GB2224994A

GB2224994A - Cosmetic display apparatus

Info

Publication number: GB2224994A
Application number: GB8823602A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Paul Mason
Original assignee: JEENAVALE Ltd
Current assignee: JEENAVALE Ltd
Priority date: 1988-10-07
Filing date: 1988-10-07
Publication date: 1990-05-23
Also published as: GB8823602D0

Abstract

A cosmetic display apparatus (10) comprises a number of compacts (24, 25) containing cosmetics and detachably mounted on a base portion (12) so as to permit the compacts (24, 25) to be arranged or replaced once the cosmetic has been used up. Each compact (24, 25) comprises a base (36) and a transparent, screw-on lid (46, 48). <IMAGE>

Description

COSMETIC DISPLAY APPARATUS This invention relates to a display apparatus for displaying cosmetic materials.

In such apparatus, a range of different shades of cosmetic material such as, for example, eye-shadow or blusher is grouped in an array according to colour so that the user can select or match an appropriate shade or shades of the cosmetic material as required. In the past, the cosmetic materials have generally been displayed in an array on a substrate such as a plastics material or board by bonding cakes of the cosmetic material onto the substrate. In another arrangement, the cakes of cosmetic material have been bonded into recesses in a substrate in an arrangement similar to that used for cakes of watercolour paint material in paint boxes.

A disadvantage of these arrangements is that it is not possible to replace the cakes of cosmetic material once they have been used up.

Thus, once a particular cake has been used up, it is necessary for the user of the board either to discard the board altogether, thus wasting partly used cakes of material or to use a separate container of the relevant shade of cosmetic material, neither of which are satisfactory solutions.

In addition, it is not possible to rearrange the array of cakes of material as might be desirable when new shades of cosmetic material are introduced into the arrav.

A need exists, therefore, for a cosmetic display apparatus in which the cakes of material may be replaced or rearranged in the array, and in which the cakes of material are securely located in the display apparatus so that the display apparatus may be carried around without disturbing the array.

According to this invention there is provided cosmetic display apparatus for displaying a plurality of cosmetic materials, said display apparatus comprising a plurality of container means each for containing a selected cosmetic material and each comprising a base portion and a lid portion removably attached thereto, said display apparatus further comprising means defining an array of locations for said container means, and retaining means for releasably retaining a container means at each of said locations.

In this arrangement, the retaining means allow the container means to be removed or replaced as required so that the order of the array may be varied at will. Also, the releasable retaining means provide a secure, yet releasable, anchorage for the base portion of the container means whilst allowing the lid portion of the container means to be removed without disturbing the anchorage between the base portion and the retaining means.

Preferably, in each of said container means, said lid portion is threadably engageable with said base portion.

Preferably, said releasable retaining means comprises two portions adapted releasably to engage each other when pushed into contact.

In one arrangement, said retaining means comprises a first portion having a plurality of hook or hook-like elements projecting therefrom and a second portion either having a plurality of hook or hook like portions projecting therefrom or being of felt or felt-like material. When the container means comprises a lid portion threadabiy engaged with a base portion, it will be understood that an axial forze is necessary to release the container means from said array but that the lid is removed by forces acting in a plane generally transverse to the axial plane. Thus, the lid can be removed from the container without inadvertentty removing the container from the array.

Preferably, said lid portion includes a transparent or translucent region whereby the colour of the cosmetic material in the container is visible when the container is closed.

Preferably, said substrate means defines an array of recesses each having associated therewith retaining means.

Preferably, each of said container means is of generally circular cross-section.

The invention will now be described by way of non-limiting example, reference being made to the accompanying drawings, in which, Figure 1 is a top plan view of a cosmetic display case in the open position; Figure 2 is a side view, in part section, of the cosmetic display case of Figure 1 and Figure 3 is a detailed cross-sectional view on part of the display case of Figures 1 and 2, showing in detail a recess housing a compact.

The cosmetic display case illustrated in the Figures is intended to provide a display case for displaying and storing cosmetic materials.

The cosmetic display case 10 comprises a base portion 12 and a cover portion 14 connected by a spine portion 16 so that the cover portion can be folded over the base portion to close the case and be held in that position by a clasp 18.

The base portion comprises an array 20 of cylindrical recesses 22.

23 each for locating a compact 25, 25. In Figure 1, only some of the recesses are shown as containing compacts.

