Complementary holder for small containers

Abstract

 Complementary holder (2) for containers provided with a dispenser, such as an atomizer, comprises a generally flat profiled body (6,7) comprising at least one chamber (8) open at at least one end and intended to receive and retain a container (1), at least said one open end being located close to a marginal edge of the profiled body with said dispenser extending beyond said edge, the plan shape of said profiled body presenting, in at least one direction lying generally transverse to the chamber, a dimension which is comparatively much greater than the corresponding dimension of said chamber (8).

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a complementary or accessory holder, for use typically but non-exclusively in the cosmetics sector.

[0002] More specifically, the invention relates to a holder to be combined with relatively small containers for cosmetics products, such as small bottles of perfume or essence, or bottles of conditioner, in particular those which for example perfumery shops make available to customers to try their products.

[0003] For this reason said presentation or test containers are usually provided with a suitable dispenser, generally a usual atomizer or pump associated with the container mouth.

[0004] As stated, these test containers are fairly small, and can be easily grasped and hidden in the palm of a closed hand, inserted into a pocket and so on, which can obviously induce the ill-intentioned to profit therefrom, as in fact has long been a general complaint.

[0005] The main object of the present invention is to provide a complementary or accessory holder able to stem or at least mitigate the shoplifting phenomenon suffered by said small containers.

[0006] Another object of the invention is to provide an auxiliary holder which, although providing said anti-shoplifting function, does not prevent normal use of the respective container, i.e. the dispensing of the product which it contains.

[0007] A further object of the invention is to provide a complementary holder of the stated type which can be obtained rapidly and easily, at low cost.

[0008] Said objects are attained by virtue of the characterising elements indicated in the claims.

[0009] In a totally general sense, the holder in question is obtained starting from at least one generally thin synthetic sheet which is subjected to thermoforming to obtain a generally flat profiled body.

[0010] In particular, this comprises at least one chamber open at at least one end and intended to receive and retain a container provided with a dispenser, such as an atomizer, at least said one open end being located close to a marginal edge of the profiled body with said dispenser extending beyond said edge, at least one plan dimension of the profiled body transverse to the chamber being comparatively much greater than the corresponding dimension of said chamber.

[0011] By way of example, the plan shape of said generally flat profiled body can be approximately equal to that of an open hand, or even larger.

[0012] The chamber substantially precisely encloses the container, which is retained in it by a re-entering lip or flap provided on said open end, and arranged to engage a shoulder provided on the container and facing said dispenser or the respective operating means.

[0013] Preferably at least one region of the profiled body outside said chamber is hollow, to provide an article carrying compartment, preferably at least partly transparent, to contain for example publicity material, gadgets or the like.

[0014] The characteristics and the constructional merits of the invention will be apparent from the ensuing detailed description given with reference to the figures of the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view showing a container provided with a holder according to the invention.

Figure 2 is a front view of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is the section III-III of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a view of Figure 2 from below.

[0015] Said figures, and in particular Figure 1, show a container, indicated overall by 1, and a holder indicated overall by 2.

[0016] The illustrated container 1, for example for containing perfume or the like, comprises a cylindrical bottle 3 with which a dispenser 4 is associated. This latter is shown schematically as it is of known type, for example of the type having a pushbutton by which air is fed under pressure into the bottle, from which the perfume leaves in atomized form through a suitable spray port 5.

[0017] The holder 2 consists of a generally flat profiled body which is at least partly obtained by thermoforming starting from at least one generally thin sheet of a generally rigid flexible synthetic material.

[0018] The constituent synthetic material of said at least one starting sheet can be chosen at will, provided it is suitable for thermoforming.

[0019] Said at least one starting sheet can also have any thickness suitable for the purpose such as 0.15-0.45 mm.

[0020] In particular the holder 2 comprises a perfectly flat plate 6 (see Figures 3 and 4) of rectangular shape (Figures 1 and 2), on which a recessed plate 7 is superposed and suitably joined, for example by gluing or welding.

[0021] At least one of said plates 6 and 7 is transparent.

[0022] The recessed plate 7 comprises a channel-shaped sunken portion 8 close to and parallel to a side thereof, and a rectangular recess 9 occupying substantially that entire portion of the plate 7 lying outside said sunken portion 8.

[0023] The recess 9 has a depth less than that of the sunken portion 8. The transverse dimensions of the sunken portion 8 are virtually equal to those of the bottle 3, its length being equal to the length of the container 1 less the longitudinal dimension of the dispenser 4.

[0024] The sunken portion 8 is closed at one end, namely the lower end in Figures 1-3, whereas its opposite end is open, it lies practically flush with the respective edge or side of the holder 2, and presents along its entire extension a lip 10 which is turned inwards.

[0025] When the two plates 6 and 7 have been assembled as shown, the recess 9 provides an article carrying compartment, for example for containing publicity material, while the sunken portion 8 provides a chamber containing the bottle 3 as a substantially exact fit, with the dispenser 4 projecting from the holder 2.

[0026] In particular the container 1 is prevented from escaping by the lip 10, which rests against the shoulder or collar (Figures 1 and 3) of the bottle 3 which faces the dispenser 4.

[0027] The merits and advantages of the invention are apparent from the aforegoing and from an examination of the accompanying figures.

Claims

1. A complementary holder for containers provided with a dispenser, such as an atomizer, characterised by comprising a generally flat profiled body which comprises at least one chamber open at at least one end and intended to receive and retain a container, at least said one open end being located close to a marginal edge of the profiled body with said dispenser extending beyond said edge, the plan shape of said profiled body presenting, in at least one direction lying generally transverse to the chamber, a dimension which is comparatively much greater than the corresponding dimension of said chamber.

2. A holder as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that said container is retained by a re-entering lip or flap associated with said open end, and arranged to engage a shoulder provided on the container and facing said dispenser.

3. A holder as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that at least one region of the profiled body outside said chamber is hollow, to provide an article carrying compartment.

4. A holder as claimed in claim 3, characterised in that said at least one compartment is at least partly transparent.

Drawing