Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
CA 02245961 1998-08-12
Airtight Compact for Cosmetics
Detailed Description of the Invention
Tecbnical115.e1.d
The present invention relates to a compact for a cosmetic substance which is
prav;.ded with a lid assembly composing an inner lid member that seals an
inner
dish containing a cosmetic substance and an outer lid member that doses the
entire
compact, and, in particular, to a compact for a cosmetic substance having a
closable
struct~.u~e whereby pressure from the inner lid causes a resilient sealing
member
provided on an edge portson of an opening of the inner dish to form a double
airtight
state.
Background Art
As can be seen from Japanese Utility Model. Application Laid-Open No. 7-3510,
which discloses a typical. example of a compact for a cosmetic substance, a
known
type of compact for a cosmetic substance has a configuration comprising a main
compact body having an outer shape that is roughly x~ctangular or oval,
wherein a
concave poxtson into which is assembled an inner dish that accommodates a
cosmetic substance is pmv;.ded in one side half thereof and another concave
portion
that accommodates a cosmetic implement such as a powder puff is provided in
the
remaining side hal~ A lid assembly formed of an inner lid member that seals
the
surface of the inner dish and an outer lid member thai: doses the entire
compact is
provided on one edge portion ~ the compact, to form a hinged structure that
can be
freely opened and closed.
Either of the following methods is employed as means of releasing the lid
assembly.
(1) a method of releasing both the inner and outer lid members together by a
"one-
touch" operation, such that the engagement between the outer lid member and
the
main body of the compact is canceled whereby, at the same time, the engagement
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CA 02245961 1998-08-12
between the inner lid member and the inner dish is canceled, or (2) a method
oaf
releasing the inner lid member after the outer lid me..mber has been
completely
released
However, method (1) has a problem in that a large operating forrx is required
for
releasing the lid assembly, because the disengagement ~ both oaf the lid
members
must be done simultaneously, and method (2) has a problem in that the
operation of
releasing the lids is complicated, because each lid member requires a separate
release operation.
In addition, there are many various volatile substances comprised within
cosmetic
substances, so a compact that is designed to hold such a cosmetic substance
has to
have a st~uucture that is capable of being closed so that the cosmetic
substance
contained therein is in a sealed state, to ensure that such volatile
substances do not
evaporate.
Specific examples of such a structure are Imown, as disposed in Japanese
Utility
Model Application Laid Open Nos. 3-34412 and 7-3510.
In the former configuration, disclosed in Japanese Utility Model Application
Laid
Open No. 3-34412, an inner dish is provided fitted into an inner accommodation
portion formed in a main container body and a sealing member consisting of a
resilient material is attached to the inner surface of a lid body of the main
container
body. The vicinity of the peripheral edge portion of this sealing member is
formed to
have an inward-faring tapered surface on an outer surface of an annular skirt
portion that protrudes so as to engage with the peripheral edge of the opening
of the
inner dish.
When the container is closed, the skirt portion of the sealing member engages
inward of the inner dish firom the upper opening thereoly and the outer
surface of the
skirt portion is pressed elastically into contact with the inner peripheral
edge of the
opening of the inner dish, to form an airtJight seal for the interior of the
inner dish.
However, this config«ration in which the skirt portion of the sealing member
is
inserted into the inner dish when the container is closed has a disadvantage
in that
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CA 02245961 1998-08-12
only a limited quantity of cosmetic substance can be placed in the inner dish,
to
ensure that the extreme edge portions of the skirt portion do not strike the
upper
surface of the cosmetic substance.
In the latter con~.guration, disclosed in Japanese Utility Model Application
Laid
Open No. 7-3510, an inner dish is fitted into and fixed to an inner frame
member
that is fixed to an outer frame member of a main container body, and also a
flange
portion is provided on an upper portion the inner dish. A sealing member which
is
formed of a resilient material and which is provided on an inner surface of an
inner
lid (lid member) is installed so that it is brought into contact with this
flange portjon
in an ai'~"~'~~t manner.
With this coma iration the sealing member does not protrude into the inner
dish
as it does in the former configuration, so the quantity of cosmetic substance
that is
contained therein is not limited, but this sealing slla~zcture only has one
annular
airfaght contact portion between the flange porlaon of the inner dish and the
sealing
member, which is not suffic~.ent from the airtaghtness viewpoint.
