Container with retractable lid for lipstick, lip cream and/or deodorant

Abstract: A container with a retractable lid for lipstick, lip cream and/or deodorant comprising an outer casing in two parts (12, 13) which contains at least one cylindrical element (15) and a cylindrical sleeve (16) insertable coaxially into the cylindrical element such that the two can be rotated one relative to the other during use and, for a product stick (29), a cup (28) provided with elements (27) for engagement in a track (22) formed in the cylindrical element (15) and in longitudinal recesses (26) in the cylindrical sleeve (16), in which the two parts (12, 13) of the container (11) can be secured by respective engagement means (17, 18, 20, 21, 24; 25, 33) to the cylindrical element (15) and cylindrical sleeve (16), this latter (16) being provided with a slide surface (25, 35) for a covering and closure vane (31) for an aperture provided in the upper part (13), the vane (31) being provided with an element (34) for engagement in a second track (23) provided in the outer surface of the cylindrical element (15).

Description: This invention relates to a container with a retractable lid for lipstick, lip cream and/or deodorant. The most varied types of containers are currently used for lipstick, lip cream and/or deodorant, in which the contained product, in the form of a stick, can be moved between a position enclosed within the container and an extracted position ready for use only after the appropriate lid element or cap has been removed. In this respect, this latter element is necessary to protect the stick product from possible breakage or from contamination with undesirable substances such as dust and the like. Containers have also been conceived comprising a lid element movable for using the product between a cover position closing the container and a position withdrawn into the container. However such arrangements comprise complicated elements for operating on the container shell within a suitable seat. In addition, for their formation the individual parts require complicated moulds of difficult construction and unsustainable costs. To this must be added the difficulty of moulding the parts, of assembling them and of filling the product stick support cup. DE-A-9101592.8 discloses a container with retractable lid for lipstick or the like according to the preamble of claim 1. GB-A-595 666 relates to improvements to cases or holders for cosmetic material in stick form which provide vanes with elements for engagement in a second track provided in the same element as the track for the movement of the cup. An object of the present invention is to provide a container with a retractable lid for lipstick, lip cream, and/or deodorant, which is of simple manufacture and is easy to fill with desired and necessary paste products. A further object is therefore to provide a container which eliminates the need for the user to grip the lid, remove it and then, only after this operation, project the stick product from the container. These objects are attained according to the present invention by a container with a retractable lid for lipstick, lip cream and/or deodorant in accordance with claim 1, to which reference should be made for brevity. The further claims relate to characteristics of detail. The characteristics and advantages of a container with a retractable lid for lipstick, lip cream and/or deodorant according to the present invention will be more apparent from the following description given by way of non-limiting example with reference to the accompanying schematic drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of a container according to the invention in its closed state; Figure 2 is an enlarged sectional exploded view of the container of Figure 1; Figure 3 is a further enlarged sectional view of the assembled container, again in its closed state; Figure 4 is a scheme showing a series of relative positions between the cup carrying the product stick, and the lid element closing the container top, along the entire path of extraction of the product; and Figure 5 is a graph showing the positions of Figure 4 through one and a half revolutions of the container operating portion. With reference to the figures, for lipstick, lip cream and/or deodorant, the invention provides a container with a retractable lid, indicated overall by 11, and which in the illustrated embodiment has an essentially square outer cross-section by way of non-limiting example. The container 11 comprises an outer casing in two parts, namely a lower 12 and an upper 13, which can rotate one relative to the other about the central axis 14 through the container. To each of the two parts 12 and 13 there must be rigidly fixed a cylindrical element 15 and a cylindrical sleeve 16, coaxially insertable into the cylindrical element 15. These two elements can hence be rotated one relative to the other during the use of the container. More specifically, the cylindrical element 15 can also be inserted into a ring element 17 of outer cross-section complementary to that of the lower part 12 of the container and provided with skirt appendices 18 insertable securely into the lower part 12 with the cooperation of small raised beads 19. The ring element 17, with its inner opening complementary to the shape of the cylindrical element 15, locks this latter within its interior in an intermediate region thereof by teeth 20 projecting from it and inserted into seats 21 in the ring element 17. Both in its inner and in its outer surface the cylindrical element 15 comprises variously shaped tracks 22 and 23 of variable inclination, which will be examined in detail hereinafter. In its interior the lower part 12 comprises a collar 24 which extends from the base and is used as the centering element for the rotation of the cylindrical element 15 and cylindrical sleeve 16, when they are coupled together. At its upper end the cylindrical sleeve 16 comprises widened flat appendices 25 which centre it within the upper part 13. Its lateral surface comprises two longitudinal recesses 26, open at their lower end to receive radial pegs 27 projecting outwards from a cup 28 arranged to receive a stick of product 29, for example lipstick. At its lower end, the sleeve 16 is provided with an annular rim or semi-annular portions 30 which engagedly act on the lower end of the cylindrical element 15. Secure engagement between the upper part 13 and the cylindrical sleeve 16 is achieved by ribs 33 on the two elements. Between two of the appendices 25 projecting from the sleeve 16 there is defined a guide surface for the sliding of a bendable vane 31 acting as the closure and covering element for a circular aperture 32 provided in the top of the upper part 13. The bendable vane 31 is also provided with a peg 34 which is inserted into the aforesaid second track 23 provided in the outer surface of the cylindrical element 15. The track 23 is of spiral extension with its minimum pitch in its initial region in proximity to the intermediate region of the cylindrical element 15. In this manner the vane 31 moves only minimally when its peg travels along this portion of the track 23. In its next or second region it has a greater pitch so as to promote rapid movement of the vane 31 in sliding along the appendices 25 of the sleeve 16. During this movement the bendable vane 31 either acts as the closure and lid element for the circular aperture 32 or uncovers it to enable the product 29 to emerge. During this movement the vane 31 slides between the inner wall and top wall of the upper part 13 and the appendices 25 and an inclined upper surface 35 of the sleeve element 16. It can be seen that the container of the present invention has its upper surface inclined in the manner of a cut salami slice. The first track 22 extends from the bottom of the cylindrical element 15 as a first region with a through cavity provided with outwardly projecting ribs 36 which also serve for centering with respect to the lower part 12 of the container, ie with respect to its radially inward ribs. 37. In this first region the inclination of the first track 22, ie its pitch, is similar to that of the first region of the second track 23. The track 22 then proceeds as a second region in which the inclination is greater so as to promote the constant rise of the cup, the pegs 27 of which engage the first track 22. Figure 3 shows the container 11 in its closed state with the vane 31 closing the aperture 32 in its upper part 13. The cup 28 is in its maximum lowered position so that the entire product stick 29 is at rest within the container 11. Figure 4 is a scheme showing a series of positions of the cup 28 carrying the product stick 29 relative to the vane 31 in the top of the container, along the entire product extraction path. The first representation of the series is equivalent to that of Figure 3. The second and third show how the peg 34 of the vane 31 engages in the high-inclination region of the second track 23 while in contrast the pegs 27 of the cup engage in the minimum-inclination region of the first track 22. In this manner the vane 31 is quickly retracted to uncover the aperture 32, while the product stick in the cup has hardly risen at all within the container. When the aperture 32 has been uncovered, the cup and hence the product rise regularly while the vane terminates its descent within the container very slowly. The lines in Figure 5 show the said slow or quick movements for a rotation of one and a half revolutions of one part relative to the other (12 and 13) of the container 11. During this rotation, the product passes from its position totally contained within the closed container to its maximum extraction position with the covering and closure vane completely retracted to the side of the upper part of the container. Such a container hence contains the product in an optimum and absolutely hygienic manner, while enabling it to be easily used. Moreover with the container of the present invention the outer casing can be of any shape because all the components can be quickly fitted together via the engagement means. Again advantageously, a container is obtained which does not require a separate lid element, which could easily separate from the remaining part of the container and render it non-hygienic, as already stated.

