COSMETIC CONTAINER

Abstract

 [Problem to be solved]
A cosmetic case includes a protective sheet serving as a separator between a main body and a mirror, which reduces possibility of the user's finger or hand being smudged with a cosmetic in the case, and allows the user to easily move the protective sheet.
[Solution]
A cosmetic case (10) includes: a main body (11) including a container (14, 15) for containing a cosmetic (16, 17); a lid (12) coupled to the main body (11) such that the main body (11) is openable and closable with the lid (12); a mirror (18) attached to the inner surface of the lid (12); and a protective sheet (20) including a portion serving as a separator between the main body (11) and the mirror (18), wherein the protective sheet (20) includes a fixed sheet section at least partially fixed between the lid (12) and the mirror (18), and a separator sheet section (20c) foldably connected to the fixed sheet section such that the separator sheet section (20c) is positioned between the main body (11) and the mirror (18) when the main body (11) is closed with the lid (12).

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a cosmetic case, and more particularly to a cosmetic case including a main body containing a cosmetic, a lid to open and close the main body, a mirror attached to the inner surface of the lid, and a protective sheet serving as a separator between the main body and the mirror.

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, cosmetic cases including a main body, a lid, a mirror, and a protective sheet, as described above, are known, as taught in Patent Literature 1 and 2, for example. With such cosmetic cases including the protective sheet, the protective sheet prevents the mirror attached to the inner surface of the lid from being smudged with a cosmetic, such as a foundation, contained in the main body.

[0003] Further, the conventional cosmetic cases as described above may include information, which shows how to handle the cosmetic or the cosmetic case, on a portion of the protective sheet serving as a separator between the main body and the mirror, as taught in Patent Literature 1.

Citation List

Patent Literature

[0004] 

[PTL 1] Japanese Patent No. 4216619

[PTL 2] Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2007-167341

Summary of Invention

Technical Problem

[0005] In many of the conventional cosmetic cases including a main body, a lid, a mirror, and a protective sheet, as described above, one portion (a fixed section) of the protective sheet is fixed to the main body at a position between the inner tray containing a cosmetic and the main body, and the other portion (a separator section) of the protective sheet connected to the one portion serves as a separator between the main body and the mirror. However, the conventional cosmetic cases arranged as described above have the following problems.

(1) When the separator section of the protective sheet is set in a position to serve as a separator between the main body and the mirror, the operation is performed immediately above the inner tray, and the finger or hand of the user tends to be smudged with the cosmetic contained in the inner tray.

(2) It is difficult to move the separator section of the protective sheet with one hand while holding the main body with the one hand.

(3) In a case where information is included on the separator section of the protective sheet, the position of the information is in the vicinity of the inner tray and away from the mirror, and it is difficult for the user to see the information while doing makeup while looking at the mirror.

[0006] In view of the above-described circumstances, the present invention is directed to providing a cosmetic case that allows easily moving the separator section of the protective sheet with one hand and reduces possibility of the finger or hand of the user being smudged with the cosmetic.

Solution to Problem

[0007] A cosmetic case according to the invention comprises:

a main body comprising a container for containing a cosmetic;

a lid coupled to the main body such that the main body is openable and closable with the lid;

a mirror attached to an inner surface of the lid; and

a protective sheet comprising a portion serving as a separator between the main body and the mirror,

wherein the protective sheet comprises a fixed sheet section at least partially fixed between the lid and the mirror, and a separator sheet section foldably connected to the fixed sheet section such that the separator sheet section is positioned between the main body and the mirror when the main body is closed with the lid.

[0008] It should be noted that the separator sheet section being "foldably connected to the fixed sheet section" encompasses both the cases where the separator sheet section is directly foldably connected to the fixed sheet section and where the separator sheet section is indirectly directly foldably connected to the fixed sheet section via another sheet section.

