BACKGROUND
Vessels exist that are portable, convenient to use, and designed to contain volatile and/or aggressive products for use. These types of portable vessels usually consist of a jar and lid assembly, that when assembled together provide an effective barrier for containing the volatile product. The vessels may be designed to contain the volatile product with minimal weight loss. Moreover, the vessels are designed to contain the volatile product with minimal environmental communication. The jar and/or lid are typically made of a glass, a plastic, a metal, combinations of the foregoing, or the like, that when closed together create a seal. Such vessels are used in the cosmetics and personal care industries for containing a product to be applied to a body, where, as described above, the product to be applied to the body is volatile and/or aggressive. As such, without the vessel's effective barrier the product may degrade and/or expire. While, existing portable vessels may provide an effective barrier for containing a volatile product, they may be cumbersome to open, and may have loose parts, which make them susceptible to damage and difficult to manage.
SUMMARY
This summary is provided to introduce simplified concepts of wet/dry compacts having an automatic opening feature and a liner covering an orifice of the pot. The compacts are further described below in the Detailed Description. This summary is not intended to identify essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended for use in determining the scope of the claimed subject matter.
Wet/dry compacts according to one implementation comprise a hinge assembly configured to automatically open a pot of the wet/dry compact as a lid is progressively opened. In one example, the hinge assembly comprises a pin section of a base, a cylinder section of a rotatable lid assembly, and a loop section of a pot lid assembly arranged in-line with each other. The cylinder section of the rotatable lid assembly has an interference tab protruding from the external cylindrical surface of the cylinder section to engage another interference tab of the loop section of the pot lid assembly when the rotatable lid assembly is opened and/or closed. In some implementations, the wet/dry compact comprises a base at least partially encasing a pot and a pot lid assembly having a solid liner over-molded to a bottom surface of the pot lid assembly to seal an opening of the pot when the wet/dry compact is in a closed condition. The rotatable lid assembly is pivotably coupled to the base and the pot lid assembly is pivotably coupled in-line with the rotatable lid assembly and the base. The rotatable lid assembly and the pot lid assembly may open in stages relative to the base assembly. For example, the rotatable lid assembly may open and/or close to a first predetermined angle, open and/or close to a second predetermined angle, and may then open and/or close to a third predetermined angle. For example, the rotatable lid assembly may open to a first predetermined angle and engage with the pot lid assembly. The rotatable lid assembly and the pot lid assembly may then be opened together another predetermined angle and into an open position. Further, once in the open position, the pot lid assembly may be opened (i.e., displaced towards the rotatable lid assembly) and/or closed (i.e., displaced towards the base assembly). The solid liner over-molded to the bottom surface of the pot lid assembly is configured to completely cover the opening of the pot and seal the pot lid.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The detailed description is set forth with reference to the accompanying figures. In the figures, the left-most digit(s) of a reference number identifies the figure in which the reference number first appears. The use of the same reference numbers in different figures indicates similar or identical items.
FIG. 1 illustrates an example wet/dry compact in an open position.
FIG. 2 illustrates the example wet/dry compact of FIG. 1 in a closed position.
FIG. 3 illustrates an exploded isometric view of a base and pot lid assembly of the wet/dry compact shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.
FIG. 4 illustrates an exploded isometric view of a rotatable lid assembly of the wet/dry compact shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.
FIG. 5 illustrates a perspective view showing the wet/dry compact of FIGS. 1 and 2 in an open position and an area identifying a close up perspective view showing the automatically opening hinge assembly in an open position.
