FIELD
The present invention relates to a cosmetic container having a container body and a lid.
BACKGROUND
It is important to a cosmetic container that a user can operate the container effectively and comfortably to apply a cosmetic material such as foundation.
For example, Patent Literature 1 proposes a cosmetic container in which a mirror placed on a lid is rotatable.
CITATION LIST
Patent Literature
Patent Literature 1: Japanese Patent No. 5090231
SUMMARY
Technical Problem
When a user uses a cosmetic container, a series of operations of grasping the container (step 1), opening a lid of the container (step 2), putting a cosmetic material on an applicator (step 3), and applying the cosmetic material on the face or the like while seeing a mirror (step 4) is required. However, in the conventional technique, an improvement in problems particularly related to step 1 is insufficient while an improvement of step 4 is proposed.
The present invention has been achieved in view of the above and an object of the present invention is to provide a cosmetic container that can be used effectively and comfortably by a user at respective steps of using the cosmetic container.
Solution to Problem
A first invention is a cosmetic container that comprises a body housing a cosmetic product therein and a lid openably engaged with the body, and that can be held with one hand of a user, wherein the cosmetic container is formed in an oval shape in a planar view, and a shape of the cosmetic container viewed in a direction orthogonal to the planar view is formed in an approximately elliptical shape.
The bottom surface of a conventional cosmetic container is flat in most parts. This structure is a suitable shape when a cosmetic item is put on a flat surface such as a table to apply makeup. With regard thereto, the inventors of the present invention focused on a fact that, when using a cosmetic container such as a compact, a user often applied makeup while holding the cosmetic container with one hand. The inventors found that the shape of a space naturally formed by a palm and fingers did not have a flat surface, and studied a relation between such a structure of the hand and a structure of a cosmetic container. As a result, the inventors found that it was more preferable for applying makeup with the cosmetic container being held with one hand that a flat portion in the bottom surface was smaller contrary to the structure of the conventional cosmetic container. The inventors arrived at a fact that the configuration of the first invention enabled the cosmetic container to be securely seated on a human hand and the user to use the cosmetic container effectively and comfortably at respective steps of using the cosmetic container. Furthermore, with the configuration of the first invention, a large capacity can be provided in a depth direction of the body and thus a larger amount of the cosmetic product can be housed.
A second invention is the cosmetic container with the configuration of the first invention, wherein a ratio α1 (D1/L1) of a length (D1) of a short axis of the oval shape to a length (L1) of a long axis thereof is not less than 0.75 and not more than 0.85, and a position of the short axis is located slightly closer to a blunt end from a position corresponding to a half (L2) of the length of the long axis, and a ratio α2 (L3/L1) of a length (L3) by which the short axis is located closer to the blunt end to the length (L1) of the long axis is not less than 0.05 and not more than 0.07.
A third invention is the cosmetic container with either the configuration of the first invention or the configuration of the second invention, wherein in an outer shape of the body, a ratio α3 (P1/L1) of a maximum length (P1) of a flat surface portion to the length (L1) of the long axis of the oval shape is equal to or lower than 0.50, and a ratio α4 (P2/D1) of a maximum length (P2) of a flat surface portion to the length (D1) of the short axis of the oval shape is equal to or lower than 0.50, and a ratio of heights between the body and the lid constituting the approximately elliptical shape is approximately 1:1.
A fourth invention is the cosmetic container with the configuration of the third embodiment, wherein the ratio α3 is equal to or lower than 0.40, and the ratio α4 is equal to or lower than 0.40.
A fifth invention is the cosmetic container with any one of the configurations of the first to fourth inventions, wherein a hinge portion that hinges the lid to the body to be capable of pivoting on a shaft is placed on a pointed end side of the oval shape, and a latch portion that fixes the lid to the body to be capable of opening is placed on a blunt end side of the oval shape, a mirror in an oval shape in a planar view approximately similar to the lid is placed on an inner side of the lid, and a blunt end portion of the oval shape of the mirror is located on an upper side viewed from the user when the user releases latch between the lid and the body and pivots the lid with respect to the body.
