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(11) | EP 4 555 894 A1 |
| (12) | EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION |
| published in accordance with Art. 153(4) EPC |
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| (54) | ENVIRONMENT-FRIENDLY CONTAINER HAVING REPLACEABLE LIPSTICK CORE |
| (57) An environmentally-friendly container (100) having a lipstick carrier replacement
mechanism comprises a cap (10), a lipstick carrier (20), a coupling member (30), and
a base (40). The lipstick carrier (20) includes a fitting section (24) disposed at
an end. The coupling member (30) includes a rim (33) disposed at the other end, two
opposite latches (35) extending from an inner surface of the rim (33) toward inside,
and two inclined surfaces (356) each disposed on an outer surface of the latch (35)
and urging against the fitting section (24). When the base (40) is rotated, a friction
between the coupling member (30) and the lipstick carrier (20) is avoided and the
inclined surfaces (356) are disengaged from the fitting section (24) due to flexibility
of the latches (35). As such, the lipstick carrier (20) can be detached for an increased
number of times for lipstick carrier replacement, thereby increasing a useful life
of the container (100). After the base (40) has been rotated, the lipstick carrier
(20) can be pulled to disengage from both the coupling member (30) and the base (40).
Thereafter, a consumed lipstick carrier (20) can be replaced with a new one. Therefore,
the container (100) is environmentally friendly. |
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The invention relates to containers and more particularly to an environmentally-friendly container having a lipstick carrier replacement mechanism.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] Conventional containers are intended to be thrown away after the lipstick has been consumed. However, this is not environment friendly and may harm the environment.
[0003] For overcoming the drawbacks, the present inventor has invented a container having a replaceable lipstick carrier. In detail, the container comprises a cover, a lipstick carrier, a coupling member, and a base. A fitting hole is provided at one end of the lipstick carrier. Two cavities are provided at two opposite portions of the fitting hole respectively. Two raised members are provided on an inner surface of the lipstick carrier and are away from the cavities. A shaft is provided on a bottom of the lipstick carrier. A flange is provided at either end of the shaft and extends radially. The flanges urge against the raised members respectively in a locked position. A rotation of the base can disengage the shaft from the lipstick carrier prior to replacing a consumed lipstick with a new one.
[0004] However, the container has the following disadvantages: the flanges may wear after a period of time of use since they urge against the raised members. And in turn, it may loosen the lipstick carrier.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] An object of the invention is to provide an environmentally-friendly container having a lipstick carrier replacement mechanism. The container has a simple structure and is convenient in use. The container can overcome disadvantages associated with the conventional art, avoid friction, increase the number of lipstick carrier replacements, and increase a useful life, and is environmentally-friendly.
[0007] In order to achieve the above object, the invention provides an environmentally-friendly container having a lipstick carrier replacement mechanism, characterized by comprising a cap including an internal space; a lipstick carrier having has one end disposed in the internal space and including a rotation member at the other end, a fitting hole axially disposed through the rotation member, and a fitting section disposed on an inner surface of the fitting hole adjacent to the rotation member; a coupling member including an axial channel for receiving the other end of the lipstick carrier, a rim disposed at the other end of the coupling member, an annular extension lengthwise extending out of the rim and including two opposite notches having a cavity at one end, two opposite latches extending from an inner surface of the rim toward the axial channel, the latch having a first cut at an intermediate portion of a top, a second cut at one end of the top, and a third cut at the other end of the top, a protuberance disposed on an outer surface of the latch adjacent to the first cut, the protuberance having an inclined surface extending downward, the inclined surfaces urging against the fitting section of the lipstick carrier; and a base including an axial shaft on a bottom of an inner surface, a positioning block disposed at an end of the axial shaft, four fitting members disposed at four corners of the positioning block respectively, the fitting members disposed in the second cuts and the third cuts respectively, two opposite first rib members disposed on two sides of the inner surface respectively, each first rib member disposed in the notch and being moveable therein, and two positioning members formed with the first rib members respectively, each of the positioning members disposed in the cavity.
[0008] Preferably, the cap further comprises a plurality of recesses disposed in an inner surface, and the coupling member further comprises a plurality of projections disposed on an outer surface of one end, the projections being configured to dispose in the recesses respectively.
