Container For Consumer Product And Applicator

Abstract

A container for a consumer product and an applicator is disclosed where the container is at least partially constructed of a translucent material and both the consumer product and the applicator are at least partially visible through the translucent material. Also, when the container is displayed at a point of purchase, the applicator is located above the centroid of the consumer product and the applicator covers a portion of the consumer product. The overlap of the applicator and the consumer product is visible through the translucent material.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A container ( 10 ) for a consumer product ( 12 ) and an applicator ( 14 ) wherein the container ( 10 ) is at least partially constructed of a translucent material ( 16 ) and both the consumer product ( 12 ) and the applicator ( 14 ) are at least partially visible through the translucent material ( 16 ) and further, when the container ( 10 ) is displayed at a point of purchase, the applicator ( 14 ) is located above the centroid ( 18 ) of the consumer product ( 12 ) and the applicator ( 14 ) covers a portion of the consumer product ( 12 ), said coverage ( 19 ) being visible through the translucent material ( 16 ). 
     
     
         2 . The container of  claim 1  wherein the consumer product ( 12 ) comprises a topical cosmetic for skin and the applicator ( 14 ) is designed to apply the topical cosmetic to skin. 
     
     
         3 . The container of  claim 1  wherein the container ( 10 ) comprises multiple pieces of material that can be snapped, welded, or glued together to form a single unit. 
     
     
         4 . The container of  claim 1  wherein the container ( 10 ) is a single clamshell with a living hinge. 
     
     
         5 . The container of  claim 3  wherein the container ( 10 ) comprises a first area ( 30 ) for the consumer product ( 12 ) and a second area ( 34 ) for the applicator ( 14 ), wherein the second area ( 34 ) includes a ledge ( 36 ) to prevent the applicator ( 14 ) from substantially dislodging when the container ( 10 ) is manipulated about its horizontal axis (X axis), vertical axis (Y axis) or depth axis (Z axis). 
     
     
         6 . The container of  claim 5  wherein the applicator ( 14 ) has an outer perimeter ( 40 ) and the ledge ( 36 ) of the second area ( 34 ) supports at least a portion of the perimeter ( 40 ) of the applicator ( 14 ). 
     
     
         7 . The container of  claim 6  wherein the ledge ( 36 ) does not provide support to the entire perimeter ( 40 ) of the applicator ( 14 ). 
     
     
         8 . The container of  claim 5  wherein the second area ( 34 ) is between 5 and 100 percent larger than the applicator ( 14 ) and the applicator ( 14 ) is held in place by the shape of the second area ( 34 ) in such a way that the applicator ( 14 ) is allowed to move a limited amount within the second area ( 34 ) when said container ( 10 ) is tilted relative to any of its X, Y or Z axis. 
     
     
         9 . The container of  claim 8  wherein the applicator ( 14 ) may move within the second area ( 34 ) in the X, Y, and Z axis. 
     
     
         10 . The container of  claim 9  wherein the applicator's ( 14 ) movement is more limited in the X axis than it is in the Y and Z axis. 
     
     
         11 . The container of  claim 10  wherein the applicator's ( 14 ) movement is more limited in both the X and Y axis than it is in the Z axis. 
     
     
         12 . The container of  claim 3  wherein the applicator ( 14 ) is visible in a 360 degree range of rotation about its Y axis. 
     
     
         13 . The container of  claim 3  wherein the applicator ( 14 ) is visible in a 315 degree range of rotation about either its X axis or its Z axis. 
     
     
         14 . The container of  claim 3  wherein the applicator ( 14 ) is visible in a 315 degree range of rotation about both its X and Z axis. 
     
     
         15 . The container of  claim 3  wherein the container ( 10 ) is formed from a front half ( 50 ) and a back half ( 60 ), said halves being thermoformed and further, wherein the back half ( 60 ) is flat, which prevents the front half ( 50 ) from fitting into it when two complete packs are tilted away from each other about their Y axis. 
     
     
         16 . The container of  claim 15  wherein the shapes of the front half ( 50 ) and back half ( 60 ) are complimentary, such that they maintain their orientation relative to each other when multiple containers are compressed together from the front and back. 
     
     
         17 . The container of  claim 2  wherein the topical cosmetic for skin has a viscosity in the range of about 1,000 cps to about 1,000,000 cps. 
     
     
         18 . The container of  claim 2  wherein the topical cosmetic for skin is selected from the group consisting of a liquid personal care compositions and creams. 
     
     
         19 . The container of  claim 1  wherein the applicator ( 14 ) is translucent. 
     
     
         20 . The container of  claim 1  wherein the consumer product ( 12 ) does not include a pump.