U.S. patent application number 11/553945 was filed with the patent office on 2008-05-01 for compact case with detachable leaves.
Invention is credited to Jill Washington.
Application Number | 20080099038 11/553945 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 39328668 |
Filed Date | 2008-05-01 |
United States Patent
Application |
20080099038 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Washington; Jill |
May 1, 2008 |
Compact Case With Detachable Leaves
Abstract
The present invention relates to a makeup compact with one or
more detachable leaves for holding cosmetic products that may be
detached and replaced when the cosmetic product is depleted or as
otherwise desired by the user. The leaves may also be detached from
the compact and interchanged with different detachable leaves
holding different cosmetic products.
Inventors: |
Washington; Jill;
(Weehawken, NJ) |
Correspondence
Address: |
FISH & RICHARDSON P.C.
P.O. BOX 1022
MINNEAPOLIS
MN
55440-1022
US
|
Family ID: |
39328668 |
Appl. No.: |
11/553945 |
Filed: |
October 27, 2006 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
132/300 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A45D 33/24 20130101;
A45D 33/008 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
132/300 |
International
Class: |
A45D 33/24 20060101
A45D033/24 |
Claims
1. An apparatus comprising: a bottom member; a base member; and one
or more leaves that are detachably connected to the base
member.
2. An apparatus comprising: a top member; a bottom member; a base
member, and one or more leaves that are detachably connected to the
base member.
3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein a hinge assembly fixedly
connects the top member to the bottom member.
4. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein the hinge assembly further
comprises: a housing member, the housing member comprising one or
more grooves; a shaft mounted inside the housing member; and one or
more arms molded to the top member, the arms being connectable to
the shaft such that the arms are pivotable about the shaft through
the grooves of the housing member.
5. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein a clasp assembly secures the
top and bottom members in a closed position.
6. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein the top member comprises a
clasp member, the clasp member further comprising an indentation,
and the bottom member comprises a tooth, the clasp member being
engageable to the tooth.
7. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the leaf comprises: a main
member, a hinge pin for detachably connecting the leaf to the base
member.
8. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the base member comprises a
first pair of snap fingers; a second pair of snap fingers; and a
mechanical stop, the first pair of snap fingers, the second pair of
snap fingers, and the mechanical stop forming an area to receive
the hinge pin.
9. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein the leaf is detachably
connected to the compact by inserting the hinge pin in the area
formed by the first pair of snap fingers, the second pair of snap
fingers, and the mechanical stop.
10. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein the leaf is pivotable about
the axis of the hinge pin.
11. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the base member is fixedly
attached to either the top or bottom member.
12. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the main member comprises one
or more recessed areas for housing cosmetic product.
13. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the leaf comprises a tab.
Description
TECHNICAL HELD
[0001] The present invention generally relates to the field of
cosmetics cases that house, protect and store facial cosmetic
products, such as, for example, foundations, concealers, eye
shadows, lipsticks, lip glosses, mascara, and makeup application
tools such as, for example, brushes, mirrors, and tweezers. More
particularly, the present invention relates to a novel makeup
compact with detachable leaves for housing makeup and facial
application tools.
BACKGROUND
[0002] Makeup compacts are known in the art. Conventional makeup
compacts typically comprise a top housing, a bottom housing, and
one or more receptacles filled with one or more cosmetic products.
Typically, each receptacle is fixedly attached to the interior of
the compact. As such, once one of the receptacles is empty, the
entire compact is no longer of use to the user, and is typically
discarded. Alternatively, the receptacles may be cleansed and
refilled with the depleted cosmetic product. But this process is
difficult and is highly inefficient for the user.
[0003] In addition, traditional compacts typically house only one
or two types of cosmetic products. Thus, if a user wants to carry
and apply more than one cosmetic product, the user has to carry
more than one makeup compact. This is also inefficient, cumbersome,
and inconvenient.
[0004] Compacts with removable receptacles are also known in the
art. In these compacts, the receptacles themselves are removable
from the inside of a compact lid. This allows the user to refill
and customize the receptacles with desired products. These prior
art receptacles may be removable in a variety of different ways,
such as, for example through the use of magnets. However, these
solutions are complicated and unsatisfactory for efficient and easy
use.
