U.S. patent number 3,586,010 [Application Number 04/778,667] was granted by the patent office on 1971-06-22 for compact construction.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Eyelet Specialty Company. Invention is credited to William James Landen, Richard A. Mason, James Michael McArdle, John W. Pfrommer.
United States Patent |
3,586,010 |
Landen , et al. |
June 22, 1971 |
COMPACT CONSTRUCTION
Abstract
The invention contemplates a basic container structure in which
a closure lid is caused to unlock and popup, in response to
relative movement between a drawer and a frame; the container
comprises essentially these three parts. The interconnection
between moving parts is such that positive control is retained over
lid positioning, and there is no rattling or play between parts. In
the closed position of the lid, positive locking is achieved at
widely spaced locations, assuring a clamped peripheral seal against
loss of cosmetic or the like contents (e.g., powder) when not in
use. Customizing effects for particular customers' unique
appearance requirements are achieved by incorporation of a separate
head for the drawer, through locking engagement to the basic
construction; mold costs may thus be shared by a large number of
customers, all except for the variations involved in particular
head designs.
Inventors: |
Landen; William James
(Cheshire, CT), Pfrommer; John W. (Cheshire, CT),
McArdle; James Michael (Cheshire, CT), Mason; Richard A.
(Orange, CT) |
Assignee: |
Eyelet Specialty Company
(Wallingford, CT)
|
Family
ID: |
25114073 |
Appl.
No.: |
04/778,667 |
Filed: |
November 25, 1968 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
132/287;
206/1.5 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A45D
40/22 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
A45D
40/22 (20060101); A45D 40/00 (20060101); A45d
033/00 () |
Field of
Search: |
;132/83,79,82
;206/33,45.13,1.5,45.15,1 ;220/23.4 ;215/6 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Mancene; Louis G.
Assistant Examiner: McNeill; Gregory E.
Claims
We claim:
1. In a container of the character indicated, a drawer element
capacitated to contain cosmetic or the like material, a case frame
comprising spaced connected parallel sidewalls spanning
corresponding sides of said drawer element, guide means coacting
between the adjacent corresponding sides of said drawer element and
said sidewalls and determining telescoping movement therebetween,
said case frame being open between said sidewalls in the region
above said drawer element when in drawer-closed position, a lid
element hinged to said case frame and sized to cover the material
contained by said drawer element when said lid and drawer element
are in closed position, said lid element being movable to an open
position at substantially an obtuse angle with respect to the
lid-closed position, and connecting means offset from the hinge
axis and linking said lid element and said drawer element for
coordinated drawer and lid motion.
2. The container of claim 1, wherein said lid element includes a
mirror on the inner surface thereof.
3. The container of claim 2, in which friction means coacting
between said case frame and said lid element is operative to retain
the open position of said lid element and therefore the viewing
angle of the mirror.
4. The container of claim 1, wherein said guide means includes an
elongated groove on the inner surface of one of said sidewalls and
a stud carried by said drawer element and projecting laterally into
said groove, the alignment of said groove being offset from the
hinge axis, said linking means comprising double-acting cam means
carried by said lid element and coacting with said stud.
5. In a container of the character indicated, a plastic case frame
comprising a base integrally connecting two spaced elongated
upstanding sidewalls, and an upstanding backwall integrally
connected to said base and to the back ends of said sidewalls; a
plastic drawer with a bottom and surrounding upstanding walls
defining a cavity for cosmetic substance, said drawer being
receivable within the case frame volume defined by and between said
sidewalls; guide means coacting between said drawer and said
sidewalls for the guided selective longitudinal positioning of said
drawer between a closed position substantially fully contained
within said case frame and an open position displaced from said
closed position; a lid element pivotally carried by said sidewalls
near the upper edges of and near the back end of said sidewalls,
said lid element being movable between a closed position over the
drawer cavity and an open position at substantially an obtuse angle
removed from closed position; the inner surfaces of the sidewalls
of said case frame having like opposed elongated guide grooves
offset below the pivot axis, the integral structure of said drawer
including at the back end thereof like oppositely directed guide
studs projecting into said grooves, and said sidewalls being in
clearance relation with the adjacent drawer walls; and cam means
including like flat slotted brackets carried by said lid element in
the region of but offset from the pivot axis, the slots of said
brackets engaging said studs in the said clearances between said
drawer and said sidewalls.