FIG. 6 illustrates the area identifying the close up perspective view showing the automatically opening hinge assembly in an open position of FIG. 5 in more detail.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
Overview
This disclosure is directed to wet/dry compacts having an automatic opening feature. The wet/dry compacts may include a liner covering an entire orifice of the pot. The pot may be made of materials such as a translucent glass or a translucent terpolymer, which provide the necessary barrier properties for containing the volatile product, as well as provide visibility to the volatile product contained therein. However, because these materials can be brittle and fragile the pot may be at least partially encased by a base. The base may protect the pot while providing structural strength for pivotably attaching a rotatable lid thereto. The rotatable lid assembly pivotably attached to the base may be configured to selectively lock to the base and automatically open the pot lid assembly interposed between the rotatable lid assembly and the base when the rotatable lid assembly is opened and/or closed about a predetermined amount relative to the base. With the rotatable lid assembly automatically opening the pot lid assembly, the wet/dry volatile contents contained in the pot may be accessed by simply opening the rotatable lid assembly. For example, the user may simply loosen the rotatable lid assembly from the base and open the rotatable lid assembly a predetermined angle (e.g., 120 degrees) relative to the base to gain access to the product contained in the pot without separately opening the pot lid assembly. Further, the user may simply loosen the rotatable lid assembly from the base and open the rotatable lid assembly between about90 degrees and 180 degrees relative to the base to gain access to the product contained in the pot without separately opening the pot lid assembly. To seal and isolate the volatile product from the environment until a time of use, the user may simply close the rotatable lid assembly, interposing the pot lid assembly between the rotatable lid assembly and the base. The user may then twist the rotatable lid assembly relative to the base to clamp the pot lid assembly over the opening of the pot to seal the pot.
The base may be disposed about an outer wall of the pot. The base may comprise a pin section arranged integral in an outer wall of the base forming a portion of the automatically opening hinge assembly. The base may comprise an opening for providing visibility to the pot at least partially encased by the base.
The rotatable lid assembly pivotably attached to the base may comprise a lid ring pivotably coupled to the base of the base. The lid ring may comprise a hollow section to pivotably couple to the pin section. The hollow section having an interference tab protruding from the external surface of the hollow section for interfering with another interference tab protruding from pot lid assembly. A mirror may be fixed to a bottom surface of the rotatable lid assembly.
The pot lid assembly interposed between the rotatable lid assembly and the base may comprise pot lid having a loop section protruding from an outer wall of the pot lid to be arranged in-line with the pin section and the hollow section of the base and the rotating lid assembly, respectively. The loop section having the other interference tab for interfering with the interference tab protruding from pot lid assembly. The pot lid assembly may comprise a solid liner attached to a bottom of the pot lid. The solid liner may be fixed to the bottom surface of the pot lid by a fastening mechanism (e.g., clips or a captive groove), an adhesive, or any other suitable fastening mechanism. Further, the pot lid and the solid liner may be formed of an integral layered unit. For example, the solid liner may be over-molded to the bottom surface of the pot lid. Further, the solid liner may comprise silica gel, rubber, TPE, silicone, or neoprene and the pot lid may comprise PP.
Illustrative Wet/Dry Compact
FIG. 1 illustrates an example wet/dry compact 102 in an open position. The wet/dry compact 102 illustrated in FIG. 1 comprises a pot 104 at least partially encased by a base 106 for containing a volatile product, such as a makeup to be applied to a body. The wet/dry compact 102 is further illustrated in FIG. 1 as having a rotatable lid assembly 108 pivotably coupled, via an automatically opening hinge assembly 110, to the base 106. The wet/dry compact 102 is shown comprising a pot lid assembly 112 interposed between the rotatable lid assembly 108 and the base 106 and pivotably coupled in-line, with the rotatable lid assembly 108 pivotably coupled to the base 106. Because the pot lid assembly 112 may be pivotably coupled (e.g., hinged) in-line with the rotatable lid assembly 108, this provides for improved manufacturability (i.e., ease of assembly) and provides for an improved aesthetic look of the wet/dry compact 102. Further, because the pot lid assembly 112 may be pivotably coupled in-line with the rotatable lid assembly 108, the automatically opening hinge assembly 110 is able to automatically open and/or close the rotatable lid assembly 108 relative to the base 106. For example, the automatically opening hinge assembly 110 may comprise interference tabs (discussed in detail below) arranged in-line that engage with one another to automatically open and/or close the pot lid assembly 112 when the rotatable lid assembly 108 is opened and/or closed relative to the base 106.
