U.S. patent application number 10/766916 was filed with the patent office on 2004-10-14 for box including a hinge having a loop element and a hook element.
This patent application is currently assigned to L'OREAL. Invention is credited to Gueret, Jean-Louis.
Application Number | 20040200755 10/766916 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 32696340 |
Filed Date | 2004-10-14 |
United States Patent
Application |
20040200755 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Gueret, Jean-Louis |
October 14, 2004 |
Box including a hinge having a loop element and a hook element
Abstract
The invention relates to a box comprising: at least one base
portion (2), a lid (3), and a hinge connecting the lid to the base
portion. The hinge comprises: a first element fixed to the base
portion (2), and a second element (5) fixed to the lid (3), one of
said first and second elements being an element presenting loops
and the other of said first and second elements being elements
presenting hooks arranged to co-operate with said loops.
Inventors: |
Gueret, Jean-Louis; (Paris,
FR) |
Correspondence
Address: |
OLIFF & BERRIDGE, PLC
P.O. BOX 19928
ALEXANDRIA
VA
22320
US
|
Assignee: |
L'OREAL
PARIS
FR
|
Family ID: |
32696340 |
Appl. No.: |
10/766916 |
Filed: |
January 30, 2004 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
60449608 |
Feb 26, 2003 |
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
206/581 ;
206/1.5 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A45D 33/008 20130101;
B65D 2313/02 20130101; A45D 40/24 20130101; A45D 40/222 20130101;
A45D 40/221 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
206/581 ;
206/001.5 |
International
Class: |
B65D 069/00; B65D
071/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Feb 4, 2003 |
FR |
03 01267 |
Claims
1. A box (1) comprising: at least one base portion (2; 2'); a lid
(3); and a hinge connecting the lid to the base portion; the box
being characterized by the fact that the hinge comprises: a first
element (4; 4', 4") fixed to the base portion (2; 2'); and a second
element (5; 5', 5") fixed to the lid (3); one of said first and
second elements being an element presenting loops (13) and the
other of said first and second elements being elements presenting
hooks (14) arranged to co-operate with said loops.
2. A box according to claim 1, characterized by the fact that the
base portion (2) presents a rear face (6) and a top face (7), and
by the fact that the first element (4; 4'; 4") extends over said
rear and top faces, by the fact that the lid (3) presents a rear
face (26) and a bottom face (10), and by the fact that the second
element (5; 5'; 5") extends over said rear and bottom faces.
3. A box according to claim 1 or claim 2, characterized by the fact
that the base portion presents a top face (7), by the fact that the
base portion includes at least one third element (20) on said top
face, by the fact that the lid presents a bottom face (10), and the
lid includes at least one fourth element (21) on said bottom face,
with one of the third and fourth elements being a loop element and
the other being a hook element, the third and fourth elements being
disposed in such a manner as to catch together when the box is
closed.
4. A box according to the preceding claim, characterized by the
fact that the base portion presents a bottom face (66) and by the
fact that the base portion includes on said bottom face at least
one fifth element (40) constituted by a loop element or a hook
element.
5. A box according to claim 4, characterized by the fact that the
fifth element is complementary in nature to the third element, the
fifth element (40) being positioned on the bottom face of the base
portion in such a manner as to be capable of catching onto at least
the third element present on another base portion (2') positioned
beneath said bottom face.
6. A box according to any preceding claim, characterized by the
fact that the base portion presents a bottom face (66) and by the
fact that the base portion includes on said bottom face at least
one sixth element (30) arranged to catch with the first element (4)
of another base portion (2') disposed beneath said bottom face.
7. A box according to any preceding claim, characterized by the
fact that the first element comprises at least two distinct
portions (4; 4").
8. A box according to the preceding claim, characterized by the
fact that said distinct portions are disposed close to respective
opposite side faces of the base portion.
9. A box according to claim 7 or claim 8, characterized by the fact
that the two distinct portions are complementary in nature.
10. A box according to any one of claims 7 to 9, characterized by
the fact that the second element comprises two distinct portions
(5'; 5") disposed on the lid in corresponding manner.
