COMPACT CONTAINER HAVING A DUAL MESH STRUCTURE

Abstract

A compact container including a dual mesh structure is described. The compact container can include: a container body having an inner wall and a ledge, where the inner wall forms a holding space, and the ledge extends inward from an upper portion of the inner wall along an edge of an opening to the holding space; a mesh ring coupled to an upper portion of the container body; an application mesh fabricated from a porous material, where the application mesh includes an edge portion that is secured between the container body and the mesh ring and a center portion that covers the opening at an upper portion of the ledge; and a filter mesh fabricated from a porous material, where the filter mesh includes an edge portion that is secured to the container body and a center portion that covers the opening at a lower upper portion of the ledge.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

The present application claims priority to Korean Patent Application No. 10-2024-0030446, filed Mar. 4, 2024, the entire contents of which are incorporated here for all purposes by this reference.

BACKGROUND

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a cosmetic container, more particularly to a compact container that includes dually arranged meshes to prevent the leakage of a cosmetic, which is stored within in the form of a powder, cream, gel, or the like.

Description of the Related Art

A cosmetic such as a foundation, etc., is often provided in a compact container. The compact container, also known simply as a “compact”, typically has a basic structure in which the content (cosmetic) is held within a lower case and an upper case is hinge-coupled to the lower case. A powder puff may be placed over the powder product, and a mirror may be mounted on the inner side of the upper case.

The content held in a compact container may be provided in the form of a powder, cream, gel, or the like, and since the holding space in which this content is held is exposed through a relatively large opening, it is important that the compact container prevents any leakage of the product during distribution and while being carried by the user. This issue is of even greater importance, considering the fact that the content of the compact container is generally a cosmetic, which can cause considerable contamination if inadvertently applied onto a surrounding object.

To minimize the occurrence of a content spilling out during the use of a compact container, a structure may be used in which a mesh is mounted in the compact container to cover the opening of the holding space in which the content is held. The mesh can be formed from a porous material, and the user may dab the mesh with a puff such that the content under the mesh is transferred onto the puff.

As another way to minimize the leakage of content during the distribution of the compact container, a plastic film may be placed or attached over the content within the compact container. After purchasing the compact container, the user may remove the plastic film to access the content in the compact container with a tool such as a puff, etc. A logo, etc., of the distributor may be printed on the plastic film.

However, even when the compact container includes a plastic film, the leakage of the content cannot be completely prevented, since the properties of the powder, cream, and gel held in the compact container allow the content to easily infiltrate the gaps between parts forming the compact container. Impact applied on the products during distribution can cause the content of the compact container to leak through gaps between parts for mounting the aforementioned mesh and the container body and/or gaps between parts for filling the content in the holding space, as a result of which the content may end up on the surface of the plastic film. Such a phenomenon has been observed in numerous compact containers. If there is content transferred onto the surface of the plastic film, the consumers' appraisal of the product would inevitably suffer, regardless of how high the quality of the product or how renowned the trademark of the product.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An aspect of the present invention, which was conceived to resolve the problem described above, is to provide a compact container that can prevent the leakage of the content during use and during distribution without sacrificing user convenience.

Other objectives of the present invention will be more clearly understood from the embodiments set forth below.

A compact container according to one aspect of the invention can include: a container body having an inner wall and a ledge, where the inner wall forms a holding space for holding a content on its inner side, and the ledge extends inward from an upper portion of the inner wall along an edge of an opening that communicates with the holding space to form the opening on its inner side; a mesh ring coupled to an upper portion of the container body; an application mesh fabricated from a material in which multiple pores are formed, where the application mesh includes an edge portion that is secured between the container body and the mesh ring and a center portion that covers the opening at an upper portion of the ledge; and a filter mesh fabricated from a material in which multiple pores are formed, where the filter mesh includes an edge portion that is secured to the container body and a center portion that covers the opening at a lower upper portion of the ledge.

A compact container according to an embodiment of the present invention can include one or more of the following features. For example, the mesh ring can include: a flange that has a lower surface facing an upper surface of the ledge; and an inner rim that extends downward from the flange and has an inner perimeter facing an outer perimeter of the inner wall, where the edge portion of the application mesh can be secured between the upper surface of the ledge and the lower surface of the flange and between the outer perimeter of the inner wall and the inner perimeter of the inner rim.

An upwardly protruding support portion can be formed on an inner side of the ledge, and the center portion of the application mesh can be supported by the support portion such that an upper surface of the center portion of the application mesh is positioned at a height corresponding to an upper surface of the flange.

A downwardly extending securing protrusion can be formed on a lower surface of the ledge, and the securing protrusion can secure the filter mesh onto the ledge.

