1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to cosmetic compacts, and more particularly to compacts of the type that are capable of storing and dispensing an unusually large variety of different cosmetic products in a single, easy-to-use package.
2. Description of the Related Art Including Information Disclosed Under 37 CFR 1.97-1.99
The following references are hereinbelow listed as being considered a representative sampling of prior art in the field to which the present invention pertains:
In particular, the earliest U.S. Pat. No. 1,453,563, illustrates a vanity case which presents a first compartment constituted as a pull-out drawer slidably received in a base, and a second compartment formed in the base itself, with a hinged lid and a clasp at the front of the lid. This prior art device is considered by applicants, to be exemplary of a very large number of subsequently developed cosmetic containers.
U.S. Pat. No. 1,698,266 discloses a two compartment container, wherein the compartments are arranged side-by-side in a base with a slidable closure member. A cup-like recess is formed in upper portion of the closure member, and a secondary closure member is arranged to fit onto the first. The recess and secondary closure member constitute a third compartment for storage of a cosmetic substance.
U.S. Pat. No. 2,104,104 shows a cosmetic compact utilizing a container with a slide cover, and further including a flap on the cover, which can be opened to reveal a mirror. The unit is made up of essentially one base, and one slide cover on the base.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,828,802 relates to a device for applying wax to human hair, and features a base with a hinged closure, and a multi-sided cake therein, provided with different wax compositions. The base has a side opening, and the cake is turnable in the base so as to expose any one of its multiple sides toward the opening of the base. Several variations on this theme are also disclosed.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,944,402 relates to a multiple-compartment cosmetic container having a number of interconnected, sectional parts capable of being fitted one upon the other, and wherein the sectional parts each have slots to receive sliding drawers for containing cosmetic substances. Cooperable interlocking structures on the sectional parts enable them to be quickly assembled to one another, or broken down. The arrangement is such that different sectional configurations are made possible, according to the preferences of the user.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,025,817 involves a cylindrical vanity case providing a plurality of individual drawers about the side wall of the case. The drawers can be opened simultaneously by twisting one part of the case with respect to a second. An upper compartment is also provided, with its own closure, and a second, larger closure is hingedly connected to the remainder of the case.
U.S. Pat. No. 7,828,000 discloses a multi-part cosmetic container, having essentially a base and slide cover therefor, with a compartment in the base and a second compartment in a recess in the cover. The second compartment has a flap hinged thereto, to expose a mirror on the underside of the flap.
Published Patent Application No. 2010/0319723 discloses a multi-drawer make-up kit constituted of a plurality of complementary boxes that can be interconnected to one another in order to form a number of different configurations. Complementary male and female structures on different faces of the blocks provide retention to maintain the blocks in assembled relation.
It is considered that large scale commercialization of the devices noted above has not occurred. Undue complexity may have been a concern. Alternately, promotional considerations may have prevented the disclosed arrangements from being made and sold in quantity.
It is further noted that some of the devices discussed above did not relate directly to cosmetic applications. Accordingly, the relatively high demand today, for treatments to the face, hands, and body, has resulted in the need for large-scale, inexpensive yet reliable methods and fixtures for storing and dispensing health-care and/or beauty-care products.
The above shortcomings of prior cosmetic and like dispensers are largely overcome by the present invention, which is believed to have at least one or more of the following objects:
To provide an improved cosmetic compact which is both simple in construction and reliable in operation.
To provide an improved compact as above, wherein an especially large number of separate cosmetic products and/or cosmetic utensils can be accommodated.
To provide an improved compact of the kind indicated, wherein different products are accessed by selective movement between base and cover members, in any one of four different directions.
The invention provides a cosmetic compact, comprising in combination an expansive base member having a series of upwardly-facing product wells to accommodate one or more cosmetic substances or cosmetic articles, respectively, a cover member, and an expansive shuttle piece interposed between the base member and cover member, said shuttle piece and base member having cooperable slide bearing means for enabling the shuttle piece to slide in opposite directions with respect to the base member, said shuttle piece and cover member having additional cooperable slide bearing means for enabling the cover member to slide in opposite directions with respect to the shuttle piece and base member, said first cooperable slide bearing means and said additional cooperable slide bearing means being substantially orthogonal with respect to one another, whereby the cover member can undergo universal sliding movement with respect to the base member.
Other features and advantages will hereinafter appear.
In the drawings, illustrating several embodiments of the invention:
Referring first to
In accordance with the present invention the cosmetic compact 10 includes a molded plastic outer casing comprising a base member designated by the numeral 12, a cover member 14 and an intermediary member or shuttle piece 16 interposed therebetween. The shuttle piece 16 and base and cover members 12, 14 have complementary molded structures which in a unique manner, permit the cover member 14 to remain captive on the base member 12 while at the same time permitting its controlled, universal movement with respect thereto.
