WO2024209360A1 - Container for sticks of pharmaceutical and perfumery preparations - Google Patents

Abstract

A container (1; 100) for pharmaceutical, cosmetic or similar preparations configured in the form of a stick (5), comprising: a tubular body (2; 102); a tubular sleeve (8; 108) coaxial in the tubular body (2; 102) and configured to accommodate a section of the length of the stick (5); a tubular liner (14) associated with the outside of the tubular body (2; 102); a protective cap (17) covering the tubular liner (14); a slider (18; 118) housed in the tubular sleeve (8; 108), which defines a support base (19) for the stick (5) and is provided with two pegs (20; 120) protruding from its lateral surface. In the tubular sleeve there are first contrast means (24) which constrain the pegs (20; 120) to the tubular sleeve (8; 108) and advance it along the tubular body (2; 102) to its open end (4) when the tubular body (2; 102) rotates according to its longitudinal axis (Y); second contrast means (27) which stop the advancement of the peg (20; 120) and of the slider (18; 118) with the associated stick (5) in the position wherein the base surface (11) of the stick (5) is coplanar to the open end (4) of the tubular body (2; 102).

Description

CONTAINER FOR STICKS OF PHARMACEUTICAL AND PERFUMERY PREPARATIONS.

DESCRIPTION

The invention concerns a container for the storage and use of sticks of pharmaceutical or perfumery preparations of various kinds.

As is well known, many pharmaceutical and perfumery preparations, such as lip balm, lipstick, lip gloss and the like, are sold in the form of cylindrical sticks that are kept inside tubular containers from which they are extracted and then retracted after use.

Inside, these containers are provided with a mechanism comprising coaxial tubular elements that hold the stick of preparation and allow it to be extracted for use and then quickly retracted so that it remains protected until the next use, simply by turning clockwise or anticlockwise an operating ring nut connected to the tubular elements, which are in turn placed in rotation.

These tubular containers are made in various shapes and sizes and, above all, if they are used in the cosmetics industry to hold a lipstick or lip gloss stick, they are often of particularly refined, and sometimes fine quality, workmanship. All the containers of the type described pertaining to the prior art are certainly reliable in operation, but they also have a recognised and so far unresolved problem, which consists of the impossibility of being able to fully use the stick of preparation they contain.

Inside the container, the base of the stick of preparation and a short section of its entire length are in fact housed inside a containment cup from which the remaining length of the stick of preparation then protrudes.

When the containment cup is raised by turning the operating ring nut, the stick of preparation, e.g. a lipstick stick, is arranged protruding from the container by the amount sufficient for it to be applied.

At the end of the application, by turning the operating ring nut in the opposite direction to the previous one, the containment cup is lowered and the lipstick stick retracts into the container to be protected until the next use.

By repeating the described operations a plurality of times to achieve a plurality of applications, it is clear that the application can no longer take place when the lipstick stick is consumed up to the level of the plane delimiting the mouth of the containment cup.

When this condition is reached, all of the lipstick inside the containment cup can no longer be used and the container with the residual lipstick it contains must be disposed of as waste.

It is understood that this results in the drawback of an unnecessary waste of preparation.

There is also the drawback that the preparation is also frequently a pollutant and thus harmful to the environment so must be disposed of as special waste. Finally, as the preparations are usually expensive, this also means an economic loss.

The purpose of the present invention is to solve the problems complained of in the prior art by making a container for sticks of pharmaceuticals, cosmetics or any other type of preparation which allows for the total consumption of the stick of preparation contained therein.

The purpose is achieved by the container for sticks of preparations of the invention, the characteristics of which are described in the main claim to which reference shall be made.

Other characteristics of the invention are described in the dependent claims. Advantageously, the container of the invention optimises the use of the preparations that are packaged inside it.

Indeed, advantageously, the container of the invention reduces the waste and costs of the sticks of preparations that are packaged and used with it.

Furthermore, advantageously, the use of the container of the invention reduces pollution as the preparations that are packaged with it are fully utilised.

