WO1988004264A1

WO1988004264A1 - Dispensing device

Info

Publication number: WO1988004264A1
Application number: PCT/US1986/002640
Authority: WO
Inventors: Garrett J. Cronin; Richard Smith; Ronald Brault
Original assignee: Lawson Mardon Group Limited
Priority date: 1986-12-04
Filing date: 1986-12-04
Publication date: 1988-06-16

Abstract

A dispensing device (10, 20) having a first substrate (12, 26) and a second substrate (13, 24) and a particulate material (16) is disposed between the substrates. An access means (18, 32) is also provided on the first substrate (12) or the second substrate (24) to access the particulate material (16) for withdrawal thereof from the apparatus. The dispensing device (10, 20) is assembled from paper or other inexpensive materials and may be sufficiently thin to allow for insertion thereof in magazines of for mail distribution.

Description

DISPENSING DEVICE

This invention relates to dispensers, and more particularly to cosmetic dispensers.

Cosmetic dispensers are well known and are available in a variety of configurations for lipstick, eye shadow and the like.

At present, these dispensers are commonly made from metallic or plastic material and nave decorative finish to project an image of quality of the product therein. It has also been found that dispensers are relatively expensive to manufacture.

Although current pricing in the cosmetic market satisfactorily absorbs this manufacturing expense, present cosmetic containers are found to be too expensive to manufacture in order to satisfy marketing techniques focused on the distribution of free samples by way of random mail distribution or accompanying magazine advertisements. In the latter case, the present dispensers are not only too expensive but are also relatively bulky and therefore are not of the suitable size to be interleaved in the pages of a magazine.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a novel form of dispenser.

Broadly stated the invention comprises a particulate material dispensing apparatus comprising a first substrate, a second substrate, said particulate material being disposed between said substrates, and access means provided on said second substrate to access said particulate material for withdrawal thereof from said apparatus.

In another aspect of the present invention there is a method of forming a particulate material dispensing device comprising the steps of:

depositing said particulate material on a first substrate,

attaching to said first substrate a second substrate wherein said second substrate has formed therein an aperture which is alignable adjacent said particulate material, said aperture being closed by a portion hingeably mounted to said second substrate.

In yet another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a blank used for fabricating a particulate material dispensing apparatus comprising:

an elongate panel having a first foldline centrally disposed therein to form first and second panels, said first panel including a depression formed on one surface which is arranged to be aligned with a hinged portion located on said second panel and outlined by a line of weakness therein. Further features, objects and advantages of the pres invention will be evident from the following detailed description of preferred embodiments, given by way of example only, as are illustrated in the appended drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a plan view of a cosmetic dispenser.

Figure 2 is an exploded sectional view taken on line 2-2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a sectional view of an alternative cosme dispenser.

Figure 4 is a plan view of a portion of the alternati cosmetic dispenser illustrated in Figure 3.

Referring now to Figures 1 and 2, there is provided a dispenser 10 having a base layer 12 formed from a cardboard material. An upper layer 13 formed from a paper material is bonded to the base layer 12 by way of an adhesive layer 14.

Located in the upper surface of the base layer 12 is a pair of depressions 15a, 15b in which are deposited a layer of cosmeti material identified at 16. The upper layer 13 is also provide with two sets of parallel serrated lines 13a which are dispose transversely across the upper layer 13. The respective ends o each set of serrated lines 13 are joined by respective ones of cut lines 13b and foldlines 13c so as to define a pair of pull-flaps 18a, 18b which remain hingeably connected to the upper layer 13 along foldline 13c. In addition, each of pull-flaps 18a, 18b are aligned with the respective depressions 15a, 15b so as to provide user access to the cosmetic material layer.

By virtue of the materials selected for fabrication and the simplicity in its design the cosmetic dispenser 10 provides an inexpensive means for dispensing cosmetic material. In addition, the dispenser 10 may be sufficiently thin to provide an effective means of distributing free cosmetic samples, for example by being inserted easily amongst the pages of a magazine or by being individually mailed.

The dispenser 10 may be easily fabricated by forming the base layer 12 with each of the depressions 15 and the upper layer 13 with the corresponding pull-tabs 18a, 18b as above described. This is followed by depositing a cosmetic material in the depression 15 and applying the adhesive layer 14 on the upper surface of the base layer adjacent the depressions 15. The upper layer 13 may then be placed on the adhesive layer 17 with each of the pull-taps 18a, 18b aligned with the respective depressions 14a, 14b.

Figures 3 and 4 illustrate an alternative dispenser 20 which in this case is formed from a single blank 22 having a pair of parallel foldlines 22a, 22b defining three adjacent foldably connected panels 24, 26 and 28.

Panel 26 serves as a base panel and has three adjace depressions 26a, 26b, and 26c formed in the upper surface thereof in the same manner as above described. Panel 24 functions as a central panel which is hingeably connected to base panel 26 along foldline 22a, and is also bonded thereto way of an adhesive layer 30. The central panel 24 is also provided with three sets of serrated lines 24a, outlines 24b a foldlines 24c, which combine to form pull-flaps 32a, 32b and 32c, which in turn are aligned with the respective depressions 26a, 26b and 26c.

