Compact with removable and replaceable storage tray

A container for powder, cosmetics and other materials has a base member having an interior wall defining a sized and shaped storage tray receptacle, a closure member pivotally connected to the base member is movable from open to closed position and vice versa. A sized and shaped storage tray is disposed to fit into the storage tray receptacle in the base member, and at least one retainer assembly formed on the storage tray and wall means of the base member including, a manually operable yieldable section to enable the storage tray to be removable fixed in assembled position in the base member. The container as above described including spaced compartments in the storage tray for powder, cosmetics and other materials and an applicator for use therewith.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
This invention relates generally to containers and compacts and more 
particularly to a makeup container or compact with a removable storage 
tray for cosmetics, powders and the like material and the associated 
applicator. 
The cosmetic industry for many years has sought to develop a makeup 
container or compact which is adapted to receive a removable and 
replaceable storage section for various types of cosmetics, powders and 
the like. 
This was due in part to the wasteful prior art type of makeup container and 
compacts which had to be discarded after the cosmetics contained therein 
were used up or became unusable for various reasons. These prior art 
containers which had to be discarded had in many instances outer 
containers which were expensive. 
Additionally, because of the wide variety of cosmetics that were used and 
the variations in colorations for example in eye shadows which either were 
in vogue or which varied depending on the time of the day that such eye 
shadow was used made it necessary for the manufacturer to provide a whole 
series of makeup containers or compacts each containing various types of 
colors which required a substantial inventory in order to meet the needs 
of the purchasing public. 
Since the manufacture of the products preceded the placing of these 
products on the market, the problem of selecting colors which would be 
popular for a given cosmetic required some "crystal-ball guessing" on the 
part of the manufacturer which if wrong could result in a substantial 
losses of sales due to the lack of demand for the manufacturer's quantity 
of warehoused makeup containers or compacts in the wrong color. 
The outer casing for makeup containers and compacts constitutes the major 
cost in their manufacturer. Therefore, manufacturers of these makeup 
containers and compacts for the cosmetic industry have sought to develop 
units in which a single outer casing for a makeup container or compact can 
be so utilized that a plurality of varying storage inserts can be 
connected therein in accordance with the needs of the ultimate consumer. 
In an effort to meet these problems the manufacturers of makeup containers 
and cosmetics have from time to time developed makeup containers or 
compacts with outer containers of relatively expensive construction which 
are adapted to receive inserts containing the cosmetic materials thus 
permitting the marketing representative for the manufacturer to keep a 
smaller number of outer casings and an inventory of makeup inserts having 
a wide variety of colors which can be selected by the ultimate consumers. 
Thus, in U.S. Pat. No. 4,132,306 a makeup container construction is shown 
having an outer container with spaced recess portions into which one or 
more of a variety of makeup inserts made of a sufficiently resilient 
material and provided with extended tapered lugs thereon can be aligned 
with the groove in the outer casing so that the makeup insert or inserts 
can be snap fitted into position. 
This makeup container construction while meeting the need for permitting 
selection of the desired color does not overcome the economic waste which 
occurred with the prior art devices because this construction also had to 
be discarded when the cosmetic was used up because the makeup insert or 
inserts could not be removed once the makeup insert was snap fitted into 
assembled position. 
Other efforts to meet this conjoint problem of easily available selectivity 
and of overcoming the problems of discarding the more expensive outer 
casing are illustrated by U.S. Pat. Nos. 1,642,611; 1,643,944; 1,647,917; 
1,664,301 and 1,686,973 in which the insert with the cosmetic material can 
be removably fixed in the expensive outer casing and then by ejector means 
operatively associated therewith can be actuated to enable the insert 
containing the cosmetic when used up or rendered non-usable to be removed 
and replaced by another insert of similar shape and form containing fresh 
cosmetics therein. 
U.S. Pat. No. 2,866,467 shows a makeup insert which can be inserted through 
an opening in the bottom of the outer casing having resilient projections 
which yield during the inserting movement and then engage in a suitable 
groove in the makeup insert to hold the same in assembled position until 
the makeup or cosmetic in the insert is used up at which time the insert 
can be pried loose and replaced with a new insert. 