6. The container of claim 5, in which at least one of said
sidewalls includes an integral elongated fraction ridge in
interference relation with the adjacent one of said brackets near
the open position of said lid element.
7. The container of claim 5, in which at least one of said
sidewalls includes an elongated friction ridge in interference
relation with an adjacent part of said drawer near the closed
position of said drawer.
8. The container of claim 7, in which said adjacent part of said
drawer is an integral guide block spaced from said stud and locally
substantially closing the said clearance, said block including a
projecting guide element extending into the adjacent sidewall
groove.
9. The container of claim 5, in which said lid element includes
like outward projections overstanding said sidewalls at a location
offset from the hinge axis and having interference with said
sidewalls to determine the open position of said lid element.
10. The container of claim 5, in which said lid element and said
drawer and said case frame are each integral plastic parts, and in
which pin means pivotally connects the lid element and case
frame.
11. The container of claim 9, in which said outward projections are
side edges of said lid element extending continuously from said
interference location to the radially outer limit of said lid
element, said continuous side edges being contiguous to the
adjacent upper edges of said sidewalls when in lid-closed
position.
12. The container of claim 5, in which said cam means includes a
lost-motion relation with said studs at the lid-closed position,
said drawer being short of its fully closed position upon onset of
said lost-motion relation, and locking means interengaging an outer
part of said lid with a part of said drawer driving the closing
movement of said drawer when in said lost-motion relation.
13. The container of claim 12, in which said interengaging locking
means comprises (1) an undercut recess in the outer end of the
drawer at the plane of said lid element when in closed position and
(2) a mating projecting ledge on the outer edge of said lid
element.
14. The container of claim 13, in which said interengaging locking
means includes beveled surfaces extending substantially the
container width.
15. The container of claim 5, in which the inner surface of said
lid element includes an integral mirror frame, and a mirror carried
within said frame.
16. The container of claim 12, in which the innner surface of said
lid element includes an integral mirror frame, and a mirror carried
within said frame, said mirror frame projecting from the
undersurface of said lid element, and the positioning and
dimensions of said frame being such as to extend within the drawer
cavity with a longitudinal clearance with respect to the front wall
of the drawer such that the mirror frame will not impair drawer
operation throughout the lost-motion relation, whereby full closure
of said drawer locks the lid-closed position with the mirror and
its frame projected into the drawer cavity to retain a dauber or
the like over the cosmetic substance in the drawer cavity.
17. The container of claim 5, in which said drawer additionally
comprises a separate pull head for the front wall of said drawer,
and interlocking means coacting between said head and said front
wall for selectively assembling to said drawer a head of desired
decorative configuration.
18. The container of claim 17, in which said interlocking means
comprises two laterally spaced dovetails aligned for interlocking
assembly of said drawer and head upon relative motion transverse to
guided drawer displacement.
19. The container of claim 18, in which detent means coacting
between said head and drawer retain the assembled dovetail
engagement.
20. The container of claim 14, in which said drawer additionally
comprises a separate pull head for the front wall of said drawer,
and interlocking means coacting between said head and said front
wall for selectively assembling to said drawer a head of desired
decorative configuration, the part of said interengaging locking
means which is carried by said drawer being formed as part of said
head, whereby said head may be the only externally exposed part of
the drawer in closed position.
21. The container of claim 20, in which said interlocking means
comprises a single elongated dovetail and socket aligned for
interlocking assembly of said drawer and head upon relative motion
in the direction of the width dimension, between lateral sides of
said drawer.
22. The container of claim 24, in which said dovetail and socket
are characterized by a gradually tapering wedge interfit.
