EP2668867A1

EP2668867A1 - Sealed compact container

Info

Publication number: EP2668867A1
Application number: EP12739939.2A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Yoshirou KIKUMA; Yasuko Nakajima
Original assignee: Yoshida Industries Co Ltd; Yoshida Industry Co Ltd
Current assignee: Yoshida Industries Co Ltd; Yoshida Industry Co Ltd
Priority date: 2011-01-26
Filing date: 2012-01-19
Publication date: 2013-12-04
Anticipated expiration: 2032-01-19
Also published as: JP2012152392A; EP2668867B1; JP5767817B2; EP2668867A4; WO2012102165A1

Abstract

An objective is to provide a hermetically-sealed compact case capable of securely hermetically sealing a cosmetic and preventing deterioration of the cosmetic amount due to condensation. Provided is a compact case in which a lid body 10 openably and closably covers a main case body 2 having first and second frame portions 31 and 32 formed therein side by side in a horizontal direction, the first frame portion accommodating an inner tray 40 to be filed with a cosmetic, the second frame portion accommodating a cosmetic applicator. By rotating about a hinge 5 formed at a partitioning portion 33 of the first and second frame portions, the inner tray is invertible between an initial state of being accommodated in the first frame portion with an opening thereof facing down and an inverted state of being accommodated in the second frame portion with the opening facing up. The gasket 60 has an end face facing a rim end face of the opening of the inner tray in the initial state. A pressing structure 42 configured to bias the inner tray downward when the lid body is closed is formed between a bottom face 41 of the inner tray in the initial state and a back face 11 of the lid body. In the initial state, the inner tray is biased downward by the pressing structure and is hermetically sealed by the gasket when the lid body is closed.

Description

[Technical Field]

The present invention relates to a compact case configured to accommodate a cosmetic and a cosmetic applicator in a portable manner, or relates specifically to a hermetically-sealed compact case capable of accommodating a cosmetic in a hermetically sealed manner.

[Background Art]

Many of recent cosmetics contain a large amount of solvent, such as water, to provide a favorable feeling in using it. Naturally, the solvent either evaporates or volatilizes. Thus, a cosmetic (volatile cosmetic) containing a solvent is accommodated in a hermetically-sealed case so as not to dry. Of course, a compact case configured to accommodate a cosmetic applicator, such as a powder puff, together with a cosmetic in a portable manner is also required to be hermetically sealed if the cosmetic is a volatile cosmetic.
Patent Literatures 1 to 3 given below describe hermetically-sealed compact cases capable of accommodating a cosmetic in a hermetically sealed manner. To accommodate a cosmetic in a hermetically sealed manner, these hermetically-sealed compact cases each include an inner tray having an inner lid, a main case body configured to collectively accommodate the inner tray and a cosmetic applicator, and a lid body configured to cover the main case body openably and closably. An upper face of the inner lid is formed to have a bulge protruding upward, and when the lid body is closed, the inner lid is pressed downward by a back face of the lid body via the bulge. Then, a gasket on a lower face of the inner lid comes into close contact with a rim end face of an opening of a space for accommodating the cosmetic and thereby hermetically seals the space for accommodating the cosmetic.

[Citation List]

[Patent Literature]

[PTL 1] Japanese Patent No. 4263282
[PTL 2] Japanese Patent No. 4498713
[PTL 3] Japanese Patent No. 3808152

[Summary of Invention]

[Technical Problem]

In the conventional hermetically-sealed compact cases, the inner lid needs to be provided to the inner tray for accommodating a cosmetic. Hence, the number of components for the inner lid is increased, which makes it hard to lower the costs. To take the cosmetic with a cosmetic applicator or the like, the space for accommodating the cosmetic is opened by opening the inner lid with the lid body opened. In other words, when the cosmetic is in use, the back face of the inner lid is exposed to the outside. The cosmetic might attach to the back face of the inner lid, and during use of the cosmetic, the cosmetic attached to the back side of the inner lid might reattach to unintended parts (such as clothes or fingers) and smear those parts.
Moreover, because of the high hermetic sealing performance of the hermetically-sealed compact case, the solvent vaporized by evaporating or volatilizing from the volatile cosmetic in storage does not escape to the outside and is packed in an airspace in the inner tray. Irrespective of whether the compact case is a hermetically-sealed one or not, the compact case is usually stored with its upper and lower sides placed at normal positions, except for cases such as where it is carried in a purse. While a compact case is being stored, the back face of the inner lid faces down. When the temperature of the storage place is decreased, the vaporized solvent condenses into liquid drops, and the condensed liquid drops attach to the back face of the inner lid.
The liquid drops fall onto a face of the cosmetic by gravity. The portion where the liquid drops have fallen causes unevenness, degrading the quality of the cosmetic. To prevent the condensation, the vaporized solvent needs to be caused to escape to the outside, but then the hermetic sealing performance has to be sacrificed. Accordingly, a hermetically-sealed compact case is required to achieve two contradicting performances, i.e., airtightness and prevention of deterioration of a cosmetic due to condensation, both of which are extremely hard to accomplish together. It might be possible to employ a structure in which the liquid drops are guided to another portion so as not to fall, but such a structure is complicated and makes it hard to provide the compact case inexpensively.
The present invention has been made in view of the above-described various problems in the conventional hermetically-sealed compact cases, and has an objective of providing a hermetically-sealed compact case capable of avoiding an increase in costs, accommodating a cosmetic securely in a hermetically sealed manner, not smearing other portions with the cosmetic amount attached to a back face of an inner lid, and preventing a condensed solvent from making the quality of the cosmetic uneven. Other objectives will be apparent from the following description.