In another lmown configuration for an airtsght container, disclosed in
Japanese
Patent Publication No. X55945, an inner member for accommodating a cosmetic
substance which fits into a concave portion formed in a base member of a main
container body is formed by a base portion and side walls that are set up on
this base
portion. A flange portaon, which is provided with a thin wall that extends
above
upper edges of these side walls and thin libs that are orientated downward, is
formed integrally and is pressed by a lid member to close the sb.~uctzue in an
airtight
manner.
However, if the entirety of this dish member of an integral form is made of a
resilient material such as an elastomer, careful attention is necessary during
the
fabrication process and there are problems with the stability of the final
form.
Nevertheless, if it is made of an ordinaay synthetic resin material, it is
diffcult to
adjust the shape and thiclmess of the flange porfson, and the reliability of
the sealing
capabilities thereof cannot be guaranteed.
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CA 02245961 1998-08-12
In a compact fabricated as described above, components such as the inner frame
member and the inner dish are generally formed of a hard. resin material, so
that
extremely severe demands are placed on the dimensional preasion of the
fabrication
of the mutually fitting portions when these hard components are fitted and
fixed
together.
In addition, if the dimensions of the fit between the inner dish and the inner
frame
member are even slightly too tight, it will be di~ult to fit them together
during the
assembly, and it is even possible that assembly will be impossible. If the
dimensions
of the fit are too loose, the inner dish will rattle and may fall out.
Summary of the Invention
The present invention was devised in order to solve these problems in the art.
An
objective thereof is to provide an extremely air~t compact for a cosmetic
substance
such that, when the compact is in use, it is not necessary to use a large
opexating
force to release a lid assembly which is provided with an outer lid member and
an
inner lid member, so that the lids can be released by a small force and
moreover
with a simple "one-touch" operation.
A further objective is to provide an airtight compact for a cosmetic substance
wherein the quantity of the cosmetic substance contained within the inner dish
of
the compact is not limited and also the reliability of the seal is high, the
compact can
be assembled easily without necessitating a high level of fabrication
preasion, and
the cost thereof can be reduced
In order to achieve the above objectives, the compact of the present invention
has
the configuration descx~bed below, ensr»ng that an airtight lid assembly
comprising
an outer lid member and an inner lid member can be released easily by a "one
touch" operation using a small force.
In other words, the compact is configured such that: an inner frame member
provided with an inner-dish accommodation portion and a cosmetic-implement
storage portion is fitted and fixed within an outer frame member in which is
formed
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a catch wall provided with a protuberant catch strip on an upper edge portion
of an
Peripheral wall surface on a front wall side of an opening of the compact, for
engaging with a lid member, to fore a main container member; an inner dish
containing a cosmetic substance is installed into the inner-dish accommodation
portion of the inner frame member; an inner lid member for closing the inner
dish,
which is provided with a catch protrusion on a front edge portion and a hinge
for
connection to the outer frame member on a rear edge portion, is connected to
the
main container member in an operable manner together with an outer lid member
for closing the main container, where a rear edge portion of the outer lid
member is
provided with a hinge for connection to the outer frame member; a cat~cb.
piece,
which is provided with a catch protrusion that engages with the protuberant
catch
strip of the outer frame member, and a hook piece, which engages with the
catch
protrusion of the inner lid member, are pxnvided perpendicularly on an inner
surface of the outer lid member; and an operation piece for releasing the lid
assembly is provided on a front edge portion of the outer lid member; whereby,
when
the lid assembly is to be released, the engagement between the protuberant
catch
strip of the main container member and the catch piece of the outer lid member
is
first released, then the hook piQCe of the outer lid member engages with the
catch
protrusion of the inner lid member to pull the inner lid member.
To ensure that the quantity of cosmetic substance that is contained in the
inner
dish of the compact of the above configuration is not limited, and also ensure
a high
level of sealing of the inner-dish portion, the present invention also employs
a
rpsiliPnt sealing member of a characteostac shape as means for sealing a
peripheral
edge portion of an opening of the inner dish containing the cosmetic
substance.
