Abstract:
A cosmetics container system includes a first compact that comprises means for releasably attaching the first compact to a side or a bottom of another first compact or to a compact of a smaller size.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. §119(e) of the following co-pending United States provisional patent application which is expressly incorporated herein in its entirety: U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/955,337, filed Aug. 10, 2007 and entitled “COSMETICS CONTAINER SYSTEM”. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    1. Field 
         [0003]    The present disclosure relates to the act or process or dressing or grooming a human being, and, more particularly, to kits having plural cosmetic or applicator compartments or receivers. 
         [0004]    2. Related Art 
         [0005]    Archeological research has shown that human beings have used cosmetics as part of grooming since the time of the ancient Egyptian kingdom. Cosmetics are now used worldwide. Cosmetics may have the form of powders, pastes, liquids or solid materials and may be said to be substances used to enhance or protect the appearance or odor of the human body. Current-day cosmetics designed to improve or enhance the appearance of the face include lip glosses, lip enhancers, lip sticks, lip plumper, lip balms, lip lusters, lip conditioners, lip boosters, rouge, eye shadows, eye liners, mascaras, lash extenders, lash conditioners, eyebrow grooming gels, eyebrow pencils, eyebrow creams, eyebrow waxes, eyebrow gels, eyebrow powders, tints, perfecters, powder blushes, foundations, bronzing powders and creams, and mattifiers. Other cosmetics may be directed to the appearance of other parts of the body, such as fingernail or toenail polish. In addition, grooming may include perfumes and scents as olfactory cosmetics. 
         [0006]    Cosmetics generally require containers. Containers have been devised to hold cosmetics since the days of ancient Egypt. 
         [0007]    A person who uses cosmetics generally will use several cosmetics. This will require several containers if each cosmetic has its own container. The user of cosmetics will often depend on the user&#39;s mood, the occasion, the weather, and the like. The user will choose the cosmetics for an occasion and carry them with her. 
         [0008]    The person using the cosmetics therefore will have to store and carry a number of cosmetics containers. Storage is not as much a problem as is carrying a number of containers, such as in a handbag or other carrying device. A number of separate containers may become intermixed with other articles and therefore be difficult to find. Containers have been provided that hold two or more cosmetics in separate compartments, trays or bins. The use of containers of this sort reduces the number of containers but is limiting because it restricts the choice of the cosmetics if only a few containers is to be carried. 
         [0009]    Jouer Cosmetics, the assignee of the present application, currently sells a cosmetics compact that has a tail formed on one edge and a complementary socket formed in the opposed edge, so that two such cosmetics compacts may be joined side by side. In addition, the bottom side of the cosmetics compact has four side-by-side mating peg and pit combinations whereby that two such cosmetics compacts may be joined bottom to bottom. The cosmetics compact may hold any of a number of kinds of cosmetics, such as mascaras, in any of a number of colors or hues. United States design patent D535,789 to Claude Peter Meyers shows the appearance of one of these compacts. 
         [0010]    The features of the Jouer Cosmetics compact mentioned above permit any number of compacts to be joined together side by side and bottom to bottom, resulting in a linear array of cosmetics compacts that may be two deep. The cosmetics compacts each contain a hinged lid as their top surface. The hinged lid will be exposed even when the compact is joined to other compacts, so that the cosmetics contained in the compact will be available to the user. The lid is provided with a mirror in the inside surface of the lid so that the user can see herself while applying the cosmetic. 
         [0011]    The user selects the Jouer cosmetics compacts containing the cosmetics she believes that she will need for an occasion or trip and joins them together as described to produce a single composite unit that can easily be carried. The cosmetics selected by the user will be together when needed. Individual cosmetics compacts are less likely to be lost or misplaced. 
         [0012]    The user can easily add or subtract cosmetics compacts from the composite unit in order to modify the selection of cosmetics she carries. She can also break the composite unit down into its constituent compacts for separate storage when the composite unit is no longer needed. 
         [0013]    The Jouer cosmetics compacts, however, have only the one size and shape. Different cosmetics may need different containers. For example, liquids such as mascara need a container that will prevent leaks and an applicator. 
