Package for hair cosmetic products

Abstract

 The present invention provides a package (10) for cosmetic products (26, 28), comprising a first recess (12) adapted to store a first cosmetic product (26) and a second recess (14) adapted to store a second cosmetic product (28). The first cosmetic product (26) and the second cosmetic product (28) are separately releasable from the first recess (12) and the second recess (14) so as to be individually consumed and do not have to be mixed within the package for use.

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to packages for cosmetic products and more particularly relates to packages for two viscous or paste like hair cosmetic products.

[0002] It is known for example from DE 92 02 084 U1 to use a double can made of plastics to store food, e.g. yoghurt, curd or pudding, in the one can and to store other food in the second can, e.g. cereals, dips, dressing or fruit preparations.

[0003] DE 198 14 469 C2 discloses a container for several components which is composed of two receptacles each storing a thixotropic component.

[0004] Both of the above documents relate to components which are stored separately and are mixed for use. The containers of both documents have the drawback that if one of the stored components is consumed before the other, a complete new product, including both of the separately stored components, has to be bought.

[0005] In cosmetic applications often the problem arises that two components should be stored separately, e.g., either for achieving a different cosmetic effect depending on the mixing ratio of the components, or, e.g., in order to avoid adverse reactions possible upon contact of the components. There is a continuing desire to provide a single package containing different cosmetic products for certain applications adapted to complement one another in a ratio individually determined by the consumer.

[0006] Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to decrease the number of packages necessary to store cosmetic products and the space necessary to store cosmetic products adapted to complement one another or to be combined not in advance but at the consumer's side in a single package.

[0007] This object is solved by the present invention in that the present invention relates to a package for cosmetic products, for example two viscous or pasty cosmetic products, e.g., hair cosmetic products, wherein the products are filled in distinct recesses which are connected by a releasable and/or foldable connection allowing to dispose one of the recesses or fold one of the recesses onto the other recess.

[0008] By means of the present invention, the number of packages may be decreased as well as the space in a shelf or at the consumer's home necessary to place cosmetic products, e.g. hair cosmetic products, which are adapted to complement one another or to be combined, not in advance but at the consumer's side, in a single package.

[0009] These and other advantages and features of the various embodiments of the invention disclosed herein, will be made more apparent from the description, drawings and claims that follow.

[0010] Summarizing the ideas of the present invention, the following items are preferred:

Item 1: A package for cosmetic products according to item 1 comprises a first recess adapted to store a first cosmetic product and a second recess adapted to store a second cosmetic product, wherein the first cosmetic product and the second cosmetic product are separately releasable from the first recess and the second recess.

Item 2: The package for cosmetic products of item 1, wherein the first cosmetic product and the second cosmetic product are separately releasable from the first recess and the second recess without being mixed within the package.

Item 3: The package for cosmetic products of item 1, wherein the first cosmetic product and the second cosmetic product are pasty cosmetic products.

Item 4: The package for cosmetic products of item 3, wherein the first cosmetic product is a hair wax and the second cosmetic product is a hair gel.

Item 5: The package for cosmetic products of item 1, wherein the first recess and the second recess are releasable and/foldable connected to each other.

Item 6: The package for cosmetic products of item 1, wherein the first recess and the second recess are adapted to be disposed on one another.

Item 7: The package for cosmetic products of item 1, further comprising a locking mechanism for releasable securing the first recess and the second recess.

Item 8: The package for cosmetic products of item 7, wherein the locking mechanism is a snap-in mechanism.

[0011] Further embodiments of the present invention relate to such a package for cosmetics which additionally comprises a locking mechanism, e.g. a snap-in mechanism, for securing the folded recesses, an attachable cover element for the recesses and a releasable connection between the recesses allowing to replace individual recesses.

[0012] Particularly, the first cosmetic product and the second cosmetic product are separately releasable from the first recess and the second recess without being mixed within the package. The first cosmetic product and the second cosmetic product are preferably viscous or pasty cosmetic products. For example, the first cosmetic product is a hair wax and the second cosmetic product is a hair gel. The first recess and the second recess may be connected to each other in a releasable or foldable way, or show other connecting means which, e.g., are a combination of the above mentioned connection types. The first recess and the second recess are adapted to be disposed onto each another. The package may further comprise a locking mechanism for releasable securing the first recess and the second recess. For example, the locking mechanism is a snap-in mechanism.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0013] 

Fig. 1 is a schematic side-view of a package of the present invention, and

Fig. 2 is a schematic view of the package of Fig. 1 showing a possible operation or application.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0014] For the purpose of this invention, the term "cosmetic product", unless otherwise stated, relates to any cosmetic preparation or cosmetic composition having a viscosity characteristic which allows the product to be stored in a package as mentioned above, without showing an unwanted flow behavior in a temperature range of from about 10 to about 40 °C, e.g., in a temperature range of from about 15 to about 35 °C or about 20 to about 30 °C, e.g., at about 22 to about 26 °C.

