GB2103083A

GB2103083A - Improvements in containers for cosmetics

Info

Publication number: GB2103083A
Application number: GB08202320A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Brian Davey
Original assignee: Lion Brush Works Ltd
Current assignee: Lion Brush Works Ltd
Priority date: 1981-07-15
Filing date: 1982-01-27
Publication date: 1983-02-16
Also published as: GB2105304A; GB2103083B

Abstract

A cosmetics compact 11 comprises a base portion 13 with a palette 14 projecting from it in one direction and a brush holder projecting from it in the other direction. Cakes of cosmetics 22 are located on both sides of the palette 14 offering a variety of shades or types of cosmetics. Brushes etc 26 for applying the cosmetics are located in holes 25 in the brush holder. The cosmetics 22 and the brushes 26 are protected by covers 15 and 27 when the compact is not being used. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Improvements in containers for cosmetics The present invention relates to improvements in containers or "compacts" for cosmetics.

In one known form of compact containing cosmetics the colours which may be eye-shadow, mascara, powder or lipstick or lip gloss are formed in flat cakes which are held in individual pots known as godets. Several godets containing cakes of cosmetic powder or cream of different shades or colours are mounted in a shallow plastic tray which has a hinged lid to protect the cosmetics when the compact is not being used. Typically a compact of this kind containing three or four different shades measure 35 mm x 50 mm.

According to the present invention is a first aspect there is provided a container for cosmetics comprising a base, and elongate support projecting from the base with its longitudinal axis extending away from the base, the support carrying cakes or pots of cosmetics on one or more of its outwardly-facing side surfaces and a tubular cover, closed at one end, for enclosing the cosmetics when not in use, the cover being applied over the support against the base. A cosmetic container can be constructed in accordance with the invention which is more convenient to hold and use than conventional compacts and may be more compact.

According to the present invention in a second aspect there is provided a container for cosmetics comprising a support having two or more sides on which are located cakes or pots of cosmetics of different shades or cakes or pots of cosmetics and applicators for the cosmetics, and a cover for enclosing the cosmetics or cosmetics and applicators when not in use. By using two or more sides of the support for carrying the cosmetics a given number of different shades of cosmetics can be presented on a support of smaller dimensions than with the previous designs.

Conveniently the base and cover may be circular in cross-section, but other shapes such as oval or square may be used. The cakes or pots of cosmetics may be distributed along the length of the support. The support may be in the form of a flat palette with cakes or pots of cosmetics on both sides. Alternatively it may be in the form of a multi-faceted pillar with cakes or pots of cosmetics on its faces. One of the faces may be provided with a receptacle for brushes, sponges or other applicators for applying the cosmetics.

Alternatively applicators may be located in a hole in the top of the pillar or in recesses provided on the opposite side of the base to the support. In this case a second cover may be provided for protecting the applicators when not in use. Instead of, or in addition to the applicators, a second support with cakes or pots of cosmetics may be provided on the side of the base opposite to the first-mentioned support.

Embodiments of the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings of which: Fig. 1 shows a perspective view of a combined cosmetic compact and brush holder in accordance with the invention; Fig. 2 is a fragmentary perspective view of the compact and brush holder of Fig. 1 from the other side and with the cover and brushes separated from the holder; Fig. 3 is a perspective view of a second cosmetic compact in accordance with the invention; Fig. 4 shows a perspective view of a third cosmetic compact in accordance with the invention; Fig. 5 shows a side elevation of the compact of Fig. 4 with the cover separated from the baize; and Fig. 6 shows a plan view from below of the compact of Figs. 4 and 5 with the cover separated from the base.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 2, a combined cosmetic compact and brush holder 11 comprises a plastics body 1 2 with a generally cylindrical base portion 1 3 and an elongate flat palette or support portion 14 projecting axially in one direction with its longitudinal axis projecting away from the base. A transparent tubular plastics cover 1 5 of cylindrical shape with one end closed is applied over the support portion 1 4 and fitted against the base portion 13. An enlarged central portion on the base provides a flange 16 which serves as a stop which abuts the end of the cover 1 5. The end of the cover is a friction fit with the cylindrical wall 1 7 of the base adjacent the flange so that the cover is held in place when the compact is not being used.