The object and advantages listed and any others will be better emphasised below during the description of the invention, which is provided with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

- Figure 1 represents an assembled axonometric view of the container of the invention;

- Figure 2 represents an exploded axonometric view of the container of Figure 1 ;

- Figure 3 represents a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the assembled container of Figures 1 and 2;

- Figures 4, 4a, 5, 5a, 6, 7, 7a, 8, 8a and 9 represent different views of details of the container of the invention of Figure 3;

- Figures 10, 10a and 11 to 17 represent different axonometric and cross- sectional views of the container of the invention of Figure 3; - Figure 18 represents an exploded axonometric view of a variant embodiment of the container of the invention;

- Figure 19 represents a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the assembled container of Figure 18;

- Figures 20, 20a, 21 and 22 represent different views of details of the variant embodiment of Figure 18;

- Figures 23 to 24 represent two axonometric and cross-sectional views of the variant embodiment of the container of the invention of Figure 18.

The container for pharmaceutical, cosmetic or similar preparations configured in the form of a stick which is the subject matter of the invention is shown in an assembled axonometric view in Figure 1 , in an exploded axonometric view in Figure 2 and in an assembled and longitudinal section in Figure 3, where it is indicated overall by 1.

It is noted that it comprises a tubular body 2, also visible in Figures 4 and 4a, which identifies a longitudinal direction Y and which has an open end 4 and on the opposite side an operating ring nut 3 attached to its initial part 2a by means of which a user rotates the tubular body 2 according to the longitudinal axis Y. The presence of a tubular sleeve 8 is also noted, which can be seen also in Figures 7 and 7a, which is coaxially inserted into the tubular body 2 and is delimited by an annular edge 9 which, when the tubular sleeve 8 is inserted into the tubular body 2, faces the open end 4 of the same tubular body 2.

In the tubular body 2 a stick 5 of a pharmaceutical, cosmetic or similar preparation is housed, having the base surface 11 and a section 12 of its entire length 13 which are inserted into the tubular sleeve 8.

Coaxially coupled to the tubular body 2 and externally to it is a tubular liner 14, also visible in Figures 8 and 8a, and a protective cap 17, also visible in Figure 9, which is coupled coaxially to the outside of the tubular liner 14.

There is a slider 18, also visible in Figure 6, which is housed in the tubular sleeve 8 and defines a support base 19 for the base surface 11 of the stick 5.

In the slider 18 there is at least one peg 20 and preferably two pegs 20 that are aligned and protrude from opposite sides of the lateral surface of the slider 18. The pegs 20 that protrude from the slider 18 are each accommodated in a corresponding slot 22 made in the tubular sleeve 8 which, as can be seen in particular in Figures 7 and 7a, is thus provided with two slots 22 that are made on opposite sides of its lateral surface. In addition, each of the aforementioned pegs 20 is also coupled to constraint means 23 that belong to the tubular body 2 and the tubular liner 14 and of which more detail will be given below.

According to the invention in each slot 22 there are first contrast means 24 which constrain the corresponding peg 20 of the slider 18 to the tubular sleeve 8, as observed in Figures 10, 10a and 11 , and when the tubular body 2 rotates, the constraint means 23 impose a helical advancement on the slider 18 and on the tubular sleeve 8 with the stick 5 associated with it, according to the longitudinal direction Y, as observed in Figures 12 and 13, until the tubular sleeve 8 is stopped by the contrast of its annular edge 9 with a first stop ring 25 present in the open end 4 of the tubular body 2 and projecting inwards therefrom, as observed in Figures 14, 14a and 15.

In each slot 22 there is also a slotted area 26 which develops downstream of the first contrast means 24 and which is traversed by the respective peg 20 after the tubular sleeve 8 stops, when the rotation of the tubular sleeve 2 forces the pegs 20 past the first contrast means 24 and moves only the slider 18 with the stick 5 associated with it along the slot 22 according to the longitudinal direction Y.

Finally, in each slot 22 there are second contrast means 27 which correspond to the end arch 27a of the slotted area 26 and which stop the advancement of the respective peg 20 and of the slider 18 with the stick 5 associated with it in the position wherein the base surface 11 of the stick 5 and the support base 19 of the slider 18 are coplanar with the first stop ring 25 of the tubular body 2, as observed in Figures 16 and 17.

