This application is the U.S. National Phase application of PCT Application No. PCT/FR2014/052609 filed Oct. 14, 2014, which claims priority to the French Application No. 1360032 filed on Oct. 15, 2013, the contents of each of which are incorporated herein by reference.
The invention relates to display racks for shades of nail varnish.
This type of display rack is sometimes called a nail art palette. It is used in sales outlets and allows customers to choose shades of nail varnish.
Existing display racks of this type have the general shape of a round or rectangular palette with kinds of petals radiating outwards. The petals have the shape of a fingernail and are decorated. The user who wishes to select a color or decoration for her nails can superimpose one of the petals from the palette on one of her nails. On some nail art palettes, the petals are mounted on the palette with a spring clip system so that they can be removed if necessary and replaced by other petals.
However, these operations are relatively difficult to perform and make it more complicated to choose the shades. In particular, the entire palette must be held in the hand to superimpose a petal on the nail, and while doing so, neither hand is resting on a firm support.
One objective of the invention is to simplify this choice.
The invention therefore relates to a display rack for shades of nail varnish, which comprises a support and colored tabs which are mounted on the support in a mobile manner, independently from each other.
Thus, by moving a tab relative to the others without taking it off the support, it is possible to consider its shade independently of the others. Consequently, there is no need for the removal and refitting operations required with the display rack of the prior art described above. The finger can be placed successively under different tabs. It is therefore easier and faster to try different shades one after the other.
Preferably, each tab can rotate freely on the support.
Advantageously, each tab is mounted movably between a rest position and a test position in which the colored part extends farther from a bottom wall of the support than in the rest position.
Consequently, to try a shade, the user slides her finger between the bottom wall and the chosen tab.
Each tab could also be removably mounted on the support.
It is therefore easy to replace some tabs by others to update the shades for example.
Advantageously, the support has housings to hold the tabs, the housings being profiled in a direction perpendicular to a main plane of the support.
This is a convenient arrangement for mounting the tabs in the support. Preferably, the tabs are held in the housings with sufficient clearance to allow them to rotate relative to the support.
Thus, there is no need to provide specific means for rotatably mounting the tabs on the support.
Advantageously, the display rack comprises at least one cover to close an opening of the housings used to insert the tabs, hiding the openings.
The cover therefore closes the openings and hides them. Preferably, the display rack comprises magnetic means for holding the cover against the openings.
Advantageously, the display rack comprises:
at least two flaps movable relative to each other to define respectively open and closed positions of the display rack, and adapted to extend opposite one another when the display rack is in closed position, and
magnetic means for holding the display rack in the closed position.
Preferably, there are at least two covers which form the means for holding in the closed position.
Thus, the same magnetic means immobilize the covers on the openings and immobilize the display rack in the closed position.
Advantageously, each tab has a body-dyed part with a shade different from that of at least another one of the tabs.
Since it is body-dyed, it matches more closely the varnish it represents and produces a better finish.
Preferably, each tab has a flared colored part that widens towards a free end of the tab.
The shape of the colored part is therefore more like the natural shape of a nail and it is easier to appreciate the effect obtained with the shade.
In one embodiment, each tab comprises a body to which the colored part is attached.
Thus, the tabs can have identical bodies, which makes the display rack easier to manufacture.
Advantageously, each tab comprises a body whose thickness decreases on approaching a free end of the tab. The colored part is therefore closer to the user's fingernail during the test.
Preferably, each tab has a cavity formed in a lower side of the tab at the colored part.
This cavity receives at least a part of the user's nail when she places her finger under the tab, which makes it easier to appreciate the effect of the shade at the fingertip.
Advantageously, the display rack comprises a bottom wall and a stand arranged so that, when each tab is in the rest position, the bottom wall is visible around it and the stand supports the tab at a distance from the bottom wall.
The bottom wall, which preferably has a plain color, makes it easier to compare the different shades. The distance makes the tabs more visible with respect to the bottom wall and makes it easier to insert a finger between the tab and this wall.