[0015] Particularly but not exclusively, the present invention relates to hair cosmetic products, for example hair wax or hair gel or a combination of both. An unwanted flow behavior is any kind of flow which results in the cosmetic products present in the package to irreversibly come into contact with each other or to leave their desired position in a recess such that the consumer spills product upon opening of the package or product is spilled in or on the package.

[0016] According to this description, a "consumer" may be any person who uses the cosmetic products according to the invention. Some non-limiting examples are the case of a person who makes personal use of the cosmetic products, for example by applying a cosmetic to the own hair or of another person, the case of a person who goes to a salon or elsewhere to have a cosmetic product applied to his or her hair by a beauty-care specialist, for example hair coloring by a hair care professional, wherein in this case that beauty-care specialist is the consumer, and the case of a person who dispenses the product onto the coat of a pet or other animal, wherein in this case that person is the consumer.

[0017] Except as otherwise noted, all amounts including quantities, percentages, portions, and proportions, are understood to be modified by the word "about", and amounts are not intended to indicate discrete digits. Unless otherwise stated, the articles "a", "an" and "the" mean "one or more". All documents cited are, in relevant part, incorporated herein by reference.

[0018] As used herein, the term "applied" when referring to a cosmetic product is to encompass the terms "coated", "absorbed", "adsorbed" and "adhered". The products are preferably directly applied to the substrate, for example the hair or the skin, without intermediate layer. Preferably, the cosmetic product is already "ready-to-use" by the consumer. It is possible for the consumer to apply one or both cosmetic products.

[0019] Essential and optional elements of the embodiments according to the present invention will now be described in detail by reference to the drawings, which are merely exemplary and are not intended to limit the invention to the exactly shown example.

[0020] As shown in the Fig. 1, a package 10 for cosmetic products according to an embodiment of the invention comprises a first recess 12 and a second recess 14. The first and second recesses 12, 14 may be formed like a cup, can or jar. Particularly, each recess may be formed or designed so as to have a size as is commonly known from conventional cosmetic jars. The first and second recesses 12, 14 are connected by means of a releasable and/or foldable connection 16 allowing to dispose and/or fold one of the recesses onto the other recess as shown by an arrow 18 in Fig. 2. For example, a hinge or the like may be provided as the connection 16. The connection 16 may be provided at the upper end 20 of each of the recesses 12, 14. In addition, the package 10 may comprise a locking mechanism, e.g. a snap-in mechanism 22, for releasable securing or fixing the folded recesses 12, 14 to each other, an attachable or detachable cover element for the recesses, for example a foil made of plastics, and a releasable connection between the recesses 12, 14 allowing to replace individual recesses. The upper end 20 of one of the recesses 12, 14 may be provided with a recessed rim 24. In Fig. 1, the rim 24 is provided at the upper end of the second recess 14 and is recessed in a radial inner direction. This allows to more exactly dispose the first recess 12 onto the second recess 14 and prevents a shifting of the recesses 12, 14 relative to each other. For example, the first recess 12 and the second recess 14 may each comprise a height of 4 cm and a diameter at the upper end 20 of 6 cm. It is to be appreciated that the size and design of the recesses 12, 14 may vary depending on the respective application purpose. For example, the recesses 12, 14 may be cylindrical or cubic and the recesses 12, 14 may alternatively have a height of 8 cm and a diameter of 12 cm.

