(19)
(11)EP 0 334 788 A2

(12)EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION

(43)Date of publication:
27.09.1989 Bulletin 1989/39

(21)Application number: 89500033.9

(22)Date of filing:  16.03.1989
(51)International Patent Classification (IPC)4A45D 40/22, A45C 11/24, A45D 40/18
(84)Designated Contracting States:
DE FR IT

(30)Priority: 23.03.1988 ES 8800899

(71)Applicant: EXAPLAST, S.A.
E-08292 Esparreguera (Barcelona) (ES)

(72)Inventor:
  • Rodriguez Fernandez, Benet
    E-08028 Barcelona (ES)

(74)Representative: Ponti Grau, Ignasi (ES) 
Paseo de Gracia, 33
E-08007 Barcelona
E-08007 Barcelona (ES)


(56)References cited: : 
  
      


    (54)A case for cosmetic and the like products


    (57) The case comprises an elongated, shallow tray shaped body (1), divided into several compartments (2), provided with a sliding lid (6) movable towards one end of the tray (1) and covering a part of the length of the same, a hinged lid (3) articulated at the opposite end of the tray and covering the remainder length of the same, the sliding lid (6) having stop means (9,10) for prevent­ing its removal, the hinged lid (3) carrying a mirror (4) on its inner face and being adapted to assume a stable in­clined position, and the facing borders (62,32) of both lids (6,3) having complementary pressure closing means 11,12,13) which fit with one another and hold both lids closed when they are placed in their respective closing positions.
    Applicable to cosmetics and the like products.




    Description


    [0001] The present invention relates to a case for cos­metics and the like products, of the type having a tray shaped body with compartments for the diverse products which it is to contain, a lid to cover the said compart­ments and a mirror, generally formed on the inner side of the lid and intended to make it possible for the user to suitably observe the application of a make-up.

    BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION



    [0002] Make-up cases of this kind are already well known and generally comprise a main body having compart­ments or housings for the cosmetics and utensils used in the application of a make-up, and a lid intended to suitably close the contents of the case, when not in use. The lid is sometimes a removable fitting cover to make easier the use of a mirror incorporated to its inner face, but, in this case, the use of the case may be cumbersome owing to the need of accurately fitting the lid onto the case body. In other cases the lid is hinged to the body, and these embodiments generally suffer from the drawback that the mirror cannot be placed in a suitable position or it is of too small a size for its comfortable use.

    DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION



    [0003] According to the invention, a case for cosmetics or the like products and or implements used in connection thereof, according to the above definition, comprises:
    an elongated, shallow tray shaped body with its inside divided into several compartments;
    a sliding lid covering a part of the body length and slid­ing towards one end thereof;
    a hinged lid articulated to the opposite end of the body, carrying a mirror juxtaposed to its inner face. adapted to assume a stable inclined position and covering the remainder of the length thereof;
    complementary stop means in the body and the sliding lid to prevent the removal of the latter from the said body, and complementary pressure closing means in the facing borders of both lids, which fit with one another when both lids are placed in their respective closing positions.

    [0004] To advantage, the complementary stop means com­prise an inner tenon protruding from the inner surface of the sliding lid, near to the border having the pressure closing means and adapted to engage teeth protruding from the tray bottom, when the sliding lid occupies its posi­tion of maximum aperture.

    [0005] The sliding lid is shaped in the manner of an inverted tray the lateral sides of which are juxtaposed to the outside of the tray sides, and have longitudinal ribs on their inner surfaces constituting sliding guides for the lid respect to the tray, the tray sides being located between these ribs.

    [0006] In an advantageous embodiment, the front border of the hinged lid has a protruding fin with transverse ribs intended for pressure fitting in complementary slots provided in the front border of the sliding lid.

    BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS



    [0007] For a better understanding of the invention, a practical embodiment of the case will now be described only by way of example with reference to the enclosed drawings showing:

    Figure 1 an isometric view of the case in closed position;

    Figure 2 an isometric view of the case with the mirror carrying, hinged lid in open position;

    Figure 3 a view in longitudinal section of the closed case;

    Figure 4 a cross section view of the closed case;

    Figure 5 a detail at an enlarged scale showing the aper­ture limit stop for the sliding lid;

    Figure 6 a detail in longitudinal section of the closure means between the two lids of the case, and

    Figure 7 a detail showing the guiding means of the sliding lid and the tray.


    DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT



    [0008] The case shown in the drawings comprises a main body shaped in the manner of a flat and elongated tray 1 with compartments 2 shaped and distributed according to the nature of the products and ¦ or objects which it is in­tended to condition in the case. The body or tray of the case is closed by means of an articulated lid 3 and a sliding lid 6 which together, when they are in the respec­tive closing positions, cover the whole set of compart­ments 2.