The array 20 is surrounded by an upstanding wall 26. The array 20 and wall 26 are formed by moulding a suitable sheet plastics material which is reinforced by a board 28, typically formed of plastic covered cardboard material. In the base of each recess 22 is provided a circular patch 30 of material forming one part of a two-part retaining means. In this example, the retaining means comprises "VELCRO" (Registered Trade Mark) fastening material comprising a first part having hook or hook-like projections and a second part of felt or felt-like material. Other suitable materials may be used. In this example, the patch 30 of material carries hook or hook-like elements.

The majority of the recesses 22 are of uniform, relatively small size but there are four recesses 23 of larger size. It is intended that the smaller size recesses will receive compacts 24 containing eye-shadow whilst the larger recessess will receive compacts 25 containing blusher.

Apart from the differences in size the compacts are of generally similar construction.

On the underside of the cover portion 14 of the cosmetic display apparatus, there is provided an oval mirror 32 and, alongside the mirror, a plurality of pouches 34 each for containing a brush or similar cosmetic implement. The cover portion 14 is made of a plastic covered cardboard material. The pouches 34 are formed by heat welding a single sheet of flexible plastics material to the cover portion 14 at spaced locations.

Along the edges of three of the sides of the cover portion 14 and along part of the fourth edge is provided an upstanding wall 36 which, when the cosmetic display case is closed, fits snugly around the outside of the wall 26 on the base portion 12 of the display case.

Referring now to Figure 3, the construction of each compact 24, 25 and its attachment in the associated recess 22, 23 vVill now be described. The compact comprises a base 36 having a relieved lower portion 38 which receives the felt or felt-like portion 40 of the "VELCRO" (Registered Trade Mark) fastening material. On the upper part of the base 36 there is provided an externally threaded cylindrical portion 42 which defines therein a well which contains cosmetic material 44. The lid of the compact comprises an internally threaded portion 46 and a domeshaped transparent cap 48 bonded thereto.

As mentioned above, the base of the recess 22, 23, includes a patch 30 having hook or hook-like projections. A compact 24, 25 is releasably located in the recess by pushing it axially into the recess 22, 23 so that the two parts of the "VELCRO" (Registered Trade Mark) fastener releasably engage each other. When it is required to use the cosmetic material from a particular compact, the lid may be unscrewed therefrom so as to allow access to the cosmetic material.

Removal of the lid from the compact 24, 25 involves applying a twisting action to the lid, and thus to the "VELCRO" (Registered Trade Mark) fastener, and removal and replacement of the compact requires axial force on the "VELCRO" (Registered Trade Mark) fastening material, and so the risk of inadvertent dislodging of the compact from its recess when the user removes the lid from a compact is reduced.

It will be understood that, although the arrangement described above makes use of "VELCRO" (Registered Trade Mark) fastening material, other suitable retaining means may be provided. For example magnetic couplings etc may also be used. It should also be understood that other types of retaining means may be provided. For example, the recess and the base of the compact may include releasably engageable mechanical members. Furthermore it should be understood that other forms and shapes of compact 24 may be used.

In another embodiment of this invention (not illustrated) the cover portion 14 is of similar form to the base portion, i.e. instead of having a mirror and packets for brushes the cover portion includes an array of eyeshadow compacts and blusher compacts similar to the array on the base portion.

Claims

1. Cosmetic display apparatus for displaying a plurality of cosmetic materials, said display apparatus comprising a plurality of container means each for containing a selected cosmetic material and each comprising a base portion and a lid portion removably attached thereto, said display apparatus further comprising means defining an array of locations for said container means, and retaining means for releasably retaining a container means at each of said locations.

2. Cosmetic display apparatus according to claim 1, wherein, in each of said container means, said lid portion is threadably engageable with said base portion.

3. Cosmetic display apparatus according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein said releasable retaining means comprises two portions adapted releasably to engage each other when pushed into contact.

4. Cosmetic display apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said retaining means comprises a first portion having a plurality of hook or hook-like elements projecting therefrom and a second portion either having a plurality of hook or hook like portions projecting therefrom or being of felt or felt-li! < e material.

5. Cosmetic display apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said lid portion includes a transparent or translucent region whereby the colour of the cosmetic material in the container is visible when the container is closed.

6. Cosmetic display apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said substrate means defines an array of recesses each having associated therewith retaining means.

7. Cosmetic display apparatus substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

8. All novel features and combinations thereof.