FIG. 1 illustrates the pot 104 having a rim 114 arranged around an opening 116 to allow access to a product contained in the pot 104. The pot lid assembly 112 may comprise a solid liner 118 fixed to a bottom surface of the pot lid assembly 112, which may completely cover the opening 116 of the pot 104 and seal the pot lid assembly 112 to the rim 114 of the pot 104 when the wet/dry compact is closed. For example, when the rotatable lid assembly 108 is fastened to the base 106 the pot lid assembly 112 may directly compress the solid liner 118 to the rim 114 of the pot 104, sealing the product in the pot. Further, the pot lid assembly 112 may contain an applicator (e.g., a sponge, a flocked sponge, a puff, or the like) contained in a dry area 120. The dry area 120 may provide for the applicator, which may be wet after applying the wet volatile product to a body, to dry out via gaps 122 when the wet/dry compact is in a storage position.
FIG. 1 illustrates rotatable lid assembly 108 having a male bayonet fastening mechanism 124 arranged along a perimeter 126 of the rotatable lid assembly 108 configured to mate with a female bayonet fastening mechanism 128 arranged along an outer wall 130 of the base 106. However, although not shown in FIG. 1, other fastening mechanisms may be used to fasten the rotatable lid assembly 108 to the base 106 (e.g., cam lock mechanism, screw threads, etc.).
FIG. 2 illustrates the wet/dry compact 102 of FIG. 1 in a closed position. Here, the wet/dry compact 102 is illustrated having a lid 202 of the rotatable lid assembly 108 rotatably attached to a lid ring 204. The lid 202 may comprise acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS), styrene acrylonitrile (SAN), metal, and/or any other material, that is suitable for providing the structural strength necessary for mechanical connections (e.g., to rotatably couple with the lid ring).
As illustrated in FIG. 2, the lid 202 is configured to rotate approximately about twenty-degrees in either a counter clock-wise direction or a clock-wise direction about a longitudinal axis 206 disposed substantially proximate to a center of the wet/dry compact 102. Rotation of the lid 202 may be to unlock and lock the rotatable lid assembly 108 from the base 106. FIG. 2 further illustrates a mark 208 disposed on the base 106, which indicates when the lid 202 is rotated to a closed position 210 (i.e., a locked position) or an open position 212 (i.e., an unlocked position). Specifically, when the lid 202 is rotated to the closed position 210 the male bayonet fastening mechanism 124 of FIG. 1 may be mated with female bayonet fastening mechanism 128 of FIG. 1, which may allow the rotatable lid assembly 108 to displace the pot lid assembly 112 interposed between the rotatable lid assembly 108 and the base 106 and compress the solid liner 118 to the rim 114 of the pot 104 (solid liner 118, rim 114, and pot 104 not shown in closed position of FIG. 2). Further, when the lid 202 is rotated to the open position 212 the male bayonet fastening mechanism 124 is not mated with female bayonet fastening mechanism 128, which provides for the rotatable lid assembly 108 to be pivoted away from the base 106 and into the open position as illustrated in FIG. 1. Further, and as discussed above, if the rotatable lid assembly 108 is pivoted away from the base 106 towards the open position, the automatically opening hinge 110 will automatically open the pot lid assembly 112 relative to the base 106 as illustrated in FIG. 1. While mark 208 is illustrated in FIG. 2 as being disposed on an outer surface of the base 106, it may instead, or also, be disposed on an outer surface of lid ring 204.
FIG. 3 illustrates an exploded isometric view of the base 106, the pot 104, and the pot lid assembly 112 of the wet/dry compact 102 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. As described above, the base 106 may be configured to at least partially encase the pot 104. FIG. 3 illustrates the pot lid assembly 112 comprising a pot lid 302 and the solid liner 118. The solid liner 118 may be fixed to a bottom surface of the pot lid 302. As described above with respect to FIGS. 1 and 2, when lid 202 is rotated in either a counter clock-wise direction or a clock-wise direction about the longitudinal axis 206, the male bayonet fastening mechanism 124 mates/un-mates with the female fastening mechanism 128. Further, when the lid 202 is in the closed position 210, the solid liner 118 is directly compressed between the pot lid 302 and the rim 114 of the pot 104 completely covering the opening 116 of the pot 104.