[0021] The recesses 12, 14 are adapted to be filled with and to store for example two highly viscous, e.g., pasty, hair cosmetic products 26, 28. For example, a hair wax as a first hair cosmetic product 26 may be stored in the first recess 12 and a hair gel as a second cosmetic product 28 may be stored in the second recess 14 or vice versa. The hair wax and the hair gel can be used for similar but slightly different applications. Hair gel has a more rigid or stabilizing effect than hair wax and may be used to achieve the so called wet-look. Contrary to that, hair wax leaves the hair soft and provides brilliance and volume to the hair. As every package needs a cover or lid anyway, the cover or lid of the first recess 12 is provided by means of the second recess 14 and vice versa. In order to prevent the cosmetic products from flowing into each other if the recesses 12, 14 are disposed on one another, for example if an ambient temperature significantly exceeds the usual room temperature, a foil made of plastics or the like may be provided between the recesses 12, 14. For example, each recess 12, 14 may be covered by such a foil.

[0022] The claimed package can, however, also contain other combinations of cosmetic products, e.g., cosmetic products to be used in decorative cosmetics or cosmetic products to be used in hair cosmetics which do not only have an effect on the hair style, but also on the color of the hair or which do have a cleaning effect or a beneficial effect to the hair structure or health in general.

[0023] By means of a releasable connection, for example the connection 16 shown in Fig. 2, between the first and second recesses 12, 14, each recess may be replaced such that the consumer may replace one recess if the cosmetic product therein is consumed before the other or may individually modify a final product resulting from mixing the cosmetic products or combined applying the product. For example, the first recess 12 may alternatively to the above comprise a basic cosmetic product and the second recess 14 may comprise a cosmetic product having a high ultraviolet filter for use during summer time. During winter time, the second recess 14 may be replaced by a third recess comprising a cosmetic product having a low ultraviolet filter. Other possible applications are the use of cosmetic products having different levels in fat. Accordingly, the consumer can buy one basic recess and combine the same with recesses differing in the characteristics of the stored cosmetic products such that individual applications for the final cosmetic products are possible. The same might apply for different hair colors which need a basic cream and the actual color as an additive.

[0024] Accordingly, the present invention allows a consumer to individually modify his/her cosmetic preparation, for example the look of his/her hair, in a simple manner and spontaneously because two possibilities causing for example the above slightly different effects are provided in one single package. Therefore, the consumer is not forced to buy two separate packages but only one. This also means that the two products do not have to be mixed or dispensed together but may be used separately.

[0025] Further, by means of the present invention, the number of packages may be decreased as well as the space in a shelf or at the consumer's home necessary to place cosmetic products, e.g. hair cosmetic products, which are adapted to complement one another or to be combined, not in advance but at the consumer's side, in a single package. Particularly, the present invention provides the possibility to offer a single package containing different cosmetic products for certain applications adapted to complement one another in a ratio individually determined by the consumer. A further possibility is to offer products which will not be mixed but used separately depending on the respective application. Accordingly, the present invention may help the consumer to avoid having to buy two separate packages which may be combined for an application or may be separately used for similar but slightly different applications.

[0026] The dimensions and values disclosed herein are not to be understood as being strictly limited to the exact numerical values recited. Instead, unless otherwise specified, each such dimension is intended to mean both the recited value and a functionally equivalent range surrounding that value. For example, a dimension disclosed as "40 mm" is intended to mean "about 40 mm."

Claims

1. Package (10) for cosmetic products (26, 28), comprising a first recess (12) adapted to store a first cosmetic product (26) and a second recess (14) adapted to store a second cosmetic product (28), wherein the first cosmetic product (26) and the second cosmetic product (28) are separately releasable from the first recess (12) and the second recess (14).

2. Package (10) for cosmetic products (26, 28) of claim 1, wherein the first cosmetic product (26) and the second cosmetic product (28) are separately releasable from the first recess (12) and the second recess (14) without being mixed within the package (10).

3. Package (10) for cosmetic products (26, 28) of claim 1, wherein the first cosmetic product (26) and the second cosmetic product (28) are pasty cosmetic products.

4. Package (10) for cosmetic products (26, 28) of claim 3, wherein the first cosmetic product (26) is a hair wax and the second cosmetic product (28) is a hair gel.

5. Package (10) for cosmetic products (26, 28) of claim 1, wherein the first recess (12) and the second recess (14) are releasable and/foldable connected to each other.

6. Package (10) for cosmetic products (26, 28) of claim 1, wherein the first recess (12) and the second recess (14) are adapted to be disposed on one another.

7. Package (10) for cosmetic products (26, 28) of claim 1, further comprising a locking mechanism for releasable securing the first recess (12) and the second recess (14).

8. Package (10) for cosmetic products (26, 28) of claim 7, wherein the locking mechanism is a snap-in mechanism.

Drawing