Dispensing Mechanism for Cosmetic Product Container

Abstract

A system for containing and dispensing a cosmetic substance may include a container with a first end and a second end and a cavity for receiving the cosmetic substance, with a dispensing assembly coupled with the first end of the container, an urging assembly at least partially disposed within the container cavity, and a dose selection assembly that is movably coupled with the second end of the container and the urging assembly. Moving a portion of the dose selection assembly relative to the container causes the urging assembly to advance, which urges a desired quantity of the cosmetic substance from the container cavity to the dispensing assembly. A user may actuate the dispensing assembly to dispense the desired quantity of cosmetic substance.

Claims

1. A system for containing and dispensing a cosmetic substance, the system comprising: a container having a first end and a second end and defining a container cavity adapted to receive a cosmetic substance, a dispensing assembly operably coupled with the first end of the container, the dispensing assembly including an inlet adapted to receive the cosmetic substance and an outlet adapted to dispense the cosmetic substance; an urging assembly at least partially disposed within the container cavity and being operably coupled with the dispensing assembly; and a dose selection assembly being movably coupled with the second end of the container and the urging assembly; wherein moving a portion of the dose selection assembly relative to the container engages and causes the urging assembly to advance, thereby urging a desired quantity of cosmetic substance from the container cavity to the dispensing assembly, and moving a portion of the dispensing assembly causes the desired quantity of cosmetic substance to be dispensed from the outlet.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the urging assembly includes: a rod having a threaded portion and a dose selection coupling portion adapted to operably couple with a portion of the dose selection assembly; and a piston threadably coupled with the threaded portion of the rod; wherein moving a portion of the dose selection assembly causes the rod to rotate, thereby causing the piston to advance to urge the desired quantity of cosmetic substance from the container cavity.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the rod includes a channel and at least one opening, wherein moving a portion of the dose selection assembly causes the piston to urge the desired quantity of cosmetic substance into the at least one opening and through the channel to the inlet in the dispensing assembly.

4. The system of claim 2, wherein the urging assembly further includes an upper flange and a lower flange adapted to limit travel of the piston along the rod.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the dispensing assembly includes: an actuator shell having a cavity, the actuator shell being operably coupled with the first end of the container; and an actuator body at least partially disposed within the cavity of the actuator shell, the actuator body including the inlet and further having a dispensing cavity to receive the desired quantity of cosmetic substance.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the actuator body is movable relative to the actuator shell such that upon the dispensing cavity being filled with the desired quantity of cosmetic substance, the actuator body moves outwardly from the first end of the container to an actuating position engageable by a user.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the dispensing assembly further includes at least one retention member adapted to retain the actuator body in an initial position at or near the first end of the container.

8. The system of claim 5, further includes a resilient member adapted to generate an urging force on the actuator body.

9. The system of claim 5, wherein the dispensing assembly further includes a valve positioned at or near the inlet.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the dose selection assembly includes: an urging shell having a cavity, the urging shell being operably coupled with the second end of the container; and a guide member being at least partially disposed within the cavity of the urging shell and being operably coupled with the urging shell, the guide member including an urging assembly coupling pFortion adapted to operably couple with a portion of the urging assembly.

11. The system of claim 10, further comprising a full dose indicator adapted to generate a tactile feedback upon moving the dose selection assembly to a position corresponding to a maximum dispensable quantity of cosmetic substance.

12. The system of claim 10, wherein the urging assembly coupling portion includes a keyed member.

13. The system of claim 1, further comprising a valve positioned between the urging assembly Fand the dispensing assembly.

14. The system of claim 1, further comprising a dosage lockout mechanism, the dosage lockout mechanism adapted to selectively prevent the urging assembly from advancing to urge a desired quantity of cosmetic substance from the container cavity to the dispensing assembly.