[0005] One reason compacts with removable receptacles are
inefficient is their large size. The size of the receptacles in a
compact (and by extension, the amount of cosmetic product the
receptacles are capable of housing) is directly related to the size
of the compact case itself. For example, a wider or larger compact
has more interior surface area for receptacles, and therefore may
hold more cosmetic product. Ideally, a user would have as much
surface area as possible in which to house and arrange a customized
selection of cosmetics products. To enable this degree of
flexibility, a compact with removable receptacles would have to be
quite large. However, users typically desire cosmetic compacts to
be small and conveniently carried. Compacts are typically placed
and transported in purses, handbags, pockets, or other places where
space is limited. They also may be used to apply makeup in places
where there is little room to maneuver. Thus, large compacts may be
difficult to manipulate. Therefore, despite the refillable nature
of the receptacles, the usefulness of a compact with removable
receptacles is severely limited by its large size.
[0006] Compacts with multiple fixed leaves are also known in the
art. Typically, a portion of the faces of these leaves are recessed
to form receptacles that may hold cosmetic product. Having multiple
leaves provides additional surface area to hold cosmetic product.
However, compacts with fixed leaves are still inconvenient due to
the lack of flexibility of removing, customizing, or refilling the
compact with cosmetic products that the user desires. For example,
if there is more than one type of product in the compact and the
user finishes one of them before the other, the user may cleanse
and refill the empty receptacle, discard the compact, or carry an
additional compact to replace the depleted one, all of which, as
noted above, are undesirable options.
[0007] As such, there is a need for a compact case with detachable
leaves that is small, convenient to carry, customizable, and
refillable when product replacement is desired.
SUMMARY
[0008] The present invention relates to a makeup compact with one
or more detachable leaves for holding cosmetic products that may be
detached and replaced when the cosmetic product is depleted or as
otherwise desired by the user. The leaves may also be detached from
the compact and interchanged with different detachable leaves
holding different cosmetic products.
[0009] In a preferred embodiment, the compact according to the
present invention comprises a top member, a bottom member, a base
member, and one or more detachable leaves that may be removably
connected to the base member.
[0010] The compact according to the present invention is
advantageous because it allows the user to easily remove,replace,
and interchange leaves when the cosmetic product housed by the leaf
is depleted.
[0011] The compact according to the present invention is also
advantageous because it allows the user to customize a compact with
leaves containing the cosmetic product of its choice.
[0012] The compact according to the present invention is further
advantageous because it allows for multiple cosmetic products to be
housed in a single conveniently sized compact.
[0013] The details of one or more embodiments of the invention are
set forth in the accompanying drawings and the description below.
Other features, objects, and advantages of the invention will be
apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art in view of the
following detailed description and drawings, and from the
claims.
DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
[0014] FIG. 1A depicts a top view of an open compact with a single
detachable leaf;
[0015] FIG. 1B depicts a top view of a single detachable leaf;
[0016] FIG. 2A depicts an illustrative view of a first preferred
leaf embodiment;
[0017] FIG. 2B depicts an illustrative view of a second preferred
leaf embodiment;
[0018] FIG. 2C depicts an illustrative view of a third preferred
leaf embodiment;
[0019] FIG. 3A depicts a perspective view of a first preferred
compact embodiment;
[0020] FIG. 3B depicts a closed cross-section view of a first
preferred compact embodiment;
[0021] FIG. 4 depicts a perspective view of a second preferred
compact embodiment;
[0022] FIG. 5 depicts a perspective view of a third preferred
compact embodiment; and
[0023] FIG. 6A-B depict the lines along which an injection molded
plastic structure may be cut in order to form the top and bottom
housing of a compact.
[0024] Like reference symbols in the various drawings indicate like
elements.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0025] As discussed above, the present invention relates to a
makeup compact comprising detachable leaves having recessed areas,
or receptacles, that hold cosmetic products. The leaves may be
detached, removed, interchanged, and refilled as desired.
[0026] FIG. 1A shows one preferred embodiment of the present
invention. Depicted is an open makeup compact 100 comprising a top
housing 110, a bottom housing 112, a base member 114, and a leaf
116. The leaf 116 comprises a main member 118, a connecting member
119, and a cylindrical hinge pin 120. The cylindrical hinge pin 120
may be detachably connected to the base member 114, which is molded
to the bottom housing 112. As discussed further below, the base
member 114 and the cylindrical hinge pin 120 allow the leaf to be
detachably connected to the compact.
[0027] In a preferred embodiment, the compact opens and closes in a
clam shell-like manner. The top housing 110 may comprise a convex
elliptical shape. The bottom housing 112 may also comprise a convex
elliptical shape. When the compact 100 is closed, the top housing
110 and the bottom housing 112 meet and align along their perimeter
edges.
