COSMETICS CONTAINER SYSTEM
A cosmetics container system includes a first compact that comprises means for releasably attaching the first compact to a side or a bottom of another first compact or to a compact of a smaller size.
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This application claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. §119(e) of the following co-pending United States provisional patent application which is expressly incorporated herein in its entirety: U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/955,337, filed Aug. 10, 2007 and entitled “COSMETICS CONTAINER SYSTEM”.
BACKGROUND1. Field
The present disclosure relates to the act or process or dressing or grooming a human being, and, more particularly, to kits having plural cosmetic or applicator compartments or receivers.
2. Related Art
Archeological research has shown that human beings have used cosmetics as part of grooming since the time of the ancient Egyptian kingdom. Cosmetics are now used worldwide. Cosmetics may have the form of powders, pastes, liquids or solid materials and may be said to be substances used to enhance or protect the appearance or odor of the human body. Current-day cosmetics designed to improve or enhance the appearance of the face include lip glosses, lip enhancers, lip sticks, lip plumper, lip balms, lip lusters, lip conditioners, lip boosters, rouge, eye shadows, eye liners, mascaras, lash extenders, lash conditioners, eyebrow grooming gels, eyebrow pencils, eyebrow creams, eyebrow waxes, eyebrow gels, eyebrow powders, tints, perfecters, powder blushes, foundations, bronzing powders and creams, and mattifiers. Other cosmetics may be directed to the appearance of other parts of the body, such as fingernail or toenail polish. In addition, grooming may include perfumes and scents as olfactory cosmetics.
Cosmetics generally require containers. Containers have been devised to hold cosmetics since the days of ancient Egypt.
A person who uses cosmetics generally will use several cosmetics. This will require several containers if each cosmetic has its own container. The user of cosmetics will often depend on the user's mood, the occasion, the weather, and the like. The user will choose the cosmetics for an occasion and carry them with her.
The person using the cosmetics therefore will have to store and carry a number of cosmetics containers. Storage is not as much a problem as is carrying a number of containers, such as in a handbag or other carrying device. A number of separate containers may become intermixed with other articles and therefore be difficult to find. Containers have been provided that hold two or more cosmetics in separate compartments, trays or bins. The use of containers of this sort reduces the number of containers but is limiting because it restricts the choice of the cosmetics if only a few containers is to be carried.
Jouer Cosmetics, the assignee of the present application, currently sells a cosmetics compact that has a tail formed on one edge and a complementary socket formed in the opposed edge, so that two such cosmetics compacts may be joined side by side. In addition, the bottom side of the cosmetics compact has four side-by-side mating peg and pit combinations whereby that two such cosmetics compacts may be joined bottom to bottom. The cosmetics compact may hold any of a number of kinds of cosmetics, such as mascaras, in any of a number of colors or hues. United States design patent D535,789 to Claude Peter Meyers shows the appearance of one of these compacts.
The features of the Jouer Cosmetics compact mentioned above permit any number of compacts to be joined together side by side and bottom to bottom, resulting in a linear array of cosmetics compacts that may be two deep. The cosmetics compacts each contain a hinged lid as their top surface. The hinged lid will be exposed even when the compact is joined to other compacts, so that the cosmetics contained in the compact will be available to the user. The lid is provided with a mirror in the inside surface of the lid so that the user can see herself while applying the cosmetic.
The user selects the Jouer cosmetics compacts containing the cosmetics she believes that she will need for an occasion or trip and joins them together as described to produce a single composite unit that can easily be carried. The cosmetics selected by the user will be together when needed. Individual cosmetics compacts are less likely to be lost or misplaced.
The user can easily add or subtract cosmetics compacts from the composite unit in order to modify the selection of cosmetics she carries. She can also break the composite unit down into its constituent compacts for separate storage when the composite unit is no longer needed.
The Jouer cosmetics compacts, however, have only the one size and shape. Different cosmetics may need different containers. For example, liquids such as mascara need a container that will prevent leaks and an applicator.
Furthermore, the user may use a larger amount of one cosmetic than another. She will need to carry a larger amount of one cosmetic compared to the other. With only one size of compact, the user must double or triple the number of compacts containing that cosmetic or face the risk of not having enough of the cosmetic.