While FIG. 3 illustrates the solid liner 118 as being separate from the pot lid 302, the solid liner 118 may alternatively be made integral with the pot lid 302. For example, the solid liner 118 may be over-molded to a bottom surface 304 of the pot lid 302. Further, the solid liner 118 may be fastened to the pot lid 302 via an adhesive or retained within the pot lid 302 by a groove (not shown) disposed in an inside surface of the pot lid 302. Here, the solid liner 118 may comprise silica gel, rubber, TPE, silicone, neoprene, combinations of the foregoing, or the like that is impervious to a volatile product contained in the pot 104. In other embodiments in which the product is not volatile (or less volatile) other materials may also be used. Again, as discussed above, the pot lid 302 may comprise PP, or any other plastic for assembling with the solid liner 118 and suitable for providing the structural strength necessary for the mechanical connections. For example, the pot lid 302 may comprise any plastic suitable for pivotably coupling, via the automatically opening hinge assembly 110, to the base 106.
FIG. 3 shows the pot lid 302 including a loop section 306. The loop section 306 may pivotably couple in-line with the base 106 via a pin section 308. The loop section 306, the pin section 308, and a hollow section (illustrated in FIG. 4), of the rotatable lid assembly 108, pivotably assemble in-line with each other to form the automatically opening hinge assembly 110. The loop section 306 is shown comprising an interference tab 310 protruding from an outer wall 312 of the pot lid 302. The interference tab 310 is shown comprising a planar slip surface 314(A) opposite another planar slip surface 314(B) distal to the outer wall 312. The planar slip surfaces 314(A) and 314(B) may allow another interference tab to be displaced along the interference tab 310. The planar slip surfaces 314(A) and 314(B) may intersect a planar stop surface 316 at oblique angles. For example, the planar slip surfaces 314(A) and 314(B) may intersect the planar stop surface 316 at any oblique angle suitable to allow another interference tab to slip along the planar slip surfaces 314(A) and 314(B) when the rotatable lid assembly 108 is opened and/or closed. For example, the oblique angle may allow another interference tab to slip along the planar slip surface 314(B) when the rotatable lid assembly 108 is being opened. Likewise, the oblique angle may allow another interference tab to slip along the planar slip surface 314(A) when the rotatable lid assembly 108 is being closed.
FIG. 3 shows the interference tab 310 and the pot lid 302 may be formed of a single material. For example, the pot lid 302 and the interference tab 310 may be molded of a single material. The pot lid 302 may be formed of a single material and the interference tab 310 may be machined out of the material forming the pot lid 302. Still further, the pot lid 302 may be molded from a single material and the loop section 306 comprising the interference tab 310 may be fastened to the pot lid 302 via fasteners, adhesive, or the like.
The loop section 306 is shown comprising a first loop 318(A) opposite a second loop 318(B) to pivotably couple in-line with the pin section 308 and the hollow section (illustrated in FIG. 4). FIG. 3 illustrates the interference tab 310 may be interposed by the first and second loops 318(A) and 318(B). Specifically, the planar stop surface 316 may be interposed by the first and second loops 318(A) and 318(B) and oriented away from a center axis 320 of the pot lid 302. The planar stop surface 316 may be configured to interfere with an interference tab of the rotatable lid assembly 108. For example, the planar stop surface 316 may interfere with the interference tab of the rotatable lid assembly 108 at about 120 degrees.
FIG. 3 illustrates the pin section 308 of the base 106 arranged integral in an outer wall 322 of the base 106. As described above, the pin section 308 may pivotably couple in-line with the loop section 306. For example, the loop section 306 may be interposed by the pin section 308 and a pin may be received by both the loop section 306 (e.g., by the first and second loops 318(A) and 318(B)) and an aperture 324 arranged through the pin section 308.