         [0014]    Furthermore, the user may use a larger amount of one cosmetic than another. She will need to carry a larger amount of one cosmetic compared to the other. With only one size of compact, the user must double or triple the number of compacts containing that cosmetic or face the risk of not having enough of the cosmetic. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0015]    A cosmetics container system is disclosed herein that provides detachably interlocking containers of different sizes and shapes, each container containing at least one cosmetic or cosmetic accessory. The user may join each container to one or more of the other containers in order to build a composite cosmetics container having the user&#39;s selection of cosmetics. The system provides means for joining the containers in any of many arrangements to be selected by the user, despite the difficulty presented by the containers having different sizes and shapes, so that a composite unit of such containers may be formed. The composite unit is readily carried in a handbag or other device or stored in a glove compartment or other storage place. 
         [0016]    In a preferred aspect of the cosmetics container system disclosed herein, the detachably interlocking containers include first and second compacts, wherein the first or large compact is larger than the second or small compact, and a vial. The first and second compacts may be joined to each other side-to-side or bottom-to-bottom. The vial may be joined to a first compact or to one or two of the second compacts. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0017]    The present disclosure will be understood and appreciated more fully from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the drawings. The drawings are described below. 
           [0018]      FIG. 1A  is a perspective view of a horizontal combination of two small compacts of a currently preferred embodiment of the cosmetics container system according to the disclosure. 
           [0019]      FIG. 1B  is a perspective view of a vertical combination of two small compacts of a currently preferred embodiment of the cosmetics container system according to the disclosure. 
           [0020]      FIG. 2A  is a perspective view of a horizontal combination of two large compacts of the currently preferred embodiment of the cosmetics container system according to the disclosure. 
           [0021]      FIG. 2B  is a perspective view of a vertical combination of two small compacts of a currently preferred embodiment of the cosmetics container system according to the disclosure. 
           [0022]      FIG. 3A  is a perspective view of a combination of a large and a small compact of the currently preferred embodiment of the cosmetics container system according to the disclosure. 
           [0023]      FIG. 3B  is a perspective view of a combination of a large and two small compacts of the currently preferred embodiment of the cosmetics container system according to the disclosure. 
           [0024]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view of a combination of two large and two small compacts of the currently preferred embodiment of the cosmetics container system according to the disclosure. 
           [0025]      FIG. 5A  is a perspective view of a horizontal combination of four small compacts of the currently preferred embodiment of the cosmetics container system according to the disclosure. 
           [0026]      FIG. 5B  is a perspective view of a vertical and horizontal combination of four small compacts of the currently preferred embodiment of the cosmetics container system according to the disclosure. 
           [0027]      FIG. 5C  is a perspective view of a horizontal combination of four large compacts of the currently preferred embodiment of the cosmetics container system according to the disclosure. 
           [0028]      FIG. 5D  is a perspective view of a vertical and horizontal combination of four large compacts of the currently preferred embodiment of the cosmetics container system according to the disclosure. 
           [0029]      FIG. 6A  is a perspective view of a horizontal combination of a vial with a small compact of the currently preferred embodiment of the cosmetics container system according to the disclosure. 
           [0030]      FIG. 6B  is a perspective view of a horizontal combination of a vial with a large compact of the currently preferred embodiment of the cosmetics container system according to the disclosure. 
           [0031]      FIG. 7A  is a perspective view of a horizontal combination of two large compacts and a vial of the currently preferred embodiment of the cosmetics container system according to the disclosure. 
           [0032]      FIG. 7B  is a perspective view of a horizontal combination of a large compact and two vials of the currently preferred embodiment of the cosmetics container system according to the disclosure. 
           [0033]      FIG. 8A  is a perspective view of a combination of a large compact with a vial and a small compact of the currently preferred embodiment of the cosmetics container system according to the disclosure. 
           [0034]      FIG. 8B  is a perspective view of a horizontal combination of a large compact with a vial and two small compacts of the currently preferred embodiment of the cosmetics container system according to the disclosure. 