The mesh ring can include: an inner rim configured to face an outer perimeter of the inner wall; and an outer rim positioned on an outer side of the inner rim with a particular gap from the inner rim, where the container body can include an upper coupling rim positioned on an outer side off the inner wall with a particular gap from the inner wall, and the upper coupling rim can be secured between the inner rim and the outer rim.

The compact container can further include a sealing tape that is attached to an upper portion of the mesh ring.

The compact container can further include a base cap that is coupled to a lower portion of the container body to form the holding space thereover. The base cap can include, for example: a base plate covering a bottom of the holding space; a sealing protrusion protruding upward from the base plate and having an outer perimeter configured to contact an inner perimeter of the inner wall; and a sealing rim extending upward from the base plate and having an inner perimeter configured to contact an outer perimeter of the inner wall. Alternatively, the base cap can include a base plate covering a bottom of the holding space; a holding wall extending upward from the base plate and having an outer perimeter configured to contact an inner perimeter of the inner wall; and a sealing rim extending upward from the base plate and having an inner perimeter configured to contact an outer perimeter of the inner wall.

An embodiment of the present invention having the features above can provide various advantageous effects including the following. However, an embodiment of the present invention may not necessarily exhibit all of the effects below.

A compact container according to an embodiment of the invention has a dual mesh structure that includes an application mesh and a filter mesh so as to be capable of preventing leakage of the content through the application mesh during use as well as preventing leakage of the content through contact portions between the parts for securing the application mesh and the container body during distribution. Such structure of the compact container can effectively prevent leakage without sacrificing user convenience, thereby allowing the compact container to maintain a clean and elegant appearance. Also, a compact container according to an embodiment of the invention utilizes a method of filling the content from the bottom and coupling a base cap, thereby allowing the use of the dual mesh structure and enabling the filling of the content without opening and closing the lid member for increased efficiency in the process of filling the content.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1A, FIG. 1B, and FIG. 1C are perspective views illustrating a compact container according to an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the compact container shown in FIG. 1A.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the compact container shown in FIG. 1A.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional perspective view of the container body of the compact container shown in FIG. 1A.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional perspective view of the mesh ring of the compact container shown in FIG. 1A.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional perspective view of the base cap of the compact container shown in FIG. 1A.

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of a compact container according to an embodiment of the invention with the base cap separated.

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of a compact container according to another embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view of a compact container according to an embodiment of the invention with the base cap separated.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

As the invention allows for various changes and numerous embodiments, particular embodiments will be illustrated in the drawings and described in detail in the written description. However, this is not intended to limit the present invention to particular modes of practice, and it is to be appreciated that all changes, equivalents, and substitutes that do not depart from the spirit and technical scope of the present invention are encompassed by the present invention. In the description of the present invention, certain detailed explanations of the related art are omitted if it is deemed that they may unnecessarily obscure the essence of the invention.

The terms used in the present specification are merely used to describe particular embodiments and are not intended to limit the present invention. An expression used in the singular encompasses the expression of the plural, unless it has a clearly different meaning in the context. In the present specification, it is to be understood that terms such as “including” or “having,” etc., are intended to indicate the existence of the features, numbers, steps, actions, components, parts, or combinations thereof disclosed in the specification and are not intended to preclude the possibility that one or more other features, numbers, steps, actions, components, parts, or combinations thereof may exist or may be added.

While such terms as “first” and “second,” etc., can be used to describe various components, such components are not to be limited by the above terms. The above terms are used only to distinguish one component from another.

Certain embodiments of the present invention will be described below in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. Those components that are the same or are in correspondence are rendered the same reference numeral, and redundant descriptions are omitted. For convenience, the specification uses terms such as “inner”, “outer”, “upper”, and “lower”. In the descriptions below, an “inner” side refers to a side closer to the interior of the compact container 1000, whereas an “outer” side refers to a side further away from the interior of the compact container 1000. An “upper” direction refers to the direction in which the holding space 105 of the compact container 1000 is open, while a “lower” direction refers to the opposite direction. Of course, when a compact container 1000 according to an embodiment of the invention is actually in use, the directions mentioned in the specification may not coincide with the actual directions of the parts described.

FIG. 1A, FIG. 1B, and FIG. 1C are perspective views illustrating a compact container 1000 according to an embodiment of the invention. FIG. 1A shows a state in which the lid member 200 is closed with respect to the container body 100, FIG. 1B shows a state in which the lid member 200 has been opened to expose the sealing tape 60, and FIG. 1C shows a state in which the sealing tape 60 has been removed. FIG. 2 and FIG. 3 are an exploded perspective view and a cross-sectional view, respectively, of the compact container 1000.