Panel 28 serves as a cover flap which is hinged to th base panel 24 along foldline 22b to conceal the pull-flaps 32.

Dispenser 20 may be easily fabricated by following several basic steps, the first of which involves forming the blank 22 with each of the foldlines 22a, 22b, to form central panel 24, base panel 26 and upper panel 28. Next, the depressions 26a, 26b and 26c are centrally located in the base panel 26, with the pull-flaps 32a, 32b and 32c being formed in central panel 24 for alignment with the respective depressions 26a, 26b and 26c. In addition, the exposed surfaces of the panels 24, 26 and 28 in blank 22 may be printed with decorative indicia in appropriate locations, so as to present the brand of the particular cosmetic material to be dispensed. The cosmetic material is then deposited in each of the depressions 26a, 26b and 26c, which is in turn followed by the application of the adhesive layer 30 on the upper surface of the base panel 26 adjacent the depressions 26a, 26b and 26c. The central panel 24 is then folded about foldline 22a and brought in contact with the adhesive layer 30, with the pull-flaps 32a, 32b and 32c aligned with the respective depressions 26a, 26b, 26c respectively. The cover flap 23 may then be folded against the central panel 26 to complete the dispenser 20.

A number of alternatives are contemplated for the dispensers 10 and 20. Firstly, the depth of the depression may be varied depending on any restrictions, for example for insertion in magazines. The resulting reduction in the quantity of cosmetic material provided by each dispenser may be easily compensated by increasing the width of each depression. Moreover, the cosmetic material may be simply deposited in sectors defined on the upper surface of the base layer, in lieu of the depression, should only a little amount of cosmetic material be required for successful sampling.

The above-mentioned dispensers are also appropriate for cosmetic material in a number of consistencies, including a slurry or a powder. In addition, various sheet materials may used for fabrication of the dispenser, for example metallic a plastic materials. It should however be noted that the mater should be selected to provide inexpensive manufacture, while the same time being suitable for consumer use.

Further alternatives available to the above-mentione dispensers involve the shape of the pull-flaps, which may be o a number of desired shapes, including triangular and circular. In addition, the number of depressions may be provided in the dispenser may be varied depending of course on the samples bei distributed at any one time.

Moreover, the use of depressions on the base layer ma be omitted entirely, by depositing the cosmetic material in selected zones thereon. In this case, an additional panel may also be provided which has apertures therein corresponding to the apertures in the upper layer. When adjacent che base laye this additional layer would thus define cavities to receive th cosmetic material.

Thus, the present invention provides an inexpensive dispenser which is particularly suited to high volume distribution of new product samples. As well the present invention also provides a dispenser which can accommodate a number of size restrictions, depending on the particular mode distribution. It is to be noted that the present invention is not only restricted to cosmetic material but may be applied to the dispensation of any material including food material.

Claims

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1) A particulate material dispensing apparatus comprisi a first substrate, a second substrate bonded to one surface of said first substrate, said particulate material being disposed between said substrates, and access means provided on said second substrate to access said particulate material for withdrawal thereof from said apparatus.

2) An apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said acces means is defined by a covering element, of which at least a portion thereof is removable from said second substrate to yie an aperture which is disposed adjacent said particulate materi

3) An apparatus as defined in claim 2 wherein said cover element is integral with said second substrate.

4) An apparatus as defined in claim 3 wherein said cover element is defined by a line of weakness formed in said second substrate.

5) An apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said one surface of said first substrate is provided with a depression t receive said particulate material.

6) An apparatus as defined in claim 5 wherein said second substrate has an aperture formed therein and aligned with said depression. 7) An apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said particulate material is of a facial cosmetic nature.

8) An apparatus as defined in claim 1 further including a cover panel hingeably connected to one of said first and second suDstrates to conceal said access means.

9) An apparatus as defined in claim 8 wherein at least one of the exposed surfaces of said cover panel said first and second substrates has decorative indicia printed thereon.

10) An apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said first and second substrates are formed from a cardboard material.

11) An apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said first substrate is formed from a cardboard material and said second substrate is formed from a paper material.

12) An apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said first and second substrates are formed from a paper material.

13) A method of forming a particulate material dispensing device comprising the steps of:

depositing said particulate material on a first substrate,

14) A method as defined in claim 13, further comprising the step of forming a hinged coupling between said first and second substrates, said second substrate being folded over on to said first substrate to cover said particulate material.

15) A method as defined in claim 14 further comprising the step of forming said aperture in said second substrate by establishing a line of weakness thereon, said line of weakness defining said hinged portion.

16) A olank used for fabricating a particulate material dispensing apparatus comprising:

an elongate panel having a first foldline centrally disposed therein to form first and second panels, said first panel including a depression formed on one surface which is arranged to be aligned with a hinged portion located on said second panel and outlined by a line of weakness therein.

17) A blank as defined in claim 16 further comprising a second foldline substantially parallel to and spaced from said first foldline to define a third panel, said third panel defining a cover panel to conceal said second panel.