THERMALLY INSULATED MICRO CONTAINER

Description

REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present patent application is a continuation-in-part (“CIP”) of U.S. application Ser. No. 17/591,086 (filed Feb. 2, 2022), which is based on U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 63/200,306 (filed February 28, 2021), the priority of both of which are hereby incorporated by reference for priority purposes pursuant to Title 35, United States Code, Section 120.

FIELD

The present invention matter is generally directed to a thermally insulated micro container. One version of the present invention is directed, more particularly, to a thermally insulated micro container adapted and configured to contain and thermally insulate lip balm. Another version of the present invention is directed, more particularly, to a thermally insulated micro container adapted and configured to contain and thermally insulate lipstick.

BACKGROUND

U.S. Pat. No. 9,386,838 to Smith discloses a lip balm tube holder constructed and arranged to retain a lip balm tube, for example, vertically. In some embodiments, the lip balm tube holder can be designed to have a body defining an opening sized and arranged to releasably receive a lip balm tube.

U.S. Pat. No. 11,229,273 to Holbert discloses a cap for a tubular lip balm dispenser. The cap includes a base portion and a sidewall portion. The sidewall portion extends perpendicularly from the base portion and defines a recess for receiving a tubular lip balm dispenser. The cap is open at an end portion opposite the base portion. The cap is formed of elastomeric material; and the sidewall, by design, defines an inner sidewall surface removably attachable to the dispenser and configured to resist rotation of a cylindrical lip balm dispenser relative to the cap. The elastomeric material provides a frictional surface between the lip balm dispenser and the cap when the balm dispenser is inserted into the recess and “seated” against the base portion.

Lip balm or lip salve is a wax-like substance applied to the lips to moisturize and relieve chapped or dry lips, angular cheilitis, stomatitis, or cold sores. Lip balm often contains beeswax or carnauba wax, camphor, cetyl alcohol, lanolin, paraffin, and petrolatum, among other ingredients. Varieties contain dyes, flavor, fragrance, phenol, salicylic acid, or sunscreen.

Commercial Production of Lip Balm Includes the Following Stages:

• • Raw materials are analyzed/selected based on quality-control protocol (cosmetic products, for this stage, must comply with safety standards).
  • The ingredients are measured out, melted, and mixed for an amount of time in a proprietary manner (this stage involves special equipment).
  • The resultant mixture is “cured” in a vacuum vessel to remove bubbles.
  • The bubble-removed mixture is processed for 48 hours to crystalize it.
  • Thereafter, the crystalized and bubble-removed mixture is re-melted.
  • The re-melted mixture is cut into pieces which are shaped as required.
  • The cut-and-shaped pieces become lip balm packaged within casings.

People in warm and dry climates may use lip balm to keep their lips moist in warm climate or to keep their lips from chapping in dry climate. Most lip balms “soften” at a temperature of about 33° C. (91.4° F.) or higher.

Many people who discover their lip balm has “softened” when stored in their vehicle (car, truck, SUV, RV, etc.) or pocket on a hot day also discover that the softened lip balm is no longer useful but now may be messy. It is indeed common for people to discover that their lip balm has softened in their car, pocket, or anywhere that the lip balm container is exposed to a heat source such as sunlight. When lip balm has softened and a user opens a lip balm container suddenly, the softened lip balm often becomes a semi-solid mess that spreads everywhere and get into the most minute region. Not only is softened lip balm difficult to clean but after it resolidifies into wax, it is even more difficult to clean up. A solution to this still unsolved problem is needed.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,102,598 patent to Hsu discloses a lipstick case including an inner tubular member having an intermediate portion with a spaced-apart pair of oppositely oriented and inwardly disposed Z-shaped slots. The inner tubular member has a spherical upper end portion on which a pair of grooves are formed. Each groove first extends slantwise from an upper edge to a lower edge and extends horizontally into the surface of the lower edge. A pair of curved covers have a shape of a quarter of a sphere and a projection fitted in a respective one of the grooves. An intermediate tubular member includes a spiral groove and a flange adjacent to a lower end of the intermediate tubular member. A tubular seat has an open top through which a lipstick is fitted. The tubular seat has a protuberance extending through the Z-shaped slot into the spiral groove. A rotatable base is rotatably fitted in a lower end of the intermediate tubular member and includes a plurality of projections engaging holes or apertures of the inner tubular member. An outer tubular member is snugly fitted over the intermediate tubular member, so that the lipstick case does not need a separate cap to close the case when not used.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,923,589 to Blackwell discloses an apparatus for distributing and safely housing lipstick. The apparatus includes a lipstick case and an assembled refilling cartridge. The lipstick case has a top cap, an O-ring connected to an attachment of the top cap, a hollow body including a retainer lip formed inside the body, and an end cap. The assembled refilled cartridge includes a plastic cup, an “S”-cut sheath, a spiral cut sheath, and a cartridge end cap. The lipstick case provides a slip-free grip and housing protection for the assembled refilled cartridge, enabling an assembled refill cartridge to be used without removing the refill cartridge from its lipstick case.