U.S. Pat. Nos. 1,694,325 and 3,592,201 show compacts or makeup containers 
in which projection either on the outer casing or on the makeup insert 
coact with grooved sections to permit the insert to be forced into 
assembled position. 
A similar problem to that of the cosmetic industry has been met in the arts 
and crafts industry for the construction of color boxes where a frame for 
holding various inserts is held by spaced projections on the storage frame 
for the inserts which coact with grooves in the coloring box casing as is 
shown in U.S. Pat. No. 680,658. 
The present invention provides an improved makeup container or compact for 
cosmetics and other material for overcoming these problems of the prior 
art by providing in the base member of the outer casing a receptacle for a 
removable storage tray sized and shaped to fit therein which has a 
retaining assembly consisting of at least one resilient coacting clasp 
means on the side thereof disposed in fitted resilient or assembled 
position in the receptacle to engage an aligned groove in the wall of the 
base member to hold the removable storage tray in assembled position, the 
coacting clasp has an actuator which can be manually operated to release 
and remove the storage tray from the receptacle in the base member of the 
makeup container or compact. This clasp means enables the user to replace 
the used storage tray with a new removable storage tray as may be 
required, thus permitting a single outer casing for a makeup container or 
compact to be utilized with a plurality of removable and replaceable 
storage trays having the desired makeup or cosmetics therein. 
SUMMARY AND OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION 
Thus the present invention covers an improved container for powders, 
cosmetics and other materials comprising, a base member having, inner wall 
means defining a sized and shaped receptacle, a closure member pivotally 
connected to the base member for movement from open to closed position, a 
removable storage tray sized and shaped to fit into the receptacle in the 
base member, and a retainer assembly operatively associated with the base 
member and the removable storage tray to removably fix the storage tray in 
assembled position in the base member. 
Additionally, the container as above described including, spaced 
compartments connectible in the removable storage tray for powder, 
cosmetics and other material, and the applicator therefor. 
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a 
container such as a makeup container or a compact having an outer casing 
defining a receptacle therein adapted to receive a wide variety of 
removable and replaceable storage trays or cosmetic inserts. 
It is another object of the present invention to provide an improved 
container, compact and the like which will permit the marketing retailer 
to maintain a relatively small inventory of outer casings and a large 
inventory of removable storage trays each having a variety of the 
relatively low cost cosmetics in varying colors for use therein, and for 
reorder and replacement as may be required by the user. 
It is a still further object of the present invention to provide an 
improved container, compact and the like having an outer casing defining a 
receptacle therein adapted to receive a wide variety of removable and 
replaceable storage trays wherein the storage trays and inner wall means 
in the outer casing have a coacting resilient retainer assembly means 
which can be manually operated to enable the various storage trays to be 
selectively and alternatively inserted, removed and replaced as may be 
required by the user. 
The above and other objects of the present invention will become apparent 
from the description of a preferred embodiment in accordance with the 
present invention described in conjunction with the accompanying drawings 
in which:

DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
The FIGURES of the drawings show a compact generally designated 10 in 
accordance with the present invention. Compact 10 is provided with a base 
11 and a mating cover or closure member 12 which is pivotally connected to 
the base member as by spaced hinges generally designated 13 and 14 to 
permit the cover member to be moved or pivoted from closed to open 
position and vice versa relative the base member. 
A latch generally designated 15 formed on the base 11 and cover 12 at a 
point generally opposite from the hinges 13 and 14 provides means for 
locking and holding the cover 12 in the closed position on the base member 
11 as is shown in FIGS. 1 to 4 of the drawings. A fingertip groove or 
space 16 in the base member 11 enables the user of the compact 10 to exert 
manual pressure for releasing the cover 12 from the locked or engaged 
position so it can be moved or pivoted to the freely open position. 
Base 11 and cover 12 are preferably molded from plastic material such as 
polypropylene, acrylonitrile-butadiene styrene (ABS) and polycarbonate to 
provide the proper finish and appearance required to aid the marketability 
of these compacts in connection with the removable and replaceable storage 
tray generally designated 17 which is operatively or removably connected 
into the base 11 to accomplish the objects and purposes of the present 
invention as is more fully described below. 
