ATTACHMENT CLIP FOR THREADED CONTAINER

Abstract

An annular attachment device is provided that is adapted to engage the threads of a threaded container and provide a connection point for the threaded container. In such an arrangement, the threads of a container may be placed through a center aperture in the attachment device. By threading a lid onto the container, the annular attachment device may be trapped between the container and its lid. An aperture or hook on an outer surface of the annular attachment device allows the device and a supported container to be tethered to a desired location.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE

The present application claims the benefit of the filing date of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/312,882 entitled “Attachment Clip for Threaded Container” and having a filing date of Mar. 11, 2010, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

FIELD OF INVENTION

This disclosure relates generally to containers for consumer products as lip balm, lip gloss and/or lipstick. More particularly, the disclosure is directed to an attachment device that allows a consumer to tether a consumer product container to a desired location.

BACKGROUND

Containers that store various consumer products such as, for example, makeup/blushes, lip balms, lip-glosses lipsticks etc, employ a wide variety of designs. Many such containers have a lid that screws onto threads of a recessed cup, which holds the consumer product (i.e., threaded containers). When threaded onto the cup, the lid covers the opening of the cup and maintains the contents therein. When removed, a consumer may access the product in the container using, for example, their finger or an applicator brush. Typically, consumers maintain such containers within a purse, bag or back pack. Due to the small size of many of these containers, the products may be difficult to find when desired. That is, such small product containers easily become misplaced with other loose contents of a purse or bag.

SUMMARY

It is an object of the invention to provide a means engaging a threaded container such that the container may be affixed to a desired location or object.

According to a first aspect, a consumer product package is provided that allows for the fixing or tethering the product package to a desired location or object. In this aspect, a container is provided having a recessed cup with an outside threaded rim and a lid with an inside threaded rim. The threads of the lid are adapted to engage the threads of the recessed cup in order to open and close the container. Disposed between the lid and recessed cup about the outside threaded rim of the recessed cup is an attachment ring. This attachment ring includes an annular member having an internal diameter that is sized to fit over/around or be threaded onto the outside threaded rim of the recessed cup. This attachment ring has at least one protrusion that extends beyond the outside periphery of the container when the lid is threaded onto the cup and includes a hook or aperture that allows for affixing the container to a desired location. Such an arrangement is a particular value for small consumer product packages such as, without limitation, lipstick, lip gloss, and or other balms.

Generally, the annular member has an inside edge that defines the internal diameter that is sized to be disposed over the threaded rim of the cup. In addition, the annular member has an outside edge that, in one arrangement, includes an outer rim. Such an outer rim may have a surface that is substantially perpendicular to the annular member. In such an arrangement, the annular member may be a substantially flat member and the rim may be disposed perpendicularly thereto when viewed in cross-section. In one arrangement, the thickness of the annular member is less than about one third of the height of the threads of the outside rim of the cup. In this regard, disposing the annular member between the lid and the container may not prevent the lid from fully engaging with the threads. This also allows such an annular member may be utilized with pre-existing containers. In one arrangement, an outside surface of the outer rim has a rounded surface when viewed in cross-section. In this regard, the rim may provide a smooth interface between the lid and the container that is free of any sharp edges. In embodiments that incorporate the outer rim, the protrusion including the attachment point may extend from an outside surface of the outer rim. In one arrangement, the rim extends around the periphery of annular member and thereby defines a recessed surface into which, for example, the bottom of the lid may be received on a first side and the top of the container may be received on the second side. In this regard, the rim may be sized to cover an interface between the lid and the container.

The lid and container may have any appropriate configuration. However, in one arrangement, the lid and the container each are formed as half hemispherical mating components. Accordingly, when the lid is engaged with the container, the resulting package is a spherical container. In a further arrangement, the inside surface of the lid may include a reflective surface such as a mirror that may be utilized when applying a consumer product, such as lip gloss, held within the container.

According to another aspect, an attachment device is provided for use as a connection point for a threaded container. Generally, the attachment device includes a ring having a substantially flat annular member with an internal diameter that is sized to be disposed around or engaged with the outside threads of a threaded container. The ring further includes at least a first protrusion that extends beyond an outside periphery of the annular member such that the protrusion extends beyond an interface of a container and lid when the lid is secured to the threads of the container. This protrusion includes a connection point such as an aperture or hook that allows the attachment device to be secured to an object. In this arrangement, the attachment device may be removably secured to the threads of an existing container and may be reused when the container is empty.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of a lip threaded container.

FIG. 2 is a view of the container of FIG. 1 when the container is closed.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the lid of the container of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4A is a perspective view of an attachment device for use with a threaded container.

FIG. 4B is a plan view of the attachment device of FIG. 4A.

FIG. 4C is a cross-sectional view of the attachment device of FIG. 4A.

FIGS. 5A-5C illustrate cross-sectional side views of insertion of the attachment device of FIG. 4A into a threaded container.

