Cosmetic container

A cosmetic container includes a threaded rod, a sleeve, a nut, a ratcheted wheel, a shell, a lining and a button. The nut is connected to the sleeve and inserted in the shell so that they are not allowed to translate or rotate relative to one other. The threaded rod is engaged with the nut. The shell is connected to the sleeve so that they are not allowed to translate or rotate relative to each other. The ratcheted wheel is movably inserted in the shell. The lining is inserted in the shell so that they are not allowed to translate or rotate relative to each other. The button is partially inserted in the lining so that they are not rotatable but translatable relative to each other. Every time the button is pushed, a cosmetic product is extended from the sleeve by the threaded rod.

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION

1. Field of Invention

The present invention relates to a cosmetic container and, more particularly, to a container including a button operable to extend a lipstick from the container.

2. Related Prior Art

A lipstick is used to moisturize a lip so that the lip shines and renders a face beautiful and sexy. Lipstick is the most popular cosmetics.

Conventionally, a user rotates a handle of a container in a first sense of direction to extend a lipstick from the container or in a second sense of direction to withdraw the lipstick into the container. It is difficult to use the lipstick if too short a section of the lip stick is extended from the container. In this case, the user further rotates the handle in the first sense of direction to extend the lipstick from the container. It is easy to bent and break the lipstick if too long a section of the lipstick is extended from the container. The user rotates the handle in the second sense of direction to withdraw the lipstick into the container. It is however difficult to extend a proper section of the lipstick from the container.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

It is an objective of the present invention to provide a precision cosmetic container.

To achieve the foregoing objective, the cosmetic container includes a shell, stationary ratchets, a sleeve, a nut, a threaded rod, a ratcheted wheel and a button. The stationary ratchets are attached to the internal face of the shell. The sleeve is non-movably connected to the shell. The nut is non-movably inserted in the shell. The non-circular threaded rod is engaged with the nut. The ratcheted wheel is movable in the shell and includes a non-circular aperture and ratchets. The non-circular aperture receives the non-circular threaded rod so that the ratcheted wheel is not rotatable but translatable relative to the non-circular threaded rod. The ratchets of the ratcheted wheel are engageable with the stationary ratchets. The button includes teeth formed at an end of a tube not rotatable but translatable in the shell. The teeth are engaged with the ratchets of the ratcheted wheel. Every time the button is pushed, the teeth push and disengage the ratchets of the ratcheted wheel from the stationary ratchets to allow the teeth of the ratcheted wheel to slide on the teeth so that the ratcheted wheel is translated and rotated in the shell, thereby rotating and translating the non-circular threaded rod relative to the nut to extend a cosmetic product from the sleeve.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

Referring toFIG.1, a cosmetic container10includes a cap11, a pusher12, a threaded rod13, a spring14, a sleeve20, a nut31, a ratcheted wheel40, a shell50, a lining60and a button70according to a first embodiment of the present invention. The pusher12is allowed to translate in and along the sleeve20. The nut31is connected to the sleeve20and inserted in the shell50so that they are not allowed to translate or rotate relative to one other. The threaded rod13is engaged with the nut31. The shell50is connected to the sleeve20so that they are not allowed to translate or rotate relative to each other. The ratcheted wheel40is movably inserted in the shell50. The spring14is compressed between the ratcheted wheel40and the nut31. The lining60is inserted in the shell50so that they are not allowed to translate or rotate relative to each other. The button70is partially inserted in the lining60so that they are not rotatable but translatable relative to each other.

Referring toFIG.2, the sleeve20includes a flange21formed between a front section and a rear section. The rear section of the sleeve20is fitted in the shell50so that a rear face of the flange21is in contact with a front end of the shell50. The front section of the sleeve20can be covered by the cap11so that a front face of the flange21is in contact with a rear end of the cap11. The button70includes a rear end extending from a rear end of the shell50. The rear end of the button70can be pushed to extend a section of the cosmetic container10from the shell50.

Referring toFIGS.1and3, the pusher12and the nut31are inserted in the rear section of the sleeve20. The spring14, the ratcheted wheel40and the lining60are inserted in chamber53. A tube71extending forward from the button70is inserted in the lining60. The threaded rod13is inserted in the pusher12, the nut31, the spring14, the ratcheted wheel40and the tube71.

The ratcheted wheel40includes ratchets41extending from a rear end or face, an axle42extending from a front end or face, and a non-circular aperture43. The non-circular aperture43is made between two planar sides46. There are six teeth41for example. Each of ratchets41includes a slope44and a vertical facet (not numbered).

The shell50includes a front opening51in a front end, a rear opening52in a rear end, and a chamber53in communication with both the openings51and52. The shell50includes two annular ridges54and57on an internal face and an annular groove58in the internal face.

On an external face, the lining60includes a reinforce rib61, an annular ridge62and two planar facets63. The lining60includes two lateral slots64, an axial tunnel65in communication with the slots64, and ratchets66extending from a front end of the lining60. There are six ratchets66for example. Each of the ratchets66includes a slope67(FIG.8) and a vertical facet (not numbered).

The lining60is inserted in the chamber53through the rear opening52. The reinforce rib61is in contact with the annular ridge57. The annular ridge62is inserted in the annular groove58. Thus, the lining60is kept in position longitudinally in the shell50.

Referring toFIG.7as well asFIGS.1and3, two rectilinear ridges59extend from the internal face of the shell50. The external face of the lining60includes two planar facets63in contact with the rectilinear ridges59, thereby preventing the lining60from rotation in the shell50.

