TITLE OF INVENTION

SCREEN FOR COSMETIC CONTAINER AND COSMETIC CONTAINER

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001]

The present invention relates to a screen for a cosmetic container, and the cosmetic container itself.

BACKGROUND ART

[0002]

A cosmetic container comprises a body accommodating a cosmetic composition and a mesh screen covering the cosmetic composition. A user can take the cosmetic composition through the mesh screen, for example by pushing an applicator such as a puff onto the mesh screen.

[0003]

However, the user’s pushing force tends to be concentrated on a central portion of the mesh screen, resulting in the overflow of the cosmetic composition through an outer portion, in particular an outer periphery, of the mesh screen.

DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION

[0004]

An object of the present invention is to provide a screen for a cosmetic container, and the cosmetic container itself, which can reduce the overflow at the outer portion of the screen of the cosmetic container.

[0005]

In order to achieve the above-described object, one aspect of the present invention provides a screen for a cosmetic container. The screen comprises a mesh-shaped sheet substrate having a plurality of openings. The sheet substrate has a closing pattern composed of at least one closing domain which at least partially closes the plurality of openings. A closing area in which the at least one closing domain at least partially closes the plurality of openings is larger in an outer portion of the sheet substrate than in an inner portion of the sheet substrate. Herein, “at least partially close” means that partially or totally close. “Partially close” means reducing the hole size of an opening by any means, and “totally close” means block an entire of an opening by any means. By partially closing an opening, the hole size of the opening gets smaller than the other (non-closed) openings.

[0006]

According to one aspect of the screen, the closing domain may be composed of at least one closing portion, each closing portion continuously closing one or more openings on the sheet substrate. [0007]

According to one aspect of the screen, the closing domain may be composed of a plurality of closing portions which are arranged annularly on the sheet substrate.

[0008]

According to one aspect of the screen, the closing domain may be composed of a plurality of closing portions which are arranged in a series from a center of the sheet substrate toward a peripheral end of the sheet substrate.

[0009]

According to one aspect of the screen, the areas of the plurality of closing portions which are arranged in a series may increase from the center of the sheet substrate toward the peripheral end of the sheet substrate.

[0010]

According to one aspect of the screen, the closing pattern may include a first closing domain closer to a center of the sheet substrate and a second closing domain farther from the center of the sheet substrate, and the closing area of the second closing domain may be larger than that of the first closing domain.

[0011]

According to one aspect of the screen, the closing pattern may be composed of one continuous closing portion which closes one or more openings, the closing portion having an inner end oriented toward a center of the sheet substrate and an outer end oriented toward a peripheral end of the sheet substrate, and an area of a portion of the closing portion which is closer to the outer end than to the inner end may be larger than that of an area of a portion of the closing portion which is closer to the inner end than to the outer end.

[0012]

According to one aspect of the screen, the closing area in an outer region composed of a set of points P satisfying dl>d2 may be larger than the closing area in an inner region composed of a set of points P satisfying dl<d2, wherein dl is a distance from the point P on the sheet substrate to a center of the sheet substrate, and d2 is a distance from a point P on the sheet substrate to a peripheral end of the sheet substrate, in a plane view of the sheet plane of the sheet substrate.

[0013]

According to one aspect of the screen, a ratio of the closing area in an outer region composed of a set of points P satisfying dl>d2 to an overall area of the outer region may be larger than a ratio of the closing area in an inner region composed of a set of points P satisfying dl<d2 to an overall area of the inner region, wherein dl is a distance from a point P on the sheet substrate to a center of the sheet substrate, and d2 is a distance from the point P on the sheet substrate to a peripheral end of the sheet substrate, in a plane view of the sheet plane of the sheet substrate.

[0014]

According to one aspect of the screen, if the sheet substrate is divided into n regions (n is an integer more than 1) from the first, innermost region to the z?-th, outermost region so as to equally divide the distance from a center of the sheet substrate to a peripheral end of the sheet substrate into n sections, the closing area in -th region (k is an integer between 2 and ri) is larger than the closing area in (k~ 1 )-th region.

