PORTABLE COSMETICS CARRYING CASE ASSEMBLY

Abstract

A portable cosmetics carrying case assembly includes a container includes a body for receiving contents through an opening formed in the body. A lid is mounted to the body for rotation between a closed position to enclose the opening and an opened position to open the opening. The lid is set to an obtuse angle relative to the opening, when the lid is in the opened position. A first abutment is carried by the container, a second abutment is carried by the lid, and the first abutment engages the second abutment when the lid is in the opened position, setting the lid to the obtuse angle and disabling the lid from moving beyond the opened position.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to the field of cosmetics and, more particularly, to portable cosmetics carrying cases.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Cosmetics are substances used to enhance or protect the appearance or odor of the human body. Cosmetics include skin-care creams, lotions, powders, perfumes, lipsticks, lip gloss, lip balm, eye liners and various types of eye and facial makeup, and many other types of products. The use of cosmetics is widespread, especially among women.

Most cosmetic products are packed in small, portable containers suitable to make use of these and other cosmetic products easy and efficient, and to carry in a small purse, bag, or case. While carrying portable cosmetics containers in a small purse, bag, or case is convenient, the cosmetics containers are unsecured tend to jostle about and become damaged, and organizing and locating specific items is difficult and frustrating, thereby necessitating continued improvement in the art.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to the principle of the invention, a portable cosmetics carrying case assembly includes a container, the container includes a body for receiving contents through an opening formed in the body. A lid is mounted to the body for rotation with hinge assemblies between a closed position to enclose the opening and an opened position to open the opening. The lid is set to an obtuse angle relative to the opening, when the lid is in the opened position. Each of the hinge assemblies includes an eye end, carried by one of the container and the lid, mounted rotatably to a knuckle, carried by the other one of the container and the lid. A first abutment is carried by the eye end. A second abutment is carried by the knuckle. The first abutment engages the second abutment when the lid is in the opened position, setting the lid to the obtuse angle and disabling the lid from moving beyond the opened position. The eye end is integral with the one of the container and the lid. The knuckle is integral with the other one of the container and the lid. The first abutment is integral with the eye end. The second abutment is integral with the knuckle. A latch assembly is carried by the container and the lid. The latch assembly is adjustable between a latched position and an unlatched position, when the lid is in the closed position. The lid is disabled from moving from the closed position to the opened position, when the latch assembly is in the latched position. The lid is enabled for moving from the closed position to the opened position, when the latch assembly is in the unlatched position. The latch assembly includes first and second axially spaced members carried by one of the container and the lid, a gap between the first member and the second member, a third member carried by the other one of the container and the lid, and a slide mounted reciprocally to the first member for movement between a first position and a second position relative to the gap and the second member. The third member is in the gap, when the lid is in the closed position. The slide is concurrently engaged to the first member, the third member, and the second member disabling the lid from moving from the closed position to the opened position, when the lid is in the closed position and the slide is in the first position. The slide is concurrently disengaged from the third member and the second member enabling movement of the lid from the closed position to the opened position, when the lid is in the closed position and the slide is in the second position. The lid carries a vanity mirror. The vanity mirror is enclosed between the container and the lid, when the lid is in the closed position. The vanity mirror is exposed and set to the obtuse angle, when the lid is in the opened position. The obtuse angle is from 115 degrees to 125 degrees. A first handle part is carried by the container, a second handle part carried by the lid, and the first handle part and the second handle close together to form a handle, when the lid is in the closed position. The first handle part is first C-shaped member that projects radially outward from first ends rigidly affixed to the container. The second handle part is second C-shaped member that projects radially outward from second ends rigidly affixed to the container. The handle formed by the first and second handle parts when the lid is in the closed is C-shaped. The latch assembly is between the first ends and the second ends of the first and second C-shaped members, respectively, when the lid is in the closed position.

