US20080060673A1

US20080060673A1 - Cosmetic case

Info

Publication number: US20080060673A1
Application number: US11/518,464
Authority: US
Inventors: Chien-Hung Shen
Original assignee: Mei Shual Cosmetics Co Ltd
Current assignee: Mei Shual Cosmetics Co Ltd
Priority date: 2006-09-08
Filing date: 2006-09-08
Publication date: 2008-03-13

Abstract

A cosmetic case includes a base, first and second cover members, and first and second fastening units. The base confines a first receiving space that opens upwardly. The first cover member is connected pivotally to the base and is movable between covering and uncovering positions to cover and uncover the first receiving space. The second cover member is connected pivotally to and cooperates with the first cover member to confine a second receiving space, and is movable between covering and uncovering positions to cover and uncover the second receiving space. The first fastening unit is provided on the base and the first cover member for retaining releasably the first cover member at the covering position on the base. The second fastening unit is provided on the first and second cover members for retaining releasably the second cover member at the covering position on the first cover member.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a cosmetic case, more particularly to a cosmetic case having components that are arranged in a stack.
2. Description of the Related Art
Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, a conventional cosmetic case that can simultaneously receive a cosmetic material 84 and a cosmetic applicator 85 is shown to include a base 81, a tray 82 that is pivotable relative to the base 81, and a top cover 83 that is mounted pivotally on top of the tray 82. The base 81 is formed with a first receiving space 811 that opens upwardly and that receives the cosmetic applicator 85. The tray 82 is formed with a second receiving space 821 that opens upwardly and that receives the cosmetic material 84. A post 822 projects downwardly from the tray 82 and is in sliding engagement with the base 81 to limit uncovering movement of the tray 82 relative to the base 81.
In use, the tray 82 and the top cover 83 are pivoted in opposite directions relative to the base 81 to expose simultaneously the first and second receiving spaces 811, 821, thereby permitting access to the cosmetic material 84 and the cosmetic applicator 85. However, in the conventional cosmetic case, the tray 82 overlaps a portion of the first receiving space 811 when the tray 82 is moved to its uncovering position. Moreover, the top cover 83 not only overlaps a portion of the tray 82, but also overlaps another portion of the first receiving space 811 when the top cover 83 is moved to its uncovering position. Therefore, utilization of the first receiving space 811 is poor and removal of the cosmetic applicator 85 from the first receiving space 811 is inconvenient since the covered area of the first receiving space 811 is relatively large when the tray 82 and the top cover 83 are at the run covering positions. In addition, the area that can be occupied by the second receiving space 821 is restricted by the overlap between the top cover 83 and the tray 82 when the top cover 83 is moved to its uncovering position.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Therefore, the object of the present invention is to provide a cosmetic case that can overcome at least one of the aforementioned drawbacks of the prior art.
Accordingly, a cosmetic case of the present invention comprises a base, first and second cover members, and first and second fastening units. The base confines a first receiving space that opens upwardly. The first cover member is connected pivotally to the base and is movable between covering and uncovering positions to cover and uncover the first receiving space. The second cover member is connected pivotally to the first cover member, cooperates with the first cover member to confine a second receiving space, and is movable between covering and uncovering positions to cover and uncover the second receiving space. The first fastening unit is provided on the base and the first cover member for retaining releasably the first cover member at the covering position on the base. The second fastening unit is provided on the first and second cover members for retaining releasably the second cover member at the covering position on the first cover member.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent in the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment with reference to the accompanying drawings, of which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a conventional cosmetic case;

FIG. 2 is a schematic top view of the conventional cosmetic case;

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the preferred embodiment of a cosmetic case according to the present invention;

FIG. 4 is an assembled perspective view of the preferred embodiment;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view of the preferred embodiment;

FIG. 6 is another perspective view of the preferred embodiment, illustrating a first cover member when disposed at an uncovering position; and