[0028] In a preferred embodiment, the top and bottom housings 110,
112 are fixedly connected to one another by a hinge assembly 126.
As shown in FIG. 1A, the top housing 110 has two arms 117, 121
molded to its base end. The arms 117, 121 of the top housing 110
extend in the horizontal direction away from the base end of the
top housing 110. The ends of the arms 117, 121 distal to the top
housing 110 are preferably rounded so that the arms do not come
into contact with the bottom housing 112 when the top housing is
pivoted about a shaft 328 as discussed below. Near the center of
each of the ends of the arms 117, 121, there is a hole (not shown).
The hole is used to mount the arms 117, 121 to a shaft 328 that is
mounted inside a hinge cover 127 at the base end of the bottom
housing 112. The hinge cover 127 is preferably created when the top
housing 110 is cut away from the bottom housing 112 after an
injection molding process as discussed below. The hinge cover 127
has two grooves 129, 131, one at each end of the housing. In order
to connect the top housing 110 to the bottom housing 112, the arms
117, 121 mount to the shaft 328 through their respective holes and
extend through the grooves 129, 131. The arms 117, 121 may pivot
about the shaft 328 so that the compact 100 may be opened and
closed without the arms 117 and 121 coming into contact with the
bottom housing 112. One of ordinary skill in the art will recognize
that other structures may be used to fixedly connect the top and
bottom housings 110, 112 without deviating from the scope of the
present invention. Similarly, structures that allow the top and
bottom housings 110, 112 to be removably connected to one another
are considered to be within the scope of the present invention.
[0029] Once closed, the top and bottom housings 110, 112 are
preferably secured in the closed position by a clasp assembly 350.
The clasp assembly comprises a clasp member 351 at the top end of
the top housing 110. As shown in FIG. 3B, when the compact is
closed, the clasp member 351 engages the top end of the bottom side
of the bottom housing 112 such that the compact is secured in the
closed position. The clasp member 351 has an indentation 352 that
securely engages with a tooth 353 on the top end of the bottom
housing 112 when the clasp member 351 is pressed against the tooth
353. The clasp member 351 is preferably flexible to allow it to be
detachably connected to the tooth 353. As is apparent to those of
ordinary skill in the art, the top and bottom housings 110, 112 may
be secured in the closed position by other well known means.
Alternatively, the top and bottom housings 110, 112 may be secured
in the closed position by other means not including a clasp
assembly. For example, the hinge assembly may be designed with
sufficient resistance such that without a certain degree of force,
the top and bottom housings may be held in the closed position
without a clasp assembly. As is apparent to those of ordinary skill
in the art, other such closures may be used and are considered to
be within the scope of the invention.
[0030] In a preferred embodiment, the leaf 116 may be oblong in
shape. The main member 118 of the leaf 116 may comprise one or more
recessed areas, or receptacles, on its face. The leaf 116 depicted
in FIG. 1A comprises one such receptacle 130. In another preferred
embodiment, there may be one or more recessed areas on the face of
leaf 116. For example, the leaf depicted in FIG. 1B houses two such
receptacles 132, 133. In a further preferred embodiment, the
compact may house one or more leaves 116 as discussed below.
[0031] A preferred embodiment of a makeup compact capable of
housing two detachable leaves is shown in FIG. 3A. As depicted in
FIG. 1A, the base member 114 comprises a first set of snap fingers
A1/A2 that are molded to the bottom housing 112. The snap fingers
A1/A2 are spaced apart at a distance such that the connecting
member 119 fits in between the two snap fingers. Each of the ends
of the snap fingers A1/A2 are angled such that the snap fingers
resemble an inverted "L" and so that they may grasp opposite ends
of the hinge pin 120 once the leaf 116 is snapped into position as
discussed below.
[0032] In a preferred embodiment, the base member 114 also
comprises a mechanical stop 323. As is depicted in FIG. 3B, the
mechanical stop 323 comprises a first and second plane 324, 325. A
second set of L-shaped snap fingers B1/B2 are molded to the first
plane 324. A third set of snap fingers C1/C2 are molded to the
second plane 325. Snap fingers C1/C2 preferably have flat ends.