According to the principle of the invention, a portable cosmetics carrying case assembly includes a container, the container includes a body for receiving contents through an opening formed in the body. A lid is mounted to the body for rotation with hinge assemblies between a closed position to enclose the opening and an opened position to open the opening. The lid is set to an obtuse angle relative to the opening, when the lid is in the opened position. Each of the hinge assemblies includes an eye end, carried by one of the container and the lid, mounted rotatably to a knuckle, carried by the other one of the container and the lid. A first abutment is carried by the eye end. A second abutment is carried by the knuckle. The first abutment engages the second abutment when the lid is in the opened position, setting the lid to the obtuse angle and disabling the lid from moving beyond the opened position. A first C-shaped member projects radially outward from first ends rigidly affixed to the container. A second C-shaped member projects radially outward from second ends rigidly affixed to the container. First and second axially spaced members are carried by the container between the first ends of the first C-shaped member, a gap is between the first member and the second member, a third member is carried by the lid between the second ends of the second C-shaped member, and a slide is mounted reciprocally to the first member for movement between a first position and a second position relative to the gap and the second member. The third member is in the gap, when the lid is in the closed position. The slide is concurrently engaged to the first member, the third member, and the second member disabling the lid from moving from the closed position to the opened position, when the lid is in the closed position and the slide is in the first position. The slide is concurrently disengaged from the third member and the second member enabling movement of the lid from the closed position to the opened position, when the lid is in the closed position and the slide is in the second position. The first C-shaped member and the second C-shaped member close together to form a C-shaped handle, when the lid is in the closed position. The eye end is integral with the one of the container and the lid, the knuckle is integral with the other one of the container and the lid, the first abutment is integral with the eye end, and the second abutment is integral with the knuckle. The lid carries a vanity mirror. The vanity mirror is enclosed between the container and the lid, when the lid is in the closed position. The vanity mirror is exposed and set to the obtuse angle, when the lid is in the opened position. The obtuse angle is from 115 degrees to 125 degrees.

According to the principle of the invention, a portable cosmetics carrying case assembly includes a container, the container includes a body for receiving contents through an opening formed in the body. A lid is mounted to the body for rotation between a closed position to enclose the opening and an opened position to open the opening. The lid is set to an obtuse angle relative to the opening, when the lid is in the opened position. A first abutment is carried by the container. A second abutment is carried by the lid. The first abutment engages the second abutment when the lid is in the opened position, setting the lid to the obtuse angle and disabling the lid from moving beyond the opened position. A first C-shaped member projects radially outward from first ends rigidly affixed to the container. A second C-shaped member projects radially outward from second ends rigidly affixed to the container. First and second axially spaced members are carried by the container between the first ends of the first C-shaped member, and a gap is between the first member and the second member. A third member is carried by the lid between the second ends of the second C-shaped member. A slide is mounted reciprocally to the first member for movement between a first position and a second position relative to the gap and the second member. The third member is in the gap, when the lid is in the closed position. The slide is concurrently engaged to the first member, the third member, and the second member disabling the lid from moving from the closed position to the opened position, when the lid is in the closed position and the slide is in the first position. The slide is concurrently disengaged from the third member and the second member enabling movement of the lid from the closed position to the opened position, when the lid is in the closed position and the slide is in the second position. The first C-shaped member and the second C-shaped member close together to form a C-shaped handle, when the lid is in the closed position. The lid carries a vanity mirror. The vanity mirror is enclosed between the container and the lid, when the lid is in the closed position. The vanity mirror is exposed and set to the obtuse angle, when the lid is in the opened position. The obtuse angle is from 115 degrees to 125 degrees.

Consistent with the foregoing summary of preferred embodiments, and the ensuing detailed description, which are to be taken together, the invention also contemplates associated apparatus and method embodiments.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Referring to the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a left side perspective view of a portable cosmetics carrying case assembly constructed and arranged in accordance with the principle of the invention, the cosmetics carrying case assembly includes a container, a lid, and a latch assembly, the lid is mounted rotatably to the container for rotation between an opened position and a closed positions, the lid is shown as it would appear in the closed position defining a closed orientation of the cosmetics carrying case assembly forming a box for containing items placed therein, and the latch assembly is shown in a latched position in the closed position of the lid disabling the lid from rotating from the closed position to the opened position;

FIG. 2 is a left side perspective view of the embodiment of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a bottom perspective view of the embodiment of FIG. 1 illustrating hinge assemblies mounting the lid rotatably to the container;

FIG. 4 is a view similar to that of FIG. 1 illustrating the lid in the closed position and the latch assembly in an unlatched position enabling rotation of the lid from the closed position to the opened position;