SUMMARYA cosmetics container system is disclosed herein that provides detachably interlocking containers of different sizes and shapes, each container containing at least one cosmetic or cosmetic accessory. The user may join each container to one or more of the other containers in order to build a composite cosmetics container having the user's selection of cosmetics. The system provides means for joining the containers in any of many arrangements to be selected by the user, despite the difficulty presented by the containers having different sizes and shapes, so that a composite unit of such containers may be formed. The composite unit is readily carried in a handbag or other device or stored in a glove compartment or other storage place.
In a preferred aspect of the cosmetics container system disclosed herein, the detachably interlocking containers include first and second compacts, wherein the first or large compact is larger than the second or small compact, and a vial. The first and second compacts may be joined to each other side-to-side or bottom-to-bottom. The vial may be joined to a first compact or to one or two of the second compacts.
The present disclosure will be understood and appreciated more fully from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the drawings. The drawings are described below.
As used herein, a compact of the cosmetics container system disclosed herein can be, but is not limited to, a compact case of any size or shape, a cosmetics accessory such as a pencil sharpener, eyelash curler, or tweezers, an attachable makeup applicator/tool such as a brush, a cotton swab, or sponge, a false eyelash kit, a manicure kit, face tissue, cleansing wipes, or an attachable empty canister to hold separately packaged cosmetic products.
Also as used herein, a vial of the cosmetics container system disclosed herein can be, but is not limited to, a filled cosmetics tube (such as for liquid foundation, primer, or toothpaste), a liquid cosmetic holder with an applicator (such as for lip gloss, mascara, brow gel, stains, liquid eyeliner, or nail polish), an spray atomizer pump (such as for perfume, hair spray, brush cleaner, or toner), a pump (such as for lotions, serums, foundation makeup, or cleanser), an aerosol sprayer (such as for perfume, toners, hair spray, or mouse), a bottle (such as for cleanser, shampoo, conditioner, makeup remover, or brush cleaner), or a cosmetic pencil (such as lip liner or eye liner).
Examples of various combinations of a second or small compact 100, a first or large compact 200, and a vial 300 of one currently preferred embodiment of a cosmetics container system according to the disclosure are shown in
The small compacts 100 have a square shape when seen from above or below. They may be joined to each other horizontally, side-by-side, as in
The large compacts 200 have a rectangular shape when seen from above or below. They may be joined to each other horizontally, side-by-side, as in
The large compacts 200 may be joined in one of two possible vertical orientations. When two large compacts 200 according to a preferred embodiment are joined vertically, they may be oriented so that their lids rotate toward each other when opened (the axes of the hinges of the lids being vertically aligned) as in the configuration shown in
The large compact 200 may be joined horizontally to a small compact 100, as shown in
The vial 300 may be joined horizontally to a small compact 100 as shown in
The vial 300 may be joined horizontally to a large compact 200, as shown in
Generally, any combinations of the small compact 100, the large compact 200, and the vial 300 of this one preferred embodiment of the system may be put together. Only two layers of the small compact 100 and the large compact 200 may be joined vertically but horizontal combinations of the small compact 100 and the large compact 200 may be extended without limit other than practical considerations such as whether the combination will fit into a handbag. The vial 300 in this one preferred embodiment may attach only to one side of the small compacts 100 or the large compacts 200, as shown in
The small compact 100, as may be best seen in
The right side of the base 110 has a socket 113 molded therein. The left side of the base 110 has a tail 114 molded therein. The left side of the base 110 has a protrusion in the form of a tail 114 molded therein. The socket 113 and the tail 114 are shaped and sized to slidingly engage the tail 114 and socket 113, respectively, of other small compacts 100, in a sliding dovetail joint. The center of the tail 114 contains a rounded projection 115 having a vertically arranged slot 115A molded therein for receiving a detent 116 molded in the center of the bottom of the socket 113, to hold two of the small compacts 100 in alignment when joined horizontally, as shown in
The bottom side of the base 110 has four spaced peg and pin engagement units 117, each composed of an indentation in the form of a pit 118 adjoining a protrusion in the form of a peg 119. The peg 119 is shaped and sized to detachably fit into the pit 118 of another and vertically adjacent small compact 100 while the peg 119 of that other small compact 100 fits into the pit 118 of the first small compact 100. The peg 119 also is shaped and sized to detachably fit into the pit 218 of a vertically adjacent large compact 200 while the peg 219 of that large compact 200 fits into the pit 118 of the small compact 100.