FIG. 7 is yet another perspective view of the preferred embodiment, illustrating a second cover member when disposed at an uncovering position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring to FIGS. 3, 4 and 5, the preferred embodiment of a cosmetic case according to the present invention is adapted for receiving cosmetic materials 71, cosmetic applicators 72 and a mirror 73, and includes a base 1, a first cover member 2, a tray 3, a second cover member 4, a first fastening unit 5, and a second fastening unit 6.
The base 1 includes a circular base wall 11, and a peripheral wall 12 extending upwardly from a periphery of the base wall 11 and cooperating with the base wall 11 to confine a first receiving space 10 that opens upwardly. The peripheral wall 12 has a recessed front wall part 121 and a forked rear wall part 122.
The tray 3 is disposed in the first receiving space 10, and is formed with a plurality of compartments 31 to receive the cosmetic materials 71 and one of the cosmetic applicators 72. It is noted that the tray 3 may be omitted in other embodiments of this invention. In such embodiments, the cosmetic materials 71 and the cosmetic applicators 72 are received in the first receiving space 10 directly.
The first cover member 2 is connected pivotally to the base 1 and is movable between covering and uncovering positions to cover and uncover the first receiving space 10. The first cover member 2 includes a cover wall 21, and a rib 22 that is in a form of a rectangular frame and that protrudes from a top surface 211 of the cover wall 21. The cover wall 21 further has a bottom surface 216 that is opposite to the top surface 211 and that is adapted for mounting of the mirror 73 thereon. The cover wall 21 further has a front coupling end 212, a rear pivot end 213, a base coupling portion 214 that projects downwardly from the rear pivot end 213 and that extends into the forked rear wall part 122 of the peripheral wall 12 of the base 1, and a cover coupling portion 215 that projects rearwardly from the rear pivot end 213. A first pivot pin 13 passes through the base coupling portion 214 and pivot holes 123 in the forked rear wall part 122 of the peripheral wall 12 of the base 1 to connect pivotally the first cover member 2 to the forked rear wall part 122 of the peripheral wall 12 of the base 1. The rib 22 includes parallel left and right segments 221 and front and rear connecting segments 222 that bridge the left and right segments 221.
The second cover member 4 is connected pivotally to the first cover member 2, cooperates with the cover wall 21 of the first cover member 2 to confine a second receiving space 20, and is movable between covering and uncovering positions to cover and uncover the second receiving space 20. The second cover member 4 is located on the first cover member 2 at a position corresponding to the rib 22 such that the second cover member 4 encloses the rib 22 when the second cover member 4 is at the covering position on the first cover member 2. The second cover member 4 includes a rectangular top wall 41 and a surrounding wall 42 that extends from a periphery of the top wall 41. The top wall 41 and the surrounding wall 42 cooperate with the cover wall 21 of the first cover member 2 to confine the second receiving space 20. In this embodiment, the second receiving space 20 is used for receiving another cosmetic applicator 72 but should not be limited thereto.
The surrounding wall 42 has a front coupling end 421 and a rear pivot end formed with a pair of pivot lugs 422 (only one is visible) that extend downwardly and that are respectively adjacent to opposite ends of the cover coupling portion 215 of the cover wall 21 of the first cover member 2. A second pivot pin 423 passes through the cover coupling portion 215 and the pivot lugs 422 to connect pivotally the second cover member 4 to the cover coupling portion 215 of the cover wall 21 of the first cover member 2. While the rib 22 and the second cover member 4 are exemplified to be rectangular in the preferred embodiment, the shapes of the same should not be limited thereto.
The first fastening unit 5 is used to retain releasably the first cover member 2 at the covering position on the base 1, and includes an engaging groove 51 that is formed in the recessed front wall part 121 of the peripheral wall 12 of the base 1, a resilient tab 52 that extends downwardly from the front coupling end 212 of the cover wall 21 of the first cover member 2, and a projection 53 that protrudes from the resilient tab 52 to engage the engaging groove 51 when the first cover member 2 is at its covering position, i.e., the first cover member 2 covers the first receiving space 10.
The second fastening unit 6 is used to retain releasably the second cover member 4 at the covering position on the first cover member 2, and includes an engaging hole 61 that is formed through the top and bottom surfaces 211, 216 of the cover wall 21 of the first cover member 21 adjacent to the front connecting segment 222 of the rib 22, and an anchoring component 62 that extends downwardly from the front coupling end 421 of the surrounding wall 42 of the second cover member 4 to engage the engaging hole 61 when the second cover member 4 is at its covering position, i.e., the second receiving space 20 is closed.
To access the first receiving space 10 and the tray 3, the front coupling end 212 of the cover wall 21 of the first cover member 2 is pulled away from the base 1 so as to disengage the projection 53 on the resilient tab 52 from the engaging groove 51 and permit pivoting movement of the first cover member 2 to its uncovering position, as best shown in FIG. 6. To access the second receiving space 20, the front coupling end 421 of the surrounding wall 42 of the second cover member 4 is pulled away from the first cover member 2 so as to disengage the anchoring component 62 from the engaging hole 61 and permit pivoting movement of the second cover member 4 to its uncovering position, as best shown in FIG. 7.
When placing the cosmetic applicator 72 in the second receiving space 20, the frame-shaped design of the rib 22 enables positioning of the cosmetic applicator 72 on the top surface 211 of the cover wall 21 of the first cover member 2 before the second cover member 4 is moved to its covering position. As a result, the cosmetic applicator 72 can be prevented from being undesirably caught between the rib 22 and the second cover member 4 when the second cover member 4 is moved to its covering position.
In the cosmetic case of this invention, the first receiving space 10 can be fully exposed when the first cover member 2 is moved to its uncovering position. Likewise, the second receiving space 20 can be fully exposed when the second cover member 4 is moved to its uncovering position. Hence, the first and second receiving spaces 10, 20 can be fully utilized, and easy access to the cosmetic materials 71 and the cosmetic applicators 72 can be ensured.
While the present invention has been described in connection with what is considered the most practical and preferred embodiment, it is understood that this invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiment but is intended to cover various arrangement included within the spirit and scope of the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and equivalent arrangements.