The resilient sealing member is fixed to the peripheral. edge portion of the
opening
of the inner dish containing the cosmetic substance, which is installed in the
inner-
dish accommodation portion of the inner frame member of the main container
member, to be in close contact with the inner sw~e of the inner lid member; a
skirt
portion is provided on the sealing member so as to project annularly outward
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CA 02245961 1998-08-12
therefrom; a space portion is provided below the sealing member to permit only
the
skirt portion to be compressed and bent downward by the inner lid member;
whereby the sealing state of the lid assembly that is connected to the main
container
member in an operable manner can be ensured when it is closed, by the
compression and elastic deformation of the sealing member at two places, by
the
inner lid member, which is prov;.ded on an inner side of the outer lid member
and
which is provided with an annular compression protrusion portion that is
pressed
into contact with an upper surface of the sealing member and an annular
peripheral
wall portion that is pressed into contact with an outer surface of an ex-
trenae edge of
the sldrt portion.
The resilient sealing member fixed to the peripheral edge portion of the
opening of
the inner dish, which is accommodated in the innerdish accommodation portion
of
the inner frame member of the main container member and contains the cosmetic
substance, compxzses a skirt portion that is attached to the upper peripheral
surface
of the openirag and projects annularty outward, a vertscal. piece provided on
a lower
surface of the skirt portion, and a protuberant engagement portion provided
extending along the side surface of the inner dish from an upper edge of the
vertical.
piece; and it is formed annularly over a seating and a step portion at the
intersection
between an upper surface and a side surface of the inner frame member; thus it
enables a resilient connection when the inner dish containing the cosmetic
substance is fitted into the inner surface of the inner fi~ame member and,
when the
li.d. assembly that is connected in an operable manner to the main container
member is closed, the sealing member is compressed by the inner lid member to
ensure a sealing state.
This fa~litates assembly without necessitating sirict fabrication precision of
the
inner frame member and the inner dish, and without any rattling, so the
compact
can be fabricated inexpensively and also a high level of sealing can be
ensured.
Brief Description of the Drawings
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CA 02245961 1998-08-12
Fig. lA shows a compact container provided with an openable lid of a "one-
touch"
style in accordance with this invention, being a cxoss-sectional view taken
along the
line X X of Fig. 2, and Fig.1B is a partial expanded view thereof;
Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the main container member where the lid
assembly of
the compact has been removed;
Fig. 3A shows the sealed state of the inner dish of a second embodiment of the
present invention when the lid assembly is closed, being a cxoss-sectional
view taken
along the line Y Y of Fig. 2, and Fig. 3B is a partial expanded view of a
released state
thereof
Fig. 4A shows a third embodiment of the present invention with the inner dish
thereof in a closed state and Fig. 4B shows a partial expanded view of a
released
state thereof; and
Fig. 5A shows a fourth embodiment of the present invention with the inner dish
thereof in a closed state and Fig. 5B shows a partial expanded view of a
released
state thereof
Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention
In the compact of this invention, an inner dish 4 filled with a cosmetic
substance is
fitted into a main container member 1 in a state in which an inner lid member
7 and
an outer lid member 9 are open, as shown by broken lines in Fig. lA. If this
lid
assembly is then pressed in a direction to close it, a catch protrusion 10a on
an
extreme edge portion of a catch piece 10 that is pxnvided on a front edge
portion of
the outer lid member 9 engages with a protuberant catch strip 6a of an outer
frame
member 2, and also a sealing member 8 that is provided on a peripheral edge
portion of an opening of the inner dish 4 is camped by a pzg portion of an
inner peripheral surface of the inner lid member 7 to close the assembly in a
sealed
state, as shown by solid lines. At this poant, a protrusion l la of a hook
piece 11 on a
central portion of an inner surface of the outer lid member 9 is positioned in
a state
such that a predetermined spaang is left below a catch protrusion 7a of the
inner lid
member 7.