Preferably, at least the bottom wall is black.
This neutral and dark color makes the colored parts of the tabs stand out.
The invention also provides for a method for selecting a shade of nail varnish, wherein a display rack is supplied comprising a support and colored tabs, one of the tabs is moved relative to the support, independently of the other tabs and so that it remains connected to the support, and a finger is placed under the tab which has been moved.
We will now describe one embodiment of the invention, referring to the attached drawings in which:
We will describe one embodiment of the display rack of the invention, referring to
The display rack 2 comprises here two main walls or bottom walls 4, in this case of rectangular shape, identical to each other and connected together by an intermediate wall 6 like a book. These three walls are flat. Thus, each of the two walls 4 is hinged to the intermediate wall and can be moved opposite the other main wall to form the closed position of the display rack illustrated on
In this case, the two parts of the display rack associated with the respective main walls 4 are identical to each other (except for the polarity of the magnets as discussed below) and symmetrical to each other as shown on
In the remainder of the document, “longitudinal direction” means the direction from one of these two parts to the other and “height” means the direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction and parallel to the walls 4.
The wall 4 carries a flat rectangular stand 8 whose lower side is applied against the upper side of the wall 4. The sides of the stand extending along the height of the display rack coincide with those of the main wall 4. Its sides parallel to the longitudinal direction extend at a distance from those of the wall 4 but parallel thereto.
In turn, the stand 8 has a flat rectangular base 10 or tab-holder whose lower side is applied against the upper side of the stand 8. This base has two longitudinal edges in which identical housings 12 are formed. Each housing is profiled in a direction perpendicular to the plane of the wall 4. In this case, the profile is generally “T-shaped”. Each housing is open in this direction upwards and also towards the longitudinal edge of the nearest stand 8.
The display rack 2 also comprises tabs 14 intended to be inserted and held in the respective housings and which we will now describe, referring to
Each tab 14 comprises a body 15 having a generally flat elongated shape defined by two straight longitudinal edges parallel to each other and designed to extend in the direction of the height of the display rack. The body has a fastening end 16 and a free end 18 opposite each other along the longitudinal direction of the body.
The fastening end 16 has in plan view a “T-shape” complementary to that of the housings 12. It is intended to be inserted in any one of the housings according to a male-female arrangement by inserting the tab through the upper opening of the housing. In particular, this end has two parts in relief such as lugs 20 projecting from the longitudinal edges of the body in opposite directions.
The housing 12 and the body 15 are arranged so that, in this position, the tab can rotate freely relative to the base about an axis of rotation parallel to the longitudinal direction of the display rack. The tab is held in the housing by the complementary shapes of the end 16 and the housing. The rotational movement is made possible by a bevel 21 which forms the rear side of the fastening end 16. Thus, this flat side 21 forming the end edge of the body is inclined slightly towards the other end of the body to facilitate the angular displacement of the tab illustrated on
For example, the display rack could be arranged to allow a maximum angular displacement of the tab of 17° upwards from the horizontal plane defined by the upper side of the stand 8. This angle is given as an indication and it is not limiting. For example, the distance between the tab and the wall 4 could be increased from 3 mm to 17 mm. The distance of 3 mm corresponds to the rest position of the tabs, where the lower side of their bodies 15 rests against the stand 8, i.e. this distance is substantially equal to the thickness of the stand. More generally, the starting distance could be between 2 mm and 10 mm and the final distance between 12 mm and 30 mm.
Each tab also includes a part 24 attached to the body 15, forming a body-dyed nail model. The shade is selected to be different from that of all the other tabs. It corresponds in fact to the shade of a nail varnish intended to be sold.
The part 24 therefore has a generally flat shape intended to be attached to the upper side of the body 15, at the free end 18 and so that, at this end, the edges of the part coincide with those of the body. For attachment purposes, the part 24 has a relief 26 projecting from its lower side and intended to enter an opening 28 of the body 15. This relief has itself an elongated shape rounded at one of its two ends, like the opening 28, to provide a means of foolproofing when attaching the part to the body. Thus, only one of the end edges of the part 24 can coincide with the end of the body 15. The lower side of the part 24 has a flat shape like the area of the upper side of the body intended to receive it. The part 24 could for example be attached to the body by ultrasonic welding.