Claims

1. A cosmetic case comprising:

a base confining a first receiving space that opens upwardly;

a first cover member connected pivotally to said base and movable between covering and uncovering positions to cover and uncover said first receiving space;

a second cover member connected pivotally to said first cover member, cooperating with said first cover member to confine a second receiving space, and movable between covering and uncovering positions to cover and uncover said second receiving space;

a first fastening unit provided on said base and said first cover member for retaining releasably said first cover member at the covering position on said base; and

a second fastening unit provided on said first and second cover members for retaining releasably said second cover member at the covering position on said first cover member.

2. The cosmetic case as claimed in claim 1, wherein said base includes a base wall and a peripheral wall that extends upwardly from a periphery of said base wall and that cooperates with said base wall to confine said first receiving space.

3. The cosmetic case as claimed in claim 2, wherein said first cover member includes a cover wall, and said second cover member includes a top wall and a surrounding wall that extends from a periphery of said top wall, said top wall and said surrounding wall of said second cover member cooperating with said cover wall of said first cover member to confine said second receiving space.

4. The cosmetic case as claimed in claim 3, wherein said peripheral wall of said base has a forked rear wall part, said cover wall of said first cover member having a rear pivot end and a base coupling portion that projects downwardly from said rear pivot end and that extends into said forked rear wall part of said peripheral wall of said base, said cosmetic case further comprising a pivot pin that passes through said base coupling portion and that connects pivotally said first cover member to said forked rear wall part of said peripheral wall of said base.

5. The cosmetic case as claimed in claim 3, wherein said cover wall of said first cover member has a rear pivot end and a cover coupling portion that projects rearwardly from said rear pivot end, said surrounding wall of said second cover member having a rear pivot end formed with a pair of pivot lugs that extend downwardly and that are respectively adjacent to opposite ends of said cover coupling portion of said cover wall of said first cover member, said cosmetic case further comprising a pivot pin that passes through said cover coupling portion and said pivot lugs to connect pivotally said second cover member to said cover coupling portion of said cover wall of said first cover member.

6. The cosmetic case as claimed in claim 3, wherein said first fastening unit includes an engaging groove formed in said peripheral wall of said base, a resilient tab that extends downwardly from said cover wall of said first cover member, and a projection that protrudes from said resilient tab to engage said engaging groove when said first cover member is at the covering position on said base.

7. The cosmetic case as claimed in claim 1, wherein said first cover member includes a cover wall, and said second cover member includes a top wall and a surrounding wall that extends from a periphery of said top wall, said top wall and said surrounding wall of said second cover member cooperating with said cover wall of said first cover member to confine said second receiving space.

8. The cosmetic case as claimed in claim 7, wherein said cover wall of said first cover member has a top surface, said first cover member further including a frame-shaped rib that protrudes from said top surface of said cover wall at a location corresponding to said second cover member.

9. The cosmetic case as claimed in claim 8, wherein said rib is in a form of a rectangular frame and includes parallel left and right segments and front and rear connecting segments that bridge said left and right segments.

10. The cosmetic case as claimed in claim 7, wherein said cover wall of said first cover member has top and bottom surfaces, said second fastening unit including an engaging hole that is formed through said top and bottom surfaces of said cover wall, and an anchoring component that extends downwardly from said surrounding wall of said second cover member to engage said engaging hole when said second cover member is at the covering position on said first cover member.

11. The cosmetic case as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a tray disposed in said first receiving space and formed with a plurality of compartments.