Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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COSMETIC COMPACT
CROSS REFERENCE TO PRIOR APPLICATION
This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application Serial No.
60/820,276 filed July 25, 2006, and U.S. Utility Application Serial No.
11/713,999
filed March 5, 2007, the disclosures of which is incorporated by reference.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to compacts. More particularly this invention relates
to
compacts containing cosmetics for application by a user. Cosmetics such as
face
powder, eye shadow, rouge, foundation, blush, cake mascara, lip stick and like
cosmetics compositions are often packaged in containers typically referred to
as
compacts. Typical compacts include a base formed as a tray with one of more
recesses in which a cosmetic composition is stored, typically in compressed
form,
and a cover that overlies the base and encloses the composition(s) stored in
the
recess(es) so as to prevent drying out, spillage, and contamination of the
stored
composition(s). Typically the base and cover are hinged together along one
side of
the compact and means are provided that enable the user to manually releasably
close the compact.
US Patent 1,518,594 discloses a vanity case consisting of a base member
and a mirrored cover member. A container (also referred to as an intermediate
member) is mounted between the base and cover and is provided with means for
securing to the intermediate member a plurality of toilet accessories such as
compacts. The intermediate member is detachably mounted in the casing on a
pivot
pin and preferably has a pair of compacts, such as a rouge compact and a
powder
compact, secured to it. The pair of compacts can be arranged back to back or
both
can be outwardly facing.
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US Patent 2,570,314 discloses an improvement in compacts provided with a
mirror. Patentee's aim is to protect the mirror from the effects of powder
contained in
the compact when the compact is closed. Patentee also seeks to enable use of
the
mirror (which is typically fixed to the inside of the compact cover) when the
compact
is closed. Another feature of the patentee's invention is that the mirror is
rotatably
mounted within the cover and automatically pivots upon the opening or closing
of the
cover so that the mirror is faces outwards when the compact is closed. In such
position the mirror is shielded from the effects of powder loosened from the
puff or
the powder in the recess and the mirror can be used for application of, for
example,
io lipstick. When the compact is open, the mirror faces inward and can be used
for
application of the powder. The base of patentee's compact contains a powder
retaining recess for the powder and powder puff.
US Patent 5,437,294 discloses a compact having a base and/or a cover
having a peripheral frame and a central panel. Patentees teach that, when the
base
member comprises a frame and panel, one of the major faces of the panel is
formed
as a tray for holding material to be contained in the compact. Patentees
further
teach that when the cover member comprises a frame and panel, at least one of
the
major faces of the panel bears a mirror. The panel is shaped and dimensioned
to be
2o rotatable, relative to the frame, through at least 1800 between two
positions in which
the opposite major faces of the panel are respectively exposed to the exterior
of the
compact when the compact is closed with the panel lying substantially flush
with the
frame in each of these positions. The compact can be closed with the contents
of
the panel tray exposed to the exterior of the compact or with the mirror on
the
opposite side of the panel exposed to the exterior of the compact.
Women of the 21st century are obliged to carry handbags and purses that are
heavy and crammed with wallets, credit card holders, and a host of cosmetic
and/or
cosmeceutical products. There is a need to decrease congestion and weight of a
woman's handbag and purse without reducing access to the host of cosmetic
products required by today's woman on the go.
The present invention provides a cosmetic compact that consolidates in one
compact a plurality of cosmetic compositions. In a preferred embodiment, the
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compositions are held in a two sided tray having a plurality of wells on each
side,
each well being adapted to receive a pan pre-charged with a host of cosmetic
compositions.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides a compact for one or more cosmetic
compositions, preferably for a plurality of cosmetic compositions. The term
cosmetic
compositions is intended to include cosmetic and cosmeceutical compositions,
as
io known in the cosmetic arts, especially powder compositions in the form of a
cake
powder also known as a pressed powder, for example face powder, eye shadow,
rouge, foundation, blush, cake mascara, lip stick, and the like.
The compact comprises a base and a cover that overlies the base to define a
compact casing. The cover is pivotably mounted on the base for rotation upward
from the base to an open position, or downwards from the open position toward
the
base to close the compact. The compact further comprises a central frame
having a
through space, the frame being nested within the base, and a two-sided tray
having
a first tray section and an opposed second tray section, the tray being nested
in the
frame within the through space and rotatable within the frame when the cover
is in
the open position. Accordingly, the first tray section can be rotated from a
position
facing away from the base to a position in which the first tray section is
facing toward
the base. Consequently, the second tray section rotates simultaneously from a
position facing towards the base to a position in which the second tray
section faces
away from the base. The first and second tray sections of the two-sided tray
are
provided with a plurality of wells adapted to receive the cosmetic
composition. The
cosmetic composition is typically pre-formed within a thin-walled tin or
aluminum pan
that can be fixed within the wells.
