GB2276869A

GB2276869A - A case for stick cosmetics with the mechanism retai ned by the ballast

Info

Publication number: GB2276869A
Application number: GB9401935A
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: DE9404490U1; IT1263873B; FR2703223A3; ITMI930643A1; FR2703223B3; ES1026842Y; ES1026842U; GB9401935D0; GB2276869B; ITMI930643A0

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 base (14) is connected to a shoe (20) of the mechanism for actuating the latter by projecting tongues (36) formed in a ballast element (32), which tongues (36) engage in an undercut (24) in a collar (22) integral with the shoe (20), the ballast element (32) being force fitted to the base (14). <IMAGE>

Description

h CASE FOR STICK GOSNETICS WITH THE XECHAKISX RETAIlED BY THE BALLAST The present application refers to a cosmetic-stick holder case of the type comprising a mechanism, a base and a cap. In cases of this type, the mechanism comprises a liner and a sleeve, which are coaxial and which axially move a stick-holder cup contained in them by means of relative rotation, so that it can take up positions where all or part o the stick is positioned outside, and a pcsition where it is completely retracted inside the mechanism.The relative rotation is imparted to the mechanism by means of a shoe integral with one of the elements of the mechanism, the shoe being engaged with the element called the "base". The user holds the free part of the mechanism (the element not integral with the shoe! with the fingers of one hand while rotating the base, and therefore the shoe and the other element, with the other hand, thus determining the movement ci the stick.

The cases already known have different forms of coupling between mechanism and base; the most common is a forced coupling between an outer surface of the mechanism or shoe and an inner surface of the base wall; the use is also known of a forced coupling between suitable walls of the mechanism and of the base, appropriately realized spaced out from the outer walls of the said elements.

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

There is a constant trend in the sector towards Improving products in order to obtain higher-quality results, and/or streamline manufacturing processes and, In short, to cut down costs. These, in fact, are the aims of the present invention.

The new cosmetic-hc'åer case as described in claim 1 allows such aims to be achieved. Further characteristics are described in the subsequent claims.

The new case distinguishes itself in that in it the ballast acts as a connection. In practice, a neck or collar part is integral with the shoe of the mechanism; the collar part has an undercut along all of its circumferences or along part of it. The ballast is forced onto the inner side surface of the base and is forp,d with one sr more tongues or securing proJections at equal distance along a circumference, suitable for fitting into the said undercut to hold the mechanism axially, while the rotational coupling is carried out by means of the non-tight engagement of an inner toothing of the ballast and of an outer toothing of the collar, and/or by means of an outer toothing of the shoe in non-tight engagement with an inner toothing of the base wall.

The new case makes assembly during the working phase easier, and therefore helps to cut down production costs. In addition, it realizes a better coupling between mechanism and base since the parts usually realized in plastic collaborate with the parts usually realized in metal, and such coupling proves to be loner-lastin.

A description is given below of preferred embodiments of the case, merely for the sake of example and not restrictively, with reference to the appended drawings in which they are illustrated, and in which figure 1 is a vertical axial section, taken along 1-1 in figure 2, of a first embodiment, of the lipstick-holder case; figure 2 is a horizontal section taken along the two planes marked 2-2 in figure ì; figure Q is a vertical axial section, taken substantially along 1-1 in figure 4. of a modifies form of the case; figure 4 is a horizontal section, taken along the planes marked 4-4 in figure 3, of the same case shown in figure 3.

The case in figures 1 and 2 is shown as a whole with reference numeral 10 and comprises a mechanism 12, a base 14 and a cap (not illustrated) The mechanism 12 is not illustrated in detail, being known in itself; essentially it encloses a cup 16 onto which a lipstick or a cosmetic stick in general is fixed (not shown). The cup is moved along the mechanism, that is upwards or downwards in the figures, by the reciprocal rotation of two coaxial tubular elements of the mechanism (not illustrated in detail since already known), one of which has an outer wall so that it can be manoeuvred with the fingers, the said wall usually being covered with metal foil 18 for a length, and the other wall is integral with a shoe 20.The shoe 20 has a downward extending neck or collar 22, which can have a circular or oval shape in plan view, or can even be formed of several sections. The collar 22 has a circumferential groove or undercut 2 extending along the entire circumference or along sections of it. An outer surface of the shoe can have a toothing 26 with longitudinal teeth, usually spaced out from each other, while an inner surface of the base has lsnitudinal teeth 28 along the entire circumference.

Alternatively or in addition, the collar 22 can have teeth 30 in its outer surface.

A ballast element 32 is substantially cup-shaped with outer teeth 34 on its circumference for forced engagement with the inner surface of the base; it also has one. two or preferably three or more securing tongues 36 projecting inwards, made through holes 38, so as to have an undercut at the bottom. The ballast can also have an inner toothing 40 for engaging with the teeth 30, although this is not necessary in this embodiment; and it can have a raised central part 39', according to the need for weight.

The device is easily assembled by pressure applying the ballast into the base, so that the teeth 34 bite into the inner surface of the base, and by applying the mechanism onto the ballast, the elasticity of the shoe of the mechanism allowing it to pass over the tongues 36. The operations can be inverted, that is it is possible to assemble the mechanism and the ballast beforehand and then the base. The mechanism, therefore, remains firmly held in an axial direction by the metal tongues 36 inside the undercut 24 with plastic walls, while the rotation is imparted from the base to the shoe by means of the toothings 26, 28 and possibly the toothing 30, 40 if existent.

The ballast 32 is usually realized in metal and the collar part 22 in plastics.

The embodiment 10a in figures 3 and 4 differs from the previous one only in a few details; therefore the same reference numerals will be used to indicate identical parts, without any need for repeating an e::planation of them. In this case, the inner surface of the base has no toothing and its shape allows a loner metal covering 18a to be received, as is sometimed required for the sake of appearance (for example, when the base is made of transparent material). The rotational coupling is therefore realized by means of the teeth 30, 40.

Claims

1. A cosmetic-holaer case comprising a mechanism (12) for axially moving a cosmetIc-holder cup (16) inside it, the said mechanism comprising two coaxiai tubular elements, one of which can be gripped by the user's fingers and the other is integral with a manoeuvring shoe (20), comprising, in addition, a base ( constrained to the shoe and a ballast element for increasing the weight of the case, characterized in that the said ballast element (32) makes uD the constraint between the shoe (20) and the base (14).

2. A case according to claim 1, characterized in that the ballast element (32) is in forced engagement with an inner surface of the outer wall of the base (14) and has retaining tongues (36) extending inwards, and the said shoe has a collar 822) provided with a circumferential grove or undercut (24) in which the said securing tongues engage for holing the mechanism axially with respect to the ballast and to the base.

3. A case accord nag to claim 1, characterized in that the rotational engagement between base (14) and shoe (20) comprises a toothing (28) on the inner surface of the base engaged with a toothing (26) on the outer surface of the shoe.

4. A case according to claim 2, characterized in that the rotational engagement between the base (14) and the shoe ( 0) comprises a toothing (40) on the inner surface of the ballast wall, with which a toothing (30) engages on the outer wall of the collar of the shoe.

5. A case according to claim 2, characterized in that the said channel has one of the following shapes in plan view: circular, oval, or in segments.

6. A case according to claims 3 or 4, characterized in that the said tooting on the outer surface of the shoe (20) comprises teeth spaced out irom one another.

7. A case according to claim 2. characterized in that the said retaining tongues (36) of the ballast are spaced out from each other circumferentially along a ballast recess housing the collar.

8. A case according to claim 2, characterized in that the ballast is made of metal and the collar is made of plastic material.