           [0035]      FIG. 9A  is a perspective view of a horizontal combination of a vial with two vertically joined small compacts of the currently preferred embodiment of the cosmetics container system according to the disclosure. 
           [0036]      FIG. 9B  is a perspective view of a horizontal combination of a vial with two horizontally joined small compacts vertically mated to one large compact of the currently preferred embodiment of the cosmetics container system according to the disclosure. 
           [0037]      FIG. 10  is a perspective view of a horizontal combination of a vial with a large compact and two small compacts in vertical combination with a horizontal combination of two large compacts of the currently preferred embodiment of the cosmetics container system according to the disclosure. 
           [0038]      FIG. 11  is a perspective view of a small compact of the currently preferred embodiment of the cosmetics container system according to the disclosure. 
           [0039]      FIG. 12  is a right side elevation view of the small compact of  FIG. 11 . 
           [0040]      FIG. 13  is a front side elevation view of the small compact of  FIG. 11 . 
           [0041]      FIG. 14  is a left side elevation view of the small compact of  FIG. 11 . 
           [0042]      FIG. 15  is a plan view of the small compact of  FIG. 11 . 
           [0043]      FIG. 16  is a section view of the small compact of  FIG. 11  taken on the plane  16 - 16  in  FIG. 15 . 
           [0044]      FIG. 17  is bottom side elevation view of the small compact of  FIG. 11 . 
           [0045]      FIG. 18  is an exploded view of the small compact of  FIG. 11 . 
           [0046]      FIG. 19  is a perspective view of a large compact of the currently preferred embodiment of the cosmetics container system according to the disclosure. 
           [0047]      FIG. 20  is a plan view of the large compact of  FIG. 19 . 
           [0048]      FIG. 21  is an bottom side elevation view of the large compact of  FIG. 19 . 
           [0049]      FIG. 22  is a front side elevation view of the large compact of  FIG. 19 . 
           [0050]      FIG. 23  is a section view of the large compact of  FIG. 19  taken on the plane  23 - 23  in  FIG. 22 . 
           [0051]      FIG. 24  is a right side elevation view of the large compact of  FIG. 19 . 
           [0052]      FIG. 25  is a an exploded view of the large compact of  FIG. 19 . 
           [0053]      FIG. 26  is a perspective view of a vial of the currently preferred embodiment of the cosmetics container system according to the disclosure. 
           [0054]      FIG. 27  is side elevation view of the vial of  FIG. 26 . 
           [0055]      FIG. 28  is a plan view of the vial of  FIG. 26 . 
           [0056]      FIG. 29  is a section view of the vial of  FIG. 26  taken on the plane  29 - 29  in  FIG. 28 . 
           [0057]      FIG. 30  is an end elevation view of the vial of  FIG. 26 . 
           [0058]      FIG. 31  is a section view of the vial of  FIG. 26  taken on the plane  31 - 31  in  FIG. 30 . 
           [0059]      FIG. 32  is exploded view of the vial of  FIG. 26 . 
           [0060]      FIG. 33  is a perspective view of a brow brush assembly for use in the vial of  FIG. 26 . 
           [0061]      FIG. 34  is a side elevational view of the brow brush assembly of  FIG. 33 . 
           [0062]      FIG. 35  is a section view of the brow brush assembly of  FIG. 33  taken on the plane  35 - 35  in  FIG. 34 . 
           [0063]      FIG. 36  is a perspective view of a lip brush assembly for use in the vial of  FIG. 26 . 
           [0064]      FIG. 37  is a side elevational view of the lip brush assembly of  FIG. 36 . 
           [0065]      FIG. 38  is a section view of the lip brush assembly of  FIG. 36  taken on the plane  38 - 38  in  FIG. 37 . 
           [0066]      FIG. 39A  is a perspective view of another vial embodiment in accordance with the present disclosure. 
           [0067]      FIG. 39B  is a top view of the vial of  FIG. 39A . 
           [0068]      FIG. 39C  is a top view of the vial of  FIG. 39A  assembled together with another vial and a compact in accordance with the present disclosure. 
