GB2152468A

GB2152468A - An external casing for a container such as a perfume bottle or atomiser

Info

Publication number: GB2152468A
Application number: GB08429899A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Germano Santiano
Original assignee: LOreal SA
Current assignee: LOreal SA
Priority date: 1983-12-06
Filing date: 1984-11-27
Publication date: 1985-08-07
Also published as: ES283182Y; DE8435620U1; ES283182U; FR2555968A3; GB2152468B; GB8429899D0; IT8354014V0; BE901212A; FR2555968B3

Abstract

An external casing 1 for a perfume bottle or atomiser comprises an external sheet metal shell 4 and an intermediate shell of 5 of polymeric or elastomeric material with a retaining collar 11 also of polymeric or elastomeric material provided for holding the perfume bottle or atomiser in place. A cap 3, also of outer metal shell and inner plastic shell construction, may be attached to the casing to cover the operating button 8 of the perfume bottle or atomiser. The collar is mechanically coupled, eg by screw thread or teeth 12, to the opening of the intermediate shell. The collar may include a flange 11 to prevent extraction of the bottle and may include a plurality of equi-angularly spaced projections 15 for positioning the bottle. The intermediate shell may include internal bottle positioning projections 6. The outer sheet metal may be preprinted or lithographed and the outer shell has a longitudinal seam which is received in a longitudinal groove provided in the intermediate shell. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION An external casing for a container such as a perfume bottle or atomiser The present invention concerns an external casing for a container such as a perfume bottle, an atomiser and the like. In particular, the invention concerns a casing comprising an external metallic shell made from sheet metal for instance of tin plate or aluminium strip, which may be preprinted or lithographed, and bent so as to have a tubular shape for accommodating the container before its longitudinal edges are crimped.

Such an external casing for perfume bottles is described in Italian Utility Model Application No.

2211 1-B/82.

The object of the present invention is to provide a casing of this type whose disposition and arrangement of the components are adapted for use in covering pressurised atomisers.

According to the present invention there is provided an external casing for a container such as a perfume bottle or an atomiser, comprising an external metallic shell made from sheet metal which has been bent so as to have a tubular shape and then formed with a longitudinal seam; a tubular intermediate shell of a polymeric or elastomeric material, which is closed at one end and inserted into the external metallic shell and is intended to receive and retain a said container in its internal portion; and a tubular retaining collar of a polymeric or elastomeric material mechanically coupled to the opening of the intermediate shell to retain the container therein.

In order that the present invention may more readily be understood, the following description is given merely by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a perfume atomiser provided with an external casing according to the invention; Figure 2 is a longitudinal cross-section taken along line ll-ll of Figure 1; Figure 3 shows a detail of Figure 2 on an en larged scale; Figures 4 and 5 are transverse cross-sections taken along lines IV-IV and V-V respectively of Figure 2; and Figure 6 is a view in an exploded perspective of the atomiser shown in Figure 1.

Referring now to the drawings, there can be seen an atomiser 1 provided with an external casing in accordance with the invention. The casing comprises a main part 2 permanently fixed to the atomiser proper, and a detachable cap 3 coupled with the main part.

As may be seen in Figures 2 and 6, the main part 2 comprises an external metallic shell 4 made in a known way from sheet metal, for instance tin plate or aluminium strip, bent, before the crimping of its longitudinal edges, so as to have a tubular shape.

The sheet is preferably preprinted or litho graphed.

Into the external shell 4, there is force fitted an intermediate shell 5 of a tubular shape, made of a polymeric or elastomeric material. Adjacent to the bottom wall, the intermediate shell has, on its internal surface, longitudinal projections 6 for positioning and retaining an atomiser which, in the example shown, comprises a reservoir can 7 provided with a pumping and spraying device 8 of the conventional type.

Adjacent to the opening on the internal surface of the intermediate shell 5 is arranged a radial recess 9 (Figures 2, 3 and 6). On its external surface the intermediate shell 5 is provided with at least one longitudinal groove 5a (Figure 6) intended to accommodate the crimped seam 4a of the external metallic shell 4.

