GB2488103A

GB2488103A - Thin cosmetic container

Info

Publication number: GB2488103A
Application number: GB201102335A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Nick Franklin
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2011-02-09
Filing date: 2011-02-09
Publication date: 2012-08-22
Also published as: GB201102335D0

Abstract

A container 1 suitable for holding a cosmetic comprises a lid 2, a base 3 for holding the cosmetic, and a hinge 4 connecting the lid 2 and the base 3. The container 1 is sized to fit in a standard credit card holder. Ideally, the container has a length of 85.6mm, a width of 53.9mm and a thickness of 3mm. A cavity 5 is provided in the base to hold a cosmetic, such as lip balm. A protrusion 7 extends from the bottom of the cavity towards the lid, and prevents the lid from contacting the cosmetic when it is closed. A tongue 8 is provided on three sides of the lid and cooperates with a groove 9 provided on the base to seal the container when it is closed. The hinge 4 may be a bi-stable living hinge, which flips between two stable positions, open and closed.

Description

QQSMETIC CONTAINER

The invention relates to a container for a cosmeUc.

It is known for cosmetics to be held in containers. It is also common for the containers to be designed to be portable so that they can be carried around on a regular basis with the user, this is especially true of containers for carrying lip balm.

Commonly people will carry lip balm with them. It is known for lip balms to be held in small tubes in which the lip balm is moved out of the tube by a screw and directly applied to the person's lips or tins in which the user's finger is used to apply, the lip balm.

The problem with these commonly known containers is that whilst being relatively small, they still have to be carried around in the user's bag or pocket. This may not be convenient if the user does not have a bag and already has a number of other items such as their keys, wallet and mobile telephone in their pockets.

Viewed from a first aspect, the present invention provides a container for a cosmetic comprising: a lid; a base for holding the cosmetic; and a hinge connecting the lid and the base; wherein the container is sized to fit in a credit card holder.

By providing a container sized to fit in a credit card holder the container can.1 be carried around conveniently in a user's credit card holder, this may be a card slot in a wallet. This negates the need for the user to carry the container holding a cosmetic in a bag or separately in their pocket.

The term sized to fit in a credit card holder means that the container should be able to fit in a standard sized card slot in a wallet or any other standard card holder in which a person may hold their credit cards. The length and width of the container may be substantially the same as a standard size credit card. The thickness of the container may be thicker than a standard size credit card to allow a practical amount of cosmetic to be held, but still thin enough to fit in a credit card holder.

The dimensions of the container may be different from that of a standard credit card providing the container still fits in a credit card holder and holds a useful H, H amount of cosmetic. For example, if container length is reduced its thickness can be increased whilst still being able to fit in a credit card holder.

According to the International Organization for Standardization, a standard sized credit card is 85.60 x 53.98 mm (3.370 x 2.125 in). The container may therefore be about 83 to 89 mm by about 51 to 57 mm. The thickness should preferably be less than about 4 mm and more preferably less than about 3.5 mm.

For example, the thickness may be about 3 mm. These dimensions have the advantage that the container will be able to fit in a credit card holder vhilst still being sized to hold a practical amount of cosmetic.

In a preferred embodiment, the base of the container has a cavity for holding the cosmetic. Preferably the cavity is large enough to carry at least about 1.35 grams of lip balm and more preferably about 2to 3 grams. A typical tube of lip balm carries about 4 g of cosmetic. Therefore it is preferable for the container to have at least a third of the capacity of an average lip balm container and more preferably at least a half to two thirds of the capacity of an average lip balm. This allows the container to be more than single use and prevents the user having to buy a new container with cosmetic too often.

The lid of the container may also have a cavity that preferably aligns with to the cavity in the base. This cavity can help prevent cosmetic coming into contact with the lid and therefore prevents cosmetic from becoming stuck to the lid when the container is in a closed position.

Within the cavity there may be a protrusion which, when the container is in a closed position, extends towards the lid. Preferably, the protrusion is sized to protrude through the cosmetic when the cavity is filled with lip balm. The protrusion may have a length such that the top surface of the protrusion extends beyond the top surface of the base. The feature of the protrusion can prevent the lid coming into contact with the cosmetic held in the container. For example when the lid and base are pushed toward each other, or pressure is put on the container which causes the lid to bend inwardly tqward the base, the underside of the lid will come into contact with the protrusion rather than the cosmetic. The protrusion will prevent the cosmetic touching the lid and therefore stop it becoming stuck to the lid.

The protrusion will also prevent the cosmetic being squeezed out of the cavity by the lid. This feature will therefore also mitigate the problem of cosmetic leaking into a users credit card holder.

The protrusion may be any shape or size. This means that the protrusion can be manufactured as required by the vendor and can be designed to be aesthetically pleasing for the end user or to appeal to a particular target market.

