# US 2019/0166973 A1 · Refillable Package For A Frozen Personal Care Product

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- Number: US 2019/0166973 A1
- Document ID: US20190166973A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 15/833,294
- Filed: 2017-12-06
- Published: 2019-06-06
- Earliest claimed: 2017-12-06
- Assignees: ELC Management LLC
- Applicants: ELC Management LLC
- Inventors: Francis Corbellini; Herve F. Bouix
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20190166973A1

## CPC

- A45D 33/26: combined with other objects
- A45D 34/04: Appliances specially adapted for applying liquid, e.g. using roller or ball
- A45D 40/00: Casings or accessories specially adapted for storing or handling solid or pasty toiletry or cosmetic substances, e.g. shaving soaps or lipsticks (features common to containers for handling powdery or liquid toiletry or cosmetic substances A45D33/00-A45D37/00; cosmetic or like preparations A61K8/00, A61Q; sample tables or the like G09F5/00)
- A45D 2200/05: Details of containers
- A61K 2800/84: Products or compounds obtained by lyophilisation, freeze-drying
- A61Q 19/00: Preparations for care of the skin
- A45D: HAIRDRESSING OR SHAVING EQUIPMENT (wigs, toupees or the like A41G3/00, A41G5/00; hairdressers' chairs A47C1/04; hair cutting appliances, razors B26B); EQUIPMENT FOR COSMETICS OR COSMETIC TREATMENTS, e.g. FOR MANICURING OR PEDICURING
- A61K: PREPARATIONS FOR MEDICAL, DENTAL OR TOILETRY PURPOSES (devices or methods specially adapted for bringing pharmaceutical products into particular physical or administering forms A61J3/00; chemical aspects of, or use of materials for deodorisation of air, for disinfection or sterilisation, or for bandages, dressings, absorbent pads or surgical articles A61L; soap compositions C11D)
- A61Q: SPECIFIC USE OF COSMETICS OR SIMILAR TOILETRY PREPARATIONS

## Abstract

A refillable unit dose package for frozen cosmetic or personal care products that can provide a chilling effect during application. The main components of the package are a reservoir and an applicator. The applicator comprises a handle and an applicator head depending from the handle. In use, a product in the reservoir is frozen, which causes the product to bond to the applicator head. The handle is used to lift the frozen product out of the reservoir, and draw the frozen product over the skin. As it melts from the heat of the skin, the product can be spread on the skin. The reservoir is refillable by a consumer.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A unit dose package for a personal care product wherein the package is designed to house and apply a single dose of frozen product that can provide a significant chilling effect during application, the package comprising:
a reservoir (1) that comprises:
a wall (1d) that defines an interior space (1c) that has a volume;
a perimeter (1a) that defines an opening in the wall;
a flange (1b) that extends outwardly from the perimeter of the opening;
from 1 mL to 20 mL of a personal care product (P) disposed in the interior space (1c) of the reservoir (1), wherein the product is a liquid or semi-liquid at standard atmospheric pressure and temperature, and freezes at no lower than −20° C.; and
an applicator (2) that comprises:
a handle (3);
an applicator head (4) that depends from the handle (3) and that is disposed in the personal care product (P) located in the reservoir (1), and that has an outer surface (4a) with textural features (4b); and
a sealing disk (2a) that is sandwiched between the handle (3) and the applicator head (4), and that fits snugly against the perimeter (1a) of the reservoir (1), the sealing disk comprising an opening (2b) that leads into the reservoir (1), through which the reservoir can be filled even when the sealing disk is seated against the perimeter (1a) of the reservoir;
wherein, when the product (P) is frozen, a user is able to grasp the handle (3) and lift the product out of the reservoir.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The unit dose package of claim 1 wherein the wall (1d) of the reservoir (1) comprises an interior surface that has embossed features (1f), engraved features (1g), facets (1j) or a combination thereof.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The unit dose package of claim 1 further comprising a cylindrical outer wall (1i) that projects downwardly from the flange (1b), the wall extending beyond the bottom of the reservoir to provide a stable footing for the reservoir.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

A set of unit dose packages, the set comprising two or more unit dose packages according to claim 1, and a tray (6) that comprises a raised platform (6a) with two or more openings (6b), wherein each reservoir (1) of the two or more unit dose packages is disposed in an opening of the tray, and the flange (1b) of each reservoir rests on the raised platform, such that each reservoir is maintained in an upright position.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The unit dose package of claim 1 wherein the outer surface (4a) of the applicator head (4) comprises depressions, such as dimples and grooves (4b′), and/or elevations, such as raised bumps (4b″).

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The unit dose package of claim 1 wherein the handle (3) is attached to the sealing disk (2a) by a hinge mechanism that enables the handle to lie flat against the sealing disk or be rotated 90°.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The unit dose package of claim 1 wherein the applicator head (4) comprises one or more sponges.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

A method of applying a frozen personal care product comprising the steps of:
providing a unit dose package as claimed in claim 1, wherein the product (P) is in a liquid or semi-liquid state;
storing the unit dose package in a freezer for a time sufficient to freeze the product (P) in the reservoir (1);
grasping the applicator handle (3) and lifting the frozen product (P) out of the reservoir (1);
spreading product (P) on the skin of a user by drawing the frozen product across the skin, such that the surface of the product melts from the heat of the skin;
continuing the step of spreading until the product has been depleted from the applicator head so that bare spots of the applicator head are able to contact the skin of a user; and
using the bare applicator head (4) to dress up the product (P).

### Claim 9

A method of filling or refilling a unit dose package for a frozen personal care product comprising the steps of:
providing a unit dose package that comprises:
a reservoir (1) that comprises:
a wall (1d) that defines an interior space (1c) that has a volume;
a perimeter (1a) that defines an opening in the wall; and
a flange (1b) that extends outwardly from the perimeter of the opening;
an applicator (2) that comprises:
a handle (3);
an applicator head (4) that depends from the handle (3) and that is disposed in the reservoir (1), and that has an outer surface (4a) with textural features (4b); and
a sealing disk (2a) that is sandwiched between the handle (3) and the applicator head (4), and that fits snugly against the perimeter (1a) of the reservoir (1), the sealing disk comprising an opening (2b) that leads into the reservoir (1); and
filling a non-frozen product into the reservoir (1) through the opening (2b) of the sealing disk (2a).