Referring to FIGS. 1A to 3, a compact container 1000 according to an embodiment of the invention can include a container body 100, a lid member 200, a mesh ring 300, an application mesh 420, a filter mesh 440, and a base cap 500. The compact container 1000 illustrated in FIGS. 1A to 3 can be mounted in a separate lower case and upper case for use but can also be used as illustrated in FIGS. 1A to 1C without any additional components.

The container body 100 can form a holding space 105 on its inner side and serve as the main body to which the other components may be coupled. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional perspective view providing a more detailed illustration of the container body 100. As illustrated in FIGS. 1A to 4, the container body 100 can mainly include an inner wall 110, a ledge 120, an upper coupling rim 140, an outer wall 160, and a lower coupling rim 180.

The inner wall 110 of the container body 100 can form a holding space 105 for holding a content (not shown) on its inner side. The inner diameter and length of the inner wall 110 along the longitudinal direction can be determined in consideration of the size of the holding space 105, the elasticity values of the application mesh 420 and filter mesh 440, and others. Although the inner wall 110 of the container body 100 is depicted as having a cylindrical shape in the example illustrated in the drawings, the inner wall 110 and the container body 100 can be implemented in any of a variety of shapes.

The ledge 120 can extend inward from an upper portion of the inner wall 110. The ledge 120 can be formed on the inner side of an opening 125 that communicates with the holding space 105, and thus the ledge 120 can be formed along the edge of the opening 125.

A support portion 122 can be formed on the inner side of the ledge 120. The support portion 122 can be formed in an upwardly protruding shape at a portion of the upper surface of the ledge 120 corresponding to the inner side. The support portion 122 can serve to support the center portion 422 of the application mesh 420.

Securing protrusions 124 can be formed on a lower surface of the ledge 120. The securing protrusions 124 can each be shaped such that it is gradually narrower towards the bottom so as to have a pointy lower end and can be formed in a particular interval along the entire ledge 120. The securing protrusions 124 can be used to secure the filter mesh 440.

The upper coupling rim 140 can be formed on the outer side of the inner wall 110, separated by a particular gap from the inner wall 110, and can extend upward from a first bridge 115, which connects to the inner wall 110. The upper coupling rim 140 can be used to secure the mesh ring 300 to the container body 100, and for this purpose, protrusions and/or indentations for coupling can be formed in the inner perimeter and/or outer perimeter of the upper coupling rim 140. In the example illustrated in FIG. 3 and FIG. 4, a coupling groove 142 is formed in the outer perimeter of the upper coupling rim 140.

The outer wall 160 can be formed on the outer side of the upper coupling rim 140, separated by a particular gap from the upper coupling rim 140, and can extend upward from a second bridge 165, which connects to the upper coupling rim 140. Of course, the second bridge 165 can be the same member as the first bridge 115. The outer wall 160 can form the outermost exterior of the container body 100 to hide the components of the container body 100 and mesh ring 300 that are positioned on the inner side. A hinge portion 190 for coupling the lid member 200 can be formed in a designated position of the outer wall 160.

In cases where the compact container 1000 illustrated in FIGS. 1A to 1C include a separate lower case (not shown), the container body 100 can be mounted completely inside the lower case such that the outer wall 160 is not exposed to the outside, or at least a portion of the outer wall 160 and other components can form the exterior of the cosmetic container product together with the lower case.

The lower coupling rim 180 can be formed on the outer side of the inner wall 110, separated by a particular gap from the inner wall 110, and can extend downward from the first bridge 115 that connects to the inner wall 110. The lower coupling rim 180 can be used to secure the base cap 500, and for this purpose, protrusions and/or indentations for coupling can be formed in the inner perimeter and/or outer perimeter of the lower coupling rim 180. In the example illustrated in FIG. 3 and FIG. 4, a coupling protrusion 182 is formed on the outer perimeter of the lower coupling rim 180.

As illustrated in FIG. 3 and FIG. 4, the inner perimeter of the lower coupling rim 180 can be formed such that the upper portion protrudes more inward compared to the lower portion. Because of this shape, when the upper end of the sealing rim 540 of the base cap 500 reaches the upper portion of the lower coupling rim 180 as the base cap 500 is coupled to the lower portion of the container body 100, the inner perimeter of the lower coupling rim 180 that protrudes further inward can press the sealing rim 540 in the direction of the inner wall 110. As a result, the lower coupling rim 180 and the inner wall 110 can be pressed together more strongly, so that this portion may be sealed more tightly, and also the lower coupling rim 180 can press the lower end of the inner wall 110 further in the direction of the sealing protrusion 520, so that the sealing performance may also be increased between the inner wall 110 and the sealing protrusion 520.

