Container

A container has a main body assembly, a top cover, and a top cover open-close operating unit. The main body assembly has a base and a sleeving cylinder. The sleeving cylinder rotatably sleeves the base and has an accommodating space with an opening upward and being capable of accommodating a content. The top cover is pivotally mounted on a top of the sleeving cylinder and is capable of opening and closing the opening of the accommodating space. The top cover open-close operating unit is moveably mounted in the main body assembly and is connected to the top cover. When the sleeving cylinder is rotated relative to the base, the sleeving cylinder drives the top cover to open or to close the opening of the accommodating space of the sleeving cylinder via the top cover open-close operating unit. The container facilitates ease in operation in opening and closing.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a container, especially to a container for cosmetics and medications and specialized in easy operation of opening.

2. Description of the Prior Arts

Cosmetics and medications in the form of paste or powder are packed in containers. As for cosmetics, a container is not only for accommodation, so how to facilitate the operation of opening and closing of cosmetic containers is one of the key projects to research and develop in the field of cosmetic containers. A conventional cosmetic container has a main body and a top cover. The main body forms an accommodating space inside with an opening upward to accommodate cosmetics. The top cover can be threaded with the main body to close the accommodating space, and be unthreaded to open the accommodating space.

However, the abovementioned conventional cosmetic container requires the user to rotate the top cover relative to the main body for multiple rounds to open or to close, which is inconvenient in operation to the user. Considering the ease of use, the conventional cosmetic container with a threaded cap needs to be improved.

To overcome the shortcomings, the present invention provides a container to mitigate or obviate the aforementioned problems.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The main objective of the present invention is to provide a container that facilitates ease in operation in opening and closing.

The container has a main body assembly, a top cover, and a top cover open-close operating unit. The main body assembly has a base and a sleeving cylinder. The sleeving cylinder rotatably sleeves the base and has an accommodating space with an opening upward and being capable of accommodating a content. The top cover is pivotally mounted on a top of the sleeving cylinder of the main body assembly and is capable of opening and closing the opening of the accommodating space. The top cover open-close operating unit is moveably mounted in the main body assembly and is connected to the top cover. When the sleeving cylinder is rotated relative to the base clockwise or counterclockwise, the sleeving cylinder drives the top cover to open or to close the opening of the accommodating space of the sleeving cylinder via the top cover open-close operating unit.

By the structure above, the container has the following advantages.

1. Ease in operation: The container can contain contents such as cosmetics or medications by the sleeving cylinder of the main body assembly. The sleeving cylinder can rotate relative to the base clockwise or counterclockwise in a pre-set angle range. When the sleeving cylinder is rotated relative to the base, the sleeving cylinder can move the top cover open-close operating unit to drive the top cover to open and or close the opening of the accommodating space on the top of the sleeving cylinder, which provides the user with an easy operation of opening or closing the top cover when storing or dispensing the content.

2. Ease in marking of recycling categories: The base and the sleeving cylinder of the main body assembly, the top cover, and the top cover open-close operating unit can all be made of plastic so that the container can be mass-produced by molding. Besides, since all those components can be made of plastic, marking the recycling category on each of those components is easy, which enables the container to be directly and simply classified during recycling, eliminates the need of classifying different materials, and therefore reduces time and cost of the recycling process.

Moreover, the sleeving cylinder of the main body assembly can also accommodate a content unit. The content unit has an accommodating case and a content such as cosmetics or medications installed in the accommodating case. The top of the accommodating case is sealed with a detachable sealing film, so that the content such as cosmetics or medications can be pre-sealed between the accommodating case and the sealing film, so as to avoid contamination of the content. On the other hand, by pre-loading the content such as cosmetics or medications into the content unit, the content can be easily loaded into the main body assembly. If the user intends to change the color or the type of the content, under the condition that the base, the sleeving cylinder, the top cover, and the top cover open-close operating unit can all be reused, the user can only replace the content unit with a new one that is loaded with a preferred content, thereby reducing waste of resources and lowering replacement costs.

Additionally, the annular wall of the base forms an up-and-down guiding groove. The top cover open-close operating unit is up-and-down moveably mounted in the sleeving cylinder and has a guiding segment mounted in the up-and-down guiding groove of the base. By the sleeving cylinder rotating relative to the base in a pre-set angle range, the guiding segment can be moved along the up-and-down guiding groove to switch height positions, so as to lift or to drop the top cover open-close operating unit in the sleeving cylinder and then easily and smoothly drive the top cover to open or to close.

Last but not the least, the bottom surface of the base forms a connecting recess. By the connecting recess, the container can be mounted on a connecting unit of a fixed object that is fixed on a dressing table or any table surface, so that the container can be positioned on the fixed object, which allows the user to rotate the sleeving cylinder of the main body assembly to easily open or close the top cover with one hand.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

With reference toFIGS.1to3, a preferred embodiment of a container in accordance with the present invention is adapted to accommodate contents such as cosmetics and medications. The container comprises a main body assembly1, a top cover30, and a top cover open-close operating unit40.