The bottom edges of the pegs 119 are preferably softened, not sharp, in order to permit easier engagement with the pit 118 of another small compact 100. The peg and pit engagement units 117 therefore permit two small compacts 100 to be detachably connected bottom-to-bottom, as shown in
The large compact 100, as may be best seen in
The right side of the base 210 has a protrusion in the form of a socket 213A molded on the right side thereof. The right side of the base 210 also has a protrusion in the form of a tail 214A molded on the left side thereof. The left side of the base 210 has an indentation in the form of a socket 213B molded on the right side thereof. The right side of the base 210 also has a protrusion in the form of a tail 214B molded on the left side thereof. The socket 213A and the tail 214A are shaped and sized to slidingly engage either the tail 214A and socket 213A or the tail 214B and the socket 213B, respectively, of other large compacts 200, as well as the tail 114 and socket 113 of a small compact 100. The socket 213B and the tail 214B are shaped and sized to slidingly engage either the tail 214A and socket 213A or the tail 214B and the socket 213B, respectively, of other large compacts 200, as well as the tail 114 and socket 113 of a small compact 100.
It will be noted that that the small compact 100 will be horizontally mated to a large compact 200 in such a configuration that the hinge pin 140 of the small compact 100 is located adjacent the center of the large compact 200. The small compact 100 will have its front side adjacent one end of the large compact 200 rather than its middle so that the inner lid 130 and top cover 150 will rotate toward the middle of the large compact 200. The socket 113 and tail 114 of the small compact 100 are located on its left and right side, respectively, in order to require this configuration (see, e.g.,
The centers of the tails 214A and 214B contain a rounded projection 215 having a vertically arranged slot 215A molded therein for receiving a detent 216 molded in the center of the bottom of the sockets 213A and 213B, to hold two of the small compacts 100 in alignment when joined horizontally, as shown in
The bottom side of the base 210 has first and second sets 260 and 270, respectively, of four spaced peg and pit engagement units 217, each peg and pit engagement units 217 being composed of an indentation in the form of a pit 218 adjoining a protrusion in the form of a peg 219. The peg 219 is shaped and sized to detachably fit into the pit 118 of a vertically adjacent small compact 100 while the peg 119 of that small compact 100 fits into the pit 218 of the large compact 200. The peg 219 also is shaped and sized to detachably fit into the pit 218 of a vertically adjacent large compact 200 while the peg 219 of that large compact 200 fits into the pit 218 of the first large compact 200.