With regard to the tubular sleeve 8 that can be observed in particular in Figures 7 and 7a, as already mentioned there are the two slots 22 therein made on opposite sides of its lateral surface where each slot 22 has a shaped profile that extends in the longitudinal direction Y.

Furthermore, each slot 22 has an opening 22a facing the opposite side of the annular edge 9 that delimits the upper part of the tubular sleeve 8 and in each of the slots 22 there are present the aforementioned: first contrast means 24, the slotted area 26 and the second contrast means 27 which are aligned in order one after the other in the longitudinal direction Y and in the direction facing the annular edge 9 of the tubular sleeve 8.

In particular, with reference to Figures 7 and 7a, it is observed that each of the first contrast means 24 comprises a first enlarged area 24a of the slot 22, delimited by a pair of shaped profiles 24b opposed to each other that make said first enlarged area 24a assume a substantially circular profile.

It is also noted that the slotted area 26 corresponds to a second enlarged area 26a of the slot 22 that is comprised between the pair of shaped profiles 24b and an end arch 27a that delimits the slot 22.

Finally, with regard to the second contrast means 27 they are defined by the aforementioned end arch 27a.

With regard to the previously mentioned constraint means 23, they cooperate with each other and with the pegs 20 to bring about a helical rotation of the slider 18, the tubular sleeve 8 and the stick 5 associated with the latter, which causes the telescopic displacement of the stick 5 along the tubular body 2.

To this end, the constraint means 23 comprise a pair of closed profile slots 23a, visible particularly in Figures 4 and 4a, which are made on opposite sides in the tubular body 2 and which both extend in the longitudinal direction Y, and a pair of helical grooves 23b, visible particularly in Figures 8 and 8a and opposing each other, which are made in the inner surface of the tubular liner 14 and which both extend according to the longitudinal direction Y.

With particular regard to the tubular body 2, it is particularly observed in Figure 14a that it also comprises a stop ring 29, present in its open end 4 and projecting outwards, which is configured to be accommodated in an annular seat 14a that perimetrically delimits the open end 14b of the tubular liner 14, when the tubular body 2 is inserted into the tubular liner 14 itself.

To this end, it is particularly observed in Figures 2 and 4 that in the side wall of the tubular body 2 there is a longitudinal through notch 2c, preferably but not necessarily made in correspondence to at least one of the closed profile slots 23a, which makes it possible to circumferentially clamp the tubular body 2 and, taking advantage of the elasticity of the material with which this notch is made, to reduce its cross-section in order to insert it into the tubular liner 14.

After insertion, the elastic return of the material restores the primitive diameter of the tubular body 2 which, as it enlarges, is locked inside the tubular liner 14 due to the interference of its second stop ring 29 inside the annular seat 14a present in the open end 14b of the tubular liner 14.

With regard to the operating ring nut 3, it is particularly observed in Figures 5 and 5a that it comprises a core 30 and an annular body 31 arranged coaxially outside the core 30 that are spaced to define between them an annular cavity 32 that accommodates the insertion of the initial area 2a of the tubular body 2.

In this way, the annular body 31 is fixed with interference externally to the initial area 2a of the tubular body 2 and the core 30 is inserted into the initial area 2a of the tubular body 2 and acts as a closing plug.

By applying a rotation to the operating ring nut 3, the tubular sleeve 2 is set rotating and the aforementioned constraint means 23, cooperating with the pegs 20, cause the helical rotation of the slider 18 and of the tubular sleeve 8 and generate the telescopic displacement of the stick 5 along the tubular body 2 until it exits from the tubular body 2 itself.

For a better understanding of the displacements, reference is made to Figures 10 and 10a in which only the tubular body 2 with the tubular sleeve 8, the slider 18 and the stick 5 are shown.