Lipstick contains wax, oils, antioxidants, and emollients. Wax provides structure to solid lipstick. Lipsticks may be made from several waxes such as beeswax, ozokerite, and candelilla wax. Because of its relatively high melting point, about 85° C. (185° F.), carnauba wax is a key ingredient in terms of strengthening lipstick. Various oils and fats are used in lipsticks, such as olive oil, mineral oil, cocoa butter, lanolin, and petrolatum. Lipsticks get their colors from a variety of organic and inorganic pigments and so-called “lake dyes” including, but not limited to bromo acid, D&C Red No. 21, Calcium Lake, e.g., D&C Red 7, D&C Red 34, and D&C Orange No. 17. Pink lipsticks are made by mixing white titanium dioxide and red shades.

Matte lipsticks contain more filling agents like silica but do not have many emollients. Creme lipsticks contain more waxes than oils. Sheer and long lasting lipsticks contain more oil, while long lasting lipsticks also contain silicone oil, which seals the colors to the wearer's lips. Glossy lipstick contains more oil to give a shiny finish to the lips. Shimmery or frost lipstick may contain mica, silica, and synthetic pearl particles, including but not limited to bismuth oxychloride, to give them a glittery or shimmering shine.

Lipstick is made by grinding and heating ingredients to form a mixture. Next, heated waxes are added to the mix for texture. Also, oils and lanolin are added in amount meeting prespecified formulaic requirements. Afterwards, the hot liquified resulting mixture is poured into a metal casing. Mixtures-in-casings are chilled. After they have hardened, they are heated in flame for half a second to create a shiny finish and to remove imperfections.

It is currently believed, in the industry, that a “perfect” lipstick has a melting point of about 55 to 65° C., so that it does not run or soften even at higher temperatures and remains stiff and does not break during application. The public is quite aware, however, that higher temperatures often negatively impact many lipstick products and higher temperatures still pose a problem.

It is thus desirable, for lip balm and lipstick, that each be isolated from heat sources to prevent their undesired softening when in hot locations.

The present subject matter is accordingly adapted, dimensioned, designed, and configured to solve the lip balm and lipstick softening problem.

SUMMARY

The present subject matter discloses a thermally insulated micro container. An embodiment of my micro container is designed, sized, adapted and configured for retaining lip balm in a thermally isolated environment; and another embodiment of my micro container embodiment is designed, sized, adapted, and configured to thermally isolate lipstick from a heat source too.

The micro container comprises a first double-walled vacuum housing dimensioned, designed, adapted, and configured to retain a lip balm or a lipstick in a thermally isolated environment, and a second double-walled vacuum housing dimensioned, designed, adapted, and configured to be removably securable to the first double-walled housing for removably retaining a length of lip balm or lipstick in a thermally isolated environment.

The first vacuum housing comprises a pair of spaced-apart sidewalls including an inner and an outer sidewall. The inner sidewall encloses a first cylindrical cavity. A first annular three-dimensional vacuum cavity is provided between the inner and outer sidewalls of the first vacuum housing. The first annular vacuum cavity encircles a major portion of the first cylindrical cavity.