It will be observed in the bottom side view of
It will also be observed that the small compact 100 will be vertically mated to a large compact 200 in such a configuration that the hinge pin 140 of the small compact 100 is located adjacent the center of the large compact 200. As noted above, the small compact 100 will have its front side above one end of the large compact 200 rather than above its middle so that the inner lid 130 and top cover 150 will rotate toward the middle of the large compact 200. The peg and pit engagement units 117 of the small compact 100 have an orientation that requires this configuration (see
The bottom edges of the pegs 219 are preferably softened, not sharp, in order to permit easier engagement with the pit 118 of another small compact 100. The peg and pit engagement units 117 therefore permit two large compacts 200 to be detachably connected bottom-to-bottom, as shown in
As is best seen in
The outer shell 310 is hollow with an opening at one end for receiving an inner vial 320 that preferably is blow molded in PETG. The inner vial 320 has a threaded neck 322 with an opening therein leading to a compartment for receiving cosmetics such as mascara, as is best seen in
The outer shell 310 has one wall 311 that is thickened to project outwardly. A socket 313 is formed in the wall 311. The socket 313 is shaped and sized to accommodate the tail 114 of a small compact 100 and the tails 214A and 214B of the large compact 200. Accordingly, the vial 300 can be horizontally mated to either a small compact 100, as in
The vial 300 has an outer cap 340, preferably molded of ABS, into which an inner cap 350 is press-fitted, welded or adhered. The inner cap 350, preferably made of an injection molded PP material, has molded therein a threaded opening for receiving the neck 322 of the inner vial 320. The opening in the inner cap 350 contains a wiper 360, preferably injected molded in PP material. The wiper 360 is intended to fit into the neck 322 of the inner vial 320. The wiper 360 also holds the brush assemblies shown in
The wall 311 is thickened not only to accommodate the socket 313 but also to space the outer cap 340 away from that wall, as shown in
In a further embodiment in accordance with the present disclosure, and with reference to
It will be appreciated that a variety of brushes and other applicators could be provided in place of the brush assemblies shown in
While illustrative embodiments of the clamps disclosed herein have been shown and described in the above description, numerous variations and alternative embodiments will occur to those skilled in the art. For example, different materials might be employed for components in place of those specifically mentioned, the shapes of the components might be altered, additional and different containers might be supplied that the join the system, and other means for joining the containers might be employed. It should be understood that, within the scope of the appended claims, the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described. Such variations and alternative embodiments are contemplated, and can be made, without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.
Claims
1. A cosmetics container system comprising a first compact, wherein the first compact comprises means for releasably attaching the first compact to a side or a bottom of another first compact or to a compact of a smaller size.
2. The cosmetics container system according to claim 1 further comprising a second compact smaller than the first compact wherein the second compact contains means for releasably attaching the second compact to a side or a bottom of the first compact or to another second compact.
3. The cosmetics container system according to claim 2 wherein the second compact has a length about half the size of a corresponding length of the first compact.
4. The cosmetics container system according to claim 3 wherein two of the second compacts may be attached to a side of a first compact.
5. The cosmetics container system according to claim 4 wherein the two second compacts attached to the side of the first compact are together as long as the first compact.
6. The cosmetics container system according to claim 3 wherein two of the second compacts may be attached to a bottom of a first compact.
7. The cosmetics container system according to claim 6 wherein the two second compacts attached to the bottom of the first compact are together as long as the first compact.
8. The cosmetics container system according to claim 1 wherein the first compact comprises a base in which the bottom and the side are formed and a cover attached to the base for movement between a closed position in which cosmetics contained in the base are substantially secured from the outside of the first compact and an open position in which cosmetics contained in the base are accessible from the outside of the first compact.
9. The cosmetics container system according to claim 2 wherein the second compact comprises a base in which the bottom and the side are formed and a cover attached to the base for movement between a closed position in which cosmetics contained in the base are substantially secured from the outside of the second compact and an open position in which cosmetics contained in the base are accessible from the outside of the second compact.
10. The cosmetics container system according to any of claim 2 further comprising a vial with a vial with means for releasably attaching the vial to the first and to the second compact.
11. The cosmetics container system according to claim 10 wherein the vial comprises a body defining a compartment for receiving cosmetics and a cap removably attached to the body for sealing the compartment.
12. A cosmetics container system comprising:
- a small compact; and
- a large compact;
- wherein a side of the small compact has protrusions or indentations for releasably attaching the small compact to corresponding indentations and protrusions on a side of another small compact or a large compact and a side of the large compact has protrusions and indentations for releasably attaching the large compact to a side of another large compact or a small compact.
13. The cosmetics container system according to claim 12 wherein a bottom of the small compact has protrusions or indentations for releasably attaching the small compact to corresponding indentations and protrusions on a bottom of another small compact or a large compact and a bottom of the large compact has protrusions and indentations for releasably attaching the large compact to a bottom of another large compact or a small compact.
14. The cosmetics container system according to claim 12 wherein the small compact comprises a base and a cover attached to the base for movement between a closed position in which cosmetics contained in the base are substantially secured from the outside of the small compact and an open position in which cosmetics contained in the base are accessible from the outside of the small compact.