[Solution to Problem]

To achieve the above objective, the present invention is a hermetically-sealed compact case capable of accommodating a cosmetic in a hermetically sealed state together with a cosmetic applicator, the compact case comprising: an inner tray to be filled with the cosmetic; a gasket configured to hermetically seal an inside space of the inner tray; a main case body having a vertically-flat box shape and having an open end at an upper side thereof; and a lid body configured to cover the open end side of the main case body openably and closably. The main case body is provided with first and second frame portions formed side by side in a horizontal direction and configured to serve as spaces for accommodating the inner tray and the cosmetic applicator, respectively. The inner tray has a vertically-flat box shape and has an opening at one of upper and lower end faces thereof. By rotating about a hinge formed at a partitioning portion separating the first and second frame portions, the inner tray is invertible between an initial state of being accommodated in the first frame portion with the opening facing down and an inverted state of being accommodated in the second frame portion with the opening facing up. The gasket has an end face facing a rim end face of the opening of the inner tray in the initial state. A pressing structure configured to bias the inner tray downward when the lid body is closed is formed between a bottom face of the inner tray in the initial state and a back face of the lid body. In the initial state, the inner tray is biased downward by the pressing structure and is hermetically sealed by the gasket when the lid body is closed.
Further, in the hermetically-sealed compact case, the hinge may include a translating mechanism for moving the inner tray downward with the bottom face thereof maintained to be horizontal, when the inner tray is biased downward by closing of the lid body. In this case, the hinge may include a shaft (called an inversion shaft below) formed integrally with the partitioning portion and a bearing portion formed at the inner tray on the hinge side and pivotally supported by the inversion shaft. The bearing portion may be an approximately U-shaped groove, and the translating mechanism may be configured by engaging the inversion shaft with the approximately U-shaped groove in a vertically slidable manner.
Any of the above hermetically-sealed compact cases may include a support portion configured to support and hold from below a bottom portion of the inner tray in the inverted state in such a manner that a plane of the opening of the inner tray protrudes higher than the bottom face of the inner tray in the initial state. It is more preferable that the support portion be a protrusion piece protruding from an inner wall face of the second frame portion and extending in the same direction as the partitioning portion does, the inner wall face being opposite to the hinge side.
In any of the above hermetically-sealed compact cases, the gasket member may be a plate shape and inserted into the first frame portion. Further, more preferably, the gasket member is formed of a material having both sealing property and hygroscopic property.
In the above hermetically-sealed compact cases, the gasket member can have a frame shape whose portion facing the opening of the inner tray is hollow and can be inserted into the first frame portion, or the gasket member may be a frame body attached to the rim end face of the opening of the inner tray. In the above hermetically-sealed compact cases, if the gasket member has the frame shape, the first frame portion can have an auxiliary accommodating portion under the inner tray in the initial state, and when the lid body is closed, the gasket member can seal not only the inside of the inner tray but also an inside of the auxiliary accommodating portion by being interposed between the rim end face of the opening of the inner tray and an upper face of the auxiliary accommodating portion.

[Advantageous Effects of Invention]

The hermetically-sealed compact case of the present invention accommodates the inner tray to be filled with a cosmetic, with the inner tray being securely hermetically sealed, and prevents the cosmetic from smearing clothes and the like when the cosmetic is used. Further, when a solvent in the cosmetic condenses into liquid drops, the condensed liquid drops do not attach to the cosmetic to degrade the quality of the cosmetic. Moreover, the hermetically-sealed compact case can be provided inexpensively since an inner lid for sealing the inner tray is unnecessary. Other advantageous effects are described below.

[Brief Description of Drawings]

[Fig. 1] Fig. 1 is a diagram showing the outer appearance of a hermetically-sealed compact case according to a first embodiment of the present invention, the diagram showing a state where a lid body is closed.
[Fig. 2] Fig. 2 is diagrams showing the outer appearance of the hermetically-sealed compact case according to the first embodiment, the diagrams showing a state where the lid body is open. Specifically, Fig. 2 (A) is a diagram showing a state where an inner tray is in an initial state, and Fig. 2(B) is a diagram showing a state where the inner tray is in an inverted state.
[Fig. 3] Fig. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the hermetically-sealed compact case according to the first embodiment.
[Fig. 4] Fig. 4 is a diagram showing the structure of a lid hinge of the hermetically-sealed compact case according to the first embodiment.
[Fig. 5] Fig. 5 is a diagram showing a locking structure for the inner tray and a tray frame of the hermetically-sealed compact case according to the first embodiment.
[Fig. 6] Fig. 6 is a diagram showing an assembly sequence of the hermetically-sealed compact case according to the first embodiment.
[Fig. 7] Fig. 7 is a diagram showing a state where the inner tray of the hermetically-sealed compact case according to the first embodiment is hermetically sealed.
[Fig. 8] Fig. 8 is a diagram showing an operation of a mechanism for translating the inner tray of the hermetically-sealed compact case according to the first embodiment.
[Fig. 9] Fig. 9 is a diagram showing a structure for supporting the inner tray in the inverted state from below in the hermetically-sealed compact case according to the first embodiment.
[Fig. 10] Fig. 10 is a diagram showing the outer appearance of a hermetically-sealed compact case according to a second embodiment of the present invention, the diagram showing a state where the lid body is open.
[Fig. 11] Fig. 11 is an exploded perspective view of the hermetically-sealed compact case according to the second embodiment, seen from the upper right front.
[Fig. 12] Fig. 12 is an exploded perspective view of the hermetically-sealed compact case according to the second embodiment seen from the lower right rear.
[Fig. 13] Fig. 13 is a diagram showing a hermetically-sealed compact case in which a gasket has a different shape, as another embodiment of the present invention.

