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.

What is claimed is: 
     
         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.