Abstract:
A device such as a compact or product container includes a plurality of stacked sections or housings, which are pivotable with respect to each other. The sections are substantially aligned with each other when the device is in a closed position, and when pivoted with respect to each other, the device is opened to allow access to compartments or reservoirs of the different sections. According to an example, a lower housing or section can include a product application device to facilitate the application of the product contained in an upper section or housing. The product application device is held in the lower housing such that the hair of the product application device is not damaged by the pivoting of the plurality of stacked sections.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0002]    This invention relates to a container for holding a cosmetic product and a device for applying the product. According to an example, the container has sections that are configured to pivot with respect to each other with one of the sections configured to hold the cosmetic product while another section is configured to hold the applicator device. 
         [0003]    2. Description of the Related Art 
         [0004]    Storage containers for cosmetics or the like, are known that have one or more storage parts for holding cosmetic products and applicators for applying the product. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,515,875 discloses a loose powder compact that includes a recessed area of a top closure panel that can accommodate an applicator or powder brush. The brush can be secured to the top of the top closure panel in order to isolate it from the loose powder disposed below the lower panel. In this way, the brush handle remains free of loose powder. 
         [0005]    However, with the above discussed device, the brush is arranged in the top portion of the device, which prevents the user from seeing a cosmetic product stored therein. Additionally, having the brush located on top prevents quick access to the cosmetic product. 
         [0006]    U.S. Pat. No. 5,398,706 discloses a cosmetic case that includes an upper cover portion that can be rotated with respect to a bottom portion. A drawer is included that has depressions for holding various components such a mirror and brushes. The drawer has the height and width of an opening and is slidably fitted within the opening transverse to the longitudinal orientation of the hair of the brush. As such, the hair of the brush can be damaged during the sliding movement of the drawer. 
         [0007]    Additionally, a cosmetic storing device as discussed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,709,232, includes a completely separate storage compartment for a brush and also requires additional structure to secure the brush. Such a storage device can require a lot of space, which also may not be desirable. 
         [0008]    Therefore, cosmetic compacts in the related art do not provide for a feature of having sections of a cosmetic device that pivot with respect to each other with one of the sections containing the cosmetic product and another of the sections containing at least an applicator brush. The applicator brush contained within a section is secured in a manner to reduce or prevent damage to the hair of the brush when the sections are rotated with respect to each other. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0009]    According to an aspect of the invention, it has been recognized that prior compact devices suffer from one or more disadvantages including: a cumbersome securing feature for the applicator brush, the brush including a handle and an applicator portion such as hair or any other material that can flare out when used by the consumer and/or less than satisfactory storage area for the brush allowing for the hair to be damaged by the movement of other portions of the cosmetic device. 
         [0010]    The present invention relates to improved container and/or compact device. According to an example, the device includes a container that is suitable for packaging of a product with sections pivotable with respect to each other. For example, an upper section can be rotated with respect to a lower base section. 
         [0011]    According to an example, the cosmetic device has multiple pivotable sections that store a variety of items. As an example, the sections can store a cosmetic product, a mirror, and an applicator brush for applying the cosmetic product. The applicator brush can be stored within one of the sections in a secured manner and can be positioned so that the movement of the sections to an opened or closed position does not damage the hair of the brush. 
         [0012]    According to a further example, the brush can be stored in a bottom section and at least a portion of a bottom surface of section above the brush contacts the hair of the brush to sufficiently flatten the hair during rotation and storage and minimize or prevent damage to the hair. 
         [0013]    One or more embodiments of the present invention can include, for example, a top pivoting section containing the cosmetic product, which can be viewed by the user, and a mirror and applicator brush located in a base pivoting section that can be non-visible to the user when the base section is in the closed position, which provides an aesthetically pleasing cosmetic container. 
         [0014]    According to an example of the invention, the brush can be stored on top of the mirror and a portion of the brush can be engaged with an interior portion of the section, for example with a side wall of the section to help secure the brush within the compact device. 
         [0015]    According to a further example, a portion of the handle of the brush can fit into a complimentary shaped groove formed in a side wall of the section to secure the brush for storage. 