In a preferred embodiment, the compact comprises (a) a base and (b) a cover
that overlies the base to define a compact casing. The cover is pivotably
mounted
on the base for rotation upward from the base to an open position, or
downwards
from the open position toward the base to close the compact. The compact
further
comprises (c) a central frame having a through space, the frame being nested
within
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the base and being pivotably mounted on the base for rotation upward from the
base
toward the cover or downward from the cover toward the base, and (d) a two-
sided
tray having a first tray section and an opposed second tray section. The tray
is
nested in the frame within the through space and rotatable within the frame
when the
cover is in the open position and the frame has been pivoted upwards from the
base.
When the tray is rotated in the frame, the first tray section rotates from a
position
facing away from the base to a position facing toward the base. Consequently,
the
second tray section rotates simultaneously from a position facing towards the
base
to a position facing away from the base. In one embodiment, the first and
second
io tray sections of the two-sided tray are provided with a plurality of
compartments
adapted to receive the cosmetic composition. In another embodiment, at least
one
tray section receives (e) a tray insert having the plurality of wells
containing the
cosmetic composition. Preferably, each tray section receives a tray insert.
The
cosmetic composition is typically pre-formed within a thin-walled tin or
aluminum pan
that can be fixed within the compartments or the wells, as the case may be.
The tray
inserts may be replaceable to allow consumers to replenish their supply of
cosmetic.
Alternatively, the pans may be removable from the wells so that refill pans
can be
inserted in their stead.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The present invention will now be described with reference to the drawings in
which:
Fig. 1 is a perspective view, from above, of a cosmetic compact in accordance
with the present invention, the compact being closed;
Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the compact of Fig. I with the cover pivoted
to
the open position and showing the mirror and tray;
Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the compact of Fig. 2 with the frame and tray
assembly pivoted upwards and away from the base;
Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the compact of Fig. 3 with the tray rotated in
the
frame;
Fig. 5 is an exploded perspective view illustrating the assembly of the cover,
frame and base;
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Fig. 6 is a perspective view showing the frame, tray and tray insert;
Fig. 7 is a side view of the compact shown in of Fig. 1;
Fig. 8 is a side view of the compact shown in Fig. 3;
Fig. 9 is a side view of the compact shown in Fig. 4; and
Fig. 10 is a cutaway partial view of the tray-frame assembly to illustrate an
altemate method of rotatably attaching the tray to the frame.
Fig. 11 is an alternate embodiment of the tray.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
As shown in the drawings, particularly Fig. 4, the compact 1 of the present
invention has a base 2 having opposed side walls 4a, 4b and a front wall 3.
Front
wall 3 is typically thicker than opposed side walls 4a, 4b and has a recessed
portion
5. As best shown in Fig. 5, opposed side walls 4a, 4b of base 2 are
respectively
provided on their rear interior surfaces with base flanges 21 a, 21 b.
A cover 7 overlies base 1 to define an interior compartment and is pivotally
mounted on base 1. Together the base 2 and the overlying cover 7 define a
compact casing. Cover 7 has shallow opposed side walls, 8a, 8b and a shallow
front
wall 9. Front wall 9 of cover 7 has an extended portion 10 which fits in
recessed
portion 5 when the cover is pivoted downwards toward base 2 to close the
compact.
As best shown in Fig. 5, cover 7 also includes rear wall 6 described below in
greater
detail.
Recess 11 a and tab 11 b are provided, respectively, on the extended portion
10 and in the recessed portion 5, and cooperate to releasably maintain the
compact
in the closed position when cover 7 is pivoted to close compact 1 with
extended
portion 10 engaging recessed portion 5. Any suitable closure system known in
the
art, however, many be used. Cover 7 can be fitted with mirror 12. Preferably,
as
shown in Fig. 4, mirror 12 is positioned on the underside of cover 7.
Referring to Figs. 4 and 5, frame 13 is pivotally mounted on base flanges 21
a,
21 b on opposed side walls 4a, 4b of base 2 and is comprised of opposed side
walls
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14a, 14b, front wall 15 having a cut out portion 16 which facilitates lifting
of the frame
by a user's finger, and a rear wall 17.