           [0069]      FIG. 39D  is a side view of the assembly of  FIG. 39C . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0070]    As used herein, a compact of the cosmetics container system disclosed herein can be, but is not limited to, a compact case of any size or shape, a cosmetics accessory such as a pencil sharpener, eyelash curler, or tweezers, an attachable makeup applicator/tool such as a brush, a cotton swab, or sponge, a false eyelash kit, a manicure kit, face tissue, cleansing wipes, or an attachable empty canister to hold separately packaged cosmetic products. 
         [0071]    Also as used herein, a vial of the cosmetics container system disclosed herein can be, but is not limited to, a filled cosmetics tube (such as for liquid foundation, primer, or toothpaste), a liquid cosmetic holder with an applicator (such as for lip gloss, mascara, brow gel, stains, liquid eyeliner, or nail polish), an spray atomizer pump (such as for perfume, hair spray, brush cleaner, or toner), a pump (such as for lotions, serums, foundation makeup, or cleanser), an aerosol sprayer (such as for perfume, toners, hair spray, or mouse), a bottle (such as for cleanser, shampoo, conditioner, makeup remover, or brush cleaner), or a cosmetic pencil (such as lip liner or eye liner). 
         [0072]    Examples of various combinations of a second or small compact  100 , a first or large compact  200 , and a vial  300  of one currently preferred embodiment of a cosmetics container system according to the disclosure are shown in  FIGS. 1A to 10  in the drawings. The small compact  100 , the large compact  200 , and the vial  300  are provided with means permitting these components of the cosmetics container system to be joined at will in any of many configurations to accommodate the user&#39;s need for any particular combination of cosmetics. The means for joining the components of the cosmetics container system comprise protrusions and/or indentations formed on a component that mate with complementary indentations and/or protrusions on other components. 
         [0073]    The small compacts  100  have a square shape when seen from above or below. They may be joined to each other horizontally, side-by-side, as in  FIG. 1A , or vertically, bottom-to-bottom, as in  FIG. 1B . The structure of the small compact  100  is shown in detail in  FIGS. 11-18 . 
         [0074]    The large compacts  200  have a rectangular shape when seen from above or below. They may be joined to each other horizontally, side-by-side, as in  FIG. 2A , or vertically, bottom-to-bottom, as in  FIG. 2B . The structure of the large compact  200  is shown in detail in  FIGS. 19-25 . 
         [0075]    The large compacts  200  may be joined in one of two possible vertical orientations. When two large compacts  200  according to a preferred embodiment are joined vertically, they may be oriented so that their lids rotate toward each other when opened (the axes of the hinges of the lids being vertically aligned) as in the configuration shown in  FIG. 2B  or away from each other (the axes of the hinges of the lids being spaced from each other horizontally) as in the configuration of vertical joined compacts shown in  FIG. 10 . The small compacts  100  according to this one preferred embodiment have only one possible orientation when joined vertically. The lids of two vertically joined small compacts will rotate toward each other when opened (the axes of the hinges of the lids being vertically aligned), as in the configuration shown in  FIG. 1B . 
         [0076]    The large compact  200  may be joined horizontally to a small compact  100 , as shown in  FIG. 3A  and  FIG. 4 . Two small compacts  100  may be joined to a large compact  200 , as shown in  FIG. 3B . The large compact  200  is twice as long as a small compact  100  so that two small compacts  100  may be joined horizontally to a large compact  200  without overlap or extension, as shown in  FIG. 10 . 
         [0077]      FIG. 5A  shows how four small compacts  100  may be joined together horizontally in a linear formation. It will be understood that any number of the small compacts  100  may be so joined, by adding additional small compacts  100  to one end or the other of the line of small compacts  100 . 
         [0078]      FIG. 5B  shows how four small compacts  100  may be joined together horizontally as well as vertically, so that two bottom-to-bottom lines of the small compacts  100  are formed. It will be understood that any number of the small compacts  100  may be so joined, by adding additional small compacts  100  to one end or the other of the two lines of small compacts  100   
         [0079]      FIG. 5C  shows how four large compacts  200  may be joined together horizontally in a linear formation. It will be understood that any number of the large compacts  200  may be so joined, by adding additional large compacts  200  to one end or the other of the line of large compacts  200 . 