By applying, by means of the operating ring nut 3, a rotation to the tubular body 2, the presence of the closed profile slots 23a into which the pegs 20 are inserted brings into rotation the slider 18 and the tubular sleeve 8, which the pegs 20 make integral with each other, according to a rotary movement about the longitudinal direction Y.

Thus, the mere presence of the closed profile slots 23a would alone be able to bring the slider 18 and the tubular sleeve 8 into rotation.

However, when the tubular liner 14 is coupled to the tubular body 2, as observed in Figure 11 , the presence of the helical grooves 23b transforms the circular rotary motion of the slider 18 and of the tubular sleeve 8 into a helical movement that causes the stick 5 to advance in the longitudinal direction Y, as is clearly observed in the sequences of movement illustrated in the axonometries of Figures 12 and 13.

It is particularly observed in Figures 6, 16 and 17 that the distance D1 between the surface 20a of the pegs 20 and the support base 19 in the slider 18 is equal to the distance D2 between the open end 4 of the tubular body 2 and the top point of the closed profile slot 23a of the tubular body 2.

In this way, when the pegs 20 of the slider 18 are close to the second contrast means 27, as observed in Figures 16 and 17, the base surface 11 of the stick 5 is coplanar with the open end 4 of the tubular body 2.

In this way, the stick 5 protrudes for its entire length 13 from the tubular body 2 and thus the purpose of the invention of allowing the user to use all of the stick 5 is achieved.

It is observed in the figures that the initial area 2a of the tubular body 2 is projecting radially from the outer surface of the tubular body 2 itself and is delimited by an annular surface 33 on which the pegs 20 rest when the base surface 8a of the tubular sleeve 8, opposite the annular edge 9, rests on the top surface 30a of the core 30.

This situation occurs when the stick 5 is fully accommodated in the tubular body 2.

To ensure the stability of the tubular sleeve 8, of the slider 18 and of the stick 5 when the latter is in the fully retracted position or is in the position of use protruding for its entire length 13 with respect to the tubular body 2 into which it is inserted, each of the closed profile slots 23a has at each end a slot 28a, 28b which extends circumferentially to the tubular body 2.

The aforesaid slots 28a, 28b are oriented circumferentially on the tubular body 2 according to opposing directions of travel and the pegs 20 are inserted into them by rotation of the tubular body 2 and preferably by snap fit, when the stick 5 is arranged in the fully retracted or fully protruding position, respectively.

It can also be observed, for example in Figure 3, that the annular body 31 of the operating ring nut 3 is delimited by an annular edge 31a that receives in support the annular edge 17a of the protective cap 17 when it is arranged to cover the tubular liner 14.

A variant embodiment of the container of the invention indicated overall with 100 is shown in the exploded view of Figure 18 and in the assembled longitudinal cross-section of Figure 19 wherein it is observed that this variant embodiment differs from the embodiment just described only by a different construction of the tubular body 102 also represented in Figures 20 and 20a, of the slider 118 also depicted in Figure 21 and of the tubular sleeve 108 also depicted in Figure 22.

It can be observed in Figures 20 and 20a that in the tubular body 102 each of the closed profile slots 23a has at each end a slot 28a, 28b which, in a manner similar to the embodiment just described, extends circumferentially to the tubular body 102.

The slots 28a, 28b are circumferentially oriented according to opposing directions of travel and the slot 28b, arranged in proximity to the open end 104 of the tubular body 102, unlike the embodiment just described, terminates with an extension slot 128 arranged parallel to the respective closed profile slot 23a

First of all, the presence of this extension slot 128 allows, in the same way as the embodiment described above, the extraction of the stick 5 along its entire length from the tubular body 102.

Indeed, it can be observed in Figure 24 that the position that the pegs 120 of the slider 118 reach at the stroke end during the extraction of the stick 5 is the same as that observed in Figures 16 and 17 of the embodiment already described.

The advantage that the variant embodiment allows consists of the fact that the presence of the extension slot 128 promotes the loading of the stick 5 into the tubular sleeve 108 since, as is observed in Figure 23, during loading the pegs 120 rest in the slots 28b below the extension slot 128, as observed in Figure 24.

