Abstract:
A movable thumb-sized pad for use in cosmetic containers. The pad provides a thumb-sized area for placement of the thumb to securely hold a cosmetic container with one hand. The thumb pad can be removably placed in a cosmetic container and held in place magnetically.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims priority benefits of provisional application 61/284,528 filed Dec. 21, 2009 the entire contents of which are incorporated herein in their entirety. 
     
    
     FIELD 
       [0002]    These teachings relate to a cosmetic case and to an artist palette holder that provides for a means to securely hold the case and/or palette. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0003]    Cosmetic cases that house cosmetic products available to the consumers in the market place are very numerous. Cosmetic cases here refer to containers that are typically filled with an assortment of cosmetics which includes the desired colors, tints, hues, tools, products such as pencils, eye liners, products that are liquid, gel, powder, solid, fluid, semi-fluid, pressed and loose powders, etc. Cosmetic cases of this type can vary greatly in size and shape, depending on contents but are generally planar. 
         [0004]    Many cosmetic cases are small enough to be comfortably and securely held in one hand. They are small enough so that the users&#39; hand and/or fingers can surround the entirety of the cosmetic case in the palm of the hand with the fingers and thumb along opposing edges of the cosmetic case. This approach works when the cosmetic case is small enough to fit the users&#39; hand. However, larger cosmetic cases, often referred to as ‘palettes’ or ‘pro palettes’, are larger and do not fit in the palm. It is difficult and inconvenient to hold these larger cosmetic cases in the palm of the hand and by the edges of the case. 
         [0005]    Larger cosmetic cases and/or palettes, in the open position during use, are generally held by the user in the palm of their hand with the four fingers underneath the palette, and with the thumb on the top side of the palette. Without placing the thumb, the palette is merely balancing on the palm of the hand and fingers. The thumb on the top side of the palette provides stability to the grip of the palette. This method of holding the palette can be similar in characteristic to a grip commonly known as the ‘pinch grip’ and/or the ‘open pinch grip’. The ‘pinch grip’ is when one or more fingers are placed on one side of an object, and the thumb on the other. The ‘open pinch grip’ is when one or more fingers and the palm is placed on one side of the object, and the thumb on the other. 
         [0006]    A typical palette traditionally comprises a variety of cosmetic materials. In a conventional palette, the arrangement of cosmetic materials is prioritized inside the palette. A typical cosmetic case traditionally comprises an outer perimeter wall that provides a thin border on the top surface of the palette. The amount of area provided by the perimeter wall is typically determined by the thickness of the wall itself. However, often times the wall thickness is not enough to provide for an adequate amount of surface area required for the placement of the thumb in order to securely hold the palette. Placing the thumb on this thin outer perimeter does not provide for a secure hold or grip on the palette. An unsecure hold on the palette could easily result in unintentional dropping of the palette during use. 
         [0007]    Alternatively, in order to more securely hold the cosmetic case, the user will attempt to place their thumb somewhere inside the palette, in between the cosmetic materials. Due to inadequate room in between the cosmetic materials, often times this results in the placement of the thumb inside or on the cosmetic material. This action results in damage and/or contamination to the cosmetic material as well as dirtying to the thumb by the cosmetic material. 
         [0008]    A typical cosmetic case does not provide an area for where the users&#39; thumb will be placed when holding the palette in the open position, or during use. There is hence a need to provide a cosmetic case wherein a thumb-sized amount of surface area is provided to allow for the placement of the thumb on the top side of the cosmetic case so as to securely hold the cosmetic case. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0009]    The problem of securing holding a cosmetic case in one hand is solved by a thumb-sized area within the case that provides the user a place for their thumb to apply pressure in opposition to that of the fingers on the bottom surface of the case. Embodiments of the present invention can provide a cosmetic case that can be securely held in one hand by reserving a thumb-sized area where the user can place their thumb when holding the cosmetic case in the open position. 
         [0010]    These cosmetic cases can have a planar base and can also have a cover articulated to each other by means of a hinge, the base generally has a thin perimeter wall that comprises wider thumb-sized area along a segment of the perimeter wall which provides for the placement of the thumb when holding the cosmetic case. Alternatively, the present teaching also encompasses a cosmetic case of the type comprising a base, and inside the base having a movable thumb-size object that attaches to the inside base of the cosmetic case. In some embodiments the thumb support can be removable, it can be retained to the base magnetically or mechanically. The movable or removable object for the placement of the thumb can be easily positioned and/or repositioned for optimal placement by the user. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0011]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a cosmetic case with a fixed square-shaped thumb grip at the bottom left corner of the cosmetic case. 
           [0012]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of a cosmetic case with an oval-shaped thumb grip near the middle of the left side with a non-slip surface texture. 
           [0013]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of a cosmetic case with a movable square-shaped thumb grip. 
           [0014]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view of a cosmetic case with a movable square-shaped thumb grip in use by a hand. 
           [0015]      FIG. 5  is a cross-sectional view of a movable thumb grip with a magnetic lower portion 
           [0016]      FIG. 6  is a cross-sectional view of a movable thumb grip with a magnetic lower portion and an embedded grip region. 