The lid member 200 can be hinge-coupled to the container body 100 to cover the opening 125 to the holding space 105. A hinge portion 290 can be formed on the lid member 200, and a hole can be formed in the hinge portion 290 through which a hinge pin (not shown) may pass. The lid member 200 can be arranged such that the hole of the hinge portion 290 is aligned with the holes 195 of the hinge portion 190 of the container body 100, and a hinge pin (not shown) can be inserted through the holes of the hinge portions 190, 290, as a result of which the lid member 200 can be coupled in a rotatable manner about the hinge pin.

As necessary, the lid member 200 can be implemented as a structure having a sealing ring 220 coupled to a lid body 210. The sealing ring 220 can be coupled along the edge of a lower surface of the lid body 210, and when the lid member 200 is closed to cover the opening 125, the sealing ring 220 can be tightly coupled to the outer wall 160 of the container body 100, as illustrated in FIG. 3.

The lid body 210 can be formed such that at least a portion of its lower surface has a flat shape. For example, as illustrated in FIG. 3, a portion of the lower surface of the lid body 210 can be positioned over the flange 320 of the mesh ring 300, and at this portion, both the lower surface of the lid body 210 and the upper surface of the flange 320 can have flat shapes.

As illustrated in FIGS. 1B, 2, and 3, a sealing tape 60 can be provided between the lid member 200 and the container body 100. In an embodiment of the invention, the sealing tape 60 can be formed in a size that can cover at least a portion of the flange 320 of the mesh ring 300 and the application mesh 420 on its inner side and can be attached to the flange 320 of the mesh ring 300. The sealing tape 60 can be made from a transparent material or can be made from an opaque material to have a logo, etc., printed thereon. The lower surface of the lid body 210 and the upper surface of the flange 320, having flat shapes, can aid in securing the sealing tape 60 at its designated position. Of course, in another embodiment of the invention, the sealing tape 60 can be formed in a size corresponding to that of the opening 125 to be attached directly onto the portion of the application mesh 420 exposed through the opening 125.

A compact container 1000 according to an embodiment of the invention can be distributed while the lid member 200 is in a closed state as in FIG. 1A. When a user who has purchased the compact container 1000 lifts up the lid member 200, the sealing tape 60 shielding the opening 125 can be exposed as in FIG. 1B. The user can then separate the sealing tape 60 to expose the application mesh 420 exposed at the opening 125 and can use the content by means of a tool such as a puff. The manner in which a compact container 1000 according to an embodiment of the invention may be used will be described later on in greater detail.

In cases where the compact container 1000 illustrated in FIGS. 1A to 1C include a separate upper case (not shown), the upper case can be coupled to the container body 100 or a separate lower case (not shown) to cover the lid member 200. That is, an upper portion of the lid member 200 can form a concave space in which to store a tool such as a puff (not shown), etc., and the upper case can be placed over the space to protect the puff from being lost or contaminated. Of course, in certain embodiments, the compact container 1000 may not include a separate upper case, and the lid member 200 can have a shape different from that shown in the drawings.

The mesh ring 300 can serve to couple the application mesh 420 to the container body 100. FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional perspective view showing the mesh ring 300 in greater detail. As illustrated in FIGS. 2, 3, and 5, the mesh ring 300 can mainly include a flange 320, an inner rim 330, and an outer rim 350.

The flange 320 is a portion formed such that its lower surface faces the ledge 120 of the container body 100. The flange 320 can have a generally flat shape and can be shaped to surround the center portion 422 of the application mesh 420, when the mesh ring 300 is coupled, together with the application mesh 420, to the container body 100. As illustrated in FIG. 3, the flange 320 can be positioned on an outer side compared to the portion of the ledge 120 where the support portion 122 is formed.

The inner rim 330 can extend downward from the flange 320. The inner rim 330 can be configured to be inserted between the inner wall 110 and the upper coupling rim 140 of the container body 100, so that its inner perimeter faces the outer perimeter of the inner wall 110 of the container body 100 and its outer perimeter faces the inner perimeter of the upper coupling rim 140. The upper coupling rim 140 of the container body 100 can be inserted between the inner rim 330 and the outer rim 350 of the mesh ring 300.

As illustrated in FIG. 3 and FIG. 5, the outer perimeter of the inner rim 330 can be formed such that its upper portion protrudes further outward compared to its lower portion. Because of this shape, when the upper end of the upper coupling rim 140 of the container body 100 reaches the upper portion of the inner rim 330 as the mesh ring 300 is coupled to an upper portion of the container body 100, the outer perimeter of the inner rim 330 that protrudes further outward can press the upper coupling rim 140 in the direction of the outer rim 350, thereby providing a stronger coupling of the upper coupling rim 140 onto the outer rim 350.

