INTERCHANGEABLE PALETTE

Abstract

A cosmetic container includes a base assembly, at least one tray releasably secured to the base, and a lid. The base may have at least one ridge extending between a front edge and a rear edge of the base, and the tray may have at least one channel configured to receive the ridge, the channel having a securing element configured to releasably secure the tray to the ridge. The trays may be removable, replaceable, and/or interchangeable to provide a interchangeable palette.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application claims the benefit of and priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 62/529,794, filed on Jul. 7, 2017, titled INTERCHANGEABLE PALETTE, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND

Numerous types of containers such as compacts and palettes are available for cosmetic products. Such containers hold products in a useable form such as powder, cream, paste, etc., with various designs to allow a user access to the products. New and alternative approaches to such devices are desired.

SUMMARY

This disclosure provides designs, material, manufacturing methods, and use alternatives for cosmetic packaging.

In a first non-limiting example a cosmetic container may comprise a base assembly having a front edge and an opposing rear edge and at least one ridge extending therebetween; at least one tray releasably secured to the base assembly, the at least one tray having at least one channel configured to receive the at least one ridge, the tray having a securing element configured to releasably secure the tray to the base assembly; and a lid configured to be coupled to the base assembly in an orientation to cover the at least one tray.

Additionally or alternatively, each tray may be removable and insertable into the base assembly when the lid is in a closed position and an open position.

Additionally or alternatively, the securing element may include at least one protrusion extending into each of the at least one channel.

Additionally or alternatively, the at least one protrusion may be positioned adjacent a rear end of each of the at least one channel.

Additionally or alternatively, the ridge may include a cutout region adjacent the rear edge, the cutout region configured to receive the at least one protrusion.

Additionally or alternatively, the base assembly may include an upwardly angled portion adjacent the rear edge.

Additionally or alternatively, the tray may include a downwardly extending lip configured to extend below the upwardly angled portion of the base assembly when the tray is secured to the base assembly.

Additionally or alternatively, the base assembly may include at least one vertical projection extending upward from a bottom of the base assembly at the front edge.

Additionally or alternatively, the tray may include at least one angled surface on a front face thereof, the at least one angled surface configured to engage the vertical projection when the tray is secured to the base assembly.

Additionally or alternatively, the base assembly may include a plurality of ridges and the cosmetic container includes a plurality of trays, each tray having at least one channel configured to receive one of the plurality of ridges.

Additionally or alternatively, the base assembly may include at least three ridges, wherein at least a first tray includes a single channel and at least a second tray includes two spaced apart channels.

Additionally or alternatively, the plurality of trays may be configured to be inserted into the base assembly in a first arrangement, removed, and reinserted in at least a second arrangement different from the first arrangement.

Additionally or alternatively, the plurality of trays may be configured to be individually removable from and insertable into the base assembly.

Additionally or alternatively, the plurality of trays may be configured to be repositionable within the base assembly.

Additionally or alternatively, at least one tray may be configured to hold at least one cosmetic product.

Additionally or alternatively, at least one tray may be configured to hold two or more different cosmetic products.

Additionally or alternatively, at least one tray may be configured to hold a cosmetic implement.

Additionally or alternatively, the securing element may include at least one magnet positioned on the tray and at least one magnet positioned on the base assembly.

In a second non-limiting example, a cosmetic container may comprise a base assembly having a front edge and an opposing rear edge and a plurality of ridges extending therebetween, the base assembly having an upwardly angled portion adjacent the rear edge; a plurality of trays releasably secured to the base assembly, each of the plurality of trays having at least one channel configured to receive one of the plurality of ridges, and a securing element configured to releasably secure each tray to the base assembly, each tray having a downwardly extending lip configured to extend below the upwardly angled portion of the base assembly when the tray is secured to the base assembly; and a lid configured to be coupled to the base assembly, wherein each of the plurality of trays is removable and insertable into the base assembly when the lid is in a closed position and an open position.

Additionally or alternatively, the base assembly may include at least three ridges, wherein at least a first tray includes a single channel and at least a second tray includes two spaced apart channels.

