The present application relates to the field of cosmetic containers, more particularly to the design and functionality of cosmetic compacts.
Various compacts are known in the art for containing and allowing convenient access for a user. Some such products are also airtight to protect volatile products and keep fine powders and the like from creating a mess. New and alternative approaches to such devices are desired.
In an illustrative example, a compact is provided which is designed to hold a product in a generally central portion thereof and having a lid, and upper housing portion, and a lower housing portion. The upper housing portion and the lower housing portion are twistable relative to one another, with the lid secured to the upper housing portion and twisting therewith. When the upper housing portion and lid are twisted relative to the lower housing portion, the lid is released from being held in a closed position. In one illustrative example, the lower housing portion includes posts or clips which are configure to engage slots in the lid, with twisting motion misaligning the clips from the slots allowing automatic opening of the lid. In another illustrative example, the lid includes one or more tabs that extend downward to engage one or more posts in the lower housing portion when the lid is closed, with the alignment of the one or more posts and the one or more tabs allowing a twisting motion to cause disengagement, allowing the lid to open.
The compact may be an airtight compact. The lid may include a mirror on an interior side thereof. The twisting motion may take place against a spring tensioner. The lid may include a spring hinge which provides automatic opening action, or it may allow manual opening/closing without the spring hinge. The lid may be urged open a small amount using a structure, such as a ramped or angled post on the lower housing portion.
A first non-limiting example takes the form of a compact for containing a cosmetic product comprising: a lid having a hinge; an upper housing portion; and a lower housing portion twistable relative to the lid and upper housing portion; wherein the lid is configured to be released from being held in a closed position by twisting movement of the lower housing portion relative to the lid and upper housing portion.
A second non-limiting example takes the form of a compact as in the first non-limiting example, wherein the lid is configured to automatically open using a spring hinge upon reaching a sufficient amount of twisting movement. In an alternative, the lid may be pushed open by a ramp on the lower housing portion as a twisting motion continues past a point of release.
A third-non-limiting example takes the form of a compact as in any preceding non-limiting example, wherein the lower housing portion includes one or more posts which are configured to engage one or more corresponding structures of the lid to secure the lid in a closed position when the one or more posts are aligned with the one or more corresponding structures of the lid.
A fourth non-limiting example takes the form of a compact as in the third non-limiting example, wherein the upper housing portion and lower housing portion are configured to twist relative to one another such that the one or more posts of the lower housing portion become misaligned with corresponding structures in the lid, allowing opening of the lid by action of the spring in the lid hinge.
A fifth non-limiting example takes the form of a compact as in the third non-limiting example, wherein a spring is coupled to each of the lower housing portion and the upper housing portion to provide resistance against twisting and bias the lower housing portion, relative to the upper housing portion and lid, in a position where the posts and corresponding structure of the lid are aligned relative to one another to secure the lid in the closed position.
A sixth non-limiting example takes the form of a compact as in the third non-limiting example, wherein the one or more corresponding structures of the lid each comprise one or more tabs having a ridge thereon to engage the one or more posts of the lower housing portion.
A seventh non-limiting example takes the form of a compact as in the third non-limiting example, wherein the one or more corresponding structures of the lid each comprise one or more slots configured to engage the one or more posts of the lower housing portion.
An eighth non-limiting example takes the form of a compact as in any of the preceding non-limiting examples, wherein the lid is configured with a gasket and the upper housing is configured to mate with the gasket to provide an airtight container when the lid is closed.
A ninth non-limiting example takes the form of a compact as in any of the preceding non-limiting examples, wherein the lid comprises a mirror on an interior side thereof.
A tenth non-limiting example takes the form of a compact as in any of the preceding non-limiting examples, wherein a spring is coupled to each of the lower housing portion and the upper housing portion to provide resistance against twisting, to maintain a default position in which the posts or clips of the lower housing portion are aligned with the slots in the lid.
An eleventh non-limiting example takes the form of a compact as in the tenth non-limiting example, wherein the lower housing portion further comprises a spring guide to hold the spring in place.
A twelfth non-limiting example takes the form of a compact as in any of the preceding non-limiting examples, wherein the upper housing portion comprises a downward extending post, and the lower housing portion comprises an upward extending cylinder that receives the downward extending post of the upper housing portion.
A thirteenth non-limiting example takes the form of a compact as in any of the preceding non-limiting examples, wherein the lid hinge is secured to the upper housing portion such that the lid and upper housing move together when being twisted relative to the lower housing portion, and the lid is configured to open relative to each of the lower and upper housing portions.
This overview is intended to provide an overview of subject matter of the present patent application. It is not intended to provide an exclusive or exhaustive explanation of the invention. The detailed description is included to provide further information about the present patent application.
In the drawings, which are not necessarily drawn to scale, like numerals may describe similar components in different views. Like numerals having different letter suffixes may represent different instances of similar components. The drawings illustrate generally, by way of example, but not by way of limitation, various embodiments discussed in the present document.
When the slots or tabs 18 are engaged with the corresponding posts 20, the lid 12 is latched shut. Twisting motion 15 allows the tabs to be disengaged from the posts 20, allowing the compact to be opened.
A quantity of product 22 may be carried in the compact 12; a single “puck” of product is shown but those skilled in the art will recognize that multiple compartments may be provided instead. For example, the product may include two halves with a separator, pie shaped pieces, or other designs. A mirror 24 may optionally be provided on the interior side of the lid 12.