FIG. 5 is a left side perspective view of the embodiment of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged, fragmentary, top perspective view of the embodiment of FIG. 1 showing the lid in the closed position and latch assembly in the latched position;

FIG. 7 is an enlarged, fragmentary, left side perspective view of the embodiment of FIG. 1 showing the lid in the closed position and the latch assembly in the latched position;

FIG. 8 is an enlarged, fragmentary, bottom perspective view of the embodiment of FIG. 1 showing the lid in the closed position and the latch assembly in the latched position;

FIG. 9 is a view similar to that of FIG. 6 showing the latch assembly in the unlatched position;

FIG. 10 is a view similar to that of FIG. 7 showing the lid in the closed position and the latch assembly in the unlatched position;

FIG. 11 is a view similar to that of FIG. 8 showing the lid in the closed position and the latch assembly in the unlatched position;

FIG. 12 is a view similar to that of FIG. 10 illustrating the latch assembly in the unlatched position and the lid initially rotated out of the closed position of FIG. 10;

FIG. 13 is a left side perspective view of a portable cosmetics carrying case assembly of FIG. 1 shown with lid in the opened position and the latch assembly in the unlatched position as shown in FIG. 12;

FIGS. 14-16 are an enlarged, fragmentary, top perspective view of elements of the latch assembly carried by the container shown as they would appear corresponding to the unlatched position of the latch assembly;

FIG. 17 is a view corresponding to FIG. 13 illustrating a compartment lid of transparent material shown in an opened position opening a storage compartment of the container;

FIG. 18 is an enlarged, fragmentary perspective view corresponding to FIG. 17 illustrating the compartment lid detached from the container;

FIG. 19 is a rear elevation view of one of the hinge assemblies of FIG. 3 shown as it would appear in the closed position of the lid;

FIG. 20 is a perspective view of the embodiment of FIG. 19;

FIG. 21 is a top plan view of the embodiment of FIG. 19;

FIG. 22 is a bottom plan view of the embodiment of FIG. 19;

FIG. 23 is an enlarged, fragmentary, top perspective view corresponding to FIG. 13 illustrating the hinge assemblies as they would appear in the opened position of the lid;

FIG. 24 is an enlarged, front perspective view corresponding to FIG. 23 illustrating one of the hinge assemblies as it would appear in the opened position of the lid;

FIG. 25 is a top plan view of the embodiment of FIG. 24;

FIG. 26 is a side elevation view of the embodiment of FIG. 13;

FIG. 27 is a bottom, rear perspective view of the hinge assembly of FIGS. 19-22 shown as it would appear with the lid rotated to an intermediate location between the closed position in FIG. 1 and the opened position in FIG. 13; and

FIG. 28 is a view corresponding to FIG. 27 illustrating the hinge assembly as it would appear in the opened position of the lid in FIG. 13.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Turning now to the drawings, in which like reference characters indicate corresponding elements throughout the several views, attention is directed in relevant part to FIGS. 1-5, 13, and 17, in which there is seen a portable cosmetics carrying case assembly 50 made up of two hinged sections, container 51 and lid 52, that close together to form a box, which is rectangular in shape in this example, for holding contents placed therein, specifically, cosmetics products. Container 51 and lid 52 are sized correspondingly and are each made of plastic, carbon fiber, aluminum, or other material or combination of materials having inherently, light, strong, resilient, and impact resistant material characteristics. Container 51 and lid 52 can be integrally formed, or made of a plurality of parts joined together with welding, heat bonding, fasteners, or the like. Assembly 50 is portable in that it can be easily picked up and carried about by hand.

Container 51 is a body 55 that includes continuous sidewall 60 having outer surface 61, inner surface 62, upper edge 63, and lower edge 64. Horizontal bottom 66 is affixed to lower edge 64. Bottom 66 cooperates with inner surface 62 of continuous sidewall 60 to form volume 67. In FIGS. 13 and 17, upper edge 63 encircles opening 68 to volume 67. Volume 67 is for receiving contents placed therein through opening 68. Continuous sidewall 60 includes axially spaced parallel side walls 71 and 72 that extend between axially spaced parallel front and back walls 73 and 74. Container 51, body 55 having volume 67 for receiving contents through opening 68 formed in body 55, is rectangular in shape in this example. In this example, side walls 71 and 72 are equal in length, front and back walls 73 and 74 are equal in length, and front and back walls 73 and 74 are longer than side walls 71 and 72, which characterizes the rectangular shape of container 51. C-shaped member 76, a handle part, projects radially outward from ends 77 and 78 affixed rigidly to front wall 73 of container 51. C-shaped member 76 connected to front wall 73 is centrally located between side walls 71 and 72.