[0009] Preferably, further comprises a plurality of spaced ribs disposed on an outer surface of the rotation member, and a plurality of raised members disposed on an inner surface of the rim, each of the raised members being disposed between the two adjacent ribs.
[0010] Preferably, further comprising two opposite second rib members disposed on the other two sides of the inner surface of the base respectively, the second rib members urging against an outer surface of the annular extension.
[0011] Preferably, further comprises four troughs disposed on the four sides of the inner surface of the base respectively, each of the troughs being adjacent to the first rib member or the second rib member and urging against the rim.
[0012] Preferably, each of the notches further comprise a protrusion at the other end opposing the cavity.
[0013] Preferably, the latches are spaced by a predetermined distance with two gaps formed between the latches.
[0014] Preferably, each of the first cut, the second cut, and the third cut have an angle of 90-degree.
[0015] Preferably, an opening of the first cut is larger than that of the second cut and an opening of the second cut is larger than that of the third cut.
[0017] With the above structures, the invention has the following advantages:
Less friction and increasing useful life. The inclined surfaces of the latches are urged against the fitting section of the lipstick carrier. When the base is rotated, a friction between the coupling member and the lipstick carrier is avoided due to flexibility of the latches. As such, the lipstick carrier can be detached for an increased number of times for lipstick carrier replacement, thereby increasing a useful life of the container.
[0018] Easy replacement and environment friendly. The base is clockwise rotated by 45 degrees so that the first rib members may move in the notches to urge the positioning members against the protrusions. The positioning block also clockwise rotates 45-degrees so that the fitting members are disposed in the gaps and the first cuts respectively. Thus, the latches return to unfastened positions and in turn the inclined surfaces are disengaged from the fitting section. As a result, the lipstick carrier can be pulled to disengage from both the coupling member and the base. It is environmentally friendly with the container being reused because only the consumed lipstick carrier is replaced with a new one and the container is not discarded.
[0019] Easy positioning. The fitting members are disposed in the gaps and the first cuts respectively, and the fitting section is circular so that a new lipstick carrier can be easily mounted in the axial channel of the coupling member without being limited by a mounting angle.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0020]
FIG. 1 is a perspective view in a quarter section of a container according to a preferred embodiment of the invention.
FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the container according to the preferred embodiment of the invention.
FIG. 3 is another perspective view of the base according to the preferred embodiment of the invention.
FIG. 4 is a longitudinal sectional view of the coupling member according to the preferred embodiment of the invention;
FIG. 5 schematically depicts opening the cap and rotating the base according to the preferred embodiment of the invention.
FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken along line 6-6 of FIG. 5.
FIG. 7 is a partial, longitudinal sectional view of the container according to the preferred embodiment of the invention, schematically depicting the inclined surface being disengaged from the fitting section.
FIG. 8 is a detailed view of the area in circle A of FIG. 7.
FIG. 9 schematically depicts separating the lipstick carrier from the coupling member according to the preferred embodiment of the invention.
FIG. 10 schematically depicts a new lipstick carrier as a replacement which is to be fitted together with the coupling member, the base, and the cap according to the preferred embodiment of the invention.
FIG. 11 schematically depicts opening the cap to expose the new lipstick carrier and rotating the base according to the preferred embodiment of the invention.
FIG. 12 is a sectional view taken along line 12-12 of FIG. 11.
FIG. 13 is a partial, longitudinal sectional view of the container according to the preferred embodiment of the invention, schematically depicting the inclined surface being urged by the fitting section.
FIG. 14 is a detailed view of the area in circle A of FIG. 13.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0021] Referring to FIGS. 1 to 3, an environmentally-friendly container 100 having a lipstick carrier replacement mechanism according to the invention is shown. The container 100 comprises the following components:
A cap 10 includes an internal space 11 and a plurality of recesses 12 provided in an inner surface of the cap 10.
[0022] A lipstick carrier 20 has one end disposed in the internal space 11 and includes a rotation member 21 at the other end, a plurality of grooves 22 provided in the rotation member 21, a fitting hole 23 axially provided through the rotation member 21, a fitting section 24 provided on an inner surface of the fitting hole 23 adjacent to the rotation member 21, and a plurality of spaced ribs 25 provided on an outer surface of the rotation member 21.