15. A system for containing and dispensing a cosmetic substance, the system comprising: a container having a first end and a second end and defining a container cavity adapted to receive a cosmetic substance, an urging assembly at least partially disposed within the container cavity to urge a desired quantity of cosmetic substance from the container; a dose selection assembly being movably coupled with the second end of the container and the urging assembly; and a dosage lockout mechanism adapted to selectively allow the dose selection assembly to move relative to the urging assembly.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the dosage lockout mechanism comprises a first magnetic member operably coupled with a portion of the urging assembly and a second magnetic member operably coupled with a portion of the dose selection assembly.

17. The system of claim 15, further comprising a dispensing assembly operably coupled with the first end of the container, the dispensing assembly including an outlet adapted to dispense the cosmetic substance from the container.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0012] The above needs are at least partially met through provision of one, more than one, or any combination of the approaches for systems for containing and dispensing a cosmetic product described in the following detailed description, particularly when studied in conjunction with the drawings, wherein:

[0013] FIG. 1 illustrates a side view of an example system for containing and dispensing a cosmetic substance in accordance with various examples;

[0014] FIG. 2 illustrates a side view of the example system of FIG. 1 with an extended dispensing assembly in accordance with various examples;

[0015] FIG. 3 illustrates a side view of the example system of FIGS. 1 and 2 with a dose selection assembly removed from the greater portion of the system in accordance with various examples;

[0016] FIG. 4 illustrates a perspective view of the example system of FIGS. 1 and 2 with a dose selection assembly removed from the greater portion of the system in accordance with various examples;

[0017] FIG. 5 illustrates a front elevation view of the example system of FIGS. 1-4 in accordance with various examples;

[0018] FIG. 6 illustrates an elevation cross-sectional view of the example system of FIG. 5, taken along the line A-A, in accordance with various examples; and

[0019] FIG. 7 illustrates an enlarged cross-sectional view of the dispensing assembly and portions of an urging assembly and the housing of the system of FIG. 6 in accordance with various examples;

[0020] FIG. 8 illustrates the dispensing assembly and other portions of the system shown in FIG. 7 with the dispensing assembly in an extended configuration in accordance with various examples;

[0021] FIGS. 9A and 9B illustrate partially exploded views of a dispensing assembly of an example system for containing and dispensing a cosmetic substance in accordance with various examples;

[0022] FIGS. 10A and 10B illustrate a perspective view and a cross-sectional view, respectively, of an urging assembly of an example system for containing and dispensing a cosmetic substance in accordance with various examples;

[0023] FIG. 11 illustrates a perspective cross-sectional view of a dose selection assembly interfacing with a portion of an urging assembly of an example system for containing and dispensing a cosmetic substance in accordance with various examples;

[0024] FIG. 12 illustrates a partial-sectional view of a dose selection assembly interfacing with a portion of an urging assembly of an example system for containing and dispensing a cosmetic substance in accordance with various examples;

[0025] FIGS. 13A and 13B illustrate an exploded view and a perspective exploded view, respectively, of a dose selection assembly of an example system for containing and dispensing a cosmetic substance in accordance with various examples;

[0026] FIGS. 14A and 14B illustrate an elevation view and a top-down view, respectively, a dose selection assembly of an example system for containing and dispensing a cosmetic substance in accordance with various examples;

[0027] FIG. 15A illustrates a side perspective view of an example system for containing and dispensing a cosmetic substance in accordance with various examples; and

[0028] FIG. 15B illustrates a side perspective view of the example system of FIG. 15A with a dispensing assembly in an extended configuration in accordance with various examples.