23. The container of claim 22, in which said pull head has an
elongated bore generally parallel to the dovetail and socket
alignment and open at one lateral side of said head, the open side
of said bore facing away from the direction of movement for
assembly of said interlocking means, whereby said bore is oriented
to receive an insert appliance such that insertion to home position
in the bore reacts on said head and container in the wedging
direction of said interlocking means.
24. In a container of the character indicated, a drawer element
capacitated to contain cosmetic or the like material, a case frame
comprising spaced connected parallel sidewalls spanning
corresponding sides of said drawer element, guide means coacting
between adjacent corresponding sides of said drawer element and
said sidewalls and determining telescoping movement therebetween,
said case frame being open between said sidewalls in the region
above said drawer element when in drawer-closed position, a lid
element hinged to said case frame and sized to cover the material
contained by said drawer element when said lid and drawer element
are in closed position, and connecting means offset from the hinge
axis and linking said lid element and said drawer element for
coordinated drawer and lid motion, said connecting means comprising
interengaging stud and slotted-arm means respectively carried by
said elements, the slotted extent of said arm means including a
motion-coordinating portion and a lid-locking portion contiguous
thereto, said lid-locking portion extending substantially parallel
to said lid when said lid is in closed position; whereby in a
closing movement of said drawer element, said lid element is first
returned from opened to closed position and is then locked in
closed position by entry of said stud means into the lid-locking
portion of said arm means.
25. A container according to claim 24, in which said slotted-arm
means is carried by said lid element and said stud means is carried
by said drawer element.
26. In a container of the character indicated, a drawer element
capacitated to contain cosmetic or the like material, a case frame
comprising spaced connected parallel sides of said drawer element,
guide means coacting between adjacent corresponding sides of said
drawer element and said sidewalls and determining telescoping
movement therebetween, said case frame being open between said
sidewalls in the region above said drawer element when in
drawer-closed position, a lid element hinged to said case frame and
sized to cover the material contained by said drawer element when
said lid and drawer element are in closed position, and connecting
means offset from the hinge axis and linking said lid element and
said drawer element for coordinated drawer and lid motion, said
connecting means comprising interengaging stud and slotted-arm
means respectively carried by said members, the slotted extent of
said arm means including a motion-coordinating portion and a
lost-motion portion contiguous thereto and operative at the
lid-closed position and prior to achievement of drawer closure,
said lid and drawer having interengaging edges which align upon lid
closure but prior to complete drawer closure, said lost-motion
being of extent permitting said edges to interengage upon
subsequent drawer actuation to full-closure position, whereby lid
closure is retained by said edges.
27. A container according to claim 4, wherein said double-acting
cam means includes a straight motion-determining portion that is
generally radially extending with respect to the hinge axis, said
straight portion being inclined to one side of a normal to the
direction of drawer movement when in closed position and being
inclined on the opposed side thereof when in open position, whereby
cam action is at greater radius with respect to the hinge axis upon
start and finish of lid movement and at lesser radius between start
and finish of lid movement, thereby minimizing acceleration forces
for coordinated lid and drawer operation.
Description
COMPACT CONSTRUCTION
This invention relates to a container construction particularly
adapted for use as a ladies' compact.
In the cosmetic-container business, the customers are cosmetic
houses, and it is important to be able to supply to each customer a
container construction which that customer can regard as unique,
primarily with regard to external appearance, so that the
customer's product or product line can be readily identified and
recognized by the ultimate consuming public. The trend has been to
use of injection-molded plastic parts, and there exists a demand
for incorporation of mechanical features of sophistication in such
containers. Both these factors, namely, (a) demand for mechanical
features and (b) large variety of customer-design requirements, are
inconsistent with mold costs that may be tolerably amortized in a
given production run.
It is an object of the invention to provide an improved
construction of the character indicated, lending itself to use of a
minimum number of injection-molded plastic parts and at the same
time tolerably meeting the requirements for customer-design variety
and mechanical sophistication.
Another object is to provide a basic container construction which
incorporates the mechanical sophistication to complement the deluxe
cosmetic products of a number of different customers and which at
the same time lends itself to simple adaptation, for customized
appearance purposes, to satisfy each customer that he is getting a
different design container, unique to his own design or appearance
requirements.
