GB2276868A

GB2276868A - A mechanism and refillable case for stick cosmeticswith the mechanism held by means of a ring with elastic arms

Info

Publication number: GB2276868A
Application number: GB9401934A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Luciano Faverio
Original assignee: INCA Industria Nazionale Cosmetici e Affini SRL
Current assignee: INCA Industria Nazionale Cosmetici e Affini SRL
Priority date: 1993-03-31
Filing date: 1994-02-02
Publication date: 1994-10-12
Anticipated expiration: 2014-02-02
Also published as: IT1263874B; ES1027752U; GB2276868B; DE9404491U1; GB9401934D0; FR2703224A3; ITMI930644A1; FR2703224B3; ES1027752Y; ITMI930644A0

Abstract

In a case (10) for a cosmetic stick, of the type comprising a rotary mechanism (12) for axially moving a stick-holder cup (16), a shoe (18) integral with an inner tubular element of the mechanism has a collar 20 for cooperation with elastic arm (26') of a ring (26). A ballast element (24) e.g. of metal holds the ring (26) against the inner surface of a base (14). <IMAGE>

Description

A XECHLKISX AID REFILLABLE CASE FOR STICK COSMETICS WITH THE ZECEAXISX HELD BY XEAXS OF A RING WITH ELASTIC ARIES The present application refers to a case for a stick of cosmetic material or the like, of a type comprising a mechanism, a base and a cap. In cases of this type the mechanism consists of two coaxial tubular elements which axially move a stick-holder cup contained in them by means of relative rotation around their common axis, in such a way that the cup can take up extended positions, in which the entire stick, or a part of it, projects outside, and a position where it is completely retracted inside the mechanism.The relative rotation is imparted to the mechanism by gripping the outer tubular element and the base, which is engaged with a shoe integral with the inner tubular element.

The known cases have their mechanism and base matching in any one different forms. The most common cases have a tight fit between an outer surface of the shoe of the mechanism and an inner surface oft he base wall; cases are also known having a tight fit between suitable walls of the mechanism and of the base which are appropriately realized spaced from the outer walls of the said elements.

Among the cases on the market, the practice is also known of comprising a disk or ring of ballast material inside the base, which does not take part in the mechanics of the case but whose function is merely to increase the weight, to meet the demands of the market.

Often the base and the cap, which stay on view, are realized in higherquality materials and therefore there are economic reasons for re-using them once the cosmetic stick they originally contained is used up. At present there are some refillable cases to be found on the market, but they are unsatisfactory, either because the refilling operation is difficult or because they break easily.

The aim of the present invention is to propose a refillable case which will be easy to use by all, sturdy and long-lasting.

One object of the invention is a mechanism for lipstick-holder cases in which the shoe has a collar part with engaging means, for example notches or a circumferential undercut or channel.

Another object of the present invention is a sheli for the said mechanism, comprising a base having a securing or retaining ballast which keeps a retaining ring with elastic arms inside the base. The ballast is tightly fitted onto the inner side surface of the base and the ring, or retaining element, which is retained in a proper seat at the bottom of the ballast and extends its elastic arms through openings in the ballast; each arm has a securing projection turned towards the axis of revolution of the base.

The mechanism can be easily applied onto the base by means of applying axial pressure, which causes the collar to spread apart the elastic arms, which then snap back into shape with the projections inside the undercut; the mechanism is easy to remove by applying adequate traction in an axial direction.

The base and the mechanism are rotationally coupled by means of the non-tight engagement of a toothing with axial teeth which is realized on the surface of the mechanism facing towards the base, with a toothing with axial teeth realized on the inner surface of the base, and/or, in the case when the ballast is cup-shaped, by means of a toothing with axial teeth realized on the collar, which engages a toothing with axial teeth realized on the inner surface of the ballast. Usually the retaining ring is made of plastic material like the mechanism, while the ballast is of metal.

The new case allows the mechanism to be interchanged on the base perfectly, easily and securely.

In addition, by suitable conformations and positions of the securing projections and/or notches or undercut on the collar, it is possible to be able to assemble on a given base only mechanisms of a desired type. for example of a certain manufacturer.

Embodiments of the mechanism and of the whole case are illustrated merely for the sake of example and therefore not restrictively, with reference to the appended figures, in which: figure 1 is a broken-off vertical sectional view taken through a case according to the invention, along plane 1-1 in figure 2; figure 2 is a horizontal sectional view of the same case taken along planes 2-2 in figure 1; figure 3 is a broken-off vertical axial secticnal view taken across a modified embodiment of the case, along plane 3-3 in figure 4; figure 4 is a horizontal section of the case in the previous figure, taken along planes 4-4 in figure 3; figure 5 is a perspective view of a retaining ring; figure 6 is a broken-off side view of an example of interchangeabie mechanism.