Furthermore, in the variant embodiment described, the tubular sleeve 108 is provided with internal projecting ribs 40 and the slider 118 is provided with external recessed seats 41.

The ribs 40 and the seats 41 have conjugate profiles that couple with each other when the slider 118 is inserted into the tubular sleeve 108 allowing them to slide against each other in the longitudinal direction Y but preventing them from rotating against each other.

On the basis of the foregoing, it is understood that the present invention solves the recognised problem of telescopic element containers of known type containing preparations configured in the shape of sticks which do not allow the user to fully extract and use the stick they contain.

It turns out that the present invention provides the market with a container with telescopic elements that solves this problem.

Advantageously, the container of the invention optimises the use of the preparations packaged in the container of the invention by reducing waste and the resulting costs and also contributes to the limitation of environmental pollution resulting from the discarding of containers containing sticks that are not fully used.

During the execution step, modifications and variations may be made to the container of the invention which have not been described here and which have not even been represented in the drawings. Should any such modifications and variations fall within the scope of protection of the following claims, they shall all be deemed to be protected by this patent.

Claims

1 ) Container (1 ; 100) for pharmaceutical, cosmetic or similar preparations configured in the form of a stick, comprising:

- a tubular body (2; 102) which identifies a longitudinal direction (Y) and which has on one side an open end (4) and on the opposite side an operating ring nut (3) for the rotation of said tubular body (2; 102);

- a tubular sleeve (8; 108) coaxially inserted into said tubular body (2; 102) and delimited by an annular edge (9) facing said open end (4) of said tubular body (2; 102);

- a tubular liner (14) coaxially associated with the outside of said tubular body (2; 102);

- a protective cap (17) covering said tubular liner (14);

- a slider (18; 118) which is housed in said tubular sleeve (8; 108) and defines a support base (19) for the base surface (11 ) of a stick (5) of a pharmaceutical, cosmetic or similar preparation, said stick (5) being housed for a section (12) of its entire length (13) in said tubular sleeve (8; 108);

- at least one peg (20; 120) protruding from the lateral surface of said slider (18; 118) and accommodated in a slot (22) made in said tubular sleeve (8; 108) and also connected to constraint means (23) provided in said tubular body (2; 102) and in said tubular liner (14), characterised in that in said slot (22) the following are present:

- first contrast means (24) which constrain said at least one peg (20; 120) of said slider (18; 118) to said tubular sleeve (8; 108) and when said tubular body (2; 102) is placed in rotation, said constraint means (23) impose a helical advancement on said slider (18; 118) and on said tubular sleeve (8; 108) with said stick (5) associated with it, according to said longitudinal direction (Y) until said tubular sleeve (8; 108) is stopped by the contrast of said annular edge (9) thereof with a first stop ring (25) present in said open end (4) of said tubular body (2; 102);

- a slotted area (26) extending downstream of said first contrast means (24) and traversed by said at least one peg (20; 120) after the stop of said tubular sleeve (8; 108), when the rotation of said tubular body (2; 102) forces said peg (20; 120) beyond said first contrast means (24) and only moves said slider (18; 118) with said stick (5) according to said longitudinal direction (Y); - second contrast means (27) placed at the end of said slotted area (26), which stop the advancement of said peg (20; 120) and of said slider (18; 118) with said stick (5) in the position wherein said base surface (11 ) of said stick (5) and said support base (19) of said slider (18; 118) are coplanar with the plane defined by said open end (4) of said tubular body (2; 102).

2) Container (1 ; 100) according to claim 1 , characterised in that in said slider (18; 118) there are two pegs (20; 120) which are aligned with each other and protruding from opposite sides of said lateral surface of said slider (18; 118).

3) Container (1 ; 100) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that in said tubular sleeve (8; 108) there are two slots (22) which are made on opposite sides of said lateral surface thereof, and each of them has a shaped profile which extends according to said longitudinal direction (Y) with an opening (22a) facing the opposite side of said annular edge (9), in each of said slots (22) there being present said first contrast means (24), said slotted area (26) and said second contrast means (27) being arranged aligned in order one after the other according to said longitudinal direction (Y).

