Lipstick Case

Abstract

A lipstick case having a cylindrical case and a base which are connected for relative rotation and are effective, in conjunction with an internal shell, to displace a cup which receives a lipstick in order to extend and retract the lipstick in relation to the case. Locking arrangements are provided for releasably securing the cup in a loading position to facilitate the loading into the case of a lipstick and in a retracted position to preclude inadvertent extension of the lipstick during periods of nonuse.

Description

The present invention relates generally to containers for holding, projecting, retracting and applying bodies or sticks of medicinal, hygienic, cosmetic, marking or other dispensable substances and more particularly to a case for cosmetic preparations, such as a lipstick.

There have been innumerable constructions proposed throughout the years for the use in dispensing lipstick. Although many of these have gained widespread commercial acceptance, there is a never ending need for simplifying such lipstick cases, improving the functionality thereof and reducing the cost incident to the construction of such cases and the loading thereof with a dispensable product, such as a lipstick.

Broadly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an improved dispenser for cosmetic sticks and the like preparations which realizes one or more of the aforesaid objectives. Specifically, it is within the contemplation of the present invention to provide a lipstick case which may be constructed of three or four basic pieces which may be molded in relatively a simple manner, and which, after molding, are easily assembled and readily loaded with a cosmetic preparation, such as lipstick.

In accordance with an illustrative embodiment demonstrating objects and features of the present invention, there is provided a lipstick case which comprises an open-ended case including a cylindrical case wall having an internal spiral cam formed therein. An internal coordinating and mounting shell is disposed within the case, with the shell having at least one open end and including a cylindrical shell wall which is substantially coextensive with the case wall. The shell wall has at least one longitudinally extending slot. A lipstick cup is mounted within the shell and includes a cam follower which extends through the shell slot and engages the spiral cam. The cup is moved longitudinally of the case toward and away from the open end of the shell and the adjacent open end of the case in response to relative rotation of the shell and the case. A base is provided contiguously to the other end of the shell and the other open end of the case, with means providing an operative connection of the base and shell. Such means may take either the form of the integral molding of the base and shell or the provision of a nonrotatable interconnection therebetween. Interengaging means are provided on the base and case for rotatably interconnecting the base and case such that the relative rotation of the shell and case is effective to move the cup longitudinally of the case thereby extending and retracting the lipstick.

The above brief description as well as further objects, features and advantages of the present invention will be more fully appreciated by reference to the following detailed description of a presently preferred, but nonetheless illustrative embodiment in accordance with the present invention, when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is an exploded sectional view of a four-piece lipstick case embodying features of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a vertical section, on an enlarged scale, showing the four pieces or components of the lipstick case assembled for use;

FIG. 3 is an elevational view showing the subassembly of the internal coordinating shell and cup, with the shell being shown in section and the construction and taper thereof being greatly exaggerated for illustrative purposes;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 4--4 of FIG. 3 and looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 5 is a vertical section similar to FIG. 2 illustrating further constructional details of the present lipstick case, with the cup in its retracted position;

FIG. 6 is a sectional view similar to FIG. 5, but showing the cup in its extended and locked loading position wherein it receives a lipstick; and,

FIG. 7 is an exploded external view showing the lipstick of the present invention and a typical cover therefor.

Referring now specifically to the drawings, the four pieces of a typical lipstick case 10 embodying features of the present invention shown in FIG. 1 and are seen to include a base 12, an internal coordinating shell 14, a lipstick cup 16 and a case 18.

The base 12 is illustrated as being a relatively simple cylindrical molded parts but may be shaped to impart any desired external ornamentation to the overall case or container 10. Specifically, the base 12 includes an upstanding cylindrical wall 20 closed at one end by a bottom wall 22. In this illustrative embodiment the base 12 is formed with an internal bore 24 having an open end 24a and provided successively from the open end thereof with an internal annular locking groove 26 and a mounting seat 28. The bounding wall of the mounting seat 28 is cylindrical and is formed with longitudinally extending splines 28a. The longitudinally extending splines 28a, which are directed radially and inwardly, serve in conjunction with corresponding splines on the slotted internal shell 14 to operatively connect the base 12 and shell 14 to each other to serve as a unitary structure. In lieu of making the base 12 and 14 separate from each other, they may be formed as an integral molding, the illustration of which is deemed superfluous in that the resulting structure is identical to the assembled base 12 and shell 14.