[0015]

According to one aspect of the screen, the sheet substrate may be made of at least one material selected from the group consisting of polyester, polyamide, polyurethane, polyolefin, TPE (thermoplastic elastomer), polyvinyl chloride, polyvinyl alcohol, polyvinylidene chloride, polyetherester, polyacrylonitrile, metal, glass fiber, and carbon fiber.

[0016]

According to one aspect of the screen, the sheet substrate may be made of fabric material.

[0017]

According to one aspect of the screen, the at least one closing domain may include welded portions in which a part of the plurality of openings is closed by welding.

[0018]

According to one aspect of the screen, the closing pattern may be composed of a plurality of closing domains arranged radially on the sheet substrate.

[0019]

Another aspect of the present invention provides a cosmetic container. The cosmetic container comprises a body configured to accommodate a cosmetic composition, and the screen according to any one of the above aspects, which is mounted to the body to cover the cosmetic composition.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0020]

Non-limiting and representative embodiments of the present invention will be explained in detail below, referring to the attached drawings so that the present invention can be better understood.

[0021]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the cosmetic container 1 according to an embodiment.

[0022]

FIG. 2 is a plane view of the screen 20 for the cosmetic container 1 according to the embodiment.

[0023]

FIGS. 3 to 19 are plane views of variations of the screen 20 for the cosmetic container 1 according to the embodiment.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

[0024] Hereafter, the embodiments of the present invention will be described in a detailed manner. The XYZ coordinate system is defined as shown in the drawings, but this is not intended to limit the invention.

[0025]

A screen for a cosmetic container and the cosmetic container will be described below through an example.

<Cosmetic contained

[0026]

A cosmetic container 1 according to an embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2. FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the cosmetic container 1 according to the embodiment. FIG. 2 is a plane view of the screen 20 for the cosmetic container 1 according to the embodiment.

[0027]

Referring to FIG. 1, the cosmetic container 1 comprises a body 10 and a screen 20 mounted onto the body 10. The cosmetic container 1 contains a cosmetic composition C in the body 10. The screen 20 covers the cosmetic composition C to allow a user to take the cosmetic composition C through the screen 20.

[0028]

Note that the form of the cosmetic container 1 in FIG. 1 is merely an example, and that the cosmetic container 1 may be any type of container in any form. For example, the cosmetic container 1 may be a cosmetic jar having a cylindrical body accommodating the cosmetic composition C.

(Cosmetic composition C)

[0029]

The cosmetic composition C is made of any kind of cosmetic material. The user takes up the cosmetic composition C through the screen 20 and applies it to the skin. The cosmetic composition C may be in any form such as a liquid form, cream form , liquid creamy foundation, powder form (e.g. hot poured powder, press powder, or loose powder), or solid form. In particular, in a case where the cosmetic composition C is a liquid or cream, the user’s pushing force tends to easily cause the cosmetic composition C to overflow at a peripheral portion of the receptacle 12 through the screen 20.

(Body 10)

[0030]

The body 10 is a main portion of the cosmetic container 1 for accommodating the cosmetic composition C. The body 10 comprises a receptacle 12, an inner lid 14, and an outer lid 16.

[0031]

The receptacle 12 has a recess for receiving the cosmetic composition C therein. The receptacle 12 serves as a base portion of the body 10. The upper end of the receptacle 12 is provided with the screen 20. [0032]

The inner lid 14 is a cover for the receptacle 12. The inner lid 14 is hinged to the side of the receptacle 12 and configured to open and close the recess of the receptacle 12. The inner lid 14 covers the screen 20 and the cosmetic composition C to prevent the cosmetic composition C from leakage.