[Description of Embodiments]

===First Embodiment===

Fig. 1 shows the outer appearance of a hermetically-sealed compact case (hereinafter simply a compact case) 1 according to a first embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 1 shows the outer appearance of the compact case 1, a lid body 10 of which is closed. The outer appearance of the compact case 1 is similar to that of a general compact case, and the compact case 1 includes: a main case body 2 being shaped into a flat box whose one end face is open and having thereinside a space for accommodating a cosmetic and a cosmetic applicator; and the lid body 10 being connected to the main case body 2 with a hinge and covering the open end face of the main case body 2 openably and closably.
Up, down, left, right, front, and rear directions are defined for convenience as shown in Fig. 1. The directions for the main case body 2 are defined as follows: the open end face covered by the lid body 10 is up, while the bottom is down. Further, the side where it is connected to the lid body 10 with the hinge is rear, while the side where the lid body 10 opens and closes is front. The left and right are as seen from the front. On the other hand, the up, down, front, rear, left and right directions for the lid body 10, which opens and closes, are defined based on the state where the lid body 10 is in its closed state shown in Fig. 1, irrespective of whether it is closed or open. In other words, when the lid body 10 is in the closed state, the directions for the lid 10 coincide with those for the main case body 2.
Fig. 2 is a diagram showing the outer appearance of the compact case 1 whose lid body 10 is open. Note that, in Fig. 2 and its subsequent drawings, the directions for the lid body 10 are indicated by dotted arrows when necessary. As shown in Fig. 2(A), in the compact case 1, a closing lock mechanism (27, 13) configured to hold the lid body 10 with the lid body 10 being closed is formed at front ends of the main case body 2 and the lid body 10, respectively. Further, inside the main case body 2, an inner tray 40 to be filled with a cosmetic and a space 3 for accommodating a cosmetic applicator such as a powder puff are arranged side by side in a horizontal direction. In the first embodiment, when the lid body 10 is opened, at first, the inner tray 40 and the space 3 for accommodating a cosmetic applicator are arranged side by side in the left-right direction with the inner tray 40 being located on the left. A mirror 12 is attached to a back face, i.e., a lower face, of the lid body 10.
The inner tray 40 has a shape of a flat box with a bottom, and a cosmetic is filled in this box. When the lid body 10 is closed, an opening of the inner tray 40 of the compact case 1 faces down, which is upside down compared to a general compact case. The inner tray 40 can be inverted by a hinge 5 formed at a partitioning portion 33 which separates a space 4 for accommodating the inner tray 40 and the space 3 for accommodating a cosmetic applicator from each other. Thus, the compact case 1 includes the hinge (inner-tray hinge) 5 for connecting the inner tray 40 to the main case body 1, in addition to the hinge for connecting the lid body 10 to the main case body 2 (called a lid hinge below). Fig. 2(B) shows a state where the inner tray 40 is inverted. To use the cosmetic, the inner tray 40 is inverted so that the opening of the inner tray 40 may face up. Thereby, the cosmetic in the inner tray 40 can be taken with a cosmetic applicator or the like. Note that the compact case 1 according to the first embodiment is a basic embodiment of the present invention. Thus, the basic structure and mechanism of a compact case according to the present invention, the advantageous effects offered by that structure and mechanism, and the like are specifically described below based on the structure and mechanism of the compact case 1 of the first embodiment.

