Patent Application
20080257376
The present invention relates generally to a case for holding products in powder-like state. More specifically, the present invention relates to a case for storing and dispensing color cosmetic powder.
Cosmetic powder is available in several colors in addition to the various shades of foundation powder. The foundation powder is used to create a base for applying skin cosmetics. On the other hand, color powder is used to provide a color-effect on the skin. Color powders are applied on the face or used as eye-shadow to beautify the eyes.
Users of cosmetic powder prefer to carry their foundation powder and/or color powder with them while they travel. For this reason, various cosmetic powder cases are available in the market. The cases of cosmetic powders should be light in weight, slim and compact so that they can be easily fit and carried inside handbags and purses.
Conventional cosmetic cases include a box with a container to store the powder. The powder can be loose powder or in the solid-cake form. Some cases comprise multiple containers for storing powders of different color. The box also includes an applicator. Also, the box is covered with a lid to avoid any spilling of powder. Some cosmetic cases are provided with a mirror on the inside of the lid. The mirror aids the user in applying the cosmetic contents of the box.
However, the mirror tends to be covered by the powder when the lid is closed. This is because, when closed, the lid is in proximity with the powder. The loose powder on the surface of the powder cakes, rubs off and settles on the inside of the lid. Over time, the visibility in the mirror decreases. The decreased visibility of the mirror makes the application of the cosmetic powder difficult and sometimes forces the users to dispose of the cosmetic case and purchase a new one. Thus, the cosmetic cases are rendered useless and prove to be costly when a new cosmetic case is purchased. In addition, any remaining powder in the case is wasted.
A cosmetic case design marketed under the name ‘Linear Shadow Compact Quad’ by Bare Escentuals tries to overcome some of the above limitations. Their product includes a cover in the inside of the lid. Each cover is designed to cover the powder containers inside the case. Thus, in the closed state, the cover attached to the lid keeps the powder contents of the case contained in their position. This prevents loose powder from spreading inside the case when the case is closed. However, the powder that settles on to the cover can spread out to other area of the lid. In case, the remaining portion of the lid, which is not occupied by the cover, is fitted with a mirror, the mirror can be covered with powder, and thus spoilt. In addition, the space in which the mirror can be fitted is limited. This is because portion of the lid is already occupied by the cover. These factors add to the reduced visibility in the mirror.
It is apparent from the above discussion that there is a need for a cosmetic case that can overcome the above limitations.
The shortcomings set forth above are addressed by the present invention which is a cosmetic case for storing cosmetic products, such as powder.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a cosmetic case including a movable tray that covers cosmetic powder in the case.
Another object of the invention is to provide a loose powder container which incorporates an apparatus to prevent the spilling of the loose powder during handling of the container.
Still another object of the present invention is to provide a cosmetic case with a large mirror that improves the ease of application of the cosmetic.
Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a cosmetic case with a clean mirror even after repeated use.
Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a compact cosmetic case for the neat storage and dispensing of powder.
The various features and advantages of the present invention will be appreciated, as they become better understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein:
The present invention provides a case for storing one or more types of powder. The case is compact and covered by a lid. Removable and refillable containers inside the case store the powder. Each container is covered by corresponding protrusions at the bottom portion of a tray. Shapes of the protrusions at the bottom of the tray match the shapes of the containers that hold the powder. Therefore, the protrusions plug the containers holding the powder when the case is closed. The tray is connected to the bottom of the lid. Therefore, as the lid is lifted to open the case, the tray also lifts and slides over a pair of rails at the sides of the case to unplug the containers and expose the powder.
Lid 104 rotates around a hinge 402 (shown in
Although the embodiment illustrated is in a substantially rectangular shape, the shape of cosmetic case can differ for the various embodiments of the present invention. For instance, the shape of case 100 can be circular, square, oval, etc.
Furthermore, various embodiments of case 100, base 102 and button 106 can be made of material such as Acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) and/or PCTA (Copolyester of CHDM and PTA). However, the present invention can be manufactured using any other material suitable for the purpose of containing powder.