A specific object is to meet the above objects with a ladies'
compact construction which is essentially all plastic.
Another specific object is to incorporate improved locking means to
retain a compact in closed position.
It is a further specific object to provide a novel compact
construction incorporating a mirror in unit-handling relation
therewith.
It is also a specific object to provide a novel popup lid and
mirror in a container of the character indicated.
It is a general object to meet the foregoing objects with mechanism
which is free of slack or play between parts and which is simple
and essentially foolproof in operation.
Other objects and various further features of novelty and invention
will be pointed out or will occur to those skilled in the art from
a reading of the following specification in conjunction with the
accompanying drawings. In said drawings, which show, for
illustrative purposes only, preferred forms of the invention:
FIGS. 1 and 2 are similar perspective views of a container of the
invention, shown respectively in closed and in open condition;
FIGS. 3, 4, and 5 are similar views in side elevation, to
respectively illustrate the closed-and-locked, the
closed-and-unlocked, and the fully open relations of parts, a
portion of the outer case being broken away and sectioned in order
to reveal internal detail and coaction;
FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a basic drawer part of the
invention;
FIG. 7 is a plan view of the drawer of FIG. 6;
FIGS. 8 and 9 are similar perspective views of different drawer
heads to illustrate selective provision of a variety of custom
appearance characterizing features in the final product;
FIG. 10 is a fragmentary perspective view of an alternative case
construction employing the drawer-assembly technique of FIGS. 6 and
8, shown just prior to full assembly;
FIG. 11 is a fragmentary perspective view of a further alternative
drawer construction;
FIGS. 12 and 13 are alternative drawer heads for the construction
of FIG. 11; and
FIG. 14 is an exploded view of the structure of FIG. 13.
Briefly stated, the invention contemplates a basic container
structure in which a closure lid is caused to unlock and popup, in
response to relative movement between a drawer and a frame; the
container comprises essentially these three parts. The
interconnection between moving parts is such that positive control
is retained over lid positioning, and there is not rattling or play
between parts. In the closed position of the lid, positive locking
is achieved at widely spaced locations, assuring a clamped
peripheral seal against loss of cosmetic or the like contents
(e.g., powder) when not in use. Customizing effects for particular
customers' unique appearance requirements are achieved by
incorporation of a separate head for the drawer, through locking
engagement to the basic construction; mold costs may thus be shared
by a large number of customers, all except for the variations
involved in particular head designs.
The invention is shown in application to a cosmetic compact, shown
closed in FIG. 1 and open in FIG. 2. This container comprises
essentially three parts, which may be injection-molded of
high-impact polystyrene, namely a body or case frame 10, a drawer
11, and a closure lid 12. Inserted pins, as at 13, pivotally relate
the lid 12 to the case 10 on a hinge axis 14 near the top surface
and at the back end of the container. Suitably bored bosses 15
integral with the underside of lid 12 provide substantial body
anchorage for press-fit permanent reception of the hinge pins,
which are journaled in the respective sidewalls 16--17 of the case
frame 10.
The case frame 10 integrally includes the sidewalls 16--17, a base
or floor 18, and a backwall 19. The lid 12 integrally includes
spaced depending brackets or arms 20--21 carrying cam elements (to
be described) and providing stabilized location of the lid 12 on
the hinge axis. At a location (22) offset from the hinge axis, the
side edge of the lid 12 projects outwardly of brackets 20--21, for
interference with the upper rear edges of sidewalls 16--17, to
determine the limiting open position of lid 12. The swing of lid 12
to this open position is preferably substantially an obtuse angle,
in the order of 100.degree., as shown. In lid-closed position, the
side edges of the lid overstand the upper edges of the case
sidewalls 16--17, which are shown reduced at an offset 23 which
matches the lid offset 22. In FIG. 3, the back edge of the lid 12
is seen to be beveled at 24 for clean close fit with a similar
undercut formation 24' (FIG. 5) at the adjacent edge of backwall
19; thus, when in lid-closed position the top surface of the lid
may be flush with the adjacent top surface of the backwall 19, and
the lid side edges may be flush with the sidewalls 16--17, as shown
in FIG. 1. A mirror 25 may be secured by snap-fit, press-fit,
adhesive or otherwise within an inwardly projecting frame or wall
26, also integrally formed with the underside of the lid 12.