As noted, the lower housing portion 14 can be twisted 15 relative to the upper housing portion 16. Doing so will misalign the posts 20 relative to the slots or tabs 18 of the lid 12. Once twisted far enough, the posts 20 and slots or tabs 18 will become disengaged, allowing the lid to open. In some examples, the lid 12 may open manually, that is, without assistance of a spring or biasing member. In other examples, a spring hinge automatically opens lid 12 once the slots or tabs 18 disengage from their corresponding posts 20. The twisting action of the upper housing portion 16 may occur against spring tension applied by a spring contained in the lower housing portion 14.
A gasket 70 is shown. The gasket 70 is optional; for example, a compact that is not air tight may omit the gasket 70. For a sealed compact, the gasket 70 operates to provide an air tight seal, in cooperation with a base insert 100, which is provided to contain the product 90, which may be, for example, a puck of cosmetic product. Other implementations may include multiple compartments in the base insert 100 so that more than one product is contained in the compact.
Next is the upper housing portion 110, which includes a slot 112 in which the hinge 52 of the lid 50 may rest. The upper housing portion and the lid may be snap fit or adhesively bonded together, or connected together by other methods or mechanisms. For example, in the embodiment shown, small openings are located on either side of the slot 112 for entry of a pin to secure the hinge 52 to the upper housing portion 110.
The lower housing portion 140 is also shown, and has placed therein a spring 130 and spring guide 120. The spring guide 120 holds the spring in place 130 once assembled. The spring 130 includes a first end 132, which is “on top” in the Figure, and which during assembly is inserted in a slot on the upper housing portion 110 to hold it therein. The second end 134 of the spring 130 is engaged by the lower housing portion 140, such that the spring 130 is biased against the twisting motion that is needed to release the lid 50 from the hold of the posts (see
The upper and lower housing portions 224, 226 support and generally contain product 220, shown as a puck of product; other product structure or format may be used including, for example, a sectioned product having several different colors or product types available to the user. The upper housing portion 226 includes a slot that allows the tab 214 to engage the engaging structures of the lower housing portion 224.
The upper housing portion 226 is shown with a slot at 230 to allow engagement of the lid 210 and engaging structure(s) (not shown) thereof, to the lower housing portion 224. For example, here, an engaging post 228 is shown in the lower housing portion 224, in alignment with the slot 230, to allow engagement to the lid 210.
Another slot is shown at 232 on the upper housing portion 226 for receiving the hinge 216 of lid 210. Openings are shown on either side of slot 232 to allow a pin to be placed to secure the hinge 216 and lid 210 to the upper housing portion. Snap fit or any other suitable mechanism may be used instead. When a twisting movement 215 is effected on the upper housing portion 226 relative to the lower housing portion 224, the lid moves with the upper housing portion 226. The hinge 216 may be spring loaded to automatically open upon release of the lid relative to the lower housing portion, or it may simply allow manual opening.
The lower housing portion 224 is shown with additional detail in
Referring to each of
Tabs 246, 248 (which may be referred to as posts instead, if desired) are sized and spaced to secure one end of the spring 250 (
When fully assembled, the spring 250 biases the upper housing portion such that the engaging structure (tab 214 in
A further illustrative example takes the form of a compact for containing a cosmetic product comprising: a lid having a hinge; an upper housing portion; and a lower housing portion twistable relative to the lid and upper housing portion; wherein: the lid comprises first engaging means (such as tabs 18 in
Additionally or alternatively, the further non-limiting example may be configured such that the lid hinge is secured to the upper housing portion such that the lid and upper housing move together when being twisted relative to the lower housing portion. The lid may, in a further embodiment, include lid biasing means (such as a hinge 52 in
Each of the above examples can stand on its own, or can be combined in various permutations or combinations with one or more of the other examples.
The above detailed description includes references to the accompanying drawings, which form a part of the detailed description. The drawings show, by way of illustration, specific embodiments in which the invention can be practiced. These embodiments are also referred to herein as “examples.” Such examples can include elements in addition to those shown or described. However, the present inventors also contemplate examples in which only those elements shown or described are provided. Moreover, the present inventors also contemplate examples using any combination or permutation of those elements shown or described (or one or more aspects thereof), either with respect to a particular example (or one or more aspects thereof), or with respect to other examples (or one or more aspects thereof) shown or described herein.
In this document, the terms “a” or “an” are used, as is common in patent documents, to include one or more than one, independent of any other instances or usages of “at least one” or “one or more.” Moreover, in the following claims, the terms “first,” “second,” and “third,” etc. are used merely as labels, and are not intended to impose numerical requirements on their objects.
The above description is intended to be illustrative, and not restrictive. For example, the above-described examples (or one or more aspects thereof) may be used in combination with each other. Other embodiments can be used, such as by one of ordinary skill in the art upon reviewing the above description.
The Abstract is provided to comply with 37 C.F.R. § 1.72(b), to allow the reader to quickly ascertain the nature of the technical disclosure. It is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims.
Also, in the above Detailed Description, various features may be grouped together to streamline the disclosure. This should not be interpreted as intending that an unclaimed disclosed feature is essential to any claim. Rather, inventive subject matter may lie in less than all features of a particular disclosed embodiment. Thus, the following claims are hereby incorporated into the Detailed Description as examples or embodiments, with each claim standing on its own as a separate embodiment, and it is contemplated that such embodiments can be combined with each other in various combinations or permutations. The scope of the invention should be determined with reference to the appended claims, along with the full scope of equivalents to which such claims are entitled.
The present application claims the benefit of and priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 62/191,251, filed on Jul. 10, 2015, titled REVOLVING COMPACT, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.
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