The inventors of the present invention focused attention on a fact that a line connecting the eyes and the nose of a human formed an approximately isosceles triangle and that this region was an important region when makeup was applied. To efficiently apply makeup in the important region, it is desirable that the width of an upper part of a mirror be larger than that of a lower part of the mirror when viewed from the user. In this regard, according to the configuration of the present invention, a bottom side of the approximately isosceles triangle described above is reflected on a blunt end side of the oval-shaped mirror and an apex side thereof is reflected on a pointed end side of the mirror, so that makeup can be applied efficiently to the important region described above.
A sixth invention is the cosmetic container with any one of the configurations of the first to fifth inventions, wherein when the oval shape is divided into two along the long axis of the oval shape, an outer circumference of one of divided parts from a pointed end of the oval shape to a position substantially corresponding to the short axis is divided substantially equally into three, three parts are assumed to be a first region, a second region, and a third region, respectively, in this order from the pointed end, a region from the position substantially corresponding to the short axis to a blunt end of the oval shape is divided substantially equally into two, and two parts are assumed to be a fourth region and a fifth region, respectively, in this order from a side of the short axis, a ratio β1 (R1/Rab) of a curvature radius R1 of the first region to an average curvature radius (Rab) being an average of curvature radiuses of an outer circumference of the oval shape is not less than 0.55 and not more than 0.65, a ratio β2 (R2/Rab) of a curvature radius R2 of the second region to the average curvature radius (Rab) is not less than 0.95 and not more than 1.10, a ratio β3 (R3/Rab) of a curvature radius R3 of the third region to the average curvature radius (Rab) is not less than 1.20 and not more than 1.50, a ratio β4 (R4/Rab) of a curvature radius R4 of the fourth region to the average curvature radius (Rab) is not less than 0.90 and not more than 1.20, and a ratio β5 (R5/Rab) of a curvature radius R5 of the fifth region to the average curvature radius (Rab) is not less than 0.70 and not more than 0.90.
A seventh invention is the cosmetic container with any one of the configurations of the first to sixth inventions, wherein when a region including a connection portion between the body and the lid in a curved outer circumference of the approximately elliptical shape of the cosmetic container viewed from a front is assumed to be a first region, a region nearest to a lowermost portion of the body is assumed to be a third region, and a region between the first region and the third region is assumed to be a second region, a ratio γ1 (R6/rab) of a curvature radius R6 of the first region to an average curvature radius (rab) being an average of curvature radiuses of curved shapes of outer circumferences of the first region, the second region, and the third region is not less than 0.70 and not more than 0.85, a ratio γ2 (R7/rab) of a curvature radius R7 of the second region to the average curvature radius (rab) is not less than 0.40 and not more than 0.55, and a ratio γ3 (R8/rab) of a curvature radius R8 of the third region to the average curvature radius (rab) is not less than 1.60 and not more than 1.80.
An eighth invention is the cosmetic container with any one of the configurations of the first to seventh inventions, wherein a plate-like protrusion is formed on either a side of the lid or a side of the body on the hinge portion, an elastic member made of an elastic material is placed on the side of the body or the side of the lid on the hinge portion where the plate-like protrusion is not formed, the elastic member is pushed into the plate-like protrusion to be in a deformed state when the lid is fixed to the body, and the lid is slightly pivoted with respect to the body due to an action of shape recovery force of the elastic member when fixing between the lid and the body is released.
According to the configuration of the eighth invention, when fixing of the lid and the body is released, the lid automatically pivots slightly with respect to the body and is brought to an open state. Therefore, the user can slip a finger into a gap between the lid and the body to easily pivot the lid to a desired position.
Advantageous Effects of Invention
With the cosmetic container according to the present invention, the user can use the cosmetic container effectively and comfortably at respective steps of using the cosmetic container.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view of a cosmetic container according to one embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a schematic plan view of a lid.
FIG. 3 is a schematic plan view of the lid.
FIG. 4 is a schematic side view of the cosmetic container.
FIG. 5 is a schematic front view of the cosmetic container.
FIG. 6 is a schematic perspective view showing a refill.
FIG. 7 is a schematic perspective view showing a puff.
FIG. 8 is a schematic perspective view showing a sponge.
FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram showing a back surface of the lid.
FIG. 10 is a schematic end view of the lid.
FIG. 11 is a schematic end view of a hinge portion of the lid.
FIG. 12 is a schematic enlarged view showing a part of the hinge portion of the lid.
FIG. 13 is a schematic diagram showing a bottom surface of a body.
FIG. 14 is a schematic diagram showing a hinge portion of the body.
FIG. 15 is a schematic diagram showing one member of the hinge portion of the body.
FIG. 16 is a schematic diagram showing one member of the hinge portion of the body.
FIG. 17 is a schematic end view showing an internal structure of the cosmetic container.
FIG. 18 is a schematic end view showing an internal structure of the cosmetic container.
FIG. 19 are schematic diagrams showing deformation of an elastic member of the hinge portion.
FIG. 20 is a schematic diagram showing a natural shape of a human hand.
FIG. 21 is a schematic diagram showing a state in which the cosmetic container is grasped by a human hand.
FIG. 22 is a schematic diagram showing a state in which fixing of the body and the lid is released.
FIG. 23 is a schematic diagram showing a state in which the lid is pivoted with respect to the body and a blunt end side of an oval-shaped mirror is located upward.
FIG. 24 is a schematic diagram showing a state in which an inner lid is opened to enable makeup.
DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS
Exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be explained below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. Explanations of configurations that can be appropriately achieved by persons skilled in the art are omitted and only a basic configuration of the present invention is explained.
As shown in FIG. 1, a cosmetic container 1 has a lid 10 and a body 50. The body 50 includes a housing 51 and a refill 100 (see FIG. 6). The cosmetic container 1 is oval-shaped in a planar view as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, a shape of the cosmetic container 1 viewed in a direction orthogonal to the planar view is approximately elliptical. According to this structure, the cosmetic container 1 can be securely seated on one hand of a user. Because a curved surface of a wall surface of the body 50 continues to a small flat surface on a lowest surface, a large capacity can be ensured in the depth direction and a large amount of a cosmetic product can be housed therein. The refill 100 of the present embodiment can house therein 20 g (grams) of foundation. This is about 25 wt % (percentage by weight) more than that in a conventional cosmetic container having the same area in a planar view.
The cosmetic container 1 has such a size that can be held by one hand of the user. As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, a ratio in height between the lid 10 and the body 50 is substantially 1:1. In the present embodiment, a total height H1 of the cosmetic container 1 is 30.5 mm (millimeters), a height H2 of the lid 10 is 15.5 mm, and a height H3 of the body 50 is 15.0 mm.
Elements that define a shape of the cosmetic container 1 in a planar view include a length L1 of a long axis of an oval shape shown in FIG. 3, a length D1 of a short axis thereof, and a position of the short axis.
A ratio α1 (D1/L1) of the length D1 of the short axis of the oval shape to the length L1 of the long axis is not less than 0.75 and not more than 0.85. Assuming that the length of the long axis of the oval shape of the cosmetic container 1 is L1, a portion corresponding to a length L2, which is a half of the length L1 (a portion indicated by an auxiliary line X1) does not correspond to the short axis (a position having the maximum width) and a portion slightly (by a portion indicated by a length L3) closer to a blunt end is the short axis (a portion indicated by an auxiliary line X2) as shown in FIG. 3. A ratio α2 (L3/L1) of the length L3 by which the short axis is located closer to the blunt end to the length L1 of the long axis is not less than 0.05 and not more than 0.07. In the present embodiment, the length L1 of the long axis of the oval shape is 85.6 mm, the length D1 of the short axis is 70 mm, and L3 is 5 mm. The ratio α1 is 0.81 and the ratio α2 is 0.06.
As shown in FIG. 4, a ratio α3 (P1/L1) of a length P1 of a flat surface portion in the body 50 to the length L1 of the long axis of the oval shape is equal to or lower than 0.50 and is preferably equal to or lower than 0.40. As shown in FIG. 5, a ratio α4 (P2/D1) of a length P2 of a flat surface portion to the length D1 of the short axis is equal to or lower than 0.50 and is preferably equal to or lower than 0.40. The ratios α3 and α4 can be 0.00. In the present embodiment, P1 is 35 mm and L1 is 85.6 mm and thus the ratio α3 is 0.40. P2 is 27 mm and D1 is 70 mm, and thus the ratio α4 is 0.38.
