U.S. patent application number 12/180044 was filed with the patent office on 2009-03-19 for compact comprising a cover and a base having interacting magnets.
This patent application is currently assigned to L'OREAL. Invention is credited to Lionel DRUGEON.
Application Number | 20090071502 12/180044 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 39249098 |
Filed Date | 2009-03-19 |
United States Patent
Application |
20090071502 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
DRUGEON; Lionel |
March 19, 2009 |
COMPACT COMPRISING A COVER AND A BASE HAVING INTERACTING
MAGNETS
Abstract
The present invention relates to a compact comprising a base and
a cover that slides relative to the base or that is hinged on the
base, between a closed position and an open position, the base
including at least a first permanent magnet that is stationary
relative to the base, and the cover including at least a second
permanent magnet that is stationary relative to the cover, the
first and second magnets being disposed so as to repel each other
while the cover is passing from the closed position to the open
position and vice versa.
Inventors: |
DRUGEON; Lionel; (LA
GARENNES-COLOMBES, FR) |
Correspondence
Address: |
OLIFF & BERRIDGE, PLC
P.O. BOX 320850
ALEXANDRIA
VA
22320-4850
US
|
Assignee: |
L'OREAL
Paris
FR
|
Family ID: |
39249098 |
Appl. No.: |
12/180044 |
Filed: |
July 25, 2008 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
60956148 |
Aug 16, 2007 |
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
132/293 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A45D 40/222 20130101;
A45D 33/008 20130101; E05B 15/0073 20130101; E05C 19/16 20130101;
A45C 13/1069 20130101; A45D 33/006 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
132/293 |
International
Class: |
A45D 33/00 20060101
A45D033/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Jul 30, 2007 |
FR |
07 56810 |
Claims
1. A compact comprising a base and a cover that slides relative to
the base or that is hinged on the base, between a closed position
and an open position, the base including at least a first permanent
magnet that is stationary relative to the base, and the cover
including at least a second permanent magnet that is stationary
relative to the cover, the first and second magnets being disposed
so as to repel each other while the over is passing from the closed
position to the open position and vice versa.
2. A compact according to claim 1, a polar axis of the first magnet
and a polar axis of the second magnet being parallel.
3. A compact according to claim 1, the cover sliding relative to
the base.
4. A compact according to claim 1, the cover turning relative to
the base.
5. A compact according to claim 4, the base including at least a
third magnet, the cover being configured to pivot in two opposite
directions relative to the base from the closed position, the
second magnet repelling the first magnet while the cover is being
pivoted in a first direction relative to the base, and the third
magnet repelling the first magnet while the cover is being pivoted
in a second direction, opposite to the first direction.
6. A compact according to claim 1, at least one magnet being disk
shaped.
7. A compact according to claim 1, at least one magnet having a
semi-circular shape.
8. A compact according to claim 2, the polar axes of the magnets
being oriented perpendicularly to the direction of movement or
perpendicularly to a movement plane of the cover relative to the
base.
9. A compact according to claim 1, the first and second magnets
being disposed so as to repel each other when the cover is in the
open position.
10. A compact according to claim 1, the first and second magnets
being disposed so as to repel each other when the cover is in the
closed position.
11. A compact according to claim 1, the first and second magnets
being disposed in such a manner that the repulsion force is at a
maximum when the cover is substantially mid-way between the closed
position and the open position.
12. A compact according to claim 3, the cover comprising a closure
portion having a guide portion that slides in the base.
13. A compact according to claim 12, the guide portion carrying the
second magnet.
14. A compact according to claim 1, the base and the cover
including respective magnets that attract each other in at least
one of the open and closed positions.
15. A compact according to claim 1, the base including a housing
that receives at least one composition to be taken, a bottom of the
housing being defined by a wall carrying the first magnet.
16. A compact according to claim 1, including a cosmetic or a skin
care product.
17. A compact comprising a base and a cover that is hinged on the
base, the base defining a housing that receives at least one
cosmetic or skin care product and including at least a first
magnet, and the cover including at least a second magnet, the polar
axes of the magnets being perpendicular to a plane in which the
cover turns, the first and second magnets being configured so as to
attract each other when the compact is in the closed position
and/or the open position.
18. A compact according to claim 16, the base including two
magnets, and the cover including two other magnets, the magnets
being configured for being superposed after the cover has turned
through half a turn relative to the base.
19. A compact according to claim 16, at least one of the cover and
of the base including an additional magnet.
Description
[0001] This non provisional application claims the benefit of
French Application No. 07 56810 filed on 30 juillet 2007 and U.S.
Provisional Application No. 60/956,148 filed on Aug. 16, 2007.
