Patent Publication Number: US-2021169198-A1

Title: Container for make-up products

Description:
This document claims priority to Italian Patent Application No. 102019000023370 filed on Dec. 9, 2019, which is incorporated herein by reference. 
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a container for make-up products. 
     More specifically, it refers to a container for make-up products such as compacted (or pressed) powders, cast foundation, and products cast in the godet. 
     BACKGROUND ART 
     Commonly known make-up product containers are generally made of plastic and feature a base hinged to a cover. A godet, pre-filled with a make-up product (for example consisting of a compacted or pressed powder), is usually glued to the base. 
     Furthermore, a mirror is generally glued to the cover to facilitate application of the make-up. 
     When the cover is lowered onto the base and fastened in place, usually by a snap-fit system, the make-up product contained in the godet is protected and easily transportable. When the cover is open, the make-up in the godet is accessible, as is the mirror. 
     Once the make-up application is complete, the cover is closed and the container can be conveniently carried (for example in a handbag). 
     One drawback of the commonly known containers is that they are neither recyclable nor reusable at the end of their life. 
     Once the make-up product is finished, they must be thrown away. 
     However, since they are made up of different materials (as regards recyclability), it is extremely challenging and substantially impossible for an end user to ensure it reaches the correct disposal bin and is disposed of correctly. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The object of the present invention is to provide a container for make-up products which is an improvement on the prior art. 
     A further object of the invention is to provide a container that is easier to recycle than conventional containers and may also be reusable. 
     This and other objects are achieved by means of a container produced according to the technical teachings of the claims appended hereto. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES 
       Further features and advantages of the innovation will become clearer in the description of a preferred but not exclusive embodiment of the device, illustrated—by way of a non-limiting example—in the drawings annexed hereto, in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a container according to the present invention, in the open position; 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the container in  FIG. 1  which illustrates the support components thereof; 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the container in  FIG. 1  which illustrates the components of a cover thereof; 
         FIG. 4  is a section taken along the line IV-IV in  FIG. 1 , with the cover closed; 
         FIG. 5  is an exploded perspective view of the container in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIGS. 6, 7, and 8  are exploded perspective views of variants of the container in  FIG. 1 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     With reference to the figures stated, reference number  1  is used to denote, as a whole, a container. 
     The container  1  is particularly suitable for make-up products  2 , such as compacted (or pressed) powders, products cast in the godet, etc. 
     These types of make-up products include for example bronzer, blusher, eye shadow, face powder, highlighter, concealer, etc. 
     The container comprises a support  3  to which at least one godet  4  configured to contain the said make-up product  2  is removably fixed. 
     As can be seen better from  FIG. 1 , the support  3  is hinged, along an axis A, onto a cover  5 . When in a closed position, the cover  5  is superimposed on the support  3  ( FIG. 4 ). 
     Furthermore, between the cover  5  and the support there may be removable fastening systems, which keep the cover in a closed position when it is positioned on top on the support. 
     In the example, the fastening systems may be of the snap-fit kind. For example, there may be a tab  20  protruding from the support and featuring a first tooth which engages with a second tooth  21  (or with a recess) envisaged on (or in) the cover  5 . 
     Obviously, the tab may also be envisaged on the cover, and consequently the tooth may be featured on the support  3 , or more precisely on the bottom  6 . 
     Alternatively, it is possible to provide a movable slider that engages with a stop that prevents the cover opening, or any other suitable system for the purpose of keeping the cover closed. 
     The godet  4  may be fixed to the support  3  by coupling means  6 ,  7  without glue. 
     The coupling means  6 ,  7  are preferably of the mechanical type. 
     For example, the support  3  may comprise a base  7  and a bottom  6 , which are mutually hinged. 
     There may be at least one snap-fit means  8 A,  8 B envisaged between the bottom  6  and the base  7 , which mutually secures them (or better, locks them so that the bottom  6  cannot open freely) when the bottom is superimposed on the base, so as to form the support  3 . 
     The bottom features at least one window  6 A through which it is possible to access the contents of the godet  4 . 
     It is therefore apparent that the godet  4  may be sandwiched between the bottom  6  and the base  7  which form the said coupling means. 
     Advantageously, the window  6 A is the same shape as the godet (for example, in this case, the window is circular) and has a slightly smaller surface area than the useful surface area of the godet so that when the bottom  6  is superimposed on the godet  4 , the bottom  6  rests on a free edge  4 L of the godet  4 , pressing the latter towards the base  7 . 
     In this way, the free edge  4 L of the godet is unseen by the user, for aesthetic reasons. 
     To centre and confine the godet  4 , especially during a step prior to closure of the bottom  6 , the base  7  may have a raised edge  9  shaped so as to laterally contain the godet  4 . 
     Advantageously, the edge  9  may feature recesses (not shown) whose usefulness will be clarified later. 
     The base  7  may also feature at least one elastic element configured to press the godet  4  towards the bottom  6 . 
     Advantageously, several elastic elements  10  may be envisaged, for example three, four, five etc., which extend along a further inner edge  23  with respect to the edge  9  or are simply arranged on the base  7 . 
