Cosmetic container having replaceable cartridges

A cosmetic container system comprises: a first elongate piece having a lengthwise penetration opening and defined by a circular lower periphery and a main periphery extending from the circular lower periphery, wherein the main periphery has at least two elongate openings each open to the penetration opening, wherein the elongate openings are configured to fittingly, detachably hold cosmetic cartridges each carrying a predetermined cosmetic therein; a second elongate piece rotatably engaged over the main periphery to the lower periphery and having a selection opening to selectively choose the cartridges through the selection opening by rotating the lower periphery against the second elongate piece; and a third elongate piece detachably engaged over the first elongate piece further into the lower periphery, wherein the third elongate piece is at least twice a diameter of the lower periphery in length.

BACKGROUND

This invention relates to a cosmetic container system and, more particularly, to an improved cosmetic container having reusable and replaceable cosmetic cartridges, which could improve convenience, usability, reusability and portability of daily cosmetics while protecting environment from cosmetic wastes.

Our environment suffers from cosmetic waste. It is known that each and every year, the cosmetic industry creates billions of tones of non-recyclable cosmetic plastics just dumped to landfills country by country and this waste continue to emit toxic gas into our atmosphere. Many are attracted to cosmetic products with fancy packaging and cosmetic manufacturers have little option to go around.

An increasing demand on the cosmetic market is an eco-friendly cosmetic product that would minimize environmental pollution.

Another demand is to see an improved cosmetic compact carrying more varieties to choose from in a portable compact with convenience without losing taste of compact cosmetic fashion.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is contrived to overcome the conventional disadvantages. Accordingly, an objective of the present invention is to provide a cosmetic container system having replaceable cosmetic cartridges to enable a user to choose cosmetics from more options with ease and convenience.

Another objective is to provide a portable cosmetic compact container in a cylindrical shape different from a traditional flat compact, thus satisfying a market demand for a unique and trendy cosmetic fashion while improving usability and portability.

A still another objective is to provide a portable cosmetic compact container system enabling a user to choose a variety of different cosmetic cartridges by simply rotation the bottom of the cylindrical cosmetic container.

In order to achieve these and other objectives, the present invention provides a cosmetic container system, comprising: a first elongate piece having a lengthwise penetration opening and defined by a circular lower periphery and a main periphery extending from the circular lower periphery, wherein the main periphery has at least two elongate openings each open to the penetration opening, wherein the elongate openings are configured to fittingly, detachably hold cosmetic cartridges each carrying a predetermined cosmetic therein; a second elongate piece rotatably engaged over the main periphery to the lower periphery and having a selection opening to selectively choose the cartridges through the selection opening by rotating the lower periphery against the second elongate piece; and a third elongate piece detachably engaged over the first elongate piece further into the lower periphery, wherein the third elongate piece is at least twice a diameter of the lower periphery in length.

The cosmetic container system may further comprise a bottom cap rotatably attached to the lower periphery of the first elongate piece and a top cap detachably attached to an upper part of the second elongate piece. The third elongate piece is rotatably engaged to the lower periphery of the first elongate piece. A circular groove is formed adjacent to the lower periphery to fittingly receive a circular tongue formed at a lower inner surface of the second elongate piece so as to facilitate rotation of the first elongate piece against the second elongate piece. The elongate openings are each configured to hold up to three of the cosmetic cartridges.

In the cosmetic container system, the system may comprise: a first elongate piece having a lengthwise penetration opening and defined by a circular lower periphery and a main periphery extending from the circular lower periphery, wherein the main periphery has at least two elongate openings each open to the penetration opening, wherein the elongate openings are configured to fittingly, detachably hold cosmetic cartridges each carrying a predetermined cosmetic therein, wherein a first circular groove is formed along the lower periphery, wherein a plurality of first upright teeth are circularly formed along a lower part of the lower periphery; a second elongate piece rotatably engaged over the main periphery to the lower periphery and having a selection opening to selectively choose the cartridges through the selection opening by rotating the lower periphery against the second elongate piece; a third elongate piece detachably engaged over the first elongate piece further into the lower periphery, wherein the third elongate piece is at least twice a diameter of the lower periphery in length; and a bottom cap having a second circular groove formed along an inner surface of the bottom cap to rotatably receive a plurality of first protrusions formed above the first upright teeth, wherein a plurality of second upright teeth are formed below the second circular groove and along the inner surface of the bottom cap to become engaged to the first upright teeth of the first elongate piece.

The third elongate piece is rotatably engaged to the lower periphery of the first elongate piece. The third elongate piece has a second circular groove formed along an inner lower surface thereof to rotatably receive a plurality of second protrusions formed between the first circular groove and the first protrusions of the first elongate piece. A plurality of third protrusions are formed along an upper inner surface of the second elongate piece to elastically fit in rail grooves formed along an upper outer surface of the first elongate piece.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

With reference to the drawings, a cosmetic container system100according to the present invention comprises a first elongate piece108serving as a base body of the container system, a second elongate piece106serving as a cover over the base body, and a third elongate piece102serving as a removable elongate cover.

The first elongate piece108has a lengthwise penetration opening220and it may be defined by a circular lower periphery200and a main periphery210which extends from the circular lower periphery200of the first elongate piece108. In this construction, the main periphery210may be provided with at least two elongate openings124each open to the penetration opening220. The elongate openings124may be configured to fittingly, detachably hold cosmetic cartridges122each carrying a predetermined cosmetic therein.

