Patent Publication Number: US-2002011252-A1

Title: Cosmetic set

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001] The present invention relates to a device for storing cosmetics and to a method for storing cosmetics.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002] Decorative cases and containers for articles such as jewelry and cosmetics have been found in archeological sites dating back to early antiquity. For instance, Egyptian priests who were experts in the making of perfumes and cosmetics would supply these products to high born men and women. These men and women would store the products in containers such as a casket. Ancient Greek vases are illustrated with images of young women using oils and unguents stored in bottles.  
       [0003] Some of the cases and containers have had such sculptural beauty and exquisite craftsmanship as to have value as works of art. Some of the cases and containers have had a utility as jewelry or decoration in their own right. For instance, small ampules of perfume were retained on chains and worn as necklaces. Hollow ring-shaped bracelets retained perfume within the hollow interior.  
       [0004] The Kimmell patent, U.S. Pat. No. 4,135,645, issuing Jan. 23, 1979, describes a self-defense ring member with an opening for a finger and a movable member coupled to the ring member. The movable member has secured thereto a container having a chemical substance such as mace that can be used for self-defense. The self-defense ring can be imparted with the appearance of a cosmetic container.  
       [0005] The Wolff patent, U.S. Pat. No. 5,323,924, issuing Jun. 28, 1994, describes a cosmetic container with a base and a cover attached to the base. The container encloses a tray with a basket. The container also includes a mirror.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0006] One embodiment of the device of the present invention comprises a holder for cosmetic articles. The holder comprises a main body with a wall that defines a hole for receipt of a cosmetic article. The wall also defines a roll or a groove for retaining the cosmetic article.  
       [0007] One other embodiment of the present invention comprises a kit that comprises a holder for cosmetic articles and one or more cosmetic articles. The holder defines a wall that defines a roll. The cosmetic article includes an outer surface that defines a groove. The cosmetic article is retained in the holder when the roll is retained in the groove.  
       [0008] The present invention additionally includes a kit that comprises a holder for cosmetic articles and one or more cosmetic articles. The holder defines a wall that defines a groove. The cosmetic article includes an outer surface that defines a nub or roll. The cosmetic article is retained in the holder when the roll is retained in the groove.  
       [0009] The present invention also includes an ampule that may be positioned in the cosmetic holder. The ampule comprises a main body and a cap sealed to the main body at a neck portion. The neck portion comprises an upper support and a lower support. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS  
     [0010]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a single ring, single makeup article holder.  
     [0011]FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a single ring cosmetic holder capable of holding two cosmetic articles.  
     [0012]FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a stacked ring system, illustrated as two stacked rings holding two cosmetic articles.  
     [0013]FIG. 3 a  is a perspective view of a stacked ring system, wherein the rings are attached to each other by threads.  
     [0014]FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a locking mechanism for the ring system of FIG. 3.  
     [0015]FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a single makeup holder that retains a plurality of cosmetic articles.  
     [0016]FIG. 6 is a side view of a single makeup holder that retains a plurality of cosmetic articles in a stacked positioning.  
     [0017]FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a single makeup holder that retains cosmetic tools.  
     [0018]FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a makeup article with an annular groove.  
     [0019]FIG. 9 is a perspective view of another embodiment of the makeup holder of the present invention.  
     [0020]FIG. 10 is a top view of a makeup holder of the present invention that includes retaining nubs.  
     [0021]FIG. 11 is a side view of one embodiment of a makeup article of the present invention.  
     [0022]FIG. 12 is a perspective view of one embodiment of the makeup holder of the present invention that includes a groove.  
     [0023]FIG. 13 is a side view of one embodiment of a makeup article that includes a pair of nubs.  
     [0024]FIG. 14 is a perspective view of a stack of makeup holders, each holder capable of holding multiple makeup articles.  
     [0025]FIG. 15 is a perspective view of one embodiment of a makeup holders, each holder having retractable nubs for a cosmetic article.  
     [0026]FIG. 16 is a front view of one embodiment of an ampule for containing a cosmetic.  
     [0027]FIG. 17 is a side view of the ampule embodiment of FIG. 16. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
     [0028] One embodiment of the cosmetic holder device of the present invention illustrated generally at  10  in FIG. 1 includes an annular main body  12  that has an outer surface  14  and an inner surface  16 , the inner surface  16  defining an annular lip  18 . The annular main body  12  and annular lip  18  are made of a material that has elasticity. While an annular main body is described herein, it is understood that other symmetries are useable in the holder device of the present invention. The other symmetries include squares, ovals, stars and other symmetric and asymmetric shapes.  
     [0029] One other embodiment of the cosmetic ring holder of the present invention, illustrated generally at  20  in FIG. 2, includes a main body  22  defined by an annular side portion  24 , an oval-shaped bottom portion  26  and an oval-shaped top portion  28 . The top portion  28  defines a pair of holes  30  and  32 . The ring holder  20  is also made of a material that has elasticity.  