In FIGS. 13 and 17, upright divider 80 in volume 67 is concurrently affixed rigidly, such as via welding, heat bonding, or adhesive, to bottom 66 and inner surface 62 of side walls 71 and 72. Divider 80 is parallel relative to front and back walls 73 and 74, is perpendicular relative to side walls 71 and 72, extends upright from bottom 66 to proximate to upper edge 63, and divides volume 67 into front compartment 81 between front wall 73 and divider 80, and rear compartment 82 between divider 80 and back wall 74. Divider 80 is closer to back wall 74 than to front wall 73. Front compartment 81 is, therefore, larger than rear compartment 82.

The interior side of bottom 66 of front compartment 82 is lined with protective liner 83, made of loop media, hook media, foam, felt, or the like. Bottom 66 of rear compartment 82 is unlined in this example, and it can be lined like front compartment 81 in an alternate embodiment. Compartment lid 84 is mounted rotatably to side walls 71 and 72 for rotation between a closed position in FIG. 13 closing rear compartment 82 for enclosing contents placed therein and an opened position in FIG. 17 for opening rear compartment 82 for accessing and placing contents therein. In FIG. 18, compartment lid 84 is rotated to side walls 71 and 72 for movement between its closed and opened positions with pivot pins 85, carried by compartment lid 84, received in corresponding sockets 86 in inner surface 62 of the respective side walls 71 and 72. Compartment lid 84 is made of transparent material, transparent plastic in this example, for enabling contents placed in rear compartment 82 to be seen through compartment lid 84 when it is in its closed position. Although pins 86 are carried by compartment lid 84 and sockets 87 are carried by side walls 71 and 72, this arrangement can be reversed in an alternate embodiment.

Lid 52 includes continuous sidewall 90 having outer surface 91, inner surface 92, upper edge 93, and lower edge 94. Horizontal top 96 is affixed to upper edge 63. Top 96 cooperates with inner surface 92 of sidewall 90 to form volume 97. In FIGS. 13 and 17, lower edge 94 encircles opening 98 to volume 97. Continuous sidewall 90 includes axially spaced parallel side walls 101 and 102 that extend between axially spaced parallel front and back walls 103 and 104. Lid 52 is rectangular in shape in this example to correspond to container 51, whereby side walls 101 and 102 are equal in length and are shorter than front and back walls 103 and 104, which are equal in length. C-shaped member 106, a handle part, projects radially outward from ends 107 and 108 rigidly affixed to front wall 103 of lid 52. C-shaped member 106 is centrally located between side walls 101 and 102. C-shaped members 76 and 106 are identical in every respect and are the mirror image of one another. Lid 52 carries vanity mirror 110. Vanity mirror 110 is attached centrally to the interior side of top 96. Vanity mirror 100 is attached to the interior side of top 96 with adhesive, one or more hook-and-loop fasteners, corresponding snaps, or the like.

Container 51 and lid 52 are hinged sections that close together to form a box in FIGS. 1-5 for holding contents placed therein as initially described above. Lid 52 is mounted rotatably to body 55 of container 51 for rotation with hinge assemblies 130A and 130B between a closed position in FIGS. 1-5 to enclose opening 88 and volume 87 (not shown in FIGS. 1-5) of container 51, and an opened position in FIGS. 13 and 17 to open opening 88 for accessing volume 87 and front and rear compartments 81 and 82 for placing contents therein and removing contents therefrom in the use of assembly 50. More specifically, back 104 of lid is mounted rotatably to back wall 74 of body 55 of container 51 for rotation with hinge assemblies 130A and 130B between the closed position in FIGS. 1-5 to enclose opening 88 and volume 87 of container 51 (not shown in FIGS. 1-5), and the opened position in FIGS. 13 and 17 to open opening 88 for accessing volume 87 and front and rear compartments 81 and 82 for placing contents therein and removing contents therefrom. Lower edge 94 of lid 52 and upper edge 63 of container 51 close together, when lid 52 is rotated to its closed position. In FIGS. 1, 2, 4, and 5, the handle part carried by container 51, C-shaped member 76, and the handle part carried by lid 52, C-shaped member 106, are aligned enabling them to close together to form a handle 109 when lid 52 is in the closed position. Handle 109, which can be taken up and gripped by hand for holding and carrying assembly 50, is C-shaped and projects radially outward from front walls 73 and 103 of container 51 and lid 52, respectively.