         [0016]    The device according to the invention may advantageously be used for packaging of a cosmetic or dermatological product, in the form of a liquid, soft, semi-soft, or hard product and a brush is provided for applying such products. 
         [0017]    The invention can provide a number of advantageous features and benefits. It is to be understood that in practicing the invention, an embodiment can be constructed to include one or more features or benefits of embodiments disclosed herein, but not others. Accordingly, it is to be understood that the preferred embodiments discussed herein are provided as examples and are not be construed as limiting, particularly since embodiments can be formed to practice the invention that do not include each of the features of the disclosed examples. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0018]    The invention will be better understood from reading the description which follows and from examining the accompanying figures. These are provided solely as non-limiting examples of the invention. In the drawings: 
           [0019]      FIG. 1  is a schematic showing a compact device according to an example of the invention; 
           [0020]      FIG. 2  is a schematic showing swiveling/pivoting sections according to an example of the invention; 
           [0021]      FIG. 3  is a schematic showing a brush secured in a section of the compact device according to an example of the invention; 
           [0022]      FIG. 4  is a side view of a compact device according to an example of the invention; and 
           [0023]      FIG. 5  is a cross-section of a compact according to an example of the invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0024]    Reference will now be made in detail to the present preferred embodiments of the invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Wherever possible, the same reference characters will be used throughout the drawings to refer to the same or like parts. 
         [0025]    As discussed earlier, during use of a compact device, an opening and closing of the compact could damage the hair of the brush stored therein. Additionally, a storage area that takes up a lot of space and is visible to the consumer may not be desirable. 
         [0026]    Accordingly, the compact device of one or more examples of the invention preferably includes pivoting portions that open and close in a secure manner and will not damage the hair of a brush stored therein. It should be appreciated that the hair of the brush according to the following examples can be made of any material, be of any size, shape, and/or have any cross section. 
         [0027]      FIGS. 1 and 2  are schematics showing the compact device according to one or more examples of the invention. The compact device can be a generally circular device that includes a base  10 , center pivoting section  20 , and a cover  30 . The compact device is shown having the base  10  and center section  20  that pivot horizontally with respect to each other. In other words, during pivoting, relative movement of the sections is horizontal. In this example, the pivoting movement is about an axis  3  perpendicular to the base  10  and center  20  sections, for example, with the pivot axis perpendicular to the bottom of the base. 
         [0028]    The compact device is shown in the figures as a generally circular device. However, examples of the invention can include a compact device having any desirable shape such as triangular, oval, square, rectangular, and the like. An example of the invention provides for at least a part of the outside side wall of one or more of the base  10 , center section  20 , and cover  30  to be tapered to form a gripping area for the user to place their hands when holding the compact. The side surfaces of the base  10 , center  20 , and/or cover  30  can have the same or different diameters, be any shape, such as curved and/or can be formed with protrusions or the like to provide the user with a secure grip on the compact device during use. 
         [0029]    By way of example, the base  10  and center section  20  can be generally hollow structures with side walls and a bottom portion, as illustrated in the drawings. When in the closed position as shown in  FIG. 1 , the top of the base  10  can be closed by the bottom of the center section  20  and the top of the center section  20  can be closed by the cover  30 . The hollow interior portions of the sections are configured to hold cosmetic products, brushes, mirrors, cosmetic pads, and the like, as discussed in more detail below. 
         [0030]      FIG. 2  shows the compact device with the cover  30  open and the center section  20  and base  10  pivoted with respect to each other. According to the example shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the center section  20  rotates with respect to the base, approximately  180  degrees from the closed position to the opened position. Rotating the two sections this amount allows the user to have maximum access to the hollow interior portion of base  10 . After rotating approximately 180 degrees, the center section  20  and base  10  can be locked into that position by a locking device (not shown). For example, the locking device can include a protrusion and a recess configured to receive the protrusion. The protrusion and the recess can be positioned on the center section  20  and the base  10 , respectively, or vice-versa. Preferably, the entire hollow interior areas of the sections are fully accessible in the open position. For example, as shown in  FIG. 2 , an outer surface of the side wall of the center section  20  is substantially on a same plane as an interior surface of the side wall of base  10 . This features allows the user to have full access to the interior of the base  10  without interference from a portion of, for example the side wall of, the center section  20 . In accordance with this features, a mirror  9  (see  FIG. 5 ) formed in the base  10  would be in full view to the consumer while applying a cosmetic product contained in the center section  20 . Further, positioning the sections in this way will also allow the user to easily take out or replace items contained in the sections, such as a brush. However, it should be appreciated that examples of the invention provide for the base  10  and center  20  can be rotated to a locked position at any angle. 