11. A box according to any preceding claim, characterized by the
fact that the first element (4) includes at least one fraction (4a)
extending over a top face (7) of the base portion and presenting
width that is not constant, in particular being of width that
increases on coming closer to a rear face (6) of the base
portion.
12. A box according to any preceding claim, characterized by the
fact that the first element (4) comprises fractions (4a; 4b) fixed
on surfaces that are substantially plane.
13. A box according to any one of claims 1 to 11, characterized by
the fact that the first element comprises a fraction fixed on a
surface that is not plane, in particular the surface of half a
circular cylinder.
14. A box according to any preceding claim, characterized by the
fact that one of the lid and the base portion carries a tab (53)
comprising a loop element or a hook element, and by the fact that
the other of the lid and the base portion carries a portion (51)
for catching onto said tab.
15. A box according to any preceding claim, characterized by the
fact that the first element (4', 4") extends in part over at least
one side face of the base portion.
16. A box according to any preceding claim, characterized by the
fact that the second element (5', 5") extends in part over at least
one side face of the lid.
17. A box according to any preceding claim, characterized by the
fact that each of the base portion and the lid presents an outline
that is not rectangular, and in particular an outline that is
circular when observed from above, and by the fact that the first
and second elements extend over respective fractions of the
circumference of the base portion and of the lid.
18. A box according to any preceding claim, characterized by the
fact that the first element extends over the top face, the rear
face, and at least one of the side faces of the base portion.
19. A box according to any preceding claim, characterized by the
fact that at least one of the first and second elements is fixed at
least in part in a setback (12; 12'; 12") of the base portion or of
the lid.
20. A box according to claim 19, characterized by the fact that it
includes at least one hook element fixed in a setback of the base
portion or of the lid.
21. A box according to any preceding claim, characterized by the
fact that at least one of the base portion and the lid includes a
portion in relief (26) arranged to co-operate with a complementary
portion in relief (33) of the other one of the lid and the base
portion so as to position the lid relative to the base portion when
the box is closed.
22. A box according to any preceding claim, characterized by the
fact that the base portion (2) includes a portion in relief (32) on
a bottom face, said portion in relief being arranged to co-operate
with a portion in relief (33) of the top face of another base
portion (2') so as to position the two base portions relative to
each other.
23. A box according to any preceding claim, characterized by the
fact that the base portion includes a housing (60) receiving at
least one substance (P), in particular a substance contained in a
dish (61).
24. A box according to any preceding claim, characterized by the
fact that the base portion includes a housing receiving at least
one applicator.
25. A box according to claim 23, characterized by the fact that the
housing has a bottom provided with a hook or loop element (90).
26. A box according to any preceding claim, characterized by the
fact that the lid includes a mirror (63), in particular on a bottom
face.
27. A box according to any preceding claim, characterized by the
fact that it includes a second base portion (2') superposed with
the first (2).
28. A box according to claim 1, characterized by the fact that at
least one of the first and second elements is movable relative to
the corresponding portion of the box.
Description
[0001] The present invention relates to boxes, and more
particularly but not exclusively to boxes for containing
applicators and/or cosmetics.
[0002] Such boxes generally comprise a base portion and a lid
connected to the base portion by means of a hinge, which hinge may
include a metal pin.
[0003] An object of the invention is to provide a novel box which
may be characterizable, in a first aspect of the invention, by the
fact that the hinge comprises a first element fixed to the base
portion and a second element fixed to the lid, one of the first and
second elements being a loop element and the other a hook element.
The loops and the hooks are arranged to co-operate mutually.
[0004] Loop and hook elements are sold in particular in the form of
strips under the trademark Velcro.RTM. and are in widespread use as
fastener means, the hooks being made, for example, by molding a
plastics material, and the loops being formed by a woven or
non-woven fabric. The hooks and the loops may co-operate to catch
together, with at least some of the hooks becoming engaged in the
loops.
[0005] The term "hook" should not be understood in a limited sense,
and it covers ends having two hooks or an enlarged head. Similarly,
the term "loop" should not be interpreted respectively, and it
covers loops that are open or closed. Thus, the first and second
elements present hooking means of complementary types distributed
over their surfaces and suitable for catching together mechanically
when they are united.