The support portion 14 projects from the base by a distance of over three times the diameter of the base. It has a rectangular cross-section. In each of its major side surfaces 1 8, 1 9 are located three recesses 20. In the recesses are fixed pots or godets 21 containing cosmetics 22. This support portion 14 appears the same from below as it does from above. The three godets on each side of the support portion 14 contain cosmetics of different shades or types. They may be eyeshadow, mascara, face powder, lip colour or any other suitable cosmetic preparation. Thus the cosmetic compact provides a choice of six different cosmetics.

The end face 24 of the base portion on the opposite side to support portion 14 has three axial holes 25. The holes 24 receive the handles of three cosmetic applicators 26. In the drawings the applicators 26 comprise a fine-tipped eyeliner brush, a broad tipped lipstick or eyeshadow brush and a foam applicator for eyeshadow, but other kinds of applicators may be used. A cover 27 identical to the cover 1 5 can be applied over the applicators 26 when they are not in use. The cover 1 5 abuts the flange 1 6 and is a friction fit with the cylindrical wall 28 adjacent the flange 16 so that the cover is held in place by friction when the brushes are not in use.

It will be appreciated that the design of compact described above enables several shades of eyeshadow and lipstick together with applicator brushes and sponges to be housed in a container which is not much larger than a fountain pen and which can conveniently be carried in a handbag.

Referring to Fig. 3 this shows an alternative embodiment of cosmetic compact according to the invention. The compact 35 of Fig. 3 comprises a plastics body 36 including a square base portion 37 and a support portion or pillar 38 of square cross-section projecting upward from the base.

The cross-section of the pillar is slightly smaller than that of the base so that the base projects outwardly from the bottom of the pillar.

On each of the four sides of the pillar is a rectangular recess 39 in which is fixed a godet 40 containing cosmetic powder or cream 41: the godets on different sides containing different shades or types of cosmetics.

In the top of the pillar is a square cavity 42 which is deep enough to hold applicators such as the brushes and foam applicators 26 described with reference to Figs. 1 and 2.

To protect the cosmetics when the compact is not in use a transparent plastics cover 43 is applied over the pillar 38. The cover is tubular with one end closed and has a square cross-section.

When in place the cover abuts the outwardly projecting periphery of the base and the lower end of the cover is a friction fit against the surface of the pillar adjacent the base so that the cover is held in place by friction.

It will be appreciated that the embodiment of Fig. 3 also provides a compact in which several different shades of cosmetic and applicators can be accommodated in a container of small dimensions.

Referring to Figs. 4 to 6, these show a third cosmetic compact 50 according to the invention.

The compact 50 comprises a plastics body 51 including a round base 52 and a generally flat support in the form of a palette 53 projecting from the base 52 with its longitudinal axis perpendicular to the base. Two godets 54 containing cosmetics of different shades are located in a cavity on one side of the palette. The other side has an elongate recess 55 for receiving a double-ended sponge applicator 56. The sides of the recess 55 are cut away at 57 to enable the stem of the applicator to be gripped by the fingers of the user when it is desired to remove the applicator from the recess. The width of the recess is slightly less than that of the sponge heads of the applicator so that the heads are slightly compressed to retain the applicator in the recess by friction.

A transparent plastics cover 58 of cylindrical shape, closed at one end, fits over the support portion 53 against the base 52 which has a peripheral flange 59 to serve as a stop which abuts the end of the cover. The cover 58 is a friction fit with the cylindrical wall 60 of the base against the flange 59.

It will also be appreciated that various modifications of the designs described above are possible. For example, in the embodiments of Figs.

1 and 2 and 4 to 6, the containers are shown with a round cross-section. It will be appreciated that other shapes of cross-section may be employed, for example elliptical or square. Instead of three, any suitable number of cosmetics may be located on each side of the palette and the proportions of the palette may be adjusted to suit the number and shape of the godets. Different numbers of cosmetics may be accommodated on the different sides of the palette. Although three applicators are shown in the embodiment of Figs. 1 and 2, other number of applicators may be provided.

In the embodiment of Fig. 3, instead of accommodating the applicator brushes in the cavity 42, one of the faces of the pillar may have a recess for accommodating the applicator brushes in place of a godet of cosmetic, or a brush holding arrangement may be provided on the opposite side of the base similar to that shown in Figs. 1 and 2. In the embodiment of Fig. 3 only one cosmetic is shown on each face of the pillar but the arrangement could be modified so that several cosmetics are shown on each face. Instead of the pillar being square in cross-section it may be triangular, round or elliptical. In place of the brush holding arrangement on the second side of the base, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, a second support for cosmetics may be provided.