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CA 02245961 1998-08-12
Vflben the compact is to be opened fur rise, Pxea~n.g a lower poi of a mlease-
activating piece I3 towards the main body of the compact causes that r 1e Pa_~-
activating pi~x tn rotate inward about the axis ~ a pan 12 piW .tied in a
fra~nt edge
poufioa of the outer lid member 9. As a far end porhion thereof slides over an
inclined
sliding sur~aoe 6b and thus moves upward, the cash piece IO is pushed upward
tbiereby tn move the outer lid member 9 slightly upwai~, so that the engaged
state
betweea the catch protrusion l0a at the ead portion of the catch pies 10 and
the
protuberant catch strip 6a of the outer frame member 2 is released. and thus
the
outer lid. member is rn~eased_
If the outer lid me>;nber 9 is moved further upward at that paint, the
protrusion. I1a
of the hook piece I1 engages with the catch pmtru ion 7a of the inner lid
member 7
anal. pu7Ls the inner Iid member 7 upward, so that the lid assembly is fully
released_
l~mbodimeats of this invention will be de'~bed in mare detail below, with
ice to the a~ompanying drawings.
The main. oorntainer mQmbes 1 of a first aspect of this invention is cnnfigw~d
as
shown in. Figs. 1 and 2. Ia it is fao'med the catch wall 6 that is provided
wvith the
protuberant cBtcb. strip 6a, whash ~~ g with- the outer lid. member 9 on an
outer
suz5~ of a front wall of the outer frame memlber 2 that defines a roughly
rectangular yr oval shaped shallow container with a base, and the inclined
sliding
surface 6b over which the release-activating piece 13 slides- Ia addition, a
connective
portion that links together the &d members is fno~.ed in a real wall portion.
of the
outerc frame member 2, a starage poortian 14 far a cosmetic ixnplemmt is
provided in
a front partite of the outer frame aarmber 2, an a~omodatian paation 5 in
which is
oaatained a cosmetic s~.~bstance 15 is provided in a rear poa~tiooo thereof
and inner
frame members 3 that are provided can each of these stc~ag~e por~aans are
fitted aato
and are integrally faced to the main ooatavner me~mb~r L
A lid assembly, which is psrnrided with the inner lid member 7 and the outer
lid
member 9 with a mirror 19 an an inns surface ~ereo~' and which also has a
hinge
I8 protruding thezefrO~n. is connected by a fi~eely operable hinge aonnectao~a
to one
8
CA 02245961 1998-08-12
s
edge of the rear wall portion of the outer frame member 2 of the main
container
member 1. An implement such as a powder puff is accommodated in the storage
portion 14 for a cosmetic implement in the inner frame member 3 and also the
inner
dish 4 which accommodates the cosmetic substanc 15 in the accommodation
portion
5 for the inner dish is fitted and fixed therein, to complete the conk oration
of the
cosmetic compact.
Note that components such as the outer frame member, the inner frame member,
and the lid members could be made by an injection fabrication means of a
generally-
used synthetic resin..
The outer lid member 9 is constructed such that the catch piece 10 having the
catch
protrusion l0a at an end portion thereof is provided on a front inner wall
surface
directly opposite to the protuberant catch strip 6a of the outer frame member
2 that
engages therewith, and also the hook piece 11 in which is formed the
protrusion 1 la
that engages with the catch protrusion 7a of the inner lid member 7 is
provided on a
central inner wall surface therea~
The pin 12 that supports the release-act~.vating piece 13 is suspended
horizontally
in the lateral direciaon on a firont end portion of the catch piece 10 oaf the
outer lid
member 9, an upper portson of the release-activating piece is attached
rotationally to
that pin, and also an extreme end portson of the release-activating piece 13
is placed
in close contact with the sli~ ing surface 6b on the front wall of the outer
frame
member 2, so that it can slide therealong. A blocking piece 13a is also
provided
protruding from the inner surface of the release-activating piece 13.
The sealing member 8, which consists of a resilient material formed to be T-
shaped
in section, is provided between the peripheral wall of the opening of the
inner-dish
accommodation portion 5 a~f the inner flame member 3 and an outer peripheral
portion of the opening of the inner dish 4. This sealing member 8 is attached
so as to
cover the peripheral surface of the inner dish and the peripheral surface of
the inner
frame member. Providing the extreme edge portion thereof in such a manner that
it
curves slightly downward at an angle makes it possible to crimp the sealing
member
9
CA 02245961 1998-08-12
8 by the annular pexzpheral wall portion '7b and the compression pmtx~ion
portion
7c that are provided on the peripheral portion of the inner lid member 7 on
the inner
surface of the outer lid member 9 when the lids are closed, to close it in a
sealed. state.