[0002] The present invention provides a compact comprising a cover
and a base, each having at least one permanent magnet.
BACKGROUND
[0003] Applications FR 2 867 361, US 2003/0167599, and US
2002/0153376, and U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,135,012 and 6,831,541 disclose
compacts, each comprising a cover and a base, and each including a
magnet, the magnets being arranged in such a manner that an
attraction force is exerted between the base and the cover. Passage
from a closed position to an open position is performed by
overcoming the attraction force.
[0004] Application GB 2 264 975 discloses a compact comprising a
cover and a base provided with a magnetic catch.
SUMMARY
[0005] There exists a need to improve still further compacts
comprising a base and a cover that is movable relative to the
base.
[0006] The invention seeks to satisfy this need.
[0007] In one of its aspects, the invention provides a compact
comprising a base and a cover that is movable relative to the base,
for example a cover that is hinged or that slides on the base,
between a closed position and an open position, the base including
at least a first magnet, and the cover including at least a second
magnet, the first and second magnets being disposed in such as
manner as to repel each other while the cover passes from its
closed position to its open position and vice versa.
[0008] By means of the repulsion phenomenon of magnets, the
invention makes it possible to assist the cover in opening and/or
in closing once said cover has moved a certain distance, and it
does so without unduly complicating the manufacture of the
compact.
[0009] In exemplary embodiments, the first permanent magnet is
stationary relative to the base, for example, and the second
permanent magnet is stationary relative to the cover, for
example.
[0010] By "stationary", it is to be understood that in the absence
of movement exerted on the hinge or the sliding mechanism in order
to open or close the compact, the magnet does not move. The first
magnet may be mounted without any possibility of displacement with
respect to the base and the second magnet may be mounted without
any possibility of displacement with respect to the cover, when the
cover moves relative to the base.
[0011] In an embodiment of the invention, the polar axis of the
first magnet and the polar axis of the second magnet are
substantially parallel. This makes it possible to maximize the
repulsion between the magnets when they are moved towards each
other.
[0012] The polar axes of the magnets may be oriented
perpendicularly to a direction in which the cover moves relative to
the base, for example perpendicularly to a plane in which the
movement takes place.
[0013] The magnets may be disposed in such a manner that the
repulsion force is at its maximum when the cover is mid-way between
its closed position and its open position.
[0014] The cover may slide relative to the base. The sliding may be
obtained thanks to a mechanical link between the cover and the
base, this link comprising at least one projection on one of the
pieces engaged in at least one rail on the other piece, which
guides the movement of the cover relative to the base. In a
variant, the cover may be hinged on the base, in particular it may
turn relative to the base. The movement of the cover relative to
the base may also be more complex, the cover possibly being hinged
to the base in a manner that corresponds to a connection between
the base and the cover that enables turning to take place about an
instantaneous axis that is not constant.
[0015] By way of example, the cover is hinged on the base about a
swivel axis, and at least one of the base and of the cover can
include at least two permanent magnets that are disposed optionally
symmetrically on either side of a mid-plane for the base or the
cover, the mid-plane containing the swivel axis.
[0016] The base may include at least a third magnet, the cover
being arranged to pivot in two opposite directions relative to the
base from the closed position, the second magnet being arranged to
repel the first magnet while the cover is being pivoted in a first
direction relative to the base, and the third magnet being arranged
to repel the first magnet while the cover is being pivoted in a
second direction, opposite to the first direction. This makes it
possible to assist the opening and closing movement, regardless of
the direction in which the cover is opened or closed.
[0017] At least one of the magnets may be disk shaped, but other
shapes are possible, e.g. cylindrical, semi circular, or
rectangular parallelepiped.
[0018] The cover may be made out of an optionally-transparent
thermoplastic material.
[0019] The cover may comprise a closure portion having a guide
portion that is assembled thereto or that is made integrally
therewith, the guide portion sliding in a corresponding reception
space of the base, the guide portion being suitable for carrying
the second magnet.
[0020] In embodiments where the cover slides on the base,
preferably with two magnets, as well as those where the cover is
hinged on the base, preferably with three magnets, the magnets may
cause a stable position of the base with respect to the cover in
the closed position as well as in the open position.
[0021] The closure portion may carry a mirror or it may have a
metal-plated surface.
[0022] The cover may include a mirror on its outer face.
[0023] The base may include a housing that receives at least one
composition to be taken and/or an applicator, the bottom of the
housing possibly being defined by a wall carrying the first magnet.
The base may have a separate bottom fitted thereto.