[0029] Skilled artisans will appreciate that elements in the figures are illustrated for simplicity and clarity and have not necessarily been drawn to scale. For example, the dimensions and/or relative positioning of some of the elements in the figures may be exaggerated relative to other elements to help to improve understanding of various examples. Also, common but well-understood elements that are useful or necessary in a commercially feasible examples are often not depicted in order to facilitate a less obstructed view of these various examples. It will further be appreciated that certain actions and/or steps may be described or depicted in a particular order of occurrence while those skilled in the art will understand that such specificity with respect to sequence is not actually required. It will also be understood that the terms and expressions used herein have the ordinary technical meaning as is accorded to such terms and expressions by persons skilled in the technical field as set forth above except where different specific meanings have otherwise been set forth herein.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0030] Generally speaking, pursuant to these various approaches, system for containing and dispensing a cosmetic substance is provided that allows a user to precisely dispense predetermined quantity of a cosmetic, a hair care, a body care, and/or a skincare product and allows the product to be stored in a manner which prevents exposure of the product to air. In some examples, the system may include a removable component, such as a dose selection assembly, that prevents unwanted dispensing of the product. The ability of the system to store a product with limited exposure to air, as well as to prevent unwanted dispensing of the product prevents product waste and allows a user to maximize their utilization and benefit from the product.

[0031] Turning to the Figures, a system 100 is provided for containing and dispensing a cosmetic substance 105 (FIG. 6). The system 100 includes a container 101, a dispensing assembly 110, an urging assembly 120, and a dose selection assembly 130. The cosmetic substance 105 may be any type of cosmetic, hair care, body care, and/or skincare product that may be applied to a user. For example, the cosmetic substance 105 may be in the form of a moisturizer or serum. Other examples are possible. In some examples where the cosmetic substance 105 is a cosmetic formula, it may include strong or otherwise aggressive chemicals and/or solvents such as, for example, volatiles.

[0032] The container 101 has a first end 102, a second end 103, and a cavity 104. The cavity 104 is dimensioned to retain, and adapted to receive, the cosmetic substance 105. The container 101 may be constructed from any number of suitable materials which limit the ingress of air such as, for example, a glass, a glazed ceramic, a non-reactive metal (e.g., stainless steel, anodized aluminum), a composite material, a polycarbonate, a multi-layer polymer, and a coated polymer. Other examples are possible. As shown in the Figures, the container 101 may have a cylindrical shape. The container 101, and in turn the system 100, may have any number of suitable shapes including a prism shape, such as a rectangular or triangular prism shape. Other examples of the shape of the system 100 are possible.

[0033] The dispensing assembly 110 connects to the container 101 at the first end 102, and the dose selection assembly 130 connects to the container 101 at the second end 103. The urging assembly 120 connects to both the dispensing assembly 110 and the dose selection assembly 130. The container 101 surrounds a part of the urging assembly 120. When the dispensing assembly 110 is actuated, the cosmetic substance 105 is urged from the cavity 104 through an outlet 115.

[0034] As can be seen in FIGS. 1 and 2, the system 100 has at least two configurations when both the dispensing assembly 110 and the dose selection assembly 130 are connected to the container 101. In FIG. 1, the system 100 is shown with the dispensing assembly 110 in a compacted configuration. FIG. 2 shows the system 100 with the dispensing assembly 110 in an extended configuration. An example of when dispensing assembly 110 is in the compacted configuration includes after dispensing the cosmetic substance 105. When in the extended configuration, the dispensing assembly 110 is in an actuating position, in a state ready to be actuated to provide the cosmetic substance 105 to a user.

[0035] FIGS. 3 and 4 show a configuration of the system 100 in which the dose selection assembly 130 is separated or removed from the second end 103 of the container 101. This configuration may be useful in travel, as it locks the system 100, thereby preventing the cosmetic substance 105 from being dispensed. For example, when the dose selection assembly 130 is removed from the system after it is in the configuration shown in FIG. 1, with the dispensing assembly 110 in a compacted configuration, dispensing of the cosmetic substance 105 from the system 100 is not possible. A user may dispense a desired amount, or dose, of the the cosmetic substance 105 from the system 100 and then remove the dose selection assembly 130 without dispensing extra the cosmetic substance 105. Contrast that with some conventional containers in which the act of locking the dispensing or pumping mechanism may cause dispensing of the cosmetic substance 105. In conventional containers, the state of the dispensing or pumping mechanism may be accidentally changed from the locked state to the unlocked state by rotating the mechanism.