[0033]

The outer lid 16 is an external cover of the body 10. The outer lid 16 is hinged to the side of the receptacle 12 at a different position from that of the inner lid 14. The outer lid 16 covers the inner lid 14 to seal the inner space of the body 10. A mirror 18 may be provided on the inner side of the outer lid 16 for the user to use when applying make-up. In a closed state, there may be space between the inner lid 14 and the outer lid 16 for accommodating an applicator such as a puff, which is used to take up the cosmetic composition C through the screen 20.

(Screen 20)

[0034]

The screen 20 covers the cosmetic composition C housed in the receptacle 12 to prevent the cosmetic composition C from exiting the receptacle 12. The screen 20 has a mesh structure to allow the user to take up the cosmetic composition C therethrough while controlling the supply amount of the cosmetic composition C. The mesh structure means a structure having many small openings like a net or sieve.

[0035]

The screen 20 comprises a sheet substrate 22. The sheet substrate 22 is shaped in a mesh structure with a plurality of openings 24 thereon. The openings 24 are arranged in any manner on the sheet substrate 22, for example, regularly or randomly.

[0036]

The sheet substrate 22 may be made of any material. For example, the sheet substrate 22 is made of at least one selected from the group consisting of polyester, polyamide, polyurethane, polyolefin, TPE (thermoplastic elastomer), polyvinyl chloride, polyvinyl alcohol, polyvinylidene chloride, polyetherester, polyacrylonitrile, UV curable resin, metal, glass fiber, and carbon fiber. Preferably, the sheet substrate 22 is made of fabric material. The sheet substrate 22 may be manufactured by 3D printing, e.g. from UV curable resin.

[0037]

The screen 20 has a closing pattern 30 which closes a part of the openings 24. The closed openings 24 prevent the cosmetic composition C from passing therethrough. Accordingly, the cosmetic composition C can pass through the screen 20 at positions in which the openings 24 are not closed by the closing pattern 30. The closing pattern can also serve as an aesthetic decoration on the screen 20 to attract consumers.

[0038]

In FIGS. 1 and 2, the closing pattern 30 is a radial pattern composed of regularly arranged circles. The closing pattern 30 includes three types of circles. The first circles 40 are the smallest, the second circles 42 are the second smallest, and the third circles 44 are the largest. The first circles 40 are innermost and annularly arranged, the third circles 44 are outermost and annularly arranged, and the second circles 42 are annularly arranged between the first circles 40 and the third circles 44.

[0039]

Here, each circle can be called a closing portion 34 which continuously closes one or more openings 24. As used herein, “continuously close” means closing only one opening or closing two or more openings, each closed opening being adjacent to another closed opening. The closing portion 34 is formed in a predetermined shape and arranged in a predetermined pattern to form the closing pattern 30 as a whole. In this case, the farther from a center 26 of the sheet substrate 22 the closing portion 34 is positioned, the larger the area of the closing portion 34 is.

[0040]

Herein, as an intermediate element between the “closing portion” and the “closing pattern”, a “closing domain” is defined. The closing domain 32 is a group of one or more closing portions 34, which forms a predetermined shape as a whole and serves as a part of the entire closing pattern. For example, in the example shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the annular set of the first circles 40 forms the first closing domain 32a, the annular set of the second circles 42 forms the second closing domain 32b, and the annular set of the third circles 44 forms the third closing domain 32c. In other words, the closing domain 32 is composed of one or more closing portions and the closing pattern 30 is composed of one or more closing domains 32. In this case, the closing domain 32 is composed of the closing portion 34 arranged annularly on the sheet substrate 22. Differently from the continuous closing portion 34, the closing domain 32 may include several closing portions 34 spaced from each other, and thus the closing domain 32 may include not only closing portions 34 but also a part of the openings 24.

