Patent Description:
In general, a cosmetic material (lotion, cream, essence, or the like) is stored in a cosmetic container, and a user can use the cosmetic material contained in the cosmetic container.

This cosmetic container is usually discarded after the cosmetic material has been used, which may in turn aggravate the problem of environmental pollution because the discarded cosmetic containers increase the amount of environmental pollutants. Additionally, since such a cosmetic container needs to be also manufactured whenever a new cosmetic material is produced, there is a problem in that the production cost of the cosmetic is increased.

In order to alleviate these drawbacks, a cosmetic container that separately provides a container body and a refill container capable of refilling a cosmetic has been proposed.

However, such a conventional refillable cosmetic container has a structure with which a user cannot easily detach or couple the refill container from or with the container body, and so this proposal is problematic in that it is difficult for the user to manipulate the refill container and the container body (to separate the refill container from the container body or to fix the refill container to the container body).

<CIT> discloses a compact case having an airtight structure refillable with a capsule cosmetic, the compact case comprising: a lower case having a hole and an elastic locking member on a bottom; and an upper case connected to the lower case by a first hinge pin to be opened and closed, a capsule cosmetic for refilling including a capsule and a liquid cosmetic material impregnated in a porous pad within the capsule, sealed with a sealing member removed upon the first makeup application, and fitted in the hole of the lower case with a bottom of the capsule exposed to the outside and a locking groove on the capsule elastically detachably locked to the elastic locking member; an internal container having an inner wall and an outer wall for forming a fitting groove, and disposed outside the capsule cosmetic to cover the capsule cosmetic, and held inside the lower case; and a lid connected to the internal container by a second hinge pin to be opened and closed, having a puff seat on a top and a fitting rib, which is fitted in the fitting groove of the internal container, on a bottom, wherein the capsule cosmetic and the lid are sealed by being elastically in close contact with sealing projections, respectively, on the inner wall and the outer wall of the internal container.

Patent Document <NUM>: Korean Patent No. <CIT>).

The exemplary embodiments of the disclosure, which have been conceived to address above-described problems, are to provide a refillable cosmetic container with which a user can securely fix a refill container to a container body during use and can easily separate the refill container from the container body when replacing the refill container with new one.

In addition, they are to provide a cosmetic container capable of avoid aggravating the problem of environmental pollution.

The present invention provides a refillable cosmetic container according to claim <NUM>. Further embodiments of the present invention are disclosed in the dependent claims.

The refillable cosmetic container according to an embodiment of the present disclosure advantageously enables a user to securely fix a refill container to a container body during use and to easily separate the refill container from the container body when replacing the refill container with new one.

Additionally, it can avoid aggravating the problem of environmental pollution.

The embodiment shown in <FIG> does not comprise each and every feature of claim <NUM>, however, still helps to understand some aspects of the invention.

Hereinafter, specific exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. Additionally, it is noted that in the description of the disclosure, the detailed description for known related configurations or functions may be omitted when it is deemed that such description may obscure essential points of the disclosure.

<FIG> shows a schematic perspective view of a refillable cosmetic container <NUM> according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, <FIG> shows a perspective view showing a state in which a refill container <NUM> and a container body <NUM> are combined to each other while removing an upper case <NUM> and a lower case <NUM> from the refillable cosmetic container <NUM> of <FIG>, <FIG> shows an exploded perspective view of the refill container <NUM> and the container body <NUM> of <FIG>, <FIG> shows a perspective view of the refill container <NUM> of <FIG>, <FIG> shows a bottom view of the refill container <NUM> of <FIG>, <FIG> shows a cross-sectional view of a portion of the refill container <NUM> of <FIG> where a wing part <NUM> is formed, <FIG> shows a perspective view of the container body <NUM> of <FIG>, <FIG> shows a top view of the container body <NUM> of <FIG>, <FIG> shows an enlarged view of an elastic part <NUM> and a guide groove <NUM> of the container body <NUM> of <FIG>, and <FIG> shows a schematic cross-sectional view of the elastic part <NUM> of <FIG> (taken along the line A-A' of <FIG>).

