Package for colored products

Abstract

Disclosed are packages including transparent containers such as bottles and jars comprising a coating that reduces transmission of light through the container. The containers further comprise a product viewing area or window through which the product is visible to a consumer or purchaser. The containers are disclosed as being useful for protecting photo-sensitive products while allowing the color of those products to be displayed to the user.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A packaging system for use with a photo-curable consumer product having a color attribute, the system comprising a substantially transparent container having a coating thereon adapted to substantially reduce, by at least about 80%, the transmission of light of at least one wavelength capable of photo-curing said consumer product that would pass through said container in the absence of the coating, said coated container having at least one substantially-transparent product viewing area thereon;
 wherein:
 said viewing area is adapted to allow a consumer to observe the color attribute of the product therethrough; 
 said viewing area substantially lacks said coating; 
 said viewing area has a surface area less than about 20% of the surface area of the container having a coating thereon; and 
 said consumer product is a nail polish, nail gel, or a combination or modification thereof. 
   
     
     
         2 . The packaging system of  claim 1 , wherein the container is a bottle. 
     
     
         3 . The packaging system of  claim 2 , wherein the container is a glass bottle. 
     
     
         4 . The packaging system of  claim 3 , wherein the coating is a powder coating, a metalized coating, a painted coating, or an overwrap. 
     
     
         5 . The packaging system of  claim 4 , wherein the coating is a powder coating. 
     
     
         6 . The packaging system of  claim 5 , wherein the at least one wavelength of light is a wavelength of light in the UV-A, UV-B, or UV-C range. 
     
     
         7 . The packaging system of  claim 6 , wherein the coating is opaque to UV light. 
     
     
         8 . The packaging system of  claim 6 , wherein the transmission of light of at least one wavelength capable of photo-curing said consumer product through the coated container is reduced by at least about 90%. 
     
     
         9 . The packaging system of  claim 8 , wherein the viewing area has a circular shape. 
     
     
         10 . The packaging system of  claim 9 , wherein the viewing area has a surface area less than about 15% of the surface area of the container having a coating thereon. 
     
     
         11 . The packaging system of  claim 10 , wherein the viewing area has a surface area less than about 10% of the surface area of the container having a coating thereon. 
     
     
         12 . The packaging system of  claim 4 , wherein said product viewing area is made by a process comprising the steps of:
 providing a substantially transparent container in which to store said product;   applying removable masking material onto the container prior to its coating;   coating said container with a powder coating, a painted coating, or a metalized coating; and   subsequently removing said masking material from said coated container to provide the product viewing area;
 wherein said viewing area allows a consumer to observe the color attribute of the product therethrough. 
   
     
     
         13 . The packaging system of  claim 11 , wherein said product viewing area is made by a process comprising the steps of:
 providing a substantially transparent container in which to store said product;   applying removable masking material onto the container prior to its coating;   coating said container with a powder coating, a painted coating, or a metalized coating; and   subsequently removing said masking material from said coated container to provide the product viewing area;
 wherein said viewing area allows a consumer to observe the color attribute of the product therethrough. 
   
     
     
         14 . The packaging system of  claim 12 , further comprising a cap, a lid, a top, or an applicator. 
     
     
         15 . A cosmetic container for containing a colored photo-curable cosmetic product, said container comprising:
 a transparent bottle substantially covered with a coating thereon adapted to substantially reduce, by at least about 80%, the transmission of light of at least one wavelength capable of photo-curing said cosmetic product that would pass through said container in the absence of the coating, said coated container having at least one substantially-transparent product viewing area thereon;   wherein:
 said viewing area is adapted to allow a consumer to observe the color attribute of the product therethrough; 
   said viewing area substantially lacks said coating;   said viewing area has a surface area less than about 20% of the surface area of the container having a coating thereon; and
 said cosmetic product is a nail polish, nail gel, or a combination or modification thereof. 
   
     
     
         16 . The cosmetic container of  claim 15  wherein the container is a bottle. 
     
     
         17 . The cosmetic container of  claim 16 , wherein the container is a glass bottle. 
     
     
         18 . The cosmetic container of  claim 17 , wherein the coating is a powder coating, a metalized coating, a painted coating, or an overwrap. 
     
     
         19 . The cosmetic container of  claim 18 , wherein the coating is a powder coating. 
     
     
         20 . The cosmetic container of  claim 19 , wherein the at least one wavelength of light is a wavelength of light in the UV-A, UV-B, or UV-C range. 
     
     
         21 . The cosmetic container of  claim 20 , wherein the coating is opaque to UV light. 
     
     
         22 . The cosmetic container of  claim 20 , wherein the transmission of light of at least one wavelength capable of photo-curing said consumer product through the coated container is reduced by at least about 90%. 
     
     
         23 . The cosmetic container of  claim 22 , wherein the viewing area has a circular shape. 
     
     
         24 . The cosmetic container of  claim 22 , wherein the viewing area is less than about 15% of the surface area of the container having a coating thereon. 
     
     
         25 . The cosmetic container of  claim 24 , wherein the viewing area is less than about 10% of the surface area of the container having a coating thereon. 
     
     
         26 . The cosmetic container of  claim 18 , wherein said product viewing area is made by a process comprising the steps of:
 providing a substantially transparent container in which to store said product;   applying removable masking material onto the container prior to its coating;   coating said container with a powder coating, a painted coating, or a metalized coating; and   subsequently removing said masking material from said coated container to provide the product viewing area;
 wherein said viewing area allows a consumer to observe the color attribute of the product therethrough. 
   
     
     
         27 . A method of reducing undesired curing of a photo-curable product comprising the steps of:
 providing a transparent bottle in which to store the product;   masking at least one surface area of the bottle with a masking material, said masking material having a surface area less than about 20% of the surface area of the transparent bottle;   coating the masked bottle with a coating material that substantially reduces transmission, by at least about 80%, of at least one wavelength of light capable of photo-curing the product that would otherwise pass through the bottle;   removing the mask to produce a product viewing area;   filling the bottle with the photo-curable product, and capping said bottle;
 wherein said photo-curable product is a nail polish, nail gel, or a combination or modification thereof. 
   
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 27 , wherein the photo-curable product is colored and wherein the product's color is observable to a consumer through the product viewing area. 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 27 , wherein the photo-curable product can be cured by exposure to UV light or an LED light source emitting at least one wavelength of light effective to photo-cure the product. 
     
     
         30 . A kit for reducing undesired curing of a photo-curable product comprising:
 a transparent bottle substantially covered with a coating and having at least one transparent product viewing area adapted to allow a photo-curable product contained in the bottle to show therethrough; wherein the coating substantially reduces transmission, by at least about 80%, of at least one wavelength of light capable of photo-curing the product that would otherwise pass through the bottle to the photo-curable product contained therein;   a removable cap, lid, or applicator adapted for removably sealing the bottle;
 wherein said photo-curable product is a nail polish, nail gel, or a combination or modification thereof; and 
 wherein said viewing area has a surface area less than about 20% of the surface area of the transparent bottle. 
   
     
     
         31 . The kit of  claim 30 , wherein the product viewing area has a surface area less than about 10% of the surface area of the bottle. 
     
     
         32 . The kit of  claim 30 , wherein said coated bottle contains a colored photo-curable cosmetic product for use with nails, and wherein the color of the product can be observed through the product viewing area. 
     
     
         33 . The kit of  claim 20  further comprising instructions for use of the product.