Securing protrusions 334 can be formed on the lower end of the inner rim 330. The securing protrusions 334 can each be shaped such that it is gradually narrower towards the bottom so as to have a pointy lower end and can be formed in a particular interval along the entire inner rim 330. The securing protrusions 334 can aid in securing the application mesh 420.

The outer rim 350 can extend downward from a position on an outer side of the inner rim 330 with a particular gap from the inner rim 330. The outer rim 350 can be configured to be inserted between the upper coupling rim 140 and the outer wall 160 of the container body 100, so that its inner perimeter faces the outer perimeter of the upper coupling rim 140 and its outer perimeter faces the inner perimeter of the outer wall 160. As described above, the upper coupling rim 140 of the container body 100 can be inserted between the inner rim 330 and the outer rim 350 of the mesh ring 300. The outer rim 350 can be used to secure the mesh ring 300 to the container body 100, and for this purpose, protrusions and/or indentations for coupling can be formed in the inner perimeter and/or outer perimeter of the outer rim 350. In the example illustrated in FIG. 3 and FIG. 5, a coupling protrusion 352 is formed in the inner perimeter of the outer rim 350, and the mesh ring 300 can be coupled to the container body 100 as the coupling protrusion 352 of the outer rim 350 is inserted into the coupling groove 142 of the upper coupling rim 140.

The application mesh 420 corresponds to a part that covers the opening 125 of the holding space 105 from above. The application mesh 420 can be made from a material having multiple pores. When using the content of the compact container 1000, the user can dab the application mesh 420 with a tool such as a puff, etc., at which the content within the holding space 105 may be transferred onto the puff through the pores of the application mesh 420.

The application mesh 420 can include a center portion 422 and an edge portion 424. The center portion 422 corresponds to a portion of the application mesh 420 that is exposed through the opening 125 on the inner side of the mesh ring 300, while the edge portion 424 corresponds to a portion that surrounds the center portion 422 and is hidden by the container body 100 and the mesh ring 300. In FIG. 2, the application mesh 420 is depicted as having a 3-dimensional shape. Although it is possible to fabricate the application mesh 420 to have a certain degree of structural strength, for example by forming the application mesh 420 as a metal mesh having pores, an application mesh 420 according to an embodiment of the invention can be fabricated from a fiber material having a slight level of elasticity and negligible structural strength. In such cases, the application mesh 420 can be fabricated in a planar, circular shape, and a 3-dimensional shape such as that shown in FIG. 2 can be obtained by contact with the container body 100 and the mesh ring 300. In cases where the application mesh 420 is fabricated from a material having a certain degree of structural strength such as a metal or a synthetic resin, etc., it is possible to form only the center portion 422 of the application mesh 420 as a mesh having pores and omit the pores in the edge portion 424.

The application mesh 420 can be coupled at a designated position, as the edge portion 424 is coupled between the mesh ring 300 and the container body 100, when the mesh ring 300 is coupled to the container body 100. For example, the application mesh 420 can first be arranged such that the edge portion 424 is aligned at a position corresponding to the lower end of the inner rim 330 of the mesh ring 300. The securing protrusions 334 on the inner rim 330 can effectively secure the application mesh 420 having multiple pores, as the securing protrusions are formed to have pointy lower ends. Here, the application mesh 420 can be arranged in a slightly loose state without being pulled taut.

When the mesh ring 300 is coupled to the container body 100 while the application mesh 420 is in the above state, the inner rim 330 of the mesh ring 300 may be inserted between the inner wall 110 and the upper coupling rim 140 of the container body 100, and the flange 320 of the mesh ring 300 may be placed on the ledge 120 of the container body 100. Since the edge portion 424 of the application mesh 420 is positioned between the mesh ring 300 and the container body 100, the edge portion 424 can be bent in accordance with the shape of the contact portions of the mesh ring 300 and the container body 100. Thus, the edge portion 424 of the application mesh 420 can be primarily secured by the securing protrusions 334 and secondarily secured by being pressed between the inner rim 330 and the inner wall 110 and between the flange 320 and the ledge 120. Depending on the size of the application mesh 420, a part of the edge portion 424 can also be secured between the inner rim 330 and the upper coupling rim 140 or between the upper coupling rim 140 and the outer rim 350.

As the application mesh 420 is bent according to the shape of the contact portions of the mesh ring 300 and the container body 100, the application mesh 420 may be pulled overall, and the center portion 422 positioned by the opening 125 can be pulled tautly into a flat shape. The support portion 122, which protrudes upward from the ledge 120 of the container body 100, allows the center portion 422 of the application mesh 420 to be at a higher position on the inner side of the flange 320 compared to the edge portion 424 and, as a result, allows the center portion 422 of the application mesh 420 to be flush with or close to the upper surface of the flange 320 of the mesh ring 300 for a more aesthetic appearance and for more convenient use.