Referring to <FIG>, the refillable cosmetic container <NUM> according to an embodiment of the present disclosure may include the refill container <NUM> for storing a content, and the container body <NUM> selectively coupled with the refill container <NUM>.

Herein, examples of the content may include all known cosmetic materials such as cream, lotion, and the like. However, there is no restriction on the kind of the content.

The refillable cosmetic container <NUM> of this embodiment may include the lower case <NUM> for surrounding the container body <NUM>, and the upper case <NUM> for surrounding the refill container <NUM>. In this case, the lower case <NUM> and the upper case <NUM> form the outer appearance of the cosmetic container <NUM>. The lower case <NUM> may be integrally <NUM> formed with the container body <NUM>, and the upper case <NUM> serves as a cover for the refill container <NUM>.

Examples of the upper case <NUM> and the lower case <NUM> may include all known cases, and so a detailed description thereof will be omitted.

In the container body <NUM>, the elastic part <NUM> may be formed, which is provided to be elastically deformable by an external force applied by the wing part <NUM> of the refill container <NUM>, and which can be fixed in a fixing groove <NUM> via the relative rotation between the refill container <NUM> and the container body <NUM>.

In the process of coupling the refill container <NUM> and the container body <NUM>, the wing part <NUM> can elastically deform the elastic part <NUM>, and in a state where the refill container <NUM> and the container body <NUM> have been coupled to each other, the elastic part <NUM> can be coupled to the fixing groove <NUM> formed in the wing part <NUM>.

When the elastic part <NUM> is coupled to the fixing groove <NUM>, a rotation protrusion <NUM> formed in the refill container <NUM> can be fixed to a guide groove <NUM> formed in the container body <NUM>, and the elastic part <NUM> of the container body <NUM> can prevent the rotation of the wing part <NUM> of the refill container <NUM>. Accordingly, the separation of the refill container <NUM> and the container body <NUM> can be prevented. A detailed description of this will be provided below.

The refill container <NUM> may include the wing part <NUM> which can be seated in the container body <NUM>, and the rotation protrusion <NUM> for being coupled to the guide groove <NUM> formed in the container body <NUM>.

In this embodiment, there may be a plurality of rotation protrusions <NUM>. This embodiment will be described, for example, under the condition that there are two rotation protrusions <NUM>. However, there is no restriction on the number of rotation protrusions <NUM>.

Specifically, the refill container <NUM> may include a refill container body <NUM> forming a content storage space S1 capable of storing a content, and the wing part <NUM> protruding outward along the circumference of the refill container body <NUM>.

The content storage space S1 may be formed inside the refill container body <NUM>, and the wing part <NUM> and the rotation protrusions <NUM> may be formed on the outer side of the refill container body <NUM>.

On the upper side of the refill container body <NUM>, a coupling protrusion <NUM> may be provided, which can be coupled to the upper case <NUM>. The coupling protrusion <NUM> may be formed as a screw thread.

The wing part <NUM> may be disposed above the rotation protrusion <NUM>.

The lower part of the refill container body <NUM> based on the wing part <NUM> may be inserted into the container body <NUM>, and the upper part of the refill container body <NUM> may be coupled with the upper case <NUM>.

In the wing part <NUM>, the fixing groove <NUM> may be formed, which is to be coupled to the elastic part <NUM>.

Specifically, the wing part <NUM> may be formed along the circumference of the refill container body <NUM>, but may be provided with a non-continuous portion formed therein, which can in turn constitute the fixing groove <NUM>.

That is, the fixing groove <NUM> may be understood as a configuration defined by the non-continuous portion of the wing part <NUM>.

The wing part <NUM> may include a lower side surface 121A forming the lower side of the wing part <NUM>, an upper side surface 121B forming the upper side of the wing part <NUM>, a first support surface <NUM> extending downward from the upper side surface 121B, and a first inclined surface <NUM> extending slantingly from the first support surface <NUM> to the lower side surface 121A (see <FIG>).