The slotted shell 14 includes a substantially cylindrical shell wall 30 which is formed with a through shell bore 32 having opposite open ends 32a, 32b and an enlarged mounting head 34. The mounting head 34 is located at the end of the internal shell 14 remote from the end 32a and is formed on its circumference with longitudinally extending radial splines 34a. When the mounting head 34 is received within the seat 28, the splines 34a, 28a interengage and operatively connect the shell 14 and base 12 to each other. For those applications where the base 12 is a relatively simple shape, it may be more advantageous to mold the base 12 and shell 14 as a one-piece structure. For those applications where the base 12 is to be a complicated piece for the purpose of imparting a desired external appearance to the overall lipstick case and/or when it is desirable to fabricate the shell and base out of different types of plastic the two-piece construction is more advantageous.

The internal coordinating shell 14 is formed with diametrically opposed longitudinally extending coordinating slots 36, 38 which, as will subsequently be described, serve a number of functions including that of precluding the lipstick cup 16 from rotating during extension and retraction within the lipstick case. The slots 36, 38 are of identical construction. Accordingly it will suffice to describe only slot 36 in detail. The slot includes a closed end 36a, a first relatively narrow guiding section 36b and a second wide-locking section 36c which terminates in an open end 36d. The junction of the slot sections 36b, 36c provides a locking seat or ledge 36e which extends circumferentially of the shell 14. As will be detailed hereinafter, the seat or ledge 36b cooperates with a corresponding cam follower on the lipstick cup 16 for the purposes of locking the cup in a loading position contiguous to the open end 32a of the through bore 32 of the shell 14. The slot 38 is of identical construction (see parts 38a,b,c,d and e) with the corresponding locking seat 38e facing in the same circumferential direction as the seat 36e.

The lipstick cup is substantially cylindrical and includes a cup wall 40 which terminates in an end 40a which opens in the same direction as the open end 32a of the bore 32. The cup 16 receives a lipstick L as seen best in FIG. 6. Projecting from the exterior of the cylindrical wall 40 contiguous to the lower end thereof are diametrically opposed cam followers 42, 44. The cam followers extend through the slots 36, 38 and function as keys therein to preclude relative rotation of the lipstick cup 40 and the shell 14. The cam followers 42, 44 then extend into corresponding cam tracks 46, 48 formed on the interior of the case 18. Relative rotation between the base 12 and the case 18 causes the cup 16 to be longitudinally displaced due to the coaction of the cam followers 42, 44 and the cams 46, 48, with the slots 36, 38 precluding turning of the lipstick cup during the longitudinal movement thereof. As seen best in FIG. 3, the cam followers 42, 44 are of semicylindrical construction, with the flats thereof facing downwardly and being in the same plane as the bottom of the cup.

Turning now to the case 18, the spiral cam tracks 46, 48 are formed on the interior of the cylindrical wall 50 thereof. The cylindrical wall 50 terminates in an upper open end 50a through which the lipstick is loaded and subsequently extended and retracted. The internal spiral cam tracks 46, 48 are of a longitudinal extent and pitched to achieve the desired axial displacement of the lipstick cup 16 in response to relative rotation between the base 12 and case 18. The cam tracks 46, 48 are of identical construction but are displaced 180.degree. from each other. Typically, cam track 46 has an enlarged entry end 46a which receives a corresponding cam follower 42 and a terminal end 46b which serves as an end stop for the cam follower.

In order to avoid the use of complicated cam action molds, the shell 14 is of a special construction, shown on an enlarged scale in FIGS. 3 and 4. Specifically, the internal bore 32 of the shell is of progressively decreasing cross section from the upper open end 32a thereof to the lower end 32b which enables the use of a tapered core and the corresponding simple stripping of the molded part from the core. However, the provision of such taper in the bore would provide a fit between the cylindrical wall 40 and the lipstick cup 16 which would be too loose contiguous to the upper open end resulting in a product not having optimum functional attributes. Accordingly, it has been found that by the provision of longitudinally extending and circumferentially spaced internal ribs 52, there can be established a guideway of uniform cross section within the shell 14 which mounts the cup 16 for movement longitudinally thereof. The plural ribs 52 occupy a relatively small area compared to the total internal surface of the bore 32 which enables the ready stripping of the core from within this molded part. Although the ribs 52 are readily seen in FIGS. 3 and 4 due to the exaggerated showing in these figures, it will be appreciated that such ribs are virtually undiscernible in a typical molded part.

Interengaging means are provided on the base 12 and the case 18 for rotatably interconnecting the base and case such that the relative rotation of the shell and case is effective to move the cup 16 longitudinally of the case 18. To this end, the lower end of the case 18 is formed with a locking shoulder or flange 54 which is received with a snap action in the internal-locking groove 26 of the base 12.

