Packaging and applicator for skin care product

Abstract

Packaging for a consumer healthcare product that may be applied with an applicator sold with the packaging. The applicator is configured to mate with and thereby to be coupled with a portion of the packaging. The portion of the packaging to which the applicator is coupled may be a rigid portion and/or a stock item. In one embodiment, the applicator has a coupling element that extends around a cap of the packaging to couple the applicator to the cap in a substantially secure manner. The applicator may specifically be designed for manipulation by the user's fingers, and may be ergonomically formed to facilitate manipulation and use thereof by application of finger pressure (e.g., pressure from the user's index finger) thereto.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A packaging and applicator combination comprising:
 a packaging comprising a flexible tube and a closure more rigid than said tube;   a consumer healthcare product within said tube and dispensed therefrom upon application of pressure from a user's fingers to said tube to flex said tube to squeeze out said consumer healthcare product; and   an applicator having a distal applicator end, and a coupling element shaped and configured for coupling with said closure;   wherein:   said closure is a stock closure;   said distal applicator end has an applicator element with an applicator side selected for application of said consumer healthcare product to a surface, and a user-engaging surface opposite said applicator side;   said coupling element comprises at least one coupling arm configured to extend around greater than half the circumference of said closure to couple said applicator to said closure independently of features of said closure retaining said applicator on said closure; and   said coupling arm is shaped and configured to receive at least a portion of a user's hand to apply said consumer healthcare product upon application of pressure from said portion of said user's hand to said applicator.   
     
     
         2 . A packaging and applicator combination as in  claim 1 , wherein said stock closure has a cross-section with a substantially symmetrical geometric shape. 
     
     
         3 . A packaging and applicator combination as in  claim 2 , wherein said coupling element comprises a pair of substantially symmetrical coupling arms shaped and configured to extend, together, about greater than half the circumference of said closure. 
     
     
         4 . A packaging and applicator combination as in  claim 1 , wherein said coupling element comprises a pair of substantially symmetrical coupling arms shaped and configured to extend, together, about greater than half the circumference of said closure. 
     
     
         5 . A packaging and applicator combination as in  claim 4 , wherein:
 said consumer healthcare product is a skincare product; and   said coupling arms of said applicator are shaped and configured to receive a user's finger.   
     
     
         6 . A packaging and applicator combination as in  claim 5 , wherein said user-engaging surface of said distal applicator end is shaped and configured to receive a user's fingertip. 
     
     
         7 . A packaging and applicator combination as in  claim 1 , wherein:
 said consumer healthcare product is a skincare product; and   said coupling arms of said applicator are shaped and configured to receive a user's finger.   
     
     
         8 . A packaging and applicator combination as in  claim 7 , wherein said user-engaging surface of said distal applicator end is shaped and configured to receive a user's fingertip for application of pressure thereto to apply said skincare product to a user's skin. 
     
     
         9 . A packaging and applicator combination as in  claim 1 , wherein said applicator further comprises an extension spacing apart said applicator element from said coupling element. 
     
     
         10 . A packaging and applicator combination as in  claim 9 , wherein said applicator element is coupled only to said closure, via only said coupling element. 
     
     
         11 . A packaging and applicator combination comprising:
 a packaging comprising a container and a closure;   a consumer healthcare product within said container; and   an applicator having a distal applicator end, and a coupling element shaped and configured for coupling with said closure;   wherein:   said distal applicator end has an applicator side selected for application of said consumer healthcare product to a surface, and a user-engaging surface opposite said applicator side;   said coupling element defines a receiving area for receiving at least a portion of said packaging to couple said applicator to said packaging independently of features of said packaging;   said receiving area of said coupling element is sized, shaped, and configured to receive only one of said user's fingers for grasping a portion of said coupling element between said only one of said user's fingers and an adjacent finger; and   said applicator is removable from said closure for use upon inserting at least a portion of said only one of said user's finger in said receiving area to apply said consumer healthcare product upon application of pressure from the fingertip of said only one of said user's fingers to said user-engaging surface of said distal applicator end.   
     
     
         12 . A packaging and applicator combination as in  claim 11 , wherein said coupling element comprises at least one coupling arm configured to extend around the circumference of a portion of said packaging. 
     
     
         13 . A packaging and applicator combination as in  claim 12 , wherein said coupling arm is substantially rigid. 
     
     
         14 . A packaging and applicator combination as in  claim 11 , wherein said at least one coupling element is shaped and configured to extend greater than halfway around said closure. 
     
     
         15 . A packaging and applicator combination as in  claim 11 , wherein said coupling element is substantially symmetrical about at least one plane of symmetry. 
     
     
         16 . A method of packaging a consumer healthcare product, said method comprising:
 selecting a packaging having a container and closure with at least one of said container and closure being a stock item;   forming an applicator with a coupling element based on the shape of said stock item so that said coupling element retains said applicator on said stock item;   providing a consumer healthcare product in said container; and   forming said applicator for ergonomic grasping by a user's hand, after removal of said applicator from said packaging, to apply said consumer healthcare product.   
     
     
         17 . A method as in  claim 16 , wherein forming said applicator further comprises:
 forming said applicator with a proximal end and a distal end;   forming said coupling element at said proximal end; and   forming an applicator element at said distal end.   
     
     
         18 . A method as in  claim 17 , wherein forming said applicator for ergonomic grasping further comprises forming said coupling element to receive a portion of a user's hand. 
     
     
         19 . A method as in  claim 18 , wherein forming said applicator for ergonomic grasping further comprises:
 forming said coupling element to receive a user's finger; and   forming said applicator element to receive a fingertip of said user's finger.   
     
     
         20 . A method as in  claim 19 , wherein forming said coupling element to receive a portion of a user's hand comprises forming a receiving area in said coupling element shaped to receive a portion of a user's hand and alternately to receive said stock item.