As the wing part <NUM> descends, the first inclined surface <NUM> formed slantingly can press a second inclined surface 213B formed on a locking lever <NUM> of the elastic part <NUM> to deform the elastic part <NUM> outwardly in the radial direction (x-axis).

The lower side surface 121A can be supported by a seating surface <NUM> of the container body <NUM>.

The first support surface <NUM> may be supported by the second inner surface <NUM> of the container body <NUM>.

The rotation protrusion <NUM> may be formed to protrude from the refill container body <NUM>.

There may be a plurality of rotation protrusions <NUM>. This embodiment will be described, for example, under the condition that there are two rotation protrusions <NUM>.

Based on the center of the refill container <NUM>, the two rotation protrusions <NUM> may be disposed at opposite locations to each other (see <FIG>).

The two rotation protrusions <NUM> may be provided in different sizes, and the guide grooves <NUM> for being coupled with them respectively may also be provided in different sizes.

One of the rotation protrusions <NUM> and the fixing groove <NUM> may be arranged to have a first angle θ1 therebetween (see <FIG>).

Also, as will be described later, the elastic part <NUM> and the first guide groove <NUM> may be arranged to have a second angle θ2 therebetween (see <FIG>).

In this case, the first angle θ1 may be formed to be greater than the second angle θ2.

In this regard, the first angle θ1 can be understood as an angle formed by a virtual straight line formed by connecting the center O1 of the refill container <NUM> and the rotation protrusion <NUM> and another virtual straight line formed by connecting the center O1 of the refill container <NUM> and the fixing groove <NUM> (see <FIG>).

The one of the rotation protrusions <NUM>, which is used to define the first angle θ1, may be understood as one of the rotation protrusions <NUM> disposed closer to the fixing groove <NUM> than the other one of the rotation protrusions <NUM>.

Additionally, the second angle θ2 can be understood as an angle formed by a virtual straight line formed by connecting the center O2 of the container body <NUM> and the elastic part <NUM> and another virtual straight line formed by connecting the center O1 of the container body <NUM> and a first guide groove <NUM> (see <FIG>).

In other words, the distance between the rotation protrusion <NUM> and the fixing groove <NUM> may be formed to be greater than the distance between the elastic part <NUM> and the first guide groove <NUM>.

With such configuration, when the rotation protrusion <NUM> moves along the first guide groove <NUM>, the elastic part <NUM> can be elastically deformed by the wing part <NUM>, and when the rotation protrusion <NUM> arrives at an end point <NUM> formed in a second guide groove <NUM>, the elastic part <NUM> can be fixed to the fixing groove <NUM>.

In the container body <NUM>, the elastic part <NUM> and the guide groove <NUM> may be formed.

The present embodiment will be described, for example, under the condition that there are formed one elastic part <NUM> and two guide grooves <NUM>.

However, the technical idea of the present disclosure is not limited to this configuration, but there may be a plurality of elastic parts <NUM>, and there may be a plurality of corresponding fixing grooves <NUM>.

The container body <NUM> includes a first inner surface <NUM> for being in contact with the refilling container body <NUM>, the seating surface <NUM> extending from the first inner surface <NUM> to support the wing part <NUM>, and the second inner surface <NUM> extending from the seating surface <NUM> to surround the wing part <NUM> (see <FIG> and <FIG>).

Additionally, the container body <NUM> includes an outer surface <NUM> for being coupled to the lower case <NUM>.

On the inner side of the container body <NUM>, the elastic part <NUM> may be formed so that the elastic part <NUM> can be coupled to the fixing groove <NUM> formed in the wing part <NUM> of the refill container <NUM>.

One side of the elastic part <NUM> may be connected to the first inner surface <NUM> of the container body <NUM>, and the other side thereof may form a free end.

Specifically, the elastic part <NUM> includes a tension lever <NUM> which extends from the first inner surface <NUM> of the container body <NUM> configured to be in contact with the refill container <NUM>, and which is configured to be elastically deformed in a radial direction, and the locking lever <NUM> which extends from the tension lever <NUM> and is configured to be caught in the fixing groove <NUM>.