         [0031]    According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, as best shown in  FIGS. 2 ,  3  and  5 , the hollow interior portion of the center section  20  is a reservoir or containing area  35  for the product  36  to be stored. The product can be for example, a lip product, a skin product, or other type of make-up or dermatological product and can be in the form of, for example, a liquid, a gel, a cream, powder and can have the consistency of, for example, a solid or cake, pasty, semi-soft, or flowable product. The cover  30  can include a transparent area  32  to allow the user to see through the cover  30  at the product contained therein to eliminate the need to open the compact to determine what is inside. 
         [0032]    According to an example of the invention, the base  10  can include both a mirror  9  and a brush  11  for use by the consumer during application of the product. It should be appreciated that either the base  10  or center section  20  can contain a cosmetic product  36 , a brush  11 , an applicator pad, and/or a mirror  9 . Further, an indentation  2  can be formed in a side wall of the base  10  and/or in the center section  20 , to accommodate a portion of a brush  11 . For example, at least a portion of the brush handle  5  can fit into the indentation  2  when the brush  11  is stored in the base  10 . The brush handle  5  or any portion thereof, can be any aesthetic or functional shape such as square, triangular, and the like that will allow a securing fit into the indentation  2  having a complementary shape. While the indentation  2  is illustrated as provided in the side wall of the base  10  and the brush handle  5  is shaped to fit into the indentation  2 , an example of the invention provides for this configuration to be reversed. For example, a protrusion can be formed in the side wall that projects out into an indentation formed in the handle  5  having a complementary shape to the protrusion. 
         [0033]    Additionally, according to an example of the invention, the exposed end portion of the hair  12  can be shaped to fit the contour of the inside of the base  10 . For example, with a circular base  10  as shown in the figures, the end of the hair will curve to complement the curve of the base  10 . As such, when the handle  5  is placed in the indentation  2 , the length of the brush from an end of the handle  5  to an end of the hair  12  will allow for the brush  11  to completely fit within the confines of the hollow interior portion of the base  10 . For example, as best shown in  FIG. 5 , the brush  11  will be stored in a substantially horizontal manner with respect to a bottom surface of the base  10  if the portion of the handle  5  is placed into the indentation  2  when the user stores the brush  11 . If a user does not orient the brush in the correct way, the brush  11  will be situated at an angle and the user will not be able to close the compact device over the brush without potentially damaging the brush. According to this example, with the indentation  2  formed in the side wall, the proper placement of the brush  11  during storage is ensured and damage to the hair  12  during rotation of the sections can be reduced or prevented as discussed in greater detail below. 
         [0034]    When a user has used the brush  11  to apply the product and has returned the brush  11  to the base  10 , the center  20  is rotated closed with respect to the base  10 . As best shown in  FIGS. 2 and 3  and in accordance with one or more examples of the invention, the indentation  2  is formed at a location in the side wall of the base  10  such that when the brush  11  is placed in its storage position in the base  10  and the center  20  is rotated with respect to the base  10 , a bottom of the center section  20  slides along a substantially longitudinal direction of the hair  12  and handle  5  of brush  11 . Accordingly, as shown in  FIG. 3 , when the center  20  is rotated closed, a front edge  23  of the bottom of the center section  20  will slide over the handle  5  first and then over the hair  12  portion in a generally longitudinal direction of the brush  11 . As the center  20  is rotated and passes over the brush  11 , the front edge  23  located at the bottom of the center section  20  can contact the hair  12  as it passes over the hair  12  to the closed position. That contact between the front edge  23  and the hair  12  can first take place at or near the base of the hair  12  (where it connects to the handle  5 ) and can progress toward the tip of the hair  12  as the front edge  23  approaches the edge of the base  10  during the closing movement. Due to the contact with the front edge  23  of the center section  20  as the center section  20  is rotated, the hair  12  is pushed completely into the hollow interior portion of the base  10 . According to this feature of the invention, the hair  12  is safely flattened into the interior of base  10  and is not damaged by the pivoting section of the compact device. 
