FLIPPING COMPACT ASSEMBLY
The invention concerns a compact cosmetic case having a cover, base, tray and frame. The tray and frame are within the cover and base and the tray may be rotated within a frame opening defined by the walls of the frame. The tray has recesses on both an upper and lower side so that material may be stored on both sides of the tray for consumer use.
1. Field of the Invention
The invention pertains to a compact assembly, i.e. a compact case, for holding cosmetics which comprises a base and a cover. The compact further comprises a tray which is within a frame member. The tray is capable of rotation within the frame member when the cover is in an open position. The tray may have separate sections at a first surface and/or a second surface.
2. Background of the Invention
Cosmetics may be packaged in compact cases for the convenience of the consumer by providing a portable case which can be held, for instance in a pocket book or glove compartment, without having the cosmetic material exposed to the environment. An essential element of a compact case is a tray or other means for holding cosmetic material which is easily accessible when the compact case is open for use but is isolated within the compact case when not in use. Conventionally, compact cases comprise a base and a cover with the base generally having a space where the cosmetic material is held. When the consumer wishes to use the cosmetic, he or she opens the cover to expose the cosmetic material and after cosmetic is applied the case can be closed. The art is constantly seeking new and improved compact cases for cosmetics including those which maximize the ability to store different colors and types of cosmetics within a single compact case.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONThe invention pertains to a compact case comprising a tray having two sides, each with a means for holding material, such as cosmetic material. The tray is secured to a frame having a frame opening. The tray is attached to the frame by frame attachment means which allows the tray rotational movement within the frame opening. The compact case further comprises a cover and a base, with the cover and base attached to each other, such as by cover attachment means which allows the cover to be rotated upwards away from the base around the axis of the cover attachment means. The cover attachment means may, for example, be a hinge. The base comprises a well which accommodates the tray and frame. The compact case may also comprise one or more multiple attachment means which secures the base, frame and cover together, such as one or more pins inserted through bore holes in the cover, frame and base.
In an embodiment of the invention, each side of the tray comprises a recess. One or both recess may be divided into smaller sections to accommodate different types and/or colors of cosmetic materials. The recesses may be divided into smaller sections that are integral with the tray, such as walls which divide each tray into two or more smaller sections. Also, the cosmetic case may comprise one or more pans and one or more recesses of the tray may have one or more, such as two or more, pans within the recess. The pans effectively divide the trays into smaller sections for the storage of different cosmetic materials and/or colors.
When the compact case is in a closed position, the cover and frame meet thereby enclosing the tray and frame within the inside of the compact case, for example within the well, such that the tray is not exposed to the environment external to the inside of the compact case. The frame is generally attached to the base at one end of the frame by frame attachment means or by multiple attachment means, such that when the cover is moved from a closed position to an open position, the frame is capable of moving or being moved upwards. This moves the tray out of the base and allows for the tray to be rotated within the frame opening. As such, only when the cover is opened will the cosmetic material within the tray be exposed for use to the environment external to the compact case.
The tray is capable of rotating such that material may be stored in both a first recess and a second recess of the tray. This allows for the storage and sale of more varieties of cosmetic material within one compact case. For example, cosmetic materials having one color or one color scheme can be stored within a first recess of the tray and another color or color scheme within the opposite second recess of the tray thereby providing the consumer with more options within a single compact case. Thus, if after the cover is opened the consumer does not want to use the cosmetic material that is in the recess of the tray facing upwards (i.e. opposite to the base), the consumer may rotate the tray within the frame so that the opposite recess is facing upwards.
In an embodiment of the invention, the recesses in one or both of the first surface and second surface of the tray comprise pans for holding material, such as cosmetic material, which facilitates packaging of material in the compact cosmetic case. For example, the pans may be filled with material prior to the placement of the pans into the recesses. The filled pans may then be placed into the first recess and the second recess of the tray and secured to the tray. Hence, the pans with material may be filled and then secured to the recess on one side of the tray in the packaging line and then the tray can be rotated about 180° to invert the recess which does not yet comprise pans so that pans can be placed into and secured within this recess of the tray. In a further embodiment of the invention, the pans may be placed into the recesses of the trays before the trays are incorporated into the cosmetic case which further facilitates the packaging of cosmetic material in the compact cosmetic case of the invention.