[0041]

In this embodiment, the closing area of the third closing domain 32c is larger than that of the second closing domain 32b, and the closing area of the second closing domain 32b is larger than that of the first closing domain 32a. As used herein, “closing area” means a total of areas of closing portions (each closing portion is a continuous portion in which the openings 24 are continuously closed) in a certain domain. For example, the closing area of the first closing domain 32a is calculated by summing up the areas of all the first circles 40, which are included in the first closing domain 32a. Accordingly, the closing area in which the closing domain 32 closes the openings 24 is larger in an outer portion of the sheet substrate 22 than in an inner portion of the sheet substrate 22. In this case, the closing area of the closing domain 32 farther from the center 26 of the sheet substrate 22 is larger than the closing area of the closing domain 32 closer to the center 26 of the sheet substrate 22. In other words, the farther from the center 26 the closing domain 32 is positioned on the sheet substrate 22, the larger closing area the closing domain 32 has.

[0042]

Alternatively, each closing domain 32 may be composed of one closing portion 34. For example, as shown in FIG. 2, the first closing domain 32a’ may be identical to one first circle 40 (one closing portion 34), the second closing domain 32b’ may be identical to one second circle 42 (one closing portion 34), and the third closing domain 32c’ may be identical to one third circle 44 (one closing portion 34). Even in this manner, the closing area in which the closing domain 32’ closes the openings 24 is larger in an outer portion of the sheet substrate 22 than in an inner portion of the sheet substrate 22. [0043]

Here, a point P on the sheet substrate 22 is given as shown in FIG. 2. In a plane view of the sheet plane of the sheet substrate 22 as in FIG. 2, the distance dl is defined as a distance from the point P to the center 26 of the sheet substrate 22, and the distance d2 is defined as a distance from the point P to the peripheral end 28 of the sheet substrate 22. An inner region 22a of the sheet substrate 22 is defined as a region composed of a set of points P which satisfy dl<d2, and an outer region 22b of the sheet substrate 22 is defined as a region composed of a set of points P which satisfy d 1 >d2.

[0044]

In this embodiment, the sheet substrate 22 has a circular shape with a radius of r, the inner region 22a is an inner circle portion with a radius of r/2, and the outer region 22b is an outer ring portion with a width of r/2. Since all the closing domains 32a, 32b, 32c are positioned in the outer region 22b, the closing area in the outer region 22b is larger than the closing area in the inner region 22a, in which no closing domain is formed.

[0045]

A “closing density”, a ratio of a closing area in a certain region to an overall area of the certain region, can also be calculated. In this embodiment, the closing density in the outer region 22b is larger than the closing density in the inner region 22a.

[0046]

Alternatively, the sheet substrate 22 may be divided into three or more portions, e.g. in accordance with the distance from the center 26. For example, the sheet substrate 22 may be divided into four portions by equally dividing lines from the center 26 to the peripheral end 28 into four sections. In this case, the sheet substrate 22 may be divided into an innermost circle portion with a radius of r/4, a first ring portion with a width of r/4 around the innermost circle portion, a second ring portion with a width of r/4 around the first ring portion, and a third ring portion (outermost portion) with a width of r/4 around the second ring portion. More generally, the sheet substrate 22 may be divided into n pieces (n is an integer more than 1). The closing pattern 30 may have gradation from an inner portion to an outer portion of the sheet substrate 22. For example, if the sheet substrate 22 is divided into n regions (n is an integer more than 1 ; for example, n is 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, or 8) from the first, innermost region to the rz-th, outermost region so as to equally divide the distance from the center 26 to the peripheral end 28 into n sections,, the closing area and/or closing density in -th region (k is an integer between 2 and ri) is larger than the closing area and/or closing density in (Zr— 1 )-th region. In other words, the farther from the center 26 of the sheet substrate 22 the divided region is, the larger closing area and/or closing density the divided region has.