Claims

1. A container for cosmetics comprising a base, an elongate support projecting from the base with its longitudinal axis extending away from the base, the support carrying cakes or pots of cosmetics on one or more of its outwardly-facing side surfaces and a tubular cover, closed at one end, for enclosing the cosmetics when not in use, the cover being applied over the support against the base.

2. A container according to claim 1 in which the base is shaped to form a handle so as to be convenient to hold when the cosmetics are being used.

3. A container according to claim 1 or 2 in which the base is round.

4. A container according to claim 1 or 2 in which the base is elliptical.

5. A container according to claim 1 or 2 in which the base is generally square.

6. A container according to any of claims 1 to 5 in which the cakes or pots of cosmetics are distributed along the length of the support.

7. A container according to any of claims 1 to 5 in which the tubular cover is cylindrical.

8. A container according to any of the preceding claims in which the support is in the form of a flat palette with cakes or pots of cosmetics on one or both sides.

9. A container according to claim 8 in which the palette has cakes or pots of cosmetics on one side and one or more recesses for one or more cosmetic applicators on the other side.

10. A container according to any of claims 1 to 7 in which the support is in the form of a multifaceted pillar with cakes or pots of cosmetics on its faces.

1 A container according to claim 10 in which the pillar has four faces.

12. A container according to any of the preceding claims in which the support is provided with one or more recesses for retaining a cosmetic applicator or applicators.

13. A container according to claim 11 in which the recess or recesses are provided in one or more of the outwardly-facing side surfaces of the support.

14. A container according to claim 12 in which the recess is provided in the end of the support.

1 5. A container according to any of claims 1 to 11 in which one or more recesses are provided in the base for receiving one or more cosmetic applicators.

1 6. A container according to claim 1 5 in which the recess or recesses for the applicator or applicators are provided in the opposite side of the base to the support.

17. A container according to claim 16 in which a second cover is provided for protecting the applicator or applicators when not in use.

18. A container according to any of claims 1 to 1 5 in which a second support with cakes or pots of cosmetics is located on the opposite side of the base to the first-mentioned support.

19. A container according to claim 18 in which a second cover is provided for protecting the cosmetics on the second support when not in use.

20. A cosmetic container substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figs. 1 and 2 of the accompanying drawings.

21. A cosmetic container substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Fig. 3 of the accompanying drawings.

22. A cosmetic container substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figs. 4 to 6.

23. A container for cosmetics comprising a support having two or more sides on which are located cakes or pots of cosmetics of different shades or cakes or pots of cosmetics and applicators for the cosmetics, and a cover for enclosing the cosmetics or cosmetics and applicators when not in use.

24. A container according to claim 23 in which the support is formed as a projection from a base and the cover is applied over the support and against the base.

25. A container according to claim 23 in which the base is shaped to form a handle so as to be convenient to hold when the cosmetics are being used.

26. A container according to claim 25 in which the base is round.

27. A container according to claim 25 in which the base is elliptical.

28. A container according to claim 25 in which the base is generally square.

29. A container according to claim 24, 25, 26, 27 or 28 in which the support projects from the base by a distance greater than the transverse dimensions of the base.

30. A container according to claim 29 in which the cakes or pots of cosmetics are distributed along the length of the support.

31. A container according to any of the preceding claims in which the cover is tubular with a closed end.

32. A container according to any of the preceding claims in which the support is in the form of a flat palette with cakes or pots of cosmetics on both sides.

33. A container according to any of the preceding claims in which the support is in the form of a multi-faceted pillar with cakes or pots of cosmetics on its faces.

34. A container according to claim 33 in which the pillar has four faces.

35. A container according to claim 33 or 34 in which a cosmetic applicator or applicators are located on one face of the pillar.

36. A container according to claim 33 or 34 in which a cosmetic applicator or applicators are located in a hole in the top of the pillar.

37. A container according to any of claims 24 to 34 in which a cosmetic applicator or applicators are located in recesses on the opposite side of the base to the support.

38. A container according to claim 37 in which a second cover is provided for protecting the applicator or applicators when not in use.

39. A container according to any of claims 24 to 36 in which second support with cakes or pots of cosmetics is located on the opposite side of the base to the first-mentioned support.

40. A container according to claim 39 in which a second cover is provided for protecting the cosmetics on the second support when not in use.

41. A cosmetic container substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figs. 1 and 2 of the accompanying drawings.

42. A cosmetic container substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Fig. 3 of the accompanying drawings.