[0009] As one example of the latter of the above-described two cases, it is desirable that the protective sheet of the cosmetic case of the invention comprise an intermediate section extending between the fixed sheet section and the separator sheet section along an end face of the mirror and has a substantially U-shaped cross-section.

[0010] In the cosmetic case of the invention, it is desirable that the fixed sheet section and the separator sheet section be connected to each other on the left side of the mirror. It should be noted that the "left side" in this case refers to the left side of the mirror on the open lid viewed from the main body side while the main body is held in a substantially horizontal orientation in a usual manner when the cosmetic case is used.

[0011] In the cosmetic case of the invention, it is desirable that at least the separator sheet section of the protective sheet comprise a transparent material.

[0012] In the cosmetic case of the invention, it is desirable that information be included on the separator sheet section.

[0013] It is desirable that such information be included on one of two sides of the separator sheet section facing the mirror when the separator sheet section is positioned between the main body and the mirror.

[0014] In the cosmetic case of the invention, it is desirable that the separator sheet section be deformable with an external force to a position outside an area between the main body and the mirror.

[0015] In the cosmetic case of the invention, in a case where the separator sheet section is substantially rectangular, it is desirable that at least one of two corners of an edge of the separator sheet section opposite from an edge of the separator sheet section connected to the fixed sheet section be filleted or chamfered.

[0016] In the cosmetic case of the invention, it is desirable that the separator sheet section comprise a recess for avoiding interference with a protrusion of the main body when the separator sheet section is folded relative to the fixed sheet section.

Advantageous Effects of Invention

[0017] With the cosmetic case of the invention, wherein the protective sheet includes a fixed sheet section at least partially fixed between the lid and the mirror and a separator sheet section foldably connected to the fixed sheet section such that the separator sheet section is positioned between the main body and the mirror when the main body is closed with the lid, the separator sheet section prevents the mirror from being smudged with the cosmetic contained in the main body, as with conventional devices.

[0018] Further, with the protective sheet having the above-described arrangement, operation to set the separator sheet section of the protective sheet in a position to serve as a separator between the main body and the mirror is performed above the mirror. This reduces possibility of the finger or hand of the user being smudged with the cosmetic contained in the inner tray when compared to a case where the operation is performed immediately above the inner tray.

[0019] Still further, the protective sheet having the above-described arrangement allows easily moving the separator sheet section of the protective sheet with one hand while the main body is held by the one hand. The reason will be described in detail later with reference to embodiments.

[0020] Yet further, in the case where information is included on the separator sheet section of the protective sheet having the above-described arrangement, the information is positioned in the vicinity of the mirror. This allows the user to easily see the information while doing makeup while looking at the mirror.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0021] 

[FIG. 1] FIG. 1 is a partially exploded perspective view illustrating a cosmetic case according to one embodiment of the present invention,

[FIG. 2] FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating a protective sheet for use in the cosmetic case shown in FIG. 1,

[FIG. 3] FIG. 3 is a schematic sectional view illustrating a structure for fixing the protective sheet shown in FIG. 2,

[FIG. 4] FIG. 4 is a perspective view illustrating the cosmetic case shown in FIG. 1 when it is used,

[FIG. 5] FIG. 5 is a perspective view illustrating another example of the protective sheet for use in the cosmetic case of the invention,

[FIG. 6] FIG. 6 is a schematic sectional view illustrating a structure for fixing the protective sheet shown in FIG. 5,

[FIG. 7] FIG. 7 is a perspective view illustrating still another example of the protective sheet for use in the cosmetic case of the invention,

[FIG. 8] FIG. 8 is a schematic sectional view illustrating a structure for fixing the protective sheet shown in FIG. 7, and

[FIG. 9] FIG. 9 is a perspective view illustrating yet another example of the protective sheet for use in the cosmetic case of the invention.