         [0080]      FIG. 5D  shows how four large compacts  200  may be joined together horizontally as well as vertically, so that two bottom-to-bottom lines of the large compacts  200  are formed. It will be understood that any number of the large compacts  200  may be so joined, by adding additional large compacts  200  to one end or the other of the two lines of large compacts  200 . As noted above, when two large compacts  200  are joined vertically, they may be oriented so that their lids rotate toward each other when opened (the axes of the hinges of the lids being vertically aligned) or away from each other (the axes of the hinges the lids being spaced from each other horizontally). 
         [0081]    The vial  300  may be joined horizontally to a small compact  100  as shown in  FIG. 6A . The structure of the small compact  100  is shown in detail in  FIGS. 26-38 . 
         [0082]    The vial  300  may be joined horizontally to a large compact  200 , as shown in  FIG. 6B , or to two large compacts  200 , as shown in  FIG. 7A . Two vials  300  may be horizontally joined to one large compact  200 , as shown in  FIG. 7B .  FIGS. 8A and 8B  show horizontal combinations of a vial  300  with a large compact  200  and one or two small compacts  100 .  FIG. 9A  shows how a vial  300  can be joined to a vertical combination of the small compacts  100 .  FIG. 9B  shows how a vial  300  can be joined to a vertical combination of small compacts  100  and a large compact  200 .  FIG. 10  shows a vertical combination of two layers of small compacts  100  and large compacts  200  joined to a vial  300 . 
         [0083]    Generally, any combinations of the small compact  100 , the large compact  200 , and the vial  300  of this one preferred embodiment of the system may be put together. Only two layers of the small compact  100  and the large compact  200  may be joined vertically but horizontal combinations of the small compact  100  and the large compact  200  may be extended without limit other than practical considerations such as whether the combination will fit into a handbag. The vial  300  in this one preferred embodiment may attach only to one side of the small compacts  100  or the large compacts  200 , as shown in  FIGS. 8A-10 . It will be understood that this is only a design preference and that the vial could be designed to attach instead to a bottom of one of the small compacts  100  or the large compacts  200  by providing appropriate attachment means on one side of the vial  300 , such as peg-and-pit combinations. As will be discussed further below, a vial may also have means to connect to multiple components of the cosmetics container system disclosed herein. 
         [0084]      FIGS. 11-18  show the structure of the small compact  100 , the components of which are preferably molded of one or more thermoplastic or polymer materials such as (but not limited to) acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS), aolymethyl methacrylate (PMMA), co-polymerized polyethylene terephthalate (PETG), polycarbonate (PC), or polypropylene (PP). 
         [0085]    The small compact  100 , as may be best seen in  FIGS. 16 and 18 , has a base  110 , preferably molded from ABS, which has a hollow into which fits a pan  120 , preferably also molded of ABS. The pan  120  holds cosmetics. An inner lid  130 , preferably molded of ABS, is attached by a metal hinge pin  140  to a flange  111  projecting from the base  110 . A mirror (not shown) may be pressed or otherwise attached to the underside of the inner lid  130 . A top cover  150  is adhered or press-fitted to the inner lid  130 . The inner lid  130  (and the attached top cover  150 ) can therefore rotate about the hinge pin  140  to and away from the base  110  and its enclosed pan  120  so that the user can shut or open the small compact  100  as needed. The inner lid  130  and the attached top cover  150  together act as a cover for the cosmetics in the pan when the cover is shut against the base  110 . A detent in the inner lid  130  (not shown) engages with a ridge  112  molded into the front side of the base  110  in order to maintain the inner lid  130  in a closed configuration against the base  110 . 
         [0086]    The right side of the base  110  has a socket  113  molded therein. The left side of the base  110  has a tail  114  molded therein. The left side of the base  110  has a protrusion in the form of a tail  114  molded therein. The socket  113  and the tail  114  are shaped and sized to slidingly engage the tail  114  and socket  113 , respectively, of other small compacts  100 , in a sliding dovetail joint. The center of the tail  114  contains a rounded projection  115  having a vertically arranged slot  115 A molded therein for receiving a detent  116  molded in the center of the bottom of the socket  113 , to hold two of the small compacts  100  in alignment when joined horizontally, as shown in  FIG. 5A . 