As shown in Fig. 5, frame 13 is provided with frame flanges 18a, 18b that are
positioned adjacent base flanges 21 a, 21 b. Each of flanges 18a, 18b has a
pin hole
therethrough (19a, 19b) that align with corresponding pin holes 20a and 20b in
base
flanges 21 a, 21 b.
Rear wall 6 of cover 7 is provided with an extension 6A dimensioned to fit
between frame flanges 18a, 18b. Extension 22 is provided with pin holes 31 a
and
31 b, which lie along the same axis as pin holes 19a, 19b in flanges 18a, 18b
and in
the same axis as pin holes 20a, 20b in base flanges 21 a, 21 b. That is, pin
holes
20a, 20b, 18a, 18b, 31a, 31b are in alignment, and consequently, lie along the
same
axis. Pins 45 are inserted through pin holes 20a, 20b, 18a, 18b, 31a, 31b to
attach
frame 13, base 2, and cover 7. Cover 7 and frame 13 are then able to pivot
away
from or towards base 2. While pins 45 are preferred to affix the frame
pivotally to the
base, any suitable attachment method used in the art can be used. For example,
a
ball and socket can be employed. In another embodiment, the opening of cover 7
to
its fullest extent can cause the frame 13 to lift upwards a small amount from
its
2o nested position within the base 2, to allow the consumer to then completely
pivot the
frame from proximate the base. This construction obviates the need for cut out
16 in
front wall 15.
As shown in Fig. 4 and Fig. 6, frame 13 is fitted with a two-sided tray 22.
Tray
22 has first tray section 26 and opposed second tray section 27 (tray section
27 is
shown in Figs. 8 and 9), each tray section 26, 27 having shallow side walls
that
define at least one compartment.
In one embodiment, the tray section(s) have a plurality of compartments that
contain one or more cosmetic compositions. In one aspect of this embodiment
and
as shown in Fig. 6, the shallow side walls of tray sections 26, 27 define a
single
compartment, which compartment is provided with a tray insert 23 having at
least
one well, but preferably having at least two wells, for example, wells 24a,
24b, 24c,
24d of tray insert 23a, to contain one or more cosmetic compositions. The tray
insert
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23 is retained in tray 22 by suitable means, for example, by a friction fit or
by a
magnet positioned on the bottom surface of tray section 26 or 27 as the case
may
be, with a complementary metal strip on the bottom surface of tray insert 23.
One or
more of the cosmetic compositions contained in the one or more compartments or
the one or more wells may be a pressed powder cosmetic composition.
Each well 24a, 24b, 24c, 24d (also referred to as a "recess") can contain a
different cosmetic composition, for example, a cake mascara, rouge,
foundation,
blush, face powder, lip stick, eye shadow, etc. Altematively, different shades
of the
io same cosmetic composition can be provided. The wells can be sized according
to
the type of make-up that is used most frequently. As discussed in more detail
below
the cosmetic composition, especially a pressed powder cosmetic composition 29,
is
preferably retained in a metal pan 28 that is fixed within the tray
compartments or the
tray insert wells. Preferably, a plurality of wells or compartments in each
tray section
contain a pressed powder cosmetic composition, and typically all wells or
compartments in at least one tray section contain a pressed powder cosmetic
composition.
Referring to Fig. 6, the second tray section 27 (shown in Fig. 8) of tray 22
is
preferably also fitted with second tray insert 23b having at least one well,
but
preferably having at least two wells (recesses), for example separate wells
25a, 25b
and 25c.
In another embodiment, the two-sided tray, tray 22a as shown in Fig. 11, is
fabricated, for example, by molding, as a unitary piece in which at least one
side of
the two-sided tray and preferably both sides have interior wall(s) 48 that
define two
or more compartments, for example, compartments 49a, 49b, 49c, and 49d shown
in
Fig. 11. The compartments 49 provide the same function as the wells 24, 25
formed in the tray inserts 23a and 23b, namely to hold the cosmetic
composition, as
set forth in the discussion below describing the operation of compact 1 having
wells
24, 25.