[0036] FIG. 5 is a schematic drawing of the system 100 for containing and dispensing the cosmetic substance 105 in which the container 101 is connected at its first end 102 to the dispensing assembly 110 and at its second end 103 to the dose selection assembly 130. The exterior of the outlet 115 is shown. FIG. 6 is schematic showing a sectional view of the system of FIG. 5 taken along the line A-A. The interior of the system 100 is illustrated in FIG. 6, and the relative positioning of the container 101, the dispensing assembly 110, the urging assembly 120, and the dose selection assembly 130 can be seen.

[0037] In FIG. 6, the dispensing assembly 110 is shown in the compacted configuration. The dispensing assembly 110 is connected to the container 101 at the first end 102 of the container 101. Included in the dispensing assembly 110 are an inlet 111 and an outlet 115. A more detailed view of the dispensing assembly 110 in the compacted configuration is shown in FIG. 7. Referring to FIG. 7, the dispensing assembly 110 includes an actuator shell 112 which surrounds a cavity 113. The actuator shell 112 is connected to the first end 102 of the container 101. The dispensing assembly 110 includes an actuator body 114 that at least partially disposed in the cavity 113 of the actuator shell 112. The inlet 111 and outlet 115 of the dispensing assembly 110 are located in the actuator body 114. A channel in the actuator body 114 fluidly connects the inlet 111 and outlet 115. The inlet 111 is adapted to receive the cosmetic substance and allow it to flow through the channel, and the outlet 115 is adapted to dispense the cosmetic substance that has passed through the dispensing assembly 110. The actuator body 114 includes a dispensing cavity 116 with the inlet 111 at one end, and the actuator body 114 is configured to move relative to the actuator shell 112 as the dispensing cavity 116 fills or is emptied (e.g., when product is dispensed). The actuator body 114 moves outwardly, away from the first end 102 of the container 101 to an actuating position which is engageable by a user when the system 100 is in use. A magnet 118 is connected to the actuator body 114 and interfaces with a metal ring 119 that is stationary and rests on part of the first end 102 of the container 101. The magnet 118 and the metal ring 119 may serve the purposes of ensuring the system 100 stays in the compacted configuration, with the actuator body 114 situated in the cavity 113 and surrounded by the shell 112. Because of the magnet 118 and metal ring 119 may retain the system in the compacted configuration, the combination of the magnet 118 and metal ring 119 may be considered to be a retention mechanism, keeping the actuator body 114 in a position at or near the first end 102 of the container. This position at or near the first end 102 of the container may be considered to be an initial position, or the compacted configuration, and the position with the actuator body in a position that is engageable by a user may be considered to be a second position. The magnet 118 and metal ring 119 may also provide moderate resistance force as the dispensing cavity 116 fills with a dose of product. The method of filling the dispensing cavity 116 will be described in greater detail below.

[0038] The dispensing assembly 110 also includes an actuator plug 117 that is connected to the actuator body 114, a housing plug 109, and a resilient member, or spring, 140. The actuator plug 117, in conjunction with the housing plug 109, surround the spring 140. The housing plug 109 is stationary and affixed to the inside of the container 101, above the cavity 104, at the first end 102 of the container. As the actuator plug 117 is connected to the actuator body 114, the actuator plug 117 moves with the actuator body during the act of dispensing product. The spring 140 may serve the purpose of offering resistance to a user when dispensing product such that product is gradually or slowly dispensed. Additionally, the resilient member, or spring, 140 may be adapted to generate an urging force on the actuator body 114.

[0039] Returning to FIG. 6, the urging assembly 120 is shown connected to the dispensing assembly 110 and the dose selection assembly 130. The urging assembly 120 and the dose selection assembly 130 are movably coupled. The urging assembly 120 includes a rod 121, a threaded portion 122, a dose selection assembly coupling portion 123, a piston 125, a channel 126, openings 127, an upper flange 128, and a lower flange 129. The upper flange 128 and the lower flange 129 are fixedly positioned along the rod 121 of the urging assembly 120. Between the upper flange 128 and the lower flange 129 is the threaded portion 122 of the urging assembly 120. The piston 125 has an inner opening which interacts with the threads of the threaded portion 122 such that rotation of the rod 121 causes the piston 125 to move along the threaded portion. The threaded portion 122 is located in the cavity 104 of the container 101. The upper flange 128 is located in the vicinity of the first end 102 of the container, while the lower flange 129 is in the vicinity of the second end 103. Both the upper flange 128 and lower flange 129 are situated in the cavity 104 of the container 101.