The second elongate piece106may be rotatably engaged over the main periphery210to the lower periphery200. The second elongate piece106may have a selection opening120to selectively choose the cartridges122through the selection opening120by rotating the lower periphery200against the second elongate piece106.

The third elongate piece102may be detachably engaged over the first elongate piece108further into the lower periphery200of the first elongate piece108. The third elongate piece102may be at least twice a diameter of the lower periphery200of the first elongate piece108in length. In a preferred version, the third elongate piece102may be three times the diameter of the lower periphery200of the first elongate piece108in length.

The cosmetic container system100may further comprise a bottom cap which may be rotatably attached to the lower periphery200of the first elongate piece108. The cosmetic container system100may still further comprise a top cap104which may be detachably attached to an upper part230of the second elongate piece106.

Preparedly, the third elongate piece102may be rotatably engaged over the second elongate piece106to the lower periphery200of the first elongate piece108. A circular groove152which will also be referred to as a first circular groove may be formed adjacent to the lower periphery200to fittingly receive a circular tongue150formed at a lower inner surface240of the second elongate piece106so as to facilitate rotation of the first elongate piece108against the second elongate piece106. The circular groove152may be formed between the main periphery210and the lower periphery200of the first elongate piece108. In order increase options for a user to choose, the elongate openings124may be each configured to hold up to three of the cosmetic cartridges122.

In an embodiment, the cosmetic container system100may comprise: a first elongate piece108having a lengthwise penetration opening220and defined by a circular lower periphery200and a main periphery210extending from the circular lower periphery200, where the main periphery200has at least two elongate openings124each open to the penetration opening220, where the elongate openings124are configured to fittingly, detachably hold cosmetic cartridges122each carrying a predetermined cosmetic therein, where a first circular groove152is formed along the lower periphery200, where a plurality of first upright teeth140are circularly formed along a lower part250of the lower periphery200; a second elongate piece106rotatably engaged over the main periphery210to the lower periphery200and having a selection opening120to selectively choose the cartridges122through the selection opening120by rotating the lower periphery200against the second elongate piece106; a third elongate piece102detachably engaged over the first elongate piece108further into the lower periphery200of the first elongate piece108, where the third elongate piece102may be at least twice a diameter of the lower periphery200in length; and a bottom cap110having a second circular groove128formed along an inner surface250of the bottom cap110to rotatably receive a plurality of first protrusions126formed above the first upright teeth140, where a plurality of second upright teeth142are formed below the second circular groove128and along the inner surface260of the bottom cap110to become engaged to the first upright teeth140of the first elongate piece108.

The top cap104may be detachably attached to an upper part230of the second elongate piece106. The third elongate piece102may be rotatably engaged to the lower periphery200of the first elongate piece108. The first circular groove152may be fittingly configured to rotatably receive therein a circular tongue150formed at a lower inner surface240of the second elongate piece106so as to facilitate rotation of the first elongate piece108against the second elongate piece106. The elongate openings124are each configured to hold up to three of the cosmetic cartridges122.

In a preferred embodiment, the cosmetic container system100comprises: a first elongate piece108having a lengthwise penetration opening220and defined by a circular lower periphery200and a main periphery210extending from the circular lower periphery200, where the main periphery210has at least two elongate openings124each open to the penetration opening220, where the elongate openings124are configured to fittingly, detachably hold cosmetic cartridges122each carrying a predetermined cosmetic therein, where a first circular groove152is formed along the lower periphery200, where a plurality of first upright teeth140are circularly formed a lower part250of the lower periphery200; a second elongate piece106rotatably engaged over the main periphery210to the lower periphery200and having a selection opening120to selectively choose the cartridges122through the selection opening120by rotating the lower periphery200against the second elongate piece106; a third elongate piece102detachably engaged over the first elongate piece108further into the lower periphery200, where the third elongate piece102is at least twice a diameter of the lower periphery200in length; a top cap104detachably attached to an upper part230of the second elongate piece106; and a bottom cap110having a second circular groove128formed along an inner surface260of the bottom cap110to rotatably receive a plurality of first protrusions126formed above the first upright teeth140, where a plurality of second upright teeth142are formed below the second circular groove128and along the inner surface260of the bottom cap110to become engaged to the first upright teeth140of the first elongate piece108.

The top cap104may be detachably threaded to the upper part230of the second elongate piece106. A mirror270may be formed on top of the top cap270for a better performance. The first circular groove152may be fittingly configured to rotatably receive therein a circular tongue150formed at a lower inner surface240of the second elongate piece106so as to facilitate rotation of the first elongate piece108against the second elongate piece106. The elongate openings124are each configured to hold up to three of the cosmetic cartridges122. The cosmetic cartridges122may be manually replaceable.

In a preferred version, the third elongate piece102may be rotatably engaged to the lower periphery200of the first elongate piece108. The third elongate piece102may have a second circular groove132formed along an inner lower surface280thereof to rotatably receive a plurality of second protrusions130formed between the first circular groove152and the first protrusions126of the first elongate piece108. A plurality of third protrusions160may be formed along an upper inner surface290of the second elongate piece106to elastically fit in rail grooves162formed along an upper outer surface292of the first elongate piece108.

The cosmetic container system100may be combined with a custom cartridge pack carrying custom cartridges which can be selectively replaced with the cosmetic cartridges122according to the present invention. All of each piece and element provided in the cosmetic container system100are readily dissembled and assembled by a user. Therefore, as far as the cartridges122are replaced, it can be reused all the time so as to further protect environment from getting polluted by cosmetic compact waste.