Here, the radial direction may be understood as a direction away from the center O2 of the container body <NUM>.

In addition, a cutout portion <NUM> is formed in the container body <NUM> along the periphery of the elastic part <NUM> to allow elastic deformation of the elastic part <NUM>. Specifically, on opposite sides of the tension lever <NUM>, a pair of first cutout portions <NUM> are formed, which allow elastic deformation of the tension lever <NUM>.

At the rear side of the locking lever <NUM>, a second cutout portion <NUM> is formed, which allows the movement of the locking lever <NUM>.

In this connection, the rear side may be understood as indicating a radially outward direction with respect to the locking lever <NUM>.

Also, the first cutout portions <NUM> and the second cutout portion <NUM> may be understood as empty spaces.

The tension lever <NUM> may be formed by the pair of first cutout portions <NUM> formed as empty spaces in the first inner surface <NUM> of the container body <NUM>.

The one end of the tension lever <NUM> is connected to the first inner surface <NUM> of the container body <NUM>, and the other end of the tension lever <NUM> is connected to the locking lever <NUM>.

The tension lever <NUM> can be elastically deformed outward in the radial direction by an external force (force applied by the wing part <NUM> or force applied by a user).

The tension lever <NUM> may include an inner surface 211A of the tension lever forming the same surface as the first inner surface <NUM> of the container body <NUM>, and an upper surface 211B of the tension lever bent at an angle (e.g., <NUM> to <NUM> degrees, preferably <NUM> degrees) from the inner surface 211A of the tension lever (see <FIG>).

Here, the first inner surface <NUM> of the container body <NUM> and the inner surface 211A of the tension lever may be located at the same distance from the center O2 of the container body <NUM> in the radial direction.

Based on the gravity direction (Z-axis direction), the upper surface 211B of the tension lever may be formed to be lower than the seating surface <NUM> of the container body <NUM>.

Accordingly, the elastic part <NUM> can be moved by an external force without interference between the wing part <NUM> of the container body <NUM> and the upper surface 211B of the tension lever of the elastic part <NUM>.

The locking lever <NUM> includes a third inner surface 213A protruding inward further than the second inner surface <NUM> of the container body <NUM> surrounding the wing part <NUM> of the refill container <NUM> (see <FIG>).

In addition, the locking lever <NUM> may include the second inclined surface 213B extending from the third inner surface 213A and receiving a force from the first inclined surface <NUM> of the wing part <NUM>. Here, the first inclined surface <NUM> and the second inclined surface 213B may be formed to have the same angle so as to contact each other.

Additionally, in the inner side of the container body <NUM>, the plurality of guide grooves <NUM> may be formed.

The pair of guide grooves <NUM> may be disposed to face each other, and the elastic part <NUM> may be disposed closer to one of the pair of guide grooves <NUM>.

The pair of guide grooves <NUM> are formed in the same shape. However, the sizes of the guide grooves <NUM> may be determined depending on the sizes of the pair of rotation protrusions <NUM>.

Each of the guide grooves <NUM> includes the first guide groove <NUM> extending in the vertical direction and provided with an inlet <NUM> through which the rotation protrusion <NUM> is introduced, and the second guide groove <NUM> connected to the first guide groove <NUM> and extending in the circumferential direction (see <FIG>).

In one side of the second guide groove <NUM>, an elastic protrusion <NUM> is provided, which is configured to fix the rotation protrusion <NUM>.

The first guide groove <NUM> and the second guide groove <NUM> are formed to have an angle of <NUM> degrees therebetween.

The elastic protrusion <NUM> may be formed on the upper or lower side of the second guide groove <NUM>. In this embodiment, the elastic protrusion <NUM> is described by way of example as being formed on the upper side of the second guide groove <NUM>.

The distance between the rotation protrusion <NUM> and the fixing groove <NUM> in the circumferential direction is equal to the distance between the elastic part <NUM> and the end point <NUM> in the circumferential direction.

Further, a deformation groove <NUM> may be formed in the inner side of the container body <NUM> at a predetermined distance from the first guide groove <NUM>, and allow the elastic deformation of the elastic protrusion <NUM>.