Fig. 3 is a diagram showing the configuration of the compact case 1 of the first embodiment. Fig. 3 is an exploded perspective diagram of all the components of the compact case 1 seen from the upper left front. The basic components of the compact case 1 are the inner tray 40 to be filled with a cosmetic, the main case body 2 providing a space for accommodating the inner tray 40 and the cosmetic applicator, and the lid body 10 openably and closably connected to the main case body 2 with the lid hinge. In the first embodiment, the main case body 2 is formed by an outer frame 20 being shaped as a thin, flat box with a bottom and forming an outer shape of the compact case 1, a frame body (tray frame) 30 fitted into the outer frame 20 along the inner shape of the outer frame 20, and a closing lock component 26 including the closing lock structure 27 provided on the main case body 2.
The outer frame 20 is the outermost frame for accommodating the tray frame 30 and the inner tray 40 in a nesting manner. At its front end face, the outer frame 20 includes a structure for fitting the closing lock component 26 thereinto. As the closing lock structure 27 on the main case body 2 side, a hook portion 27 is formed at the closing lock component 26, protruding upward with its upper end bending frontward like a hook. In addition, arm-like parts (arm portions) 28 are formed at the closing lock component 26, extending to the left and right, respectively.
The outer frame 20 has a rectangular cut-out at the center of its front face, and a tongue piece 22 protruding upward from a position rearward of the cut-out portion 21 and being wide in the left-right direction is formed at a bottom face 25 of the outer frame 20. Further, protrusions 23 are formed on the front outer frame at the left and right of the tongue piece 22, respectively. The closing lock component 26 is fitted into the outer frame 20 with its rear end face being placed on a front face of the tongue piece 22 and with its left and right arm portions 28 being in contact with both the front end face and the respective protrusions 23 of the outer frame 20. An approximately rectangular cut-out portion 24 is formed at the center of a rear edge of the outer frame 20, and the lid hinge for connecting a rear edge of the tray frame 30 to a rear edge of the lid body 10 is formed in a gap provided by this cut-out portion 24.
The lid body 10 has the mirror 12 attached to a lower face 11 thereof, and includes, at the center of the rear edge thereof, a tubular portion 14 of a hollow cylindrical shape as a structure forming part of the lid hinge. A shaft hole 15 extending in the left-right direction is formed inside the tubular portion 14. This shaft hole 15 may or may not be a through-hole. A closing lock structure on the lid body 10 side is formed at the front edge of the lid body 10. In this embodiment, the closing lock structure thus formed has a shape protruding rearward like a hook so as to engage with the hook portion 27 of the closing lock component 26. When the lid body 10 is in a closing lock state, the arm portions 28 of the closing lock component 26 which are in contact with both the front end face and the protrusions 23 of the outer frame 20 function as leaf springs, biasing the entire closing lock component 26 including the hook portion 27 frontward. This allows the hook portion 27 to securely engage with the closing lock structure of the lid body 10, so that they do not disengage from each other carelessly. Of course, the closing lock structure for the lid body 10 and the main case body 2 is not limited to such an embodiment. Various other structures are possible, e.g., magnets or an indentation and a recess engaging with each other.
As a basic structure of the tray frame 30, two flat, cornered and tubular frame portions (31, 32), which are each open at least at the upper side thereof and are arranged side by side horizontally, are formed integrally in a plate-like member. At the rear edge, the tray frame 30 includes a structure forming part of the lid hinge. Fig. 4 shows the schematic structure of the lid hinge. Fig. 4 is a perspective diagram showing the configuration of and around the lid hinge from the lower left rear. The two frame portions (31, 32) of the tray frame 30 are both open at the upper and lower sides, and an upper rim end of each opening is flush with a plate-like portion 36. Components for the lid hinge on the tray frame 30 side are formed at a rear edge portion of a lower face of the plate-like portion 36. In this embodiment, protrusions (hinge protrusions) 38 protrude downward from respective positions of the tray frame 30, the positions being away from each other in the left-right direction so as to sandwich the tubular portion 14 of the lid body 10 from the left and the right. A receiving hole 39 is formed in each of these hinge protrusions 38, penetrating the hinge protrusion 38 in the left-right direction. With the receiving holes 39 and the shaft hole 15 of the tubular portion 14 of the lid body 10 being coaxially arranged, a pin 70 is inserted to all of these holes, and the lid hinge is thus formed.
As a component to be an inner-tray hinge for enabling the inner tray 40 to be freely inverted, a shaft (inversion shaft) 37 is formed at the partitioning portion 33 which separates the left and right frame portions (31, 32) arranged side by side horizontally in the left-right direction, and the inversion shaft 37 extends along the partitioning portion 33. The inner tray 40 has a flat-box shape, and a bearing portion 43 is formed at a right end face of the inner tray 40 inverted with its opening facing down (called an initial state below), the bearing portion 43 rotatably engaging with the inversion shaft 37 of the tray frame 30. An approximately U-shaped groove (called simply a U-shaped groove) 44 is formed at the bearing portion 43, the U-shaped groove 44 being open downward in the initial state. Moreover, a bulge 42 protruding upward is formed at a bottom face 41, i.e., an upper face 41 in the initial state.
In the first embodiment, the inner tray 40 is accommodated in the left frame portion (called a first frame portion below) 31 in the initial state, and is accommodated in the right frame portion (called a second frame portion below) 32 when inverted. The inner tray 40 includes a flange 46 around the bottom face 41 so that the inner tray 40 can be easily inverted by catching the inner tray 40 in the initial state with a finger. Moreover, if the inner tray 40 in the initial state is pressed down hard by mistake with the lid body 10 open, the flange 46 comes into contact with the upper rim end face of the first frame portion 31, allowing the inner tray 40 not to be embedded in the first frame portion 31 and maintaining the horizontal state of the inner tray 40. Further, a locking structure for preventing the inner tray 40 from being carelessly inverted is formed between a left side face of the first frame portion 31 of the tray frame 30 and a left side face of the inner tray 40 in the initial state. Fig. 5 is a schematic diagram showing the locking structure. As shown in Fig. 5, protrusions (engagement protrusions) 45 are formed at the left side face of the inner tray 40 in the initial state, the engagement protrusions 45 protruding outward from positions away from each other in the front-rear direction. Rectangular engagement holes 35 configured to engage with the respective engagement protrusions 45 are formed at the left side face of the first frame portion 31 of the tray frame 30. A recess 34 is formed at the center of an upper edge of the left side face of the first frame portion 31. In order for the inner tray 40 to be inverted, the recess 34 allows a finger to catch on the flange portion of the inner tray 40 from below and allows the finger on the flange portion to easily disengage the engagement protrusions 45 from the engagement holes 35. In this embodiment, a gasket 60 has a plate shape which coincides with the plan shape extending to the rim end face of the opening of the inner tray 40, and is inserted into the first frame portion 31.

