U.S. patent application number 11/713999 was filed with the patent office on 2008-01-31 for cosmetic compact.
Invention is credited to Gail Boye, Joseph R. Tuschong.
Application Number | 20080023023 11/713999 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 38981932 |
Filed Date | 2008-01-31 |
United States Patent
Application |
20080023023 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Boye; Gail ; et al. |
January 31, 2008 |
Cosmetic compact
Abstract
The compact comprises a base, a cover, a frame in the base and a
tray that has a first tray section and an opposed second tray
section. The cover and frame are pivotably mounted on the base. The
tray is rotatably mounted in the frame and is rotatable relative to
the base so that either the first tray section of the tray or the
second tray section of the tray faces away from or towards the
base. Each tray section has at least one compartment retain one or
more cosmetic compositions typically contained in a thin-walled
metal pan (godet).
Inventors: |
Boye; Gail; (New Hope,
PA) ; Tuschong; Joseph R.; (Bethpage, NY) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Charles J. Zeller, Esq.;Avon Products Inc.
Avon Place
Suffern
NY
10901
US
|
Family ID: |
38981932 |
Appl. No.: |
11/713999 |
Filed: |
March 5, 2007 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
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60820276 |
Jul 25, 2006 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
132/294 ;
132/301 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A45D 42/02 20130101;
A45D 33/008 20130101; A45D 40/24 20130101; A45C 11/008
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
132/294 ;
132/301 |
International
Class: |
A45D 33/26 20060101
A45D033/26; A45D 42/02 20060101 A45D042/02 |
Claims
1. A cosmetic compact comprising a base and a cover, the cover
overlying the base to define a compact casing, the cover being
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; 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 first
and second tray sections of the two-sided tray having at least one
compartment adapted to receive a cosmetic composition, the tray
being nested in the through space of the frame and rotatable within
the frame when the cover is in the open position, whereby 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 and the second tray section is rotated simultaneously from
a position facing towards the base to a position in which the
second tray section faces away from the base.
2. The compact of claim 1 further comprising one or more pressed
powder cosmetic compositions, the cosmetic composition(s) being
pre-formed within a metal pan that is retained within the at least
one compartment.
3. The compact of claim 1 further comprising a tray insert provided
in at least one compartment of the at least one tray section, the
tray insert having at least one well.
4. The compact of claim 2 wherein the tray section has one
compartment and the tray insert has a plurality of wells.
5. The compact of claim 1 further comprising one or more pressed
powder cosmetic compositions, the cosmetic composition(s) being
pre-formed within a metal pan that is fixed within the plurality of
wells.
6. The compact of claim 1 further comprising one or more pressed
powder cosmetic composition(s), and wherein the at least one
compartment of one or both of tray sections is provided with at
least one interior wall to define two or more compartments that
receive the pressed powder cosmetic composition(s).
7. The compact of claim 6 wherein the pressed powder cosmetic
composition is pre-formed within a metal pan that is retained
within the compartment.
8. The compact of claim 7 wherein the metal pan is removable from
the compartment.
9. The compact of claim 1 further including a mirror mounted on the
cover.
10. A cosmetic compact comprising a base; a cover overlying the
base to define a compact casing; a frame nested within the base; a
tray rotatably mounted within the frame, the tray having a first
tray section and an opposed second tray section; and at least one
pressed powder cosmetic composition contained in each tray section,
the cover and base being pivotably mounted with respect to one
another on a common axle, whereby when the cover is pivoted upwards
from the base, the tray can be rotated within the frame so that in
one position the first tray section is upward facing and in the
opposed position the second tray section is upward facing.
11. The compact of claim 10 wherein each tray section has a
plurality of compartments, at least one compartment in each tray
section containing a pressed powder cosmetic composition.
12. The compact of claim 10 wherein the frame is pivotable on said
common axle.
13. The compact of claim 12 wherein each tray section has a
plurality of compartments, at least one compartment in each tray
section containing a pressed powder cosmetic composition.