[0033] In a preferred embodiment, the leaf 340 may be detachably
connected to the base member 114 by inserting the connecting member
119 between the snap fingers A1/A2 such that the ends of hinge pin
120 engage between the area formed by the interior of snap fingers
A1/A2 and the exterior of snap fingers B1/B2 and the first plane
324. Preferably, the hinge pin 120 is able to pivot about its axis.
The leaf 340 may be detached from the base member by slightly
flexing snap fingers A1/A2 away from the cylindrical member in
order to disengage the hinge pin 120. The leaf 338 may be
detachably connected to the base member 114 between snap fingers
B1/B2 such that the ends of hinge pin 120 engage between the area
formed by the interior of snap fingers B1/B2 and the exterior of
snap fingers C1/C2 and the second plane 325 As is apparent to those
of ordinary skill in the art, other types mechanisms that allow for
detachability of a leaf 340 and pivotability about the axis of the
hinge pin 120 may be used and are considered to be within the scope
of the invention.
[0034] In addition to one or more leaves being detachably connected
to the compact, leaves may be interchanged as well. Any number of
leaves with the same mechanical ability to detachably connect to
the base member of a compact may be attached, removed, and
interchanged with other leaves that may then be connected in their
place. In this manner, the user may customize which leaves are
placed into the compact at any point in time. For example, on a
daily basis, a user may select her leaves based on her choice of
clothing color, accessories, and planned schedule for the day. A
user may have her preferred selection for workday, weekend, evening
out, and other such day-to-day activities.
[0035] In a preferred embodiment, the leaf 116 may also comprise a
tab 122 extending from the main member. The tab 122 may preferably
be used to label the leaf 116. FIG. 2 shows an illustrative view of
three preferred embodiments of the leaf 216.
[0036] FIG. 2A shows a preferred embodiment of the leaf 216 that
comprises a single receptacle 230 covering virtually the entire
face of the main member 218. FIG. 2B shows a second preferred
embodiment of leaf 216 that comprises two receptacles 231, 232,
side by side on the leaf 216, together covering virtually the
entire face of the main member 218. FIG. 2C shows a third preferred
embodiment of leaf 216 that comprises three receptacles
234-236.
[0037] In a preferred embodiment, the compact and leaves are made
of injection-molded plastic. This compact is created starting with
a solid mold of plastic. In order to create the pieces that form
the top and bottom housing of the compact, a first cut is made
along the line A-A, to a halfway depth in the mold, as shown in
FIG. 6A, at a point that is sufficient distance from the right end
of the mold to leave sufficient material to form hinge cover 127. A
second cut is made along the line B-B, to a halfway depth in the
compact at a point near that is sufficient distance from the left
end of the mold to leave sufficient material to form clasp assembly
350. A third cut is made along the line C-C, along the perimeter of
the compact 100, as shown in FIG. 6B in order to split the mold
into the top housing and the bottom housing. One of ordinary skill
in the art will recognize that other materials and methods may be
used as well.
[0038] With the preferred structure of the present invention having
been described above, the preferred function is now described. The
function of the present invention is to house and protect cosmetic
products and application tools for a user inside an efficiently
packaged and easily organized, refillable, and customizable
compact.
[0039] In a preferred embodiment, the compact as described above is
designed to hold detachable leaves 216 that comprise receptacles
(as shown in FIG. 2) that house cosmetic products. Each receptacle
may house one or more cosmetic products for application by a user.
The cosmetic products may comprise any one or more of the
following: foundation, applicator brush, mirror, concealer, lip
gloss, lipstick, mascara, blusher,eye shadow, or a lipstick/liner
or a mascara/eyeliner duo, among other products. The term cosmetic
product, when used in this disclosure, is not limited to the
products listed above, rather, is intended to include any and all
products that are in any way applied to the skin to enhance or
change the skin's appearance. The tab on the leaf may be used to
identify the product housed by the leaf, the shade of the product
housed, or directions for applying the product, among other
attributes.
[0040] The hinge assembly 126 connecting the top and bottom
housings 110, 112 allows the user to open and close the compact,
and access the products inside the compact. The scope of the
invention is not meant to be limited to hinges only. Rather, any
assembly that fixedly connects two members about a point such that
the member can be opened and closed relative to each other is
considered to be within the scope of the invention.
[0041] The clasp assembly 350 is used to secure the top and bottom
housings 110, 112 in a closed position for a desired period of
time, thereby protecting the cosmetic products inside the compact
from contamination by external sources in the surrounding
environment (e.g., air or the inside of a purse). Similarly, the
surrounding environment is protected, be it the inside of a user's
jean pocket or the laptop beneath the compact in a user's bag, from
coming into contact with the cosmetic product in the compact. The
scope of the present invention is intended to encompass any closure
that secures two members in a closed position such that the
integrity of the members is not compromised by attaching and
detaching them.
