BEAUTY BOX INSERT AND BEAUTY CASE WITH BEAUTY BOX INSERT

Abstract

A beauty box insert is provided for use with a pre-existing case capable of housing a sunglasses box insert, the beauty box insert comprising: a first portion configured to releasably engage a first beauty product comprising a removable eye shadow case; a second portion configured to releasably engage a second beauty product comprising an eyeliner or eyebrow implement; a third portion configured to releasably engage a third beauty product comprising a lipstick case; and an attachment portion configured to releasably engage with the pre-existing case. A beauty case is also provided to include the beauty box insert and the pre-existing case as an outer case, the outer case being mounted on an interior surface of a vehicle, configured to be accessible to and used by a vehicle occupant, and configured to releasably engage, separately, both with the beauty box insert and with a sunglasses box insert.

Description

INTRODUCTION

The information provided in this section is for the purpose of generally presenting the context of the disclosure. Work of the presently named inventors, to the extent it is described in this section, as well as aspects of the description that may not otherwise qualify as prior art at the time of filing, are neither expressly nor impliedly admitted as prior art against the present disclosure.

The present disclosure relates to a beauty box insert and a beauty case containing the beauty box insert.

Sunglasses cases may be provided in interiors of some vehicles. For example, sunglasses cases may be located in an instrument panel, a center console, a door panel or an overhead console. Occupants of the vehicle place sunglasses in the sunglasses case to protect the sunglasses when they are not in use. When the sunglasses are not stored therein, the storage space is generally not utilized. This may be due to the fact that an interior volume of the sunglasses case has an unusual shape that is specifically designed to hold sunglasses. Other items (having shapes that are different than a typical pair of sunglasses) tend to move about, are damaged and/or make annoying rattling sounds during driving when they are stored in the sunglasses case.

SUMMARY

In a first aspect of the disclosure, a beauty box insert is provided for use with a pre-existing case capable of housing a sunglasses box insert. The beauty box insert includes an attachment portion configured to releasably engage with the pre-existing case. The beauty box insert is also configured to releasably engage with a plurality of beauty products, for example three beauty products. In that example, the beauty box insert includes a first portion configured to releasably engage a first beauty product comprising a removable eye shadow case. Also in that example, the beauty box insert includes a second portion configured to releasably engage a second beauty product comprising an eyeliner or eyebrow implement. Further in that example, the beauty box insert includes a third portion configured to releasably engage a third beauty product comprising a lipstick case.

In some embodiments, the attachment portion is located near an outer edge of the beauty box insert and is capable of engaging with a complementary attachment portion near an inner edge of the pre-existing case.

In some embodiments, the pre-existing case is releasably engaged with the attachment portion by snap fit.

In some embodiments, each of the first, second, and third beauty products are releasably engaged with the first, second, and third portions, respectively by transition fit.

In some embodiments, the removable eye shadow case has approximately a rectangular shape with a length of about 55 mm to about 65 mm, a width of about 25 mm to about 40 mm, and a depth of about 2.5 mm to about 10 mm. In some embodiments, the eyeliner or eyebrow implement has a cylindrical or polygonal prismatic shape with a diameter of about 5 mm to about 10 mm and a length of not more than about 100 cm. In some embodiments, the lipstick case has a cylindrical shape with a diameter of about 15 mm to about 25 mm and a length of about 60 mm to about 100 mm. In some embodiments, the removable eye shadow case comprises two replaceable compartments configured to hold eye shadow, a portion configured to hold a reusable eye shadow applicator, and a hinged cover to protect the eye shadow and the applicator when not in use.

In some embodiments, the beauty box insert is contained within a vehicle and are accessible to and used by a vehicle occupant.

In a second aspect of the disclosure, a beauty case is provided and includes a beauty box insert, such as in accordance with one or more embodiments of the first aspect of the disclosure. Additionally, the beauty case includes an outer case (the pre-existing case) to which the attachment portion of the beauty box insert may be releasably engaged. Furthermore, the outer case is configured to releasably engage a sunglasses box insert, separately from releasable engagement with the beauty box insert. The outer case may be mounted on an interior surface of a vehicle and is configured to be accessible to and used by a vehicle occupant.

In some embodiments, the outer case is hinged to the interior surface of a vehicle at a location at or above head level of the vehicle occupant.

In some embodiments, the attachment portion is located near an outer edge of the beauty box insert and is capable of engaging with a complementary attachment portion near an inner edge of the outer case. The sunglasses box insert also has an attachment portion near an outer edge of the sunglasses box insert that is capable of engaging with the complementary attachment portion near the inner edge of the outer case.