The second vacuum housing also comprises spaced-apart sidewalls including an inner and outer sidewall. The inner sidewall encloses a second cylindrical cavity. Between the inner sidewall of the second vacuum housing and the outer sidewall of the second vacuum housing is provided a second three-dimensional annular vacuum cavity; and the second vacuum cavity of the second housing encircles a major portion of the second cylindrical cavity.

One of the first and second vacuum housings of my micro container defines an externally threaded end portion. The other one of the first and second vacuum housings defines an internal threaded end portion designed, that is dimensioned, adapted, and configured to threadedly engage and be removably secured to an external threaded end portion of the first housing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURES

FIG. 1 presents a side elevational view of a micro container (depicting its thermally insulated cavity in phantom line) of the present subject matter.

FIG. 2 depicts an exploded view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 1 including other components and a cylindrically encased cylinder of lip balm.

FIG. 3 is a side elevational, exploded, internal view of an embodiment.

FIG. 4 shows a component of the present subject matter from FIG. 2.

FIG. 5 presents a side elevational view of another embodiment of an assembled thermally insulated micro container of the present subject matter.

FIG. 6 is an exploded side elevational view of the FIG. 5 embodiment.

FIG. 7 shows a component from FIGS. 5, 6 with a cylinder of lipstick.

FIG. 8 presents a side elevational view showing another embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a disassembled elevational view of yet another embodiment.

FIG. 10 presents a side-elevational, cut-away view of a component of an embodiment of the present subject matter depicted in FIGS. 2 through 7.

FIG. 11 depicts a side-elevational, cut-away view of a component of an embodiment of the present subject matter depicted in FIGS. 2 through 7.

Throughout the drawing figures—as well as the detailed description which follows—I shall use similar alpha-numerical reference characters, for purposes of referring to the similar components of the present subject matter.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

A micro container 100 (see, e.g., FIG. 1) of the present subject matter comprises a first double-walled vacuum housing 104 (FIGS. 2, 4-6, and 11) dimensioned, designed, adapted, and configured to retain a cylindrically encased length of lip balm 106 or lipstick, see FIGS. 2, 4 (in phantom line), in a vacuum-insulated, thermally isolated environment or cavity 101 (FIG. 1).

For purposes of my present invention, the term “micro,” in connection with the words “micro container” shall be understood to be a container that is dimensioned, designed, adapted and configured to snuggly removably retain a cylindrically encased length of lipstick 206 or lip balm having a length that ranges from about 58 millimeters (“mm”) to about 76 mm, or from about 61 mm to about 73 mm, or from about 64 mm to about 70 mm, or having a length that is about 67 mm; and having an external diameter that ranges from about 10 mm to about 20 mm, or that ranges from about 13 mm to about 17 mm, or having an external diameter that is about 15 mm. In addition, the micro container 100 of the present subject matter includes a second double-walled vacuum housing 107 (see, e.g., FIGS. 2, 5-7, and 10) dimensioned, designed, adapted, and configured to be removably securable to the first double-walled housing (FIG. 6) to removably retain predetermined lengths of lip balm 106 (FIG. 2) or lipstick in a thermally isolated environment (FIG. 1).

According to embodiments, either of the first or second double-walled vacuum housings 104, 107 may define a through bore 116 and may include a key ring 117 (FIG. 2). Also, at least one attachment device 102 including but not limited to a carabiner, a chain of any suitable length, or length of string, may be fixed to first housing 104 by connecting via through hole 116.

Each of the first or second double-walled vacuum housings 104, 107 may be made of any material including, but not limited to aluminum, bismuth, bronze, brass, nickel, stainless steel, tantalum, titanium, or any other metal, or other materials including ceramic, composite (e.g., carbon fiber-based), and polymeric. In some embodiments, the first or second double-walled vacuum housings 104, 107 could include decorative or functional coatings or trademarked images thereon or may further include insulating coatings thereon. An example of a special coating that may be used to further insulate the internal cavity may be a rubber (e.g., silicon) that is applied to an exterior surface as a thin layer. Alternatively, the vacuum housing 104, 107 could also include a thermally insulating sleeve into which housing 104, 107 is inserted.