For the convenience sake of explanations of the oval shape of the cosmetic container 1, the outer circumference of the oval shape is divided into plural regions. As shown in FIG. 3, the outer circumference is divided into two along the long axis of the oval shape, a region from the pointed end of the oval shape to a position substantially corresponding to the short axis is substantially equally divided into three, which are assumed to be a first region A1, a second region A2, and a third region A3, respectively. A region from the position substantially corresponding to the short axis to the blunt end of the oval shape is substantially equally divided into two, which are assumed to be a fourth region A4 and a fifth region A5, respectively. An average of curvature radiuses of the outer circumference of the oval shape is assumed as an average curvature radius (Rab). The value of the average curvature radius is an average value of curvature radiuses in the regions A1, A2, A3, A4, and A5.
A ratio β1 (R1/Rab) of a curvature radius R1 of the region A1 to the average curvature radius (Rab) is not less than 0.55 and not more than 0.65, a ratio β2 (R2/Rab) of a curvature radius R2 of the region A2 to the average curvature radius (Rab) is not less than 0.95 and not more than 1.10, a ratio β3 (R3/Rab) of a curvature radius R3 of the region A3 to the average curvature radius (Rab) is not less than 1.20 and not more than 1.50, a ratio β4 (R4/Rab) of a curvature radius R4 of the region A4 to the average curvature radius (Rab) is not less than 0.90 and not more than 1.20, and a ratio β5 (R5/Rab) of a curvature radius R3 of the region A5 to the average curvature radius (Rab) is not less than 0.70 and not more than 0.90. In the present embodiment, R1 is 24.5 mm, R2 is 42.5 mm, R3 is 59.5 mm, R4 is 45.5 mm, R5 is 34.5 mm, and Rab is 41.3 mm. The ratio β1 is 0.59, the ratio β2 is 0.97, the ratio β3 is 1.44, the ratio β4 is 1.10, and the ratio β5 is 0.84.
An elliptical shape of the cosmetic container 1 is explained next with an outer circumference of the elliptical shape divided into plural regions for convenience sake. As shown in FIG. 5, in a curved outer circumference of an approximately elliptical shape of the body 50 including an latch portion 54 viewed from the front, a region including a connection portion between the lid 10 and the body 50 is assumed as a first region B1, a region nearest to the bottom surface of the body 50 is assumed as a third region B3, and a region between the region B1 and the region B3 is assumed as a second region B2. The regions B1, B2, and B3 are regions having almost same outer circumferential lengths and the sum of the lengths of the regions B1, B2, and B3 accounts for about 20 to 25% of the outer circumference in the elliptical shape.
The average of curvature radiuses of curved portions in the outer circumferences of the regions B1, B2, and B3 is assumed as an average curvature radius (rab). A ratio γ1 (R6/rab) of a curvature radius R6 of the region B1 to the average curvature radius (rab) is not less than 0.70 and not more than 0.85, a ratio γ2 (R7/rab) of a curvature radius R7 of the region B2 to the average curvature radius (rab) is not less than 0.40 and not more than 0.55, and a ratio γ3 (R8/rab) of a curvature radius R8 of the region B3 to the average curvature radius (rab) is not less than 1.60 and not more than 1.80. In the present embodiment, R6 is 18.50 mm, R7 is 11.50 mm, R8 is 41.00 mm, and rab is 23.60 mm. The ratio γ1 is 0.78, the ratio γ2 is 0.48, and the ratio γ3 is 1.73.