The filter mesh 440 corresponds to a part that covers the opening 125 to the holding space 105 from below. The filter mesh 440 can be fabricated from a material having multiple pores. When using the content of the compact container 1000, the user can dab both the application mesh 420 and the filter mesh 440 with a tool such as a puff, etc., at which the content within the holding space 105 may be transferred onto the puff through the pores of the filter mesh 440 and the pores of the application mesh 420.

The filter mesh 440 can also include a center portion and an edge portion. The center portion of the filter mesh 440 corresponds to a portion of the filter mesh 440 that is not covered by the flange 320 of the mesh ring 300, while the edge portion of the filter mesh 440 corresponds to a portion that surrounds the center portion and is covered by the flange 320. The filter mesh 440 can be made from the same material as or a different material from that of the application mesh 420. The filter mesh 440 can be made from a material containing any of a variety of fibers, metals, synthetic resins, polymers, etc.

The filter mesh 440 can have its edge portion attached to the lower surface of the ledge 120 of the container body 100. Also, the securing protrusions 124 formed on the lower surface of the ledge 120 can be formed with pointy lower ends so as to effectively secure the filter mesh 440 that is formed with pores.

The base cap 500 can be coupled to a lower portion of the container body 100 to form the holding space 105 thereover. That is, the base cap 500 can be coupled to the container body 100 and can close the holding space 105 from below. FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional perspective view showing the base cap 500 in greater detail. As illustrated in FIGS. 2, 3, and 6, the base cap 500 can mainly include a base plate 510, a sealing protrusion 520, a sealing rim 540, a coupling portion 580, and a flange 590.

The base plate 510 is a portion covering the bottom of the holding space 105 and preferably can be formed with a diameter greater than the outer diameter of the lower coupling rim 180 of the container body 100. Of course, depending on the shape of the base cap 500, the base plate 510 can have a diameter greater than or equal to the inner diameter of the inner wall 110 or an even smaller diameter.

The sealing protrusion 520 can protrude upward from the base plate 510 at a position corresponding to that of the inner wall 110 of the container body 100 and can be configured such that its outer perimeter contacts the inner perimeter of the inner wall 110. The sealing protrusion 520 may be tightly pressed against the inner wall 110 and thus may aid in preventing the content from leaking under the inner wall 110.

The sealing rim 540 can extend upward from the base plate 510 at a position on an outer side of the sealing protrusion 520, separated by a particular gap from the sealing protrusion 520, and can be configured such that its inner perimeter contacts the outer perimeter of the inner wall 110. The sealing rim 540 can also be tightly pressed against the inner wall 110 to aid in preventing the content from leaking under the inner wall 110.

As illustrated in FIG. 3 and FIG. 6, the inner perimeter of the sealing rim 540 can be formed such that its lower portion protrudes more inward compared to its upper portion. Because of this shape, when the lower end of the inner wall 110 of the container body 100 reaches the lower portion of the sealing rim 540 as the base cap 500 is coupled to a lower portion of the container body 100, the inner perimeter of the sealing rim 540 that protrudes further inward can press the lower end of the inner wall 110 in the direction of the sealing protrusion 520, thereby providing a more watertight seal at the contact portions of the inner wall 110 and the base cap 500.

The coupling portion 580 can extend upward from the base plate 510 at a position corresponding to the lower coupling rim 180 of the container body 100 and can be configured such that its inner perimeter contacts the outer perimeter of the lower coupling rim 180. When the base cap 500 is coupled to the container body 100, the lower coupling rim 180 of the container body 100 can be inserted between the coupling portion 580 and the sealing rim 540. The coupling portion 580 can be used to secure the base cap 500 to the container body 100, and for this purpose, protrusions and/or indentations for coupling can be formed in the inner perimeter of the coupling portion 580. In the example illustrated in FIG. 3 and FIG. 6, a coupling groove 582 is formed in the inner perimeter of the coupling portion 580, and the base cap 500 can be coupled to the container body 100, as the coupling protrusion 182 of the lower coupling rim 180 is inserted in the coupling groove 582 of the coupling portion 580.

The flange 590 of the base cap 500 can extend outward from the upper end of the coupling portion 580. The flange 590 can be configured to contact the second bridge 165 of the container body 100. Due to the flange 590, the area of contact between the container body 100 and the base cap 500 can be increased, which in turn can aid in preventing the leakage of the content in the holding space 105. Also, in cases where the compact container 1000 according to an embodiment of the invention includes a separate lower case (not shown), a portion of the lower case (not shown) can push the flange 590 of the base cap 500 upward so as to keep the flange 590 in tight contact with the second bridge 165 of the container body 100.