[0006] The invention makes it possible to provide a hinge without
it being necessary to use a metal pin, unlike conventional
hinges.
[0007] The invention also makes it possible to provide boxes in
which the lid can, if necessary, be completely separated from the
base portion, thus making it possible, for example, to use a
plurality of base portions in association with a common lid, which
lid may include, for example, a mirror, with the various base
portions possibly containing substances presenting different colors
and/or natures, and/or different applicators.
[0008] A single base portion may be used with the lid, but in a
variant, a plurality of base portions may be used with the same
lid, the base portions being superposable, at least one of the base
portions serving as a lid for another base portion underlying
it.
[0009] Below, the terms "rear", "front", "top", and "bottom" refer
to the box when it is observed in the closed state and the hinge is
situated further back from the observer, the box being opened
initially by causing the lid to tilt upwards and rearwards.
[0010] Since the base portion presents rear and top faces, the
first element may extend over said rear and top faces. Since the
lid presents rear and bottom faces, the second element may extend
over said rear and bottom faces so as to co-operate with the first
element.
[0011] The box may include at least one third element on the top
face of its base portion. The box may include at least one fourth
element on the bottom face of the lid and one of the third and
fourth elements may be a loop element while the other is a hook
element, the third and fourth elements being disposed in such a
manner as to catch together when the box is in a closed
position.
[0012] Since the base portion presents a bottom face, the box may
include on said bottom face at least one fifth element, which may
be a loop element or a hook element.
[0013] In a particular embodiment, the fifth element is of a kind
complementary to the third element, said fifth element being
positioned on the bottom face of the base portion in such a manner
as to be capable of catching onto at least one other third element
present on an underlying base portion positioned beneath said
bottom face. On the bottom face of the base portion, the box may
include at least one sixth element arranged to catch with another
first element of an underlying base portion disposed beneath said
bottom face. This enables the base portions to be joined
together.
[0014] The first element may comprise at least two distinct
portions, in particular two portions disposed close to respective
opposite side faces of the base portion. The two distinct portions
may be of the same kind or they may be of complementary kinds. The
second element may comprise at least two distinct portions disposed
on the lid in corresponding manner.
[0015] The first element may present at least one fraction which
extends over the top face of the base portion, and said fraction
may be of non-constant width, in particular its width may increase
on approaching the rear face of the base portion. This can make it
easier to open the box, where appropriate.
[0016] The first element may include fractions fixed on surfaces
that are substantially plane. The first element may also include at
least one fraction fixed on a surface that is not plane, and in
particular on a circularly cylindrical surface.
[0017] One of the lid and the base portion may include a tab having
a loop element or a hook element and the other one of the lid and
the base portion may include a portion for catching onto said
tab.
[0018] The first element may extend partially over at least one
side face of the base portion and the second element may extend
partially over at least one side face of the lid. This enables the
lid to be assembled to the side of the base portion after the box
has been opened. The first element may extend simultaneously over
the top face, the rear face, and at least one side face of the base
portion.
[0019] The base portion and the lid may each present an outline
that is rectangular or otherwise, in particular an outline that is
circular when observed from above, and the first and second
elements may extend over respective fractions of the circumference
of the base portion and of the lid. These fractions may each
correspond, for example, to at least one-fourth of the
circumference.
[0020] At least one of the first and second elements may be fixed
at least in part in a setback in the base portion or in the lid. It
is preferably a hook element which is fixed in a setback of the
base portion or the lid, with the depth of the setback possibly
being sufficient to ensure that the hooks do not project
significantly outside the setback.
[0021] At least one of the base portion and the lid may include a
portion in relief arranged to co-operate with a complementary
portion in relief on the other one of the lid and the base portion
so as to ensure that the lid is always positioned in the same
manner relative to the base portion when the box is closed.
[0022] The base portion may also include a portion in relief on its
bottom face, said relief being arranged to co-operate with a
portion in relief on the top face of another base portion so as to
position said other base portion relative to the first.
[0023] The base portion may include a housing for receiving one at
least one substance, in particular a substance contained in a dish.