Further while the preferred form of compact in accordance with the present 
invention is illustrated in rectangular forms those skilled in the art 
will readily recognize that the compact can be square, oval, round or even 
irregular in shape without departing from the scope of the present 
invention. 
Base 11 has a peripheral edge as at 20 which is generally continuous except 
for the spaced indented flange sections as at 13a and 14a. Associated 
hinge members 13b and 14b on the cover member 12 are so fitted into the 
idented hinge section that suitable hinge pins as at 13c and 14c can be 
disposed across the indented section and in engagement with the hinge 
members 13b and 14b to form the hinge to permit the cover to be pivoted 
relative the base 11 when mounted in this assembled position thereon. 
FIGS. 1 to 7 further show that the cover member 12 is sized and shaped to 
fit and engage the base member 11 and like the base member is provided 
with a peripheral edge as at 21. The respective upper surface 20a of the 
base member defines a first sealing face and the lower surface 21a of the 
peripheral edge 21 on the cover member provides a second sealing surface 
which will coact with each other to provide sealing engagement when the 
cover member is pivoted to the closed or engaged position relative the 
base 11. 
The cover member is provided with an annular wall 22 which defines a mirror 
receptacle in which a conventional mirror 24 is mounted or adhesively 
connected as is well known to those skilled in the art. 
The base member 11 will also be provided on each respective side thereof 
with slots or spaces as at 25 and 26 for purposes that will appear clear 
hereinafter in connection with the description of the retainer means for 
removably connecting the storage tray 17 into assembled position in the 
base 11. 
Thus, inwardly of the peripheral edge 20 on the base member the inner wall 
27 defines a sized and shaped storage tray receptacle 28 into which the 
correspondingly sized and shaped storage tray 17 may be snugly fitted by 
snapping the same into assembled position in the receptacle by means of a 
pair of oppositely spaced retainer assemblies as at 29 and 30 as is 
clearly shown in FIGS. 6, and 8 to 14 of the drawings; now to be 
described. 
RETAINER ASSEMBLIES 
FIGS. 6, 9 and 13 show that the inner face of the inner wall 27 in the base 
member 11 defining the storage tray receptacle 28 has in each of the 
oppositely spaced side walls 27a and 27b thereof indentation as at 31 and 
32, each respectively disposed in the medial section of the associated 
side wall in general alignment with the side slots or spaces 25 and 26. 
The removable and replaceable storage tray member 17 is provided in the 
respective oppositely spaced side walls with spaced slots as at 33a and 
33b to define a first yieldable or movable member 34 and spaced slots 35a 
and 35b to define a second yieldable or movable member 36. Continuous with 
each of the yieldable or movable members 34 and 36 are outwardly extending 
lateral projections as at 37 and 38 which are in a predetermined position 
such that when the storage tray 17 is pressed into position in the storage 
tray receptacle 28 formed in the base member 11 the yieldable or movable 
section 34 and 36 can be distorted sufficiently by there lateral 
projections 37 and 38 to permit the lateral projections 37 and 38 to enter 
the storage tray receptacle 28 until they are aligned and brought into 
engagement with the spaced indentations 31 and 32 in the side faces of the 
inner wall 27 in the base member thus acting to hold or lock the given 
storage tray being inserted into assembled position in the base member of 
compact 10 all of which is clearly shown in FIGS. 6, 9 and 10 to 14 of the 
drawings. 
FIGS. 6, 9 and 10 to 14 further show that continuous with the respective 
upper surfaces of the yieldable or movable sections 34 and 36 are 
oppositely disposed or laterally extending L-shaped actuating members 39 
and 40 so sized and shaped that when the storage tray 17 is in assembled 
position in the receptacle 28 formed in base 11, the L-shaped actuating 
members 39 and 40 will lie in the oppositely spaced side slots or spaces 
25 and 26 in the peripheral edge 20 of the base 11. Thus, when the compact 
10 is in the open position the L-shaped actuating members 33 and 34 can be 
accessed for the application of manual pressure from opposite directions 
to force the yieldable members 34 and 36 inwardly thus causing the lateral 
projections 37 and 38 on the outer face of the yieldable sections to 
disengage from the indentation 31 and 32 in the side walls 27a and 27b of 
the inner wall 27 defining the storage tray receptacle 28 in the base 11. 