[0023] In conjunction with FIGS. 4 and 6, a coupling member 30 includes an axial channel 31 for receiving the other end of the lipstick carrier 20, a plurality of projections 32 provided on an outer surface of one end of the coupling member 30 and configured to dispose in the recesses 12 respectively, a rim 33 provided at the other end of the coupling member 30 distal the projections 32, an annular extension 34 lengthwise extending out of the rim 33 and including two opposite notches 341 having a cavity 342 at one end and a protrusion 343 at the other end opposing the cavity 342, two opposite latches 35 extending from an inner surface of the rim 33 toward the axial channel 31, two spaced gaps 351 formed between the latches 35, the latch 35 having a first cut 352 at an intermediate portion of a top, a second cut 353 at one end of the top, and a third cut 354 at the other end of the top, each of the first cut 352, the second cut 353, and the third cut 354 having an angle of 90-degree, an opening of the first cut 352 being larger than that of the second cut 353, an opening of the second cut 353 being larger than that of the third cut 354, a protuberance 355 provided on an outer surface of the latch 35 adjacent to the first cut 352, the protuberance 355 having an inclined surface 356 extending downward, the inclined surfaces 356 urging against the fitting section 24 of the lipstick carrier 20, and a plurality of raised members 36 provided on an inner surface of the rim 33, each raised member 36 being disposed between the two adjacent ribs 25.
[0024] A base 40 includes an axial shaft 41 on a bottom of an inner surface, a positioning block 42 provided at an end of the axial shaft 41 and shaped as a parallelepiped, four fitting members 43 provided at four corners of the positioning block 42 respectively, the fitting members 43 disposed in the second cuts 353 and the third cuts 354 respectively, two opposite first rib members 44 provided on two sides of the inner surface respectively, each first rib member 44 moveably disposed in the notch 341, two positioning members 46 formed with the first rib members 44 respectively, each of the positioning members 46 disposed in the cavity 342, two opposite second rib members 45 provided on the other two sides of the inner surface respectively, the second rib members 45 urging against an outer surface of the annular extension 34, and four troughs 47 provided on the four sides of the inner surface respectively, the trough 47 being adjacent to the first rib member 44 or the second rib member 45, the troughs 47 urging against the rim 33.
[0025] Referring to FIGS. 5 to 9 in conjunction with FIG. 2, steps of detaching the lipstick carrier 20 of the container are illustrated. The cap 10 is separated from the coupling member 30. A consumed lipstick 50 is mounted in the lipstick carrier 20. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the base 40 is clockwise rotated by 45 degrees so that the first rib members 44 may move in the notches 341 to urge the positioning members 46 against the protrusions 343. The positioning block 42 also clockwise rotates 45-degrees so that the fitting members 43 are disposed in the gaps 351 and the first cuts 352 respectively. Thus, the latches 35 return to unfastened positions and in turn the inclined surfaces 356 are disengaged from the fitting section 24. As a result, the lipstick carrier 20 can be pulled to disengage from both the coupling member 30 and the base 40.
[0026] Referring to FIGS. 10 to 14 in conjunction with FIG. 2, steps of replacing a new lipstick 60 are illustrated. The lipstick carrier 20 having the new lipstick 60 is mounted in the axial channel 31 of the coupling member 30 with the latches 35 partially disposed in the fitting hole 23 and the positioning block 42 fastened by the latches 35. Next, the base 40 is counterclockwise rotated by 45 degrees so that the first rib members 44 may move in the notches 341 to urge the positioning members 46 against the cavities 342. The positioning block 42 also rotates 45-degrees so that the fitting members 43 are disposed in the second cuts 353 and the third cuts 354 respectively. Thus, the latches 35 radially expand to energized positions and in turn the inclined surfaces 356 are urged against the fitting section 24 of the lipstick carrier 20. The lipstick carrier 20 and the coupling member 30 are assembled. Finally, the cap 10 is put on the coupling member 30 and this completes a replacement of the new lipstick 60. It is environmentally friendly with the container being reused because only the consumed lipstick carrier 20 is replaced with a new one and the container is not discarded.