[0047]

The openings 24 are closed by any method to form the closing pattern 30, for example, by thermal treatment on a predetermined portions of the sheet substrate 22. For example, the openings 24 may be partially closed by welding such as ultrasonic welding or hot stamping of a mesh-shaped fabric sheet substrate. In this case, the closing portions 34 may be welded portions in which the openings 24 are closed by welding on the sheet substrate 22. Alternatively, the openings 24 may be closed by application of ink or adhesive such as glue, e.g. by silk screening of ink, on a predetermined portions of the sheet substrate 22. The closing pattern 30 may be formed by adding something blocking the opening 24, for example by embroidery, patching, or foil printing, or by blocking the opening 24 with laminated double layers of sheet. ^Variations of the screen>

[0048]

FIGS. 3 to 19 show variations of the screen 20 with various closing patterns 20.

[0049]

The variation shown in FIG. 3 has a closing pattern 30 composed of a plurality of triangular closing portions 34, which are arranged radially on the sheet substrate 22. The outer triangular closing portion 34 is larger than the inner triangular closing portion 34. The first (inner) closing domain 32a is composed of an annular set of inner closing portions 34 and the second (outer) closing domain 32b is composed of an annular of outer closing portions 34. As with the variation in FIG. 2, the closing area of the closing domains 32 is larger in an outer portion of the sheet substrate 22 than in an inner portion of the sheet substrate 22.

[0050]

Alternatively, the first closing domain 32a’ may be one inner closing portion 34 in a smaller triangular shape, and the second closing domain 32b’ may be one outer closing portion 34 in a larger triangular shape. The closing pattern 30 is composed of 16 inner closing domains 32a’ and 16 outer closing domains 32b’. Even in this manner, the closing area of the closing domains 32’ is larger in an outer portion of the sheet substrate 22 than in an inner portion of the sheet substrate 22.

[0051]

Moreover, as with the variation in FIG. 2, the closing area in the outer region 22b is larger than that in the inner region 22a. The closing density in the outer region 22b is larger than that in the inner region 22a as well.

[0052]

The variation in FIG. 4 has a closing pattern 30 composed of more triangular closing portions 34 than that in FIG. 3. The triangular closing portions 34 are arranged radially on the sheet substrate 22. Four triangular closing portions 34 are arranged in a series along the radial direction with sizes increasing from the inner closing portion to the outer closing portion.

[0053]

As with the variation in FIG. 3, a closing domain 32 may be an annular set of closing portions 34 or one closing portion 34. In the former, four annular and concentric closing domains 32 are defined. In the latter, the number of closing domains 32 is 16x4 - 64. In both cases, the closing area of the closing domains 32 is larger in an outer portion of the sheet substrate 22 than in an inner portion of the sheet substrate 22. Moreover, the closing area and the closing density in the outer region 22b is larger than those in the inner region 22a.

[0054]

The variation in FIG. 5 is similar to that in FIG. 4, but there are two types of columns of triangular closing portions 34. The first one is an inner column of four smaller triangles, forming the first closing domain 32a, and the second one is an outer column of four larger triangles, forming the second closing domain 32b. The closing area of the second closing domain 32b is larger than that of the first closing domain 32a. Accordingly, the closing area of the closing domains 32 is larger in an outer portion of the sheet substrate 22 than in an inner portion of the sheet substrate 22. Moreover, the closing area and the closing density in the outer region 22b is larger than those in the inner region 22a.

[0055]

In this case, the closing domain 32 is composed of closing portions 34 which are arranged in a series from a center 26 of the sheet substrate 22 toward a peripheral end 28 of the sheet substrate 22. The areas of the plurality of closing portions 34 which are arranged in a series increase from the center 26 toward the peripheral end 28.

[0056]

The variation in FIG. 6 has a closing pattern 30 composed of heart-shaped closing portions 34 arranged radially on the sheet substrate 22. Three heart-shaped closing portions 34 are arranged in a series along the radial direction with sizes increasing from the inner closing portion to the outer closing portion.

