U.S. patent application number 15/681121 was filed with the patent office on 2018-05-17 for cosmetic container configured to be opened and closed by operation of cap in one-touch manner.
The applicant listed for this patent is CTK CO., LTD.. Invention is credited to In Yong CHUNG.
Application Number | 20180132592 15/681121 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 58265475 |
Filed Date | 2018-05-17 |
United States Patent
Application |
20180132592 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
CHUNG; In Yong |
May 17, 2018 |
COSMETIC CONTAINER CONFIGURED TO BE OPENED AND CLOSED BY OPERATION
OF CAP IN ONE-TOUCH MANNER
Abstract
A cosmetic container includes a container body including an
accommodation space for containing contents and a latching rim
formed on an outer circumferential surface of an opening, and a cap
configured to be unlocked from or locked to the container body in a
one-touch manner, in which the cap is removed from or coupled to
the container body by touching a push cap, vertical movement of
which is controlled by an ascending/descending guide cap and a
knock member elastically supported by an elastic member inside the
ascending/descending guide cap, so that one or more opening/closing
operation units, each of which has a hinge-coupling portion,
perform an opening/closing operation to be caught by or released
from the latching rim of the container body, thereby considerably
conveniently and simply achieving an opening/closing manipulation
of the cap with respect to the container body.
Inventors: |
CHUNG; In Yong; (Seoul,
KR) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
CTK CO., LTD. |
Gyeonggi-do |
|
KR |
|
|
Family ID: |
58265475 |
Appl. No.: |
15/681121 |
Filed: |
August 18, 2017 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A45D 2200/051 20130101;
A45D 40/22 20130101; A45D 2200/05 20130101; A45D 40/0068 20130101;
A45D 40/0075 20130101; A45D 33/34 20130101; A45D 33/006 20130101;
A45D 33/025 20130101 |
International
Class: |
A45D 33/00 20060101
A45D033/00; A45D 33/02 20060101 A45D033/02; A45D 33/34 20060101
A45D033/34; A45D 40/00 20060101 A45D040/00; A45D 40/22 20060101
A45D040/22 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Nov 11, 2016 |
KR |
10-2016-0149915 |
Claims
1. A cosmetic container configured to be opened and closed by
operation of a cap in one-touch manner, comprising: a container
body (10) including an accommodation space (11) for containing
contents and a latching rim (14) formed on an outer circumferential
surface of an opening (12); and a cap (20) configured to be
unlocked from or locked to the container body in one-touch manner,
wherein the cap (20) is removed from or coupled to the container
body (10) by touching a push cap (70), vertical movement of the
push cap being controlled by an ascending/descending guide cap (40)
and a knock member (50) elastically supported by an elastic member
(60) inside the ascending/descending guide cap, so that one or more
opening/closing operation units (80), each having a hinge-coupling
portion, perform an opening/closing operation so as to be caught by
or released from the latching rim (14) of the container body
(10).
2. The cosmetic container according to claim 1, wherein the cap
(20) includes an inner airtight cap (30) for sealing an upper end
of the opening in the container body (10) in an airtight manner,
the ascending/descending guide cap (40) fixedly coupled to an upper
portion of the inner airtight cap, the knock member (50)
elastically supported by the elastic member (60) inside the
ascending/descending guide cap, the push cap (70) fixedly coupled
to the knock member and including latching ribs (74), the one or
more opening/closing operation units (80) arranged in the push cap
so as to be separate from one another, each having a portion
hingedly coupled to support ribs (34) of the inner airtight cap and
including an opening/closing wing (83) having a first latching step
(83a) configured to be forcibly caught by the latching ribs and a
second latching step (83b) configured to be caught by or released
from the latching rim (14) formed on the outer circumferential
surface of the opening in the container body, and an outer cap (90)
coupled to an outer portion of the push cap, and wherein the cap is
assembled into a unitary construction that is removed from or
coupled to the container body (10) as a single unit.
