PEDICURE KIT PACKAGE SYSTEM

Abstract

Embodiments of the present invention relate to a disposable single-use pedicure kit and packaging solution for manicure and pedicure kits, or other multi-step beauty treatments. The kit includes an exterior package, where at least a portion of the exterior package is transparent, a bath bomb and a cup including a predetermined quantity of a beauty product between 10 grams and 100 grams, and a non-re-sealable closure seal that seals the predetermined quantity of the beauty product in the cup, and where the bath bomb and the cup are contained in the exterior package and where at least a portion of the bath bomb and at least a portion of the non-re-sealable closure seal of the cup is visible through the transparent portion of the exterior package.

Claims

1. A disposable single-use pedicure kit comprising: an exterior package, wherein at least a portion of the exterior package is transparent; a bath bomb; and a cup comprising: a cup containing a predetermined quantity of a beauty product, wherein the predetermined quantity is between 10 grams and 100 grams; and a non-re-sealable closure seal that seals the predetermined quantity of the beauty product in the cup; wherein the bath bomb and the cup are contained in the exterior package; and wherein at least a portion of the bath bomb and at least a portion of the non-re-sealable closure seal of the cup is visible through the transparent portion of the exterior package.

2. The disposable single-use pedicure kit of claim 1 further comprising a plurality of cups comprising: a first cup containing a predetermined quantity of water-soluble scrub; a second cup containing a predetermined quantity of mask; and a third cup containing a predetermined quantity of lotion.

3. The disposable single-use pedicure kit of claim 1 wherein the predetermined quantity of the beauty product in the cup is approximately 20 grams.

4. The disposable single-use pedicure kit of claim 1 wherein the bath bomb further comprises a preformed solid composition comprising a mixture of a powered base, a powdered acid and a powdered binder.

5. The disposable single-use pedicure kit of claim 4 wherein the preformed solid composition is formed in a sculptural shape.

6. The disposable single-use pedicure kit of claim 5 wherein the bath bomb is scented and the sculptural shape is indicative of the scent.

7. The disposable single-use pedicure kit of claim 1 further comprising a plurality of cups that all have the same interior volume.

8. The disposable single-use pedicure kit of claim 1 wherein the majority of the exterior package is transparent.

9. The disposable single-use pedicure kit of claim 1 wherein the cup has an inverted frusto-conical shape.

10. The disposable single-use pedicure kit of claim 1 wherein the cup has a cylindrical shape.

11. The disposable single-use pedicure kit of claim 1 wherein the cup is generally square in horizontal cross section.

12. The disposable single-use pedicure kit of claim 1 wherein the cup is generally rectangular in horizontal cross section.

13. The disposable single-use pedicure kit of claim 1 wherein cup is generally trapezoidal in horizontal cross section.

14. The disposable single-use pedicure kit of claim 1 further comprising: a tray comprising: a horizontal supporting surface; a plurality of vertical supporting surfaces; an aperture in the horizontal supporting surface, wherein the diameter of the aperture is large enough to accommodate the cup; and wherein the cup is positioned in the aperture.

15. The disposable single-use pedicure kit of claim 14 wherein the tray is removable from the exterior package.

16. The disposable single use pedicure kit of claim 15 wherein the tray is approximately two-and-one half inches wide, one-half inch deep and six-and-three-quarters of an inch tall.

17. The disposable single-use pedicure kit of claim 1 wherein the nonresealable seal of the cup further comprises adhered layers of aluminum foil, Polyethylene terephthalate (PET), and Polypropylene (PP).

18. The disposable single use-pedicure kit of claim 1 wherein the cup comprises PP.

19. The disposable single-use pedicure kit of claim 1 wherein the exterior package comprises PET.

20. The disposable single-use pedicure kit of claim 1 wherein the exterior package comprises a package that is between one-half and three inches deep, between one and four inches wide, and between six and fourteen inches tall.

21. The disposable single-use pedicure kit of claim 20 wherein the exterior package comprises a package that is generally one inch deep, two-and-a-half inches wide, and approximately nine inches tall.