[0057]

As with the variation in FIGS. 3 and 4, a closing domain 32 may be an annular set of closing portions 34 or one closing portion 34. In the former, three annular and concentric closing domains 32 are defined. In the latter, the number of closing domains 32 is 16*3 = 48. In both cases, the closing area of the closing domains 32 is larger in an outer portion of the sheet substrate 22 than in an inner portion of the sheet substrate 22. Moreover, the closing area and the closing density in the outer region 22b are larger than those in the inner region 22a.

[0058]

The variation in FIG. 7 has a closing pattern 30 composed of circular closing portions 34 arranged radially in a twisted manner on the sheet substrate 22. Six circular closing portions 34 are arranged in a series in a twisted manner from the center 26 of the sheet substrate 22 to the peripheral end 28 with sizes increasing from the inner closing portion to the outer closing portion.

[0059]

As with the variation in FIGS. 3, 4, and 6, a closing domain 32 may be an annular set of closing portions 34 or one closing portion 34. In the former, six annular and concentric closing domains 32 are defined. In the latter, the number of closing domains 32 is 16*6 = 96. In both cases, the closing area of the closing domains 32 is larger in an outer portion of the sheet substrate 22 than in an inner portion of the sheet substrate 22. Moreover, the closing area and the closing density in the outer region 22b are larger than those in the inner region 22a.

[0060]

The variation in FIG. 8 has a closing pattern 30 composed of drop-shaped closing portions 34a arranged radially in the inner portion of on the sheet substrate 22 and a ring-shaped closing portion 34b covering the outer portion of the sheet substrate 22. Since the ring closing portion 34b covers the entire outer portion of the sheet substrate 22, the closing pattern 30 can remarkably reduce the overflow of the cosmetic composition C at the periphery of the screen 20.

[0061]

A first closing domain 32a may be an annular set of drop-shaped closing portions 34a or one closing portion 34a. A second closing domain 32b is composed of the closing portion 34b. The closing area of the closing domains 32 is larger in an outer portion of the sheet substrate 22 than in an inner portion of the sheet substrate 22. Moreover, the closing area and the closing density in the outer region 22b are larger than those in the inner region 22a.

[0062]

The variation in FIG. 9 has a closing pattern 30 composed of drop-shaped closing portions 34a arranged radially in the inner portion of the sheet substrate 22, wide arc-shaped closing portions 34b, and thin arc-shaped closing portion 34c.

[0063]

A first closing domain 32a is one drop-shaped closing portion 34a. A second closing domain 32b is a set of adjacent arc-shaped closing portions 34b, 34c. Since the closing area of the second closing domain 32b is larger than that of the first closing domain 32a, the closing area of the closing domains 32 is larger in an outer portion of the sheet substrate 22 than in an inner portion of the sheet substrate 22. Moreover, the closing area and the closing density in the outer region 22b are larger than those in the inner region 22a.

[0064]

The variation in FIG.10 is similar to that in FIG. 9, but three small drop-shaped closing portions 34a, 34b are formed instead of the drop-shaped closing portions 34a in FIG. 9. A first closing domain 32a is one drop-shaped closing portion 34a. A second closing domain 32b is a set of two adjacent closing portions 34b, 34b. A third closing domain 32c is a set of adjacent arc-shaped closing portions 34c, 34d. Since the closing area of the third closing domain 32c is larger than that of the second closing domain 32b and the closing area of the second closing domain 32b is larger than that of the first closing domain 32a, the closing area of the closing domains 32 is larger in an outer portion of the sheet substrate 22 than in an inner portion of the sheet substrate 22. Moreover, the closing area and the closing density in the outer region 22b are larger than those in the inner region 22a.

[0065]

The variation in FIG. 11 has a closing pattern 30 composed of circular closing portions 34a and 34b. The closing portions 34a form Y-shaped patterns which are arranged radially on the sheet substrate 22. The closing portions 34a have sizes increasing from the inner portion to the outer portion of the sheet substrate 22. The closing portions 34b are arranged between two Y-shaped patterns.