[0040] The dose selection assembly coupling portion 123 is connected to the lower flange 129 and is surrounded by the dose selection assembly 130 when the system 100 is fully assembled, as shown in FIGS. 1, 2, 5, and 6.

[0041] The dose election assembly coupling portion 123 is at one extremity of the urging assembly 120. At the other extremity of the urging assembly 120 is a portion 124 of the rod 121 which is situated, at least partially, within the dispensing cavity 116 in the actuator body 114. This portion 124 of the rod has an exterior that is not threaded and is relatively smooth to facilitate the relative motion of the actuator body 114 along the rod 121. The degree to which the unthreaded or smooth portion 124 is surrounded by the actuator body 114 depends on the dose of product and the configuration of the system (e.g., compacted or extended). The spring 140 also surrounds part of the unthreaded portion 124 of the rod. Regardless of the state of the system 100, whether the system is in the extended or compacted state, the spring 140 surrounds the unthreaded portion 124 of the rod. The end 124a of the unthreaded portion 124 is at one end of the dispensing cavity 116 while the inlet 111 is at the other end of the cavity 116. The distance between the inlet 111 and the end 124a of the unthreaded portion 124 varies with the degree to which the dispensing cavity 116 is filled with cosmetic substance 105.

[0042] The rod 121 has a channel 126 which runs from the end 124a of the unthreaded portion 124 to openings 127 located adjacent to the lower flange 129. The openings 127 are located at the portion of the rod 121 where the threaded portion 122 meets the lower flange, and the openings 127 extend through the wall of the rod 121. The openings 127 connect the cavity 104 to the channel 126, so that cosmetic substance 105 flows from the cavity 104 to the channel 126 and into the dispensing cavity 116.

[0043] When the container 101 is fully loaded with cosmetic substance 105, the piston 125 is adjacent to, and in contact with, the upper flange 128. Use of the system 100 causes the piston 125 to move toward the lower flange 129. Use of the system includes rotating the dose selection assembly 130. Rotation of the dose selection assembly 130 causes rotation of the coupling portion 123 which in turn causes rotation of the threaded portion 122 of the rod. Because of the threads on the exterior of the threaded portion 122 and threads on the inner portion or opening of the piston 125, the piston 125 moves with rotation of the threaded portion 122. As the piston 125 rotates and moves toward the lower flange 129, product is urged toward the lower flange 129 and the openings 127 located adjacent to the lower flange 129. In other words, moving a portion of the dose selection assembly 130 relative to the container 101 engages the urging assembly 120 causing the piston 125, which is threadably coupled to the threaded portion 122 of the rod, to advance toward the lower flange 129 and causing a desired quantity of cosmetic substance to be dispensed from the outlet 115. FIG. 7 shows the relative motion of components: the rotation 151 of the threaded portion 122, the downward motion 152 of the piston 125, and the extension 153 of the actuator body 114. As shown in FIG. 8, extension 153 of the actuator body 114 is caused in part by the filling of the dispensing cavity 116 with a dose 155 of cosmetic substance 105 that flows from the cavity 104, through the channel 126, into the cavity 116. Part of the flow path of product 154 is shown in FIG. 8. Urging by the spring 140 once the force between the magnet 118 and the metal ring 119 is overcome may also contribute to the extension 153 of the actuator body.

[0044] FIGS. 9A and 9B are partially exploded views of the components of the dispensing assembly 110. These figures show alternate views of the relative positioning of the components which include the actuator body 114, the magnet 118, the metal ring 119, the actuator shell 112, the spring 140, the actuator plug 117, and the housing plug 109.