3. The cosmetic container according to claim 1, wherein the
ascending/descending guide cap (40) includes rotation guide blocks
(42) formed on an inner circumferential surface thereof and having
inclined guide surfaces (42a), and first guide recesses (43) and
second guide recesses (44) having different latching depths from
each other and alternately arranged, each of the first guide
recesses and the second guide recesses being defined between the
rotation guide blocks and the second guide recesses having latching
steps (44a) therein, the knock member (50) includes a rotation
support member (52) fitted into the ascending/descending guide cap
(40) such that an upper portion of the rotation support member is
exposed outside through a through-hole (41) in the
ascending/descending guide cap (40), and a cam member (51)
elastically supported by the elastic member (60) and coupled to the
rotation support member so as to rotate relative to the rotation
support member, the cam member and the rotation support member
including first guide protrusions (51a) and second guide
protrusions (52a), respectively, and the first guide protrusions
(51a) and the second guide protrusions (52a) having different
latching lengths from each other, and when the cap (20) is in a
state of being locked to the container body (10), the first guide
protrusions (51a) of the cam member (51) are caught by the latching
steps (44a) of the second guide recesses (44) in the
ascending/descending guide cap (40) so as to prevent the push cap
(70) from ascending, and when the cap is unlocked from the
container body, the cam member (51) is rotated in a predetermined
direction by the rotation support member (52) and the first guide
protrusions (51a) ascend along the first guide recesses (43) in the
ascending/descending guide cap together with the second guide
protrusions (52a) of the rotation support member so as to allow the
push cap (70) to ascend.
4. The cosmetic container according to claim 1, wherein the
container body (10) further includes coupling protrusions (16)
formed on an outer circumferential surface of an upper end of the
opening (12), the opening/closing operation units (80) further
include coupling protrusions (84) formed on surfaces thereof that
face the outer circumferential surface of the upper end of the
opening so as to mesh with the coupling protrusions (16) of the
container body, and when the cap (20) is in a state of being locked
to the container body (10), the coupling protrusions (16) mesh with
the coupling protrusions (84) so as to prevent the container body
(10) or the cap (20) from being unintentionally rotated.
5. The cosmetic container according to claim 2, wherein the inner
airtight cap (30) includes at least one of a short airtight pipe
(31) for sealing an inner circumferential surface of an upper end
of the opening (12) in the container body (10) in an airtight
manner and an airtight ring (32) for sealing a top surface of the
opening (12) in an airtight manner.
6. The cosmetic container according to claim 2, wherein the outer
cap (90) includes a cover ring (91) fixedly coupled to an inner
circumferential surface of a lower end thereof.
7. The cosmetic container according to claim 1, wherein the push
cap (70) further includes an attachment recess (71a) for receiving
a name plate (75) attached thereto, the attachment recess being
formed on a top surface of a push portion (71) of the push cap
(70).
8. The cosmetic container according to claim 1, wherein the
container body (10) is formed to have a double structure including
outer and inner container bodies (10a and 10b).
9. The cosmetic container according to claim 1, wherein the elastic
member (60) is a compressive coil spring.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE
[0001] This application claims foreign priority under Paris
Convention to Korean Patent Application No. 10-2016-0149915, filed
11 Nov. 2016, with the Korean Intellectual Property Office.
BACKGROUND
[0002] The present invention relates to a cosmetic container used
to contain contents in various forms including solids as well as
liquids such as creams, etc., and more particularly to a cosmetic
container configured to be opened and closed by operation of a cap
in a one-touch manner, in which a cap is conveniently removed from
or coupled to a container body merely by manipulating a push cap in
a one-touch manner, thereby providing convenience in an
opening/closing manipulation of the cap when using the cosmetic
container.
[0003] In general, a container, which is used to contain various
kinds of contents including cosmetics, comprises a container body
for containing contents and a cap for safely protecting the
contents contained in the container body and for opening and
closing the container body so that the contents can be used. The
cap for opening and closing the container body may employ various
opening/closing structures depending on the kind, form or purpose
of the contents, and, for example, a cap having a threaded
engagement structure is currently widely used.
[0004] In spite of the simplicity of the engagement structure, the
cap having a threaded engagement structure has problems in that it
is required to hold the cap when intending to perform an
opening/closing operation and in that an additional structure is
required for preventing slippage when rotating the cap. Further,
depending on the kind of contents, for example, in the case of
cream-type cosmetics, the cap may become more slippery, making it
difficult to perform the opening/closing operation, and may become
insanitary when it is stained with the cosmetics during the
opening/closing operation.