15. The cosmetics container system according to claim 12 wherein the large compact comprises a base and a cover attached to the base for movement between a closed position in which cosmetics contained in the base are substantially secured from the outside of the large compact and an open position in which cosmetics contained in the base are accessible from the outside of the large compact.
16. The cosmetics container system according to claim 12 wherein the small compact is half the size of the large compact in at least one dimension wherein two small compacts may be attached to a large compact without overlap or underlap.
17. The cosmetics container system according to claim 12 further comprising a vial, wherein the vial comprises indentations for releasably attaching the vial to one of the protrusions of a small compact or a large compact.
18. The cosmetics container system according to claim 17, wherein the vial further comprises protrusions for releasably attaching the vial to one of the indentations of a small compact, a large compact, or another vial.
19. The cosmetics container system according to claim 17 wherein the vial comprises a body defining a compartment for receiving cosmetics and a cap removably attached to the body for sealing the compartment.
20. The cosmetics container system according to claim 17 wherein the vial is releasably attachable to a side of a small compact, a large compact, or another vial.
21. A system of a plurality of cosmetic containers, comprising:
- a rectangular compact comprising a base having a top, a bottom, two opposed long sides, two opposed short sides, each long side adjoining each of the two short sides at substantially a right angle, the top defining a receptacle for receiving cosmetics;
- a cover having a top, a bottom, two opposed long sides, two opposed short sides, each long side adjoining each of the two short sides at substantially a right angle,
- a hinge connecting the cover to the base adjacent one of the long or short sides of the base, wherein the cover encloses the receptacle in the base when the cover is in a first position adjacent the base and exposes the receptacle when the cover is in a second position rotated away from the base;
- wherein at least one of the long sides of the base has formed therein a tail and a socket, the tail and the socket being aligned along a line substantially parallel to the one of the long side of the base, the tail and socket being sized and shaped for slidable mating attachment to the socket and tail of a long side of another rectangular compact to join the rectangular compacts at their respective long sides;
- and wherein pegs and pits are provided in the bottom of the base for mating attachment to pits and pegs formed in a bottom of another rectangular compact, whereby the bottoms of the bases of the rectangular compacts may be releaseably joined together.
22. The system of a plurality of cosmetic containers according to claim 21, further comprising:
- a square compact comprising a base having a top, a bottom, four sides of substantially the same length, two opposed sides meeting two opposed sides at right angles, the top defining a receptacle for receiving cosmetics;
- a cover having a top, a bottom, four sides of substantially the same length, two opposed sides meeting two opposed sides at right angles,
- a hinge connecting the cover to the base adjacent one of the sides of the base, wherein the cover encloses the receptacle in the base when the cover is in a first position adjacent the base and exposes the receptacle when the cover is in a second position rotated away from the base;
- wherein at least one of the sides of the base has formed therein a tail and the opposed side has a socket, the tail and socket being sized and shaped for slidable mating attachment to the socket and tail of a side of another square compact or a rectangular compact to join the square or rectangular compacts at their respective sides;
- and wherein pegs and pits are provided in the bottom of the base for mating attachment to pits and pegs formed in a bottom of another square or a rectangular compact, whereby the bottoms of the bases of the square and rectangular compacts may be releaseably joined together.
23. The system of a plurality of cosmetic containers according to claim 22, further comprising:
- a vial having a body defining a compartment for receiving cosmetics and a cap releasably joined to the body for securing the cosmetics in the compartment, the body having a side in which is formed a socket for mating engagement with a tail of a square or a rectangular compact.
24. The system of a plurality of cosmetics containers according to claim 23, wherein the body of the vial has another side in which is formed a tail for mating engagement with any one of i) a socket of a square compact, ii) a socket of a rectangular compact, and iii) a socket of another vial.
Type: Application
Filed: Aug 8, 2008
Publication Date: Feb 19, 2009
Applicant: JOUER COSMETICS, LLC (Beverly Hills, CA)
Inventors: Christina Zilber (Beverly Hills, CA), Sean Brosmith (Beverly Hills, CA)
Application Number: 12/189,027
International Classification: A45D 33/28 (20060101); B65D 43/00 (20060101); A45D 40/24 (20060101); A45D 33/00 (20060101);