Claims: A container with a retractable lid for lipstick, lip cream and/or deodorant comprising essentially an outer casing in two parts (12, 13) which contains at least one cylindrical element (15) and a cylindrical sleeve (16) insertable coaxially into said cylindrical element (15) such that they can be rotated one relative to the other during the use of the container, and, for a product stick (29), a cup (28) provided with elements (27) for engagement in a track (22) formed in said cylindrical element (15) and in longitudinal recesses (26) in said cylindrical sleeve (16), said two parts (12, 13) of said container (11) can be secured by respective engagement means (17, 18, 20, 21, 24; 25, 33) to said cylindrical element (15) and cylindrical sleeve (16), this latter (16) comprising a slide surface (25, 35) for a covering and closure vane (31) for an aperture (32) provided in the top of said upper part (13), the vane (31) being provided with an element (34) for engagement in a second track (23) characterised in that said second track (23) is provided in an outer surface of said cylindrical element (15), in that with the lower (12) of said two casing parts there is associated a ring element (17) carrying means (18, 19) for engagement with respective engagement means (37) within said lower part (12) and means (21) for engagement with respective means (20) of said cylindrical element (15), in that said slide surface is provided on outwardly projecting appendices (25) provided around an upper portion of said cylindrical sleeve (16). A container as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that in said lower part (12) of said casing there are provided rotation centering elements (24) for said cylindrical element (15) and cylindrical sleeve (16). A container as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that said first track (22) comprises, from the bottom upwards of said cylindrical element (15), a minimum-pitch first region with a through cavity provided with outwardly projecting ribs (36) for centering with respect to said lower part (12) of the container, and a greater-pitch second region to promote the constant quick rise of said cup (28) engaged by its pegs (27). A container as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that said second track (23) comprises a minimum-pitch first region of spiral extension located in proximity to an intermediate region of said cylindrical element (15), and a greater-pitch second region such as to promote quick movement of said vane (31) in moving on appendices (25) of said cylindrical sleeve (16). A container as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that the top surface of said upper part (13) of said casing is inclined in the manner of a cut salami slice.

Inventors: TERRUZZI OTTAVIO, TERRUZZI, OTTAVIO
Applicants: AKRONIMEX S R L, AKRONIMEX S.R.L.
Application year: 1997
Main classification: A45D40
IPC codes: A45D40