The invention relates to the domain of cases designed to contain cosmetic products or beauty products, typically makeup powders.
In general, cases typically comprise:
Many different embodiments of cases are known, that may apply to one or several constituents of the case.
Thus, patents issued in the name of the applicant include:
The invention is firstly intended to form a case comprising a limited number of moulded parts, typically two moulded parts, namely a bottom and a cover, such that it is particularly easy and economic to assemble the different parts of the case.
The invention is also intended to form a case which is just as easy to open and manipulate as a traditional case.
The invention is also intended to form a very esthetic case, particularly a case with a regular and uniform sidewall.
Accessorily, the invention is also intended to obtain moulded parts that are economic in themselves.
The case according to the invention is designed for packaging of cosmetic products, and includes a cover typically provided with a mirror and with a first hinge element and a bottom, possibly including an inner frame fixed to the said bottom, forming a cavity that contains the said cosmetic product or a receptacle containing the said cosmetic product, the said bottom or the said inner frame being provided with a second hinge element, a hinge being formed by cooperation between the said first and second hinge elements so as to enable the cover to rotate with respect to the said bottom about a rotation axis, a closer or any means of locking and unlocking the said cover with respect to the said bottom or the said inner frame, typically comprising cooperation of a first closer element, typically a locking hook fixed to the said cover, and a second closer element fixed to the said bottom or the said inner frame, and typically comprising a lip that will cooperate with the said hook, the said closer or the said second closer element typically being activated by a push button, the said case possibly including an applicator of the said cosmetic product.
This case is characterised in that:
This combination of means provides a means of solving the problems that arise.
In the case according to the invention, the closer and more particularly the said second closer element, in other words the part of the closer fixed to the bottom or to the inner frame, does not in itself require any added parts, as is normally the case to obtain reliable closing and easy opening of the case.
Thus, the said front part which is completely fixed to the bottom or the inner frame on one side, and is fixed to the locking lip on the other side, forms a part of the second closer element, which is visible from the outside and is perfectly integrated into the outer skirt of the bottom, such that highly aesthetic cases are obtained, the closer mechanism thus being either invisible or at least only slightly visible as such.
All figures relate to a case (1) according to the invention.
a to 3f relate to the bottom (3) of this case.
a is a perspective view of the side and the top.
b is a top view.
c is a bottom view.
d is a partial bottom view corresponding to the part surrounded by a rectangle in
a is a sectional view at the vertical plane A-A in
b is an enlarged view of the front part of the bottom (3), and particularly the second closer element (31) corresponding to the left part surrounded by a circle in
c is an enlarged view of the back part of the bottom (3) of
d is a sectional view at the vertical plane D-D in
e is a front view.
f is a side view.
g is a back view.
a to 3f are sections at vertical planes a-a to f-f respectively in
a to 4h relate to the cover (2) of the case (1).
a is a perspective view.
b is a top view.
c is a bottom view.
d is a sectional view at the vertical plane D-D in
e is an enlarged view of the left part of
f is an enlarged view of the right part of the
g is a side view.
h is a back view.
a to 5i relate to the closed case (1) formed from the bottom (3) according to
a is a front, side and top perspective view.
b is a side view.
c is a back view.
d is a top view.
e is a front view.
f is a bottom view.
g is a section at the vertical plane A-A in
h is an enlarged view of the left part of
i is an enlarged view of the right part of
a and 7b illustrate an example showing the manufacturing method of the bottom (3), and more particularly the said second closer element (31).
a represents the portion of the said lower part (61) of the manufacturing mould (6) of the second closer element (31) in
b represents the portion of the said upper part (60) of the manufacturing mould (6) of the second closer element (31) in
a to 8f corresponding to
a to 9f corresponding to
According to the invention, the said lateral displacement of the said lip (310) may be achieved by applying manual pressure on the said cover (2), the said bottom (3) being held fixed.
The said lateral displacement of the said lip may also be achieved by applying manual pressure on the said front part (34) acting as a push button (50).
In the first case, the manual pressure applied on the cover is sufficient to overcome the click fit force of the locking lip (310) fixed to the bottom or the inner frame and the locking hook (210) fixed to the cover.
In the second case, manual pressure applied on the said front part (34) moves the said locking lip (310), typically in translation, relative to the said locking hook (210), and thus unlocks the closer (5) of the case (1).