FIG. 3 illustrates the pot 104 configured to couple to the base 106. Specifically, the pot 104 may comprise one or more fastening protrusions 326 arranged along a perimeter 328 of the pot 104. The one or more fastening protrusions 326 may be configured to be received by one or more pockets 330 arranged along an inside surface 332 of the outer wall 322 of the base 106. While FIG. 3 illustrates the pot 104 comprising fastening protrusions 326 for fastening the pot 104 to the base 106, other fastening mechanisms are contemplated. For example, the pot 104 and the base 106 may be fastened together via a threading mechanism, a bayonet fastening mechanism, a press fit mechanism, combinations of the foregoing, or the like. Further, the pot 104 and the base 106 may be removably fastened together to allow a user to interchange the pot 104.
FIG. 3 further illustrates an aperture 334 in the base 106. When the wet/dry compact 102 is in the closed position 210 the aperture 334 may be arranged opposite the rotatable lid assembly 108 and provide visibility to the pot 104 at least partially encased by the base 106. While, in this example, the base 106 is illustrated as comprising a single circular aperture 334, other shapes may also be used. For example circular, rectangular, triangular, combinations of the foregoing, or the like that are suitable for providing visibility to the pot 104 and the volatile product contained therein are contemplated.
FIG. 3 further illustrates the pot 104 being translucent and formed of plastic, configured to receive and contain a volatile product (not shown), comprising the perimeter 328 and a bottom surface 336. The base 106 may be configured to be disposed about the perimeter 328 of the pot 104. While the pot 104 has been described here in FIG. 3 as being formed of translucent plastic, other materials are contemplated. For example, the pot 104 may be formed of translucent glass, translucent terpolymer, or any other suitable material for containing a volatile or aggressive product. Further, the base 106 may comprise ABS, SAN, metal, or any other suitable material, or the like that is suitable for encasing and protecting the pot 104, as well as provide the structural strength necessary for mechanical connections (e.g., one or more pockets 330 and pin section 308).
FIG. 4 illustrates an exploded isometric view of the rotatable lid assembly 108 of the wet/dry compact 102 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. As described above, rotatable lid assembly 108 is configured to be pivotably coupled, via the automatically opening hinge assembly 110, to the base 106 and the pot lid assembly 112. Here, FIG. 4 illustrates the lid ring 204 configured to pivotably couple to the base 106 via a hollow section 402. The lid ring 204 may comprise acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS), styrene acrylonitrile (SAN), and/or metal or any other suitable material, or the like that is suitable for providing the structural strength necessary for mechanical connections (e.g., rotatably couple with the lid 202 and/or pivotably couple to the base 106 via the hollow section 402). The hollow section 402 is illustrated as being disposed on and distal to a bottom surface 404 of the lid ring 204.
FIG. 4 illustrates the hollow section 402 comprising an interference tab 406 protruding from an external surface 408 of the hollow section 402. The hollow section 402 may comprise an aperture for receiving a pin. For example, and as discussed above with respect to FIG. 3, the pin section 308 may pivotably couple in-line with the loop section 306. Here, with respect to FIG. 4, the hollow section 402 may also pivotably couple in-line with the pin section 308 and the loop section 306. For example, the hollow section 402 may be interposed by the loop section 306 interposed by the pin section 308 and a pin may be received by the loop section 306, pin section 308, and the hollow section 402.
The interference tab 406 may comprise a planar interference surface 410(A) intersecting substantially perpendicular to another planar interference surface 410(B). The planar interference surfaces 410(A) and 410(B) may be formed as one unit integral with the hollow section 402. FIG. 4 shows the hollow section may comprise a cylinder section and the interference tab protrudes from the external cylindrical surface of the cylinder section. Further, FIG. 4 illustrates at least one of the planar interference surfaces 410(A) and 410(B) may be formed substantially tangential to the external cylindrical surface. Specifically, FIG. 4 illustrates the planar interference surface 410(A) formed substantially tangential to the external cylindrical surface and oriented towards a center axis 412 of the lid ring 204. Further, the planar interference surface 410(B) may be formed substantially parallel with the bottom surface 404 of the lid ring 204 and oriented substantially perpendicular to the center axis 412 of the lid ring 204. The planar interference surface 410(B) may be configured to interfere with the other interference tab 310 on the pot lid 302. For example, the planar interference surface 410(B) may be configured to interfere with the planar stop surface 316 of the of the other interference tab 310 at about 120 degrees. As discussed above, the interference tab 406 of the rotatable lid assembly 108 and the other interference tab 310 may be configured to interfere with one another to automatically open the pot lid assembly 112 when the rotatable lid assembly 108 is rotated open about 120 degrees relative to the base 106.