The inner dish 4 filled with the cosmetic substance 15 is fitted into the
inner-dish
accommodation portion 5 of the inner frame member 3 of the main container
member 1 of the above desmbed configuration, and a cosmetic implement such as
a
powder puff is accommodated in the storage portion 14 for the cosmetic
implement,
to complete the airtsght compact for a cosmetic substance.
A decorative ring 16 made oaf a soft synthetic regn or the like is provided
around the
inner peripheral edge of the opening of the inner dish 4, but not just for
appearance;
it also acts as a support member during the stretcbing of a mesh member.
The desc~ption now turns to the sealing mechanism of this compact.
As shown in Wig. l, the inner lid member 7 provided on the inner surface of
the
outer lid member 9 comprises a flat portion 7d having a diameter slightly
larger
than that oaf the opening of the inner dish, an annular pexzpheral wall
portion 'no
that extends downward from an outer peripheral portion of that flat portion,
and an
annular compression protrusion portion 7c on the inner side of that pexzpheral
wall
portion. The catch protrusion 7a that comes into contact with the protrusion
lla of
the hook piece 11 of the outer lid member 9 and can engage therewith is
provided on
a front upper edge portion of the annular peripheral wall portion '7b. A rear
edge
portion of the inner lid member 7 is binged to the outer frame member 2 by the
same
shaft as the hinge 18 of the outer lid member 9, to complete the operable lid
assembly.
When the lid assembly of the above desc~bed compact has been closed so that
the
compact is in a closed lid state, the sealing member 8 provided on the
peripheral
portion of the opening of the inner dish 4 is compressed by the airtight
compression
portions formed by the annular compression protrusion portion 7c and the
annular
peripheral wall portion 7b so as to be pincered therebetween, and thus the
sealing
member of the peripheral portion of the opening is sealed by a double
st~uctw~:e of
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CA 02245961 1998-08-12
the inner lid member 7.
When an attempt is made to release the Iid assembly ana open the compact, if
the
outer lid member 9 is released by p~c~n with a finger tip un, the x~el$ase-
activating
piece 13 to operate it, the engagement bet~en. the protuberant cairh ship 6a
the
outer frame member 2 and the catch pmtrusin'~ 10a a~the catch p7P1'A IO of the
outer
lid. member 9 is reles9ed, then the protrusion 11a o~ the hook piece 11 of the
outer lid
member 9 engages with the catch pmtrusioaa 7a to pull. the inner lid member 7
upward, so that the sealed state of the inner li.d, member 7 and the inner
dish 4 is
released and the lid assembly is opened.
In the shove described compact ~ a cosmetic substance, the structure of the
lid
assembly sad the sealing member 8 provided around the peripheral poatinn a~
the
opening of the inner dish 4 ensures that the ~fig~atiaoa shown in ~3,g_ 3
enables a
higher degree o~ airtightness when the lids the cflmpact are closed tn form a
sealed
state. In addition, the inner frame member 3 and the inner dish 4 can be
assembled
c~ectly amd early, even. if the fabricatiam pr~isinn. tluereaf is soanewhat
lnvv _
A step portiaa 3e is provided at an intern. between a hamzantal portion 3a and
a vertical parting 3b of the inner fine member 3, which is fixed to the outer
frame
member 2 of the main container member 1, an annular seatixig 3d that protrudes
higheac than the horizontal poriinn. is provided an an outer side of this step
Portion,
and also a plurality a~catich lPratn~oas 3c that fix the inner dish 4 are
pwvided at a
predeteanined spacing in the pe~ipherel di~.an around an inner peripheral
surface of the vertical parrtiaa~ 3b.
The sea>ing member 8, which is faaoned of a resilient material. such as an
elder
and is ~spased an. the peripheral pad a~ the aTaeaing of the inner dish 4, is
provided with a vertical pdeoe 8g that engages with the step partinu 3e of the
inner
frame member 3 and an annular skirt poztion 8f that is positioned on the upper
sine a~the annular tin 3d of the inner frame m~ber 3 and projects outward
The roof guration is such that an ext~me edge parti,on Se of this annular
slort
pad $f is cuzved slightly downward at a slant, and is provided in sorb a
manner
1z
CA 02245961 1998-08-12
that it is integrated with the side surface of the inner dish 4.
