Packaged cosmetic stick product

Abstract

A packaged cosmetic stick product comprising a cosmetic stick composition mounted on an axially immobile retaining member, the retaining member being reversibly connected to a holder enabling the cosmetic stick product to be held in the human hand, wherein the retaining member comprises arcuate bridge structures separated by holes, the bridge structures arcing into the cosmetic stick composition and being embedded therein.

Claims

1. A packaged cosmetic stick product comprising a cosmetic stick composition mounted on a retaining member, the retaining member being reversibly connected to a holder enabling the cosmetic stick product to be held in a human hand, wherein the retaining member is axially immobile relative to the holder and any other associated elements and wherein the retaining member comprises parallel arcuate bridge structures separated by holes, the arcuate bridge structures arcing into the cosmetic stick composition and being embedded therein, characterised in that (i) two of the arcuate bridge structures which are adjacent, curve towards one another at their upper ends in a direction orthogonal to their long axis; or (ii) two of the arcuate bridge structures have on each side two or more parallel bridge structures that do not arc into the cosmetic composition; or (iii) the arcuate bridge structures each have both upper and lower surfaces that are smoothly curved across their full width in a direction orthogonal to their long axis; or by having any combination of features (i) to (iii).

2. A cosmetic stick product according to claim 1, wherein a ratio of a height to a breadth of the cosmetic stick composition is from 1:2 to 3:2.

3. A cosmetic stick product according to claim 1, wherein a ratio of a breadth to a width of the cosmetic stick is from 1:3 to 1:1.

4. A cosmetic stick product according to claim 3, wherein the ratio of the breadth to the width of the cosmetic stick is from 1:2 to 1:1.

5. A cosmetic stick product according to claim 1, wherein the product has an oval or obround cross-section when viewed from above.

6. A cosmetic stick product according to claim 5, wherein the parallel arcuate bridge structures span a long axis of the product.

7. A cosmetic stick product according to claim 1, wherein the arcuate bridge structures have one or more strengthening struts running between them in a direction orthogonal to their long (major) axis.

8. A cosmetic stick product according to claim 7, wherein the strengthening struts and the arcuate bridge structures have upper surfaces that are smoothly curved across their full width in a direction orthogonal to their long axis.

9. A cosmetic stick product according to claim 8, wherein the strengthening struts and the arcuate bridge structures have lower surfaces that are smoothly curved across their full width in a direction orthogonal to their long axis.

10. A cosmetic stick product according to claim 1, wherein two arcuate bridge structures are surrounded on either side by a set of two or more parallel bridge structures that do not arc into the cosmetic composition.

11. A cosmetic stick product according to claim 10, wherein at least one of each set of the parallel bridge structures passes across the full width of the retaining member at a position at which it sits.

12. A cosmetic stick product according to claim 10, wherein the parallel bridge structures have upper surfaces that are smoothly curved across their full width in a direction orthogonal to their long axis.

13. A cosmetic stick product according to claim 12, wherein the parallel bridge structures have lower surfaces that are smoothly curved across their full width in a direction orthogonal to their long axis.

14. A cosmetic stick product according to claim 1, wherein both the arcuate bridge structures and the parallel bridge structures are entirely within the cosmetic stick composition.

15. A cosmetic stick product according to claim 1, wherein the cosmetic stick composition is a deodorant stick composition.

Description

SPECIFIC EMBODIMENTS AND TESTING

(1) FIG. 1 is an isometric view of a retaining member (1) as used in accordance with the present invention.

(2) FIG. 2 is an isometric view of a retaining member as described in prior art publication WO 2020/152223 (Unilever, 2020) and is not described further herein.

(3) FIG. 3 is a perspective view of an alternative retaining member not suitable for use in accordance with the present invention and is not described further herein.

(4) FIG. 4 is a view of the equipment set-up used to perform the Lateral Force Resistance Tests described hereinafter.

(5) FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the retaining member (1) as illustrated in FIG. 1, together with an associated cosmetic stick (20).

(6) FIG. 1 illustrates a retaining member (1) suitable for use in accordance with the present invention.

(7) The retaining member (1) is of oval cross-section and comprises an outer skirt (2) surrounding an inner cavity or holes (3). Spanning the major axis of the retaining member (1) there are two arcuate bridge members (4 and 5) spanning the cavity (3). These arcuate bridge members (4 and 5) are mirror images of one another and curve towards each other at their upper ends (4A and 5A).

(8) On either side the arcuate bridge members (4 and 5), there are sets of two parallel bridge structures comprising inner bridge structures (6 and 7) and outer bridge structures (8 and 9). These bridge structures are parallel to each other and to the arcuate bridge members (4 and 5), They span the inner cavity (3) of the retaining member (1) at the positions at which they sit.