When the lateral projections 37 and 38 are so disengaged, the storage tray 
17 can be separated from the storage tray receptacle 28 and removed from 
the compact 10. 
A new storage tray or a replacement storage tray can now be fitted into the 
storage tray receptacle 28 by manually pressing the storage tray into 
position until the lateral projections 37 and 38 thereon engage the 
indentations 31 and 32 on the sides 27a and 27b of the wall 27 of the base 
11. 
The intermediate removable and replaceable storage tray 17 is provided with 
a bottom 42 and annular side wall 43 which define a storage space 45 
divided by a plurality of transverse partitions as at 46a, 46b, 46c, 46d 
and 48e into compartments 48a, 48b, 48c, 48d 48e and 48f, for example, for 
storing a plurality of eyeshadow cosmetics of different shades for a given 
color, not shown, and an applicator, not shown, as is shown in FIG. 8 of 
the drawings. 
Those skilled in the art will readily recognize that the transverse 
partitions can be readily varied in size and shape to adjust the size of 
the various compartments formed in the storage tray 17. 
Reference is also made to the drawings which show that the slots or spaces 
25 and 26 are beveled on opposite sides at 49 and 50 as shown in FIG. 9 
for slot or space 26 and the associated opposite coacting sides of the 
L-shaped manual actuating members 39 and 40 are also beveled as at 51 and 
52 for the L-shaped actuating member 40 in FIG. 14. This will permit 
yieldable or movable sections 34 and 36 and their associated L-shaped 
manual activating members 39 and 40 to fit into the slots 25 and 26 when a 
given storage tray 17 is snapped into assembled position in the base 11 of 
compact 10. 
Those skilled in the art will recognize that while the preferred embodiment 
described is illustrated for eye shadow cosmetics that it may be used for 
other types of cosmetics such as powders or the like or other materials 
when it is necessary to maintain small quantities of such materials 
readily available for various purposes. 
OPERATION 
The compact 10 can be manually opened by exerting finger pressure in the 
finger groove 16 until the latch 15 is released from the engaged position. 
The cover 12 can now be pivoted to an open position. In the open position 
a storage tray insert member 17 filled with the desired cosmetics or other 
material is pressed into the storage tray receptacle space 28 in the base 
member until the lateral projections 37 and 38 engage the indentations 31 
and 32 as above described to hold or fix the storage tray 17 in assembled 
position in the base member 11. 
In this position the L-shaped actuating members 39 and 40 overlie the side 
slots or spaces 25 and 26 in the peripheral edge 20 of the base member 11 
as is shown in FIGS. 6, 9 and 13 of the drawings. 
The cover 12 is now pressed and latched in the closed position so that the 
lower peripheral edge 21a on the cover 12 and the upper peripheral edge 
20a on the base 11 will engage and seal the compact until it is necessary 
to open the compact for access to the cosmetics or other materials therein 
in the storage tray 17. 
When access to the cosmetics or other material in the spaced compartments 
is again desired manual pressure is applied to the finger groove 16 until 
the latch 15 disengages and the cover 12 is released and can be pivoted to 
open position for this purpose. 
If it is desired to remove the storage tray 17, then when the compact is in 
the open position manual forces are exerted on the oppositely disposed 
L-shaped actuating members 39 and 40 until the oppositely disposed lateral 
projections 37 and 38 are released from engagement with the indentations 
31 and 32. The tray can now be lifted out of the storage tray receptacle 
28 and a new storage tray inserted in place thereof. 
Thus an improved compact with a relatively simple removable and replaceable 
storage tray for makeup containers and compacts has been disclosed to 
provide great versatility for meeting and overcoming the commercial 
problems of the prior art which were not only wasteful, uneconomical but 
complicated the problems of the manufacturing and marketing of modern day 
makeup containers, compacts and the materials contained therein. 
It will be understood that the invention is not to be limited to the 
specific construction or arrangement of parts shown but that they may be 
widely modified within the invention defined by the claims.