In the example illustrated in the drawings, the holding space 105 in the interior is formed, as the base cap 500 is coupled to a lower portion of the container body 100. Of course, in certain embodiments of the invention, the holding space 105 can also be formed with only the container body 100, and a channel for injecting the content can be provided separately. In such cases, the base cap 500 can be omitted in the compact container 1000.

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of a compact container 1000 according to an embodiment of the invention with the base cap 500 separated from the container body 100. FIG. 7 shows the container body 100 upside down, with its bottom facing upward, for example to fill the content into the holding space 105. With the base cap 500 separated, a cosmetic in the form of a powder, cream, gel, etc., can be filled as the content into the holding space 105. Here, most of the content can be supported on the filter mesh 440 and may not move to the application mesh 420.

When the filling of the content (not shown) is completed and the base cap 500 is coupled, the compact container 1000 can be arranged right side up with the lid member 200 facing upward. As described above, the configuration of the base cap 500 may prevent the content from leaking through gaps between the base cap 500 and the container body 100. The filter mesh 440 can prevent the content from moving in the direction of the application mesh 420. Since the inner wall 110, ledge 120, upper coupling rim 140, and outer wall 160 of the container body 100 are configured to contact the flange 320, inner rim 330, and outer rim 350 of the mesh ring 300, the content may not leak through these portions, either. In particular, the edge portion 424 of the application mesh 420 may be inserted between the ledge 120 and the flange 320 and between the inner wall 110 and the inner rim 330, and when the content comes into contact with the edge portion 424 of the application mesh 420, the application mesh 420 may hinder the movement of the content to thus prevent the content from leaking.

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of a compact container 1000 according to another embodiment of the invention, and FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view of a compact container 1000 according to an embodiment of the invention with the base cap 500 separated.

A compact container 1000 based on an embodiment of the invention as disclosed in FIG. 8 and FIG. 9 can have many features in common with a compact container 1000 based on an embodiment of the invention described above with reference to FIGS. 1A to 7, and the descriptions below will focus more on the differences of the compact container 1000 shown in FIG. 8 and FIG. 9. Features described with reference to FIGS. 1A to 7 can be applied to the embodiment shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, and features described with reference to FIGS. 8 and 9 can likewise be applied to the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1A to 7. Certain reference numerals mentioned in the description of the embodiment shown in FIGS. 8 and 9 are intended to refer to corresponding components of the components to which the numerals are assigned in the embodiment described with reference to FIGS. 1A to 7.

Referring to FIG. 8, in cases where a compact container 1000 according to an embodiment of the invention includes a base cap 500, the base cap 500 can include a holding wall 530.

The holding wall 530 can be formed in a height corresponding to the height of the holding space 105 and can be formed in a position corresponding to the inner wall 110 of the container body 100. In cases where the base cap 500 includes a holding wall 530, the holding wall 530 can be used instead of the sealing protrusion 520 described above. The holding wall 530 can also be regarded as the sealing protrusion 520 extended further upward to the height of the holding space 105. As the holding wall 530 extends upward, the base plate 510 and the holding wall 530 of the base cap 500 can form a filling space 505 on the inner side.

When the base cap 500 is coupled to the container body 100, the outer perimeter of the holding wall 530 can contact the inner perimeter of the inner wall 110 of the container body 100. The holding wall 530 can be placed in tight contact with the inner wall 110 so as to aid in preventing the content from leaking through the contact portions of the container body 100 and base cap 500.

FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view showing the compact container 1000 of FIG. 8 with the base cap 500 separated. Unlike the structure shown in FIG. 7 in which the base cap 500 does not include a holding wall 530, the structure shown in FIG. 9 can have the holding wall 530 of the base cap 500 itself hold the content, so that it is not necessary to flip the compact container 1000 upside down. While the base cap 500 is in a separated state, a cosmetic in the form of a powder, cream, gel, etc., can be filled as the content into the filling space 505 formed in the base cap 500.

After the filling of the content (not shown) is complete, the base cap 500 can be coupled, and the content of the filling space 505 may enter the holding space 105. Unlike the structure shown in FIG. 7, the compact container 1000 can always have the application mesh 420 and filter mesh 440 arranged above the content during the procedures for manufacturing the compact container 1000 and filling the content, so that the probability of the content leaking onto the application mesh 420 may be significantly lowered. In addition, the configuration of the base cap 500 can prevent the content from leaking through gaps between the base cap 500 and the container body 100, while the filter mesh 440 can prevent the content from moving in the direction of the application mesh 420.