Description of Embodiments

[0022] Now, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a cosmetic case 10 according to one embodiment of the invention. The cosmetic case 10 of this embodiment includes a main body 11, and a lid 12 coupled to the main body 11 such that the main body 11 is openable and closable with the lid 12. As one example, each of the main body 11 and the lid 12 is made of a synthetic resin, or the like, and has a thin and substantially rectangular parallelepiped outer shape, for example. The lid 12 is coupled to the main body 11 via a hinge 13 such that the lid 12 can swing in the direction of arrow A shown in the drawing, and can be set in an open state, in which the main body 11 is open upward, as shown in the drawing, and in a closed state, in which the main body 11 is closed from above.

[0023] It should be noted that the directions indicated by the terms such as "upper", "lower", "left", "right", "front", etc., in the description of embodiments of the invention refer to such directions relative to a mirror 18 on the open lid 12 viewed from the main body 11 side while the main body 11 is held in a substantially horizontal orientation in a usual manner when the cosmetic case 10 is used.

[0024] The main body 11 includes receptacles 11b and 11c, which are depressed relative to an upper surface 11a. The receptacles 11b and 11c receive inner trays 14 and 15, respectively, which are containers for containing cosmetics. The inner trays 14 and 15 are made of a synthetic resin, or the like, for example, and are fixed to the receptacles 11b and 11c with an adhesive, or the like, or received in the receptacles 11b and 11c without being fixed such that they can be removed as necessary.

[0025] The inner trays 14 and 15 contain cosmetics 16 and 17, respectively. Examples of the cosmetics 16 and 17 include, but are not limited to, foundations, lipcolors, eyeshadows, etc. Further, one or both of the inner trays 14 and 15 may be divided into two or more compartments and the compartments may contain different cosmetics. Further, one of the receptacles 11b and 11c may contain a makeup tool, such as a sponge or brush for applying cosmetics, directly or via an inner tray.

[0026] Still further, without using the inner tray 14 or 15, the receptacles 11b and 11c may be used as containers for directly containing cosmetics. The "main body comprising a container for containing a cosmetic" of the invention encompasses the main body 11 formed in such a manner.

[0027] The lid 12 includes an engaging protrusion 12a formed in the vicinity of the upper end thereof, and the main body 11 includes an engaging portion 11d formed in the vicinity of the front end thereof When the upper surface 11a of main body 11 is closed with the lid 12, the engaging protrusion 12a engages with the engaging portion 11d to maintain the closed state. This engaged state is disengaged when the engaging portion 11 d is pressed toward the hinge 13 (in the direction of arrow B), for example. In the disengaged state, the lid 12 can be swung into the open state, in which the upper surface 11a of the main body 11 is open, as shown in FIG. 1.

[0028] The mirror 18, which is used during makeup, is attached to the inner surface of the lid 12. As one example, the mirror 18 has a rectangular shape, so as to conform to the shape of the lid 12. Further, a protective sheet 20 is fixed to the lid 12. FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of the protective sheet 20, and FIG. 3 schematically illustrates a structure for fixing the protective sheet 20. Now, the protective sheet 20 is described in detail with reference to FIGs 2 and 3.

[0029] As shown in FIG. 2, the protective sheet 20 includes three sections connected to one another, namely, a fixed sheet section 20a, an intermediate section 20b, and a separator sheet section 20c, and has a substantially U-shaped cross-section. That is, the separator sheet section 20c is connected to the fixed sheet section 20a via the intermediate section 20b.

[0030] As one example, the fixed sheet section 20a has a substantially rectangular outer peripheral edge. The separator sheet section 20c is also substantially rectangular, as one example, where two corners 20e and 20f of an edge 20d of the separator sheet section 20c opposite from an edge of the separator sheet section 20c connected to the fixed sheet section 20a are filleted. Further, the lower edge (the edge positioned on the lower side when the cosmetic case 10 is used) of the separator sheet section 20c includes a recess 20g in the vicinity of the intermediate section 20b. It should be noted that the two corners 20e and 20f may be chamfered, instead of filleted.

