Patent Publication Number: US-9420868-B2

Title: Casing for a cosmetic article

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention relates to a casing for a cosmetic article, such as a cosmetic powder pan containing a cosmetic powder, and an associated cosmetic applicator, and in particular to a window for, in a first configuration, enabling a user to view the cosmetic powder within the cosmetic powder pan, and, in a second configuration, presenting a mirror through the window to assist the user when applying the cosmetic powder contained in the cosmetic powder pan. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Casings containing cosmetic articles are known, and typically comprise a base having one or more recesses for accommodating cosmetic articles, such as cosmetic powder pans and associated cosmetic applicators, and a cover which is hinged to the base for closing or opening the casing. 
     In some casings, a mirror may be fixed to an inner surface of the cover, so that when the user opens the casing, he or she can simultaneously access the cosmetic article and reveal the mirror in a single gesture, the mirror facilitating the application of the relevant cosmetic product. However, with such an arrangement, it is generally not possible for a user to be able to visually inspect the cosmetic articles within the casing prior to purchasing the casing. 
     In other casings, the cover comprises a window through which the cosmetic article can be viewed when the cover is in the closed position. Such a window allows the appearance of the cosmetic article housed within the casing to be displayed, without the need to open the casing. Such a presentation is particularly advantageous when the casings are displayed in retail stores. As the cosmetic articles are visible through the cover, it is not necessary to provide separate descriptions of the articles, such as photographs, colour charts, or separate testing samples. However, due to the presence of a window in the cover, it is generally not possible to include a “full size” mirror in the cover i.e. a mirror having the same dimensions as those of the cover. 
     OBJECT OF THE INVENTION 
     An aim of the invention is therefore to provide a casing for a cosmetic article that has a window for not only allowing a visual inspection of the cosmetic product within the casing, in a first configuration, but which can also be used by a user to inspect a mirror displayed through the window, in a second configuration. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     According to the invention there is provided a casing for a cosmetic article, the casing comprising:
         a housing defining a window;   a tray accommodated within the housing and being movable relative to the window of the housing, the tray accommodating the cosmetic article; and   a zone defined within the housing and being movable relative to the window of the housing in response to the movement of the tray;       

     the tray and the zone being movable relative to the housing between a retracted position, in which the cosmetic article is displayed through the window so that the cosmetic article can be visually inspected through the window, and an extended position, in which the tray protrudes from the housing to facilitate access to the cosmetic article and the zone can be viewed through the window. 
     In an embodiment, the cosmetic article comprises a cosmetic product holder to hold the cosmetic product and an associated cosmetic applicator to facilitate the application of the cosmetic product contained in the cosmetic product holder. 
     In an embodiment, the cosmetic product can be visually inspected through the window when the tray and the zone are in the retracted position. 
     In an embodiment, the zone comprises or is fitted with a mirror so that in the extended position the mirror is displayed through the window, to facilitate the application of the cosmetic product. 
     In an embodiment, the casing comprises a clipping arrangement to secure the tray in place within the housing when the tray and the zone are in the retracted position, the clipping arrangement having an area that defines the zone. 
     In an embodiment, the clipping arrangement comprises at least one protruding lug that engages a complementary recess defined in the tray to so as to define the retracted position. 
     In an embodiment, the clipping arrangement can be actuated to release the protruding lug from the recess so as to enable the tray to be moved out of the housing. 
     In an embodiment, the casing comprises pushing means against which the tray is biased when the tray and the zone are in the retracted position, the pushing means being arranged to push the tray out of the housing after the clipping arrangement has been actuated to release the protruding lug from the recess. 
     In an embodiment, the pushing means comprises a spring arrangement positioned between an end wall of the housing and the tray. 
     In an embodiment, an intermediate position is defined, in which a portion of the tray protrudes from the housing but with the zone not being viewable through the window. 
     In an embodiment, in the movement between the retracted position and the intermediate position the tray moves relative to both the housing and the clipping arrangement. 
     In an embodiment, the end wall of the tray can abut against the at least one protruding lug extending from the clipping arrangement, so that in the movement between the intermediate position and the extended position the end wall of the tray abuts against the at least one protruding lug of the clipping arrangement so that both the tray and the clipping arrangement moves relative to the housing. 