22. The disposable single use pedicure kit of claim 1 wherein the bath bomb comprises a bath bomb that is 55 mm53 mm22 mm at the widest, tallest, and deepest points along each axis respectively.

23. The disposable single use pedicure kit of claim 1 further comprising: wherein the non-re-sealable seal further comprises: printed information visible on the top of the seal; and a tab protecting outwardly from a top edge of the cup, wherein the tab comprises a first edge and a second edge; a tray comprising: a horizontal supporting surface; a plurality of vertical supporting surfaces; an aperture in the horizontal supporting surface, wherein the diameter of the aperture is large enough to accommodate the cup; wherein the cup is positioned in the aperture, with the tab oriented such that, if the cup is rotated in a first direction during transport and handling, the respective first edge will contact the inside of the exterior package and thereby generally prevent further rotation in a first direction, and further such that, if the cup is rotated in a second direction during transport and handling, the respective second edge will contact either the inside of the exterior package or a second adjacent cup and thereby generally prevent further rotation in a second direction, whereby the printed information on the cup will be maintained in an orientation that is readable through the transparent portion of the exterior package.

24. The disposable single use pedicure kit of claim 1 wherein the interior volume of the cup is between about 0.5 and 5 fluid ounces.

25. The disposable single use pedicure kit of claim 1 wherein the interior volume of the cup is about 1.3 fluid ounces.

26. The disposable single use pedicure kit of claim 1 further comprising: a bath bomb enclosure area defined by a first edge of the tray, a first interior side of the exterior package, a second interior side of the package, a front interior side of the exterior package, and a back interior side of the exterior package; wherein the bath bomb further comprises a first side of predominant visual interest; and wherein the bath bomb is positioned in the bath bomb enclosure area, such that the bath bomb enclosure area contains and orients the bath bomb such that at least a portion of the first side of predominant visual interest is visible through the transparent portion of the exterior package, and further such that the bath bomb cannot shift during shipping and handling so that the first side of predominant visual interest is no longer visible through the transparent portion of the exterior package.

27. A disposable single-use pedicure kit comprising: an exterior package, wherein at least a portion of the exterior package is transparent; a bath bomb; and a plurality of cups, each cup comprising: a cup containing a predetermined quantity of a beauty product, wherein the predetermined quantity is between 10 grams and 50 grams; and a non-re-sealable closure seal that seals the predetermined quantity of the beauty product in the cup comprising: printed information visible on the top of the seal; and a tab protecting outwardly from a top edge of the cup, wherein the tab comprises a first edge and a second edge; a tray positioned inside the exterior package, the tray comprising: a horizontal supporting surface; a plurality of vertical supporting surfaces; an plurality of apertures in the horizontal supporting surface greater than or equal in number to the number of cups in the plurality of cups, wherein the diameter of each of the plurality of apertures is large enough to accommodate one of the plurality of cups; wherein each of the plurality of cups is positioned in each of the plurality of apertures in the tray; wherein at least the printed information on the non-re-sealable closure seal of the cup is visible through the transparent portion of the exterior package; wherein, such that for each cup, the tab oriented such that, if the cup is rotated in a first direction during transport and handling, the respective first edge will contact the inside of the exterior package and thereby generally prevent further rotation in a first direction, and further such that, if the cup is rotated in a second direction during transport and handling, the respective second edge will contact either the inside of the exterior package or an second adjacent cup of the plurality of cups, and thereby generally prevent further rotation in a second direction, whereby the printed information on the cup will be maintained in an orientation that is readable through the transparent portion of the exterior package; a bath bomb enclosure area defined by a first edge of the tray, a first interior side of the exterior package, a second interior side of the package, a front interior side of the exterior package, and a back interior side of the exterior package; wherein the bath bomb further comprises a first side of predominant visual interest; and wherein the bath bomb is positioned in the bath bomb enclosure area, such that the bath bomb enclosure area contains and orients the bath bomb such that at least a portion of the first side of predominant visual interest is visible through the transparent portion of the exterior package, and further such that the bath bomb cannot shift during shipping and handling so that the first side of predominant visual interest is no longer visible through the transparent portion of the exterior package.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0044] In the descriptions that follow, like parts or steps are marked throughout the specification and drawings with the same numerals, respectively. The drawing figures are not necessarily drawn to scale and certain figures may be shown in exaggerated or generalized form in the interest of clarity and conciseness. The disclosure itself, however, as well as a preferred mode of use, further objectives and advantages thereof, will be best understood by reference to the following detailed description of illustrative embodiments when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