Referring to specific details of the construction, reference will be made to
The upper surfaces of the base member 12 are preferably all in a single plane such that unobstructed sliding movement of the cover member 14 is made possible on this plane. The network of the connections between the various peripheral compartments forms a substantially rectangular lattice 22 when the base member 12 is viewed by itself, from above. Various portions of this lattice 22 are shown in
Further by the invention, relative sliding movement between the cover member 14, the shuttle piece 16 and the base member 12 is rendered possible in part, by a pair of upstanding, coextensive rails 24 on the base member 12, which in turn are provided with facing, inwardly directed beads 26 along the their full lengths. The upper portions of the rails which contain the beads 26 extend above the plane of the lattice 22 noted above, for engagement by cooperable edge structures on the shuttle piece 16, as will become apparent below.
Two opposite edge portions 28 of the shuttle piece 16 are preferably provided with grooves or other similar formations that will operate to hold the shuttle piece captive while enabling it to slide within limits, with respect to the base member 12.
Referring again to
The cover member 12 is provided with an insert panel 12i which can be utilized to individualize the cosmetic unit hereinafter described.
In accordance with the invention, the movement between the shuttle piece 16 and cover member 14 is in a direction that is orthogonal to the direction of sliding movement between the shuttle piece 16 and base member 12. The arrangement is such that the cover member 14 can have universal sliding movement in four directions with respect to the base member, which gives rise to the various possible displacement examples illustrated in
Another feature of the arrangement just described resides in the stop function that is provided by the base member 12 and against the cover member 14. In accomplishing such a stop function which needs to be operative for any one of the four open-cover member arrangements, the cover member 14 is provided with four depending outer flanges 38 which, together with its expansive top wall 40, form its outermost surfaces.
The remaining two of the depending flanges 38 of the cover member 14 will engage, broadside, one of the rails 24 in one direction, and the other rail 24 in the opposite direction. Again, four possibilities of the 4 way movement of the cover member 14 with respect to the base member 12 are shown in
The invention further provides for a biasing force to be exerted on the cover member 14 with respect to the base member 12, tending to draw the cover member 14 toward its closed or centered position,
Another embodiment of the invention is shown in
In place of the magnetic centering arrangement represented by the components 42, 44 and 46, by the present invention there is provided a modified construction for providing to the user, variable resistance against sliding movement, such resistance being dependent on the relative location of the cover member with respect to the base member shown in
In operation, the engagement of two spring fingers 50 with the blades 52 on the base member 12a tends to retain the shuttle piece 16a at the center of the blade 52, with respect to movement of the shuttle piece 16a in either of two opposite directions; the same is true of the other two spring fingers 50 and the elevator blades 54 on the underside of the cover member 14a. For sliding movement in one or the other of two opposed directions: In the case that the cover member and shuttle piece move together, the user would initially feel increasing resistance while sliding them. Thereafter as the spring fingers 50 approach the ends of the respective elevator blades 52 on the base member 12a, the user would encounter less resistance toward sliding and eventually no resistance prior to halting of the cover member 14a and shuttle piece 16a. The action is similar to that of the magnetic arrangement described in the first embodiment.
For sliding movement in an orthogonal direction with respect to that just described in the previous paragraph, a similar reaction would be felt by the user; that is he would initially feel increasing resistance while sliding the cover member 14a on the shuttle piece 16a away from center with respect to the shuttle piece, and thereafter as the spring fingers 50 approach the ends of the respective elevator blades 52 on the shuttle piece 16a, the user would encounter still less resistance, until the cover member was halted.
By incorporating the spring fingers entirely in the shuttle piece, a simpler construction is realizable. Similarly, simultaneously with the molding of the base member and cover member, the elevator blades can be included on both, so as to complete the all-plastic detent mechanism.
From the above it can be seen that we have provided a novel and improved, four-way sliding compact construction which is simple in its structure and easy to use. The provision of a large number of individual product wells enables a multiplicity of different shades of cosmetic substance/cosmetic utensils to be stored.
Moreover, all stored materials are readily accessed by a simple, relative sliding movement of cover and base. When not in use, magnet-type centering or plastic finger-type centering can be used, to avoid inadvertently spilling of the articles/substances carried by the compact.
The disclosed arrangements are thus seen to represent a distinct advance and improvement in the cosmetic field.
Each and every one of the appended claims defines an aspect of the invention which is separate and distinct from all others, and accordingly it is intended that each claim be treated as such when examined in any determination of novelty or validity.
Variations and modifications are possible without departing from the spirit of the invention, and portions of the improvement can be used without others.
The present application claims U.S. priority of our corresponding U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 61/626,615 filed Sep. 29, 2011, entitled COSMETIC COMPACT.