44, a resilient or crushable formation 46 (Fig. 2) of plastic material, and a weight 48 which operates to give the jar a heavier feel, similar to that of thick plastic or glass. The weight 48 is in the form of a disk, and is held in place by being pressed into the well formed by the skirt 34, and crushing the plastic as it is forced into place. The resilience of the crushed plastic retains the weight in position in the plug 16, and prevents it from

inadvertently shifting or rattling in the completed jar.

With the present invention there is realized an improved stability in the area of the screw threads.

Preferably, the plastic utilized is polypropylene.

Polypropylene has the advantage of low cost and chemical compatability requirements with the enclosed cosmetic product. The use of polypropylene for the lip and skirt areas circumvents any tendency toward stress cracking under load, and its use is a major advantage over the use of styrenics or acrylics in place of the polypropylene.

Further, by virtue of the provision of the

interengaging shoulders 28 and 30, Figs. 7 and 9, which are disposed radially underneath the screw threads 23, forces encountered during screwing or unscrewing of a screw cap 22 are countered by the immediately-adjacent shoulders 28, 30, and the resulting construction also provides the high resistance to stress cracking noted above, especially with certain cosmetic solvents, and after the plastic adjacent the screw threads has aged an extent.

Another embodiment of the invention is illustrated in Fig. 10, showing a slightly modified double walled jar 60. The construction involving retention of the inner and outer side walls 62 and 64 respectively, is essentially as described above. The increased strength of the skirt 66 is also retained in the present construction.

By the invention, a weight 68 is fitted into the downwardly extending skirt 70 on the bottom wall 72 and held therein by a bead 74, or by suitable cement.

In this embodiment the exterior of the jar is defined by the annular outer side wall 64 and an integral bottom wall 78. The appearance from the exterior would be the same as that of a normal heavy walled jar. The weight would be hidden from view by the skirt 70, or by a label applied to a very shallow recessed portion 82 in the underside surface 80 of the jar exterior. The provision of the weight 68 gives this jar the same hefty feel as a high-end container product. By using a blow molded exterior, typical uniform wall thickness jar shapes can be created, moreover of a type not heretofore achievable for use in a straight pull design.

One additional embodiment is illustrated in Figs. 11 and 12, wherein the structural details are generally the same as those of the embodiment of Fig. 1, except that the outer wall is not cylindrical, but instead polygonal. The area above the neck is round, to accommodate the usual screw cap, as before. In other respects this version is similar to Fig. 1. It is understood that with the present arrangement, almost any geometrical

configuration can be used for the outer wall.

From the above it can be seen that we have provided a novel and improved jar construction which is both simple in its structure and economical to manufacture. The look and feel of high-end jars is retained utilizing essentially solely thin plastic components. The parts are assembled to produce in a unique manner, concealment from view from outside the jar, of structural parts involved with their retention of the jar in its assembled

position. Finally, the overall integrity of the

construction and the elimination of possible failure from cracking of the plastic, or degradation from contact with cosmetic chemicals is achieved.

The disclosed containers are thus seen to represent a distinct advance and improvement in the field of closures and cosmetic storage and dispensing.

Each and every one of the appended claims defines an aspect of the invention which is separate and distinct from all others, and accordingly it is intended that each claim be treated as such when examined in the light of the prior art devices in any determination of novelty or validity .

Variations and modifications are possible without departing from the spirit of the claims. Listing of reference numerals:

10 Annular inner side wall

12 Transverse bottom wall

5 14 Annular outer side wall

16 Bottom plug

18 Lip

20 Liner

22 Screw cap

10 23 Screw threads

24 Annular skirt

26 Groove

28 Shoulders or vertical ribs on wall 10

30 Cooperable shoulders or vertical ribs on skirt 24

15 32 External shoulder

33 Bead/groove

34 Plug' s upstanding skirt

36 Downwardly extending skirt

38 Bead/groove

20 42 Recess in plug

44 Inner surface of upstanding skirt

46 Crushable or resilient plastic projection

48 Weight

50 Groove/bead

25 52 Groove/bead

54 Interengaging groove/bead formation

56 Interengaging groove/bead formation

60 Modified jar

62 Annular inner side wall

30 64 Annular outer side wall

66 Skirt

68 Weight Listing of reference numerals: (cont'd)

70 Depending skirt

72 Bottom wall

74 Bead

76 Annular outer side wall

78 Integral bottom wall

80 Underside surface