[0024] The compact may comprise a mild magnetic material, in
particular a mild steel, so as to reduce magnetic field leakage out
from the compact. For a compact that is carried in the handbag of a
user, the presence of such a material makes it possible to limit
the risks of demagnetizing personal articles, such as a credit card
with a magnetic track.
[0025] In another of its aspects, and independently or in
combination with the above, the invention also provides a compact
comprising a base and a cover that is hinged on the base, the base
including at least a first magnet, and the cover including at least
a second magnet, the polar axes of the magnets being perpendicular
to a plane in which the cover turns, the first and second magnets
being arranged so as to attract each other when the compact is in
its closed position and/or its open position. The base may define a
housing that receives at least one cosmetic or skin care product.
By way of example, the base may include two magnets, and the cover
may include two other magnets, the magnets being suitable for being
superposed after the cover has turned through half a turn relative
to the base.
[0026] In an embodiment, at least one of the cover and of the base
includes an additional magnet that is arranged to repel at least
one other magnet while the cover is being moved from the open
position towards the closed position or vice versa. The additional
magnet may be semi-circular in shape, for example, and may be
situated between two other magnets of opposite polarity, so as to
work in repulsion while the other magnets work in attraction.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0027] The invention can be better understood on reading the
following description of non-limiting embodiments thereof, and on
examining the accompanying drawings, in which:
[0028] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a first embodiment of a
closed compact of the invention;
[0029] FIG. 2 shows the FIG. 1 compact open;
[0030] FIG. 3 is a diagrammatic section of the compact on III-III
in FIG. 1;
[0031] FIG. 4 is a diagrammatic section of the compact on IV-IV in
FIG. 2;
[0032] FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing another embodiment of a
closed compact of the invention;
[0033] FIG. 6 shows the FIG. 5 compact open;
[0034] FIG. 7 is a diagrammatic section on VII-VII in FIG. 5;
[0035] FIG. 8 is a diagrammatic section on VIII-VIII in FIG. 5;
[0036] FIG. 9 shows the housings for receiving the magnets of the
base of the compact in FIGS. 5 to 8;
[0037] FIG. 10 shows the housings for receiving the magnets of the
cover of the compact;
[0038] FIGS. 11 to 13 show the relative positions of the magnets of
the base and the magnets of the cover of the FIG. 5 compact while
the cover is being moved between its closed position and its open
position;
[0039] FIGS. 14 and 15 are perspective views showing a variant
embodiment of the compact; and
[0040] FIG. 16 is a diagrammatic cross section showing an example
of sliding mechanism between the cover and the base.
MORE DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0041] The compact 1 shown in FIGS. 1 to 4 comprises a base 3 and a
cover 2 that is movable relative to the base between a closed
position and an open position.
[0042] The base 3 comprises a body 6 and a separate bottom 16 that
is fitted onto the body 6, e.g. after the cover 2 has been put into
place, so as to hold said cover on the compact.
[0043] The base 3 defines at least one housing 18 that receives at
least one composition to be taken by the user, e.g. a cosmetic or a
skin care product.
[0044] The composition can be directly in contact with a wall 20 of
the body 6, said wall defining the sides and the bottom of the
housing 1, or it can be contained in a dish (not shown) that is
received in the housing 18. In the embodiment under consideration,
said housing is circularly cylindrical in shape, but the invention
is not limited to a particular shape of housing. In addition, the
base and the cover can present shapes other than the shapes
shown.
[0045] In the embodiment under consideration, the cover 2 is
movable in translation along an axis X relative to the base 3.
[0046] Magnetic means are provided so as to assist the opening
movement of the cover 2. The magnetic means comprise a first magnet
4 that is carried by the base 3, and a second magnet 5 that is
carried by the cover 2, as can be seen in FIGS. 3 and 4.
[0047] By way of example, the first magnet 4 is fastened on the
wall 20, being stationary relative to the base 3. By way of
example, the first magnet is snap-fastened, overmolded, or bonded
on said wall. The wall 20 can present a recess 21 that opens
downwards, of shape adapted to receive the magnet 4, and that is
situated below the housing 18 on the side thereof towards which the
cover is moved in order to open the compact.
[0048] A reception space 22 is formed between the wall 20 and the
bottom 16 so as to receive a guide portion 14 of the cover 2.
[0049] The cover 2 also includes a closure portion 12 that comes to
cover the housing 18 in the closed position, and that externally
matches the shape of the base 3. A mirror 10 can be fitted on the
closure portion 12, as shown.
[0050] The guide portion 14 and closure portion 12 can be made
integrally by molding a thermoplastic material, e.g. a transparent
thermoplastic material.
[0051] The guide portion 14 is arranged so as to slide inside the
reception space 22, and it carries a second permanent magnet 5,
e.g. identical to the magnet 4.