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As is shown in Fig. 9, and more clearly in Fig. 4, tray 22 (or tray 22a in the
discussion below) is rotatably mounted in frame 13. Accordingly, tray 22 can
be
rotated so that either tray section 26 or tray section 27 of tray 22 is upward
facing,
with respect to the cover 7. In other words, tray 22 can be rotated so that
the wells
24 in tray insert 23a are upward facing and the wells 25 in insert 23b are
downward
facing or tray 22 can be rotated so that the wells 24 in insert 23a are
downward
facing and the wells 25 in insert 23b are upward facing. The tray 22 may be
rotatably retained in the frame by means of pins 35. In another embodiment a
ball
and socket may be used to rotatably maintain the tray 22 within the through
space of
io frame 13. As shown in Fig. 10, the tray side walls 36a, 36b outer surfaces
may each
be provided with a socket 38, with each interior surface of side walls 14a,
14b being
provided with a complementary ball 40. The balls 40 engage sockets 38
providing
removable, pivotable attachment of the tray 22 within the frame 13. Similarly,
tray
22a is provided with sockets 38 providing removable, rotatable attachment of
tray
22a within frame 13. The frame or tray may also have means to help retain the
tray
in nested position within the frame. For example, the interior surfaces of
side walls
14a, 14b of frame 13 may be provided with one or more lands 30 to provide a
friction
fit with tray 22. Alternately, the lands may be placed on the outer surfaces
of the
side walls of the tray. In another embodiment, the front and/or rear walls of
tray 22
may be molded to have a ridge line centrally located between the opposed side
walls
of the tray 22, the central ridge frictionally engaging the interior surface
of the
respective wall of frame 13.
The two-sided, multi-compartment tray of the compact of the present invention
allows for variation of product mixes based on type of composition, format,
texture,
shade, and/or color. The compact may also contain either in a compartment of
tray
22 or a well 24, 25 of tray insert 23, in the compartment 49 of tray 22a, or
in the
interior compartment of the cosmetic casing, one or more cosmetic implements
or
tools needed by consumers to apply the make-up to the face, lips, or eyes, for
3o example, a brush, a foam-tipped eye shaow applicator, a poof, and the like.
A make-
up removal tool may also be provided. From the consumer's perspective, the
present invention provides a compact for all of the user's cosmetic needs for
the
face, eyes and lips and frees up space in a woman's handbag or purse.
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One compact can be utilized for:
(i) facial products such as face powder, shimmer powder, foundation (e.g.
powder, hot pour), and all over glow shimmer hot pour;
(ii) blush products such as shimmer blush, concealer, and camouflage;
(iii) eye products such as, eye shadow (shimmer and cream), eye shadow
liner (wet/dry), eyeliner, eyelid primer, and cake mascara;
(iv) lip products such as, lipstick, lip gloss, lip primer, lip exfoliator,
and matte
lip stain; and
or (v) any combination thereof.
In the manufacturing process, the cosmetic composition is added to a thin
walled tin or aluminum pan 28 whose shape conforms to the shape of a
compartment 49 in tray 22A or a well 24, 25 in the tray insert 23a, 23b into
which it is
to be placed. When the cosmetic composition is a powder, the powder is placed
in
1s pan 28 and compressed to provide a pressed powder cosmetic 29. Pan 28 is
then
inserted into the well or compartment (for example, well 24a, as shown in Fig.
6). If
desired, the pan can be fixed in the well (compartment) with any suitable
adhesive.
In the manufacturing process, it is preferred that the powder not be
compressed
directly in the wells or compartments, e.g., well 24a or compartment 49,
because the
tray 22, 22a or the tray insert 23a, 23b may not be able to withstand high
compression forces.
The use of individual pans 28 (also referred to as godets) is advantageous in
that it allows for expeditious filling/manufacturing, the ability to fill at
more than one
site, and the ability to rapidly change product mixes in response to changes
in
fashion and consumer trends. Advantageously, the pans 28 can be removable so
that consumers can replace spent pans, or try different color cosmetic
combinations.
In this embodiment pans 28 can be retained in the compartment (or well) in
suitable
manner, for example, they can be friction fit within the wells 24, 25, or held
in place
3o by a magnet on the bottom surface of the well when the pan is made of
ferromagnetic material such as tin plated steel or has a strip of such
material on its
bottom surface. Moreover, individual pans can be tooled to various shapes and
sizes without retooling the entire compact which translates to a savings in
tooling
expense.
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It should be noted that although the compact of the present invention has
been described and illustrated in the drawings with reference to a preferred
box
shaped embodiment, other shaped compacts are intended to be within the scope
of
the invention, for example cylinders, round, oval and egg shaped compacts.
The compact may be fabricated by methods known in the art. Typically, the
component parts are injected molded from a suitable polymer, preferably using
acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene (ABS) resin or styrene-acrylonitrile (SAN)
resin and
especially a mixture of ABS and SAN resins.
It should be understood that the foregoing description is only illustrative of
the
present invention. Various altematives and modifications can be devised by
those
skilled in the art without departing from the invention. Accordingly, the
present
invention is intended to embrace all such altematives, modifications and
variations
that fall within the scope of the appended claims.