Typically, the said front part (34) may be a rigid part, the said lip (310) typically also being rigid, such that any movement of the said front part (34), no matter how small, is transmitted to the said lip (310), in order to unlock the said closer (5).
An overlap between the said lip (310) and the said hook (210) of the order of 0.5 mm, typically 0.4 to 1 mm, may be sufficient to close the cover.
As can be seen for example in
Similarly, the said front part (34) may have a vertical cross section typically similar to that of the said recessed outer part (321) so that it is inserted in the said recessed external part (321), and an external surface typically forming an extension of the said outer skirt (320) such that the shape and surface of the said front part (34) are continuous with the shape and surface of the said outer skirt (320).
However, the said front part (34) may have an external surface or an appearance that is visually distinct from the said surrounding peripheral border, for example an external surface projecting from or set back from the outer skirt (320) of the peripheral border (32), in order to indicate the position on the closer (5) at which manual pressure should be applied, if it is necessary.
According to the invention, and according to one embodiment of the invention as illustrated in FIGS. 8 and 8a to 8f, the said solidarisation means may include at least one spacer (35) fixed to the lower part (341′) of the said front part (34) through its front junction (350), and typically arranged to be perpendicular to the said front part (34), such that the said lateral displacement may typically include a rotation of the said front part (34) when the said manual pressure is applied on an upper part (340′) of the said front part (34), as illustrated in
The said spacer (35) may be fixed to the said bottom (3) or the said inner frame (3′) through its rear junction (351), the dimensions of the said spacer (35) being chosen to achieve the said rotation and the said springback.
According to another embodiment of the invention illustrated particularly in
Typically, the said length L′ may be equal to at least the said length L, the said length L′ being the distance separating the said ends (360, 361).
Depending on the type of case and its external dimensions, the said length L′ may vary from 15 mm to 40 mm, and typically from 20 mm to 30 mm.
The width 1′ may typically vary from 1 to 5 mm, the thickness e′ typically varying from 0.3 mm to 1.5 mm.
The value of L′, l′ and e′ are chosen such that the beam formed by the said transverse tab (36) causes a resilient torsion and/or bending, following manual pressure applied to the said front part (34) in order to open the case, and typically on its upper part (340′).
The ratio between the length L′ and the section of the beam (l′xe′) in the bottom (3) of the case as shown in
The ratio L′/l′.e′ may typically be between 5 and 15, and preferably between 7 and 10.
Advantageously, as illustrated in
This distance d corresponds approximately to the distance between the upper border (340) of the said front part (34) and the geometric centre of a cross section of the said transverse tab (36). This distance d is 6 mm on the bottom (3) of
According to the invention, and as illustrated on all figures related to the bottoms (3) of the case (1), the said front part (34) may be fixed to the said bottom (3), the said front part (34) and the said bottom (3) forming the said single piece part (7,71).
As illustrated particularly in
Most frequently, and as illustrated in
The said bottom (3) may comprise a lower panel (33) fixed to the said inner skirt (324) so as to form the said central cavity (37) in the case in which the said bottom (3) is not provided with an inner frame (3′), the said central cavity (37) having a depth H−Ep, where Ep is the thickness of the said lower panel (33) as illustrated in
Advantageously, the said hinge (4) may be formed by cooperation of at least one male element (41) with at least one female element (42), the said female element (42) forming a hub with a lateral axial opening with springback (420), such that the said hinge (4) may be formed by click fitting of the said male element (41) and female element (42).
As illustrated in
According to one embodiment of the invention illustrated in
But according to the invention, it would be possible to have a case in which the said second hinge element (30) carried by the said bottom (3) would include the said female element (42), the said first hinge element (20) carried by the said cover (2) then including the said male element (41).
The said female element (42) may form or include one or two hubs M1, M2 (42′), the said male element (41) forming or including one or two spindles E1, E2 (41′), the said hinge (4) comprising a central hinge or two half-hinges, a right half-hinge, and a left half-hinge, each half-hinge being formed by cooperation of a hub M1, M2 (42′) and a corresponding spindle E1, E2 (41′).
c, 2g, 4h, 4f, 5c illustrate the case in which the case (1) comprises a central hinge, the hinge (4) of the case (1) as shown in
But according to another embodiment of the hinge (4), the said female element (42) may form or may include two distinct hubs M1 and M2 (42′), the said male element (41) forming or comprising one or two distinct spindles E1 and E2 (41′).