[0045] FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view of an embodiment of the pedicure kit package system;

[0046] FIG. 2. illustrates a perspective view of the embodiment of FIG. 1, with the beauty product cups, and the pedi-bomb removed for clarity;

[0047] FIG. 3 illustrates a front view of the embodiment of FIG. 1;

[0048] FIG. 4 illustrates a back view of the embodiment of FIG. 1;

[0049] FIG. 5 illustrates a right side view of the embodiment of FIG. 1;

[0050] FIG. 6 illustrates a perspective view of the embodiment of FIG. 1, with the exterior package opened, the pedi-bomb removed, and the tray partially removed from the outer package;

[0051] FIG. 7 illustrates the embodiment of FIG. 6, with the beauty product cups removed for clarity;

[0052] FIG. 8 illustrates a perspective view of an embodiment of a tray for the pedicure kit package system, removed from the exterior package, with the beauty product cups in place;

[0053] FIG. 9 illustrates the tray of FIG. 8, with the beauty product cups removed;

[0054] FIG. 10 illustrates a perspective view of a beauty product cup of the pedicure kit package system;

[0055] FIG. 11 illustrates a top view of a beauty product cup of the pedicure kit package system;

[0056] FIG. 12 illustrates a bottom view of a beauty product cup of the pedicure kit package system;

[0057] FIG. 13 illustrates a perspective view of a manicurist opening a beauty product cup of the pedicure kit package system; and

[0058] FIG. 14 illustrates a cut-line diagram for the exterior package of the embodiment of FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

[0059] The present embodiments disclose and describe a pedicure kit and a packaging solution for a pedicure kit. The embodiments disclosed herein are intended to be instructional and not limiting to the scope of the claims, except where specifically set forth. Moreover, while the description focuses on a pedicure kit, it will be understood that this is non-limiting, and the kit, the packaging solution, could be applicable to manicures, or other beauty treatment products and procedures.

[0060] With respect to FIG. 1, an embodiment of a pedicure kit 10 and packaging is illustrated. The pedicure kit 10 includes an exterior package 12. In some embodiments, either a portion, or all, of the exterior package 12 is transparent, to allow a technician or customer to see the contents of the pedicure kit 10. The exterior package 12 may be made, in whole or in part, of Polyethylene terephthalate (PET). For example, the exterior package 12 may be a folded clear carton, of the type sometimes referred to in the industry as an acetate box. The exterior package 12 may include printing for identification information, ingredients, directions for use, warnings, and corporate branding. One embodiment of such an acetate box with such printing is illustrated as a cut-line drawing (not to scale) in FIG. 14. In other embodiments, the exterior package 12 may be partially made of paperboard or cardboard, with one or more clear plastic windows to allow a technician or customer to see the contents of the pedicure kit 10. In the embodiment illustrated, the exterior package 12 is generally one inch deep 2, two-and-a-half inches wide 4, and approximately nine inches tall 6. Other dimensions may be used, for example, an exterior package that has dimensions ranging between one-half and three inches deep, between one and four inches wide, and between six and fourteen inches tall.