The drawer element 11 comprises a bottom or floor 27 with integral
upstanding walls 28-29-30-31 defining a cavity for the containment
of cosmetic or like substance, with dauber, puff or other
applicator as desired (not shown). The drawer is received within
the volume between sidewalls 16--17 and may extend upwardly to an
extent short of the top edges of walls 16--17, as shown. In
lid-closed position, the mirror frame 26 registers with clearance,
with the interior space of the drawer cavity and it may project
slightly into this cavity to apply retaining pressure to a dauber
or the like.
The drawer 11 and the adjacent surfaces of sidewalls 16--17 include
elongated coacting guide means to limit drawer movement in a
longitudinal alignment, between the closed and open positions shown
in FIGS. 1 and 2. Such guide means could comprise opposed upper
ledges or rims on sidewalls 16--17 to define upper limits of guide
grooves and to engage the top edges of drawer walls 28--30,
relaying upon the base or floor 18 as the lower guiding limit of
the grooves; in the preferred from shown, however, the elongated
drawer-guide grooves, as at 32, are entirely formed in sidewalls
16--17, and they extend the full length to the backwall 19. Drawer
stability is achieved by laterally piloting the back outer side
surfaces of walls 28--30 on the inner surfaces of lid brackets
20--21; longitudinally removed from this location, like outwardly
projecting blocks, as at 33 on wall 30, pilot on the adjacent
surface of sidewalls 16--17. Further guide projections (34)
integral with these blocks (33) extend within the adjacent guide
groove 32. At the back end of the drawer, short brackets 35 carry
laterally outwardly projecting studs 36 (FIG. 7) which also extend
into guided relation with their adjacent guide grooves 32. The
relative outward projection of these parts is delineated in FIG. 7,
wherein the dimension D is seen to characterize the extent which
achieves engagement in groove 32 in sidewall 17, and wherein the
lesser dimension D' characterizes the offset which corresponds to
the thickness of bracket 21 and which provides the surface of block
33 to pilot on the inner surface of sidewall 17.
In accordance with a feature of the invention, the projections 36
which track the guide grooves 32, for stabilizing the rear end of
the drawer, also serve a cam follower function in connection with a
cam formation, such as a slot, in the adjacent lid bracket 20--21.
The cam is seen in FIGS. 3, 4 and 5 to be characterized by a first
or lid-actuating portion 37, extending generally radially with
respect to the pivot axis 14, and by a second or lid-locking
portion 38, extending generally parallel to the top surface of the
lid; for simplified assembly, the slot 37--38 is open ended. The
cam 37--38 may be termed double-acting, in the sense that linked
coordination of lid and drawer elements is maintained for the
substantial extent of their respective movements.
The coaction between parts will be better understood from a
described cycle of operation, in connection with Beginning with 3,
4, and 5. Beginning with the closed container of FIG. 3, the
follower 36 will be observed in the cam portion 38, wherein the
fully closed position of the drawer serves (via follower 36) to
gently force bracket 21 upwardly, to assure a lid-closing moment
about pin 13 and a firm closure of the back edge fit at 24-24'.
Initial drawer removal (to the FIG. 4 relationship) is achieved by
grasping the head 39 at the forward exposed end of the drawer. The
longitudinal displacement carries follower 36 along cam portion 38
to its juncture with the lid-actuating portion 37. This
displacement may be termed a lost-motion phase, in the sense that
there is no actuation of the lid, but in the course of this
displacement the locking moment is relieved from brackets 20--21.