[0005] Furthermore, as seen from patent document 1 (KR 200437214
Y1), there has been proposed a safety cap, which opens and closes a
container body in a manner such that push buttons provided at two
opposite portions of an inner cap are grabbed with the hand and are
pressed. The safety cap disclosed in patent document 1 may be more
advantageous than a conventional cap having a threaded engagement
structure; however, it has problems in that the two push buttons
must be pressed at the same time and in that the inner cap must be
manually lifted after an outer cap ascends due to the restoring
force of a spring, which is released by pressing the push buttons,
so that an annular coupling rim of the inner cap is bent outwards
due to an elastic portion and is forcibly separated from an annular
fixing rim provided at an opening in the container body, making it
quite cumbersome and inconvenient to perform the opening/closing
operation of the cap and increasing the likelihood of weakening of
latching force of the elastic portion or of damage to the elastic
portion due to frequent opening/closing operation of the cap, which
is performed by forcibly bending the annular coupling rim provided
at the inner cap using the elastic portion.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] The present invention has been made to solve the above
problems with the prior art, and it is an object of the present
invention to provide a cosmetic container configured to be opened
and closed by operation of a cap in a one-touch manner, in which an
opening/closing manipulation of a cap is more conveniently and
simply achieved merely by pressing a push cap in a one-touch manner
so that one or more opening/closing operation units provided inside
the push cap are simultaneously unlocked from or locked to an
opening in a container body.
[0007] In accordance with the present invention, the above and
other objects can be accomplished by the provision of a cosmetic
container configured to be opened and closed by operation of a cap
in a one-touch manner, including a container body including an
accommodation space for containing contents and a latching rim
formed on an outer circumferential surface of an opening, and a cap
configured to be unlocked from or locked to the container body in a
one-touch manner, in which the cap is removed from or coupled to
the container body by touching a push cap, vertical movement of the
push cap being controlled by an ascending/descending guide cap and
a knock member elastically supported by an elastic member inside
the ascending/descending guide cap, so that one or more
opening/closing operation units, each having a hinge-coupling
portion, perform an opening/closing operation so as to be caught by
or released from the latching rim of the container body.
[0008] According to the present invention, the cap may include an
inner airtight cap for sealing an upper end of the opening in the
container body in an airtight manner, the ascending/descending
guide cap fixedly coupled to an upper portion of the inner airtight
cap, the knock member elastically supported by the elastic member
inside the ascending/descending guide cap, the push cap fixedly
coupled to the knock member and including latching ribs, the one or
more opening/closing operation units arranged in the push cap so as
to be separate from one another, each having a portion hingedly
coupled to support ribs of the inner airtight cap and including an
opening/closing wing having a first latching step configured to be
forcibly caught by the latching ribs and a second latching step
configured to be caught by or released from the latching rim 14
formed on the outer circumferential surface of the opening in the
container body, and an outer cap coupled to an outer portion of the
push cap, and the cap may be assembled into a unitary construction
that is removed from or coupled to the container body as a single
unit.
[0009] According to the present invention, the ascending/descending
guide cap may include rotation guide blocks formed on an inner
circumferential surface thereof and having inclined guide surfaces,
and first guide recesses and second guide recesses having different
latching depths from each other and alternately arranged, each of
the first guide recesses and the second guide recesses being
defined between the rotation guide blocks and the second guide
recesses having latching steps therein, the knock member may
include a rotation support member fitted into the
ascending/descending guide cap such that an upper portion of the
rotation support member is exposed outside through a through-hole
in the ascending/descending guide cap, and a cam member elastically
supported by the elastic member and coupled to the rotation support
member so as to rotate relative to the rotation support member, the
cam member and the rotation support member including first guide
protrusions and second guide protrusions, respectively, and the
first guide protrusions and the second guide protrusions having
different latching lengths from each other, and, when the cap is in
a state of being locked to the container body, the first guide
protrusions of the cam member may be caught by the latching steps
of the second guide recesses in the ascending/descending guide cap
so as to prevent the push cap from ascending, and when the cap is
unlocked from the container body, the cam member may be rotated in
a predetermined direction by the rotation support member and the
first guide protrusions may ascend along the first guide recesses
in the ascending/descending guide cap together with the second
guide protrusions of the rotation support member so as to allow the
push cap to ascend.
[0010] According to the present invention, the container body may
further include coupling protrusions formed on an outer
circumferential surface of an upper end of the opening, the
opening/closing operation units may further include coupling
protrusions formed on surfaces thereof that face the outer
circumferential surface of the upper end of the opening so as to
mesh with the coupling protrusions of the container body, and when
the cap is in a state of being locked to the container body, the
container body or the cap may be prevented from being
unintentionally rotated.
[0011] According to the present invention, the inner airtight cap
may include at least one of a short airtight pipe for sealing an
inner circumferential surface of an upper end of the opening in the
container body in an airtight manner and an airtight ring for
sealing a top surface of the opening in an airtight manner.
