U.S. patent application number 10/780307 was filed with the patent office on 2005-08-18 for air tight toggle cosmetic compact.
Invention is credited to Mecca, Anna, Slenk, John J..
Application Number | 20050178694 10/780307 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 34838565 |
Filed Date | 2005-08-18 |
United States Patent
Application |
20050178694 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Mecca, Anna ; et
al. |
August 18, 2005 |
Air tight toggle cosmetic compact
Abstract
A compact with a cover and a mating base, the base and cover
being hinged together. A toggle lever is connected to the base or
cover. The lever is pivotally movable into and out of engagement
with the cover or base. The lever when the cover and base are so
engaged clamping these parts together with an air tight seal at
constant pressure and when the cover and base are not so engaged,
pivotally separating them and destroying the seal.
Inventors: |
Mecca, Anna; (Upper Saddle
River, NJ) ; Slenk, John J.; (Brookfield,
CT) |
Correspondence
Address: |
THEODORE JAY
SUITE 600
16 N CHATSWORTH AVE.
LARCHMONT
NY
10538
US
|
Family ID: |
34838565 |
Appl. No.: |
10/780307 |
Filed: |
February 17, 2004 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
206/581 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A45D 33/006 20130101;
A45D 40/222 20130101; A45D 2200/051 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
206/581 |
International
Class: |
A45D 040/24 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. An air tight cosmetic compact comprising: a cover element that
is the external upper part of the compact; a mating base element
that is the external lower part of the compact; means pivotally
hinging one end of the base element to a mating end of the cover
element, whereby when the compact is closed the base and cover
elements are closed in mating engagement and when the compact is
opened the cover element is pivotally separated from the base while
remaining secured thereto; a toggle lever disposed at ends of the
elements oppositely the mating ends thereof and connected a
selected one of the elements, the lever being pivotally movable by
manual action into and out of engagement with the other one of the
elements, the lever when the elements are so engaged clamping the
elements together with an air tight seal at constant pressure and
when the elements are not so engaged, pivotally separating the
elements and destroying the seal, the seal being created at
constant pressure every time the lever clamps the two elements
together.
2. The compact of claim 1 wherein one of the elements at its end
opposite said mating ends has a top surface with a first recess,
the lever being connected to the other element and is manually
snapped into clamping position to engage the recess.
3. The compact of claim 2 wherein the other one of the elements at
its end opposite the mating ends has a side surface with a second
recess, the lever being connected to the other element in the
second recess and being moved into and out of engagement with the
first recess.
4. The compact of claim 3 wherein the lever has the shape of an L
having first and second legs disposed at right angles to each
other, one leg being connected to the other element and disposed in
the second recess, the other leg engaging the first recess when the
lever is in clamping position and the two elements are positively
clamped together and being spaced from the first recess to cause
the elements to pivot apart.
5. The compact of claim 4 wherein the first element is provided
with a first seal and the second element is provided with a second
seal, these seals being in mating engagement when the elements are
clamped together.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] This invention pertains to cosmetic compacts containing
facial powders and the like
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] Known compacts are opened and closed manually and are not
air tight whereby the contents can be attacked by moisture, mold or
the like. The present invention employs a new and improved clasping
mechanism that allows the compact to be opened and closed in such
manner that whenever the compact is closed, an air tight seal is
established. The seal is broken whenever the compact is opened and
is recreated each time the compact is closed.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0003] It is well known that certain cosmetic compacts contain
makeup products which dry up or evaporate over time when housed in
a container that allows air to be exchanged between the inside and
outside of the compact even though the compacts are closed.
[0004] It is a primary object of this invention to provide cosmetic
compacts that maintain constant pressure when closed and restore
the constant pressure when closed after opening whereby air cannot
be exchanged between inside and outside when the compacts are
closed.
[0005] In accordance with the present invention, an air tight
cosmetic compact employs a cover element that is the external upper
part of the compact and a mating base element that is the external
lower part of the compact. Means pivotally hinge one end of the
base element to a mating end of the cover element, whereby when the
compact is closed the base and cover elements are closed in mating
engagement and when the compact is opened the cover element is
pivotally separated from the base while remaining secured
thereto;
[0006] A toggle lever is disposed at ends of the elements
oppositely the mating ends thereof. The toggle lever is connected a
selected one of the elements and is pivotally movable by manual
action into and out of engagement with the other one of the
elements. The lever, when the elements are so engaged, clamping the
elements together at constant pressure with an air tight seal. When
the elements are not so engaged, the lever pivotally separates the
elements and destroys the seal, the seal being created at constant
pressure every time the lever clamps the two elements together.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0007] In the drawings:
[0008] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of
the invention.
[0009] FIG. 2 is a plan view of this embodiment.
[0010] FIG. 3 is an exploded view of this embodiment.
[0011] FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along line A-A in FIG.
2.
[0012] FIG. 5 is a sectional view along line B-B in FIG. 2.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0013] Referring now to FIGS. 1-5, cover element 1 and base element
2, both of mating rectangular shape, are pinned together at one set
of mating ends by hinge pins 7. Element 1 also houses bezel 3 which
can be glued, snapped or welded into the cover for assembly. The
bezel contains one of the two seal surfaces required to make the
compact air tight and may also house a mirror if required.
[0014] Platform 4 is assembled into element 2 and houses the
product pan 6. The pan can be snapped into glued or float freely in
the platform 4. Platform 4 is used to provide mechanical means to
snap the pan 6 in and allow it to float freely and not fall out of
the compact if it is turned on end or upside down. The pan is the
vessel that houses the product content of the compact and provides
the second one of the two seal surfaces.
[0015] Toggle lever 5 has the shape of an L with first and second
legs 10 and 12 disposed at right angles to each other. The lever is
employed at the sides of the elements 1 and 2 opposite the pinned
positions of elements 1 and 2. Element 1 has a recess 14 in its top
surface. Element 2 has a recess 16 in its side surface. Leg 10 is
pinned by pins 7 to element 2. Leg 12 engages the recess 14 when
the lever is moved manually in clamping position and forces
elements 1 and 2 together at constant pressure. Leg 10 is pivoted
outward by manual action and leg 12 is spaced from the recess to
open the compact.
[0016] Pins 7 are used not only to assemble the elements and the
toggle lever but also provide the rotation points to allow the
opening and closing of the compact.
[0017] The bezel can be removed and the required seal formed as
part of the cover element 1. The bezel can be molded in a clear
material that protrudes through the element 1 so that it becomes a
lens that forms the required seal. The platform can be incorporated
into element 2 and produced as a single part. The positions of the
recesses and toggle lever can be reversed so that the positions of
elements 1 and 2 can be reversed.
[0018] While the invention has been described with particular
reference to preferred embodiments and the drawings, the protection
is to be limited only by the terms of the claims that follow.
* * * * *