As shown in
As shown in the drawings, the base 2 comprises a base interior surface 4 and a base exterior surface 5. The base further comprises one or more side walls extending about perpendicularly from the base exterior surface. Each of the side wall(s) has an outer face which forms part of the exterior of the compact cosmetic case and an inner face. The inner face of each side wall of the base and the base interior surface define a base well.
In the embodiment of the invention shown in the drawings, particularly
The cover 2 generally has the same or a similar geometric shape as the base. As shown in
In the embodiment of the invention shown in the drawings, particularly in
The base and cover may comprise a latching means for latching the cover and base when the compact case is closed to prevent or inhibit the cover and base from separating. The latching means will generally comprise an element on the cover which interacts with an element on the base in a manner which, after the compact is in a closed position, prevents the cover and base from separating and thereby exposing the contents of the compact to the external environment. For example, in the embodiment of the invention shown in the drawings, particularly as shown in
The compact cosmetic case further comprises a tray and frame. The frame comprises one or more walls each having an inner surface, an outer surface and upper edge and a lower edge. The inner surfaces of the frame wall(s) define the frame opening. The frame is attached, generally at one end, to the base by frame attachment means which allows the frame movement and may be attached by the multiple attachment means as discussed herein.
In the embodiment of the invention shown in the drawings, the frame 38 comprises a first frame wall 39 and a mutually opposed second frame wall 40, and mutually opposed forward frame wall 41 and a distal frame wall 42, each of which has an outer surface and an inner surface identified by element numbers with the designation a for the outer surface and b for inner surface and each of which is approximately perpendicular to its adjoining frame walls. The frame is attached to the base and/or the cover at the first frame wall and second frame wall, proximate to distal frame wall.
The tray comprises one or more tray walls, an upper surface and a lower surface, with each of the upper surface and lower surface having a recess. The tray is releasably attached to the frame by tray attachment means in a manner which allows the tray to be within the frame opening and have rotational movement within the frame opening.
For example, in the embodiment of the invention shown in the drawings, the tray 43 comprises a first tray wall 44 and a mutually opposed second tray wall 45, and mutually opposed forward tray wail 46 and a distal tray wall 47, each of which has an outer surface and an inner surface and each of which is approximately perpendicular to its adjoining tray walls. The inner surfaces of the tray walls are identified in the drawings by the element number with a for the outer surface and b for the inner surface. The tray further comprises a dividing member 48 which extends completely from the inner surfaces of the first tray wall, second tray wall, forward tray wall and distal tray wall which effectively divides the tray into two distinct areas for storing material, such as cosmetic material. The dividing member 48 has a first surface 49 and a second surface 50. As such, the first surface of the dividing member and inner surfaces of the left tray wall, right tray wall, forward tray wall and distal tray wall define a first recess 51 in the tray, and the second surface of the dividing member and inner surfaces of the left tray wall, right tray wall, forward tray wall and distal tray wall define the second recess 52 in the tray.
The first recess and/or second recess of the tray may be further divided into sections. For example, in the embodiments of the invention shown in the drawings, the compact cosmetic case may have one or more, such as three, sections in the first recess and/or second recess and no sections in the first recess and/or second recess. In a further embodiment of the invention shown in the drawings, the compact cosmetic case may have one or more sections in each of the first recess and second recess, like three sections in both the first recess and second recess.
As illustrated in the exploded view of
As shown by way of example, particularly in
The tray is secured to, or releasably secured to, the frame, by tray attachment means, which may be a pin, screw, snap fit, mechanical interfacing and the like. In the embodiment of the invention shown in the drawings, particularly
The compact cosmetic case is capable of storing cosmetic material in both recesses of the tray, preferably within sections or pans in each of the first recess and second recess. The compact cosmetic case may also be used to hold cosmetic material in one recess with the other recess be used to store an implement for applying the cosmetic material, such as a brush, pillow, sponge and the like. In use, the consumer opens the compact cosmetic case by moving the top away from the base and then can move the frame out of the base. Moving the frame out of the base enables the consumer to then rotate the tray to expose the recess of the tray that was facing the base when the cosmetic case is open. Thus, the compact cosmetic case allows for storage of cosmetic material on both sides of the tray, which improves the storage capacity over other containers in the art which do not allow for the holding of material on both sides of a tray and also provides the consumer with the ability to carry one case having a multitude of choices with respect to the type of cosmetic material, color, tone and the like.