14. The compact of claim 13 wherein the pressed powder cosmetic
composition is pre-formed within a metal pan fixed within the
compartments.
15. The compact of claim 12 wherein each tray section has one
compartment, the compact further comprising a tray insert retained
in each tray section compartment, each tray insert having a
plurality of wells, at least one well in each tray insert
containing a pressed powder cosmetic composition.
16. The compact of claim 14 wherein the pressed powder cosmetic
composition is pre-formed within a metal pan that is retained
within the compartments.
17. The compact of claim 16 wherein the tray has a unitary
construction.
18. The compact of claim 17 wherein the metal pan is removable from
the compartment.
19. The compact of claim 11 wherein a plurality of compartments in
each tray section contain a pressed powder cosmetic
composition.
20. A cosmetic compact comprising a base; a cover overlying the
base to define a compact casing; a frame in the base having a
through space; a tray rotatably mounted within the through space of
the frame, the tray having a first tray section and an opposed
second tray section, each tray section having at least one
compartment, and at least one pressed powder cosmetic composition
pre-formed within a metal pan that is retained within the contained
in the at least one compartment of each tray section, the cover,
frame and base being pivotably mounted with respect to one another
on a common axle, whereby when the cover is pivoted upwards from
the base, the tray can be rotated within the frame so that in one
position the first tray section is upward facing and in the opposed
position the second tray section is upward facing.
21. The compact of claim 20 wherein the tray has a unitary
construction, and wherein the pan is removable from the
compartment.
22. The compact of claim 20 further comprising a cosmetic implement
contained in a compartment.
23. A cosmetic compact comprising (a) a base; (b) a cover
positioned above the base to define a cosmetic casing having an
interior compartment, the cover being pivotally attached to the
base; (c) a frame having a front wall, a rear wall and opposing
side walls defining a through space, the frame being nested within
the base, the frame being pivotally engaged between the cover and
the base; (d) a tray having a first tray section and an opposed
second tray section, the first and second tray sections having a
plurality of compartments, the tray being rotatable within the
frame from a first position at which the first tray section faces
away from the base to a second position at which the first tray
section faces the base; and (e) a pan residing in one or more
compartments, the pans containing a cosmetic composition.
24. The compact of claim 23 wherein the base has a front wall and
opposed first side walls, the opposed first side walls defining an
aperture at the rear of the base and wherein the cover has a front
wall, a rear wall opposed to the front wall, and opposed side
walls, at least a portion of the rear wall extending into the
aperture at the rear of the base, the cover, the base and the frame
being pivotable along a common axle defined by the rear walls of
the frame, the rear wall extension of the cover and the aperture at
the rear of the base.
25. The compact of claim 23 wherein the frame includes flanges
extending from its rear wall and the base includes flanges
extending inwardly from its opposed side walls, the common axle
including said frame flanges and said base flanges.
26. A cosmetic compact comprising: (a) a base having a front wall
and opposed side walls, the side walls defining an aperture at the
rear of the base; (b) a cover having a front wall, opposed side
walls, and a rear wall having an extension that fits within the
aperture at the rear of the base; (c) a frame having opposed side
walls, a front wall, and a rear wall defining a through space, at
least one flange extending from the rear wall of the frame and into
the aperture at the rear of the base; (d) the base side walls, the
cover, the rear wall extension, and the frame flanges being
pivotably affixed one to the other; and (e) a tray rotatably
positioned within the frame having a first tray section and an
opposed second tray section, each tray section having at least one
compartment, said tray containing a cosmetic composition.
27. The compact of claim 26 wherein the cosmetic composition is a
pressed powder pre-formed within a metal pan that resides within
the compartment.
28. The compact of claim 27 wherein the cosmetic composition is a
pressed powder cosmetic composition and wherein a plurality of
compartments in each tray section contain a pressed powder cosmetic
composition.