[0061] The pedicure kit 10 also includes a bath bomb 14, sometimes referred to herein as a pedi-bomb. Preferably, the bath bomb 14 is a preformed solid composition comprising a mixture of a powered base, a powdered acid and a powdered binder. For example, without limitation, the powdered base may be sodium bicarbonate (baking soda), the powdered acid may be citric acid, and the powdered binder may be corn starch. This formulation of bath bomb 14, will fizz when immersed in water, thereby releasing its scent and/or essential oils, because the powdered acid, as it dissolves, reacts with the sodium bicarbonate to rapidly release carbon dioxide. It is believed that many customers will enjoy this reaction, and will prefer it to mere bath salts or mechanically-generated bubbles from a spa jet. Moreover, depending on the formulation and size of the bath bomb 14, this fizz can last for several minutes, and be enjoyed by the customer, thus allowing the technician time to engage in other preparations for that same customer or to address issues of other customers. Other formulations of bath bombs may be used. The bath bomb 14 may also include essential oils or perfumes, to provide a pleasing scent when the bath bomb is used in the water of the pedicure basin. The bath bomb 14 may also include Epsom salts, or other nutrients beneficial to skin or for the alleviation of pain and inflammation of the feet. The bath bomb 14 may also include dyes or coloration, to create a visually pleasing appearance in the exterior package, and/or to color the water in the pedicure basin when used.

[0062] The bath bomb 14 illustrated is formed in the shape of a sliced half of an orange, but may be any other form. In some embodiments, the bath bomb 14 is formed in a sculptural shape, such as a fruit, a sea shell, a flower, a candy, an animal, a geometric shape, a letter, a number, or a corporate logo. In the embodiment illustrated, the bath bomb 14 has a first side of predominant visual interest 16, e.g., the cut side of the orange. This first side of predominant visual interest 16 is preferably oriented toward the transparent portion of the exterior package 12, so that first side of predominant visual interest 16 of the bath bomb is visible by the technician or customer when the pedicure kit 10 is shown or displayed for selection by the customer when the customer is deciding what spa services to purchase. In some embodiments, the bath bomb 14 is scented and the sculptural shape is indicative of the scent, for example, the orange bath bomb 14 illustrated has a citrus scent. In further embodiments, the bath bomb 14 is colored and the color is indicative of the scent, for example the orange bath bomb 14 illustrated is colored orange and has a citrus scent.

[0063] In certain embodiments, the bath bomb 14 is 55 mm53 mm22 mm at the widest, tallest, and deepest points along each axis respectively, so that it may fit inside the exterior package 12 as shown, without being displaced or turned during shipment and handling, as discussed further below.

[0064] The pedicure kit 10 also includes one or more skin-care product cups 16, 18, 20. Each skin-care product cup 16, 18, 20, contains a pre-measured amount of a skin-care product 22, as illustrated in FIG. 13. As illustrated, cup 16 contains an exfoliating scrub, such as a sugar scrub or a salt scrub. Preferably, the abrasive in the scrub is water soluble, so that after it is used on a customer, and the technician washes it away into the pedicure basin, the abrasive will dissolve and will not clog the drain of the pedicure basin or the effluent pipes of the spa. Cup 18 contains a healing mask, such as a clay-based mask. Cup 20 contains a moisturizing lotion. These skin-care products may be scented. Preferably, if they are scented, the scent is uniform or coordinating among all of the different skin-care products provided in cups 16, 18, 20, and with respect to the scent of the bath bomb 14. More preferably, the sculptural shape of the bath bomb 14 is indicative of the scent used uniformly throughout the bath bomb 14, and the cups 16, 18, 20, e.g., a citrus scent.

[0065] Each cup 16, 18, 20 is preferably of the same size, same dimensions and same interior volume. However, in certain embodiments in which the amount of pre-measured skin-care product differs from one product to another, differently sized and shaped cups may be used. In the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 10-13, the base 24 of each of the cups 16, 18, 20 have a top diameter 26 of 55 mm, a bottom diameter 28 of 41 mm, and a height 30 of 22 mm, giving an interior volume of 40,092.5 mm.sup.3, which can be converted to approximately 1.356 fluid ounces of interior volume. In certain embodiments, the interior volume of the cups 16, 18, 20, can range between about 0.5 and 5 fluid ounces, and includes every specific value within this range, and every possible sub-range within this range. In the embodiment illustrated, each cup contains about 20 grams of each skin-care product. In other embodiments the amount of skin-care product can range between about 10 grams and about 100 grams, and includes every specific value within this range, and every possible sub-range within this range, depending on the density of the skin-care product and the amount deemed necessary for the anticipated beauty treatment.