If necessary, if a space portion 17 is provided between the annular skirt
porttion 8f
and the annular seating 3d by curving the annular skirt portion 8f sligh 1y
downward, as in the first embodiment, the annular skirt portion 8f can be
easily
compressed and deformed by the inner lid membex 7 when the lid assembly is ,
which makes it possible to further improve the sealing capability thereof
With the above desa~bed configuration in which the sealing member 8 is
provided
integrally on the outer peripheral surface of the inner dish 4, a method can
be
applied in which the inner dish of a predetermined shape is first set into a
die for the
fabrication of the sealing member, then the necessary sealing member is formed
by
injecting into the die a resilient material. such as an elastomer that is to
form the
sealing member, to produce an insert in which the inner dish and the sealing
member are integrated.
The inner dish 4, which is provided with the sealing member 8 around the
peripheral portion of the open, thereof in the above wfiguraiaon, can be made
to
engage in a simple manner with the inner side surfaces of the vertical.
poriaon 3b oaf
the inner frame member 3 by inserting the base portion there into an opening
portion of the inner-dish accommodation portion 5 of the inner frame member 3,
then pressing the inner dish 4 downward.
I7urng the assembly, a protuberant engag~nent portion 8h provided on a lower
edge portion of the sealing member 8 is deformed elastically by pressure
forces to
absorb any slight dimensional errors caused during the fabrication of
components
such as the inner frame member 3, the inner dish 4, and the sealing member 8,
so
that the inner dish 4 can be fixed securely in the inner frame member 3 and,
moreover, the inner dish 4 does not rattle.
The strict fabrication precision that is required in the prior art durring the
fabrication of components such as the inner frame member, the inner dish, and
the
sealing member is therefore no longer necessary.
When the lid assembly is closed in the compact of the above desc~bed
configuration,
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CA 02245961 1998-08-12
the annular compression protrusion portion 7c of the inner lid member 7
presses
against the upper surface of the base o~ the skirt portion 8f of the sealing
member 8,
fom~ng the skirt portion to d~ elasticany and be beat downward.
If the inner peripheral surface of the annular peripheral wall portion '7b of
tl'.e
inner lid member 7 is formed so as to press against the outer side surface of
the
extreme edge portion 8e of the sealing member 8, the annular peripheral. wall
portion ?b and the annular seating 3d of the inner lid member work together to
compress the extreme edge portion 8e of the sealing member 8, enclosing the
cosmetic substance within the inner chsh 4 in a double airtight state, which
greatly
increases the airtightness thereof
As a result of the compact having the above described configuration, the
present
invention ensures that the annular airtight contact portion that is in contact
with
the annular compression protrusion portion 7c of the inner lid. member 7 and
the
annular airtight contact portion that is in contact with the annular
peripheral wall
portion ?b thereof are formed as two parallel ships to create a double sealing
structure, so that the volatile components of the cosmetic substance
accommodated
within the inner dish do not evaporate and thus the xeliability of the
airtight seal is
greatly increased, provided the two airtight contact portions do not fail
simultaneously.
In particular, the annular ai'~'~~t contact porkion created by the annular
peripheral wall portion ?'b is formed by the pincering of the extreme edge
portion 8e
of the sealing member 8 between the annular peripheral wall porlzon '7b and
the
annular seating 3d, so the contact pressure thereof is extremely high and thus
it is
extremely unlikely that the airtight seal will fail
The coy iration need not necessarily be such that the outer surface of the
extreme edge portion 8e of the sealing member 8 is compressed by the annular
peripheral wall portion ?b of the inner lid member 7, as desmbed above. Since
the
annular skirt portion 8f of the sealing member 8 of the present invention is
pincered
between the annular compression protrusion portion 7c of the inner lid member
7
13
CA 02245961 1998-08-12
and the annular seating 3d of the inner frame member, the cosmetic substance
within the inner dish 4 can be maintained in a highly airl~t state.
In addition, the conk iration of the present invention, which ensures that the
sealing member 8 readily deforms elastically, as shown in Wig. 4, makes it
possible to
provide an even greater e~Ct oaf absorbing any dimensional error that may be
present in components such as the inner frame member, the inner dish, and the
sealing member.