When the compact is closed the tray and frame are within the inside of the compact case and the material within the first recess and/or second recess of the tray and is not exposed to an environment external to the closed compact case. That is that the cover and base are capable of being moved into a relationship, as shown in
The compact cosmetic case may further comprise a means for lifting the frame and tray when the compact is opened by moving the cover from the base. For example, as shown in FIGS. 7 and 9-10, the distal frame wall 42 has a shelf 66 at the outer surface more proximate to a bottom end of the distal front wall than a top end of the distal side wall of the shelf. The shelf is a cut in section at the outer surface 42b of the distal frame wall 42 and has shelf ledge 67 and a shelf wall 68 which extends from the shelf ledge to the bottom end of the distal frame wall 42. As shown in
In an embodiment of the invention, the cover, frame and base may be assembled by one or more multiple attachment means. For example, as shown in
For example, the base, frame and cover are assembled by placing at least the frame within the base with the first hinge clasp 70 juxtaposed to the first base side wall 7 with the first clasp bore 72a aligned with the first base bore 73a and the second hinge clasp 71 juxtaposed to the second base side wall 8 with the second clasp bore 72b aligned with the second base bore 73b and then placing the cover such that the first hinge extension side wall 22 is proximate to the first hinge clasp 70 on the side opposite to where the first hinge clasp 70 is juxtaposed with the first base side wall 7 and the second hinge extension side wall 23 is proximate to the second hinge clasp 71 on the side opposite to where the second hinge clasp is juxtaposed with the second base side wall having the first hinge bore 25a is aligned with the first clasp bore 71 and the second hinge bore 25b is aligned to the second clasp bore 72. In this embodiment, a first pin is inserted into the first base bore 73a, first clasp bore 72a and first hinge bore 25a and the second pin inserted into the second base bore 73b, second clasp bore 72b and second hinge bore 25b.
The frame and tray may further comprise transient locking means which prevents the tray from moving within the frame opening without the application of a certain amount of force. As shown in
Claims
1. A compact cosmetic case comprising wherein the cover and base are capable of being moved into a relationship with each other such that the base well and cover well are juxtaposed to each other when the compact cosmetic case is closed and when the compact cosmetic case is closed the frame and tray are within the base well and cover well and not exposed to an environment external to the closed compact cosmetic case
- a) a base having a first base side wall, a second base side wall, a front base side wall and a back base side wall each having an inner face and an outer face and the base further having a base interior surface and a base exterior surface wherein the inner faces of the first base side wall, second base side wall, front base side wall and back base side wall and the base interior surface define a base well;
- b) a cover having a first cover side wall, a second cover side wall, a front cover side wall and a back cover side wall each having an inner face and an outer face and the cover further having a cover interior surface and cover exterior surface wherein the inner faces of the first cover side wall, second cover side wall, front cover side wall and back cover side wall and the base interior surface define a cover well;
- c) a frame having a first frame wall, a second frame wall, a distal frame wall and a forward frame wall each having an inner surface and an outer surface and the inner surfaces of the first frame wall, second frame wall, distal frame wall and forward frame wall defining a frame opening wherein the frame is attached to the base and/or the cover at the first frame wall or second frame wall proximate to the distal frame wall; and
- d) a tray having a first tray wall, a second tray wall, a distal tray wall and a forward tray wall each having an inner surface and an outer surface and the tray further having a dividing member with a first surface and a second surface wherein the first surface of the dividing member and inner surfaces of the left tray wall, a right tray wall, a forward tray wall and a distal tray wall define a first recess and the second surface of the of the dividing member and inner surfaces of the left tray wall, a right tray wall, a forward tray wall and a distal tray wall define the second recess and the tray is releasably attached to the frame by tray attachment means which allows the tray to have rotational movement within the frame opening
2. The compact cosmetic case of claim 1 wherein the first recess and/or second recess of the tray is divided into sections.
3. The compact cosmetic case of claim 2 further comprising one or more pans each having a first pan wall, a second pan wall, a forward pan wall and a back pan wall each pan wall having an inner surface and an outer surface and the pans further having a floor with an upper surface and a lower surface with the inner surfaces of the first pan wall, second pan wall, forward pan wall and back pan wall and upper surface of the floor defining a receiving area for receiving material.
