The present invention relates to a packaging with a ball type applicator, consisting of a container with a threaded neck in its upper portion, a socket which is at its lower portion internally threaded and it is screwed onto the threaded neck, and a ball seated in the socket.

Solutions consisting of a replaceable threaded neck container and a reusable dosing element screwed onto this threaded neck are known from prior art.

For example, ES2413163A1 discloses a solution that consists of a body with an externally threaded neck, a socket threaded at the inside lower side, that is screwed onto the neck and threaded externally , a ball seated in the socket and a cap screwed onto the socket. The externally threaded neck is a durable and integral part of the container, made of the same material as the container.

US5526960A discloses a similar solution, wherein a spring-loaded nozzle is used instead of a ball dispenser.

W09524141A1 discloses a solution that consists of a container with a fitment, with a threaded portion at the outside of the fitment, and a second threaded portion; a threaded flange at the inside lower portion, screwed onto the threaded portion; a ball that is seated in the fitment and closed from above with the flange; a cap that is screwed onto the second threaded portion of the finish. In the solutions presented above, the container is disposable and can be disposed of when the product contained in it is depleted.

A review of the solutions in use and patent documents shows that there is a problem with this type of packaging as it is usually made of non-recyclable materials or generates high costs of their processing. This significantly increases the amount of waste that has to be disposed of in landfills.

The aim of this invention is therefore to provide a packaging with an applicator, in particular for liquid products distributed by means of a ball type applicator, e.g. deodorants, in which a replaceable, disposable product container will be cheap to produce and at the same time easy and cheap to process (recycle) after product depletion, while the applicator itself will be reusable. For example, the end user of a product will be able to unscrew the empty container and remove it after the packaging has been used up, and then buy a full container in a store and screw the multiple-use applicator thereon.

Such solutions are well suited to the current trend in environmental protection, they reduce the amount of waste disposed of in landfills and, moreover, enable the reuse of materials at minimum cost.

The invention therefore relates to a packaging with a ball type applicator, consisting of a container with a threaded neck in its upper portion, a socket which is at its lower portion internally threaded and it is screwed onto the threaded neck, and a ball seated in the socket. The invention is characterized in that the container is made of a cardboard, and the threaded neck is a separate plastic element glued into the upper portion of the container.

Preferably, the package contains a closure.

More preferably, the closure and the socket are dimensioned to connect to each other by fitting. More preferably, also the closure and the socket are provided with matching connecting means.

Even more preferably, the closure forms an internally threaded cap and the socket is externally threaded in its upper portion and receives the cap, or the closure and the socket contain means for snapping them together.

The closure has preferably a pressure ring placed on the inner, upper wall.

Preferably, also the socket and the ball are made of plastic.

More preferably, the closure is made of plastic.

Preferably, the connection between the container and the neck is sealed.

Preferably, also the connection between the neck and the socket is sealed, most preferably the seal being an additional internal socket flange located in the lower portion of the socket, flange being fitted into the neck when the socket is screwed onto it.

The object of the invention is shown in the exemplary embodiments in the figures, where fig. 1 shows an exploded side view of the packaging according to the invention, fig. 2 shows a cross-sectional view of the packaging according to the invention in the assembled state, fig. 3 shows a cross-sectional view of the packaging according to the invention when the ball type applicator is not screwed onto the container, fig. 4 shows a side view of the seat and its cross-section along line A-A, and fig. 5 shows a side view of the closure and its cross-section along line A-A.

As seen in fig. 1-3 the packaging with the ball type applicator type according to the invention consists of a container 1 and an applicator, having a socket 3 and a ball 4 seated therein. The container 1 in its upper portion is equipped with a threaded neck 2. The socket 3 is internally threaded in its lower portion; the lower main thread 3b of the socket 3 is best visible on fig. 4. The lower main thread 3b of the socket 3 is used to screw the socket 3 onto the upper main thread 2a of the neck 2, which is best visible on fig. 1 and 2. The ball 4 is the element that distributes the substance stored in the container 1. As the ball 4 freely rotates within the seat 3, the substance stored in the container 1 adheres to the ball from the side facing the inside of container 1, and then, as the user moves the ball 4 over his/her body surface, the ball 4, by rotation, lifts the substance outwards and spreads it over the body surface. This very simple mechanism is known in prior art.

According to the invention, the container 1 is made of a cardboard; of course, it is made of the cardboard that allows the product to be stored in a liquid state. The neck 2 is a separate plastic element glued into the upper portion of the container 1. Such a solution makes it possible to use a container 1 of any shape and any neck 2 size (matched to the appropriate applicator) and connect them together in an easy way. This facilitates the production and reduces the cost of production of elements of different dimensions and matching them to each other according to the preferences of the manufacturer of e.g. deodorant. In addition, after use, the container 1 and the neck 2, which are usually made of different materials, can be separated from each other and sent to an appropriate recycling process.

In a preferred embodiment, the packaging is equipped with a closure 5. The closure 5 prevents the product from drying out and contaminating the applicator when it is not used for some time.

The closure 5 and the socket can be dimensioned to connect to each other by fitting. Alternatively, the closure 5 and the socket 3 may be provided with matching connecting means 3 a, 5a, such as an upper connecting thread 3 a of the socket 3 (visible on fig. 1 and 4) and the internal thread 5a of the closure 5 (visible only on fig. 5), which then forms a cap. The closure 5 and the socket 3 may also have means for snapping them together (not shown). The closure 5 may have a pressure ring 6 placed at the inner, upper (front) wall, which presses the ball 4 into the socket 3 to prevent fluid from flowing out of the container 1 when the container is not in use.

In its preferred form, the socket 3 and the ball 4 are made of plastic. The closure 5 may also be made of plastic.

In another preferred embodiment, the connection between the container 1 and the neck 2 is sealed; it is also good if the connection between the neck 2 and the socket 3 is sealed. Sealing of these connections prevents product from leaking out from the container 1.

In a preferred embodiment, the seal between the neck 2 and the socket 3 is an additional internal flange 3c of the socket 3 (visible on the cross-sectional view of fig. 4), situated in its lower portion. The flange 3c is fitted into the neck 2 when the socket 3 is screwed thereon.

Of course, the invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiments and various modifications are possible under claims without departing from the essence of the invention.