         [0087]    The bottom side of the base  110  has four spaced peg and pin engagement units  117 , each composed of an indentation in the form of a pit  118  adjoining a protrusion in the form of a peg  119 . The peg  119  is shaped and sized to detachably fit into the pit  118  of another and vertically adjacent small compact  100  while the peg  119  of that other small compact  100  fits into the pit  118  of the first small compact  100 . The peg  119  also is shaped and sized to detachably fit into the pit  218  of a vertically adjacent large compact  200  while the peg  219  of that large compact  200  fits into the pit  118  of the small compact  100 . 
         [0088]    The bottom edges of the pegs  119  are preferably softened, not sharp, in order to permit easier engagement with the pit  118  of another small compact  100 . The peg and pit engagement units  117  therefore permit two small compacts  100  to be detachably connected bottom-to-bottom, as shown in  FIGS. 1B and 5B , and for a small compact  100  to be detachably connected bottom-to-bottom to a large compact  200 , as in  FIG. 10 . 
         [0089]      FIGS. 19-25  show the structure of the large compact  200 , the components of which are preferably molded of one or more thermoplastic materials such as ABS, PMMA, PETG, PC, or PP. 
         [0090]    The large compact  100 , as may be best seen in  FIGS. 23 and 25 , has a base  210 , preferably molded from ABS, which has a hollow into which fits a pan  220 , preferably also molded of ABS. The pan  220  holds cosmetics. An inner lid  230 , preferably molded of ABS, is attached by a metal hinge pin  240  to a flange  211  projecting from the base  210 . A mirror (not shown) may be pressed or otherwise attached to the underside of the inner lid  230 . A top cover  250  is adhered or press-fitted to the inner lid  230 . The inner lid  230  (and the attached top cover  250 ) can therefore rotate about the hinge pin  240  to and away from the base  210  and its enclosed pan  220  so that the user can shut or open the small compact  200  as needed. The inner lid  230  and the attached top cover  250  together act as a cover for the cosmetics in the pan when the cover is shut against the base  210 . A detent in the inner lid  230  (not shown) engages with a ridge  212  molded into the front side of the base  210  in order to maintain the inner lid  230  in a closed configuration against the base  210 . 
         [0091]    The right side of the base  210  has a protrusion in the form of a socket  213 A molded on the right side thereof. The right side of the base  210  also has a protrusion in the form of a tail  214 A molded on the left side thereof. The left side of the base  210  has an indentation in the form of a socket  213 B molded on the right side thereof. The right side of the base  210  also has a protrusion in the form of a tail  214 B molded on the left side thereof. The socket  213 A and the tail  214 A are shaped and sized to slidingly engage either the tail  214 A and socket  213 A or the tail  214 B and the socket  213 B, respectively, of other large compacts  200 , as well as the tail  114  and socket  113  of a small compact  100 . The socket  213 B and the tail  214 B are shaped and sized to slidingly engage either the tail  214 A and socket  213 A or the tail  214 B and the socket  213 B, respectively, of other large compacts  200 , as well as the tail  114  and socket  113  of a small compact  100 . 
         [0092]    It will be noted that that the small compact  100  will be horizontally mated to a large compact  200  in such a configuration that the hinge pin  140  of the small compact  100  is located adjacent the center of the large compact  200 . The small compact  100  will have its front side adjacent one end of the large compact  200  rather than its middle so that the inner lid  130  and top cover  150  will rotate toward the middle of the large compact  200 . The socket  113  and tail  114  of the small compact  100  are located on its left and right side, respectively, in order to require this configuration (see, e.g.,  FIG. 15 ) in one preferred embodiment of the system. This configuration is preferred because the small compact  100  will be easier to open when horizontally mated to the large compact  200 , and especially when two small compacts are horizontally mated to the same large compact  200 , as in  FIG. 3B . 