[0012] According to the present invention, the outer cap may
include a cover ring fixedly coupled to an inner circumferential
surface of a lower end thereof.
[0013] According to the present invention, the push cap may further
include an attachment recess for receiving a name plate attached
thereto, the attachment recess being formed on a top surface of a
push portion of the push cap.
[0014] According to the present invention, the container body may
be formed to have a double structure including outer and inner
container bodies. According to the present invention, the elastic
member may be a compressive coil spring.
[0015] According to the present invention, since the
opening/closing operation of the cap is achieved in a one-touch
manner, it is possible to open and close the container body more
rapidly, easily and conveniently using such a one-touch cap,
leading to remarkably improved convenience in use of the cosmetic
container.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
[0016] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the assembled state of
a cosmetic container according to the present invention;
[0017] FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the cosmetic
container according to the present invention;
[0018] FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of an
ascending/descending guide cap and a knock member according to the
present invention;
[0019] FIG. 4 is a side sectional view showing the locked state of
the cosmetic container according to the present invention;
[0020] FIG. 5 is a side sectional view showing the unlocked state
of the cosmetic container according to the present invention;
[0021] FIG. 6 is an enlarged sectional view of portion "A" in FIG.
4;
[0022] FIG. 7 is an enlarged sectional view of portion "B" in FIG.
5;
[0023] FIG. 8 is a bottom plan view of the ascending/descending
guide cap according to the present invention;
[0024] FIG. 9 is a bottom plan view showing the state before the
knock member ascends inside the ascending/descending guide cap
according to the present invention;
[0025] FIG. 10 is a bottom plan view showing the state after the
knock member ascends inside the ascending/descending guide cap
according to the present invention; and
[0026] FIG. 11 is a side sectional view showing the state in which
a cap according to the present invention is separated from a
container body.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0027] Hereinafter, a cosmetic container configured to be opened
and closed by operation of a cap in a one-touch manner according to
the present invention will be described with reference to the
accompanying drawings.
[0028] Referring to FIGS. 1 to 10, a cosmetic container 100
configured to be opened and closed by operation of a cap in a
one-touch manner according to the present invention comprises a
container body 10, which has an accommodation space 11 formed
therein to contain various forms of contents and is open in a
certain direction, and a cap 20, which is operated to open and
close the upper end of an opening 12 in the container body in a
one-touch manner.
[0029] The container body 10 is provided with a latching rim 14,
which protrudes outwards from the outer periphery of the upper end
of the opening 12. Further, the container body is provided with
coupling protrusions 16 arranged around the outer circumferential
surface of the upper end of the opening, each being formed to have
a saw-tooth-shaped cross-section, a triangular-shaped cross-section
or the like and extending in the vertical direction.
[0030] Depending on the kind of contents, the container body 10 may
be formed in a unitary construction, or, as shown in the drawings,
may be formed to have a double structure including an outer
container body 10a and an inner container body 10b.
[0031] In the case in which the container body 10 has a double
structure including the outer and inner container bodies 10a and
10b, it is preferable for the inner container body to be securely
fitted in the upper end of the outer container body so as to be
maintained in an integrally coupled state unless the inner
container body is intentionally removed from the outer container
body.
[0032] Further, in the case in which the container body has a
double structure including the outer and inner container bodies,
the coupling protrusions 16, formed at the upper end of the opening
12 in the container body 10, may be, specifically, formed around
the outer circumferential surface of the upper end of the inner
container body 10b due to the coupling structure of the container
body.
[0033] The cap 20, which is constructed as a single assembly so as
to open and close the container body 10, includes an inner airtight
cap 30, an ascending/descending guide cap 40, a knock member 50
disposed in the ascending/descending guide cap and elastically
supported by an elastic member 60, a push cap 70 fixedly coupled to
the knock member, an opening/closing operation unit 80, and an
outer cap 90 coupled to the outer portion of the push cap in order
to support the same, and all of these components are united into a
single structure that is removed from and coupled to the container
body 10 as a single unit.
[0034] The inner airtight cap 30 functions to maintain the upper
end of the opening 12 in the container body 10 in an airtight state
when the cap 20 is operated to close the container body 10, and
includes a short airtight pipe 31, which extends downwards from the
bottom surface of the inner airtight cap so as to be closely fitted
in the inner circumferential surface of the upper end of the
opening 12 in the container body 10, and an airtight ring 32, which
is formed of an elastic material and is integrally attached to a
marginal portion of the bottom surface of the inner airtight cap so
as to be in close contact with the top surface of the opening in
the container body in an airtight manner.