In FIGS. 13 and 17, lid 52 is set to obtuse angle Ø relative to container 51 opening 88, when lid 52 is in the opened position. In FIGS. 13 and 17, vanity mirror 110 attached centrally to the interior side of top 96 is exposed and is concurrently set to obtuse angle Ø relative to opening 88, when lid 52 is in the opened position. Obtuse angle Ø is 120 degrees in this example, with a preferred range of from 115 degrees to 125 degrees. At obtuse angle Ø of mirror 110 in a range of from 115 to 125 degrees in the opened position of lid 52 in FIGS. 13, and 17 when assembly 50 is set bottom 66 first onto a horizontal support surface, such as the horizontal support surface of a desk or table, mirror 110 is set to an optimum viewing angle for enabling a user to view her face in mirror 110 while she applies cosmetics to her face, when she is seated in front of assembly 50 while facing mirror 110. And so in the opened position of lid 52, the user may access cosmetics placed in one or each of front and rear compartments 81 and 82 for application to her face, apply cosmetics to her face while conveniently looking into mirror 110 to assist her in applying the cosmetics to her face, may place selected cosmetics products into one or more of front and rear compartments 81 and 82 as desired, and may withdraw selected cosmetics products from one or more of front and rear compartments 81 and 82 as desired. Outside of the range of from 115 to 125 degrees, mirror 110 is disabled from allowing a user to view her face in mirror 110 while she applies cosmetics to her face, when assembly 50 is set upright bottom 66 first, as in FIGS. 13 and 17, onto a horizontal support surface, such as the horizontal support surface of a desk or table, and when the user is seated in front of assembly 50 on a chair or stool while facing mirror 110.

Hinge assemblies 130A and 130B are axially spaced apart and rotatably connect lid 52 to container 51 at back wall 104 of lid 52 and back wall 74 of body 55 of container 51. There are two hinge assemblies 130A and 130B in this example, which are identical in every respect.

Accordingly, the specifics of hinge assembly 130A will now be discussed, with the understanding that the ensuing description applies equally to hinge assembly 130B.

Referring in relevant part to FIGS. 19-23, hinge assembly 130A includes eye end 140 mounted rotatably to knuckle 150. Eye end 140 is carried by back wall 104 of lid 52, and knuckle 150 is carried by back wall 74 of container 51, and this arrangement can be reversed in an alternate embodiment.

Eye end 140 is integral with lug 141 that is integral with back wall 104 of lid 52. Lug 141 projects axially outward from lower edge 94 of back wall 104 to eye end 140. Eye end 140 is perpendicular relative to lug 141, and projects radially outward relative to outer surface 91 of back wall 104. Knuckle 150 is formed in back wall 74 through upper edge 73 of back wall 74. Knuckle 150 includes axially spaced apart parallel forks 151 that project radially outward from either side of base 152 to free ends 151A. Back wall 74 intersects either side of forks 151 at an intermediate location between base 152 and free ends 151A. Eye end 141 is inserted between forks 151 and is rotated to forks 151 with pin 154, which connects lid 52 to body 55 of container 51 and enables lid 52 to rotate between its closed and opened positions. Hinge assemblies 130A and 130B work in concert connecting lid 52 to container 51 and enabling lid 52 to rotate between its closed and opened positions.