The assembly of the molded pieces 12, 14, 16 and 18 is readily appreciated by considering FIG. 1. The lipstick cup 16 slips through end 32a into the internal bore 32 of the slotted shell 14, with the cam follower 42, 44 projecting from the slots 36, 38. The subassembly of the lipstick cup 16 and the slotted shell 14 may then be assembled with the base 12, simply by bringing the mounting head 34 into the seat 28 and interengaging the respective splines 34a, 28a. Of course it would be appreciated that this step is eliminated in the event that the base 12 and the slotted shell 14 are a one-piece molding. When so assembled, the closed ends of the longitudinal slots 36, 38 space the flat undersides of the cams 42, 44 above the shoulder 34b and the corresponding lower end of the case 18 which seats on the shoulder 34b. Thus, the cams 42, 44 are positioned within the entry ends of the spiral cam tracks 46, 48 and in a position where the inclined cam walls can readily engage beneath the cam followers such that there is no tendency for the unit to bind. Smooth and easy operation is thereby readily obtained. The final assembly operation involves the snap-fitting of the locking shoulder or flange 54 into the locking groove 26 which rotatably interconnects the base 12 and shell 14 on the one hand and the case 18 on the other. As seen in FIG. 2, the cylindrical shell wall 32 is substantially coextensive with the cylindrical case wall 50, with the upper open end 32a of the internal ribbed bore 32 lying beneath the inturned and open end 50a of the case wall 50.

Provision is made for the locking of the lipstick cup 16 in the retracted position illustrated in FIG. 5 and in the extended position illustrated in FIG. 6. The locking of the cup 16 in the retracted position precludes the inadvertent extension of the lipstick L, as for example due to vibration in shipping or handling. The ability to lock the lipstick holder and the lipstick cup 16 in the extended position facilitates the loading of the cup with the lipstick L. As seen in FIGS. 1 and 5, the entry ends (i.e., end 46a) of the cam tracks 46, 48 are enlarged to provide circumferentially offset-locking seats wherein the flats (i.e., flat 46c) will overlie the cam followers to lock the same in the retracted position. Obviously, this does not interfere with the desired operation of this lipstick case since a slight initial relative rotation of the base 12 and the case 18 will remove the cam followers 42, 44 from contact with the flats and into the operative portions of the spiral cam tracks 46, 48.

Additionally, the flat undersides of the cams 42, 44 may be brought to bear on the ledges of the slots 36, 38 (i.e., ledge 36e), as seen in FIG. 6. In this position, the cup is locked against longitudinal movement. The lipstick may be loaded therein, with the loading force merely securing to more firmly seat the lipstick cup in its locked position. Here again, slight relative rotation will bring the cam followers 42, 44 into the operative guiding sections of the longitudinal shell slots 36, 38 restoring the case to its normal mode of operation.

From the foregoing it will be readily appreciated by those skilled in the art that the construction of the present invention facilitates the use of conventional molds with no side actions. Further, the assembly of the components or parts of the lipstick case 10 is such that it may be achieved with relatively simple manipulated steps and employing relatively simple jigs or fixtures. Still further, the construction is such that it facilitates the easy loading of the lipstick into its supporting cup.

As may be appreciated by considering FIG. 7, it is a relatively simple matter to impart various ornamentations to the exterior of the lipstick case. Such ornamentation is determined by the external appearance of the base 12 and the cover 56 which is slipped over the case 18 in the usual fashion.

A latitude of modification, change and substitution is intended in the foregoing disclosure and in some instances some features of the invention will be employed without a corresponding use of other features. Accordingly, it is appropriate that the appended claims be construed broadly and in a manner consistent with the spirit and scope of the invention herein.

Claims

What I claim is:

1. A lipstick case comprising an open-ended case including a cylindrical case wall having a substantially continuous outer surface and an internal spiral cam formed therein, an internal-coordinating shell mounted within said case, said shell having at least one open end and including a cylindrical shell wall which is substantially coextensive with said wall and further including external splines, said shell wall having at least one longitudinal extending slot, a lipstick cup mounted within said shell, a cam follower on said cup extending through said slot and engaging said spiral cam, said cup being moved longitudinally of said case toward and away from said one open end of said shell and the adjacent open end of said case in response to rotation of said shell and case relative to each other, a base contiguous to the other end of said shell and the other open end of said case, said base defining internal splines, said splines interconnecting said base and said shell and interengaging means including a coacting annular shoulder and locking groove for rotatably interconnecting said base and case such that the relative rotation of said shell and case is effective to move said cup longitudinally of said case.