A description has been given above of the schematic configuration of the constituents of the compact case 1 according to the first embodiment. Next, the positional relations among the constituents of the compact case 1 and how they are assembled are described in order of assembly. Figs. 6(A) to 6(C) show an assembly sequence. First, the mirror 12 is attached to the lower face 11 of the lid body 10, and the lid body 10 and the tray frame 30 are connected to each other by inserting the pin 70 through the hinge components (14, 38) formed at their respective rear edges (A). Next, the tray frame 30 connected to the lid body 10 is fitted into the outer frame 20 (B). Once the tray frame 30 is completely fitted into the outer frame 20, they (20, 30) may be fixed with an appropriate method. For example, contact portions of the outer frame 20 and the tray frame 30 may be attached to each other with an adhesive or by use of a known ultrasonic welding method. Alternatively, they (20, 30) may be structured to mechanically engage with each other.
Then, the gasket 60 is inserted into the first frame portion 31 of the tray frame 30, and fixed thereto. The gasket 60 may be fixed by attaching a lower face of the gasket 60 to the bottom face 25 of the outer frame 20, or may be fixed by engaging them (60, 30) with each other by an engagement structure provided to a rim of the gasket 60 and an inner wall of the first frame portion 31. Then, a cosmetic is filled in the inner tray 40 if needed, and this inner tray 40 is inserted into the first frame portion 31 to be in the initial state, i.e. , with its opening facing down. In this event, at the right edge side of the inner tray 40, the U-shaped groove 44 of the bearing portion 43 engages with the inversion shaft 37 of the tray frame 30, and at the left edge side of the inner tray 40, the engagement protrusions 45 engage with the engagement holes 35 of the tray frame 30. The compact case 1 is thus completed (C).

===Hermetic Sealing Structure of Inner Tray===

An inner lid for hermetically sealing the inner tray 40 is unneeded in the compact case 1. Thereby, the number of components is reduced, from which cost reduction can be expected. Moreover, there is no need for concern that a cosmetic attached to the back face of the inner lid smears clothes and the like. The compact case 1 has a unique hermetic sealing structure for the inner tray 40 filled with a volatile cosmetic. With this structure, not only can the hermetic sealing of the inner tray 40 be secured, but also, even if a vaporized solvent condenses into liquid drops in the inner tray 40 as a result of long-time storage of the volatile cosmetic in a hermetically sealed state, the condensed liquid drops of solvent are prevented from attaching to the cosmetic. Fig. 7 schematically shows the hermetic sealing structure. Fig. 7 is a sectional view on arrow a-a in Fig. 1. When the lid body 10 is closed with the inner tray 40 in the initial state, the inner tray 40 is biased downward by the lower face 11 of the lid body 10 via the bulge 42. In this embodiment, the lower face of the mirror 12 comes into contact with the bulge 42 on the bottom face 41 of the inner tray 40 and thus biases the inner tray 40. The gasket 60 is placed under the inner tray 40, and the rim end face of the opening of the inner tray 40 comes into close contact with the upper face of this gasket 60. The hermetic sealing inside the inner tray 40 is thus secured.
Regarding the problem on the condensation, based on the fact that under a low temperature, a vaporized solvent condenses into liquid drops at a portion most likely to be affected by the outside temperature, e.g., an upper face of the gasket 60 covering the opening of the inner tray 40 or a wall portion of the inner tray 40 where no cosmetic is filled, and the fact that the condensed liquid drops vaporize again once the temperature rises, the compact case 1 of the present invention is configured to be stored with the opening of the inner tray 40 always facing down. The above problem on the condensation is also considered to be solved on a premise that the compact case 1 is usually stored with its upper and lower sides placed at normal positions when not being carried. Hence, even if the liquid drops fall due to their own weights, a place where the liquid drops fall is not the cosmetic, but the gasket 60. Consequently, the compact case 1 can maintain the quality of the volatile cosmetic for a long period of time even if the cosmetic is hermetically sealed for a long time. If a material having hygroscopic property as well as sealing property (e.g., rigid urethane or the like) is employed as a material of the gasket 60, the condensed liquid drops can be absorbed. Thus, even if the compact case 1 in which a vaporized solvent has condensed into liquid drops are inverted suddenly upside down, the liquid drops do not attach to the cosmetic.