In FIGS. 19, 20, 22, 27 and 29, eye end 140 is formed with abutments 156, which are located on the outer side of eye end 140 outboard of outer surface 91 of back wall 104, which relate to corresponding abutments 158 formed in the respective forks 151. Abutments 156 are integral with eye end 140. Abutments 158 are integral with the respective forks 151 of knuckle 150. Abutments 158 carried by the respective forks 151 of knuckle 150 extend inwardly toward eye end 140 from either side of the respective forks 151 and are registered with abutments 156 carried by eye end 140. In FIG. 28, abutments 156 carried by eye end 140 engage the respective abutments 158 carried by knuckle 150 when the lid 52 is in the opened position in FIGS. 13 and 17, setting lid 52 to obtuse angle Ø while at the same time disabling lid 52 from moving beyond the opened position. Abutments 156 disengage from abutments 158 between the opened position of lid 52 to the closed position of lid 52, and do not interfere with the movement of lid 52 between its closed position and its opened position. Although eye end 140 carries two abutments 156 and knuckle 150 carries two abutments 158, eye end 140 can be formed with one abutment 156 and knuckle 150 can be formed with one corresponding abutment 158 in an alternate embodiment.

In FIGS. 1, 2, and 4-18, assembly 50 incorporates a latch assembly 170, which is carried by container 51 and lid 52. Latch assembly 170 is adjustable between a latched position, in FIGS. 1, 2, and 6-8, and an unlatched position, in FIGS. 4, 5, and 9-11, when lid 52 is in the closed position. Lid 52 is disabled from moving from the closed position to the opened position, when latch assembly 170 is in the latched position. Lid 52 is enabled for moving from the closed position to the opened position, when latch assembly 170 is in the unlatched position.

Latch assembly 170 includes axially spaced first and second members 171 and 172 carried by container 51, a gap 173 between first member 171 and second member 172, a third member 174 carried by lid 52, and a slide 175. First and second members 171 and 172 are flanges, extend in a longitudinal direction between ends 77 and 78 of C-shaped member 76, are integral with front wall 72 of container 51, and are positioned outboard of outer surface 61 of front wall 73 proximate to upper edge 63. First member 171 is elongate and extends longitudinally from proximate to end 77 of C-shaped member 76 to an inner side of gap 173, and second member 172 extends from the outer side of gap 173 to proximate to end 78 of C-shaped member 172.

Third member 174, a tab, is between ends 107 and 108 of C-shaped member 106, registers with gap 173, is integral with front wall 103 of lid 52, and is positioned outboard of outer surface 91 of front wall 103 proximate to lower edge 94. Slide 175 is mounted reciprocally to first member 171 for movement between an inner position and an outer position relative to gap 173 and second member 172. In other words, slide 175 is mounted reciprocally to first member 171 for movement between the inner position away from gap 173 and second member 172 and the outer position toward gap 173 and second member 172. Slide 175, a clip, is clipped over first member 171. First member 171, second member 172, third member 174, and slide 175 have corresponding cross-sectional shapes, which enables slide 175 to reciprocate back and forth from its inner and outer positions and over third member 174 when it is in gap 173.

In FIGS. 9-11, third member 174 is in gap 173 and is aligned axially with respect to first and second members 171 and 172, when lid 52 is in the closed position. To lock latch assembly 170 when lid 52 is in the closed position to disable lid 52 from moving from its closed position to its opened position, slide 175 is slid, such as by finger, along first member 171 from its inner position in FIGS. 4, 5, and 9-11 to its outer position over third member 174 and onto second member 172 in FIGS. 1, 2, and 6-8. The outer side of slide 175 is textured with upstanding, parallel ridges to enable a user's finger to frictionally engage slide 175. Protuberance 180 formed on second member 172 interferes with slide 175 disabling slide 175 from moving beyond its outer position. Slide 175 is concurrently engaged to first member 171, third member 174 in gap 173, and second member 172 disabling lid 52 from moving from its closed position to its opened position, when lid 52 is in the closed position and slide 175 is in its outer position. Slide 175 extends from first member 171 over third member 174 in gap 173 and to second member 172, when slide 175 it in its extended position, whereby slide 175 captures third member 174 and holds it relative to first and second members 171 and 172 disabling third member 174 from withdrawing from gap 173 thereby disabling lid 52 from moving out of its closed position. First member 171 has bump 181 adjacent to gap 173 that slide 175 can be slid over. In the absence of a force sufficient slid slide 175 over bump 182, bump 181 disables slide 175 from sliding from its outer position to its inner position. To unlock latch assembly 170 when lid 52 is in the closed position to enable movement of lid 52 from its closed position to its opened position, slide 175 is slid, such as by finger, along first member 171 over bump 181 from its outer position to its inner position in FIGS. 4, 5, and 9-11 away from second member 172 and third member 174 in gap 173. Protuberance 182 formed on first member 171 proximate to end 77 of C-shaped member 76 interferes with slide 175 disabling slide 175 from moving beyond its inner position. Slide 175 is concurrently disengaged from second member 172 and third member 174 enabling third member 174 to withdraw form gap 173 enabling movement of lid 52 from its closed position to its opened position, when lid 52 is in the closed position and slide 175 is in its inner position. Latch assembly 170 is between 77 and 107 and ends 78 and 108 of C-shaped members 76 and 106, respectively, when lid 52 is in its closed position. For illustration and reference, FIG. 12 illustrates lid 52 as it would appear initially opened with third member 174 withdrawn from gap 173.