     Advantageously, the further edge  23  may perform a stabilizing function for the godet (when resting in position) and may perform a height correction function. Indeed, by making a further edge higher or lower, the container can be adapted to hold godets with different heights. 
     The base  7  may also feature references  60  which help centre the bottom on the base. 
     To improve the use experience, the base  7  may include means for torsional coupling with the godet  4  configured to limit or prevent rotation of the godet with respect to the base  7 , which is even more important if the godet is filled with a make-up product featuring a design or logo which is created and must be kept in a specific orientation with respect to the support  3 . 
     The said torsional coupling means may comprise a shaped coupling or a male-female coupling between the godet  4  and part of the base  7 . 
     For example, the godet may have a protrusion (not shown) which engages with a recess (for example, simply a hole  24 ) envisaged in the base  7 . 
     A coupling may also be featured with slight interference between the godet  4  and the edge  9 . The interference must be calibrated so that the godet is removable by hand. 
     Advantageously, the hinging between the base  7  and the bottom  6  is provided along an axis corresponding to the said hinging axis A between the support  3  and the cover  5 , preferably by means of at least one pin  11  made of plastic. 
     In one possible configuration of the multiple hinging, the base  7  may feature two protruding lugs; the bottom  6  is hinged onto the lugs externally. The cover  5 , meanwhile, is hinged onto the lugs internally. 
     Another useful feature of the invention may envisage an internal part of the cover  5  being equipped with means  12  for removably fixing a mirror-holder  15 , which cooperate with counter-fixing means  13  provided on the mirror-holder  15 . 
     Obviously, a mirror  16  is fixed to the mirror-holder  15  in a commonly known way (for example by gluing). 
     Preferably, the said means and counter-means comprise a snap-fit and/or bayonet system, such as the one illustrated in  FIG. 3 . 
     To fix the mirror-holder  15  to the cover, the mirror is placed on the inside of the cover and rotated in the direction shown by the arrow F during the production of the container  3 . 
     The bayonet coupling can provide a stop  12 A which limits rotation of the mirror-holder. If necessary, the bayonet coupling may also feature a tooth  12 B, which allows the mirror-holder to be snap-fitted (but still removable) in a use position, for example that shown in  FIG. 1 . 
     It should be noted that the mirror-holder  15  may feature flat or slightly rounded surfaces  25 , on which it is possible, for example, to add an embossed, engraved, or simply printed logo. The said surfaces may be created on an annular portion of the mirror-holder positioned around the perimeter of the said mirror. 
     Advantageously, when the mirror-holder is in the use position, the surfaces  25  are positioned at the top (at 12 o&#39;clock) and/or at the bottom (at 6 o&#39;clock). 
     There may also be arrows F1 envisaged on these surfaces to indicate the direction in which the mirror-holder must be rotated in order to detach it from the cover  5 . 
     The arrows are positioned, for example, at 3 o&#39;clock and 9 o&#39;clock. 
     Advantageously, the godet  4  is made of a metallic material and may be configured to hold the make-up product  2  during at least one pressing step. 
     The godet  40  may also be made of plastic and configured to form the make-up product  2  through a process known as back-injection, as shown in  FIG. 7 . 
     The container may, optionally, feature a seat (not shown) to house a brush or an applicator for the make-up product. The seat may be provided in a suitable position in the container, or directly in the godet  40  in the case of back-injection. 
     The use of the aforesaid container is clear from the above description and is essentially the following. 
     Preliminarily, the container is arranged, for example, on a filling line, with the bottom  6  coupled to the cover  5 . 
     Advantageously, the mirror-holder (with the mirror already attached) has already been coupled to the cover  5 . 
     The bottom  6  and the base  7  are, meanwhile, uncoupled. 
     Upon being opened (for example by a filler, using the cover), the container also pulls the bottom  6  with it in order to make the base  7  completely and perfectly accessible. The cover can reach the filler partially open so as to facilitate filling activities. 
     Therefore, the godet may be positioned on the base by centring the latter using, for example, the edge  9 . 
     By simply pressing the cover  5  (together with the bottom  6 ) onto the base  7 , the snap-fit means  8 A,  8 B lock the base  7  to the bottom  6 , thereby forming the support  3 . 
     The godet is therefore (as seen in  FIG. 4 ) sandwiched between the base and the bottom. The elastic elements push the godet  4  against the bottom  6 , securing it perfectly. 
     Rotation of the godet may be prevented by the aforesaid torsional coupling means envisaged between the godet and the base. 
     At this point the container is ready to be used, by simply opening the cover  6 . 
     It should be noted that, during the engineering phase, the snap-fit means  8 A,  8 B are scaled so as to provide a fastening which, in order to be released, requires more force than that necessary to release the removable locking systems (i.e. the tooth  12  and the tab  20 ) which secure the cover to the bottom (or base). 
     During normal use therefore, the base  7  and the bottom  6  remain permanently secured by holding the godet  4  in position. 
     Once the make-up product  2  contained in the godet is finished, the container  1  may be disposed of. 
     So a user, after opening the cover, can open the coupling between the base and the bottom and lift the latter in order to access the godet  4 . 