===Mechanism for Translating Inner Tray===

As described above, the compact case 1 of the first embodiment is stored while being sealed hermetically with the opening of the inner tray 40 facing down. Thus, while a volatile cosmetic can be sealed securely, deterioration of the cosmetic due to condensation can be prevented. Further, the compact case 1 of the first embodiment also has a mechanism for further securing the sealing performance, the mechanism bringing the rim end face of the opening of the inner tray 10 into even contact with the upper face of the gasket 60 when the lid body 10 is closed. Fig. 8 shows an example of an operation regarding this mechanism. Fig. 8(A) shows a state where the lid body 10 is completely open and Fig. 8 (B) shows a state where the lid body 10 is closed halfway. Figs. 8 (A) and 8 (B) are sectional views on arrow b-b in Fig. 2(A). First, in a state where the lid body 10 is open, even if the inner tray 40 is in the initial state, the rim end face of the opening of the inner tray 40 is in mere contact with the upper face of the gasket 60, and does not provide complete sealing. Closing the body lid 10 causes the inner tray 40 to be biased downward via the bulge 42. In this event, airspace 100 present between the inversion shaft 37 and the R-shaped bottom of the U-shaped groove of the bearing portion 43 allows the inner tray 40 to be translated downward with its horizontal state maintained, as shown in Fig. 8 (B) (with a white arrow in the drawing). Thereby, as shown in Fig. 7 earlier, when the lid body 10 is completely closed and locked, the rim end face of the opening of the inner tray 40 is pressed evenly against the upper face of the gasket 60, and the pressure in the inner tray 40 becomes negative. In other words, the inside of the inner tray 40 is securely sealed.

===Structure for Holding Inner Tray during Inversion===

The compact case of the first embodiment has not only the structure for inverting the inner tray 40 and the mechanism for translating the inner tray 40 in the initial state downward when the lid body 10 is closed, but also a structure for improving convenience in using a cosmetic with the inner tray 40 in an inverted state and for preventing erroneous usage. Fig. 9 is an explanatory diagram of such a structure, and is a sectional view on arrow c-c in Fig. 2(B). To give an outline, the above-descried structure for improvement in convenience and preventing erroneous usage supports the bottom face 41 of the inner tray 40 in the inverted state from below and holds the inner tray 40 with the rim end face of the opening thereof protruding at a higher position than the bottom face 41 of the inner tray 40 in the initial state.
Examples of the structure for supporting the inner tray 40 from below include a protrusion protruding upward from the bottom face 25 of the outer frame 20 inside the second frame portion 32, a protrusion protruding inward from an inner wall face of the second frame portion 32, and the like. In the first embodiment, a support protrusion piece 50 protruding inward (leftward) and extending in the front-rear direction is formed at a right inner wall face, i.e., an inner wall face opposite to the inner-tray hinge 5, of the second frame portion 32 of the tray frame 30. When the inner tray 40 is inverted, this support protrusion piece 50 comes into contact with the bottom face 41 of the inner tray 40 and holds the bottom face 41 of the inner tray 40 horizontally. The bottom 41 of the inner tray 40 is supported from below at both left and right sides thereof by the inner-tray hinge 5 and the support protrusion piece 50, respectively. Thus, even when for example the left side of the inner tray 40 in the inverted state is biased downward, the inner tray 40 does not shake or incline.
Further, the support protrusion piece 50 is formed at such a position as to hold the inner tray 40 with the rim end face of the opening thereof protruding at a higher position than the opening plane of the second frame portion 32, i.e. , than the upper face of the tray frame 30 itself. Thus, a place to catch the inner tray 40 with a finger to return the inner tray 40 to the initial state is secured to facilitate an operation of inverting the inner tray 40 to the initial state. Further, even if an attempt is made to close and lock the lid body 10 with the inner tray 40 still in the inverted state by mistake, the rim end face of the opening of the inner tray 40 comes into contact with the lower face 11 of the lid body 10 and prevents the lid body 10 from being completely closed. In other words, the lid body 10 cannot be closed and locked unless the inner tray 40 is in the initial state, and thereby a volatile cosmetic is securely prevented from drying due to erroneous usage of the compact case 1.
Note that the angle at which the inner tray 40 in the inverted state is held does not have to be one at which the bottom face 41 of the inner tray 40 is maintained to be horizontal, and the inner tray 40 may be held at any appropriate angle according to ease of usage and the like.