In some embodiments, the beauty case is releasably engaged with the attachment portion(s) by snap fit.

Further areas of applicability of the present disclosure will become apparent from the detailed description, the claims and the drawings. The detailed description and specific examples are intended for purposes of illustration only and are not intended to limit the scope of the disclosure.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present disclosure will become more fully understood from the detailed description and the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1A shows a perspective view of a beauty box insert according to the present disclosure;

FIG. 1B is an exploded view of a sunglasses box insert shown as being releasably attached to a pre-existing outer case according to the present disclosure; and

FIG. 2 shows a vehicle interior including a beauty box according to the present disclosure mounted thereto.

In the drawings, reference numbers may be reused to identify similar and/or identical elements.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

When sunglasses are not stored in the sunglasses case in the vehicle, the storage space can be used to store other items provided that the other items are held sufficiently to prevent movement. Some sunglasses cases include a sunglasses box insert that is received by an outer case. Another box insert according to the present disclosure replaces the sunglasses box insert to allow other items to be stored in the storage space. For example, the sunglasses box insert is removed and another box insert designed to hold the other items is inserted. For example, beauty items can be stored by removing the sunglasses box insert from the sunglasses outer case and inserting a beauty box insert (suitable for the beauty products) into the sunglasses outer case.

As a result, the beauty products or other items are easily accessible to vehicle occupants. Time-wasting traffic jams or extended red lights can be used to touch up or apply make-up using the beauty products in the beauty box insert held by the sunglasses outer case.

In some examples, the beauty box insert can be easily removed from the vehicle (e.g., and placed in the occupant's purse). This feature may be useful in environments where the temperature inside the vehicle rises substantially (e.g. to avoid high temperature conditions that might degrade the beauty products). Therefore in some examples, the beauty box insert is releasably inserted into and removed from the sunglasses outer case to allow insertion of other types of box inserts and/or to protect the contents of the box insert from higher temperatures, theft, etc.

Referring now to FIG. 1A, a beauty box insert 100 is configured to releasably engage with a plurality of beauty products. The beauty box insert 100 can comprise any number of portions (which can generally correspond to the number of beauty products desired to be held) and an attachment portion 110. The beauty box insert 100 may be configured to releasably engage with a pre-existing outer case.

In some examples, the beauty box insert 100 includes three beauty products and the attachment portion 110. The beauty products are housed in first, second, and third portions defining compartments surrounding each of the three beauty products. In this example, the first portion 120 can be configured to releasably engage a first beauty product, which can comprise a removable eye shadow case 121. The second portion 130 can be configured to releasably engage a second beauty product, which can comprise an eyeliner or eyebrow implement 131. The third portion 140 can be configured to releasably engage a third beauty product, which can comprise a lipstick case 141.

It should be understood that the beauty box insert 100 need not be limited to these beauty products. For example, the lipstick case 141 can be replaced by a mascara case or with any other beauty product case having similar dimensions.

In FIG. 1A, the removable eye shadow case 121 may comprise two replaceable compartments 152 configured to hold eye shadow, a portion 154 configured to hold a reusable eye shadow applicator 156, and a hinged cover 158 to protect the two replaceable compartments 152 when not in use.

The beauty box insert 100 can occupy any desired size and shape. In some embodiments, the removable eye shadow case 121 may have approximately a rectangular shape, optionally with rounded corners, with a length of about 55 mm to about 65 mm, a width of about 25 mm to about 40 mm, and a depth of about 2.5 mm to about 10 mm. Additionally or alternatively, the eyeliner or eyebrow implement 131 may have approximately a cylindrical or polygonal prismatic shape, with a diameter of about 5 mm to about 10 mm and a length of not more than about 100 cm. Further additionally or alternatively, the lipstick case 141 may have approximately a cylindrical shape, with a diameter of about 15 mm to about 25 mm and a length of about 60 mm to about 100 mm.

Similarly, each of the beauty products may be releasably engaged with the first portion 120, the second portion 130, and the third portion 140, respectively, via any connection mechanism. In some embodiments, one, some, or all of the beauty products can be releasably engaged by transition fit. Additionally or alternatively, one, some, or all of the beauty products can be releasably engaged by location fit, interference fit, slip fit, or friction fit.

A beauty box insert 100 can be configured for use with a pre-existing case. For example, FIG. 1B shows a pre-existing case 200 with a releasably engaged sunglasses box insert 205, shown disengaged in the exploded view. Like the beauty box insert 100, the sunglasses box insert 205 has an attachment portion 210, which may be configured to releasably engage with a complementary attachment portion 220 on the pre-existing case 200. The sunglasses box insert is also shown with a portion 225 in which sunglasses (not shown) may be housed.