Directing attention to FIG. 2, the thermally insulated micro container 100 (FIG. 1), as mentioned, includes the first double-walled vacuum housing 104 and the second double-walled vacuum housing 107. An inner wall 210 (FIG. 11) of the first double-walled vacuum housing 104 may define a first cylindrical cavity 211 therein; and an inner wall 212 (FIG. 10) of the second double-walled vacuum housing 107 may define a second cylindrical cavity 213 therein. The first cylindrical cavity 211 (FIG. 11) along with the second cylindrical cavity 213 when combined, provide the micro container 100 with an interior region 101 (FIG. 1) that is dimensioned, designed, adapted, and configured to snuggly yet removably retain a predetermined length of lip balm or lipstick, depending on which of these is contained in micro container 100.

An embodiment of the first double-walled vacuum housing 104 May include an integral first threaded end portion 103 (FIG. 2) and another embodiment of the first double-walled vacuum housing 104 may include an integral first threaded end portion 201 (FIG. 11), each of which respectively has threads that are dimensioned, designed, adapted and configured to mesh with integral threads 108 (FIG. 2) or threads 203 (FIG. 10), which are respectively formed along the open end portions of the embodiments noted.

The micro container 100 of the present subject matter may include at least one O-ring 105 (FIG. 2), which may be disposed between the first and second housings 104, 107 to facilitate sealing of the first cylindrical cavity 211 (FIG. 11) and the second cylindrical cavity 213 (FIG. 10) which, when combined, provide micro container 100 with an interior region 101 (FIG. 1).

Directing attention to the embodiment of FIG. 3, the first double-walled vacuum housing 104 (FIGS. 2, 11) has a first cylindrical vacuum cavity 200 located between a cylindrical inner wall 210 and a cylindrical outer wall 219.

The second double-walled vacuum housing 107 (FIGS. 2, 10) has a second cylindrical vacuum cavity 202 located between a cylindrical inner wall 212 and a cylindrical outer wall 205. The first double-walled vacuum housing 104 (FIGS. 2, 11) may include first internal threading 252 (FIG. 3) integrally formed adjacent to an open end portion on a lip 202 designed, dimensioned, adapted, and configured to mechanically mesh with second external threading 204 integrally formed adjacent to an open end portion along a second lip 207 of second double-walled vacuum housing 107 (FIGS. 2, 10).

The micro container 100 of the present subject matter may include at least one O-ring 214 (FIG. 3), which may be disposed between the first and second housings 104, 107 to facilitate sealing of the first cylindrical cavity 211 (FIG. 11) and the second cylindrical cavity 213 (FIG. 10) which, when combined, provide micro container 100 with an interior region 101 (FIG. 1).

Directing attention to an embodiment presented in FIG. 4, lipstick 206 (shown in phantom line) is disposed in the cavity of the first double-walled vacuum housing 104; and an opening to the cavity of housing 104 includes external threads 250 unitary with an end portion surrounding the opening.

Directing attention to the embodiment of FIG. 5, where an assembled view of a thermally insulated micro container of the present subject matter is shown. The thermally insulated micro container of the present subject matter may include a first double-walled vacuum housing 104 having an integrally formed first rounded circumferential edge portion 504. The micro container may further include a second double-walled vacuum housing 107 having an integrally formed second similarly rounded circumferential edge 506 portion.

Instead of employing threading (as disclosed above), the first and second double-walled housings 104, 107 may become joined together by attaching magnets, temporary adhesives, or the like, along an interface 502.

Indicia 500 such as a trademark or logo can be securely located along an outer surface portion of the first, second double-walled housings 104, 107.