In a variant or in addition, the base portion may include a housing
receiving at least one applicator. The bottom of said housing may
include a hook element or a loop element arranged to hold the
applicator.
[0024] The lid may include a mirror, in particular on its bottom
face.
[0025] The invention also provides a base portion or a lid
considered in isolation.
[0026] Such a base portion or such a lid may be sold separately,
for example in a blister pack, e.g. for the purpose of constituting
a refill, or a spare lid, or in order to enable a user who already
possesses a box comprising a lid and a base portion to add at least
one second base portion thereto.
[0027] The presence of hook elements or loop elements on one of the
outside faces of the box can serve, where appropriate, to reduce
any risk of the box moving while it is being carried about in a
handbag or vanity case, by providing appropriate fastener means
therein.
[0028] The invention can be better understood on reading the
following detailed description of non-limiting embodiments thereof,
and on examining the accompanying drawings, in which:
[0029] FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic perspective view of an example of a
box made in accordance with the invention;
[0030] FIG. 2 is a diagrammatic and fragmentary section view on
II-II of FIG. 1;
[0031] FIG. 3 is a view of the underside seen looking along arrow
III of FIG. 1;
[0032] FIG. 4 shows the FIG. 1 box in the closed position, with a
second base portion under the first;
[0033] FIG. 5 is a diagrammatic view showing the connection between
the rear portions of the various base portions of the FIG. 4
box;
[0034] FIG. 6 shows how the box can be made with a visible
clasp;
[0035] FIG. 7 shows a hinge element made in two portions;
[0036] FIG. 8 shows a variant embodiment of the rear of the base
portion;
[0037] FIG. 9 shows how a hinge element can be made of varying
width;
[0038] FIG. 10 is a highly diagrammatic view showing another way of
making the box;
[0039] FIG. 11 shows one way of having loop elements or hook
elements on at least three faces of the base portion or of the
lid;
[0040] FIG. 12 shows another variant embodiment of the box;
[0041] FIGS. 13 and 14 are diagrams showing how two base portions
may catch together laterally or longitudinally in another variant
embodiment;
[0042] FIG. 15 shows how a setback 24 can be made with a
chamfer;
[0043] FIG. 16 shows how a loop element or a hook element can be
provided on the bottom of a housing for receiving an
applicator;
[0044] FIG. 17 is a diagrammatic perspective view showing a variant
embodiment of a clasp;
[0045] FIG. 18 is a diagrammatic perspective view showing a variant
embodiment of the box in which the hinge extends over the entire
width of the base portion and the lid;
[0046] FIG. 19 shows one way of positioning the lid on the base
portion during initial assembly of the box; and
[0047] FIG. 20 shows how at least one of the first and second
elements can be made so as to be movable.
[0048] The box 1 shown in FIG. 1 comprises a base portion 2 and a
lid 3 hinged to the base portion 2 by means of a hinge comprising
two elements 4 and 5 fixed respectively to the base portion 2 and
to the lid 3.
[0049] As can be seen more particularly in FIG. 2, the first
element 4 extends over the rear and top faces 6 and 7 of the base
portion 2, while the second element 5 extends over the rear face 8,
the top face, and the bottom face 10 of the lid.
[0050] In accordance with the invention, one of the elements 4 and
5 is an element having hooks 14 and the other is an element having
loops 13. In the example described, it is the first element 4 which
is a hook element and the second element 5 which is a loop element,
however the opposite situation could exist without going beyond the
ambit of the present invention.
[0051] The hook and loop elements are implemented, for example, as
pieces of Velcro.RTM. strips of different kinds, stuck respectively
to the base portion 2 and to the lid 3. The hook and loop elements
could also be fixed to the base portion and to the lid in some
other way, for example by heat sealing or by snap-fastening, in
particular.
[0052] In the example described, the fraction 4a of the first
element 4 which extends over the top face 7 of the base portion 2
is disposed in a setback 12 thereof which extends in centered
manner over substantially one-third of the length of the rear
side.
[0053] The fractions 5a and 5c of the second element 5 which extend
respectively over the top face 9 and the bottom face 10 of the lid
are disposed in setbacks therein, with only the setback 15
receiving the fraction 5c being visible in FIG. 1.