In FIG. 1B, the complementary attachment portion 220 on the pre-existing case 200 is configured to releasably engage with the sunglasses box insert 205 via the attachment portion 210. However, the complementary attachment portion 220 on the pre-existing case 200 is also configured to releasably engage with the beauty box insert 100 from FIG. 1A via the attachment portion 110 (and is accordingly configured to releasably engage with any other box insert similarly sized and designed with a similar attachment portion). In order for an attachment portion of any one insert to be releasably engaged with the complementary attachment portion 220 on the pre-existing case 200, all other inserts should be disengaged.

In some embodiments, such as shown in FIG. 1B, the pre-existing case 200 is releasably engaged with the attachment portion 210 of the sunglasses box insert 205 by snap fit to the complementary attachment portion 220. As a result, in such embodiments, it follows that the pre-existing case 200 may releasably engaged with the attachment portion 110 of the beauty box insert 100 from FIG. 1A by snap fit to the complementary attachment portion 220 as well. Nevertheless, it is contemplated that other mechanisms of releasable engagement are alternatively possible, such as transition fit, location fit, interference fit, slip fit, friction fit, tab-slot engagement, latch engagement, bolt engagement, or the like.

In FIG. 1B, the complementary attachment portion 220 is shown as being situated near an inner edge of the pre-existing case 200, and the attachment portions 210 and 110 of the sunglasses box insert in FIG. 1B and the beauty box insert 100 in FIG. 1A, respectively, are shown as being situated near the outer edges of both inserts. Nevertheless, as with alternative ways of releasable engagement, it is contemplated that the attachment portions and complementary attachment portions can be situated in other locations.

FIG. 1B shows one view of a mounting 240 for the pre-existing case 200 to an inner surface (not shown), as well as a hinge assembly 250. The hinge assembly 250 allows the pre-existing case 200 to rotate closed against the inner surface to protect its contents and to rotate open away from the inner surface to allow access to its contents. Though shown disembodied in FIG. 1B, FIG. 2 shows the mounting 240 and hinge assembly 250 in the context of a vehicle. In FIG. 2, a beauty case 300 is shown with an inner beauty box insert 100 engaged (though releasably) with a pre-existing case 200. The mounting 240 and hinge assembly 250 of the beauty case 300 is shown as being accessible to a vehicle occupant (in this case, a driver—not shown) when rotated open, away from an interior surface region 305 of the vehicle, and capable of being protected when rotated closed, toward the interior surface region 305 of the vehicle. The beauty case 300 is shown in FIG. 2 as being mounted in the interior surface region 305 at or above head level of the vehicle occupant and with a driver's side alignment. The beauty case 300 is positioned in interior surface region 305 along the driver's door frame 310 proximate to the adjustable visor 320. However, it is contemplated that the beauty case 300 can be mounted anywhere on an interior surface of the vehicle that is accessible to any occupant of the vehicle.

Further, although FIG. 2 shows the pre-existing case 200 of the beauty case 300 as being releasably engaged with the beauty box insert 100, it should be apparent that the beauty box insert 100 could easily be releasably disengaged, for example in favor of releasably engaging a sunglasses box insert 205, or another box insert comprising a similar releasable engagement mechanism for operating in tandem with complementary attachment portion 220.

The foregoing description is merely illustrative in nature and is in no way intended to limit the disclosure, its application, or uses. The broad teachings of the disclosure can be implemented in a variety of forms. Therefore, while this disclosure includes particular examples, the true scope of the disclosure should not be so limited since other modifications will become apparent upon a study of the drawings, the specification, and the following claims. It should be understood that one or more steps within a method may be executed in different order (or concurrently) without altering the principles of the present disclosure. Further, although each of the embodiments is described above as having certain features, any one or more of those features described with respect to any embodiment of the disclosure can be implemented in and/or combined with features of any of the other embodiments, even if that combination is not explicitly described. In other words, the described embodiments are not mutually exclusive, and permutations of one or more embodiments with one another remain within the scope of this disclosure.

Spatial and functional relationships between elements (for example, between modules, circuit elements, semiconductor layers, etc.) are described using various terms, including “connected,” “engaged,” “coupled,” “adjacent,” “next to,” “on top of,” “above,” “below,” and “disposed.” Unless explicitly described as being “direct,” when a relationship between first and second elements is described in the above disclosure, that relationship can be a direct relationship where no other intervening elements are present between the first and second elements, but can also be an indirect relationship where one or more intervening elements are present (either spatially or functionally) between the first and second elements. As used herein, the phrase at least one of A, B, and C should be construed to mean a logical (A OR B OR C), using a non-exclusive logical OR, and should not be construed to mean “at least one of A, at least one of B, and at least one of C.”