The above summary of some example embodiments is not intended to describe each disclosed embodiment or every implementation of the present disclosure. The Figures, and Detailed Description, which follow, more particularly exemplify these embodiments.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The foregoing and other aspects of the present invention are best understood from the following detailed description when read in connection with the accompanying drawings. In the drawings, which are not necessarily drawn to scale, like numerals may describe similar components in different views. Like numerals having different letter suffixes may represent different instances of similar components. The drawings illustrate generally, by way of example, but not by way of limitation, various embodiments discussed in the present document. Included in the drawings are the following Figures:

FIG. 1 is a perspective front view of an illustrative interchangeable cosmetic container;

FIG. 2 is a perspective rear view of the illustrative cosmetic container of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a perspective front view of the illustrative cosmetic container of FIG. 1 with the lid assembly in an open configuration;

FIG. 4 is a perspective exploded view of the elements of the illustrative cosmetic container of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a side perspective view of an illustrative tray from the cosmetic container of FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a bottom perspective view of the tray of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a perspective front view of an illustrative tray frame from the cosmetic container of FIG. 1 with a tray removed; and

FIG. 8 is a perspective bottom view of the tray frame and removed tray of FIG. 7.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The following description should be read with reference to the drawings wherein like reference numerals indicate like elements throughout the several views. The description and drawings show several embodiments which are meant to be illustrative in nature.

For convenience, the present disclosure may be described using relative terms including, for example, left, right, top, bottom, front, back, upper, lower, up, and down, as well as others. It is to be understood that these terms are merely used for illustrative purposes and are not meant to be limiting in any manner.

FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of an exemplary interchangeable palette or cosmetic container 10 in a closed configuration. The cosmetic container 10 may be interchangeable in that the cosmetics retained within the container 10 can be easily removed and inserted by the user and in any arrangement, as desired. As shown in FIG. 1, the cosmetic container 10 may include a base assembly 20 and a lid 14. The cosmetic container 10 may have a generally rectangular shape, as illustrated in FIG. 1. However, the cosmetic container 10 may take any shaped desired, including, but not limited to, square, circular, triangular, half-ovoid, polygonal, etc.

In some examples, the cosmetic container 10 and/or the various components thereof may be made from a rigid material (e.g., acrylonitrile butadiene styrene, thermoplastics, other polymers, glass, metal, alloy, wood, and the like). Other examples may, however, include containers 10 made from a flexible or semi-rigid material, such as plastic. In some embodiments, the base assembly 20 and/or lid 14 may comprise a transparent or translucent material so that the cosmetic product within may be externally viewed.

The cosmetic container 10 may include a plurality of trays 30a, 30b, 30c (collectively, 30) accessible from the rear of the cosmetic container 10 as shown in FIG. 2. The trays 30 may be releasably secured to the base assembly 20 such that they are removable, replaceable and/or interchangeable, as desired. The trays 30 slide into the base assembly 20 under the lid 14, and may be removed and inserted when the lid 14 is in either the open or closed position. The lid 14 may be configured to be coupled to the base assembly 20 in an orientation to cover the trays 30. The lid 14 may be pivotably coupled to the base assembly 20. For example, the lid 14 can be rotated open to expose a mirror 16 affixed to the underside of the lid, as shown in FIG. 3. In other examples, the lid 14 may be completely separate from the base assembly 20 and selectively coupled to the base assembly 20 with a magnetic closure, snap fit, or friction fit. Each of the plurality of trays 30 may include one or more fill puck 40a, 40b, 40c (collectively, 40). The fill pucks 40 may be configured to receive a cosmetic product, such as, but not limited to loose powders (e.g., for eye, cheek, face, and the like), pressed powders (e.g., for eye, cheek, face, and the like), creams (e.g., skincare, eye, foundation, and the like), sunscreen, hot pour products (e.g., lipsticks, glosses, and the like), touchup, spot cover, baked powders, pastes, moisturizers, hair creams, gels, serums, and the like. Alternatively, the cosmetic product may be deposited directly into the trays 30.

The trays 30 and/or fill pucks 40 may have various sizes and shapes. For example, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the container 10 contains one large tray 30a holding a single large fill puck 40a, two small trays 30b, each holding two small fill pucks 40b, and one small tray 30c holding a medium size fill puck 40c. It is contemplated that the trays 30 and/or fill pucks 40 may have differing sizes and/or a different number of trays 30 and/or fill pucks 40 may be provided in the container 10.

For example, a single tray 30 may fill the entire container 10, or multiple trays of varying sizes may be provided. The cosmetic container 10 may be provided with a large array of tray sizes and placement configurations. Tray widths may be as desired. The fill pucks 40 may be sized and shaped to generally fill their respective tray 30, although this is not required. In some cases, one or more trays 30 may be free from a fill puck 40 to allow for the placement and/or retention of a cosmetic implement. Some illustrative implements may include but are not limited to an applicator with a handle, an applicator without a handle, a stencil (e.g., a brow stencil), tweezers, a brush with or without a handle, a sponge with or without a handle, a pencil, a vial, a lipstick, etc.