This same displacement is also sufficient to clear the interlocked
and sealed relation between a projecting bevel 40 along the outer
lid edge and a similarly formed undercut edge or projection 41 on
the head 39. Further displacement, by further withdrawing the
drawer head 39, brings follower 36 along cam portion 37 to elevate
lid 12 to the full-open position of FIG. 5, wherein the described
interference occurs at offset 22. In the full-open position, the
container may be held in the hand or may be placed on a table
surface, for convenient mirror viewing; also the drawer contents
have been conveniently brought forward, ahead of the lid, for ready
access and use. To close the container, the head 39 is merely
pressed inwardly, first to cam the lid 12 closed, and then to lock
and seal the lid to the case, all in one easy and continuous
operation.
To assure firm, easy and rattle-free operation, elongated friction
ridges 42 are provided along the inner surfaces of sidewalls
16--17, beneath the grooves 32. These ridges establish light
frictional interference with the brackets 20--21, particularly for
lid-elevated positions; they provide similar coaction with the
stabilizing blocks 33 of the drawer, particularly in the
final-closure phase of drawer movement. Preferably, the offset of
ridges 42 with respect to axis 14 is such that brackets 20--21
substantially ride off these ridges at the fully closed position,
so that final cam action for locking may be substantially
unimpaired by torsional drag at 42 about axis 14.
In accordance with a further feature of the invention, the head 39
may be formed as a separately molded piece, designed for a
particular customer's unique external appearance requirements. This
separate piece is selected from a variety of ornamental designs,
including the head 39 (shown separately in FIG. 8) and the head 39'
(shown separately in FIG. 9). Each of the heads 39-39' is
integrally formed with the undercut locking edge which is
ultimately to lock the outer edge of the lid 12 in closed position.
Heads 39-39' are designed for locked assembly to the basic drawer
shape, shown best in FIG. 6, wherein parts already described will
be recognized. In the form shown, locked assembly is achieved at
two spaced dovetail engagements, involving projecting dovetails
43--44 integral with the basic front wall of drawer 11. Dovetails
43--44 enter dovetail grooves or sockets 43--44' in the selected
head 39 (or 39'). Final assembly involves inserting movement
transverse to the axis of drawer movement and may be securely
retained by suitable adhesive or by snap-action, as when detent
projections (45) enter the corresponding detent sockets (45'). It
is desired that no part of the basic drawer 11 (FIG. 6) be
externally visible when the container is closed; for this reason,
the inner bottom edge of the head 39 is stepped, notched or
recessed at 46, to the extent of the depth of the dovetail sockets
43'--44', to mate with a corresponding projection 47 (FIGS. 3, 4,
and 5) of the base 18 of the container case, as will be
understood.
It will be seen that we have described an improved container
meeting the stated objects and providing simple, positive and
smooth action, fully securing the open and closed relationships.
The container is readily assembled by (a) selecting a desired
drawer head (39, 39') and preassembling the same to a basic drawer
(FIG. 6), (b) selecting a lid 12 and entering followers 36 in the
slots 37--38 before folding the lid flat over the drawer, (c)
inserting the preassembled lid and drawer into the case 10 to align
the pivot axis, and (d) driving the pins 3 to home position. Once
assembled, the container may not be disassembled without its
destruction.
If desired, optional decorative provision may be made at the
backwall 19 in the manner described in connection with preassembly
of a selected head 39 to the front drawer wall 31. Such assembly,
as of a back head 49 to a basic case backwall 49, is illustrated in
FIG. 10, at the instant just prior to achievement of the final
position of the dovetail engagement; the assembly may involve a
duplicate of the selected drawer head (39 or 39') to complete the
unity of the customer's unique design requirements. It is noted
that the same ledge 41 on head 39 which seals and secures the front
edge of the closed lid 12 may similarly fit the back closed edge 24
of the lid when the head 39 is applied (as the back head 48) to the
backwall 49.