The invention has been described above with reference to illustrative embodiments. However, those skilled in the art will recognize that changes and modifications may be made to the embodiments without departing from the nature and scope of the invention. For instance, although the overall shape of container 51 and lid 52 and the corresponding overall shape of cosmetics carrying case assembly 50 are each rectangular as herein specifically described, other corresponding shapes may be employed consistent with the teachings set forth herein without departing from the invention, such as round, oval, triangular, etc. Various further changes and modifications to the embodiments herein chosen for purposes of illustration will readily occur to those skilled in the art. To the extent that such modifications and variations do not depart from the spirit of the invention, they are intended to be included within the scope thereof.

Claims

1. A portable cosmetics carrying case assembly, comprising:

a container, the container includes a body for receiving contents through an opening formed in the body;

a lid mounted to the body for rotation with hinge assemblies between a closed position to enclose the opening and an opened position to open the opening;

the lid is set to an obtuse angle relative to the opening, when the lid is in the opened position;

each of the hinge assemblies comprises: an eye end, carried by one of the container and the lid, mounted rotatably to a knuckle, carried by the other one of the container and the lid;

a first abutment carried by the eye end;

a second abutment carried by the knuckle; and

the first abutment engages the second abutment when the lid is in the opened position, setting the lid to the obtuse angle and disabling the lid from moving beyond the opened position.

2. The portable cosmetics carrying case assembly according to claim 1, wherein:

the eye end is integral with the one of the container and the lid;

the knuckle is integral with the other one of the container and the lid;

the first abutment is integral with the eye end; and

the second abutment is integral with the knuckle.

3. The portable cosmetics carrying case assembly according to claim 1, further comprising:

a latch assembly carried by the container and the lid;

the latch assembly is adjustable between a latched position and an unlatched position, when the lid is in the closed position;

the lid is disabled from moving from the closed position to the opened position, when the latch assembly is in the latched position; and

the lid is enabled for moving from the closed position to the opened position, when the latch assembly is in the unlatched position.

4. The portable cosmetics carrying case assembly according to claim 3, wherein the latch assembly comprises:

first and second axially spaced members carried by one of the container and the lid;

a gap between the first member and the second member;

a third member carried by the other one of the container and the lid;

a slide mounted reciprocally to the first member for movement between a first position and a second position relative to the gap and the second member;

the third member is in the gap, when the lid is in the closed position;

the slide is concurrently engaged to the first member, the third member, and the second member disabling the lid from moving from the closed position to the opened position, when the lid is in the closed position and the slide is in the first position;

the slide is concurrently disengaged from the third member and the second member enabling movement of the lid from the closed position to the opened position, when the lid is in the closed position and the slide is in the second position.

5. The portable cosmetics carrying case assembly according to claim 1, wherein:

the lid carries a vanity mirror;

the vanity mirror is enclosed between the container and the lid, when the lid is in the closed position; and

the vanity mirror is exposed and set to the obtuse angle, when the lid is in the opened position.

6. The portable cosmetics carrying case assembly according to claim 4, further comprising:

a first handle part carried by the container;

a second handle part carried by the lid; and

the first handle part and the second handle close together to form a handle, when the lid is in the closed position.

7. The portable cosmetics carrying case assembly according to 6, wherein:

the first handle part is first C-shaped member that projects radially outward from first ends rigidly affixed to the container;

the second handle part is second C-shaped member that projects radially outward from second ends rigidly affixed to the container;

the handle formed by the first and second handle parts when the lid is in the closed is C-shaped.