With reference first to figures 1 and 2, a refillable case for stick cosmetics is indicated as a whole with reference numeral 10, and comprises a mechanism 12, a base 14 and a cap (not illustrated).

The mechanism which is the object of this application comprises a pair of coaxial tubular elements, which collaborate with each other by means of relative rotation, in a known way, for axially moving a cosmeticholder cup 16 outwards or inwards. To the inner tubular element a shoe 18 is integral, which has a collar extension 20 provided with engaging parts, in this case consisting of a circumferential undercut or groove 22. The engaging part could consist of notches spaced out along a circumference, or of individual teeth projecting outwards.

The base 14 is cup-shaped and houses a ballast 24, usually of metallic alloy such as zama ( a Zn+Al alloy) or the like. which has a peripheral serrated surface 24 tightly engaged with an inner side surface of the base. Preferably the ballast is cup-shaped, possibly with a raised central part 24" whose shape and dimensions are determined according to the weight which the said ballast must have. The ballast also has a bottom circumferential seat 25 which receives and blocks a retaining ring 26 against the bottom of the base, and it has slots or apertures 28 spaced out from each other circumferentially.

The retaining ring 26 is usually made of elasticallv deformable plastic material, for example polypropylene or ABS.

It has three arms (or a different number of arms) 26' , provided with an engaging or retaining projection or head 26" at the end. Preferably each projection comprises an upper tapered surface and a lower tapered surface, to ease application and removal of the mechanism.

The arrangement of the teeth on the circumference and the shape and size of the head can be of any kind whatsoever, provided that they are compatible with the shape and size of the collar of the mechanism. The use of a particular shape and size of heads is foreseen, in order to allow the application solely of mechanisms whose engaging parts are of conjugate shape and size, so as to allow only reflls of a certain brand to be applied to a given base.

The coupling integral to rotation is realized by means of toothings 30, 31 respectively on the outer surface of the shoe and on an inner surface of the base and/or by means of toothings 34, 35 on an outer surface of the collar of the shoe and on the inner surface of the ballast.

In figures 3 and 4, an alternative embodiment to the one in figures 1 and 2 is illustrated, in which, in order to allow the presence of a decorative band extending as far as part of the base, the toothed coupling 30. 31 has been suppressed and there is only the toothed coupling 34, 35; the other parts of the mechanism 1Oa in figures 3 and 4, being identical to those already described for the mechanism in figures 1 and 2, have the same reference numerals and will not be described in detail.

Claims

CLAIXS

1. A cosmetic-holder case comprising a mechanism (12), a base (14), a cap and a ballast (24), said mechanism comprising a pair of coaxial tubular elements collaborating in rotation for axially moving an inner cosmetic-holder cup (16), one of the said elements being integral with a shoe (18), characterized in that it also comprises a retaining member (26) with elastic arms and engaging or retaining means (26"), the said member being able to be locked onto the base; and a collar part (20) integral with the shoe of the mechanism and provided with engaging or retaining means for collaborating with the engaging means of the elastic arms.

2. A case according to claim 1, characterized in that the retaining member is a ring and is held onto the base by the ballast.

which is in its turn engaged against the inner surface of the base.

3. A case according to claim 1, characterized in that the retaining means of the retaining member comprise projections or heads (26") at the end of the arms, and the retaining member of the collar is a continuous or broken circumferential groove.

4. A case according to claim 1, characterized in that the base and mechanism are engaged by means of an axial toothing (30) on the outer surface of the mechanism and an axial toothing (31) on the inner surface of the base, and/or an outer toothing (34) on the collar of the mechanism, with an inner toothing (35) of the ballast.

5. An interchangeable mechanism for a lipstick-holder case comprising two coaxial tubular elements collaborating to move a cosmeticholder cup axially, one of the said elements, to be precise the inner one, being integral with a shoe, characterized in that it comprises a collarshaped retaining part (20) integral with the shoe (18).

6. A mechanism according to claim 5, characterized in that the said collar (20) has a circumferential groove extending along the whole circumference, or along sections of it.

?. A base-ballast assembly for cosmetic-holder cases, characterized in that the ballast (24) has a seat at the bottom (25), and a peripheral toothing (24') for engaging the inner side surface of the base, the said assembly also comprising a retaining ring (26) with elastic arms which is retained between the ballast and base.