[0035] Further, the inner airtight cap 30 includes a short support
pipe 33, which integrally extends from a central portion of the top
surface of the inner airtight cap so as to be open in the upward
direction, and one or more support ribs 34, which are equidistantly
arranged around the short support pipe and each of which has a
hinge recess 34a therein.
[0036] The ascending/descending guide cap 40 is fixedly coupled to
the short support pipe 33 of the inner airtight cap 30. The
ascending/descending guide cap has a hollow shape, which is open in
a certain direction in order to guide unidirectional rotation and
vertical movement of the knock member 50, which will be described
later. The ascending/descending guide cap has a through-hole 41,
which is formed at the central portion of the top surface of the
ascending/descending guide cap so as to be open in the upward
direction, a plurality of rotation guide blocks 42, which are
equidistantly arranged along the inner circumferential surface of
the through-hole and each of which is provided at the lower end
thereof with an inclined guide surface 42a that is formed to be
inclined in a certain direction, first guide recesses 43 and second
guide recesses 44, each of which is defined between the rotation
guide blocks and which are alternately arranged, as shown in FIG.
8, and latching steps 44a, each of which is formed at the lower
portion of each of the second guide recesses.
[0037] The knock member 50 is disposed inside the
ascending/descending guide cap 40 so as to be elastically supported
by the elastic member 60.
[0038] The knock member 50 includes a cam member 51, which is
elastically supported by the elastic member 60 from below, and a
rotation support member 52, to which the cam member is coupled so
as to rotate relative to the rotation support member. The cam
member is provided with a plurality of first guide protrusions 51a
on the outer circumferential surface of the lower end thereof, and
the rotation support member is provided with a plurality of second
guide protrusions 52a on the outer circumferential surface of the
lower end thereof. Each of the first guide protrusions 51a formed
at the cam member 51 is provided at the top surface thereof with a
rotation guide surface 51b, which is inclined in a certain
direction, and the rotation support member 52 is provided on the
bottom surface thereof with a series of saw-teeth 52b, each of
which is inclined at the same angle as the rotation guide surface
51b so as to mesh with the rotation guide surface.
[0039] The ascending/descending guide cap 40 and the knock member
50 function to limit the vertical movement of the push cap 70,
which will be described later, to an appropriate extent when the
cap 20 is locked to and unlocked from the container body 10.
[0040] The first guide protrusions 51a formed at the cam member 51
and the second guide protrusions 52a formed at the rotation support
member 52 may be formed to have different protruding lengths from
each other.
[0041] That is, as shown in FIG. 10, the first guide protrusions
51a formed at the cam member 51 have a length that allows the first
guide protrusions 51a to move vertically only along the first guide
recesses 43 in the ascending/descending guide cap 40, and the
second guide protrusions 52a formed at the rotation support member
52 have a length that prevents the second guide protrusions 52a
from being caught by the latching steps 44a of the second guide
recesses 44 and allows the second guide protrusions 52a to move
vertically along the first guide recesses 43 and the second guide
recesses 44.
[0042] Therefore, as shown in FIG. 10, the first guide protrusions
51a formed at the cam member 51 move vertically together with the
second guide protrusions 52a of the rotation support member 52 only
along the first guide recesses 43, and, when the first guide
protrusions 51a of the cam member 51 are located in the second
guide recesses 44, as shown in FIG. 9, the first guide protrusions
51a are caught by the lower ends 44a of the second guide recesses
44 and are thus prevented from moving vertically, and only the
second guide protrusions 52a formed at the rotation support member
52 move vertically along the second guide recesses 44.
[0043] The elastic member 60, which elastically supports the knock
member 50, applies elastic force to the knock member so that the
knock member is constantly biased upwards and is preferably
embodied as a compressive coil spring; however, the elastic member
may be formed in various other configurations and of various
materials as long as the function of elastically supporting the
knock member is achieved.
[0044] The push cap 70 covers the upper portion of the inner
airtight cap 30. The push cap is formed to be open in a certain
direction, and includes a push portion 71, which has a curved
surface that ascends to an apex and which is provided on the bottom
surface thereof with a short coupling pipe 73 that extends
downwards, and a lateral portion 72, which extends downwards from
the periphery of the push portion. Therefore, the push cap 70 is
coupled to the knock member 50 in a manner such that the short
coupling pipe 73 is integrally coupled to the rotation support
member 52 of the knock member, with the result that the push cap
and the knock member are pressed together.