The deformation groove <NUM> may be formed parallel to the second guide groove <NUM>, and may be understood as a space whose portion corresponding to the elastic protrusion <NUM> protrudes toward the second guide groove <NUM>.

The deformation groove <NUM> is a space formed by a first surface <NUM>, a second surface <NUM>, a third surface <NUM>, and a deformation surface <NUM>.

The first surface <NUM> is formed parallel to the second guide groove <NUM>, and the deformation surface <NUM> is formed parallel to the elastic protrusion <NUM>. The second surface <NUM> and the third surface <NUM> are side surfaces connecting the first surface <NUM> and the deformation surface <NUM>, respectively.

The deformation surface <NUM> may be provided to be elastically deformable by receiving a force from the elastic protrusion <NUM>.

<FIG> are views showing a process in which the refill container <NUM> and the container body <NUM> are coupled to each other.

Hereinafter, a coupling process between the refill container <NUM> and the container body <NUM> will be described with reference to <FIG>.

A method of operating a refillable cosmetic container according to an embodiment of the present disclosure may include descending the rotation protrusion <NUM> formed on the refill container <NUM> toward the first guide groove <NUM> formed on the container body <NUM> (step S1, see <FIG>), moving the elastic part <NUM> formed in the container body <NUM> in the radial direction by a force applied from the wing part <NUM> formed on the refill container <NUM> (step S2, see <FIG>), moving the rotation protrusion <NUM> formed on the refill container <NUM> along the second guide groove <NUM> formed on the container body <NUM> (Step S3), and moving the rotation protrusion <NUM> formed on the refill container <NUM> to the end point <NUM> of the second guide groove <NUM>, and fixing the elastic part <NUM> formed on the container body <NUM> to the fixing groove <NUM> formed in the refill container <NUM> (step S4).

In step S1, a user may adjust the relative positional relationship between the refill container <NUM> and the container body <NUM> so that the rotation protrusion <NUM> can be inserted into the first guide groove <NUM>.

In step S2, when the rotation protrusion <NUM> descends along the first guide groove <NUM> extending in the vertical direction, the elastic part <NUM> can be elastically deformed outward in the radial direction by the wing part <NUM>.

In step S3, during the movement of the rotation protrusion <NUM> along the second guide groove <NUM> extending in the circumferential direction, the elastic part <NUM> remains elastically deformed by the wing part <NUM> outward in the radial direction.

In step S4, when the rotation protrusion <NUM> reaches the end point <NUM> located at the end of the second guide groove <NUM>, the elastic part <NUM> can be released from the elastically deformed state, and be inserted into the guide groove <NUM>.

The release process of the refill container <NUM> and the container body <NUM> can be understood as the reverse order of the above-described process.

That is, when the user pulls the locking lever <NUM> outward in the radial direction and then rotates the refill container <NUM> relative to the container body <NUM>, the locking lever <NUM> can be maintained in an elastically deformed state by the wing part <NUM>. At this time, the rotation protrusion <NUM> may move along the second guide groove <NUM>.

After that, the rotation protrusion <NUM> is moved along the first guide groove <NUM> by raising the refill container <NUM> with respect to the container body <NUM>, and thus the refill container <NUM> and the container body <NUM> can be released from each other.

<FIG> is a view showing a refillable cosmetic container <NUM>' according to another embodiment of the present disclosure.

<FIG> is a view showing a refill container <NUM>' and a container body <NUM>' disposed inside the refillable cosmetic container <NUM>' of <FIG>.

<FIG> is an enlarged view of a guide groove <NUM>' and a deformation groove <NUM>' formed in the container body <NUM>' of <FIG>.

The refillable cosmetic container <NUM>' shown in <FIG> is different from the refillable cosmetic container <NUM> described above with reference to <FIG> in that it is devoid of the elastic part <NUM> and the fixing groove <NUM> of the refillable cosmetic container <NUM>.

Therefore, it should be noted that descriptions on the same configurations will be quoted from those provided above with reference to <FIG>.