[0042] FIG. 3 shows a preferred embodiment of the makeup compact of
the present invention. The compact comprises a top housing 310, a
bottom housing 312, and a base member 314. In this embodiment,
there are two detachable leaves 338, 340 connected to the base
member 314. Base member 314 comprises two set of snap fingers A1/A2
and B1/B2, and B1/B2 and C1/C2, respectively.
[0043] In this embodiment, the first leaf 338 comprises two
receptacles. The first receptacle may preferably house concealer
and the second receptacle may house eye shadow base. The second
leaf 340 comprises a single receptacle and may preferably house
foundation. A mirror 341 may be affixed to the inner face of the
top housing 110. The mirror 341 may be used to facilitate the
user's application of the cosmetics. The area between the bottom
housing and the leaf 340 forms a pocket 343 for housing an
applicator brush 344 that may be used to apply the products housed
in the compact's leaves. For example, in an embodiment where one of
the leaves houses concealer, an applicator brush properly angled to
apply concealer to a user's skin may be housed in the pocket 343.
The top housing and bottom housing 312, 314 are aligned along their
perimeter, and fixedly attached via the hinge assembly 326 at one
end, for opening and closing as described above. At the other end,
the top and bottom housings 312, 314 may secured in a closed
position by a clasp assembly 350 as described above. A user may
open the compact by pressing upward on the clasp member 351 in
order to disengage the top and bottom housings 312, 314.
[0044] FIG. 4 shows a second preferred embodiment of the makeup
compact of the present invention. The compact comprises a top
housing 410, a bottom housing 412, and a base member 414. In this
embodiment, two detachable leaves are removably connected to the
base member 414. The first leaf 446 comprises three receptacles.
The first receptacle may preferably house one matte lipstick. The
second receptacle may preferably house lip gloss, possibly in a
coordinating shade to the lipstick. The third receptacle may
preferably house an applicator brush in between the lipstick and
lip gloss.
[0045] The second leaf 448 comprises a single receptacle which
houses blusher. One of the top or bottom housings houses a lighted
mirror that may be permanently or removably affixed to the interior
of the top or bottom housings of the compact. The hinge assembly,
the clasp assembly, and the attachment of the leaf 446 to the base
member 414 preferably operate the same as described with respect to
FIG. 3.
[0046] FIG. 5 shows a third preferred embodiment of the makeup
compact of the present invention. The compact comprises a top
housing 510, a bottom housing 512, and a base member 514. In this
embodiment, there is one detachable leaf 550 removably connected to
the base member 514. The leaf 550 comprises three receptacles. The
first receptacle may preferably house a first shade of eye shadow.
The second receptacle preferably houses a second shade of eye
shadow. It is also possible that both receptacles house the same
shade of eye shadow. The third receptacle preferably houses an
applicator brush that may be positioned to reside between the two
receptacles housing eye shadow. Again, the top and bottom housings
are fixedly attached at their edges by a hinge assembly 526 which
allows the top and bottom housings 510, 512 to pivot with respect
to one another about the hinge. In addition, the top and bottom
housings 510, 512 may be removably connected to each other by a
clasp member 551 in the manner described in FIG. 3 above. Also, the
base member 514 holds the cylindrical bar of the leaf 550, as
described in FIG. 3.
[0047] A user may utilize the cosmetic compacts described above to
become more efficient in carrying, storing, and applying cosmetics.
The removable and interchangeable leaf arrangement allows a user to
customize what products are in a compact, to design the arrangement
and organization of the compact, and to conveniently package
together different products needed. The cosmetics are efficiently
grouped and arranged by a typical order of application by a user.
For example, regarding one preferred embodiment of the compact,
concealer and eye shadow base are packaged together, which is
logical as they are applied at the same or similar stage of makeup
application. Similarly, another leaf in the same compact may house
foundation, which users typically apply immediately before or after
the concealer, depending on preference. An arrangement with all of
these products in one compact facilitates maneuverability and
application for the user. This also saves the user time in
manipulating makeup cases, and causes makeup application to be a
faster process. Similar efficiencies exist in the embodiment
housing lipstick and lip gloss together as typically these are
applied one after the other. Whenever a receptacle becomes empty, a
user may preferably remove leaves with empty receptacles and
replace them with new leaves.
[0048] A number of embodiments of the invention have been
described. Nevertheless, it will be understood that various
modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and
scope of the invention. For example, the compact could be designed
with only a bottom housing, a base member, and a detachable leaf.
The base member would be connected to the bottom housing and the
leaves would still removably connected to the base member via their
hinge pins. Accordingly, other embodiments are within the scope of
the following claims.
* * * * *