[0045] The push cap 70 is provided with latching ribs 74, which are
equidistantly arranged on the inner circumferential surface of the
lateral portion 72. The latching ribs 74, as shown in the drawings,
may preferably be provided in a plural number, spaced a
predetermined distance apart from each other; however, the latching
ribs may alternatively be formed in a unitary configuration.
[0046] The push cap 70 has a concave recess 71a formed in the top
surface of the push portion 71, to which a name plate 75 for
showing a company logo, a product name, an advertising phrase, etc.
is attached.
[0047] Now, the opening/closing operation unit 80 will be
described. The opening/closing operation unit may be provided in a
plural number so as to be separate from one another. The
opening/closing operation unit includes a hinge pin 82, which is
provided at one end portion of a connection portion 81 so as to be
fitted into the hinge recess 34a formed in each of the support ribs
34 of the inner airtight cap 30, and an opening/closing wing 83,
which is bent from the opposite end of the connection portion. The
opening/closing wing includes a first latching step 83a, which is
formed on the upper portion of the outer circumferential surface of
the opening/closing wing so as to be forcibly caught by or released
from the latching ribs 74 formed on the inner circumferential
surface of the lateral portion 72 of the push cap 70, and a second
latching step 83b, which is formed on the inner circumferential
surface of the lower end of the opening/closing wing so as to be
forcibly caught by or released from the latching rim 14 of the
container body 10.
[0048] The opening/closing operation unit 80 further includes
coupling protrusions 84, which are formed on the inner
circumferential surface of the opening/closing wing 83 of the
opening/closing operation unit 80 so as to mate with the coupling
protrusions 16 formed on the outer circumferential surface of the
upper end of the opening 12 in the container body 10.
[0049] Due to the engagement between the coupling protrusions 84
formed at the opening/closing wing 83 of the opening/closing
operation unit 80 and the coupling protrusions 16 formed on the
outer circumferential surface of the upper end of the opening in
the container body 10, the cap and the container body 10 may be
assembled such that unintentional rotating manipulation cannot be
performed.
[0050] The outer cap 90 is coupled to the outer portion of the push
cap 70 so that the vertical movement of the push cap can be
achieved. The outer cap also functions as a portion that is grabbed
with the hand when the cap 20 is finally removed from the container
body. It is preferable for the outer cap, which is assembled with
the push cap, to be formed such that the lower end portion thereof
extends to such an extent that it covers a portion near the lower
end of the container body 10, as shown in FIG. 4.
[0051] Further, it is preferable for the outer cap, which covers
the outer periphery of the push cap, to be formed to support the
push cap so that the vertical movement of the push cap can be
achieved.
[0052] The outer cap 90 may further include a cover ring 91, which
is fixedly coupled to the inner periphery of the lower end portion
of the outer cap.
[0053] The cover ring 91 functions to prevent the outer cap 90, to
which the push cap 70 is coupled so as to move vertically, from
moving further downwards than necessary, and also functions as a
cover for preventing the opening/closing operation unit 80,
disposed inside the push cap, from being seen from outside.
[0054] Therefore, the cover ring 91 is removed from or coupled to
the container body 10 together with the outer cap 90.
[0055] The process of assembling the cosmetic container 100
configured to be opened and closed by operation of a cap in a
one-touch manner according to the present invention having the
above construction will now be described with reference to FIG.
3.
[0056] The lower end of the inner container body 10b is inserted
into the outer container body 10a such that the upper end of the
inner container body is forcibly secured to the outer container
body, whereby the container body 10 is formed as a unitary body and
the inner container body is prevented from being separated from the
outer container body unless the inner container body is
intentionally removed from the outer container body. Of course, if
the container body does not have a double structure, this process
of assembling the inner container body with the outer container
body is omitted.
[0057] Next, the process of assembling the cap 20 includes a step
of fitting the ascending/descending guide cap 40, in which the
knock member 50 is elastically supported by the elastic member 60,
into the short support pipe 33 formed on the top surface of the
inner airtight cap 30. Subsequently, the opening/closing operation
units 80 are coupled to the respective support ribs 34 of the inner
airtight cap 30. Then, the short coupling pipe 73 of the push cap
70 is fixedly coupled to the rotation support member 52 of the
knock member 50, which is exposed outside through the through-hole
41 in the ascending/descending guide cap 40. Finally, the outer cap
90 is coupled to the outer periphery of the push cap 70, and the
cover ring 91 is integrally secured to the inner circumferential
surface of the lower end of the outer cap.