29. The compact of claim 26 wherein the base includes flanges
extending inwardly from its opposed side walls through which the
base is pivotably attached to the frame and over.
30. The compact of claim 29 in which pins pivotably attach the
base, cover and frame.
31. The compact of claim 26 wherein the tray is removably
positioned within the frame.
32. The compact of claim 31 wherein the tray is removably rotatably
retained in the frame using a ball and socket.
33. The compact of claim 32 wherein the tray is maintained in the
frame using a friction fit.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO PRIOR APPLICATION
[0001] This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional
Application Ser. No. 60/820,276 filed Jul. 25, 2006, the disclosure
of which is incorporated by reference.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] 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.
[0003] U.S. Pat. No. 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.
[0004] U.S. Pat. No. 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, 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 powderpuff.
[0005] U.S. Pat. No. 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 rotatable, relative to the frame,
through at least 180.degree. 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.
[0006] Women of the 21.sup.st 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.
[0007] The present invention provides a cosmetic compact that
consolidates in one compact a plurality of cosmetic compositions.
In a preferred embodiment, the 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
[0008] 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 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.
[0009] 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.
[0010] 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) s a central frame having a through space, the frame being
nested within 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 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
[0011] The present invention will now be described with reference
to the drawings in which:
[0012] FIG. 1 is a perspective view, from above, of a cosmetic
compact in accordance with the present invention, the compact being
closed;
[0013] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the compact of FIG. 1 with
the cover pivoted to the open position and showing the mirror and
tray;
[0014] 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;
[0015] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the compact of FIG. 3 with
the tray rotated in the frame;
[0016] FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view illustrating the
assembly of the cover, frame and base;
[0017] FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing the frame, tray and
tray insert;
[0018] FIG. 7 is a side view of the compact shown in of FIG. 1;
[0019] FIG. 8 is a side view of the compact shown in FIG. 3;
[0020] FIG. 9 is a side view of the compact shown in FIG. 4;
and
[0021] FIG. 10 is a cutaway partial view of the tray-frame assembly
to illustrate an alternate method of rotatably attaching the tray
to the frame.
[0022] FIG. 11 is an alternate embodiment of the tray.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0023] 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 21a, 21b.
[0024] 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.
[0025] Recess 11a and tab 11b 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.
[0026] Referring to FIGS. 4 and 5, frame 13 is pivotally mounted on
base flanges 21a, 21b on opposed side walls 4a, 4b of base 2 and is
comprised of opposed side walls 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.
[0027] As shown in FIG. 5, frame 13 is provided with frame flanges
18a, 18b that are positioned adjacent base flanges 21a, 21b. Each
of flanges 18a, 18b has a pin hole therethrough (19a, 19b) that
align with corresponding pin holes 20a and 20b in base flanges 21a,
21b.
[0028] 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 31a and 31b, 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 21a, 21b. 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 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.
[0029] 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.
[0030] 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 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.
[0031] 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. Alternatively, different shades of the 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.
[0032] 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.
[0033] 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.
[0034] 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 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.
[0035] 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 example, a brush, a to
foam-tipped eye shadow 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.
[0036] One compact can be utilized for: [0037] (i) facial products
such as face powder, shimmer powder, foundation (e.g. powder, hot
pour), and all over glow shimmer hot pour; [0038] (ii) blush
products such as shimmer blush, concealer, and camouflage; [0039]
(iii) eye products such as, eye shadow (shimmer and cream), eye
shadow liner (wet/dry), eyeliner, eyelid primer, and cake mascara;
[0040] (iv) lip products such as, lipstick, lip gloss, lip primer,
lip exfoliator, and matte lip stain; and or (v) any combination
thereof.
[0041] 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 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.
[0042] 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 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.
[0043] 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.
[0044] 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.
[0045] It should be understood that the foregoing description is
only illustrative of the present invention. Various alternatives
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 alternatives,
modifications and variations that fall within the scope of the
appended claims.
* * * * *