FIG. 4 is an exploded view of the elements of the cosmetic container. The lid 14 may include one or more lid magnets 18 attached thereto, and a mirror 16 attached to the lid 14. The base assembly 20 may include a frame 22 disposed over a base 50 which together hold the trays 30 and their associated fill pucks 40. The lid 14 may be attached to hinges 21 on the frame 22. The base 50 may include one or more base magnets 70, which engage the lid magnets 18 to keep the container 10 closed.

The base 50 may include a right (or first) lateral side wall 54 and a left (or second) opposing lateral side wall 56 extending upward from a bottom 53. The base 50 may include a front edge 57, an opposing rear edge 58, one or more ridge 51 extending therebetween, and one or more vertical projection 52 extending upward from the bottom 53 along the front edge 57. The ridges 51 may be configured to engage the trays 30. Each ridge 51 may have a cutout region 55 adjacent but spaced apart from the rear edge 58 by a rear portion 59. The ridge 51 may releasably secure a tray 30, as discussed further below. In the example illustrated in FIG. 4, the base 50 includes five ridges 51 and four vertical projections 52 that engage the four trays 30a, 30b, 30b, 30c. The first and second side walls 54, 56 and vertical projections 52 provide boundaries on three sides for holding the trays 30 inside the base 50.

Each tray 30 may have a step or lip 31 extending downward adjacent a rear face 38 of the tray 30, as shown in FIG. 5 with regard to the large tray 30a. The trays 30 will be/have been described with reference to a large tray 30a. However is should be understood that the all of the trays 30 may include similar or the same features as described herein. The large tray 30a may have a structure that is essentially a duplicate of two small trays 30b joined together. The large tray 30a may include two projections 35 with angled surfaces 36 extending from a front face 37. The small tray 30b, 30c may include a single projection 35 with angled surfaces 36, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 7. The angled surfaces 36 may engage the vertical projections 52 on the base 50 when the trays 30a, 30b, 30c are inserted into the base 50. See FIG. 7.

The trays 30 may have one or more channels 32 extending between the front face 37 and the lip 31, as shown in FIG. 6. The channel 32 may be configured to receive the ridge 51. In the example illustrated, the large tray 30a has two channels 32. The channels 32 may include openings 39 in the front face 37 that allow the large tray 30a to slide over two adjacent ridges 51 in the base 50. The channels may include a securing element such as a protrusion 33 extending partially into the channel 32. The protrusion 33 may be adjacent the lip 31, and may fit into the cutout region 55 in the ridge on the base 50.

As shown in FIG. 7, the ridge 51 has a rear portion 59 located at the rear edge 58 of the base 50. When the large tray 30a is placed with the channels 32 positioned over the ridges 51, the large tray 30a may be advanced towards the front edge 57 of the base 50. When the protrusion 33 engages the rear portion 59 of the ridge 51, the protrusion 33 provides resistance. As the tray 30 is moved further forward against the resistance, the protrusion 33 slides along the rear portion 59. When the tray 30 is fully advanced, the protrusion 33 snaps into the cutout region 55, providing a snap fit holding the tray 30 in the fully forward position and preventing the tray 30 from sliding out of the container 10 until the user wishes to remove it.

In an alternative example, the ridges 51 may be disposed on the trays 30a -30c and the channel 32 may be disposed on the base 50, thus reversing the two parts, with otherwise similar structural and functional aspects as described.

As shown in FIG. 7, the large tray 30a has two channels 32 and thus covers the space over two ridges 51, while the small trays 30b, 30c each have a single channel 32. The example base 50 with five ridges 51 thus holds three small trays 30b, 30c and one large tray 30a. In other examples, a single tray 30 may be provided with five channels 32 to fit into the five ridges of the base 50, two large trays 30a and one small tray 30b may be provided, or five small trays 30b may be provided. The large tray 30a and small trays 30b, 30c may be inserted in any arrangement. For example, a first arrangement is illustrated in FIG. 7, with the large tray 30a on the right, two small trays 30b each holding two small fill pucks 40b are next, and a small tray 30c with a medium fill puck 40c is on the left. These trays 30a, 30b, 30c may be removed and reinserted in at least a second arrangement different from the first arrangement, such as with the two small trays 30b on either end and the large tray 30a and small tray 30c therebetween. It is contemplated that any number of ridges 51 and associated trays 30 may be provided. Further, any number of fill pucks 40 may be provided for each tray 30. In the example shown in FIG. 7, the large tray 30a contains a single large fill puck 40a. Alternatively, one medium fill puck 40c and two small fill pucks 40b, or four small fill pucks 40b may be provided.