     [0030] The cosmetic ring holder also includes an annular wall  34  defining hole  30  that includes a lip or roll  36 . One other embodiment of the cosmetic holder includes an annular wall  38  defining hole  32  which also includes a lip or roll  40 .  
     [0031] In another embodiment of the present invention is a method for storing a cosmetic article. With this method, a ring storage device such as is illustrated at  10 , or a dual container storage device such as is illustrated at  20  is provided. A cosmetic article is sized to fit within a hole  11  defined by cosmetic holder  10  or holes  30  and  32  defined by cosmetic holder  20 . The cosmetic article is inserted in the ring  10  by applying force to the cosmetic article in order to slightly expand the ring or compress the lip  18  so that the cosmetic article is secured by the lip  18  and by using the flexibility of the material of the ring. Cosmetic articles can be positioned within holes  32  and  30  in a similar manner. Cosmetic articles are then retained by lips  36  and  38 , respectively.  
     [0032] “Cosmetic article” as used herein refers to a container of lipstick, eyeshadow, blush, foundation, toner, astringent, cleanser, mascara, concealer, lip balm, perfume or other fragrance in all forms including liquid solid or creme, deodorant, creme, powder, capsules containing skin care materials or fragrance and so on. The cosmetic article may have a disk shape or capsular shape or a bottle shape such as a fragrance spray bottle. The cosmetic article may include any article that contains fragrance or skin care or beauty enhancing material.  
     [0033] In one other embodiment of the present invention, rings  50  and  52  are stacked and secured to each other by a securing mechanism, as illustrated at  60  in FIGS. 3 and 3 a . In stacking the rings such as bottom ring  50  and top ring  52 , the top ring  52  rests on an annular floor  54  and rests against a wall  56  perpendicular to the annular floor  54 . The annular wall  56  defines a roll or lip  58  over which a ring such as  50  is positioned. The roll  58  retains the ring  50  to the ring  52 . The wall  56  and roll or lip  58  are part of the ring  52 . While two rings are shown in FIG. 3, it is contemplated that multiple rings may be stacked upon each other. The multiple rings may be stacked to form a makeup kit. The stack of rings can enclose containers for eye shadow, blush, powder and foundation, for instance.  
     [0034] A stack of rings may also be made by attaching rings such as ring  53  and ring  55  in FIG. 3 a . The rings  53  and  55  include one or more threads, such as are shown at  57  for ring  53 . The ring  55  includes one or more grooves for receipt of the threads.  
     [0035] Cosmetic holders that hold two or more cosmetic articles such as are illustrated at  20  in FIG. 2 may also be stacked as is illustrated at  140  in FIG. 14. The stacking mechanism is the same as is described in FIG. 4.  
     [0036] The cosmetic holder device  10  and cosmetic holder system  60  are used to retain cosmetic articles that, in one embodiment define a groove, such as is illustrated for one cosmetic article  25  at  27  in FIG. 8. Makeup articles that are free of a groove may also be retained. While a circular symmetry is described for embodiments  10 ,  20 ,  50  and  52 , other symmetries may be employed such as a square symmetry, oval symmetry, star symmetry and others. A partial symmetry, such as a semi-circle, as is illustrated at  90  in FIG. 9 may also be employed. The orifice in the cosmetic holder may be sized or shaped to receive virtually any cosmetic article.  
     [0037] The cosmetic holder device  10  and cosmetic holder system  60  of the present invention provide a unique form of display and storage for cosmetic articles. Because the cosmetic article may be “popped into” or “popped out of” any particular ring such as is illustrated at  10  or  20 , due to the elasticity of the cosmetic holder, the cosmetic article may be displayed for different purposes.  
     [0038] While the cosmetic holder  20  defines two holes  30  and  32 , the cosmetic holder of the present invention may define a single hole or may define multiple holes. In one embodiment illustrated at  70  in FIG. 5, the holder defines holes  72 ,  74 ,  76 ,  78  and  80  for holding cosmetic articles such as eye shadow, blush, foundation, and powder. In one other embodiment, illustrated at  80  in FIG. 6, a holder  80  is of a height to stack cosmetic articles within one or more holes  82  and  83 . The holder  80  includes an annular wall  84  that includes two lips  86  and  88  for retaining two cosmetic articles, one article on top of another.  
     [0039] One cosmetic holder of the present invention, illustrated at  90  in FIG. 7, includes a main body  92  that encloses a hole  94  for insertion of a cosmetic article. The hole  94  is defined by an annular wall  96  with an annular lip  98 . The cosmetic holder  90  also defines a second hole  91  for insertion of a container of make up implements such as brushes or other small cosmetic tools.  