[0045] FIGS. 10A and 10B show the urging assembly 120 in a perspective view and a sectional view taken along the line B-B. In these figures, the rod 121 is shown with the threaded portion 122 and unthreaded portion 124 as well as the dose selection assembly coupling portion 123. The upper flange 128 and lower flange 129 are shown flanking the threaded portion 122. Openings 127 are shown adjacent to the lower flange 129; the opening 127 visible in FIG. 10A is distinct from the opening seen in FIG. 10B. In FIGS. 10A and 10B, the piston 125 is shown near the upper flange 128. This position of the piston 125 is the upper limit of its travel, such as when the cavity 104 would be completely filled with product. At the end 124a of the unthreaded portion 124, a valve 180 can be seen. This valve 180 is a one-way valve that allows product to flow only from the channel 126 to the dispensing cavity 116. The valve 180 may be any suitable valve that restricts flow to one direction, such as a check valve, a duck bill valve, a flexible polymer valve, a silicone valve, a liquid silicone valve, a rubber check valve, a rubber one way valve, a rubber non-return valve, and the like. Other types of valves may be used in some examples.

[0046] FIGS. 11 and 12 offer a closer view of the dose selection assembly 130 and the how the assembly 130 interfaces with the urging assembly 120. FIGS. 13A and 13B provide exploded views of the dose selection assembly 130, with FIG. 13B being viewed from a top perspective angle. FIGS. 14A and 14B show the assembled dose selection assembly 130 from a side elevation and from a top-down view.

[0047] The dose selection assembly 130 is movably coupled to the second end 103 of the container 101 as well as to the urging assembly 120 via the dose selection assembly coupling portion 123. The dose selection assembly 130 includes an urging shell 131 with a cavity 132 (shown in FIGS. 13A and 13B), a guide 133 (e.g., a guide member) that is operably connected to the urging shell 131, an urging assembly coupling portion 134, a base magnet 135, a body magnet 136, a base insert 137 with an insert cavity 138, and a container plug 139.

[0048] The base insert 137, as shown in FIGS. 11-14B, has a circular base and a wall extending from the circumference of its base forming an insert cavity 138. The base insert 137 is situated adjacent to the urging shell 131 and is shaped to receive the guide 133 within the insert cavity 138. The fit between the urging shell 131 and the base insert 137 may be a press fit, friction fit, or an interference fit that may be achieved by the relative sizes of the urging shell 131 and the base insert 137 and may be enhance by surface characteristics or features on either or both of the components. Texture of the inner portion of the wall of the base insert 137 may complement texture on the guide 133 to provide sufficient interference or friction between the base insert 137 and guide 133 so that rotation of the base insert 137 about an axis causes rotation of the guide 133.

[0049] In use, rotation of the base insert 137 could be caused by rotation of the urging shell 131. The rotation of these components, the urging shell 131, base insert 137, and the guide 133, amounts to rotation of the dose selection assembly 130. The axis about which the dose selection assembly 130 rotates is an axis through the center of the rod 121 of the urging assembly 120. The channel 126 of the urging assembly 120 could also be considered to be the axis about which the dose selection assembly 130 rotates when the system is used to dispense cosmetic substance 105.

[0050] The guide 133 has an upper part, an urging assembly coupling portion 134, that couples with the urging assembly 120 via the dose selection assembly coupling portion 123. The base magnet 135 and body magnet 136 aid in maintaining a connection between the second end 103 of the container and the dose selection assembly 130. The body magnet 136 is held in place by the container plug 139. Though the container plug 139 is part of the dose selection assembly 130, it does not rotate and is in contact with an inner portion of the second end 103 of the container 101. When the system 100 is fully assembled, the container plug 139 is partially retained in the container 101 at the container's second end 103, and it is also partially enclosed in the urging shell 131. In addition to having a shape which accommodates the body magnet 136, the container plug 139 also has a central opening which is shaped to accept the extremity of the urging assembly 120 that is the dose selection assembly coupling portion 123. There is a cavity in the container plug 139 which is sized to accept the body magnet 136 and the upper portion 134 of the guide 133, the urging assembly coupling portion 134. The example system illustrated in the Figures show that the container plug 139 surrounds the body magnet 136, which in turn surrounds the area where the dose selection assembly coupling portion 123 and urging assembly coupling portion 134 join.