     The godet  4  (which obviously will have traces of make-up product  2  therein) may be removed (for example, with the aid of the aforementioned recesses in the edge  9 , if featured) and disposed of separately from the rest of the container. This is even more advantageous if the godet is made of metal. 
     Before proceeding with the final disposal of the container, the mirror-holder may also be uncoupled from the cover  5 , using the bayonet coupling. 
     This way, the mirror-holder  15  and the mirror  16  may be reused (for example, kept in a handbag) while the rest of the container  1  may be disposed of appropriately. 
     Remember, for example, that the base  7 , the bottom  6 , the cover  5 , and also the hinge pin or pins  11  may all be made of the same plastic, for example: PP, PE, PET, PLA, filled PLA, filled PP, ABS, PETG-SAN-PMMA-PC. 
     Advantageously, the pin or pins  11  may be made of the same kind of plastic as the other parts of the container (PP/PE/PET/PLA etc.) but with a mineral filler or fibres added to increase the component&#39;s mechanical resistance. 
     The pin or pins may also be made from a different kind of plastic which is nevertheless combinable with the materials of which the other container components are made, in terms of the recycling chain. 
     It must be highlighted that a container as described above can be very useful as it can also be reused. Indeed, one simply has to buy a new full godet (for example, one purchased separately) and replace the empty godet  4  therewith in order to extend the useful life of the said container  1 . 
     Essentially, as seen above, one purpose of the container is to allow the user to easily and safely separate the plastics in the said pack from the non-plastics (e.g. the aluminium used for the godet and the glass used for the mirror). 
     For this reason, unlike conventional containers, no glue is envisaged either between the godet and the base or between the mirror-holder and the cover. 
     Once recovered/removed from the cover  5 , the mirror  16 —which is attached (for example by means of an anticlockwise rotation) to its own support, namely the mirror-holder  15 —becomes a proper handbag mirror and can therefore be kept by the user for future use. 
     As already mentioned, the godet can be easily recovered by opening the two elements constituting the support by applying force near the separation, where, for example, two sealing pins keep the product locked during use. 
     In the version described above, i.e. with just one godet  4 , the rotation thereof may be prevented by the pressure exerted by a number of suitably sized upwards-pushing springs  10  present on the base  7  and also by a roughness present on the surface of contact with the godet  4 . 
     A further anti-rotation protection device could envisage the godet having a female reference element on the rear thereof, which fits onto special male references present in the base. This possibility is useful when a circular godet has to be oriented to adjust a design or logo obtained in the powder of the make-up product. 
     The godet  4  may have the shape of a circle, when seen in top view. 
     It is also possible to handle godets with different heights by interchanging parts of the mould, to meet the different volume needs of different users. 
     For example, parts of the mould used to produce the base can be made to be interchangeable. This way, the coupling heights of the springs and stops can be modified in order to adapt them to godets with different heights. 
     In the event that the godet is not made of a conventional material (e.g. metal) but is intended to hold a make-up product produced by back-injection, as shown in  FIG. 7 , the process can be oriented through a hole  24  present in the base  7 . 
     A further embodiment of the invention is illustrated in  FIG. 6 . In this, the same reference numbers used earlier are used to denote parts that are functionally similar to those already illustrated. They will not, therefore, be described again. 
       FIG. 6  shows a base  70  which corresponds completely to the base  7 , and which is coupled with a bottom  6  and a cover  5  which are similar to those described above. 
     The base  70  can hold three different godets  4 A,  4 B,  4 C instead of just one. In this case, the godets are wedge-shaped. In this case, therefore, the edge  9  will also feature further portions  90 , which may extend outwards from the centre of the container at 120° intervals. 
     Further elastic elements  100  are also featured, positioned, for example near the centre of the container, to balance the force exerted by the godets  7 A,  7 B,  7 C against the bottom  6 . 
     The bottom  6 , intended to interface with the said base  70 , will also feature three wedge-shaped windows, each one allowing access to a godet  7 A,  7 B,  7 C. 
     Advantageously, also in this case the free edge of the godets is hidden. 
     Obviously, other configurations of the base  7  (and of the bottom  6 ) are possible which are suitable for containing 2, 4, 5, or 6 godets, all with different shapes. 
     Another variant of the container is shown in  FIG. 8 , in a single-godet version (but also here, of course, multi-godet versions are also possible). 
     In this configuration the container is square (but can obviously be made in any shape (e.g. elliptical, star, heart, etc.) and comprises parts which are similar to those already described. 
     The only structural difference worthy of note is the mechanism for fastening the cover  5  and the mirror-holder  15  together. 
     In this case, to optimise the surface area of the mirror, a snap-fit system is used instead of a bayonet coupling system. Indeed, in order to uncouple the mirror from the cover, one must pull the mirror-holder, grasping it at the top thereof, so as to remove the said mirror-holder from the snap-fit (undercut) means which secure it removably to the cover  5 . 
     The cover  5  may optionally feature a frame  54  for centring and securing the mirror-holder  15 . The frame  54  may be interrupted in exactly the area  55 , from which the mirror-holder  15  may be accessed for the removal thereof. 
     Various embodiments of the innovation have been described, but others may be conceived using the same innovative concept.