[0052] By way of example, the magnet 5 is received in a
downwardly-open recess 23 of the guide portion 14, and can be
fastened therein by using any suitable means. In the embodiment
described, the magnet 5 is stationary relative to the cover 2.
[0053] An end-of-stroke abutment 9 can be formed on the guide
portion 14, e.g. coming to bear against a shoulder of the bottom 16
in the completely open position.
[0054] In the embodiment under consideration, the magnets 4 and 5
are disposed within the compact in such a manner that they are not
superposed when the cover is in its closed position, as shown in
FIG. 3, nor when it is in its open position, as shown in FIG.
4.
[0055] As shown, the magnets 4 and 5 can have polar axes that are
parallel to each other and perpendicular to the axis X, and of
magnetic orientations that are opposite, such that when the magnets
become superposed during movement of the cover, the south pole S of
the first magnet 4 faces the south pole S of the second magnet 5,
the same result can be obtained in a variant (not shown) when it is
the north poles N that face each other.
[0056] By way of example, the magnets 4 and 5 are disk shaped, but
they could be of some other shape.
[0057] In the closed position of the cover, corresponding to FIGS.
1 and 3, the first magnet 4 and the second magnet 5 repel each
other, thereby tending to urge the cover towards its closed
position.
[0058] In the open position of the cover, shown in FIGS. 2 and 4,
the first and second magnets 4 and 5 also repel each other, thereby
tending to urge the cover towards its open position.
[0059] When the cover 2 is substantially mid-way between its open
position and its closed position, the magnets 4 and 5 are
superposed and the repulsion between them is at its maximum.
[0060] In order to open the compact, the user must initially
overcome the repulsion force of the magnets 4 and 5, before the end
of the opening movement is assisted by the repulsion force. In
order to close the compact, the user must also overcome the
repulsion force of the magnets 4 and 5, before said repulsion force
assists in finishing off the closure movement. where appropriate,
the cover and/or the base can comprise a mild magnetic material,
e.g. a mild steel. The mild magnetic material can be disposed in
such a manner as to loop the magnetic field of the magnets 4 and 5
within the compact, so as to limit magnetic field leakage out from
the compact.
[0061] In variants not shown, one or more additional magnets
working in attraction with the magnet 5 could be provided on the
base 3.
[0062] FIGS. 5 to 7 show another embodiment of a compact of the
invention, said compact comprising a base 3 and a cover 2 that is
hinged relative to the base about a swivel axis Y, the cover 2
moving in a plane that is perpendicular to the axis Y.
[0063] In the embodiment under consideration, the base 3 comprises
an outer shell 50 that houses an insert 51 that is made by molding
a thermoplastic material with a slotted pin 40, and further
comprises a wall 52 that defines the sides of the housing 18. In
the embodiment shown, the housing receives a dish 54 that is filled
with a composition P.
[0064] By way of example, the insert 51 is fastened by
snap-fastening in the shell 50. In the embodiment shown, the bottom
of the housing 18 is defined by the shell 50 itself.
[0065] The insert 51 defines three other housings, namely a first
housing 60 for receiving a magnet 61 and two housings 63 each
receiving a respective magnet 64.
[0066] The housings 60 and 63 open downwards in such a manner as to
enable the magnets 61 and 64 to be mounted in the housings 60 and
63 before the insert 51 is put into place in the shell 50.
[0067] When the compact is open, the magnets 61 and 64 are not
visible, being masked by walls 65 and 66 of the insert 51 that
close the housings 60 and 63.
[0068] In the embodiment shown, the magnet 61 presents a
semi-circular shape, and the magnets 64 are disk shaped.
[0069] As can be seen in FIG. 9, the magnets 61 and 64 are disposed
symmetrically about a mid-plane of symmetry K for the base 3,
containing the swivel axis Y.
[0070] The cover 2 includes a shell 70 and an insert 71 that is
fastened in said shell, the insert 71 defining a housing 41 for
snap-fastening the pin 40 so as to hinge the cover on the base.
[0071] Naturally, the cover could be hinged in some other way on
the base without going beyond the ambit of the present
invention.
[0072] Where appropriate, and as shown, the top portion of the
shell 70 can be open so as to make the insert 71 visible through an
opening 74 of the shell 70, thereby creating a decorative effect
when the shell 70 and the insert 71 are made out of different
materials.
[0073] For example, the insert 71 can be made out of a transparent
plastics material, but not the shell 70, or the insert 71 can be of
a color that is different to the color of the shell 70.