[0066]

A first closing domain 32a is a set of 10 closing portions 34a, which form the Y shaped pattern. A second closing domain 32b is one closing portion 34b. The closing area and the closing density in the outer region 22b are larger than those in the inner region 22a. Accordingly, the closing area of the closing domains 32 is larger in an outer portion of the sheet substrate 22 than in an inner portion of the sheet substrate 22.

[0067]

The variation in FIG. 12 is similar to that in FIG. 11, but inward crescent closing portions 34b are formed instead of the circular closing portions 34b in FIG. 11. A first closing domain 32a is a set of 10 closing portions 34a, which form the Y shaped pattern. A second closing domain 32b is one crescent closing portion 34b. The closing area and the closing density in the outer region 22b are larger than those in the inner region 22a. Accordingly, the closing area of the closing domains 32 is larger in an outer portion of the sheet substrate 22 than in an inner portion of the sheet substrate 22. [0068]

The variation in FIG. 13 is similar to that in FIG. 12, but outward crescent closing portions 34b are formed instead of the inward crescent closing portions 34b in FIG. 12. A first closing domain 32a is a set of 10 closing portions 34a, which form the Y shaped pattern. A second closing domain 32b is one crescent closing portion 34b. The closing area and the closing density in the outer region 22b are larger than those in the inner region 22a. Accordingly, the closing area of the closing domains 32 is larger in an outer portion of the sheet substrate 22 than in an inner portion of the sheet substrate 22.

[0069]

The variation in FIG. 14 has a closing pattern 30 composed of drop-shaped closing portions 34. The closing portions 34 have the same size as each other and are arranged radially on the sheet substrate 22. The closing portion 34 has an inner end (an upper tip of the drop) directed or oriented toward the center 26 of the sheet substrate 22 and an outer end (a bottom point of the drop) directed or oriented toward the peripheral end 28 of the sheet substrate 22. If the drop-shaped closing portion 34 is divided into an inner portion 34a which is closer to the inner end than to the outer end and an outer portion 34b which is closer to the outer end than to the inner end, the area of the outer portion 34b of the closing portion 34 is larger than the area of the inner portion 34a of the closing portion 34.

[0070]

A closing domain 32 is one closing portion 34. As stated above, the closing area of the outer portion of the closing domain 32 (the outer portion 34b) is larger than that of the inner portion of the closing domain 32 (the inner portion 34a). Accordingly, the closing area of the closing domains 32 is larger in an outer portion of the sheet substrate 22 than in an inner portion of the sheet substrate 22. Moreover, the closing area and the closing density in the outer region 22b are larger than those in the inner region 22a.

[0071]

The variation in FIG. 15 has a closing pattern 30 composed of drop-shaped closing portions 34a, 34b. The closing portions 34b are formed in a drop shape as with the closing portions 34 in FIG. 14 whereas the closing portions 34a also have a drop shape, but only as an outline of a drop. In other words, the closing portions 34b close all the openings 24 surrounded by the outline of the drop whereas the closing portions 34a close only the openings 24 on the outline of the drop, but do not close the openings 24 surrounded by the outline of the drop. The closing portions 34a are closer to the center 26 of the sheet substrate 22 than the closing portions 34b.

[0072]

The closing portions 34a have the same size as each other and are arranged radially on the sheet substrate 22. The closing portions 34b also have the same size as each other and are arranged radially on the sheet substrate 22. As with the closing portions 34 in FIG. 14, each of the closing portions 34a, 34b has an inner end and an outer end. If the closing portions 34a, 34b are divided into an inner portion which is closer to the inner end than to the outer end and an outer portion which is closer to the outer end than to the inner end, the area of the outer portion of the closing portions 34a, 34b is larger than the area of the inner portion of the closing portions 34a, 34b.