[0051] In use, to dispense a dose of cosmetic substance 105 from the system 100, a user will turn the dose selection assembly 130 in a first direction 160. In some systems, the dose selection assembly 130 can only be rotated in one direction; the assembly is incapable of rotation in more than one direction. In such systems, there may be at least one physical feature 137A on the lower flange 129 that corresponds to one or more features 137B on the container plug 139 that prevents rotation of the dose selection assembly 130 in more than one direction. These features 137A, 137B may also give the user feedback regarding the degree of rotation of the dose selection assembly 130. For example, when the system 100 has only one set of features 137A, 137B, a complete rotation 360 can cause the system to audibly click and perhaps offer some sensation to the user as they turn the assembly 130. In a system 100 with more than one set of features 137A, 137B evenly spaced around the circumference of the lower flange 129, as well as that of the container plug 139, the system 100 can click or produce a tactile sensation with each fractional turn. Each click or tactile sensation may signal to a user a dose of product has been urged from the cavity 104 of the container to the dispensing cavity 116. The set of features 137A, 137B may be considered to be a full dose indicator which may generate a tactile feedback upon moving the dose selection assembly 130 to a position corresponding to a maximum dispensable quantity of the cosmetic substance. With each click or tactile sensation, or shortly thereafter, the rod 121 of the urging assembly 120 rotates in a direction 161 that corresponds to the rotation in a first direction 160 of the dose selection assembly 130, which in turn causes the piston 125 to move in a direction 162 toward the lower flange. While the piston moves in a direction 162 toward the lower flange, the actuator body 114 of the dispensing assembly 110 will move away from the first end 102 of the container 101 until the system 100 is in the extended configuration.

[0052] The body magnet 136 and base magnet 135 may work together to selectively allow the dose selection assembly 130 to move relative to the urging assembly 120. The base magnet 135 is operably connected with the urging assembly 120, since rotation of the guide 133 in which the base magnet 135 is seated also rotates the dose selection assembly coupling portion 123 and in turn the urging assembly 120. The body magnet 136 is surrounded by the container plug 139, which is part of the dose selection assembly 130, and so the body magnet 136 is operably connected to a portion of the dose selection assembly 130. The motion of the base magnet 135 relative to the body magnet 136, and correspondingly the motion of the dose selection assembly 130 relative to the urging assembly 120, may selectively be inhibited or permitted by variations in characteristics of either magnet, such as the shape, strength, or positioning (e.g., with its magnetic pole skewed from the axis of rotation). These variations in characteristics of either of the magnets 135, 136 may be indexed to the feature(s) 137A on the lower flange 129 and/or the corresponding features 137B on the container plug 139, so that at each dose, there is a change in the permitted relative motion of the urging assembly 120 and the dose selection assembly 130.

[0053] As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the system 100 can be separated into the dose selection assembly 130 and an assembly that includes the container 101 and the dispensing assembly 110. The urging assembly coupling portion 134 of the dose selection assembly 130 may include an indentation, cavity, or other type of feature 165 that mates with the dose selection assembly coupling portion 123 of the urging assembly 120 such that there is a singular way to fit together the dose selection assembly with the balance of the system (i.e., the assembly that includes the container 101 and the dispensing assembly 110). This feature 165 may be considered to be a keyed feature, in that it prevents the intended or normal use of the system 100 in the absence of the dose selection assembly 130.