     In an embodiment, the housing defines at least one internal guide channel to receive a guide pin extending from the clipping arrangement to facilitate the movement of the clipping arrangement relative to the housing. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  shows an exploded perspective view of a casing for a cosmetic article according to an embodiment of the present invention, the casing comprising a housing, a tray and a clipping arrangement; 
         FIG. 2  shows a perspective view of the casing of  FIG. 1  in an assembled, retracted position, in which the tray is fully accommodated within the housing; 
         FIG. 3  shows a perspective view of the casing in an unclipped position, in which the clipping arrangement has been actuated so as to release the tray from the housing; 
         FIG. 4  shows a perspective view of the casing after it has been unclipped and the tray is moving out of the housing under the action of a pushing means located within the housing; 
         FIG. 5  shows a perspective view of the casing of  FIG. 1  in an intermediate position in which the tray partially protrudes from the housing; 
         FIG. 6  shows a perspective view of the casing of  FIG. 1  in an extended position, ready for use; 
         FIG. 7  shows a cross-sectional side view of the casing taken along line  7 - 7  shown in  FIG. 2 ; 
         FIG. 8  shows a cross-sectional side view of the casing taken along line  8 - 8  shown in  FIG. 3 ; 
         FIG. 9  shows a cross-sectional side view of the casing taken along line  9 - 9  shown in  FIG. 4 ; 
         FIG. 10  shows a cross-sectional side view of the casing taken along line  10 - 10  shown in  FIG. 5 ; and 
         FIG. 11  shows a cross-sectional side view of the casing taken along line  11 - 11  shown in  FIG. 6 . 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Referring to the drawings, a casing  10  for a cosmetic article  12  is shown. The casing  10  comprises a housing  14  that defines an inspection window  16  in an upper wall of the housing  14 . A tray  18  is accommodated within the housing  14 , the tray being slidably movable relative to the window  16  of the housing  14  through an opening  19  defined in a front wall of the housing  14 . The window  16  is distinct from the opening  19 , in that the window  16  does not accommodate movement of the tray; in other words, the tray  18  does not pass through the window  16 . As is clear from  FIG. 1 , the upper wall of the housing  14  that defines the window  16  is perpendicular to a front wall of the housing  14  that defines the opening  19 . 
     The tray  18  accommodates the cosmetic article  12 , the tray  18  typically comprising a first recess  20  to receive a cosmetic product holder or pan  21  to hold a cosmetic product  22 , such as a cosmetic powder. The tray  18  typically further comprises a second recess  23  to hold a suitable cosmetic applicator or brush (not shown) to facilitate the application of the cosmetic product contained in the cosmetic product holder  22 . An elongate slot  24  is defined towards the rear of the tray  18 , proximate an end wall portion  25 , the purpose of which will be described in more detail further on in the specification. 
     In an embodiment, the casing  10  comprises a clipping arrangement  26  that is also slidably accommodated within the housing  14 . The clipping arrangement  26  has an area that defines a zone  28  that, in an embodiment, comprises or is fitted with a mirror  30 . The zone  28  is thus defined to be within the housing  14 , with the clipping arrangement  26  (and thus the zone  28  and mirror  30 ) being slidably movable relative to the window  16  of the housing  14  in response to the movement of the tray  18 , as will be described in more detail further below. 
     The tray  18  and the zone  28  are movable relative to the housing  14  between a retracted position, as shown in  FIGS. 2 and 7 , in which the cosmetic article  12  is displayed through the window  16  so that the cosmetic article  12  can be visually inspected through the window  16 , and an extended position, as shown in  FIGS. 6 and 11 , in which the tray  18  protrudes from the housing  14  to facilitate access to the cosmetic article  12  and the zone  28  and mirror  30  can be viewed through the window  16 . 
     The clipping arrangement  26  is arranged to secure the tray  18  in place within the housing  14  when the tray  18  and the zone  28  are in the retracted position. The clipping arrangement  26  comprises a transparent platform  32  having a rectangular raised surface  33  adjacent the zone  28 , the raised surface also being transparent. The raised surface  33  is shaped and sized to be snugly accommodated within the window  16  of the housing  14  in the retracted position, as best shown in  FIGS. 2 and 7 , which further assists in securing the tray  18  in place within the housing  14 . 
     Conveniently, the cosmetic product within the cosmetic product holder  22  can be visually inspected through the window  16  when the tray  18  and the zone  28  are in the retracted position. Conversely, in the extended position, the zone  28  and mirror  30  are displayed through the window  16 , to facilitate the application of the cosmetic product. 
     In the illustrated embodiment, the clipping arrangement  26  comprises a pair of ears  34 . 1 ,  34 . 2  on opposite sides of the clipping arrangement  26 , each ear  34 . 1 ,  34 . 2  being fitted with at least one inwardly protruding lug  36 . 1 ,  36 . 2  that engages a complementary recess or notch  38 . 1 ,  38 . 2  defined in the tray  18  so as to define the retracted position, as best shown in  FIG. 7 . Each ear  34 . 1 ,  34 . 2  further comprises a first pair of outwardly protruding guide pins  36 . 3  and  36 . 4  and a second pair of outwardly protruding guide pins  36 . 5  and  36 . 6  that are accommodated within corresponding internal guide channel portions  14 . 1 ,  14 , 2  and  14 . 3 ,  14 . 4 , respectively, that are defined within the side walls  14 . 5 ,  14 . 6  of the housing  14 . 