In other examples, instead of or in addition to the protrusion 33 and cutout region 55 snap-fit structure, the securing element may include magnets attached to the front face 37 of the tray 30 and the front edge 57 of the base 50. In a further example, the protrusion 33 may be located at a different position along the channel 32, or multiple protrusions may be provided as the securing element. Further, instead of a cutout region 55 on the ridge 51, the entire length of the ridge may engage the protrusion 33 so a friction fit is achieved as the tray 30 is slid along the ridge 51.

Removal of the large tray 30a is illustrated in FIG. 8. The user may grasp the lip 31 extending below an upwardly angled rear portion 60 of the base 50, and pull the tray 30 out of the base 50 in the direction of arrow 80, overcoming the friction fit of the protrusion 33 within the cutout region 55. Once the protrusion 33 is out of the cutout region 55, the tray 30 slides easily over the ridge 51 for complete removal.

Although the invention has been described with reference to exemplary embodiments, it is not limited thereto. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that numerous changes and modifications may be made to the preferred embodiments of the invention and that such changes and modifications may be made without departing from the true spirit of the invention. It is therefore intended that the appended claims be construed to cover all such equivalent variations as fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention.

Claims

1. A cosmetic container comprising:

a base assembly having a front edge and an opposing rear edge and at least one ridge extending therebetween;

at least one tray releasably secured to the base assembly, the at least one tray having at least one channel configured to receive the at least one ridge, the tray having a securing element configured to releasably secure the tray to the base assembly; and

a lid configured to be coupled to the base assembly in an orientation to cover the at least one tray.

2. The cosmetic container of claim 1, wherein each tray is removable and insertable into the base assembly when the lid is in a closed position and an open position.

3. The cosmetic container of claim 1, wherein the securing element includes at least one protrusion extending into each of the at least one channel.

4. The cosmetic container of claim 3, wherein the at least one protrusion is positioned adjacent a rear end of each of the at least one channel.

5. The cosmetic container of claim 4, wherein the ridge includes a cutout region adjacent the rear edge, the cutout region configured to receive the at least one protrusion.

6. The cosmetic container of claim 1, wherein the base assembly includes an upwardly angled portion adjacent the rear edge.

7. The cosmetic container of claim 6, wherein the tray includes a downwardly extending lip configured to extend below the upwardly angled portion of the base assembly when the tray is secured to the base assembly.

8. The cosmetic container of claim 1, wherein the base assembly includes at least one vertical projection extending upward from a bottom of the base assembly at the front edge.

9. The cosmetic container of claim 8, wherein the tray includes at least one angled surface on a front face thereof, the at least one angled surface configured to engage the vertical projection when the tray is secured to the base assembly.

10. The cosmetic container of claim 1, wherein the base assembly includes a plurality of ridges and the cosmetic container includes a plurality of trays, each tray having at least one channel configured to receive one of the plurality of ridges.

11. The cosmetic container of claim 10, wherein the base assembly includes at least three ridges, wherein at least a first tray includes a single channel and at least a second tray includes two spaced apart channels.

12. The cosmetic container of claim 10, wherein the plurality of trays are configured to be inserted into the base assembly in a first arrangement, removed, and reinserted in at least a second arrangement different from the first arrangement.

13. The cosmetic container of claim 10, wherein the plurality of trays are configured to be individually removable from and insertable into the base assembly.

14. The cosmetic container of claim 10, wherein the plurality of trays are configured to be repositionable within the base assembly.

15. The cosmetic container of claim 1, wherein at least one tray is configured to hold at least one cosmetic product.

16. The cosmetic container of claim 1, wherein at least one tray is configured to hold two or more different cosmetic products.

17. The cosmetic container of claim 1, wherein at least one tray is configured to hold a cosmetic implement.

18. The cosmetic container of claim 1, wherein the securing element includes at least one magnet positioned on the tray and at least one magnet positioned on the base assembly.

19. A cosmetic container comprising:

a base assembly having a front edge and an opposing rear edge and a plurality of ridges extending therebetween, the base assembly having an upwardly angled portion adjacent the rear edge;

a plurality of trays releasably secured to the base assembly, each of the plurality of trays having at least one channel configured to receive one of the plurality of ridges, and a securing element configured to releasably secure each tray to the base assembly, each tray having a downwardly extending lip configured to extend below the upwardly angled portion of the base assembly when the tray is secured to the base assembly; and

a lid configured to be coupled to the base assembly, wherein each of the plurality of trays is removable and insertable into the base assembly when the lid is in a closed position and an open position.

20. The cosmetic container of claim 19, wherein the base assembly includes at least three ridges, wherein at least a first tray includes a single channel and at least a second tray includes two spaced apart channels.