In other words, the configuration could be such that a projection Sj is formed
to
protrude downward fiom the base portion of the vertacal. piece 8g of the
sealing
member 8 used in the compact shown in Fig. 3, an extreme edge surface of this
projection 8j is pressed into contact with the flat sine of the step portion
3e of the
inner frame member 3, as shown in Fig. 4, and the sealing member 8 is fitted
between the inner frame member 3 and the inner dish 4 so that the inner dish 4
is
fixed thereby.
When the inner dish 4 is installed into the inner frame member 3 of the
compact of
this embodiment shown in Fig. 3, the protuberant engagement portion 8h of the
sealing member 8 deforms elastically to absorb dimensional errors, mainly in
the
lateral direction. However, when the inner dish 4 is installed into the inner
frame
member 3 of the compact using the sealing member 8 provided with the
projection 8j,
as shown in Fig. 4, in addition to the de~ation of the protuberant engagement
portion Sh, the projection 8j also deforms elastically to absorb dimensional
e~mrs in
the vertical direction as well..
Since the above described sealing member 8 that is provided with the
projection 8j
attached to the base portion ocf the vertical piece Sg is more ready to deform
elastically than the sealing member 8 provided only with the protuberant
engagement portion 8h, a compact in which is used the sealing member of Fig. 4
is
even more effective than one using the sealing member shown in Fig. 3 at
absorbing
errors in the fabrication dimensions that occur in components such as the
inner
frame member 3 and the sealing member 8.
14
CA 02245961 1998-08-12
In the above desc>'bed compact, the sealing member provided around the
peripheral edge portion oaf the opening of the inner dish is formed in a
configuration
wherein the vertical piece 8g, which is in contact with the step portion 3e
formed in
the inner frame member 3, is provided in the base portion of the outward
projedang
annular skirt portion 8f that is positioned on the ,upper surface of the
annular
seating 3d of the inner frame member 3.
In addition, the lion is such that the projection 8j protrudes downward
from the base portion of the vertical piece 8g, and the Lower edge surface of
this
projection is in contact with the surface of the step portion 3e of the innex
flame
member 3. Thus the sealing member has the capability of absorbing fabrication
dimensional errors in components such as the inner frame member 3 and the
inner
dish 4, as well as absorbing pressure forces in a three-dimensional manner
during
assembly, in addition to improving the sealing state of the compact. This also
makes
it extremely easy to assemble the compact.
However, if the main objective is merely to improve the sealing state, the
sealing
member 8 provided around the peripheral edge portion of the opening oaf the
inner
dish 4 can. ensure a good sealing state for the compact, even if it has the
simpler
configuration des~bed below.
An annular flange portion 4a that projects outwards is formed around the outer
peripheral edge of the opening of the inner dish 4, which fits into the innex-
dish
accommodation portion 5 of the inner frame member 3 which in turn fits into
and is
fixed to the outer frame member 2 of the main container meJnber 1, an annular
projection portion 4b is formed on an upper surface of this flange portion,
and the
annular sealing member 8 consisting of a resilient material is fixed onto the
upper
surface of the flange portson, as shown in Wig. 5. This forms a sealed portion
that
ensures that the cosmetic substance within the inner dish 4 is held in a
sealed state
by the pressure of the inner lid member 7.
The thus~d sealing member 8 is fabricated in such a manner that the
projection portion 4b of the flange portion fits into the rear surface they a
base
CA 02245961 1998-08-12
portion. 8a is fixed so that it is held between the pe~hery a~ the inner dish
and the
annular projection portion 4b, a skirt pad 8b is also Formed projecting
outward
firm that base portion, and an. extmme edge portion 8c curves slightly
downward
The provision of a small space portion I? between. the ext~nae edge portion 8c
o~
the sealing member 8 and the horzantal parrtian 3a of the inner frame member 3
ensures that, when the lids oaf the container a~ dosed, the eact~me edge
portion. 8c
of the sealing member 8 that is preyed by the inner lid member 7 can be bent
dnwaward., before the lid assembly of the cani:ainer is dosed. to put the
inner-dish
portion that contains the oosmeiic substance into a sealed state.