     The clipping arrangement  26  further comprises support arms  37  on either side of the platform  32 , the support arms  37  and platform  32  being movable relative to each other. The support arms  37  terminate in flanges  37 . 1  that are arranged to slide along the edges  26 . 1 ,  26 . 2  of the clipping arrangement  26  on opposite ends of first and second recesses  20 ,  23 . 
     Initially, the guide pins  36 . 3 ,  36 . 4  and  36 . 5 ,  36 . 6  rest within their corresponding guide channels  14 . 1 ,  14 . 2  and  14 . 3 ,  14 . 4 , but in use they are arranged to slide along the guide channels, with the support flanges  37  accordingly being arranged to slide simultaneously along the edges  26 . 1 ,  26 . 2  of the clipping arrangement  26  proximate the first and second recesses  20 ,  23 . 
     The sliding movement of the guide pins  36 . 3 ,  36 . 4 ,  36 . 5  and  36 . 6  within the guide channels  14 . 1 ,  14 . 2 ,  14 . 3 ,  14 . 4  and the support flanges  37  along the clipping arrangement  26  facilitate the sliding movement of the clipping arrangement  26  relative to the housing  14 , as will be described in more detail further on in the specification. 
     The clipping arrangement  26  further comprises a downwardly extending pin  39  that can locate within the elongate slot  24 . 
     With reference to  FIGS. 3 and 8 , the clipping arrangement  26  can be actuated by depressing the raised surface  32  in the direction of arrow  40 . This causes the protruding lugs  36 . 1 ,  36 . 2  to be released from the recesses  38 . 1 ,  38 . 2  so as to enable the tray  18  to be moved out of the housing  14 , as indicated by arrow  42  in  FIGS. 4 and 9 . The direction of arrow  40  is thus perpendicular to the direction of arrow  42  i.e. perpendicular to the movement of the tray  18 . In addition, arrow  42 , corresponding to the movement of the tray  18 , is in line (i.e. parallel) to the longitudinal axis of the housing  14 . 
     In an embodiment, the casing  10  comprises pushing means  44  against which the tray  18  is in contact when the tray  18  and the zone  28  are in the retracted position. The pushing means  44  typically comprises a spring arrangement  46  positioned between an end wall  48  of the housing  14  and the tray  18 . In the illustrated embodiment, the spring arrangement is securely fitted to the tray&#39;s end wall  50 . 
     The spring arrangement  46  in  FIG. 1  (and  FIGS. 7 and 8 ) is shown in its compressed state, in which a pair of spring arms  50 . 1  and  50 . 2  lie proximate or adjacent a base  52  of the spring arrangement  46  to which the arms  50 . 1 ,  50 . 2  are fitted. Thus, in use, once the clipping arrangement  26  has been actuated so as to release the tray  18  from the housing  14 , the spring arrangement  46  actively pushes the tray  18  out of the housing  14 , again as indicated by arrow  42  in  FIGS. 4 and 9 . As indicated above, the direction of arrow  42  is parallel to the movement of the tray  18  and perpendicular to the direction of arrow  40 . In this released configuration, the spring arms  50 . 1  and  50 . 2  of the spring arrangement  46  expand or move away from the base  52 , thus explaining the relatively enlarged spring arms  50 . 1  and  50 . 2  in  FIGS. 9 to 11 . 
     After the tray  18  has been released and the spring arrangement  46  has actively pushed the tray  18  out of the housing  14 , the tray  18  may be manually moved by a user, as indicated by arrow  54  in  FIGS. 5 and 10 , so as to define an intermediate position. In this position, a portion of the tray  18 , and in particular the second recess  23  that holds the cosmetic applicator or brush, protrudes from the housing  14 , but with the zone  28  not being viewable through the window  16 . 
     In the movement between the retracted position ( FIGS. 2, 3, 7 and 8 ) and the intermediate position ( FIGS. 5 and 10 ), the tray  18  moves relative to both the housing  14  and the clipping arrangement  26 . In other words, during this movement, the clipping arrangement  26  remains stationary relative to the housing  14 , as best shown in the cross-sectional views in  FIGS. 7 to 10 . During this movement, the pin  39  accommodates the full travel length of the slot  24 , so that in the intermediate position, the pin  39  abuts against the end wall  25 . 
     In the subsequent movement from the intermediate position ( FIGS. 5 and 10 ) to the extended position shown in  FIGS. 6 and 11 , the end wall  25  will catch the pin  39  so that both the tray  18  and the clipping arrangement  26  move simultaneously relative to the housing  14 . There is thus a delayed movement of the clipping arrangement  26  relative to the housing  14 , which only takes place once the tray  18  has moved into the intermediate position. 
     The present invention thus provides a casing for a cosmetic article that has a window for not only allowing a visual inspection of the cosmetic product within the casing, in a first configuration, but which can also be used by a user to examine a mirror displayed through the window, in a second configuration.