FIG. 6 illustrates a clip device attached to the attachment device of FIG. 4A.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings, which assist in illustrating the various pertinent features of the packaging design. Although the invention will now be described primarily in conjunction with a lip balm container, it should be expressly understood that aspects of the invention are applicable to other containers. In this regard, the following description is presented for purposes of illustration and description. Furthermore, the description is not intended to limit the invention to the form disclosed herein. Consequently, variations and modifications commensurate with the following teachings, and skill and knowledge of the relevant art, are within the scope of the disclosure.

Referring now to the drawings, wherein like reference numerals designate corresponding structure throughout the views, and referring to FIGS. 1-3, a exemplary container 10 is provided that is constructed to hold a viscous liquid such as lip balm or lip-gloss or any one of a myriad of possible products. As shown, the container 10 is generally spherical having an upper member 12 and a lower member 14 that, when connected, form a spherical body. This spherical body is substantially hollow to provide an interior area for holding a product 20 such as a lip balm or lip-gloss.

As shown, the lower member 14 of the body includes an exterior threaded rim 18. Likewise, the upper member 12 has an interior threaded rim 16. These threaded rims 16, 18 allow the upper member 12 to screw on and off of the lower member 14 to close and open the container 10. When the threaded rims are screwed together (see FIG. 2) the peripheral edges 6, 8 of the upper and lower members abut closing the container 10. In the illustrated embodiment, the upper member/lid 12 further includes a mirror 30 that is disposed within its recessed interior surface. See FIG. 3. This allows a consumer to utilize the mirror to apply the product contained within the container 10.

The present inventors have recognized that containers that hold products such as lip balms, glosses, make-up etc., are frequently small containers that are typically intermingled with the loose contents of a purse or bag. Due to their small size, these containers are often hard to locate among other contents in the purse or bag and are thus often effectively unavailable when desired by a user.

Provided herein is an attachment device 50 that may be utilized with a consumer product container such as, for example, the container of FIGS. 1-3 as well as other threaded containers. The attachment device 50 interconnects to a threaded container such that the container may tethered to another object. For instance, in the case of a small lip-balm container the container may be tethered or clipped to a user's key chain, which they are rarely without. In this regard, the product may be more readily available to such users. Alternatively, the container may be attached to an outside surface of a purse or bag where it is more visible and readily available to the consumer. Attaching such a consumer product to a user's keys or the outside of their purse or bag also allows for potentially increased product usage.

FIGS. 4A-4C illustrate various views of an attachment device 50 that may be utilized with a threaded container to provide an attachment point for that threaded container. As illustrated in FIGS. 1-3, most threaded containers contain no structure that allows the container itself to be tethered to another object. That is, the mating peripheral edges of the lid and container as well as the outside surfaces of the container are typically smooth surfaces free of any attachment points. As shown in FIGS. 4A-4C, the attachment device 50 is formed of an annular ring that is designed for disposition between the upper and lower members 12, 14 of a container. For instance, as illustrated in FIGS. 5A-5C, the attachment device 50 may be disposed between the lid 12 and recessed cup 14 of the container 10.

Referring again to FIGS. 4A-4C, it is noted that the attachment device has a T-shaped cross section where the leg of the T defines an interior annular lip 56 of the attachment device 50. This lip is adapted to be received between the mating peripheral edges of a container and its lid. Accordingly, the inside diameter of this annular lip 56 defines a circular opening that is sized to fit around the threads of a threaded container. In one embodiment, the circular opening is sized to pass over the threads 18 of the lower member. In this embodiment, the lip is maintained between the upper and lower member when the lid/upper member is threaded onto the lower member.

Alternatively, the inside diameter of the annular lip 56 may be sized such that it engages the threads 18 of a threaded container. As shown in FIG. 5B, this allows the attachment device 50 to be threaded onto the threaded rim 18 of the lower member 14 until the bottom surface of the annular lip 56 seats at the bottom of the threads 18 on the peripheral edge 8 of the container. At such time, the upper member 12 may be threaded onto the threads 18 of the lower member 14 until the peripheral edge 6 of the upper member 12 rest on the top surface of the annular lip 56. Again, the attachment device 50 is trapped between the upper and lower members 12, 14.

In the embodiment where the annular lip 56 engages the threads of the container, the attachment device 50 is resistant to accidental removal. That is, removing the lid of such a threaded container will not result in container falling out of the attachment device. It will be appreciated that while securely seating at the bottom of the threads, the ring attachment device 50 may be removed from the container (unthreaded) once the container is empty. In this regard, users may replace the container with additional product or different product based on their product usage.

As shown, the attachment device 50 includes a rim 58 that extends around the outside edge of the annular lip 56. As shown, the lip 56 extends substantially perpendicular from the inside surface of the rim 58. In this regard, the upper and lower portions of the rim 58 in conjunction with the annular lip 56 define upper and lower annular recesses that are sized to receive the peripheral edges 6, 8 of the upper and lower members 12, 14, respectively. See FIG. 5C. When disposed in these annular recesses, the annular rim 58 extends around the interface between the upper and lower members of the threaded container 10. In this regard, the rim 58 hides the seam between these members. In one arrangement, this rim 58 is rounded on its outside surface to provide an aesthetically pleasing interface between the upper and lower members 12, 14. Specifically, the rim 58 is designed to look like a continuous band (e.g., wedding band) extending around the outside surface of such a container. This allows the connector to take on an ornamental or jewelry-like appearance.