[0054] The second element 5 presents substantially the same width
as the first element 4 and the two elements 4 and 5 can co-operate
during opening of the box so as to keep the lid 3 secured to the
base portion 2, while enabling it to pivot backwards relative
thereto.
[0055] The lid 3 may also be separated, if so desired, from the
base portion 2 by exerting sufficient traction.
[0056] In the example described, the box 1 may be held in the
closed position by co-operation between at least one third element
20 present on the base portion 2, and specifically two elements 20,
and at least one fourth element 21 secured to the lid 3, and
specifically two fourth elements 21.
[0057] In the example shown, the elements 20 are hook elements,
while the elements 21 are loop elements, but the opposite
configuration could apply without thereby going beyond the ambit of
the present invention.
[0058] In the example described, each element 20 occupies a front
corner of the base portion 2, being generally triangular in shape
when seen from above. The elements 21 are placed in the front
corners of the lid so as to catch onto the elements 20 when the box
is closed.
[0059] Means are provided for positioning the lid 3 relative to the
base portion 2 when the box 1 is closed.
[0060] In the example described, these means comprise firstly a
step 24 formed on the base portion 2 so as to define a housing 33,
this step 24 being substantially square in outline when the base
portion 2 is viewed from above, for example, and a corresponding
rib 26 formed on the lid 3, the rib 26 being arranged to engage
inside the step 24 when the box 1 is closed.
[0061] The step 24 may present a flank that is at right angles as
shown in FIG. 2, or in a variant it may present a chamfer, as shown
in FIG. 15.
[0062] In the example of FIGS. 1 and 2, the box 1 has only a single
base portion 2, however, without going beyond the ambit of the
present invention, it is possible to make a box comprising a
plurality of base portions, for example two superposed base
portions 2 and 2', as shown in FIG. 4.
[0063] The base portions 2 and 2' can be secured to each other, for
example, by providing a fifth element 30, which is a loop element,
on the bottom face 26 of the base portion 2, the fifth element
being disposed in such a manner as to be capable of catching onto
the fraction 4a of the first element 4 of the base portion 2',
which may be identical to the base portion 2, as can be seen in
FIG. 5.
[0064] The base portion 2 may present a projecting portion 32
arranged on its bottom face 66 to engage in the housing 33 so as to
ensure that the base portions 2 and 2' are always positioned in the
same manner one on the other. Each base portion 2 or 2' may
advantageously include on its bottom face 66, not only the fifth
element 30, but also a sixth element 40, e.g. two elements 40,
disposed in such a manner as to catch onto the elements 20 of the
base portion 2' disposed immediately below, as can be seen in FIG.
3.
[0065] Where appropriate, a clasp 50 may be provided on the front
side of the box 1, the clasp comprising, for example, a fixed
portion 51 present on the front face 52 of the base portion 2 and a
flexible tab 53 fixed via its top end 54 to the front face 55 of
the lid 3 and having its bottom end 56 suitable for being
superposed on and catching onto the fixed portion 51 when the box
is closed. The portions 51 and 53 of the clasp are made, for
example, using strips of Velcro.RTM..
[0066] In the examples of FIGS. 1 to 6, the base portion 2 has a
housing 60 which receives a dish 61, e.g. a metal dish, containing
a substance P, e.g. foundation makeup, and the lid 3 has a mirror
63 in its bottom face.
[0067] It would not go beyond the ambit of the present invention
for the lid 3 to have no mirror and for the base portion 2 to
present a housing arranged in some other manner, e.g. to receive
not a dish containing a substance, but an accessory such as a brush
or a flocked applicator, or indeed a plurality of housings
containing various substances and/or applicators, which housings
may be of a variety of shapes.
[0068] FIG. 16 shows that it is possible to place a hook or loop
element 9 on the bottom of the housing for receiving an applicator,
which element serves to catch onto the applicator; the applicator
may be provided with an applicator element having loops or hooks
that are themselves capable of catching onto the element 90. In a
variant, an element of complementary kind to the element 90 may be
disposed on the applicator, e.g. on its handle.