Referring to <FIG>, the refillable cosmetic container <NUM>' according to another embodiment of the present disclosure includes the refill container <NUM>' configured to store a content; and the container body <NUM>' selectively coupled with the refill container <NUM>, and a rotation protrusion <NUM>' is formed on the outside of the refill container <NUM>', and a guide groove <NUM>' is formed on the inside of the container body <NUM>', wherein the rotation protrusion <NUM>' can be coupled to and moved along the guide groove <NUM>'.

As in the embodiment described above in <FIG>, the guide groove <NUM>' includes a first guide groove <NUM>' extending in the vertical direction, and a second guide groove <NUM>' connected to the first guide groove <NUM>' and extending in the circumferential direction.

Here, an elastic protrusion <NUM>' is provided on one side of the upper or lower portion of the second guide groove <NUM>' to be elastically deformed by the rotation protrusion <NUM>' and prevent the rotation of the rotation protrusion <NUM>'.

In addition, on the upper or lower side of the elastic protrusion <NUM>', a deformation groove <NUM>' is formed, which allows the elastic deformation of the elastic protrusion <NUM>'.

The deformation groove <NUM>' is formed by a first surface <NUM>', a second surface <NUM>', a third surface <NUM>', and a deformation surface <NUM>', and the description of this is replaced by the description of the embodiment shown in <FIG>.

<FIG> is a view showing a guide groove <NUM>" and a deformation groove <NUM>" of a refillable cosmetic container according to still another embodiment of the present disclosure.

The embodiment of <FIG> differs from the refillable cosmetic container <NUM>' according to an embodiment described in <FIG> mainly in that a slit <NUM> is formed in one side of an elastic protrusion <NUM>", and thus the differences therebetween will be mainly described hereinafter, while descriptions and reference numerals of the above-described embodiments will replace those of the same parts.

Referring to <FIG>, according to still another embodiment of the present disclosure, the slit <NUM> allowing the deformation of the elastic protrusion <NUM>" may be formed in one side of the elastic protrusion <NUM>".

The slit <NUM> may be provided as a space connecting the deformation groove <NUM>" and a second guide groove <NUM>".

Since the slit <NUM> is provided, the amount of elastic deformation of the elastic protrusion <NUM>" can be increased, and the rotation protrusion can easily reach an end point <NUM>" after passing past the elastic protrusion <NUM>".

<FIG> is a view showing a guide groove <NUM>‴ and a deformation groove <NUM>‴ of a refillable cosmetic container according to yet still another embodiment of the present disclosure.

<FIG> conceptually shows the locations where the guide groove <NUM>‴ and the deformation groove <NUM>‴ are formed.

The embodiment of <FIG> differs from the embodiment shown in <FIG> mainly in terms of the locations where the deformation groove <NUM>‴ and the slit <NUM>' are formed, and thus the differences therebetween will be mainly described hereinafter, while descriptions and reference numerals of the above-described embodiments will replace those of the same parts.

Referring to <FIG>, according to still another embodiment of the present disclosure, the slit <NUM>' allowing the deformation of the elastic protrusion <NUM>‴ may be formed, and the slit <NUM>' may be provided as a space connecting the first guide grooves <NUM>‴ and the deformation groove <NUM>"'.

Claim 1:
A refillable cosmetic container comprising:
a refill container (<NUM>) configured to store a content; and
a container body (<NUM>) selectively coupled with the refill container (<NUM>),
wherein in the refill container (<NUM>), a fixing groove (<NUM>) is formed,
wherein in the container body (<NUM>), an elastic part (<NUM>) is formed, which is provided to be elastically deformable by an external force applied by the refill container (<NUM>), and which is configured to be fixed in the fixing groove (<NUM>) via the relative rotation between the refill container (<NUM>) and the container body (<NUM>),
wherein on the outer side of the refill container (<NUM>), at least one rotation protrusion (<NUM>) is formed, and
wherein in the inner side of the container body (<NUM>), a guide groove (<NUM>) is formed, which is configured to guide the movement of the rotation protrusion (<NUM>).