[0031] The protective sheet 20 having the above-described shape is made of a thin transparent synthetic resin, for example, and the entire part thereof is deformable. When an external force is applied to the separator sheet section 20c of the protective sheet 20, the separator sheet section 20c can deform and swing in the direction of arrow C shown in the drawing about the folding line between the separator sheet section 20c and the intermediate section 20b. It should be noted that the protective sheet 20 made of a transparent material, as described above, facilitates visual recognition of the mirror 18; however, this is not limiting and the protective sheet 20 may be made of a semi-transparent or opaque material.

[0032] The protective sheet 20 is fixed to the lid 12 in the manner as shown in FIG. 3. FIG. 3 shows a cross section viewed from above of the center portion in the up-down direction of the lid 12 with the protective sheet 20 fixed thereto. FIG. 3 is a schematic representation and the elements shown are not to scale. As shown, the fixed sheet section 20a is adhered to the lid 12 with an adhesive layer 30 to be fixed to the inner surface of the lid 12. The mirror 18 is adhered and fixed to the fixed sheet section 20a via an adhesive layer 31. It should be noted that an end face of the mirror 18 may be fixed, such as adhered, to the intermediate section 20b, as necessary.

[0033] Each of the adhesive layer 30 and the adhesive layer 31 may, for example, be a layer of an adhesive; however, this is not limiting, and the fixed sheet section 20a can be fixed to the lid 12 using a double-sided adhesive tape. Still alternatively, the fixed sheet section 20a can be fixed to the lid 12 by ultrasonic joining, etc.

[0034] Now, operation of the cosmetic case 10 having the above-described arrangement is described with reference to FIG. 4. FIG. 4 shows a state where the lid 12 is set in the open position, as described previously. As shown, when the user does makeup using the cosmetic case 10, first, the user holds the main body 11 from below with the left hand M, for example, and sets the lid 12 in the open position. At this time, the separator sheet section 20c of the protective sheet 20 is in the state shown in FIG. 1. That is, when the lid 12 is in the closed position, the separator sheet section 20c is positioned between the main body 11 and the mirror 18, thereby preventing the mirror 18 from being smudged with the cosmetics 16 and 17.

[0035] After the user sets the lid 12 in the open position, the separator sheet section 20c in the state shown in FIG. 1 is swung by flipping the edge 20d of the separator sheet section 20c with the thumb P of the left hand M, for example, and pushing and opening the separator sheet section 20c into a position where the front side of the mirror 18 is open, as shown in FIG. 4. That is, at this time, the separator sheet section 20c is deformed to a position outside an area between the main body 11 and the mirror 18. This allows the user to do makeup using the cosmetic 16 or 17, or a makeup tool, if the makeup tool is contained in the receptacle 11b or 11c, as described previously, while looking at the mirror 18.

[0036] It should be noted that, in this embodiment, the folding line between the separator sheet section 20c and the intermediate section 20b (the portion connecting the separator sheet section 20c and the intermediate section 20b) is set on the left side of the mirror 18. With this arrangement, the user holding the main body 11 with the left hand M, which is not used to operate the makeup tool, can easily flip the separator sheet section 20c with the thumb P of the left hand M, as described previously. However, the folding line may not necessarily be set on the left side of the mirror 18, and may be set on the right side, the upper side, or the lower side of the mirror 18. In particular, in the case where the folding line is set on the right side of the mirror 18, a cosmetic case suitable for left-handed people can be provided.

[0037] Regardless of on which side of the mirror 18 the folding line is set, the separator sheet section 20c can be positioned in the close vicinity of the mirror 18 when the fixed sheet section 20a is fixed to the back side of the mirror 18. As described later, information may be included on separator sheet section 20c, and the user can easily see and read the information during makeup while looking at the mirror 18 when the separator sheet section 20c is positioned in the close vicinity of the mirror 18.