[0074] In a variant not shown, a recess is formed in the opening 74
so as to receive a mirror,
[0075] The insert 71 defines two housings 80, each receiving a
respective magnet 81. The magnets 81 are disposed symmetrically on
either side of a mid-plane M for the cover 2, containing the swivel
axis Y, as shown in FIG. 10. When the compact is closed, the planes
K and M coincide.
[0076] In the embodiment under consideration, the bottoms of the
housings 80 are open, but it is not beyond the ambit of the present
invention for the bottoms not to be open.
[0077] The magnets 81 can be put into place in the housings 80
before mounting the insert 71 in the shell 70.
[0078] The polar axes of the magnets 61, 64, and 81 are parallel to
the swivel axis Y, and the polarities are the polarities shown in
the drawing. It is not beyond the ambit of the present invention
for all of the magnets to have polarities that are the opposite of
the polarities shown.
[0079] When the compact 1 is closed, the magnets 64 are superposed
relative to the magnets 81, as shown in FIG. 13, and they are
attracted to each other, thereby tending to keep the compact
closed. The magnets 81 and the magnet 61 repel each other, thereby
urging the compact towards its closed position.
[0080] When the cover 2 starts to pivot relative to the base 3, in
one direction or in the other, from the closed position, the
magnets 64 move away from the magnets 81, thereby creating a return
force towards the closed position. The magnet 61 moves closer to a
magnet 81, thereby increasing the repulsion force between them.
After passing through the position corresponding to maximum
repulsion between the magnets 61 and 81, the magnets 64 tend to
move once again towards the magnets 81, and the magnet 61 moves
away from the magnet 81, thereby tending to decrease the repulsion
force.
[0081] The movement of the cover 2 towards the open position
becomes assisted by the magnetic interaction force between the
magnets, until the magnets 64 are once again superposed relative to
the magnets 81 in the fully-open position, as shown in FIG. 11.
[0082] When the cover starts to move from the open position towards
the closed position, the interaction between the magnets 64 and 81
tends to create a return force towards the open position, in
addition to the repulsion force between the magnet 61 and the
corresponding magnet 81. Once the maximum repulsion force has been
reached, the remaining movement of the cover is assisted towards
the closed position.
[0083] Naturally, various modifications can be applied to the
embodiments described above, relating, for example, to the
locations of the magnets.
[0084] In a variant not shown, the compact in FIGS. 5 to 8 is made
without the magnet 61, the return forces towards the open position
or the closed position being obtained solely by the attraction of
magnets having facing opposite polarities.
[0085] In another variant, not shown, the return of the cover
towards the open position or the closed position is obtained solely
by magnets repelling each other, e.g. the magnet 61 on one side and
the magnets 81 on the other side.
[0086] As with the embodiment in FIGS. 1 to 4, the compact in FIGS.
5 to 8 can comprise a shield made out of a magnetic material, so as
to reduce magnetic field leakage out from the compact.
[0087] The invention can find application in compacts comprising
more than two movable elements, e.g. compacts comprising a slider
that is movable relative to a support, and a cover that is movable
relative to the support and to the slider. The movement of the
cover relative to the slider that thus acts as the base, or the
movement of the slider relative to the support that thus acts as
the base, can be assisted by magnetic means.
[0088] The slider can include at least one permanent magnet that is
arranged in such a manner as to repel at least one other magnet of
the compact, carried by the support or the cover, while the slider
is moving relative to the support or the cover.
[0089] In the variant shown in FIGS. 14 and 15, the cover 2 carries
a mirror 10 on its top face.
[0090] The base 3 and the cover 2 are generally in the shape of
rectangular parallelepipeds. The base 3 can include a housing 120
for receiving an applicator, in addition to the housing containing
the composition.
[0091] The sliding of the cover may be obtained thanks to two rails
150 in which are engaged projections of the cover, the projections
being for example ribs 151 projecting on the internal faces of side
walls of the cover.
[0092] The rails may be formed by ribs 152 provided at the top end
with a return directed towards the outside.
[0093] Of course, the guiding of the cover may be obtained
otherwise, with for example one or more projections carried by the
base and engaged in one or more rails of the cover.
[0094] The cooperating reliefs of the base and the cover may be
made with other shapes.
[0095] The expression "comprising a" should be understood as being
synonymous with "comprising at least one" unless specified to the
contrary.
[0096] Although the present invention herein has been described
with reference to particular embodiments, it is to be understood
that these embodiments are merely illustrative of the principles
and applications of the present invention. It is therefore to be
understood that numerous modifications may be made to the
illustrative embodiments and that other arrangements may be devised
without departing from the spirit and scope of the present
invention as defined by the appended claims.
* * * * *