[0073]

A first closing domain 32a is one closing portion 34a. A second closing domain 32b is one closing portion 34b. As stated above, the closing area of the outer portion of the closing domains 32a, 32b (the outer portion of the closing portions 34a, 34b) is larger than that of the inner portion of the closing domains 32a, 32b (the inner portion of the closing portions 34a, 34b). Accordingly, the closing area of the closing domains 32 is larger in an outer portion of the sheet substrate 22 than in an inner portion of the sheet substrate 22. Moreover, the closing area and the closing density in the outer region 22b are larger than those in the inner region 22a.

[0074]

The variation in FIG. 16 has a closing pattern 30 composed of a ring-shaped closing portion 32 covering the outer portion of the sheet substrate 22. Since the ring closing portion 32 covers the entire outer portion of the sheet substrate 22, the closing pattern 30 can remarkably reduce the overflow of the cosmetic composition C at the periphery of the screen 20. For example, the distance from the center 26 of the sheet substrate 22 to the inner edge of the ring-shaped closing portion 32 may be 27.8 mm, and the distance from the center 26 of the sheet substrate 22 to the outer edge of the ring-shaped closing portion 32 (i.e. the radius of the sheet substrate 22) may be 54.4 mm.

[0075]

The variation in FIG. 17 has a closing pattern 30 composed of a ring-shaped closing portion 32 covering the outer portion of the sheet substrate 22, as with the variation in FIG. 16. Since the ring closing portion 32 covers the entire outer portion of the sheet substrate 22, the closing pattern 30 can remarkably reduce the overflow of the cosmetic composition C at the periphery of the screen 20. For example, the distance from the center 26 of the sheet substrate 22 to the inner edge of the ring-shaped closing portion 32 may be 29 mm, and the distance from the center 26 of the sheet substrate 22 to the outer edge of the ring-shaped closing portion 32 (i.e. the radius of the sheet substrate 22) may be 49 mm.

[0076]

The variation in FIG. 18 has a closing pattern 30 composed of a ring-shaped closing portion 32 partially covering the outer portion of the sheet substrate 22. The outermost ringshaped portion of the sheet substrate 22 is not provided with the closing portion 32. Since the ring closing portion 32 covers most of the outer portion of the sheet substrate 22, the closing pattern 30 can remarkably reduce the overflow of the cosmetic composition C at the periphery of the screen 20. For example, the distance from the center 26 of the sheet substrate 22 to the inner edge of the ring-shaped closing portion 32 may be 27.8 mm, the distance from the center 26 of the sheet substrate 22 to the outer edge of the ring-shaped closing portion 32 may be 51.6 mm, and the radius of the sheet substrate 22 may be 56.2 mm.

[0077]

The variation in FIG. 19 has a closing pattern 30 composed of a ring-shaped closing portion 32 covering the outer portion of the sheet substrate 22, as with the variation in FIGS. 16 and 17. Since the ring closing portion 32 covers the entire outer portion of the sheet substrate 22, the closing pattern 30 can remarkably reduce the overflow of the cosmetic composition C at the periphery of the screen 20. For example, the distance from the center 26 of the sheet substrate 22 to the inner edge of the ring-shaped closing portion 32 may be 31.6 mm, and the distance from the center 26 of the sheet substrate 22 to the outer edge of the ringshaped closing portion 32 (i.e. the radius of the sheet substrate 22) may be 51.6 mm.

<Effects> [0078]

According to at least one of the above-described embodiments, the outer portion of the screen is covered by the closing domain more than the inner portion of the screen. Therefore, it is possible to reduce the overflow at the outer portion of the screen of the cosmetic container.

[0079]

A test was performed using a cosmetic container comprising a screen with the closing pattern as shown in FIG. 8 and a comparative cosmetic container comprising a screen without a closing pattern. By pushing the center of the screen without the closing pattern, the cosmetic composition overflowed through the periphery of the screen. On the other hand, no (or very limited) overflow was seen at the periphery of the screen with the closing pattern, without impacting the makeup result.