Respective parts of the cosmetic container 1 are explained next. As shown in FIG. 6, the refill 100 has a refill lid 110 and a refill container 150. The refill 100 engages with the housing 51 to form a part of the body 50. A top surface of the refill lid 110 has a recessed groove formed of a bottom portion 110a and a peripheral wall portion 110b, and enables a puff 200 (see FIG. 7) to be housed therein. The puff 200 is formed of a puff body 202 and a holding strap 204. For example, a cosmetic product such as liquid foundation, and a sponge 250 (see FIG. 8) are housed in the refill container 150. On the refill container 150, an annular convex portion 150a is formed (see FIG. 6) to engage with an annular concave portion formed on an inner part of the housing 51 of the body 50 and is fixed therewith in a detachable state. When the cosmetic product housed in the refill container 150 is all consumed, only the refill 100 can be replaced. A bottom portion 150b of the refill container 150 is exposed to outside (see FIG. 4 and the like) when the refill 100 is fixed to the housing 51. Because the ratios α3 and α4 described above are equal to or less than 0.5 and are preferably equal to or less than 0.4, the bottom portion 150b is not entirely flat.
As shown in FIG. 9, a mirror 12 of an oval shape approximately similar to the lid 10 in a planar view is placed on a back side of the lid 10. Projections 14a, 14b, and 14c are also formed on the back side of the lid 10. The projections 14a and the like are adapted to be brought into contact with the peripheral wall portion 110b of the refill lid 110 and assist fixing of the refill 100 when the housing 51 and the lid 10 are engaged with each other in a state where the refill 100 is fixed. A hinge portion 16 is placed on a pointed end side of the lid 10. The hinge portion 16 has a base portion 16a and a metallic shaft 16b, and is configured in such a manner that the shaft 16b engages with bearing holes (not shown) of a hinge portion on the side of the housing 51 to hinge the lid 10 to be capable of pivoting with respect to the housing 51.
As shown in FIG. 10 (the mirror 12 is omitted in FIG. 10), a plate-like projection 16c is formed at one of ends on the lid 10 near the hinge portion 16. A groove 10a is formed at the other end to engage with a fixing click (not shown) of the housing 51 to openably fix the lid 10 to the housing 51.
As shown in FIG. 11, a height of the projection 16c in the hinge portion 16 of the lid 10 is lower than a height h1 of the base portion 16a by a height h2. A distance T1 from the center of the shaft 16b to a top surface of the plate-like projection 16c and a width T2 of the plate-like projection 16c are defined to cause the lid 10 to be in surface contact with an elastic member 58 (see FIG. 14 and the like) on the body 50 and enable the elastic member 58 to be pushed into the body 50 when the lid 10 is pivoted and fixed to the body 50. In the present embodiment, h2 is 0.3 mm. T1 is 5.2 mm and T2 is 1.8 mm.
As shown in FIG. 13, a latch portion 54 is placed on the housing 51 on the side of the blunt end of the oval shape of the body 50. A click (not shown) that engages with the groove 10a of the lid 10 is formed on the latch portion 54. A hinge portion 52 is formed on the housing 51 on the side of the pointed end of the oval shape of the body 50. Bearing holes (not shown) are formed on the hinge portion 52 to engage with the shaft 16b of the hinge portion 16 of the lid 10.
FIG. 14 shows the hinge portion 52 on the side of the pointed end of the oval shape of the body 50. The elastic member 58 (see FIGS. 15 and 16) is fixed by an intermediate fixing member 56 and a tongue-shaped portion 52a of the hinge portion 52.
As shown in FIGS. 15 and 16, the elastic member 58 has a base portion 58a and a convex portion 58b. The convex portion 58b has a width W1, a length L10, and a height h1. The elastic member 58 has an entire height h2. In the present embodiment, W1 is 6 mm, L10 is 2.2 mm, h1 is 1.8 mm, and h2 is 3.2 mm.
FIG. 17 is a schematic end view of the cosmetic container 1 along an auxiliary line Y1 in FIG. 3. FIG. 18 is a schematic end view of the cosmetic container 1 along an auxiliary line X2 in FIG. 3. As shown in FIGS. 17 and 18, the cosmetic container 1 has spaces S1 and S2. The puff 200 (see FIG. 7) is housed in the space S1. A cosmetic material and the sponge 250 (see FIG. 8) are housed in the space S2. The sponge 250 is seated in the space S2 by an annular ring 150c. The refill lid 110 and the refill container 150 are pivotably fixed to each other by bearing holes formed on a hinge portion 110c of the refill lid 110 and a shaft 150d on the side of the refill container 150 in FIG. 18. As shown in FIGS. 17 and 18, a direction in which the lid 10 pivots with respect to the housing 51 and a direction in which the refill lid 110 pivots with respect to the refill container 150 form an angle of approximately 90 degrees. A state in which the lid 10 and the refill lid 110 are both opened is shown in FIG. 24.