         [0093]    The centers of the tails  214 A and  214 B contain a rounded projection  215  having a vertically arranged slot  215 A molded therein for receiving a detent  216  molded in the center of the bottom of the sockets  213 A and  213 B, to hold two of the small compacts  100  in alignment when joined horizontally, as shown in  FIG. 10 , or to hold one large compact  200  in alignment when joined horizontally, as shown in  FIGS. 5D and 7A . 
         [0094]    The bottom side of the base  210  has first and second sets  260  and  270 , respectively, of four spaced peg and pit engagement units  217 , each peg and pit engagement units  217  being composed of an indentation in the form of a pit  218  adjoining a protrusion in the form of a peg  219 . The peg  219  is shaped and sized to detachably fit into the pit  118  of a vertically adjacent small compact  100  while the peg  119  of that small compact  100  fits into the pit  218  of the large compact  200 . The peg  219  also is shaped and sized to detachably fit into the pit  218  of a vertically adjacent large compact  200  while the peg  219  of that large compact  200  fits into the pit  218  of the first large compact  200 . 
         [0095]    It will be observed in the bottom side view of  FIG. 21  that the first set  260  of four spaced peg and pit engagement units  217  is oriented in one direction (each peg  219  is left of its adjacent pit  218  as shown in  FIG. 21 ) and the second set  270  of four spaced peg and pit engagement units  217  is oriented in the opposite direction (each peg  219  is right of its adjacent pit  218  as shown in  FIG. 21 ). As a result, each large compact  200  can mate vertically to another large compact  200  in one of two configurations, as noted above (hinges either vertically aligned or spaced horizontally). In other words, the user can separate the vertically mated large compacts  200 , rotate one large compact 180 degrees about its vertical axis, and re-mate it to the other large compact  200 . 
         [0096]    It will also be observed that the small compact  100  will be vertically mated to a large compact  200  in such a configuration that the hinge pin  140  of the small compact  100  is located adjacent the center of the large compact  200 . As noted above, the small compact  100  will have its front side above one end of the large compact  200  rather than above its middle so that the inner lid  130  and top cover  150  will rotate toward the middle of the large compact  200 . The peg and pit engagement units  117  of the small compact  100  have an orientation that requires this configuration (see  FIG. 17 ). This configuration is preferred because the small compact  100  will be easier to open when vertically mated to the large compact  200 , and especially when two small compacts are vertically mated to the same large compact  200 , as in  FIG. 9B . 
         [0097]    The bottom edges of the pegs  219  are preferably softened, not sharp, in order to permit easier engagement with the pit  118  of another small compact  100 . The peg and pit engagement units  117  therefore permit two large compacts  200  to be detachably connected bottom-to-bottom, as shown in  FIGS. 2B and 5D , and for a small compact  100  to be detachably connected bottom-to-bottom to a large compact  200 , as shown in  FIG. 10 . 
         [0098]      FIGS. 26-33  show the structure of the vial  300  according to one embodiment, the components of which are preferably molded of one or more thermoplastic materials such as ABS, PMMA, PETG, PC, or PP. The vial  300  essentially has a body defining a compartment for receiving cosmetics and a cap for securing the compartment. An applicator or brush assembly will usually be included with the vial  300  so that the contents of the vial  300  may be applied by the user. Examples of two brush assemblies are shown in  FIGS. 33-38 . 
         [0099]    As is best seen in  FIG. 32  the vial  300  has an outer shell  310  that preferably is injection molded from PC. The outer shell  310  has a socket  312  formed in one outer side. The socket  312  is shaped and sized to accommodate the tail  114  of a small compact  100  and one of the tails  214 A and  214 B of a large compact  200  in a sliding dove-tail joint, in order to permit the vial  300  to be connected to either a small compact  100  or a large compact  200 . 