8. The portable cosmetics carrying case assembly according to claim 6, wherein the latch assembly is between the first ends and the second ends of the first and second C-shaped members, respectively, when the lid is in the closed position.

9. The portable cosmetics carrying case assembly according to claim 5, wherein the obtuse angle is from 115 degrees to 125 degrees.

10. A portable cosmetics carrying case assembly, comprising:

a container, the container includes a body for receiving contents through an opening formed in the body;

a lid mounted to the body for rotation with hinge assemblies between a closed position to enclose the opening and an opened position to open the opening;

the lid is set to an obtuse angle relative to the opening, when the lid is in the opened position;

each of the hinge assemblies comprises: an eye end, carried by one of the container and the lid, mounted rotatably to a knuckle, carried by the other one of the container and the lid;

a first abutment carried by the eye end;

a second abutment carried by the knuckle;

the first abutment engages the second abutment when the lid is in the opened position, setting the lid to the obtuse angle and disabling the lid from moving beyond the opened position;

a first C-shaped member projects radially outward from first ends rigidly affixed to the container;

a second C-shaped member projects radially outward from second ends rigidly affixed to the container;

first and second axially spaced members carried by the container between the first ends of the first C-shaped member, and a gap between the first member and the second member;

a third member carried by the lid between the second ends of the second C-shaped member;

a slide mounted reciprocally to the first member for movement between a first position and a second position relative to the gap and the second member;

the third member is in the gap, when the lid is in the closed position;

the slide is concurrently engaged to the first member, the third member, and the second member disabling the lid from moving from the closed position to the opened position, when the lid is in the closed position and the slide is in the first position;

the slide is concurrently disengaged from the third member and the second member enabling movement of the lid from the closed position to the opened position, when the lid is in the closed position and the slide is in the second position; and

the first C-shaped member and the second C-shaped member close together to form a C-shaped handle, when the lid is in the closed position.

11. The portable cosmetics carrying case assembly according to claim 10, wherein:

the eye end is integral with the one of the container and the lid;

the knuckle is integral with the other one of the container and the lid;

the first abutment is integral with the eye end; and

the second abutment is integral with the knuckle.

12. The portable cosmetics carrying case assembly according to claim 11, wherein:

the lid carries a vanity mirror;

the vanity mirror is enclosed between the container and the lid, when the lid is in the closed position; and

the vanity mirror is exposed and set to the obtuse angle, when the lid is in the opened position.

13. The portable cosmetics carrying case assembly according to claim 12, wherein the obtuse angle is from 115 degrees to 125 degrees.

14. A portable cosmetics carrying case assembly, comprising:

a container, the container includes a body for receiving contents through an opening formed in the body;

a lid mounted to the body for rotation between a closed position to enclose the opening and an opened position to open the opening;

the lid is set to an obtuse angle relative to the opening, when the lid is in the opened position;

a first abutment carried by the container;

a second abutment carried by the lid;

the first abutment engages the second abutment when the lid is in the opened position, setting the lid to the obtuse angle and disabling the lid from moving beyond the opened position;

a first C-shaped member projects radially outward from first ends rigidly affixed to the container;

a second C-shaped member projects radially outward from second ends rigidly affixed to the container;

first and second axially spaced members carried by the container between the first ends of the first C-shaped member, and a gap between the first member and the second member;

a third member carried by the lid between the second ends of the second C-shaped member;

a slide mounted reciprocally to the first member for movement between a first position and a second position relative to the gap and the second member;

the third member is in the gap, when the lid is in the closed position;

the slide is concurrently engaged to the first member, the third member, and the second member disabling the lid from moving from the closed position to the opened position, when the lid is in the closed position and the slide is in the first position;

the slide is concurrently disengaged from the third member and the second member enabling movement of the lid from the closed position to the opened position, when the lid is in the closed position and the slide is in the second position; and

the first C-shaped member and the second C-shaped member close together to form a C-shaped handle, when the lid is in the closed position.

15. The portable cosmetics carrying case assembly according to claim 14, wherein:

the lid carries a vanity mirror;

the vanity mirror is enclosed between the container and the lid, when the lid is in the closed position; and

the vanity mirror is exposed and set to the obtuse angle, when the lid is in the opened position.

16. The portable cosmetics carrying case assembly according to claim 15, wherein the obtuse angle is from 115 degrees to 125 degrees.