In order to permit the container 10 to be attached to a desired location, the ring attachment device 50 further includes an attachment point 60 that is defined by an protrusion 62. See FIGS. 4A and 4B. This protrusion is formed on an outside surface of the rim 58 and includes at least a first aperture 64. This aperture may allow for interconnection of the ring attachment device 50 to any appropriate tethering means.

As illustrated in FIG. 6, the attachment point 60 is interconnected to a clip device 70. Specifically, a ring or ferrule 68 extends through the aperture 64 of the attachment point 62 and through a clevis of the clip device 70 securely fastening the two together. It will be appreciated the clip may be device that is operative to selectively connect the ring attachment device 50 and a supported container 10 to a desired location. In the present non-limiting embodiment, the clip 70 includes a spring-loaded lever 72 that allows for opening an internal aperture 74 defined within an attachment ring 76 of the clip 70. By depressing the lever 72, the ring 76 may be opened and placed around an object (e.g., key ring, purse, bag, etc.), at which time the lever 72 may be released thereby closing the ring 76 about the element disposed within the aperture 74. At such time, the clip 70 and the ring attachment device 50 securely fasten a threaded container such as threaded container 10 to such an element.

The ring may be formed in any of a number of suitable materials. Such materials include, without limitation, metals and plastics. Further, the outside surface of the rim 58 may be decorated in any appropriate manner including, for instance, embossing.

The foregoing description of the packaging design has been presented for purposes of illustration and description. Furthermore, the description is not intended to limit the invention to the form disclosed herein. Consequently, variations and modifications commensurate with the above teachings, and skill and knowledge of the relevant art, are within the scope of the invention. The embodiments described hereinabove are further intended to explain best modes known of practicing the invention and to enable others skilled in the art to utilize the invention in such, or other embodiments and with various modifications required by the particular application(s) or use(s) of the invention.

Claims

1. A consumer product package, comprising:

a recessed container having an outside threaded rim;

a lid having an inside threaded rim, wherein the outside and inside threaded rims are sized for complimentary threaded engagement;

an attachment ring having: an annular member with an internal diameter that is sized to be one of disposed over and engaged with the outside threaded rim of the recessed container, wherein the annular member is disposed between the recessed container and the lid when the lid is in threaded engagement with the container; and at least one protrusion that extends beyond an outside of the container and the lid when the lid is threaded onto the container; and an aperture extending through the protrusion.

2. The package of claim 1, wherein the annular member has an inside edge defining the internal diameter and an outside edge, further comprising:

an outer rim interconnected to the outside edge of the annular member.

3. The package of claim 1, wherein the outer rim has an inside surface that in cross-section is substantially perpendicular to the annular member.

4. The package of claim 3, wherein an outside surface of the outer rim has a rounded surface in cross-section.

5. The package of claim 2, wherein the protrusion extends from an outside surface of the outer rim.

6. The package of claim 2, wherein the annular member comprises a substantially flat disk, wherein the outer rim extends above and below top and bottom surfaces of the flat disk.

7. The package of claim 2, wherein the outer rim covers an interface between the recessed container and the rim when the lid and container are in threaded engagement.

8. The package of claim 1, further comprising:

a clip device attached to the aperture.

9. The package of claim 1, where a thickness of a portion of the annular member disposed between the recessed container and the lid is less than one-third of the height of the threads.

10. The package of claim 1, wherein the recessed container and the lid form a substantially spherical container when the lid is in threaded engagement with the recessed container.

11. The package of claim 10, wherein an inside surface of the lid further comprises:

a reflective surface.

12. The package of claim 1, further comprising:

lip gloss disposed in the recessed container.

13. An attachment device for providing a connection point on the outside surface of a threaded container, comprising:

a ring having: a substantially flat annular member with an internal diameter that is sized to be one of disposed around and engaged with threads of a threaded container; and at least one protrusion that extends beyond an outside periphery of the annular member, wherein the protrusion extends beyond the interface of a container and lid when the lid is secured to the threads of such a container; and an aperture extending through the protrusion.

14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the substantially flat annular ring has an inside edge and an outside edge, further comprising:

an outer rim interconnected to the outside edge of the annular lip.

15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the protrusion extends from the outer rim.

16. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the rim has an inside surface that in cross-section is substantially perpendicular to the annular lip.

17. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein an outside surface of the rim is rounded in cross-section.

18. The apparatus of claim 13, further comprising:

a clip interconnected to the aperture of the protrusion.

19. A method for use with a consumer product container, comprising:

removing a lid from a recessed container to exposed outside threads on a rim of the recessed container;

engaging a substantially flat annular member with the exposed outside threads;

engaging the lid with the exposed outside threads, wherein the flat annular member is trapped between the lid and the recessed container;

tethering a portion of the flat annular member that extends beyond the interface of the lid and recessed container to an object.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein tethering comprises attaching a clip connected to the portion of the flat annular member.