Attention is next directed to the embodiment of FIG. 6, which includes the embodiment of the thermally insulated micro container shown in FIG. 5 may may include the include the external threads 250 (of the first vacuum housing 104 depicted in FIG. 4), which are dimensioned, designed, adapted, and configured to mesh with internal threads (not shown) integrally formed adjacent to the opening of the second double-walled vacuum housing 107.

FIG. 7, presents a side elevational view of the embodiment of the thermally insulated micro container shown in FIG. 5, depicting a major portion of the length of lipstick 206 disposed within the cylindrical cavity of the second double-walled vacuum housing 107, which allows access to and use of lipstick 206 without having to remove the lipstick 206 from the cavity.

Directing attention to FIGS. 8 and 9, a first inner shell 802 (FIG. 8) may be disposed within a first shell cavity 906 (FIG. 9) formed with a first outer shell 902. A second inner shell 808 (FIG. 8) may be disposed within a second shell cavity 904 (FIG. 9) formed within a second outer shell 908, such that a first vacuum cavity and a second vacuum cavity are formed within a thermally insulated micro container as a result of the movement of first and second inner shells 802, 808 into the first and second shell cavities 906, 904. The first inner shell 802 may include an upper portion 804 and a lower portion 810, the lower portion 810 engaging with the first shell cavity 906 defined by a first outer shell 902 to form the first vacuum cavity. The second inner shell 808 may include a lower portion 806 and an upper portion 812, the upper portion 812 engaging with the second shell cavity 904 defined by a second out shell 908 to form the second vacuum cavity. The first inner shell 802 and second inner shell 808 may mechanically connect at interface 502 (FIG. 5).

A thermally insulated micro container for retaining a single length of lip balm or lipstick is disclosed. The container comprises a first double-walled vacuum housing and a second double-walled vacuum housing. The first double-walled housing comprises a spaced-apart first pair of sidewalls. A first cylindrical cavity is provided by an innermost cylindrical sidewall surface of the first pair of sidewalls. A first vacuum cavity, e.g., annularly shaped, is provided between the spaced-apart first pair of sidewalls. The first vacuum cavity encircles all or a major volumetric portion of the first cylindrical cavity.

The second vacuum housing comprises a spaced-apart second pair of sidewalls. A second cylindrical cavity is provided by an innermost cylindrical sidewall surface of the second pair of sidewalls. A second vacuum cavity is provided between the second pair of sidewalls. The second vacuum cavity encircles either all or a major portion of the cylindrical second cavity.

The thermally insulated micro container of the present subject matter includes means for combining the cylindrical first and second cavities. The cylindrical first and second cavities, when combined, comprise a thermally insulated interior region dimensioned and configured for snuggly retaining a predetermined length of only one lipstick or only one predetermined length of lip balm in the interior region of the thermally insulated micro container.

For one embodiment of the present subject matter, the means for combining the cylindrical first and second cavities comprises one of the first and second vacuum housings including an integrally formed and externally threaded end portion. The other one of the first and second vacuum housings includes an integrally formed and internally threaded end portion sized, adapted, and configured to threadedly engage the externally threaded housing end portion for combining the cylindrical first and second cavities. The cylindrical first and second cavities are combined when respective end portions of the first and second housings are threadedly engaged together.

For another embodiment of the present subject matter, the means for combining the cylindrical first and second cavities comprises one of the first and second double-walled vacuum housings including a surface to which a magnet is attracted. The other one of the first and second double-walled vacuum housings has a surface to which is fixed a magnet attracted to the magnet-attracting surface, for the purpose of combining the first and second cavities. The first and second cavities are combined when respective end portions of the first and second housings are magnetically engaged together.

A thermally insulated micro container is described. While the present subject matter is disclosed in relation to embodiments, the present subject matter is not limited to these embodiments. On the contrary, alternatives, changes, and/or modifications shall become apparent to a person of ordinary skill in the art (“POSITA”) after the present patent specification including the associated drawing FIGS are reviewed. Therefore, alternatives, changes, or modifications are to be treated as forming a part of the present subject matter insofar as they fall within the spirit and scope of the appended patent claims.