FIG. 11 illustrates a still further alternative formation of the
front wall 31' of the drawer 18' whereby the projection 50, for
accommodating a selected one of a variety of decorative drawer-pull
heads, is itself of such functional and decorative nature as to be
attractively marketable without receiving a separate head. The
front wall 31' overlaps all exposed adjacent edges of the body 16
and is shown integrally to include the undercut edge or projection
41' which is relied upon to overlap and retain the adjacent edge or
lip 40' of the lid 12', when closed against the case body 16. The
front wall 31' also includes an elongated pull element or
projection 50 which extends substantially the full width dimension
of the container, between lateral sides thereof. Decorative effects
such as plural spaced intaglio panels 51 may be embodied in the
front face of projection 50, shown slabbed off and flat. For
plastic-molding purposes, and for another purpose which will be
later explained, the height (or width) dimension W is preferably
slightly tapered from a lesser width W.sub.1 at one lateral side to
a greater width W.sub.2 at the opposite lateral side; this taper
may be in the order of 0.004 inch/inch of length of projection 50,
to achieve desired functional purposes without exhibiting
noticeable appearance degradation due to departure from parallelism
with respect to such rectilineal features as may otherwise
characterize the drawer or container design.
FIG. 12 shows a first illustrative separate drawer head 52 suitable
for assembly to the projection 50 of FIG. 11, to achieve a given
customer's desired decorative effect for a container of the
invention. The view of FIG. 12 is such as to directly reveal the
elongated dovetail socket 53 which is formed upon molding the head
52. Socket 53 has the same taper as described for projection 51,
resulting in the width W.sub.2 at the larger end, for firm
continuous mated interlock upon assembly to projection 51. Such
assembly is of course longitudinally telescoping, by inserting the
small end (W.sub.1) of projection 51 into the large end (W.sub.2)
of socket 53. The assembled parts may be permanently secured by a
driving fit, or by the use of detents (as at 54) suitably
registering with raised or less recessed parts (as at 55) of the
outer face of dovetail 50, or by the use of a suitable adhesive at
the interface between parts 50--52.
FIGS. 13 and 14 illustrate a further optional drawer-head or the
like attachment having a prismatic body 56 formed along one face
with a socket 53', which meets the description given for socket 53
of FIG. 12. The body 56 is provided with a bore 57 extending
generally parallel to the dovetail axis and therefore transverse to
the direction of drawer action; preferably, bore 57 terminates
short of one end of body 56 so that body 56 may serve as a closure
cap for an insert appliance such as a mascara or like applicator
58. Applicator 58 may be of the propel-repel-type, having a base
operating handle 59 and an outer tubular sheath 60 to be grasped
and relatively rotated, for selectively positioning cosmetic
substance at and out the open end (left end, in the sense of FIG.
14) of applicator 58. For the particular configuration shown, the
handle end 59 is cubic or rectangularly prismatic, and body 56 is
similarly recessed at walls 61--62, so that when applicator 58 is
returned to closed position, with shell 60 received in bore 57, the
prismatic exterior of handle 59 complements and completes the
overall appearance of the container design. To secure the
applicator when not in use, the sheath 60 may be formed with small
friction fingers or lugs or ribs projecting into interference-fit
relation with the bore 57, but in the form shown we illustrate our
preference for integrally providing wedging ridges 63--64 located
on opposite sides of the horizontal plane through the axis of bore
57. Upon inserted assembly of applicator 58 to body 56, a flat side
of handle 59 rides upon both ribs 63--64 at the same time, against
reaction of sheath 60 sliding against the remote side of bore 57.
It will be appreciated that the greatest retaining friction results
upon full insertion, with retaining forces developed essentially at
the plane of surface 61 and with a stabilized support (due to
spaced footing at 63--64), which assures a clearance 65 of uniform
appearance along the top, bottom and lateral side of the assembled
applicator 58 and body 56. For the cubic handle 59 shown, this neat
uniform appearance results upon assembly, regardless of the flat
handle side which happens to engage ridges 63--64.
By orienting the slight taper of projection 50 in the manner
described in FIG. 11 (i.e., small end at the right), consistent
with the described direction of closure of applicator 58, the
direction of closure force as retaining friction develops is the
same as the direction of telescoping interlock at 50--53, thus
assuring more secure retention of all assembled parts and
minimizing the likelihood of inadvertent disassembly of body 56
from its drawer projection 50.
Although the invention has been described in detail for the
preferred forms shown, it will be understood that modifications may
be made without departing from the scope of the invention as
defined in the claims.
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