[0038] To set the lid 12 in the closed state, first, the separator sheet section 20c is moved to a position where the separator sheet section 20c faces the mirror 18, and then the lid 12 is closed. This arrangement reduces possibility of the finger of hand of the user being smudged with the cosmetics 16 and 17, when compared to conventional devices where the separator sheet section 20c is moved to a position where the separator sheet section 20c faces the cosmetics 16 and 17.

[0039] In general, the mirror 18 is significantly larger than the inner trays 14 and 15. Fixing the fixed sheet section 20a to the back side of the mirror 18 allows a wider adhesion space, welding space, or the like, to fix the fixed sheet section 20a, thereby allowing stable adhesion of the protective sheet 20.

[0040] Further, in this embodiment, the two corners 20e and 20f of the separator sheet section 20c are filleted, thereby protecting the user's hand or finger from the two corners 20e and 20f. Since the corners 20e and 20f of the separator sheet section 20c are positioned farthest from the folding line between the separator sheet section 20c and the intermediate section 20b, it is highly possible that the corners 20e and 20f contact the cosmetics 16 and 17 when the separator sheet section 20c is deformed. However, filleting or chamfering the corners 20e and 20f is useful to avoid such contact to prevent the separator sheet section 20c from being smudged.

[0041] It should be noted that, in this embodiment, when no external force is applied, the separator sheet section 20c does not become parallel to the mirror 18 and keeps a state where it is slightly angled relative to and spaced apart from the mirror 18. The angle is around 15 to 20°, for example. Further, as shown in FIGs. 1 and 4, the main body 11 includes a protrusion 11f, which protrudes slightly outward from the hinge 13, on the right side of the hinge 13. From the state shown in FIG. 4, when the lid 12 is swung in the closing direction with the separator sheet section 20c being lightly pressed against the mirror 18, a portion of the separator sheet section 20c in the vicinity of the corner 20f engages with the protrusion 11f and the separator sheet section 20c is pushed toward the mirror 18. Then, when the lid 12 is set in the closed position, the separator sheet section 20c is positioned between the main body 11 and the mirror 18.

[0042] Thereafter, when the lid 12 is swung into the open position during use of the cosmetic case 10, the portion of the separator sheet section 20c in the vicinity of the corner 20f is kept lightly engaged with the protrusion 11f. From this state, the edge 20d of the separator sheet section 20c is flipped with the thumb P of the left hand M, as described previously, and the portion of the separator sheet section 20c in the vicinity of the corner 20f is elastically deformed to be easily released from the protrusion 11f.

[0043] Further, as shown in FIGs. 1 and 4, the main body 11 includes a protrusion 11g, which protrudes slightly outward from the hinge 13, on the left side of the hinge 13, and the separator sheet section 20c includes the recess 20g, as described previously, correspondingly to the protrusion 11g. When the separator sheet section 20c is swung, the protrusion 11g makes relative movement in the recess 20g, thereby avoiding interference between the separator sheet section 20c and the protrusion 11g.

[0044] Now, another example of the structure for fixing the protective sheet 20 and the mirror 18 to the lid 12 is described with reference to FIGs. 5 and 6. It should be noted that elements shown in FIGs. 5 and 6 and the following drawings equivalent to those already described are denoted by the same reference numerals, and are not described again, unless otherwise necessary. In this example, as shown in FIG. 5, the fixed sheet section 20a of the protective sheet 20 includes an opening 20h at the center. As shown in FIG. 6, the fixed sheet section 20a around the opening 20h is adhered to the lid 12 via the adhesive layer 30, and thus fixed to the inner surface of the lid 12. The mirror 18 is adhered and fixed to the lid 12 via the adhesive layer 31 through the opening 20h. In this case, the protective sheet 20 can be fixed to the lid 12 by the mirror 18 and the adhesive layer 31, and therefore the adhesive layer 30 can be omitted.