FIG. 19 show a relative movement of the plate-like protrusion 16c and the elastic member 58 when the lid 10 pivots and is fixed to the body 50. In a state where the lid 10 is sufficiently opened with respect to the body 50 (see FIG. 19(a)), the plate-like protrusion 16c and the elastic member 58 are away from each other. When the lid 10 pivots, the plate-like protrusion 16c gradually approaches the elastic member 58 (see FIG. 19(b)) and comes in contact therewith (see FIG. 19(c)). At a time when the plate-like protrusion 16c is brought into contact with the elastic member 58, the elastic member 58 maintains the original height h1. When the lid 10 further pivots and before the lid 10 is fixed to the body 50, the elastic member 58 deforms and the height h1 gradually lowers to become a height h3 at the time of fixing. When the elastic member 58 has the height h3, repulsive force (shape recovery force) in the direction of an arrow X1 is acting. Accordingly, when the fixing of the lid 10 and the body 50 is released, the lid 10 automatically slightly pivots due to the repulsive force to form a gap between the lid 10 and the body 50.
As shown in FIG. 20, a space naturally formed by a palm and fingers of a human hand is approximately oval-shaped. In FIG. 20, a palm 300a and five fingers 300b, 300c, 300d, 300e, and 300f of a left hand 300 form an oval-shaped space. This oval-shaped space is oval in a planar view and is approximately elliptical in a direction orthogonal thereto. That is, the space formed by the palm and the fingers is not a space having a flat bottom surface but has a curved bottom surface. The inventors of the present invention found based on this knowledge about the structure of the hand that the cosmetic container 1 with the structure described in detail above was securely seated on a user's hand.
As shown in FIG. 21, the cosmetic container 1 of the oval shape in a planar view is securely seated in the space formed by the palm 300a and the five fingers 300b, 300c, 300d, 300e, and 300f. That is, because the oval shape of the cosmetic container 1 is similar to the shape of a space formed by a ball portion of the thumb 300b, the index finger 300c, the middle finger 300d, the ring finger 300e, and the little finger 300f, the cosmetic container 1 naturally fits in the space formed by the palm and the five fingers. Furthermore, because the shape of the cosmetic container 1 viewed in the direction orthogonal to the planer view is elliptical, the cosmetic container 1 also naturally fits in the space formed by the palm and the five fingers in the depth direction of the space formed by the palm and the five fingers. Even when force in the direction of an arrow Z1 is applied to the cosmetic container 1, the ball portion of the thumb 300b, the index finger 300c, and the middle finger 300d block the cosmetic container 1 not to drop out of the left hand 300.
As shown in FIG. 22, when the latch portion 54 formed on the blunt end side of the oval shape of the cosmetic container 1 is pushed by a thumb 400a of a right hand 400 to release fixing of the lid 10 and the body 50, the force in the direction of the arrow X1 is applied to the cosmetic container 1. However, the cosmetic container 1 does not drop out of the left hand 300.
As shown in FIG. 23, when the fixing of the lid 10 and the body 50 is released and the lid 10 is pivoted and sufficiently opened, the puff 200 is enabled to be taken off. When the puff 200 is taken off and the refill lid 110 is opened as shown in FIG. 24, the sponge 250 appears, resulting in a state where makeup can be applied. At that time, the blunt end side (wider side) of the mirror 12 is located at an upper position viewed from the user and thus the approximately triangular area formed by the eyes and the nose of the user can be efficiently made up.
The cosmetic container of the present invention is not limited to the embodiment described above and can be variously modified without departing from the scope of the present invention.
REFERENCE SIGNS LIST
1 cosmetic container
10 lid
50 body
51 housing
100 refill
110 refill lid
150 refill container
Patent Application
20180235343