(9) The inner (6 and 7) and outer (8 and 9) parallel bridge structures have upper surfaces that are smoothly curved across their full width in a direction orthogonal to their long axis. They also have lower surfaces (not illustrated in FIG. 1, but see FIG. 5) that are smoothly curved across their full width in a direction orthogonal to their long axis.

(10) The inner (6 and 7) and outer (8 and 9) parallel bridge structures are linear and are not arcuate; hence, they do not penetrate into the stick composition (when present) to same extent as the two arcuate bridge members (4 and 5). Nevertheless, these bridge structures are fully covered by the stick composition when the product is fully assembled (see FIG. 5).

(11) Orthogonal to the arcuate bridge members (4 and 5) and the surrounding parallel bridge members (6, 7, 8 and 9) there are two strengthening struts (10 and 11). These also have upper surfaces (10U and 11U) and lower surface (not illustrated) that are smoothly curved across their full width in a direction orthogonal to their long axis.

(12) The strengthening struts (10 and 11) are linear and are not arcuate; hence, they do not penetrate into the stick composition (when present) to same extent as the two arcuate bridge members (4 and 5). Nevertheless, these bridge structures are fully covered by the stick composition when the product is fully assembled.

(13) On the underside of the retaining member (1) there is a linkage element (12) designed to reversible link with a holder (not illustrated) for the retaining member (1) and its associated stick composition, when present. Features of this type are fully disclosed in the prior art and are not further described herein.

(14) FIG. 4 illustrates the equipment (16) used to perform the lateral force resistance tests described hereinbelow. The Figure shows a stick composition (13) attached to its retention member (1) and held firmly in a horizontal direction by a holding element (15) of the equipment (16). A mechanical force gauge (not illustrated) applies a controlled top load (force) onto the stick (13) until the stick fractures. The force is applied to the stick (13) via a plate (17) angled at 20 to the horizontal which contacts an upper outside edge of the stick (13) and applies downward pressure thereto.

(15) FIG. 5 shows the cross-sectional shape of various elements of the retaining element (1) and also their inter-relationship with an associated cosmetic stick (13).). It can be seen that the arcuate bridge members (4 and 5) curve towards one another at their upper ends in a direction orthogonal to their long axis. It can also be seen that the arcuate bridge members (4 and 5) and the inner (6 and 7) and outer (8 and 9) parallel bridge structures have upper and lower surfaces that are smoothly curved across their full width in a direction orthogonal to their long axis and that these features are fully embedded in the stick composition.

(16) FIG. 5 also shows the linkage element (12) designed to reversible link with a holder (not illustrated). Such features are known in the art and are described in documents such as WO 2020/152223 (Unilever, 2020), for example.

(17) The retaining members illustrated in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 were each tested to assess their ability to resist lateral force applied to a cosmetic stick composition associated with the retaining member. The same cosmetic composition was used for each test: a deodorant stick composition structured with sodium stearate. The compositions were added to the retaining members by pouring molten deodorant composition through the holes in the retaining member and into a polyurethane mould (not illustrated), filling to a level just beyond the bridge structures of the retaining member. The compositions were then allowed to cool and solidify and the moulds were subsequently removed.

(18) Each of the retention members was manufactured in the same manner (3D-printing) and from the same material, an acrylic-based photo-polymer.

(19) The test involved the use of a 100 N mechanical force gauge on a motorised test stand and its use is illustrated in FIG. 4 and described below. The cosmetic stick composition and its associated retaining member were fitted into a holder in accordance with the invention and the holder was firmly clamped such that the stick composition extended horizontally outwards. A plate angled at 20 from the horizontal was advanced from the top into a top side area of the cosmetic composition at a speed of 160 mm/min., as illustrated in FIG. 4.

(20) The force required to shear the cosmetic composition from its retaining member was measured 8 times for each retaining member. This force is herein referred to as the retention force. High retention force indicates a good ability for the retaining member to stay attached the cosmetic composition during conventional use of the product. The results are summarised in Table 1.

(21) TABLE-US-00001 TABLE 1 Retention Force (N) Retaining feature Mean Std. Dev. As in FIG. 1 61.66 1.40 As in FIG. 2 44.84 1.27 As in FIG. 3 53.49 3.84

(22) The retention member as illustrated in FIG. 1 was found to have the highest retention force and the retention member as illustrated in FIG. 2 had the lowest. The retention member as illustrated in FIG. 3 had a higher retention force than that according to FIG. 2 possibly as a result, in part, of the bridge structures present therein having upper and lower surfaces that are smoothly curved across their full width in a direction orthogonal to their long axis.