With reference toFIGS.1to3,5, and6, the main body assembly1has a base10and a sleeving cylinder20. The sleeving cylinder20is moveably sleeved on the base10, and is capable of rotating relative to the base10. The sleeving cylinder20has an accommodating space200having an opening upward. The accommodating space200is adapted to directly accommodate a content52such as cosmetics and medications, or the accommodating space200can also be configured to accommodate a content unit50that is loaded with the content52such as cosmetics and medications.

With reference toFIGS.1to3,5, and6, the content unit50has an accommodating case51and the content52contained in the accommodating case51. A sealing film511removably seals a top of the accommodating case to seal the content52between the accommodating case51and the sealing film511, so as to prevent the content52from being polluted. When in use, the sealing film511is first peeled off from the top of the accommodating case51. By pre-loading the content52such as cosmetics or medications into the content unit50, the content52can be easily loaded into the main body assembly1. If the user intends to change the color or the type of the content52, under the condition that the base10, the sleeving cylinder20, the top cover30, and the top cover open-close operating unit40can all be reused, the user can only replace the content unit50with a new one that is loaded with a preferred content52. Preferably, in the content unit50shown inFIGS.1to3,5, and6, a positioning protrusion53is mounted on the top of the accommodating case51and is adapted to be mounted in the sleeving cylinder20to position the accommodating case51.

With reference toFIGS.1to3,5, and6, in this embodiment, the base10of the main body assembly1has a pedestal11, a sleeve segment12, and a top cover buckling segment13. The sleeve segment12is mounted on the base10. The sleeve segment12has an annular wall. The annular wall has an up-and-down guiding groove14extending in an arc shape and being inclined. The up-and-down guiding groove14has a lower position segment141and a higher position segment142located higher than the lower position segment141. The top cover buckling segment13is mounted on an outer annular surface of the annular wall. In this preferred embodiment, the base10has a base space100formed inside. The base space100forms an inputting opening on the top. The base space100can be a recess formed on the top of the annular wall extending downward to the pedestal11, or the base space100can also be a through hole formed on the top of the annular wall extending downward and formed through a bottom of the pedestal11.

With reference toFIGS.1to3,5, and6, in this embodiment, the sleeving cylinder20of the main body assembly1rotatably sleeves the base10. The sleeving cylinder20has an inner cylinder wall21, an outer cylinder wall22, and a top annular board23. The outer cylinder wall22is located outside the inner cylinder wall21and is spaced apart from the inner cylinder wall21. The top annular board23is connected to a top of the inner cylinder wall21and a top of the outer cylinder wall22. A movement space201is formed between the inner cylinder wall21and the outer cylinder wall22and has an opening downward. The accommodating space200of the sleeving cylinder20is formed at a center of the top annular board23and extends downward to a bottom of the inner cylinder wall21. The sleeving cylinder20rotatably sleeves the base10. The inner cylinder wall21is located in the base space100of the base10. The sleeve segment12of the base10is located in the movement space201between the inner cylinder wall21and the outer cylinder wall22. The pedestal11of the base10extends out of a bottom of the sleeving cylinder20. In this preferred embodiment, an assembling opening231and an insertion opening232are respectively formed on two sides at a top of the sleeving cylinder20. The assembling opening231and the insertion opening232both communicate with the movement space201of the sleeving cylinder20, and are configured to install the top cover30. The positioning protrusion53of the content unit50mounted on the accommodating case51can be mounted in the insertion opening232to position the accommodating case51.

With reference toFIGS.1to3,4, and6, in this embodiment, the base10has a connecting recess151directly formed on a bottom of the pedestal11. Alternatively, the base10has a sleeving case15detachably covering the pedestal11, and the connecting recess151is formed on a bottom surface of the sleeving case15. The connecting recess151is a non-circular recess. The non-circular connecting recess151can be polygonal in an end view, or can be a recess composed of flat surfaces and curved surfaces. With reference to FIGS. and11, the connecting recess151is configured to engage a connecting unit61of a fixed object60. A top of the connecting unit61forms an engaging segment that matches the connecting recess in shape. By the engaging segment mounted in and engaging with the non-circular connecting recess151, the base10can be positioned on the fixed object60, and therefore the user can rotate the sleeving cylinder20of the main body assembly1relative to the base10with one hand.

With reference toFIGS.1to3,5, and6, the top cover30is pivotally mounted on the top of the sleeving cylinder20, and can be operated to open or to close the opening of the accommodating space200. In this preferred embodiment, the top cover30has a cover body31, a pivotally connecting segment32, and a buckle33. The pivotally connecting segment32and the buckle33are respectively mounted on two opposite sides of the cover body31. The pivotally connecting segment32is pivotally mounted in the assembling opening231on the top of the sleeving cylinder20. The buckle33is capable of passing through the insertion opening232.