[0069] The box may also be made using a different clasp, for
example comprising a tab 80 arranged to snap into a corresponding
housing 81, as shown in FIG. 17.
[0070] The hinge connecting the lid 3 to the base portion 2 may be
made differently from that which is shown in FIGS. 1 to 6.
[0071] The first and second elements 4 and 5 may extend, for
example, over substantially the entire width of the rear sides of
the lid 3 and the base portion 2, as shown in FIG. 18.
[0072] The first and second elements may each comprise two
portions.
[0073] By way of illustration, FIG. 7 shows the rear face 6 of the
base portion 2, and in this figure it can be seen that the first
element may comprise two portions 4' and 4" situated, for example,
close to the side faces of the base portion.
[0074] In the example described, the portions 4' and 4" are
received in respective setbacks 12' and 12" of the base portion 2,
which setbacks may be of a depth corresponding substantially to the
thickness of the backing to which the loops or the hooks of the
element are connected, specifically loops in FIG. 7.
[0075] The rear face 6 of the base portion 2 may also be made with
a shape that is outwardly convex, and in particular it may carry a
rib 70 defining a bulging surface 71, e.g. in the form of half a
circular cylinder, having the first element 4 fixed thereon.
[0076] At least one of the first and second hinge elements may be
of varying width. By way of example, FIG. 9 shows the base portion
2 with a first element 4 that presents width which increases on
coming closer to the rear face 6, for example in order to make it
easier to open the box. The fraction 4a of the element 4 may be
received in a housing 12 of corresponding shape, e.g. having an
outline that is substantially trapezoidal in shape.
[0077] When the first element is made as two portions 4' and 4",
and when the second element also comprises two corresponding
portions 5' and 5", each of said portions may extend not only over
the rear faces of the base portion 2 and the lid 3, and over the
top face of the base portion 2 and the bottom face of the lid 3,
but also over the side faces of the base portion 2 and of the lid
3, as shown in FIG. 10, thus making it possible, for example, to
assemble the base 2 and the lid 3 side by side after the box has
been opened.
[0078] The loop and hook elements used for assembling a base
portion with another base portion or with a lid in at least two
directions can also be distinct, as shown in FIG. 11.
[0079] The base portion and the lid need not be generally in the
form of a rectangular parallelepiped, and for example they may be
of a shape having an outline when the box is viewed from above that
is curvilinear, and in particular oval or circular as shown in FIG.
12.
[0080] In this figure, it can be seen that the first element 4 can
extend over half of the circumference of the base portion 2 and the
second element 5 over half of the circumference of the lid 3, for
example.
[0081] The disposition of the first and second elements enables
them to catch together tangentially.
[0082] In the example of FIG. 10, both of the portions 4' and 4"
are loop portions while the portions 5' and 51" are hook portions.
In a variant, both of the portions 4' and 41" could be hook
portions with the portions 5' and 51" both being loop portions.
Furthermore, one of the portions 4' could be a loop portion and the
other portion 4" could be a hook portion so as to enable a
plurality of base portions to be assembled together side by side as
shown in FIG. 13, or indeed so as to enable two base portions 2 and
2' to be placed one in line with the other, as shown in FIG.
14.
[0083] FIG. 19 shows how it is possible to position the lid 3 on
the base portion 2 during initial assembly thereof. The front edges
can be brought into contact with each other, the rib 26 of the lid
bearing against the step 24, and then the lid can be pivoted in the
direction of the arrow.
[0084] At least one of the first and second elements may be movable
relative to the corresponding portion of the box.
[0085] Thus, for example, the first element may be movable relative
to the base portion 2, as shown in FIG. 20.
[0086] In FIG. 20, there can be seen the first element 4 fixed on a
roller 95 hinged to the base portion by means of a pin (not shown)
extending between two lugs 96 extending the base portion
rearwards.
[0087] Naturally, the invention is not limited to the embodiments
described above and in particular it is possible to combine the
characteristics of the various embodiments described with one
another.
[0088] Throughout the description, including in the claims, the
term "comprising a" should be understood as being synonymous with
"comprising at least one", unless specified to the contrary.
* * * * *