===Second Embodiment===

In the first embodiment above, in the initial state, the rim end face of the opening of the inner tray 40 comes into contact with the bottom face 25 of the outer frame 20 via the gasket 60. Thus, the compact case 1 can accommodate nothing but a cosmetic in the inner tray 40 accommodated in the first frame portion 31 and a cosmetic applicator accommodated in the second frame portion 32. Hence, the compact case 1 of the first embodiment does not allow two kinds of cosmetics to be accommodated so that they can be used separately or together or does not allow the cosmetic applicator to be taken out with the inner tray 40 being in the inverted state. Thus, as a second embodiment, a compact case having the mechanism for inverting the inner tray 40 and also being capable of storing two kinds of cosmetics in a hermetically sealed manner is described.
Fig. 10 shows the outer appearance of a compact case 1b according to the second embodiment. Fig. 10 shows the outer appearance of the compact case 1b in which the inner tray 40 is in the inverted state. Note that components or parts having a structure or function similar to those of the compact case 1 of the first embodiment are given the same reference numerals. In the compact case 1b of the second embodiment, a space 4b capable of being filled with a cosmetic other than the cosmetic filled in the inner tray 40 is formed inside a first frame portion 31b of a tray frame 30b. In this embodiment, another inner tray (auxiliary inner tray) 40b of a flat box shape, which is similar to the inner tray 40 in the first embodiment, is accommodated in the first frame portion 31b.
Figs. 11 and 12 show exploded perspective views of the compact case 1b according to the second embodiment. Fig. 11 is a perspective view showing the components from the upper right front, and Fig. 12 is a perspective view showing the components from the lower right rear. The compact case 1b of the second embodiment includes almost the same structure and configuration as the compact case 1 of the first embodiment, except that the auxiliary inner tray 40b is included and that a gasket 60b has a frame shape. The second embodiment has a characteristic structure for sealing the inside of the auxiliary inner tray 40b together with the inner tray 40 when the lid body 10 is closed. Like the inner tray 40, the auxiliary inner tray 40b has a flat box shape, has an open face at an upper side thereof, and is fixed to the inside of the first frame portion 31b with an appropriate method (including an adhesive, adhesion by ultrasonic welding, an engagement structure, and the like). The rim of the opening of the inner tray 40 and the rim of the opening of the auxiliary inner tray 40b almost coincide with each other in shape, and in the initial state, their open faces face each other with the gasket 60b therebetween.
In the second embodiment, the gasket 60b is placed on the upper rim end face of the opening of the auxiliary inner tray 40b by engaging protrusions 61 protruding from an outer periphery of the gasket 60b with holes 51 formed at an inner side face of the first frame portion 31b. Each protrusion 61 of the gasket 60b and its corresponding hole 51 on the side face of the first frame portion 31b engage with each other with an allowance in the up-down direction. Thereby, when the lid body 10 is closed with the inner tray 40 in the initial state, the bottom face 41 of the inner tray 40 is biased downward, and along with this, the frame-shaped upper face of the gasket 60b comes into contact with the rim end face of the opening of the inner tray 40. At the same time, the gasket 60b itself is biased downward, so that a lower face of the gasket 60b comes into contact with the upper rim end face of the opening of the auxiliary inner tray 40b. Thereby, the inside of the auxiliary inner tray 40b and the inner tray 40 are sealed.
Note that, instead of providing the auxiliary inner tray 40b, a cosmetic may be accommodated in a space in the first frame portion 31b formed by the lower face of the gasket 60b and the bottom face 25 of the outer frame 20. In this case, the gasket 60b may be fixed to the inside of the first frame portion 31b without an allowance to move. When a cosmetic applicator is to be accommodated in the space under the gasket 60b in the first frame portion 31b, a structure for the cosmetic applicator to be fitted and fixed detachably may be provided inside the first frame portion 31b so that the cosmetic applicator may not fall onto the cosmetic in the inner tray 40 when the compact case 1b is turned upside down. This is also true for a case of providing the auxiliary inner tray 40b.

===Other Embodiments===

The bearing portion 43 of the inner tray 40 does not have to be one extending integrally in the front-rear direction, and may be multiple pieces separated from each other in the front-rear direction, such as a structure in which tongue pieces cut into U shapes are arranged at front and rear ends. The bearing portion 43 may have any structure as long as it achieves a structure which allows the inner tray 40 to be pivotally supported by the inversion shaft 37 and to be freely inverted. The U-shape groove 44 may be a hole through which the inversion shaft 37 is inserted. In such a case, to provide the above-described mechanism for translating the inner tray, the U-shape groove 44 may be a long hole whose major axis extends in the up-down direction in the initial state. As the mechanism for translating the inner tray 40, the following methods are possible for example: causing the inversion shaft 37 itself to flex by its elasticity or supporting both ends of the inversion shaft 37 by elastic bodies, such as springs, which stretch and compress in the up-down direction.
The gasket 60 of the first embodiment may have a frame shape. Further, in the second embodiment, the frame-shaped gasket 60b may be attached to the rim end face of the opening of the auxiliary inner tray 40b. The frame-shaped gasket 60b may be fixed to the rim end face of the opening of the inner tray 40. In other words, the inner tray 40 may be inverted together with the gasket 60b.
If the gasket has a plate shape, the gasket may be attached to the entire bottom face 25 of the outer frame 20. Like a gasket 60c shown in Fig. 13, the gasket (60, 60b) does not have to have a flat end face, but may have a rib 62 configured to be in contact with the inner face of the opening of the inner tray 40. The rib 62 can of course be provided to a frame-shaped gasket, as well. The gasket may have any structure as long as it has an end face configured to face the rim end face of the opening of the inner tray 40 in the initial state.
In the above embodiments, the main case body 2 includes the outer frame 20, the tray frame (30, 30b), and the closing lock component 26, but some or all of these components (20, 30 or 30b, 26) may be formed integrally. For example, spaces corresponding to the first frame portion (31, 31b) and the second frame portion 32 may be formed at the outer frame 20 instead of providing the tray frame (30, 30b), or a structure corresponding to the closing lock component 26 may be provided to the tray frame (30, 30b).
The shape of the opening of the inner tray 40 or the space 3 for accommodating a cosmetic applicator is not limited to a rectangle, and may be any appropriate shape. For example, if the shape of the opening of the inner tray 40 or the space 3 for accommodating a cosmetic applicator is circular, the bearing portion may be provided to a side face of the inner tray being shaped as a flat cylinder with a bottom.
In the tray frame (30, 30b) of the above embodiments, the first frame portion (30, 30b) and the second frame portion 32 may be reversed left and right in position as long as the inner tray 40 in the initial state is accommodated in the first frame portion (31, 31b). Moreover, the first frame portion (30, 30b) and the second frame portion 32 may be arranged in the front-rear direction.