With reference toFIGS.1to3,5, and6, two pivotally connecting recesses233are respectively formed on two opposite side surfaces of the assembling opening231of the sleeving cylinder20. The pivotally connecting segment32of the top cover30has two curved arms321spaced apart and parallel to each other. Two pivots323are respectively mounted on two middle sections of the two curved arms321, are located in an outer side of the two curved arms321, and are respectively pivotally mounted in the two pivotally connecting recesses233. The cover body31of the top cover30is located outside the sleeving cylinder20. Two end sections of the two curved arms321extend into the movement space201of the sleeving cylinder20to pivotally mount the top cover30on the top of the sleeving cylinder20, and to connect the two curved arms321of the pivotally connecting segment32to the top cover open-close operating unit40, so that the top cover30can be driven to rotate. Preferably, the two pivotally connecting recesses233are formed on the top of the side walls of the assembling opening231and extend downward, so the two pivots323of the top cover30mounted on the two curved arms321can be moved into the two pivotally connecting recesses233from the top downward. In this preferred embodiment, two sliding segments324are respectively formed on the two end sections of the two curved arms321.

With reference toFIGS.1to3,5, and6, the top cover open-close operating unit40is moveably mounted in the main body assembly1, is connected to the pivotally connecting segment32of the top cover30, and is capable of driving the top cover30to open or to close the opening of the accommodating space200of the sleeving cylinder20by the sleeving cylinder20and the base10of the main body assembly1rotating relative to each other. In this preferred embodiment, the top cover open-close operating unit40is up-and-down moveably mounted in the movement space201of the sleeving cylinder20of the main body assembly1, and the top cover open-close operating unit40has an operating unit main body41, a driving segment42, and a guiding segment43. The guiding segment43is mounted on a side surface of the operating unit main body41. The guiding segment43extends into the up-and-down guiding groove14of the base10of the main body assembly1. The driving segment42is mounted on a top of the operating unit main body41and is moveably connected to the two end sections of the two curved arms321of the pivotally connecting segment32. In this preferred embodiment, two horizontal sliding grooves421are respectively formed on two sides of the driving segment42, and the two sliding segments324on the two end sections of the two curved arms321are respectively mounted into the two sliding segments324.

The base10and the sleeving cylinder20of the main body assembly1, the top cover30, and the top cover open-close operating unit40can be made of plastic materials such as Polyethylene terephthalate (PET), Polypropylene (PP), or Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene (ABS), so that the container of the present invention can be mass-produced by molding. Besides, the base10and the sleeving cylinder20of the main body assembly1, the top cover30, and the top cover open-close operating unit40can all be made of the same plastic material.

With reference toFIGS.5and6, regarding the use of the container of the present invention, when the container contains the content unit50and the top cover30is closed, the guiding segment43of the top cover open-close operating unit40connecting the top cover30is located in the lower position segment141of the main body assembly1. In other words, the top cover open-close operating unit40is located at a position that is low in height, so the top cover open-close operating unit40pulls the end section of the pivotally connecting segment32of the top cover30to rotate downward, and the cover body31of the top cover30covers the top of the sleeving cylinder20of the main body assembly1.

With reference toFIGS.7to9, when the user intends to open the top cover30, the user only needs to rotate the sleeving cylinder20relative to the base10, and during rotating the top cover open-close operating unit40will be moved upward and synchronously drive the top cover30to open the opening on the top of the sleeving cylinder20. Herein, by the annular wall of the base10forming the up-and-down guiding groove14in an arc-shape and being inclined, and the top cover open-close operating unit40moveably mounted in the sleeving cylinder20and having the guiding segment43mounted in the up-and-down guiding groove14, during the rotation of the sleeving cylinder20relative to the base10, the guiding segment43moves along the up-and-down guiding groove14from the lower position segment141to the higher position segment142, so the top cover open-close operating unit40will be moved upward to drive the top cover30to open. On the contrary, when the user intends to close the top cover30, the user reversely rotates the sleeving cylinder20, and the abovementioned mechanism works reversely to drive the top cover30to close. To sum up, the relative rotation of the sleeving cylinder20and the base10drives the top cover30to open and to close, thereby simplifying the operation and facilitating improved user experience.

Moreover, with reference toFIGS.10and11, by the bottom surface of the base10forming the connecting recess151, the container can engage with the connecting unit61of the fixed object60such as a dressing table to position the base10on the fixed object60, so that the user can rotate the sleeving cylinder20easily with one hand.

Additionally, the container uses the content unit50to pre-load the content52such as cosmetics or medications to prevent the content52from being polluted. The sealing film511of the content unit50is detached until use. By pre-loading the content52such as cosmetics or medications into the content unit50, the content52can be easily loaded into the main body assembly1. If the user intends to change the color or the type of the content52, under the condition that the base10, the sleeving cylinder20, the top cover30, and the top cover open-close operating unit40can all be reused, the user can only replace the content unit50with a new one that is loaded with a preferred content52.