To fabx;Cabe the sealing meaaber of the above desc~ed c~gurattion, it is
optimal
to make an W serf in which the ;""PT dish axed the sealing member Eo~ed csF a
t m atp,; ~7 ~ ~~~, but a method could also be used. whereby the
sealing member is Foamed. as a separate membE~ then is coan~ed to the
peripheral.
edge portion. by means such as mse~rtinn, adbesi~on,deposiiaon,or welding
If the lid a~nnbly of the c~atainar is closed. in, the compact of the above
desmbed
~afiguration, the cai~eh psottusLOn lOa at the tip of the catch piece 10
provided on
the outer lid member 9 magages with the prafuberant catch strip 6a of the
outer
fi~me member 2, to put the container in a seslewi state, as shown is Fig 1.
SSmultaneously therewith, the annular compressi~ pportion. 7c of the
~ lid member 7 p"P~~ down. on the upper sub of fhe sla~.t pcarti~on 8b of the
sealing member 8, which pxxrjeds finther outward than the outrx peripheral
edge of
the flange portion 4a provided around the peripheral edge o~the inner dish 4,
as can
be seen firm 1~5,g 5. Thus the skirt porting 86 is paessed downward gad bends
s~tly in a ree~ieat manner and, at the same time, the annular peripheral wall
pao~tiaa 7b of the inneac lid member 7 a~ to the outer suzface a~the e~ct~me
edge
paartian Sc a~ the s~ member 8, so that t3xe inner-dish porlion aant~ning the
cosmetic substance is p~laoed. is a doubly sealed state, and thus avrtightuess
is
In this manner, whey the lids of the compact of this invention are daaed, the
16
CA 02245961 1998-08-12
annular airtight contact portion due to the annular compression protrusion
portion
?c of the inner lid member ? and the annular airtight contact portion due to
the
annular peripheral wall portion ?b thereof are formed as two parallel sups to
create
a double sealing structure.
The compact of the present invention th~ore ensures that the volatile
components of the cosmetic substance accommodated wit3~in the inner dish do
not
evaporate and thus the reliability of the airtight seal is greatly increased,
provided
the two airtight contact portaons do not fail simultaneously.
When the lid assembly of the compact of the present invention is closed, no
components such as the lid members or the sealing member intrude into the
inner
dish portion that contains the cosmetic substance, so that the quantaty of
cosmetic
substance that is contained in the inner dish is not limited.
S of the Invention
To release the lid assembly of the container of this invention, the engagement
between the outer lid member and the main oontainex member is released simply
by
pressing on the release-activating piece of the outer lid member, then the
inner lid
member is released by pl~ch~ng the outer lid member upward, so that the
operation
of releasing the two lid members can. be achieved rapidly by a simple
operation
involving gentle pressure by the finger tips of one hand.
An annular compression protrusion portion and an annular peripheral wall
portion
are provided on the inner lid member of the lid assembly and also the sealing
member is fixed to the peripheral edge portion of the opening of the inner
dish, so
that, when the lids are closed, the annular compression protrusion portion of
the
inner lid member presses against the upper surface of the sealing member and,
at
the same time, the annular peripheral wall portion of the inner lid member
presses
against the outer side surface of the extreme edge o~ the sealing member. The
resultant airtight contact portions enable the ~ormation of a double sealing
sta~ucture,
malting it possible to increase the reyabality with which the airfj.ghtness is
1?
s
CA 02245961 1998-08-12
ma~t~ea, ~d else eth~ e~ ant ~g the ~.~ ~
~~~~~er~
The c~nfiguratiam is such that the inner dish can be fitted into and fixed to
the
inner flame member because the bower edge porting of the sealing member, which
is
Earned of a resilient mate~ail, is attached to the cru~r side sure of the
inner dish.
Thus, in addition to the fiandion of sealing the itmer dish in. coaperatinn.
with the lid
assembly, the sealing member also has the fund of cannecdng the inner dish
anal
the inner frame member, malting it ea.~er to ascc~emble the mmpact is
comparison
with a cnafiguratinn in whinh the inner dish is fitted directly into the inner
frame
member, even. when the fab~catin~n preQSi~aa. of the inner frame member and
the
inner dish are redu~L This has the useful. effete of enabling further cost
reductions
is the finished prodwet.
1~