FIG. 4 further illustrates the lid ring 204 comprising an opening 414 for receiving a portion of the pot lid 302 and the base 106, when the wet/dry compact 102 is fully assembled as illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2. A channel 416 disposed on a top surface 418 of the lid ring 204 is illustrated in FIG. 4 to be oriented towards an outer perimeter 420 of the lid ring 204 opposite to the opening 414. The channel 416 is configured for receiving one or more ribs 422 arranged along an inside surface 424 of a perpendicular wall 426 of the lid 202. The one or more ribs 422 of the lid 202 and the channel 416 of the lid ring 204 provide for the rotation of the lid 202 about a center 428 of the opening 414 of the lid ring 204 when the rotatable lid assembly 108 is assembled.
FIG. 4 illustrates a mirror 430 may be disposed in the rotatable lid assembly 108. The mirror 430 may be a solid piece of glass and fixed to a bottom surface 432 of the lid via a fastening mechanism (e.g., clips or a captive groove), an adhesive, or any other suitable fastening mechanism. Further, while FIG. 4 illustrates a solid piece of glass that may be fixed to the bottom surface 432 of the lid 202, any other solid piece of material may be fixed to the bottom surface 432 of the lid 202. For example, any solid piece of material (e.g., metal, ceramic, plastic, etc.) may be used that provides a solid surface area to compress the pot lid assembly 112 onto the pot 114.
FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing the wet/dry compact 102 of FIG. 1 in an open position and an area 502 identifying a close up perspective view showing the automatically opening hinge assembly 110 in the open position. As discussed above, the pot lid assembly 112 may be interposed between the rotatable lid assembly 108 and the base 106 and pivotably coupled in-line with the rotatable lid assembly 108 pivotably coupled to the base 106. Because the pot lid assembly 112 may be pivotably coupled in-line with the rotatable lid assembly 108 the automatically opening hinge assembly 110 is able to automatically open and/or close the rotatable lid assembly 108 relative to the base 106.
FIG. 6 illustrates the area 502 of the close up perspective view showing the automatically opening hinge assembly 110 in the open position in more detail. Again, FIG. 6 shows the pot lid assembly 112 may be pivotably coupled in-line with the rotatable lid assembly 108 pivotably coupled to the base 106. FIG. 6 further illustrates the interference tab 310 of the pot lid assembly 112 interfering with the interference tab 406 of the rotatable lid assembly 108. As discussed above, and as shown in FIG. 6, the planar stop surface 316 may interfere with the planar interference surface 410(B) and may be configured to automatically open the pot lid assembly 112 when the rotatable lid assembly 108 is rotated open about 120 degrees relative to the base 106.
FIG. 6 further shows the first and second loops 318(A) and 318(B) of the loop section 306 pivotably coupled in-line with the pin section 308 and the hollow section 402. Specifically, the first and second loops 318(A) and 318(B) are shown interposed by the pin section 308 and the hollow section 402 is shown interposed by the first and second loops 318(A) and 318(B). As discussed above, a pin may be disposed in the pin section, the first and second loops 318(A) and 318(B), and the hollow section 402, and pivotably couple the assembly in-line so that when the rotatable lid assembly 108 is rotated open about 120 degrees relative to the base 106 the interference tabs 310 and 406 interfere with each other to open and/or close the pot lid assembly 112 automatically.
CONCLUSION
Although embodiments have been described in language specific to structural features and/or methodological acts, it is to be understood that the disclosure is not limited to the specific features or acts described. Rather, the specific features and acts are disclosed as illustrative forms of implementing the embodiments. For example, while embodiments are described having certain shapes, sizes, and configurations, these shapes, sizes, and configurations are merely illustrative. Also for example, while one example of a method of manufacturing is described, containers according to this disclosure may be made using any other suitable manufacturing methods.
Patent Application
20120305442