[0054] Systems for containing and dispensing a cosmetic substance may include examples such as those shown in FIGS. 1-14B. FIGS. 15A and 15B show an alternate configuration of a system 200 for containing and dispensing a cosmetic substance. The alternate system 200 shown in FIGS. 15A and 15B includes a cover 270 and an urging shell 231. The cover 270 fits over a dispensing assembly 210 and a container 201. The urging shell 231 is the outermost component in a dose selection assembly. The dispensing assembly 210, container 201, and dose selection assembly are similar in component type and function to those of the system 100 shown in FIGS. 1-14B. The main difference between the system 200 shown in FIGS. 15A and 15B and the previous system 100 is that the urging shell 231 is sized to have an outer diameter greater than that of the container 201, and the urging shell 231 may have a feature 271 that receives a portion of the cover 270 in an interference or friction fit so that during travel, product leakage may be minimized.

[0055] Alternatively, the urging shell 231 may be a component which may be separated from the container 201 and so with the cover 270 completely encapsulates the container 201 and dispensing assembly 210 then the dispensing assembly is in a compact configuration. In such an alternate configuration, the urging shell 231 may include a keyed component on a surface that interfaces with the container 201 such that when the urging shell 231 rotates, product is moved from a cavity in the container 201 to the dispensing assembly 210.

[0056] In the foregoing specification, specific embodiments have been described. However, one of ordinary skill in the art appreciates that various modifications and changes can be made without departing from the scope of the invention as set forth in the claims below. Accordingly, the specification and figures are to be regarded in an illustrative rather than a restrictive sense, and all such modifications are intended to be included within the scope of present teachings. Additionally, the described embodiments/examples/implementations should not be interpreted as mutually exclusive, and should instead be understood as potentially combinable if such combinations are permissive in any way. In other words, any feature disclosed in any of the aforementioned embodiments/examples/implementations may be included in any of the other aforementioned embodiments/examples/implementations.

[0057] The benefits, advantages, solutions to problems, and any element(s) that may cause any benefit, advantage, or solution to occur or become more pronounced are not to be construed as a critical, required, or essential features or elements of any or all the claims. The claimed invention is defined solely by the appended claims including any amendments made during the pendency of this application and all equivalents of those claims as issued.

[0058] Moreover in this document, relational terms such as first and second, top and bottom, and the like may be used solely to distinguish one entity or action from another entity or action without necessarily requiring or implying any actual such relationship or order between such entities or actions. The terms comprises, comprising, has, having, includes, including, contains, containing or any other variation thereof, are intended to cover a non-exclusive inclusion, such that a process, method, article, or apparatus that comprises, has, includes, contains a list of elements does not include only those elements but may include other elements not expressly listed or inherent to such process, method, article, or apparatus. An element proceeded by comprises . . . a, has . . . a, includes . . . a, contains . . . a does not, without more constraints, preclude the existence of additional identical elements in the process, method, article, or apparatus that comprises, has, includes, contains the element. The terms a and an are defined as one or more unless explicitly stated otherwise herein. The terms substantially, essentially, approximately, about or any other version thereof, are defined as being close to as understood by one of ordinary skill in the art, and in one non-limiting embodiment the term is defined to be within 10%, in another embodiment within 5%, in another embodiment within 1% and in another embodiment within 0.5%. The term coupled as used herein is defined as connected, although not necessarily directly and not necessarily mechanically. A device or structure that is configured in a certain way is configured in at least that way, but may also be configured in ways that are not listed.

[0059] The Abstract of the Disclosure is provided to allow the reader to quickly ascertain the nature of the technical disclosure. It is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims. In addition, in the foregoing Detailed Description, it can be seen that various features are grouped together in various embodiments for the purpose of streamlining the disclosure. This method of disclosure is not to be interpreted as reflecting an intention that the claimed embodiments require more features than are expressly recited in each claim. Rather, as the following claims reflect, inventive subject matter may lie in less than all features of a single disclosed embodiment. Thus, the following claims are hereby incorporated into the Detailed Description, with each claim standing on its own as a separately claimed subject matter.

[0060] The patent claims at the end of this patent application are not intended to be construed under 35 U.S.C. 112(f) unless traditional means-plus-function language is expressly recited, such as means for or step for language being explicitly recited in the claim(s).