[0045] In the above-described embodiment, the separator sheet section 20c is foldably connected to the intermediate section 20b. It should be noted that "the separator sheet section 20c foldably connected to the fixed sheet section 20a" of the invention encompasses the case where the intermediate section 20b is provided between the separator sheet section 20c and the fixed sheet section 20a, as mentioned previously.

[0046] Alternatively, the cosmetic case of the invention may employ an arrangement where the separator sheet section 20c is directly foldably connected to the fixed sheet section 20a. FIG. 7 illustrates one example of the protective sheet having such an arrangement.

[0047] The protective sheet 120 shown in FIG. 7 is arranged such that the intermediate section 20b is omitted from the protective sheet 20 shown in FIG. 2. This protective sheet 120 is fixed to the lid 12 in the manner shown in FIG. 8, for example. A structure for fixing the protective sheet 120 is basically the same as the structure for fixing the protective sheet 20 shown in FIG. 2, except that the protective sheet 120 does not include the intermediate section 20b.

[0048] Next, still another embodiment of the protective sheet is described with reference to FIG. 9. A protective sheet 220 shown in FIG. 9 includes information 201 and 202 on one side of the separator sheet section 20c. It should be noted that the "one side" in this example refers to one of two sides of the separator sheet section 20c facing the mirror when the separator sheet section 20c is positioned between the main body 11 and the mirror 18.

[0049] The information 201 may be graphical information showing how the cosmetics and/or makeup tools are arranged in the main body 11 (see FIG. 1, etc.), for example. On the other hand, the information 202 may be text information showing an explanation and/or caution about the cosmetics and/or makeup tools. Another example of the text information 202 includes an explanation and/or caution about handling of the cosmetic case, such as "Please close the lid after placing the protective sheet inside."

[0050] It should be noted that the information 201 and 202 may be included on the other side (i.e., the side facing away from the mirror when the separator sheet section 20c is positioned between the main body 11 and the mirror 18) of the separator sheet section 20c. However, when the information 201 and 202 is included on the above one side, the user can easily see the information 201 and 202 when the user is doing makeup while looking at the mirror 18 in a state where the separator sheet section 20c is swung from the position where it faces the mirror 18. Further, when the information 201 and 202 is included on the one side, possibility of the information 201 and 202 being smudged with the cosmetics 16 and 17 is reduced.

Claims

1. A cosmetic case comprising:

a main body comprising a container for containing a cosmetic;

a lid coupled to the main body such that the main body is openable and closable with the lid;

a mirror attached to an inner surface of the lid; and

a protective sheet comprising a portion serving as a separator between the main body and the mirror,

wherein the protective sheet comprises a fixed sheet section at least partially fixed between the lid and the mirror, and a separator sheet section foldably connected to the fixed sheet section such that the separator sheet section is positioned between the main body and the mirror when the main body is closed with the lid.

2. The cosmetic case as claimed in claim 1, wherein the protective sheet comprises an intermediate section extending between the fixed sheet section and the separator sheet section along an end face of the mirror and has a substantially U-shaped cross-section.

3. The cosmetic case as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein the fixed sheet section and the separator sheet section are connected to each other on the left side of the mirror.

4. The cosmetic case as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein at least the separator sheet section of the protective sheet comprises a transparent material.

5. The cosmetic case as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein information is included on the separator sheet section.

6. The cosmetic case as claimed in claim 5, wherein the information is included on one of two sides of the separator sheet section facing the mirror when the separator sheet section is positioned between the main body and the mirror.

7. The cosmetic case as claimed in any one of claims I to 6, wherein the separator sheet section is deformable with an external force to a position outside an area between the main body and the mirror.

8. The cosmetic case as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the separator sheet section is substantially rectangular, and has at least one of two corners of an edge of the separator sheet section opposite from an edge of the separator sheet section connected to the fixed sheet section being filleted or chamfered.

9. The cosmetic case as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the separator sheet section comprises a recess for avoiding interference with a protrusion of the main body when the separator sheet section is folded relative to the fixed sheet section.

Drawing