[0027] It is noted that the inclined surfaces 356 of the latches 35 are urged against the fitting section 24 of the lipstick carrier 20. When the base 40 is rotated, a friction between the coupling member 30 and the lipstick carrier 20 is avoided due to flexibility of the latches 35. As such, the lipstick carrier 20 can be detached for an increased number of times for lipstick carrier replacement, thereby increasing a useful life of the container.
[0028] Referring to FIGS. 6 to 8 in conjunction with FIGS. 2 and 10 again, the fitting members 43 are disposed in the gaps 351 and the first cuts 352 of the latches 35 respectively. Thus, the latches 35 return to unfastened positions and in turn the inclined surfaces 356 are disengaged from the fitting section 24 of the lipstick carrier 20. As a result, the lipstick carrier 20 can be pulled to disengage from both the coupling member 30 and the base 40. Further, the fitting section 24 is circular so that a new lipstick carrier 20 can be easily mounted in the axial channel 31 of the coupling member 30 without being limited by a mounting angle.
1. An environmentally-friendly container having a lipstick carrier replacement mechanism,
characterized by comprising:
a cap including an internal space;
a lipstick carrier having has one end disposed in the internal space and including a rotation member at the other end, a fitting hole axially disposed through the rotation member, and a fitting section disposed on an inner surface of the fitting hole adjacent to the rotation member;
a coupling member including an axial channel for receiving the other end of the lipstick carrier, a rim disposed at the other end of the coupling member, an annular extension lengthwise extending out of the rim and including two opposite notches having a cavity at one end, two opposite latches extending from an inner surface of the rim toward the axial channel, the latch having a first cut at an intermediate portion of a top, a second cut at one end of the top, and a third cut at the other end of the top, a protuberance disposed on an outer surface of the latch adjacent to the first cut, and an inclined surface urging against the fitting section of the lipstick carrier; and
a base including an axial shaft on a bottom of an inner surface, a positioning block disposed at an end of the axial shaft, four fitting members disposed at four corners of the positioning block respectively, the fitting members disposed in the second cuts and the third cuts respectively, two opposite first rib members disposed on two sides of the inner surface respectively, each first rib member disposed in the notch and being moveable therein, and two positioning members formed with the first rib members respectively, each of the positioning members disposed in the cavity.
2. The environmentally-friendly container having a lipstick carrier replacement mechanism
of claim 1, characterized in that the cap further comprises a plurality of recesses disposed in an inner surface, and
the coupling member further comprises a plurality of projections disposed on an outer
surface of one end, the projections being configured to dispose in the recesses respectively.
3. The environmentally-friendly container having a lipstick carrier replacement mechanism
of claim 1, characterized by further comprising a plurality of spaced ribs disposed on an outer surface of the
rotation member, and a plurality of raised members disposed on an inner surface of
the rim, each of the raised members being disposed between the two adjacent ribs.
4. The environmentally-friendly container having a lipstick carrier replacement mechanism
of claim 1, characterized by further comprising two opposite second rib members disposed on the other two sides
of the inner surface of the base respectively, the second rib members urging against
an outer surface of the annular extension.
5. The environmentally-friendly container having a lipstick carrier replacement mechanism
of claim 4, characterized by further comprising four troughs disposed on the four sides of the inner surface of
the base respectively, each of the troughs being adjacent to the first rib member
or the second rib member and urging against the rim.
6. The environmentally-friendly container having a lipstick carrier replacement mechanism
of claim 1, characterized in that each of the notches further comprise a protrusion at the other end opposing the cavity.
7. The environmentally-friendly container having a lipstick carrier replacement mechanism
of claim 1, characterized in that the latches are spaced by a predetermined distance with two gaps formed between the
latches.
8. The environmentally-friendly container having a lipstick carrier replacement mechanism
of claim 1, characterized in that each of the first cut, the second cut, and the third cut have an angle of 90-degree.
9. The environmentally-friendly container having a lipstick carrier replacement mechanism
of claim 1, characterized in that an opening of the first cut is larger than that of the second cut and an opening
of the second cut is larger than that of the third cut.
10. The environmentally-friendly container having a lipstick carrier replacement mechanism
of claim 1, characterized in that the positioning block is a parallelepiped.