[0058] The above-described process of assembling the cap 20 is
merely exemplary, and the assembly method is not limited thereto,
but may be modified in various manners.
[0059] As a result, the cap 20 is assembled into a unitary
construction, which is removed from or coupled to the container
body 10 as a single unit.
[0060] Next, the operation of the cosmetic container 100 configured
to be opened and closed by the operation of a cap in a one-touch
manner according to the present invention will be described.
[0061] FIG. 4 shows the state in which the cap 20 is locked to the
container body 10, in which the push cap 70 is maintained in the
state of being pressed downwards with respect to the outer cap 90.
As a result of the push cap being in the state of being pressed
downwards, the knock member 50 is also maintained in the state of
being pressed and moved downwards, and the elastic member 60, which
supports the knock member, is maintained in the state of being
forcibly compressed. The first guide protrusions 51a of the cam
member 51 of the knock member 50 are maintained in the state of
being caught by the latching steps 44a formed at the lower ends of
the second guide recesses 44 in the ascending/descending guide cap
40, and accordingly the push cap 70, which is maintained in the
downwardly pressed state, does not unintentionally ascend.
[0062] In the downwardly pressed state of the push cap 70, as
described above, the rotation guide surfaces 51b formed at the
first guide protrusions 51a of the cam member 51 and the saw-teeth
52b formed on the bottom surface of the rotation support member 52
are not meshed with each other.
[0063] Further, the hinge pin 82 of the opening/closing operation
unit 80 is fitted into the hinge recess 34a formed in each of the
support ribs 34a of the inner airtight cap 30 so as not to be
separated therefrom, the outer periphery of the lower end of the
opening/closing wing 83 is forcibly pressed by the latching ribs 74
formed on the inner circumferential surface of the lateral portion
72 of the push cap 70, and the second latching step 83b, formed on
the inner circumferential surface of the lower end of the
opening/closing wing, is forcibly caught by the latching rim 14
formed on the outer circumferential surface of the opening 12 in
the container body 10.
[0064] As a result of the opening/closing wing 83 of the
opening/closing operation unit 80 being forcibly pressed by the
latching ribs 74 of the push cap 70 and of the second latching step
83b formed on the inner circumferential surface of the lower end of
the opening/closing wing 83 being forcibly caught by the latching
rim 14 formed on the outer circumferential surface of the opening
12 in the container body 10, the cap 20 is stably maintained in the
state of closing the container body 10.
[0065] As shown in FIG. 4, in the state in which the container body
10 is closed by the cap 20, the opening/closing wing 83 of the
opening/closing operation unit 80 is forcibly pressed toward the
latching rim 14 of the container body by the latching ribs 74, and
the coupling protrusions 84 formed on the inner circumferential
surface of the opening/closing wing mate with the coupling
protrusions 16 formed on the outer circumferential surface of the
opening in the container body, whereby the container body 10 or the
cap 20 is prevented from being rotated even if rotating force in
either direction is applied thereto.
[0066] As a result of the short airtight pipe 31 and the airtight
ring 32 provided at the inner airtight cap 30 being coupled to the
inner circumferential surface of the upper end and the top surface
of the opening 12 in the container body in an airtight manner, the
accommodation space 11 in the container body 10, in which contents
are contained, is sealed in an airtight manner, thereby preventing
the contents from leaking while the cosmetic container is carried
or stored.
[0067] In this state, when the cap 20 is intended to be removed
from the container body in order to use the contents in the
accommodation space 11 in the container body 10, the push portion
71 of the push cap 70 is first pressed in the state shown in FIG.
4, with the result that the first guide protrusions 51a of the cam
member 51, which have been caught by the latching steps 44a of the
ascending/descending guide cap 40, are separated therefrom.
Subsequently, the rotation guide surfaces 51b of the first guide
protrusions 51a of the cam member 51 and the saw-teeth 52b of the
rotation support member 52, which have been in the state of not
being meshed with each other, are engaged with each other, the cam
member 51 is forcibly rotated in a certain direction, and at the
same time, the rotation guide surfaces 51b of the first guide
protrusions 51a of the cam member 51 are rapidly rotated along the
inclined guide surfaces 42a of the rotation guide blocks 42,
whereby the first guide protrusions 51a are moved to the position
of the first guide recesses 43 in the ascending/descending guide
cap 40.