           [0017]      FIG. 7  is a cross-sectional view of a movable thumb grip with a magnetic lower portion and a top surface grip region 
           [0018]      FIG. 8  is a perspective view of a movable thumb grip with a magnetic lower portion and a top portion of a concave shape. 
           [0019]      FIG. 9  is a perspective view of a movable thumb grip with a magnetic lower portion and a top surface grip in the shape of a logo. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0020]    One embodiment of the invention is shown in  FIG. 1 . In this embodiment is provided a cosmetic case ( 1 ) that houses cosmetic products ( 7 ) with a cover portion ( 2 ) attached to the base portion ( 3 ) by means of a hinge ( 5 ). The base portion comprises of a thumb-sized surface ( 4 ) located in the bottom left corner of the cosmetic case, which provides for the positioning of the thumb when holding the cosmetic case. The case may optionally comprise of one or more mirrors ( 9 ) on the cover portion. The case can be closed by means of a hinged clasp ( 8 ). 
         [0021]    Another embodiment of the invention is shown in  FIG. 2 . In this embodiment is provided a cosmetic case ( 1 ) that houses cosmetic products ( 7 ) with a cover portion ( 2 ) attached to the base portion ( 3 ) by means of a hinge ( 5 ). The base portion comprises of a thumb-sized surface ( 4 ) located in the middle of the left side of the cosmetic case, which provides for the placement of the thumb when holding the cosmetic case. The top portion of the thumb-sized grip may also comprise a concave or other ergonomic shape and/or non-slip material ( 11 ) and/or texture, such as bumps ( 11 ) or ridges to increase friction between the thumb and the thumb-sized pad. The non-slip features include but are not limited to a shape, material, texture, and/or surface treatment that reduces slippage between the finger and thumb-sized grip.  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 2  illustrates two variations to the theme of placing a fixed thumb-sized pad in varied locations. 
         [0022]    Another embodiment of the invention is shown in  FIG. 3 . In this embodiment is provided a cosmetic case ( 1 ) with a cover portion ( 2 ) attached to the base portion ( 3 ) by means of a hinge ( 5 ). The base portion comprises of a magnetically attractable material ( 6 ) which provides for the attachment of cosmetic products ( 7 ). The said cosmetic products are removably attached to the cosmetic case by magnetic attraction. The movable and/or removable thumb-sized pad ( 4 ) is removably attached to the case magnetically or mechanically ( 10 ). The thumb-sized pad ( 4 ) top portion comprises of a non-slip material ( 11 ) which provides to accommodate pressure applied by a thumb. The thumb-sized pad ( 4 ) lower portion preferably comprises a magnetic material ( 10 ). 
         [0023]      FIG. 4 . shows a perspective view of a user&#39;s hand holding the cosmetic case with a thumb-sized pad as described in  FIG. 3 . 
         [0024]      FIG. 5 . shows a cross sectional view of a thumb-sized pad ( 4 ) which has a bottom portion preferably comprising of magnetic material ( 10 ) and is magnetically attached to the cosmetic case or other magnetic surface. Alternatively, the bottom portion of the thumb-sized pad could also be non-magnetic, and may be attached mechanically to the cosmetic case or other surfaces. The thumb-sized pad provides a surface for supporting the user&#39;s thumb, and can be comprised of any suitable material including but not limited to plastic, rubber, silicone, wood, paper, laminates or any other suitable material and/or any combination thereof. 
         [0025]      FIG. 6 . and  FIG. 7  show a cross sectional view of another embodiment of a thumb-sized pad ( 4 ). In this cross sectional view, the top portion comprises of a shape and/or material which provides a non-slip surface ( 11 ) and/or concave shape ( 12 ). This top portion may be made of a non-slip material, for example, rubber, latex, plastic or any other suitable material. The non-slip material may be removably and/or non-removably attached and/or molded-into the thumb-sized pad. The top portion can also have a shape and/or texture such as bumps or ridges to increase friction between the thumb and the thumb-sized pad. 
         [0026]      FIG. 8  shows a perspective view of a thumb-sized pad ( 4 ) with a top portion comprising of a concave shape ( 12 ) and a bottom portion comprising a magnetic material ( 10 ). 
         [0027]      FIG. 9  shows a perspective view of a thumb-sized pad with a top portion comprising of combinations of non-slip material ( 11 ) shaped in form of a logo and in a concave shape ( 12 ) and a bottom portion comprising a magnetic material ( 10 ). 
         [0028]    The material for the thumb-sized pad comprises any material including but not limited to plastics, metals, precious metals, laminates, resins, rubber, silicone, elastomer, wood or any combinations thereof. Preferred material is any high strength or high impact resin or plastic that is inexpensive to manufacture i.e. molding, casting, injection molding, etc. The thumb-sized pad can be optionally treated, painted, coated, stamped, anodized, engraved, embossed, debossed, etc for aesthetic purposes, placement of logo and/or brand name, and/or protection/prevention against corrosion or damage. 
         [0029]    In the following claims, the words “a” and “an” should be taken to mean “at least one” in all cases, even if the wording “at least one” appears in one or more claims explicitly.