The tube71of the button70includes an axial space75. Two leaf springs73are formed by cutting two U-shaped slits72in the tube71. A boss74transversely extends from a free end of each of the leaf springs73. The tube71is inserted in the chamber53via the rear opening52. Moreover, the tub71is inserted in the tunnel65. The bosses74are movable in and along the slots64. The movement of each of the bosses74is limited by two closed ends of the corresponding one of the slots64. Thus, the tube71is kept in the lining60yet allowing the tube71to move in the lining60.

Referring toFIGS.1and9, teeth76extend from a front end of the tube71. There are four teeth76for example. Each of the teeth76is formed with two slopes77A and77B and a vertical facet78. The slope77A extends shorter than the slope77B. The vertical face78extends from the slope77A. There is a gap79between any adjacent two of the teeth76.

The sleeve20includes a rear section inserted in the chamber53via the front opening51. The sleeve20includes a passageway25extending between an exit24and an entrance26.

The cap11is used to cover an exit24of the sleeve20. On an internal face, the cap11includes an annular ridge29in contact with a conical face22of the sleeve20.

The nut31includes a flange30extending around a rear section of the nut31, two fins32extending in a radial manner from a front section of the nut31, and an internal thread33extending on an internal face of the nut31. The nut31is inserted the passageway25via the entrance26. The flange30closes the entrance26. Referring toFIG.7, the fins32are inserted in two cutouts27made in a rear annular edge of the sleeve20to prevent the nut31from rotation relative to the sleeve20.

The threaded rod13includes an annular groove16between a head15and a flange17. Preferably, the head15, the annular groove16and the flange17are different portions of a single element that is connected to the threaded rod13.

A thread35of the threaded rod13is engaged with the internal thread33of the nut31. The insertion of the threaded rod13into the nut31is stopped when the flange17is in contact with a front end of the nut31. The threaded rod13is inserted in a non-circular aperture43of the ratcheted wheel40and a space75of the tube71. The threaded rod13is formed with two planar faces34(FIG.6). The planar faces34are in contact with the planar sides46so that the threaded rod13is rotatable together with the ratcheted wheel40. That is, the ratcheted wheel40is rotatable to rotate the threaded rod13synchronously. The head15is inserted in a tunnel19in the pusher12. The annular groove16receives an annular ridge (not numbered) extending from the wall of the tunnel19. The flange17closes the tunnel19. The pusher12is operable to push a cosmetic product18such as a lipstick toward an exit24of the sleeve20.

The axle42is inserted in a rear end of the spring14while the rear section of the nut31is inserted in a front end of the spring14. As mentioned above, the spring14is compressed between the nut31and the ratcheted wheel40so that the ratchets41are elastically engaged with the ratchets66. That is, the spring14, the ratcheted wheel40and the lining60together become a clutch.

Referring toFIG.4, in the internal face, the shell50further includes two front rectilinear groove55and two rear rectilinear grooves56. The front rectilinear grooves55extend to the first annular ridge54from the front opening51. The rear rectilinear grooves56extend from another side of the first annular ridge54.

Referring toFIG.5, the flange21covers the front opening51, the first annular ridge54abuts against the annular ridge23to keep the sleeve20in the shell50. The front rectilinear grooves55receive two rectilinear ridges28extending from the sleeve20to prevent the sleeve20from rotation relative to the shell50. The rear rectilinear grooves56receive the fins32to prevent the nut31from rotation relative to the shell50.

Referring toFIGS.8and9, the button70is not pushed. The ratchets41are engaged with the ratchets66(FIG.8) so that the ratcheted wheel40is not rotatable relative to the lining60. Two opposite ones of the ratchets41are engaged with two opposite ones of the teeth76.

Referring toFIG.10, the button70is pushed as indicated by an arrow head F. The teeth76translate and hence disengage the ratchets41from the ratchets66. The slopes44slide on the slopes77A, thereby rotating the ratcheted wheel40indicated by an arrow head R. The ratcheted wheel40rotates the threaded rod13relative to the nut31so that the threaded rod13is translated relative to the nut31as indicated by an arrow head M. Hence, the pusher12, which is connected to the threaded rod13, extends the cosmetic product18from the sleeve20.

Referring toFIG.8, the button70is released, i.e., not pushed. The spring14pushes the ratcheted wheel40which pushes the tube71. Hence, the button70is pushed from the shell50. Then, the ratchets41are engaged with the ratchets66.

As discussed above, every time the button70is pushed, the ratcheted wheel40is rotated for a constant angle. Due to the insertion in the non-circular aperture43, the non-circular threaded rod13is rotated for the same angle. For the engagement with the nut31, the threaded rod13is translated for a constant distance, and so is the pusher12. Hence, the cosmetic product18is extended from the sleeve20for the same distance.

Referring toFIG.11, there is a cosmetic container according to a second embodiment of the present invention. The second embodiment is like the first embodiment except for using a shell50′ instead of the shell50. The shell50′ is actually a combination of the shell50with the lining60. The tube71is inserted in the shell50′ so that the rear end of the button70extends out of the shell50′ via a rear opening52′. Instead of the slots64, two grooves64′ are used to receive the bosses74. Instead of the ratchets66, ratchets66′ of the shell50′ are elastically engaged with the ratchets41of the ratcheted wheel.

The present invention has been described via the illustration of the embodiments. Those skilled in the art can derive variations from the embodiments without departing from the scope of the present invention. Therefore, the embodiments shall not limit the scope of the present invention defined in the claims.