None of the elements recited in the claims are intended to be a means-plus-function element within the meaning of 35 U.S.C. §112(f) unless an element is expressly recited using the phrase “means for,” or in the case of a method claim using the phrases “operation for” or “step for.”

Claims

1. A beauty box insert for use with a pre-existing case capable of housing a sunglasses box insert, the beauty box insert configured to releasably engage with a plurality of beauty products and comprising:

a first portion configured to releasably engage a first beauty product comprising a removable eye shadow case;

a second portion configured to releasably engage a second beauty product comprising an eyeliner or eyebrow implement;

a third portion configured to releasably engage a third beauty product comprising a lipstick case; and

an attachment portion configured to releasably engage with the pre-existing case.

2. The beauty box insert of claim 1, wherein the attachment portion is located near an outer edge of the beauty box insert and is capable of engaging with a complementary attachment portion near an inner edge of the pre-existing case.

3. The beauty box insert of claim 2, wherein the pre-existing case is releasably engaged with the attachment portion by snap fit.

4. The beauty box insert of claim 1, wherein each of the first, second, and third beauty products are releasably engaged with the first, second, and third portions, respectively by transition fit.

5. The beauty box insert of claim 1, wherein:

the removable eye shadow case has approximately a rectangular shape with a length of about 55 mm to about 65 mm, a width of about 25 mm to about 40 mm, and a depth of about 2.5 mm to about 10 mm;

the eyeliner or eyebrow implement has a cylindrical or polygonal prismatic shape with a diameter of about 5 mm to about 10 mm and a length of not more than about 100 cm; and

the lipstick case has a cylindrical shape with a diameter of about 15 mm to about 25 mm and a length of about 60 mm to about 100 mm.

6. The beauty box insert of claim 1, wherein the removable eye shadow case comprises two replaceable compartments configured to hold eye shadow, a portion configured to hold a reusable eye shadow applicator, and a hinged cover to protect the eye shadow and the applicator when not in use.

7. The beauty box insert of claim 1, which is contained within a vehicle, such that the beauty box insert and its plurality of beauty products are individually and collectively configured to be accessible to and used by a vehicle occupant.

8. A beauty case comprising:

an outer case mounted on an interior surface of a vehicle, configured to be accessible to and used by a vehicle occupant, and configured to releasably engage, separately, both with a beauty box insert and with a sunglasses box insert; and

a beauty box insert configured to releasably engage with the outer case and with a plurality of beauty products, the beauty box comprising: a first portion configured to releasably engage a first beauty product comprising a removable eye shadow case; a second portion configured to releasably engage a second beauty product comprising an eyeliner or eyebrow implement; a third portion configured to releasably engage a third beauty product comprising a lipstick case; and an attachment portion configured to releasably engage with the outer case.

9. The beauty case of claim 8, wherein the outer case is hinged to the interior surface of a vehicle at a location at or above head level of the vehicle occupant.

10. The beauty case of claim 8, wherein the attachment portion is located near an outer edge of the beauty box insert and is capable of engaging with a complementary attachment portion near an inner edge of the outer case, and wherein the sunglasses box insert also has an attachment portion near an outer edge of the sunglasses box insert that is capable of engaging with the complementary attachment portion near the inner edge of the outer case.

11. The beauty case of claim 10, wherein the beauty case is releasably engaged with the attachment portion by snap fit.

12. The beauty case of claim 8, wherein each of the first, second, and third beauty products are releasably engaged with the first, second, and third portions, respectively by transition fit.

13. The beauty case of claim 8, wherein:

the removable eye shadow case has approximately a rectangular shape with a length of about 55 mm to about 65 mm, a width of about 25 mm to about 40 mm, and a depth of about 2.5 mm to about 10 mm;

the eyeliner or eyebrow implement has a cylindrical or polygonal prismatic shape with a diameter of about 5 mm to about 10 mm and a length of not more than about 100 cm; and

the lipstick case has a cylindrical shape with a diameter of about 15 mm to about 25 mm and a length of about 60 mm to about 100 mm.

14. The beauty case of claim 8, wherein the removable eye shadow case comprises two replaceable compartments configured to hold eye shadow, a portion configured to hold a reusable eye shadow applicator, and a hinged cover to protect the eye shadow and the applicator when not in use.