Each container 202 provides space for storing a powder. The different containers can store powders of different color. For example, case 100 illustrated in
In an embodiment, containers 202 are removable from base 102. In another embodiment, container 202 can be refilled with cosmetic powder of previous color or a different color.
Container 202 is covered inside case 100 by a tray 204. Tray 204 is a substantially horizontally positioned plate that provides an upper compartment inside case 100. Tray 204 is moveably fixed to lid 104. Therefore, as lid 104 is lifted, tray 206 automatically slides backwards with the opening of lid 104 to uncover container 202. In an embodiment, tray 204 also raises slightly while it slides backwards. In an embodiment, tray 204 is made of polypropylene (PP), however any other material suitable for manufacturing tray 204 can be also used.
As shown in the figure, in the opened state, tray 204 is shifted backwards to expose the contents of container 202 for application by the user.
In an embodiment, tray 204 is made from a transparent material, such as transparent plastic. This allows the contents of containers 202 to be visible through tray 204. In the closed state, tray 204 slides forward to the original position to cover containers 202. In an embodiment, in case tray 204 is lifted upwards by a certain distance upon sliding backward, it moves downward by the same distance while moving forward. In addition, the bottom side of tray 204 is formed with protrusions that extend downwards such that the outer surface of the periphery of the protrusions cooperate with the inner surface of containers 202 to seal containers 202. Thus, the protrusions plug the containers in the closed state so that no product can escape when case 100 is closed. This is subsequently illustrated in conjunction with
Tray 204 slides with the aid of rails 206. Rails 206 are elongated arms on each side of tray 204 that support tray 204. The support provided by rails 206 enables tray 204 to position itself horizontally, as shown. In addition, tray 204 is able to slide on rails 206. Each of rails 206 end in corresponding tracks 208. Tracks 208 provide a smooth interface for sliding movement of rails 206.
In an embodiment, a commonly known lock mechanism can be placed inside tracks 208 to engage rails 206 in the open state. An example is the dimple-pimple lock interface. Due to the lock, rails 206 hold the tray in the backward position, and do not slide forward. Moreover, while tray 206 is in the backward position, lid 104 also remains in the standing position, so that case 100 remains open. A mirror 214 is affixed inside lid 104. The mirror is visible as soon as case 100 is opened and lid 104 is lifted.
As soon as lid 104 is brought down to close case 100, the lock mechanism may disengage rails 206. As the rails are disengaged, rails 206 slide forward, bringing with them tray 206 upon containers 202. In this state, the protrusions at the bottom of tray 206 seal containers 202.
In various embodiments of the present invention, base 102 can also include space for keeping applicators and other accessories that may be needed with cosmetic powder. Holders or depressions 210 and 212 in base 102 illustrate such additional spaces. In an embodiment, holders 210 are used as mixing wells to mix the cosmetic color contents of containers 202. Also, holder 212 is used to place an applicator brush for applying the contents of containers 202.
The present invention provides various embodiments of a cosmetic case. The cosmetic case is compact and light in weight, making it easy to store and carry. Moreover, the case comprises multiple compartments in the form of a base and a tray. The bottom of tray plugs the cosmetic contents stored in containers in the base when the cosmetic case is closed. As the cosmetic case is opened, the tray starts moving while unplugging the cosmetic contents. Thus, the tray slides automatically while lifting the lid of the cosmetic case. Since the tray remains horizontally positioned throughout the mechanism, a user does not see the plugging and unplugging of the individual containers of cosmetic colors. Moreover, since the plugs are concealed at the bottom of the tray, the interiors of the cosmetic case look clean and finished to the user. The tray remains horizontally positioned even when the cosmetic case is open, thus allowing the complete area inside the lid to be used as a large mirror. Furthermore, the plugs at the bottom of the tray keep the cosmetic colors from spreading out on the mirror since the colors never come in contact with the mirror.
While various embodiments of the present invention have been illustrated and described, it will be clear that the present invention is not limited to these embodiments only. Numerous modifications, changes, variations, substitutions and equivalents will be apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention as described in the claims.