[0066] Each cup 16, 18, 20 may be made from any suitable disposable material that will not react with the skin-care product contained therein, will protect the skin-care product therein from exposure to air and light, and which can be sealed closed with a closure 32. In certain embodiments, the cups 16, 18, 20 are made of Polypropylene (PP).

[0067] The cups 16, 18, 20 may be of various shapes, including the inverted frusto-conical shape illustrated and described above, as well as cups that have horizontal cross sections that are, for example, cylindrical, square, rectangular or trapezoidal. When opened, each cup 16, 18, 20 has a relatively wide aperture 34 to provide the technician adequate room to access the skin-care product 22 inside, without squeezing or squirting the skin-care product 22. This relatively wide aperture 34 also allows the technician to access the skin-care product 22 in the cup 16, 18, 20 by using a brush, sponge, pad, or with a gloved finger. Each of the cups 16, 18, 20 preferably has a relatively flat bottom 36. This enables the cup, when opened, to be set aside by the technician, without the cup falling over and oozing or spilling product, as is the case with prior art packet systems. Moreover, the wide aperture 34, in combination with the relatively flat bottom 36, enables the technician to use as much, or as little, of the skin-care product 22 as needed or preferred by the particular customer, and further allows the technician to use the skin-care product 22 in sub-steps, e.g., first on the left leg and then on the right, without emptying the whole cup 16, 18, 20 first, as is often necessary with prior art packet systems, to avoid oozing and spilling.

[0068] Each cup 16, 18, 20 includes a non-re-sealable closure seal 32. The non-re-sealable closure seal 32 may be made from any suitable disposable material that will not react with the skin-care product 22 contained therein, will protect the skin-care product 22 therein from exposure to air and light, and which can be sealed closed at the time of manufacture, and opened by hand-strength when ready for use, as illustrated in FIG. 13. By enabling the non-re-sealable closure seal 32 to be openable by hand-strength peeling off, the possibility of accidently squirting, squeezing or otherwise spilling the skin-care product 22 is significantly reduced. This possibility is further reduced when the non-re-sealable closure seal 32 is removed from the cup 16, 18, 20 when the cup is held on a flat surface, such as a table or workstation. In certain embodiments, the non-re-sealable closure seal 32 is made of a multi-layer film, including layers of aluminum foil, PET and PP. In a preferred embodiment, the non-re-sealable closure seal 32 is printed or marked with printed information 38 indicating the skin-care product contained within (e.g. scrub) and/or the intended order of use for a pedicure (e.g., 1scrub). The printed information 38 may also indicate the scent of the skin-care product inside the cup, or contain corporate logos or other illustrations to enhance the visual appeal of the product, when viewed through the transparent portion of the exterior package 12. The non-re-sealable closure seal 32 may be heat sealed onto the base 24 of the cup 16, 18, 20, or attached with adhesive, or a combination thereof, sufficient to protect the skin-care product 22 therein from exposure to air and light. In some embodiments, the non-re-sealable closure seal 32 is intentionally made so that it is not easily resealed or reclosed. In further embodiments, the non-re-sealable closure seal 32 has tamper-proof indicators, such as color-changing seals. These embodiments serve to ensure the freshness and sanitary nature of the skin-care product 22 inside the cup 16, 18, 20, and can prove reassuring to customers, who see the technician open the non-re-sealable closure seal 32 on each cup 16, 18, 20 immediately prior to use on that customer. In certain embodiments, the non-re-sealable closure seal 32 is 55 mm in diameter. In the embodiment illustrated, the non-re-sealable closure 32 also includes a projecting tab 40 that extends outwardly from the edge of the top of the cup by 7.2 mm, at its furthest point 42 and has a first edge 44 and a second edge 46.