    [0009] The first lid 3 has secured on its inner surface a conventional mirror 4 to complement the set of make-up or the like products or utensils housed in the compart­ments 2 of the body or tray 1, and is hinged at one of the terminal ends of this latter by means of hinges 5 provid­ing a stable open position of the lid in order to make the use of the mirror 4 easier. This effect can be achieved, for example, because the lid edge adjacent to the hinges 5 (Figure 3) is turned downwards such as at 31, and comes to an stop against the lower external surface 1a of the tray boy 1. According to the Figures, the lid 3 covers, in its closed position, about one third of the length of the tray 1 from the end of this latter were the lid is articulated.

    [0010] The second, sliding lid 6, is in the manner of an inverted tray, sliding over the body 1 and covering, when in its closed position, as will be described later on, the remainder of the upper surface of the body 1 which is left free by the hinged lid 3. This sliding lid 6 has lateral walls 61 (Figure 7) spaced apart to engage over the side walls 1b of the body 1 with a sliding fit, and is formed with internal longitudinal ribs 7 and 8 between which the sides of the body 1 are placed. The sliding lid 6 is provided with an internal depending tenon 9 located near to its front border and intended to engage teeth 10 protruding upwards from the bottom of the body 1 to restrict the outwards motion of the lid to a terminal position in which it is still well guided over the body 1, and prevent the lid from being accidentally removed from the body (Figure 5).

    [0011] The front border of the hinged lid 3, that is, the border opposite to the articulation hinges, is provided with a longitudinally protruding fin 11 which has transverse ribs 12 adapted to fit in grooves 13 formed on the internal surface of the front border of the sliding lid 6 (Figure 4).

    [0012] In use, the case is closed by first closing the hinged lid 3 down to the upper surface of the tray forming the body 1, so that the upper surface of the lid 3 becomes flush with the upper surface of the sliding lid 6. There­after, the sliding lid 6 is pushed inwards along the body 1 until its front edge 62 encounters the ribs 12 of the fin 11. When this motion is continued, the ribs 12 snap into the grooves 13 under the elasticity of the materials and the case remains in closed position with the free edges 62,32 of both lids fitting together.

    [0013] Opening of the case will take place by repeating the described operations though in the inverse order.

    [0014] As it appears from the above description and the drawings, the case has a small thickness, which makes easier its fitting in a purse, briefcase or the like. Fur­thermore, the use of the two lids 3 and 6, of which the lid referenced 3 is hinged while the lid referenced 6 is sliding, makes easier the access to the compartments 2 of the tray 1. There is no risk for anyone of the lids to be­come accidentally separated from the body, for example within a purse or briefcase. The hinged lid 3 with its mirror can be placed in a position affording to the user a better and easier look to his make-up, with the products and implements to use located directly at hand reach, whatever place he may be.


    Claims

    1. A case for cosmetics and the like products, of the type having a tray shaped body (1) with compartments (2) for the diverse products which it is to contain, a lid (3,6) to cover the said compartments and a mirror (4) on the inner side of the lid (3), characterized in that it comprises a first sliding lid (6) covering a part of the body (1) length and sliding towards one end thereof; a hinged lid (3) articulated to the opposite end of the body (1) and carrying a mirror (4) on its inner face, adapted to assume a stable inclined position and covering the remainder of the length of the said body; complementary stop means (9,10) in the body (1) and the sliding lid (6) to prevent the removal of the latter from the said body, and complementary pressure closing means (11,12,13) in the facing borders (62,32) of both lids (6,3), which fit with one another when the said lids are placed in their respective closing positions.
     
    2. A case according to claim 1, characterized in that the complementary stop means comprise an inner tenon (9) protruding from the inner surface of the slid­ing lid (6), near to the border (62) having the pressure closing means (13) and adapted to engage teeth (10) protruding from the tray (1) bottom, when the sliding lid (6) occupies its position of maximum aperture.
     
    3. A case according to claim 1, characterized in that the sliding lid (6) is shaped in the manner of an inverted tray the lateral sides (61) of which are jux­taposed to the outside of the lateral walls (1b) of the tray (1), and have longitudinal ribs (7,8) on their inner surfaces constituting sliding guides for the lid (6) respect to the tray (1), the tray sides (1b) being located between these ribs (7,8).
     
    4. A case according to claim 1, characterized in that the front border (32) of the hinged lid (3) has a protruding fin (11) with transverse ribs (12) intended for pressure fitting in complementary grooves (13) provided in the front border (62) of the sliding lid (6).
     




    Drawing