[Industrial Applicability]

The present invention is suitable as a compact case used to carry a cosmetic containing a solvent that evaporates or volatizes, together with a cosmetic applicator.

[Reference Signs List]

1, 1b: hermetically-sealed compact case
2: main case body
3: space for accommodating cosmetic applicator
4: space for accommodating inner tray
5: inner-tray hinge
10: lid body
11: back face (lower face) of lid body
12: mirror
14: tubular portion
15: shaft hole
20: outer frame
25: bottom face of outer frame
26: closing lock component
27: hook portion
30, 30b: tray frame
31, 31b: first frame portion
32: second frame portion
33: partitioning portion
37: inversion shaft
38: hinge protrusion
39: receiving hole
40: inner tray
40b: auxiliary inner tray
41: bottom face of inner tray
42: bulge
43: bearing portion
44: U-shaped groove
50: support protrusion piece
60, 60b, 60c: gasket
70: pin

Claims

A hermetically-sealed compact case capable of accommodating a cosmetic in a hermetically sealed state together with a cosmetic applicator, the compact case comprising:
an inner tray to be filled with the cosmetic;

a gasket configured to hermetically seal an inside space of the inner tray;

a main case body having a vertically-flat box shape and having an open end at an upper side thereof; and

a lid body configured to cover the open end side of the main case body openably and closably, wherein

the main case body is provided with first and second frame portions formed side by side in a horizontal direction and configured to serve as spaces for accommodating the inner tray and the cosmetic applicator, respectively,

the inner tray has a vertically-flat box shape and has an opening at one of upper and lower end faces thereof,

by rotating about a hinge formed at a partitioning portion separating the first and second frame portions, the inner tray is invertible between an initial state of being accommodated in the first frame portion with the opening facing down and an inverted state of being accommodated in the second frame portion with the opening facing up,

the gasket has an end face facing a rim end face of the opening of the inner tray in the initial state,

a pressing structure configured to bias the inner tray downward when the lid body is closed is formed between a bottom face of the inner tray in the initial state and a back face of the lid body, and

in the initial state, the inner tray is biased downward by the pressing structure and is hermetically sealed by the gasket when the lid body is closed.
The hermetically-sealed compact case according to claim 1, wherein
the hinge includes a translating mechanism for moving the inner tray downward with the bottom face thereof maintained to be horizontal, when the inner tray is biased downward by closing of the lid body.
The hermetically-sealed compact case according to claim 2, wherein
the hinge includes an inversion shaft formed integrally with the partitioning portion and a shaft receiving portion formed at the inner tray on the hinge side and pivotally supported by the inversion shaft,
the bearing portion is an approximately U-shaped groove extending along the inversion shaft, and
the translating mechanism is configured by engaging the inversion shaft with the approximately U-shaped groove in a vertically slidable manner.
The hermetically-sealed compact case according to any one of claims 1 to 3, comprising a support portion configured to support and hold from below a bottom portion of the inner tray in the inverted state in such a manner that a plane of the opening of the inner tray protrudes higher than the bottom face of the inner tray in the initial state.
The hermetically-sealed compact case according to claim 4, wherein
the support portion is a protrusion piece protruding from an inner wall face of the second frame portion and extending in the same direction as the partitioning portion does, the inner wall face being opposite to the hinge side.
The hermetically-sealed compact case according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein
the gasket member has a plate shape and is inserted into the first frame portion.
The hermetically-sealed compact case according to claim 5, wherein
the gasket member is formed of a material having both sealing property and hygroscopic property.
The hermetically-sealed compact case according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein
the gasket member has a frame shape whose portion facing the opening of the inner tray is hollow, and is inserted into the first frame portion.
The hermetically-sealed compact case according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein
the gasket member is a frame body attached to the rim end face of the opening of the inner tray.
The hermetically-sealed compact case according to any one of claims 8 and 9, wherein
the first frame portion has an auxiliary accommodating portion under the inner tray in the initial state, and
when the lid body is closed, the gasket member seals not only the inside of the inner tray but also an inside of the auxiliary accommodating portion by being interposed between the rim end face of the opening of the inner tray and an upper face of the auxiliary accommodating portion.