The upper side 30 of the part 24 has a slightly convex general shape similar to that of a nail and therefore has curves in planes not parallel to each other.
The part 24 has in plan view a generally flared shape with two main lateral edges 32 moving farther away from each other on approaching the free end 18 of the tab. Thus, the end of the part 24 adjacent the free end of the body is wider than the other end of this part. This shape is similar to that of a natural nail and provides a more realistic finish when the part 24 is above a user's finger as discussed below.
As illustrated on
Each body 15 has a cavity 17 formed in its lower side at the colored part. The orifice 28 extends into this cavity. It receives a part of the user's nail when she places her finger under the tab, which makes it easier to appreciate the effect of the shade at the fingertip.
Since the part 24 does not cover the entire upper side of the body 15, the free part of this side can be covered with text and drawings.
The display rack further comprises a flat rectangular elongated cover, or mask 34, adapted to cover the base 10 while closing all the housings 12 simultaneously and masking them. Thus, it is impossible to take the tabs out of their housings.
The cover 34 is firmly attached to the base 10 in this case by magnetic means consisting here of three magnets 36 of the base, shown on
The magnetic means also include in the cover three similar magnets 38 arranged in the same way as those of the base with polarities complementary to those of the magnets in the base to magnetically attach the cover to the base.
In the other part of the display rack shown on the left on
The strength of the magnets is selected to separate the cover from its base easily when necessary or to open the display rack as required.
The walls 4, the stands 8, the bases 10 and the covers 34 thereby form a support for the tabs. Apart from the magnets, they can be made of plastic, for example, like the tabs. The bodies of the tabs are for example about 50 mm long and about 10 mm wide.
In this example, all the walls and the covers are black on all their visible sides. This choice highlights the different shades of the tabs. Black also makes the text on the tabs easier to read, especially when the text is written in white. Obviously, other colors could be used for these walls. In this case, the bodies of the tabs are made of a transparent material, this is a preferred embodiment, but not limiting.
We will now describe the use of the display rack, referring to
Referring to
When the user wishes to test or try one of the shades of nail varnish, as shown on
Obviously, numerous modifications can be made without leaving the scope of the invention.
The support could comprise a single assembly formed by the main wall 4, the stand 8, the base 10 and the cover 34.
The main walls 4 could be omitted.
Each tab could be made movable relative to the support without this being a rotational movement. A sliding movement would be possible, for example.
The parts 24 are not necessarily body-dyed. They could be given a coat of varnish or any other monochrome or polychrome decoration.
The tabs with their part 24 could be made differently. For example, the tab and the part 24 could be monobloc, molded in one piece, the area corresponding to the part 24 initially having the appearance of the tab and then being given a coat of varnish or any other monochrome decoration or with patterns of different colors.
The number or arrangement of the magnets could be changed. The covers could be held on the bases or the display rack kept in closed position by means other than magnetic means.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
---|---|---|---|
13 60032 | Oct 2013 | FR | national |
Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
---|---|---|---|
PCT/FR2014/052609 | 10/14/2014 | WO | 00 |
Publishing Document | Publishing Date | Country | Kind |
---|---|---|---|
WO2015/055940 | 4/23/2015 | WO | A |
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Entry |
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International Search Report PCT/ISA/210 for International Application No. PCT/FR2014/052609 dated Jan. 9, 2015. |
Written Opinion of the International Searching Authority PCT/ISA/237 for International Application No. PCT/FR2014/052609 dated Jan. 9, 2015. |
Japanese Office Action dated Jun. 12, 2018 for corresponding Japanese Application No. 2016-521669. |
Chinese Office Action dated Jun. 25, 2018 for corresponding Chinese Application No. 201480056208.3. |
Number | Date | Country | |
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20160235185 A1 | Aug 2016 | US |