The external surface of the bottom wall of the intermediate shell 5 is preferably fitted with a base 10, for example made of metal, the said surface being metallised or coloured. The end edges 4b and 4c of the metallic shell 4 are folded back on the intermediate shell 5, as may be seen more readily in Figure 2.

A tubular retaining collar 11, which itself is made of a polymeric or elastomeric material is catch-engaged to the opening of the intermediate shell 5 to retain the atomiser 7. The collar has, at one end, a plurality of teeth 12 for catch-engagement and retaining in the seat 9 provided in the intermediate shell 5. At the other end, the collar 11 has a stop flange or shoulder 13 (Figures 2 and 3) defining an opening 14 through which the sprayer 8 extends.

The collar 11 is, moreover, internally provided with a plurality of equiangularly spaced projections 15 for positioning and retaining the atomiser. Adjacent to its end connected to the intermediate shell 5, the said collar 11 has an annular relief 16 which extends radially outwardly to an extent which is at least equal to the thickness of the external metallic shell 4.

The cap 3 itself comprises an external metallic shell 17, made in a similar manner to the external shell 4, and an internal shell 18 which is of a tubular shape and closed at one end. The internal shell 18 is made of a polymeric or elastomeric material and is provided on its internal surface with longitudinal retaining projections 19. The internal transverse dimensions of the internal shell 18 of cap 3 substantially correspond to the external transverse dimensions of the cylindrical part of the retaining collar 11. The cap 2 can therefore be applied to be flush with the collar 11, as may be seen in particular from Figure 2.

Of course, the example described and illustrated may be modified without departing from the scope of 10 the invention as defined by the following claims. In particular, the tubular intermediate shell 5 and the tubular retaining collar 11 may have any section whatsoever, for example oval, the invention not being limited to the use of a circular section; further, the coupling of the collar 11 to the intermediate shell 5 may be effected in any manner whatsoever and not only by catch-engagement as described in the example; for example, the collar/intermediate shell coupling may be made by screwing especially when the cross-sections of the envelope and the collar are circular.

Claims

1. An external casing for a container such as a perfume bottle or an atomiser, comprising an external metallic shell made from sheet metal which has been bent so as to have a tubular shape and then formed with a longitudinal seam; a tubular intermediate shell of a polymeric or elastomeric material, which is closed at one end and inserted into the external metallic shell and is intended to receive and retain a said container in its internal portion; and a tubular retaining collar of a polymeric or elasto meric material mechanically coupled to the opening of the intermediate shell to retain the container therein.

2. A casing according to claim 1 wherein said retaining collar has at one end a plurality of catchengagement and retaining teeth intended to be engaged in a corresponding seat provided in the intermediate shell.

3. A casing according to claim 2, wherein said retaining collar has at its other end a stop flange extending radially inwardly to prevent the extraction of a said container from said intermediate shell.

4. A casing according to claim 3, wherein said retaining collar is provided internally with a plurality of equiangularly spaced projections for positioning and retaining a said container.

5. A casing according to claim 4, wherein said retaining collar has an end connected to the intermediate shell and has adjacent to that end an annular relief extending radially outwardly to an extent which is at least equal to the thickness of the external metallic shell.

6. A casing according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said intermediate shell has internal projections for positioning and retaining a said container.

7. A casing according to claim 6, wherein the upper edge of the external metallic shell is folded back on to the edge of the opening of the intermediate shell.

8. A casing according to any one of the preceding claims, further including moreover a metallic cap comprising a tubular external metallic shell and an internal shell tightly wedged in the said external shell, wherein the external transverse dimensions of the said retaining collar substantially correspond to the internal transverse dimensions of the internal shell of the cap thereby allowing the cap to be fitted on said collar.

9. A casing according to claim 8, wherein the external shell of the cap is preprinted or lithographed.

10. A casing according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the sheet metal of the external shell is preprinted or lithographed.

11. An external casing for a container such as a perfume bottle or an atomiser, such casing being substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to, and as illustrated in, the accompanying drawings.