When using a compact container 1000 according to an embodiment of the invention, the user can open the lid member 200 to expose the sealing tape 60. As described above, a compact container 1000 according to an embodiment of the invention, while including an application mesh 420, can prevent the content from leaking through the contact portions of the container body 100 and the mesh ring 300, which is for securing the application mesh 420. Thus, when a user who has purchased the compact container 1000 first opens the lid member 200, there would be no content whatsoever transferred onto the upper surface of the sealing tape 60, and as such, the compact container 1000 can maintain a clean and elegant appearance.

To use the content, the user can remove the sealing tape 60 and can dab the application mesh 420 with a tool such as a puff, etc. The puff can press the application mesh 420 downward and subsequently press the filter mesh 440 downward as well. Since the application mesh 420 and the filter mesh 440 are both made from porous materials, the puff can contact the content under the filter mesh 440, and the content can be transferred onto the puff for use.

A compact container 1000 according to an embodiment of the invention described above has a dual mesh structure that includes an application mesh 420 and a filter mesh 440 so as to be capable of preventing leakage of the content through the application mesh 420 during use as well as preventing leakage of the content through contact portions between the parts for securing the application mesh 420 and the container body 100 during distribution. The structure of the compact container 1000 can effectively prevent leakage without sacrificing user convenience, thereby allowing the compact container 1000 to maintain a clean and elegant appearance. Also, a compact container 1000 according to an embodiment of the invention utilizes a method of filling the content from the bottom and coupling a base cap 500, thereby allowing the use of the dual mesh structure and enabling the filling of the content without opening and closing the lid member 200 for increased efficiency in the process of filling the content.

While the foregoing provides a description with reference to an embodiment of the present invention, it should be appreciated that a person having ordinary skill in the relevant field of art would be able to make various modifications and alterations to the present invention without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention set forth in the scope of claims below.

Claims

1. A compact container, comprising:

a container body having an inner wall and a ledge, the inner wall defining a holding space for holding a content on an inner side of the inner wall, the ledge extending inward from an upper portion of the inner wall along an edge of an opening communicating with the holding space to define the opening on an inner side of the ledge;

a mesh ring coupled to an upper portion of the container body;

an application mesh fabricated from a material having multiple pores defined therein, the application mesh having an edge portion secured between the container body and the mesh ring, the application mesh having a center portion covering the opening at an upper portion of the ledge; and

a filter mesh fabricated from a material having multiple pores defined therein, the filter mesh having an edge portion secured to the container body, the filter mesh having a center portion covering the opening at a lower upper portion of the ledge.

2. The compact container of claim 1, wherein the mesh ring comprises:

a flange having a lower surface thereof facing an upper surface of the ledge; and

an inner rim extending downward from the flange and having an inner perimeter thereof facing an outer perimeter of the inner wall,

and wherein the edge portion of the application mesh is secured between the upper surface of the ledge and the lower surface of the flange and between the outer perimeter of the inner wall and the inner perimeter of the inner rim.

3. The compact container of claim 2, wherein an upwardly protruding support portion is defined on the inner side of the ledge, and

the center portion of the application mesh is supported by the upwardly protruding support portion such that an upper surface of the center portion of the application mesh is positioned at a height corresponding to an upper surface of the flange.

4. The compact container of claim 1, wherein a downwardly extending securing protrusion is defined on a lower surface of the ledge, and the downwardly extending securing protrusion secures the filter mesh onto the ledge.

5. The compact container of claim 1, wherein the mesh ring comprises:

an inner rim configured to face an outer perimeter of the inner wall; and

an outer rim positioned on an outer side of the inner rim with a particular gap from the inner rim,

and wherein the container body comprises an upper coupling rim positioned on an outer side of the inner wall with a particular gap from the inner wall, and

wherein the upper coupling rim is secured between the inner rim and the outer rim.

6. The compact container of claim 1, further comprising:

a sealing tape attached to an upper portion of the mesh ring.

7. The compact container of claim 1, further comprising:

a base cap coupled to a lower portion of the container body to define the holding space thereover.

8. The compact container of claim 7, wherein the base cap comprises:

a base plate covering a bottom of the holding space;

a sealing protrusion protruding upward from the base plate and having an outer perimeter thereof configured to contact an inner perimeter of the inner wall; and

a sealing rim extending upward from the base plate and having an inner perimeter thereof configured to contact an outer perimeter of the inner wall.

9. The compact container of claim 7, wherein the base cap comprises:

a base plate covering a bottom of the holding space;

a holding wall extending upward from the base plate and having an outer perimeter thereof configured to contact an inner perimeter of the inner wall; and

a sealing rim extending upward from the base plate and having an inner perimeter thereof configured to contact an outer perimeter of the inner wall.