     [0040] While an annular lip or roll, such as  98 , is described, other retaining mechanisms may be employed. These other mechanisms include a pair of nubs, such as are illustrated at  100  and  102  in FIG. 10. The nubs are a segmentation of the continuous lip or roll. The nubs  100  and  102  are positioned on an inner annular surface  105  of the holder  107 . The nubs  100  and  102  are engaged within a groove  104  of the makeup article  106  illustrated in FIG. 11. The makeup articles are retaining in the holder  107  by the roll or by the nubs through squeeze contact or by a lip groove contact for makeup articles with a groove.  
     [0041] In one other embodiment, illustrated at  150  in FIG. 15, the makeup articles are retained by a pair of retractable nubs  152  and  154 . The retractable nubs  152  and  152  are positioned within bores  156  and  158 . The nubs  152  and  154  are attached to springs of a tension that pushes the nubs into a space  160 .  
     [0042] The makeup holder of the present invention may, in one embodiment illustrated at  120  in FIG. 12, include annular walls  122  and  124  that define grooves  126  and  128 . A makeup article such as is illustrated at  130  in FIG. 13 may be positioned within the makeup holder  120 . The makeup article  130  is held in place by nubs  132  and  134  or an annular roll that are retained within either the groove  126  or  128 . The roll may be continuous or segmented to form the nubs.  
     [0043] The makeup article may also be retained in the holder such as  53  in FIG. 3 a  or  50  in FIG. 3 by threads. In this embodiment, the makeup article includes grooves that can receive one or more threads.  
     [0044] The devices of the present invention may be made from a polymeric material such as polyolefin or polyethylene or PET or polypropylene or polyethylene or other polymer having an elasticity that permits it to “pop” over a nub. In one embodiment, the devices are made from a regular-branched, low-density,  0.92-0.93 , polyethylene from Union Carbide Company under the name “Bakelite DYNK-1”. In another embodiment, the materials are made of a high density, 0.95 or above, polyethylene available from Phillips Chemical Company under the name “Marlex 5012” or an isotactic-type polypropylene resin containing a minor amount of copolymerized ethylene having a density of 0.91 and a melt index of 0.55 at 230° C. A suitable polypropylene is marketed as TC-6-12 by the Shell Company. Other materials that may be employed to fabricate the products of the present invention include an amino resin, particularly melamine or a urea-formaldehyde resin. Other heat-setting resins may also be employed. Various catalysts or accelerators may be added to manufacture the resin in a known manner with the heat-setting resin employed. The holder may be made of a less elastic material if threads are used for attachment of the makeup article or for attaching one holder to another.  
     [0045] The material has properties of compressibility and elasticity. These properties permit the makeup article to be squeezed over the nub or roll. The material deforms in response to the force of movement of the makeup article. The deformation is reversible so that the material returns to its original shape when the cosmetic article is passed over the roll or nub.  
     [0046] The makeup holders produced may be transparent, translucent or opaque. The holders may be colored or may be clear. The holders may be patterned with a pattern such as tortoise shell. The holders may be fabricated with materials embedded within the polymeric material.  
     [0047] The makeup holders may be hollow or solid. In one embodiment, the makeup holder is substantially solid with one or more hollow compartment regions for storage of cosmetic tools such as small brushes.  
     [0048] The makeup holders may be applied to cosmetic containers and packaged in containers such as bags or sachets made of fabric or suede or a polymeric material. The makeup holders may also be packaged in a box.  
     [0049] One embodiment of an ampule for containing a cosmetic is illustrated at  200  In FIG. 16. The ampule  200  includes a flexible main body  202  and a cap  204  that is sealed to the main body  202  at a neck portion  206 . The neck portion comprises an upper support  208  and a lower support  210  that meet to form a seam  212 . The ampule may be inserted into the cosmetic holder of the present invention.  
     [0050] The ampule is made from a material such as polyethylene, polypropylene, and PET. The ampule is made utilizing a process such as extrusion blowing, or injection blowing. The cap  204  is sealed to the main body  202  after filling the main body with a cosmetic. It is contemplated that the ampule is used to enclose a fragrance. The fragrance may be in a solid, aqueous based or solvent based liquid or oil or creme form. The ampule is this instance is made of a material compatible with the fragrance form, such as a silica-based material or inert polymer.  
     [0051] If the main body is filled with cosmetic before cap formation, the cap  204  is constructed to form a flat, hard cap  204  that can be twisted open. Twisting breaks open the ampule at the seam  212 .  
     [0052] The neck portion  206  has a diameter that is determined by the type of cosmetic enclosed. A large diameter is used for cosmetic of high viscosity.  
     [0053] The ampule may be sold with makeup or skin care product or fragrance as a separate item. The ampule may be used to contain samples of makeup or skin care product or fragrance or material used in aromatherapy.  
     [0054] In the foregoing description, the invention has been described with reference to specific embodiments thereof. It will, however, be evident that various modifications and changes may be made thereto without departing from the broader spirit or scope of the present invention as defined in the appended claims. The specification and drawings are, accordingly, to be regarded in an illustrative rather than a restrictive sense.