According to a first variant of this embodiment, the two hubs M1 and M2 may form the outside of the said hinge (4) and the two spindles E1 and E2 may form the inside of the said hinge (4), the said hinge (4) then forming a sequence denoted “M1-E1-E2-M2”.
According to a second variant of this embodiment, the two hubs M1 and M2 may form the inside of the said hinge (4) and the two spindles E1 and E2 may form the outside of the said hinge (4), the said hinge (4) then forming a sequence denoted “E1-M1-M2-E2”.
Advantageously, and as is the case with the case (1) according to
The said click fitting of the bottom (3) and the cover (2) directly forms the case (1)—typically closed.
According to the invention, the said thermoplastic material forming the said cover (2) may be a typically transparent thermoplastic material, the said bottom (3) being formed from a transparent thermoplastic material or a non-transparent plastic material, containing a typically pigmented colouring material.
When the said cover (2) is made of a transparent plastic material, it does not usually include a mirror, so that the contents of the case (1) can be seen without needing to open it. However, and conversely, if the cover (2) is made of a non-transparent plastic material, it may typically include an internal mirror.
Advantageously, the said thermoplastic moulded part forming the said moulded single piece part (7) may be made of a so-called “rigid” thermoplastic material with a bending modulus equal to at least 2000 MPa, typically chosen from among SAN or PS.
According to the invention, the said front part (34) forming part of the said closer (5) may be straight or curved, depending on the shape of the said case (1) that may be polygonal and typically square or rectangular, or round, or oval. The invention is not limited to a particular shape of the case (1).
Another purpose of the invention consists of a manufacturing method for a case (1) according to the invention.
In this method, the said bottom (3) and/or the said cover (2) may be formed by moulding a thermoplastic material in a mould (6) typically in two parts, an upper part (60) and a lower part (61) that cooperate by axial displacement to form an inner cavity (62) corresponding to the said bottom (3) or the said cover (2) and supplied with thermoplastic material through at least one duct, all parts of the said cavity and therefore all parts of the said bottom (3) or the said cover (2) possibly being formed or delimited by one or several axial elements (600, 610) of the said upper part (6) and/or the said lower part (61), such that the said mould (60) can be closed and then opened by a simple single relative directional axial displacement of the said upper part (60) and lower part (61), and that the said bottom (3) or the said cover (2) can then be extracted from the said open mould.
Note that the bottom (3), together with its front part (34) forms the said moulded single piece part (7) including the said solidarisation means.
As illustrated in
As can be seen particularly in
According to the invention, and as illustrated in
As illustrated in
Bottoms (3) were moulded either from SAN or PS, using a mould (6) in two parts (60, 61) with axial displacement as illustrated in
Covers (2) made of PS were also moulded with a two-part mould with axial displacement.
The cases (1) were formed by axial click fitting, all these cases (1) including the same hinge (4). However, several embodiments of the closer (5) and particularly the second closer element (31) were made, differentiated by the said solidarisation means that forms or includes a springback means.
a to 7b illustrate a first embodiment of the solidarisation means. According to this embodiment, as can be seen particularly in
a to 8f illustrate a second embodiment of the solidarisation means. According to this embodiment, the said solidarisation means includes two spacers (35, 35′) located on each side of the central part of the said front part (34), the central part including two projections (311) that solidarise the locking lip (310) to the said front part (34). The dimensions of these spacers (35, 35′), and particularly the thickness Ep′, are chosen such that the said front part (34) can bend when a manual force is applied on its upper part (340′) introducing a separation, and then return to its original position as soon as the said force is released.
In
a to 9f illustrate a third embodiment of the solidarisation means.
This embodiment is different from the first embodiment in that the said transverse tab (36) is straight, as illustrated in
The invention can be used to make cases (1) economically because:
Thus, the invention can be used to make cases (1) in which the closer (5) and the hinge (4) do not require any distinct or complementary parts, at high speed, without reducing their technical quality.
It is also possible to use a relatively rigid thermoplastic material with good mechanical characteristics to form the said case (1), and typically the said bottom (3), such a material being advantageous particularly to obtain a case with a high quality surface condition.
List of Marks
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 04 00436 | Jan 2004 | FR | national |