Cosmetic dispenser with piston action

Abstract

A cosmetic product dispenser having a body with a chamber for containing a product, the body having an open first end with an actuating structure thereon and a second end having a neck with a product passageway therein, a receiver receiving and engaging with the body, a piston adapted to slide within the chamber, and a piston holder to hold the piston in a relative position relative to the receiver. To dispense product, the body is rotated or twisted relative to the receiver, causing the body to draw into the receiver and pushing the piston into the body, expelling product via the product passageway. The overall structure becomes shorter as product is dispensed.

The claimed invention is: 
     
         1 . A cosmetic dispenser comprising:
 a body having a chamber for containing a product having an open lower end having an outer facing actuating structure, and an upper end with a neck having a product passageway;   a piston adapted to slide within the body chamber from the lower end thereof;   a piston holder for supporting the piston; and   a receiver for the body comprising an inner facing engaging structure for engaging the outer facing actuating structure of the body, the receiver having a lower portion configured to engage and secure to the piston holder;   wherein the body is coupled to the receiver and the piston holder and piston holder are coupled to the receiver such that twisting of the body relative to the receiver causes axial motion of the piston within the body due to interaction of the actuating structure of the body with the engaging structure of the receiver, thereby dispensing product from the body via the product passageway.   
     
     
         2 . The dispenser of  claim 1  wherein the neck comprises an outer facing engagement structure for securing a product applicator thereon. 
     
     
         3 . A combination cosmetic dispenser and applicator comprising:
 a product dispenser as in  claim 2 ; and   a product applicator secured to the body using the outer facing engagement structure of the neck.   
     
     
         4 . The combination of  claim 3  wherein the product applicator comprises a sponge coupled to inner and outer collars, and the inner collar is secured to the engagement structure of the neck to fix the product applicator and outer collar to the body. 
     
     
         5 . The combination of  claim 4  wherein the engagement structure of the neck comprises threading, and the inner collar comprises corresponding threading for securing the inner collar to the engagement structure of the neck. 
     
     
         6 . The dispenser of  claim 1  wherein the body has a length including a first portion on which the actuating structure resides and a second portion extending from the first portion toward the upper end, and the body, piston and receiver are coupled together such that:
 when the body is full of product, the piston extends partially into the body and the second portion of the body extends out from the receiver, with the first portion of the body in the receiver such that the actuating structure of the body engages the engaging structure of the receiver; and 
 a twisting motion of the body relative to the receiver will cause the piston to advance within the body and expel product as the receiver engaging structure interacts with the actuating structure of the body to draw the body into the receiver. 
 
     
     
         7 . The dispenser of  claim 6  wherein the piston holder includes an elongate section holding the piston at a first end and having a stop at a second end for engaging the receiver. 
     
     
         8 . The dispenser of  claim 7  wherein:
 the second end of the piston holder further comprises first teeth; 
 the receiver comprises second teeth; and 
 the first and second teeth configured for rotationally engaging the receiver and preventing rotation therebetween. 
 
     
     
         9 . The dispenser of  claim 1  further comprising a base shell for securing to an outer surface of the receiver, such that the base shell, receiver and piston holder are axially and rotationally secured together. 
     
     
         10 . A dispenser as in  claim 1  wherein the piston is configured to seal against an inner wall of the body. 
     
     
         11 . A dispenser as in  claim 1  further comprising a cap having a plug configured to seal an upper end of the product passageway. 
     
     
         12 . A dispenser as in  claim 11  wherein:
 the dispenser has a first end at which the piston holder and the receiver are secured together and a second end at which the cap is placed defining an axial length therebetween; 
 when the body is full of product, the axial length is a first value; and 
 when the body is empty of product, the axial length is a second value less than the first value. 
 
     
     
         13 . A method of dispensing a cosmetic product using a dispenser, the dispenser comprising:
 a body having a chamber for containing a product having an open lower end having an outer facing actuating structure, and an upper end with a neck having a product passageway;   a piston adapted to slide within the body chamber from the lower end thereof;   a piston holder for supporting the piston; and   a receiver for the body comprising an inner facing engaging structure for engaging the outer facing actuating structure of the body, the receiver having a lower portion configured to engage and secure to the piston holder;   wherein the body is coupled to the receiver and the piston holder and piston holder are coupled to the receiver such that twisting of the body relative to the receiver causes axial motion of the piston within the body due to interaction of the actuating structure of the body with the engaging structure of the receiver, thereby dispensing product from the body via the product passageway,   the method comprising twisting the body relative to the receiver to expel product via the product passageway.