         [0035]    According to a further example of the invention, as shown in  FIGS. 4 and 5 , the bottom  25  of the center section  20  can have a substantially uniform depth across the entire bottom surface. For example, the bottom  25  surface can be substantially coplanar with the front edge  23  used to flatten the hair  12  into the base  10 . As such, when the center  20  is rotated and the front edge  23  flattens the hair  12  of the brush  11  as discussed above, at least a portion of the bottom surface  25  will continue to have contact with the hair  12  and flatten the hair  12  as the brush  11  is stored. In accordance with this feature, as the center section  20  and base  10  are rotated open, the hair  12  will not extend out of the hollow interior of the base  10  until after the bottom surface  25  of the center  20  contacting the hair has rotated past the hair  12 . Therefore, the hair  12  will be prevented from extending out of the hollow interior of base  10  while the base  10  and center  20  are rotated and thus, will be protected from the sections damaging the hair  12 . 
         [0036]    In the example shown, the indentation  2  and the brush  11  can be oriented such that the area of the bottom surface  25  in contact with the hair  12 , does not move across the hair  12  in a direction transverse to the orientation of the hair  12 . That is, as the base  10  and center section  20  are rotated, the part of the bottom surface  25  contacts one or more portions of the brush  11  so as to slide along a longitudinal direction of the hair  12 . Therefore, damage to the hair  12  of the brush is reduced or eliminated by the opening and closing of the cosmetic device. 
         [0037]    In an illustrated example of the present invention, the longitudinal axis of the hair  12  and/or indentation  2  is positioned with respect to the pivot axis  3  so as to make an angle relative to the center of the base  10  of about 60 degrees. Other angles are possible, for example in a range of about  10  to  110  degrees and more particularly in a range of about 45 to 75 degrees. These angles provide the beneficial function of reducing damage to the hair  12  of the brush  11  as the center section  20  and the base  10  pivot back and forth between the open and closed positions. It is within the spirit and scope of the invention to have the handle  5  and the indentation  2  formed to have complementary shapes and sizes and be oriented at other angles with respect to the pivot axis  3  and the center of the base  10  as long as the brush can be positioned inside the base  10  and the hair  12  not be damaged by opening and closing the base  10  and center section  20  assembly. For example, the handle  5  can have an elbow shape, or a curved shape, so that the handle  5  is not fully longitudinal with respect to the hair  12  of the brush. In such an embodiment, the indentation  2  can be placed at an angle outside the above range for example, such that the front edge  23  slides over the hair  12  in a longitudinal direction with respect to the hair  12 , so as to not damage the hair  12 . 
         [0038]    It should be appreciated that in one example, the bottom surface  25  of the center  20  has only a portion of the surface  25  contacting the hair  12  during rotation of the base  10  and center  20 . For example, only a portion of the bottom surface  25  will be substantially coplanar with a top edge of the base  10  in an area that contacts the hair  12 . 
         [0039]    It is within the spirit and scope of one or more examples of the invention to have any number of sections that can pivot with respect to each other. For example, a base  10  can be provided along with two sections  20 , and a cover  30 . The base  10  and sections  20  would be able to rotate with respect to each other in a similar manner as described above. Where additional pivotable sections are provided, they can pivot about a common axis or plural coaxial axes, or alternatively, they can pivot about axes that are at different locations about the periphery of the compact. As such, according to an example of the invention, several sections  20  can contain product application devices, such as brushes  11 , and therefore the brushes will be oriented in order to reduce or eliminate damage to the brush hair  12  as the pivoting sections are rotated. 
         [0040]    Obviously, numerous modifications and variations of the present invention are possible in light of the above teachings. It is therefore to be understood that within the scope of the appended claims, the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described herein.