4) Container (1 ; 100) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that in each of said slots (22):

- said first contrast means (24) comprise a first enlarged area (24a) of said slot (22), delimited by a pair of shaped profiles (24b) opposed to each other that make said first enlarged area (24a) assume a substantially circular profile;

- said slotted area (26) corresponds to a second enlarged area (26a) of said slot (22), comprised between said pair of shaped profiles (24b) and an end arch (27a) delimiting said slot (22);

- said second contrast means (27) are defined by said end arch (27a).

5) Container (1 ; 100) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that said constraint means (23) comprise:

- a pair of closed profile slots (23a) which are made in opposite sides of said tubular body (2; 102) and which both extend according to said longitudinal direction (Y);

- a pair of mutually opposed helical grooves (23b) which are made in the inner surface of said tubular jacket (14) and which both extend according to said longitudinal direction (Y).

6) Container (1 ; 100) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that said tubular body (2; 102) also comprises a second stop ring (29) present in said open end (4) thereof and projecting outwards, which is configured to be accommodated in an annular seat (14a) that perimetrically delimits the open end (14b) of said tubular liner (14), when said tubular body (2; 102) is inserted into said tubular liner (14).

7) Container (1 ; 100) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that in the lateral wall of said tubular body (2; 102) there is a longitudinal through notch (2c) which makes it possible to circumferentially clamp said tubular body (2; 102) and reduce its cross-sectional area in order to insert it into said tubular liner (14).

8) Container (1 ; 100) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the distance (D1 ) between the surface (20a) of each of said pegs (20; 120) and said support base (19) present in said slider (18; 118) is equal to the distance (D2) between the open end (4) of said tubular body (2; 102) and the top point of each of said closed profile slots (23a) of said tubular body (2; 102) so that said base surface (11 ) of said stick (5) is coplanar with said open end (4) of said tubular body (2; 102) when said peg (20; 120) of said slider (18; 118) is close to said second contrast means (27).

9) Container (1 ; 100) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that said operating ring nut (3) comprises a core (30) and an annular body (31 ) arranged coaxially externally to said core (30), which are spaced to define between them an annular cavity (32) which accommodates the insertion of the initial area (2a) of said tubular body (2; 102) so that said annular body (31 ) is fixed with interference externally to said initial area (2a) and said core (30) is inserted into said initial area (2a).

10) Container (1 ; 100) according to claim 9, characterised in that said initial area (2a) of said tubular body (2; 102) is radially projecting from the outer surface of said tubular body (2; 102) and is delimited by an annular surface (32) on which said at least one peg (20; 120) rests when the base surface (8a) of said tubular sleeve (8; 118), opposite to said annular edge (9), rests on the top surface (30a) of said core (30).

11 ) Container (1 ; 100) according to claim 9, characterised in that said annular body (31 ) of said operating ring nut (3) is delimited by an annular edge (31a) that receives in support the annular edge (17a) of said protective cap (17) when said protective cap (17) is arranged to cover said tubular liner (14).

12) Container (1 ) according to claim 5, characterised in that each of said closed profile slots (23a) has at each end a slot (28a, 28b) extending circumferentially to said tubular body (2), said slots (28a, 28b) being circumferentially oriented according to opposing directions of travel.

13) Container (100) according to claim 5, characterised in that each of said closed profile slots (23a) has at each end a slot (28a, 28b) extending circumferentially to said tubular body (102), said slots (28a, 28b) being circumferentially oriented according to opposing directions of travel, and in that said slot (28b), arranged in proximity to said open end (104) of said tubular body (102), terminates with an extension slot (128) arranged parallel to the respective closed profile slot (23a).

14) Container (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that said tubular sleeve (108) is provided with internal projecting ribs (40) and said slider (118) is provided with external recessed seats (41 ), where said ribs (40) and said seats (41 ) have mutually conjugate profiles which are coupled to each other when said slider (118) is inserted into said tubular sleeve (108) and allow them to slide mutually according to said longitudinal direction (Y), but prevent them from rotating mutually.