         [0100]    The outer shell  310  is hollow with an opening at one end for receiving an inner vial  320  that preferably is blow molded in PETG. The inner vial  320  has a threaded neck  322  with an opening therein leading to a compartment for receiving cosmetics such as mascara, as is best seen in  FIGS. 29 and 31 . The inner vial  320  is held in the outer shell  310  by a collar  330  that is preferably injection molded of PP material and welded to the outer shell  310 . The collar  330  has an opening  332  through which the neck  322  projects. The outer shell  310 , the inner vial  320 , and the collar  330  form the body of the vial  300 . 
         [0101]    The outer shell  310  has one wall  311  that is thickened to project outwardly. A socket  313  is formed in the wall  311 . The socket  313  is shaped and sized to accommodate the tail  114  of a small compact  100  and the tails  214 A and  214 B of the large compact  200 . Accordingly, the vial  300  can be horizontally mated to either a small compact  100 , as in  FIG. 9A , or a large compact  200 , as in  FIG. 9B . 
         [0102]    The vial  300  has an outer cap  340 , preferably molded of ABS, into which an inner cap  350  is press-fitted, welded or adhered. The inner cap  350 , preferably made of an injection molded PP material, has molded therein a threaded opening for receiving the neck  322  of the inner vial  320 . The opening in the inner cap  350  contains a wiper  360 , preferably injected molded in PP material. The wiper  360  is intended to fit into the neck  322  of the inner vial  320 . The wiper  360  also holds the brush assemblies shown in  FIGS. 33-38 . The outer cap  340 , the inner cap  350 , and the wiper  360  comprise the cap that seals the body of the vial  300 . 
         [0103]    The wall  311  is thickened not only to accommodate the socket  313  but also to space the outer cap  340  away from that wall, as shown in  FIG. 31 , so that the outer cap  340  will not interfere with a tail  114  of a small compact  100  or a tail  214 A or  214 B of a large compact  200  when horizontally mated to them. 
         [0104]    In a further embodiment in accordance with the present disclosure, and with reference to  FIGS. 39A-B , a vial  400  may be formed with a socket  413  in one wall  411  sized to accommodate the tail  114  of a small compact  100  and the tails  214 A and  214 B of a large compact  200 , and is further formed with a tail  414  projecting from the wall  412  opposite wall  411  and sized to be accommodated into the socket  113  of a small compact  100  and the sockets  213 A and  213 B of a large compact  200 . This embodiment of a vial  400  can thus be utilized together with a vial  300  and a compact  200  in the manner illustrated in  FIGS. 39C-D  to form an assembly that presents a smooth, continuous outer surface on one side that has no exposed tails or sockets or, if desired, two such vials  400  can be used in an assembly that present no exposed tails or sockets whatsoever. 
         [0105]      FIGS. 33-35  show a brow brush assembly  370 . The brow brush assembly  370  has a wand  372 , preferably made of polyoxymethylene (POM), a brush  374  at one end of the wand  372 , and a flanged cup  376  formed in the wand  372  at its other end. The flanged cup  376  is shaped and sized to fit between the wiper  360  and the inner cap  350 . The wand  372  and the brush  374  will project into the inner vial  320  when the inner cap  350  is threaded onto the neck  322  of the inner vial  320 . 
         [0106]      FIGS. 36-38  show a lip brush assembly  380 . The brow brush assembly  380  has a wand  382 , preferably made of polyoxymethylene (POM), a brush  384  at one end of the wand  382 , and a flanged cup  386  formed in the wand  382  at its other end. The flanged cup  386  is shaped and sized to fit between the wiper  360  and the inner cap  350 . The wand  382  and the brush  384  will project into the inner vial  320  when the inner cap  350  is threaded onto the neck  322  of the inner vial  320 . 
         [0107]    It will be appreciated that a variety of brushes and other applicators could be provided in place of the brush assemblies shown in  FIGS. 33-38 . 
         [0108]    While illustrative embodiments of the clamps disclosed herein have been shown and described in the above description, numerous variations and alternative embodiments will occur to those skilled in the art. For example, different materials might be employed for components in place of those specifically mentioned, the shapes of the components might be altered, additional and different containers might be supplied that the join the system, and other means for joining the containers might be employed. It should be understood that, within the scope of the appended claims, the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described. Such variations and alternative embodiments are contemplated, and can be made, without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.