[0068] Meanwhile, although the push cap 70 is pressed once, as
described above, the opening/closing wing 83 of the opening/closing
operation unit 80 is constantly maintained in the state of being
pressed by the latching ribs 74 formed on the inner circumferential
surface of the lateral portion 72 of the push cap, whereby it is
impossible to separate the cap 20 from the container body 10.
[0069] When the pressing force applied to the push cap 70 is
eliminated in the state in which the first guide protrusions 51a of
the cam member 51 are moved to the position of the first guide
recesses 43 in the ascending/descending guide cap 40, the knock
member 50 and the push cap 70 ascend automatically due to the
restoring force of the elastic member 60, which has been maintained
in the compressed state.
[0070] That is, the ascending prevention state of the push cap 70
is released by the knock member 50, and, as shown in FIG. 4, the
second guide protrusions 52a formed at the rotation support member
52 of the knock member 50 also ascend to the uppermost latching
position of the first guide recesses 43 in the ascending/descending
guide cap 40. With the ascent of the push cap 70, the latching ribs
74 formed at the push cap 70 also ascend and are forcibly brought
into surface contact with the first latching step 83a formed on the
outer circumferential surface of the opening/closing wing 83 of the
opening/closing operation unit 80. As a result of the push cap 70
ascending in the state in which the latching ribs 74 are caught by
the first latching step 83a, the lower end portion of the
opening/closing wing 83 is spread outwards about the hinge pin 82
fitted into the hinge recess 34a in the support rib 34, and, at the
same time, the second latching step 83b formed on the inner
circumferential surface of the opening/closing wing is forcibly
separated from the latching rim 14 formed on the outer
circumferential surface of the opening 12 in the container body 10,
whereby the locking force of the cap is eliminated.
[0071] In other words, the locking force of the cap 20 to the
container body 10 is eliminated in a manner such that the
opening/closing wing 83 of the opening/closing operation unit 80 is
spread outwards in response to the ascent of the push cap 70. In
this state, when the outer cap 90 is grabbed and lifted up, as
shown in FIG. 11, it is possible to remove the cap 20 from the
container body 10 and to open the accommodation space 11 in the
container body, thereby allowing the contents in the accommodation
space to be used.
[0072] Even if the cap 20 is completely removed from the container
body 10, since the push cap 70 is maintained in the ascending state
by the elastic member 60, as shown in FIG. 11, the opening/closing
wing 83 of the opening/closing operation unit 80 is maintained in
the state in which the lower end thereof is spread outwards and
opened.
[0073] On the other hand, when the cap 20 is intended to be coupled
again to the container body 10 after the use of the contents is
finished, as shown in FIG. 5, the cap 20 is placed directly above
the opening 12 in the container body 10 from the state shown in
FIG. 11, the push portion 71 of the push cap 70 is pressed again so
that the push cap 70 and the knock member 50 descend while
compressing the elastic member 60, and, at the same time, the first
guide protrusions 51a of the cam member 51, which descend along the
first guide recesses 43 in the ascending/descending guide cap 40,
mesh with the saw-teeth 52b of the rotation support member 52 and
are rotated to the position of the second guide recesses 44 in the
ascending/descending guide cap 40 along the inclined guide surfaces
42a of the rotation guide blocks 42 and are finally caught by the
latching steps 44a.
[0074] The lower end portion of the opening/closing wing 83 of the
opening/closing operation unit 80 is forcibly pressed inwards by
the latching ribs 74 formed on the inner circumferential surface of
the lateral portion 72 of the push cap 70, and the second latching
step 83b is forcibly coupled to the latching rim 14 of the
container body 10. Through the above series of processes, the cap
is coupled again to the container body 10, and the accommodation
space 11 in the container body is sealed in an airtight manner by
the inner airtight cap 30.
[0075] As described above, according to the present invention, the
cap 20 can be conveniently removed from or coupled to the container
body 10 merely by touching the push cap 70, the vertical movement
of which is controlled by the ascending/descending guide cap 40 and
the knock member 50 elastically supported by the elastic member 60
inside the ascending/descending guide cap, so that one or more
opening/closing operation units 80, each having a portion hingedly
coupled to the support ribs 34, perform the opening/closing
operation so as to be caught by or released from the latching rim
14 of the container body 10.
[0076] Although the preferred embodiments of the present invention
have been disclosed for illustrative purposes, those skilled in the
art will appreciate that various modifications, additions and
substitutions are possible, without departing from the scope and
spirit of the invention as disclosed in the accompanying
claims.
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