GB2244475A - Inner element in a lipstick holder case - Google Patents

Abstract

Rotation of lipstick container base 30 acts to rotate axially-slotted tube 27 of conventional mechanism, not directly, but through the intermediary of sleeve element 10. <IMAGE>

Description

INNER ELEMENT IN A LIPSTICK-HOLDER CASE The present invention concerns the field of cases for containing and dispensing a cosmetic stick, particularly a lipstick. It should be noted that when lipstick is mentioned below, this does however mean any type of cosmetic stick.

One type of case known at present comprises a base, a so-called mechanism and a cap.

The mechanism generally comprises an outer tube or sleeve witr. spiral grooves on the inner wail, an inner tube with vertical slits, rotating coaxially inside the sleeve and having a control spigot protruding from the sleeve, and a lipstick-holder cup provided with lateral teeth projecting through the said vertical slits, in such a way as to engage the spiral grooves in the sleeve; reciprocal rotation between the sleeve and the inner tube causes the movement of the cup along the tubes to draw out the lipstick from them or to draw it back into them.

The base is generally bell shaped and contains the lower part of the mechanism, and is made rotationally integral with the spigot of the latter; the removable cap covers the top part of the mechanism and is snap engaged onto the base in a removable way.

As the elements which make up the case are generally made o plastics, the case is usually very light; however the users would prefer a heavier case.

Up to the present day, the required increase in weight has been achieved by putting a metal bottom as ballast at the bottom of the base; the bottom is locked there by means of a cylinder in plastic material force fitted onto the base, and which in tt:fl receives the spigot of the mechanism rotationally integral therewith.

At the edge of the base around the opening cf the latter, for aesthetic reasons a thin decorative metal ring is fixed, usually o aluminium; this is fixed to the base by means of some drops of glue.

The drawback with the prior art just described is the relative complexity of assemblying its various parts.

Therefore the aim of this application is to simplify the assembly of the parts making up a lipstick-holder case.

This aim has been achieved by means of the element which is the object of this invention. It has a tube or cup shape, with an outer diameter such as will fit tightly to the base in a non-rotating way and with an upper edge protruding towards the outside; another part of the element receives the spigot of the mechanism tightly and in non-rotating way.

The element is made of metal, usually a zamak alloy (Zn - Al alloy).

The new element performs various functions by itself; it acts as a ballast for the base, it holds the spigot in a non-rotating way with respect to the base: and it allows the decorative ring to be mounted easily without the need for glue; in fact, in some oases the edge of the element can replace the decorative ring with a pleasing aesthetic C Cot.

Tbe invention will now be explained with reference to the appended drawings, showing an embodiment of it, and in which: figure 1 is a part sectional side view of an element according to the present application; figure 2 is a plan view with respect to figure 1; figure 3 is an axial sectional view of a lipstick-holder case, where the inner mechanism is shown partially in a side view and partially in axial sectionai view; the cap is drawn with dash-dot lines; figure a is a plan view with respect to figure 3.

As will be seen In figure 1, the new element 10 has a substantially tube or cup shape, open at tne to end wit a cer.tral opening bottom, and comprises a lower cylindrical part 12, an upper cylindrical part 14, possibly joined by an intermediate part ;3, ar. > an per peripheral edge 16.

The lower cylindrical part is preferably Internally knurled at 12', has a bottom 18 and a cylindrical raised collar 17 around the lower central opening. The part 12 holds a spigot 27 of a lipstick-holder mechanism 22 in a way integral with the rotation with the element 10.

he upper part 14 has an outer diameter substantially corresponding - the inner diameter of the base 30 of a lipstick-holder case, naving an anti-rotation shape, and preferably with substantially horizontal al ribs 19.

The edge 16 projects slightly outwards and may, but not necessarily, have a saw-toothed profile.

The element 10 preferably is made from a zamak alloy (a Zn Al - Mg alloy) and preferably weights between 10 g and 15 g.

In figure 3, the element 10 is shown mounted on a base 30 of a lipstick-holder case 20 in a way integral with the rotation and the transverse of the latter (by means of the ribs 19); the toothed edge 16 is situated above the pper edge of the base.

The inner mechanism is shown as a whole with number 22 and will not be described in detail as it is already known; but it should be noted that 24 is the sleeve, 26 the inner tube, 27 is the spigot thereof and 28 the cup which carries the cosmetic stick. The spigot 27 engages in the part 12 of the element 10 in a r@tationally integral way, for example by means of knurling.

A metal band or decorative ring 40 is snapped onto the toothed edge 20, without the need for glue, and a rib 41 thereof holds the cap 44 (shown with dots and dashes, and not described as it is already known).

The ring or band 40 may also be omitted and the edge 16 could be suitably worked or treated to give a decorative effect.

Assembly is carried out very simply in one single operation, manually, with a press or with an automatic machine.

Claims (11)

1. An inner element (10) for a lipstick-holder case (20), characterized in that it has a length (12) having an inner diameter suitable for receiving a spigot (27) of a lipstck-holder mechanism in a way integral with the rotation, and a length (14) having an outer diameter for fitting in an anti-rotation way inside a base (30) of the said case.

2. An element according to claim 1, characterized in that it has an edge (16) protruding outwards.

3. An element according to claim 1, characterized in that it is made of a zamak alloy (a Zn @ Al - Mg alloy).

4. An element according to claim 2, characterized in that the said edge (16) has teeth on the outer circumference.

5. An element according to claim 2, characterized in that the said edge has a shiny finish.

6. A lipstick-holder case (20) of the type comprising: a bell type base (30), a mechanism (22) partly held inside the said base in such a way that the spigot (27) of the latter which is integral with the inner tube (26), is integral with the rotation with the base (30j, while the sleeve (24) is independent of the said base (30) for rotation, to determine the movement of a lipstick-holder cup (28).

characterized in that between the said base i30) and the said mechanism (22) an element (10) according to claim 1 is inserted which is integral with the rotation with the said base and the said spig@t.

7. A case according to claim 6, characterized in that the said element is positioned with its upper edge (16) above the upper margin of the base (30).

8. A case according to claim 7, characterized in that a decorative ring is situated sn the edge of the element.

9. A case according to claim 7, characterized in that the outer edge of the element has a shiny finish ann is exposed, and therefore can be an itself the decorative element.

10. An inner element for a lipstick-holder case, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to, and as illustrated in, the accompanying drawings.

11. A lipstick-holder case substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to, and as illustrated in, the accompanying drawings.