[0069] In some embodiments, the pedicure kit 10 also includes a tray 50. With reference to FIGS. 1-9, the tray 50 is inserted into, and removable from, the exterior package 12. The tray 50 has a horizontal supporting surface 52 and a plurality of vertical supporting surfaces 54. The tray 50 may also have other configurations, such as having posts (not shown) in place of the vertical supporting surfaces 54. The tray 50 can also be integral to the exterior package 12. The tray 50 includes apertures 56 in the horizontal supporting surface 52 that are sized to receive one or more of the cups 16, 18, 20. The tray apertures 56 generally serve to hold the cups 16, 18, 20 in place within the exterior package 12 and to prevent them from being displaced during shipping and handling. In one embodiment, the apertures 56 are sized to engage and support the inverted frusto-conical shape of the cup at approximately the mid-point in the height of the cup. In the embodiment illustrated, the apertures 56 are 48 mm in diameter, but can be other dimensions in order to engage with the cups of any dimension selected. In a preferred embodiment, the tray 50 is transparent to make it visually unobtrusive, so that viewers will focus on the bath bomb 14 and cups 16, 18, 20, not the tray 50. The tray 50 may be made of the same PET material as the exterior package 12, but the tray 50 could also be made from paperboard, cardboard or any other suitable packaging material. In the exemplary embodiment illustrated, the tray is approximately two-and-one half inches wide 60, one-half inch deep 62 and six-and-three-quarters of an inch tall 64. The tray 50 may be removed from the exterior package 12 with the cups 16, 18, 20 in place, and then the tray 50 may be used by the technician to display the cups 16, 18, 20 to the customer prior to use, to hold the cups until use, or to hold the cups during use.

[0070] In certain embodiments, when the tray 50 is used with the inverted frusto-conical shaped cups 16, 18, 20, the cups can still rotate during shipping and handling, thereby making the printed information 38 crooked, upside down, or otherwise difficult to read through the exterior package 12. This issue is addressed by embodiments of the cups 16, 18, 20 that include the non-re-sealable closure 32 that includes a tab 40 with a first edge 44 and a second edge 46, in combination with a properly sized tray 50 and a properly sized exterior package 12. Specifically, as illustrated, when this combination is used, where the cup 16, 18, 20 is positioned in the aperture 56, with the tab 40 oriented such that, if the cup 16, 18, 20 is rotated in a first direction, for example counter-clockwise, during transport and handling, the respective first edge 44 of the tab 40 will contact the inside of the exterior package 12 and thereby generally prevent further rotation in the first direction, and further such that, if the cup 16, 18, 20 is rotated in a second direction, for example clockwise, during transport and handling, the respective second edge 46 will contact either the inside of the exterior package 12 or a second adjacent cup and thereby generally prevent further rotation in the second direction. This combination further serves to hold the cup 16, 18, 20 in an orientation so that the printed information 38 on the cup 16, 18, 20 is readable through the transparent portion of the exterior package 12.

[0071] In certain further embodiments, the tray 50, in combination with a properly sized exterior package 12 and a properly sized and shaped bath bomb 14, serves to hold the bath bomb 14 in place so that the first side of predominant visual interest 16 is visible through the transparent portion of the exterior package 16. Specifically, the tray 50 and the exterior package 12 form a bath bomb enclosure area 70 defined by a first edge of the tray, a first interior side of the exterior package, a second interior side of the package, a front interior side of the exterior package, and a back interior side of the exterior package. When the bath bomb 14 is properly sized, with respect to the dimensions of the bath bomb enclosure area 70, the bath bomb 14 will be held in place so that the first side of predominant visual interest 16 is visible through the transparent portion of the exterior package 12. This is also advantageous, in that, assuming the bath bomb 14 is properly sized, the same template for the exterior package 12 and tray 50 may be used regardless of the sculptural shape of the bath bomb 14, e.g., a custom, form-fit packaging cut-out or area is not necessary for different sculptural shapes.

[0072] Although specific embodiments of the invention have been disclosed, those having ordinary skill in the art will understand that changes can be made to the specific embodiments without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. The scope of the invention is not to be restricted, therefore, to the specific embodiments disclosed.