4. The compact cosmetic case of claim 3 wherein the first recess and second recess are divided into sections with pans.
5. The compact cosmetic case of claim 4 wherein both the first recess and second recess has three pans.
6. The compact cosmetic case of claim 1 wherein the cover interior surface comprises a mirror.
7. The compact cosmetic case of claim 1 further comprising latching means for latching the cover and base when the compact is closed to prevent or inhibit the cover and base from separating.
8. The compact cosmetic case of claim 7 wherein the latching means comprises a) a cover latching piece extending from the front cover side wall, the cover latching piece having an outer surface and an inner surface and b) an indentation at the base front wall defined by a left indentation wall, a right indentation wall, an indentation bottom wall and an indentation surface with the indentation further comprising a projection.
9. the compact cosmetic case of claim 8 wherein the latching means further comprises a mating protrusion at the inner surface of the latching piece.
10. The compact case of claim 1 wherein the tray attachment means comprises a first tray nub on the outer surface of the first tray wall, a second tray nub on the outer surface of the second tray wall, a first frame indent defined by a first frame indent side wall and a first frame indent back wall at the inner surface of the first frame wall and a second frame indent defined by a second frame indent side wall and a second frame indent back wall at the inner surface of the second frame wall.
11. The compact cosmetic case of claim 1 further comprising means for lifting the frame and tray when the compact cosmetic case is opened.
12. The compact cosmetic case of claim 10 wherein the means for lifting the frame and tray when the compact cosmetic case is opened comprises a shelf at the outer surface of the distal frame wall having a shelf ledge and a shelf wall which extends from the shelf ledge to a bottom end of the distal frame wall and a hinge extension at the back cover wall having an hinge extension bottom wall which when the cover is moved away from the base impacts the shelf ledge to move the frame and tray.
13. The compact cosmetic case of claim 1 wherein the base, cover and tray are secured by multiple attachment means.
14. The compact cosmetic case of claim 13 wherein the multiple attachment means comprises wherein the base, frame and cover are assembled by placing at least the frame within the base with the first hinge clasp juxtaposed to the first base side wall with the first clasp bore aligned with the first base bore and the second hinge clasp juxtaposed to the second base side wall with the second clasp bore aligned with the second base bore and the placing the cover such that the first hinge extension side wall is proximate to the first hinge clasp on the side opposite to where the first hinge clasp is juxtaposed with the first base side wall and the second hinge extension side wall is proximate to the second hinge clasp on the side opposite to where the second hinge clasp is juxtaposed with the second base side wall having the first hinge bore aligned with the first clasp bore and the second hinge bore aligned the second clasp bore with the first pin inserted into the first base bore, first clasp bore and first hinge bore and the second pin inserted into the second base bore, second clasp bore and second hinge bore.
- a) a hinge extension which extends from a lower edge of the back cover side wall having a first hinge extension side wall, a second hinge extension side wall and a hinge extension bottom wall with the hinge extension comprising a first hinge bore having an opening at the first hinge extension side wall and a second hinge bore having an opening at the second hinge extension side wall,
- b) a first hinge clasp in the frame proximate to a point where the second frame wall and distal frame wall join having a first hinge clasp vertical section and a first hinge clasp horizontal section with a first clasp bore extending through the first hinge clasp vertical section,
- c) a second hinge clasp in the frame proximate to a point where the first frame wall and distal frame wall join having a second hinge clasp vertical section and a second hinge clasp horizontal section with a second hinge bore extending through the second hinge clasp vertical section,
- d) a first base bore at the first base side wall and a second base bore at the second base side wall, and
- e) a first pin and a second pin
15. The compact cosmetic case of claim 14 wherein the hinge extension further comprises a thickened section.
16. The compact cosmetic case of claim 15 wherein the first hinge bore and second hinge bore are in the thickened section.
17. The compact cosmetic case of claim 1 further comprising transient locking means.
18. The compact cosmetic case of claim 17 wherein the transient locking means comprises one or more flanges extending from the outer surface of one or more of the first frame wall, second frame wall, forward frame wall and distal frame wall.
19. A method of placing material into a compact cosmetic case comprising the steps of providing the compact cosmetic case of claim 3 and filling each of the pans with material.
20. The method of claim 19 wherein the pans are filled before the pans are placed into the first recess and/or second recess.
Type: Application
Filed: Jun 29, 2006
Publication Date: Jan 3, 2008
Inventors: Dennis J. Anderson (Randolph, NJ), G. Scott Desson (Long Valley, NJ)
Application Number: 11/427,467
International Classification: A45D 33/22 (20060101);