There may be multiple protrusions in the cavity. This offers the advantage that the protrusions can act to prevent the lip coming into contact with the cosmetic across a larger area of the cavity. The protrusion may extend entirely across the cavity containing the cosmetic and may act as a dividing wall. The protrusion may act as a number of dividing walls to split the cavity into a number of cavities. Again this can act to prevent the lid coming into contact with the cosmetic across a larger area of the cavity and means that if desired the container can hold more than one type of cosmetic. For example, the container could hold two different types of cosmetic, or if the cosmetic is lip balm, for example, the container could hold different flavours.

The protrusion may be a logo or one or more number or letters. This means the protrusion could also be used to identify the vendor or display the brand of the cosmetic.

The container may have a tongue and groove arrangement with the tongue being on the lid and the groove being on the base or vice versa. The tongue and groove arrangement is arranged so that when the container is in a closed position the tongue fits into the groove. The tongue and groove act as a seal when the container is closed to prevent dust, dirt and other contaminants entering the container.

The tongue and groove arrangement may be located between the edge of the container and the edge of the cavity. This arrangement would utilise the area of the container left between the edge of the container and the start of the cavity.

* Alternatively the tongue and groove arrangement could be at the outer edge of the container so that the tongue is effectively a lip on either the lid or the base. This arrangement would remove the need for a specially formed groove as it could be * achieved by making the part without the lip narrow enough to fit inside the lips of the other part.

The tongue is preferably parallel to three of the edges of either the lid or base and the groove is preferably parallel to the corresponding edges of the other of the lid or the base. The sealing feature of the tongue and groove arrangement is not as important on the edge of the lid and the edge of the base which are connected by a hinge. This is because the hinge will act as a barrier.to dust and dirt on the side of the container it is positioned and as a result the sealing function * of the tongue and groove is not necessary. Alternatively the tongue and groove arrangement can be on all four sides of the container. This would create a seal around the entire cavity and the container would not be dependent on the hinge acting as a barrier to dust and dirt on one of the sides.

Preferably the tongue is on the lid and the groove is on the base. This is desirable because in a preferred embodiment the base, which holds the cosmetic, is thicker than the lid. This extra thickness means that the groove can be cut into the base a sufficient depth without too severely affecting the structural integrity of the container.

In a preferred embodiment the groove has a varying depth and the tongue has a corresponding varying height. Preferably the groove is deepest in the middle of edges and is shallowest at the corners of the containers. This preferred feature has the advantage that less material will be removed at the corners of the container which means that the corners will be stronger and less likely to snap during use of the container.

Preferably the hinge of the container is along an entire edge of the container. This would be easier to manufacture and the resulting hinge would be more durable. Preferably the hinge is along one of the longer edges of the container. This is because in most wallets the credit card slots are designed to hold the card lengthways with a small portion of the card projecting out of the slot. As a result the hinge could be on the part of the container projecting out of the slot. This would reduce the problem of the hinge catching as it is inserted into a credit card slot or avoid the possibility that the hinge is too large to fit in the slot. Alternatively the hinge could be along one of the shorter sides or diagonal across a cOrner of the container. This alternative allows alternative designs that may be more aesthetically pleasing depending on the end user or purpose.

In a preferred embodiment, the hinge connecting the lid and the base is a living hinge. The hinge may be formed from a thin piece of material which connects the lid to the base. The advantage of this type of hinge is that it can be sufficiently small, and durable and is easy and cheap to manufacture.

Preferably the hinge is a bi-stable hinge. This type of hinge has two stable positions, open and closed, between which the hinge will flip when sufficient force is applied. This type of hinge is well known in the field of shampoo bottles and toothpaste tubes. This type of hinge will make the opening and closing of the container feel better to the user and prevent the lid loosely moving about when the container is open.

The container is preferably a single piece of material. This makes the container simple and cheap to mahufacture. The container may be made by injection moulding and is preferably made of polypropylene. Injection moulding is a cheap and quick manufacturing method. Polypropylene is a preferable material because it is good for injection moulding, it is suitable for forming living hinges and it is also durable, cheap and easy to recycle.

Alternatively the container can be made by any other known manufacturing process, for example but not limited to casting, forging or compression moulding.

The manufacturing process can, at least in part, be tailored depending on the material from which the container is made and the exact design parameters.

As an alternative to plastics, the container may be made from metal and may be made from multiple parts. The benefit of making the container from metal is that it would be more durable and could be sold to the end user as a premium product. Depending on the exact design, material and manufacturing method used it may be easier for the container to be made from multiple parts.

In a preferred embodiment, the container has a tab extending from the lid and a tab extending from the base. The tabs preferably extend from the opposite side of the lid and base to the hinge. These tabs enable the user to open the container more easily. Preferably the tabs will be arranged so that when the container is closed they are side by side, extend together along the length of one edge of the container, and are flush with each other, i.e. aligned to provide a smooth surface. This arrangement createsa continuous front edge which makes it easier for the container to be put into a credit card slot and prevents the front edge catching on the material of the credit card holder.

The tabs are preferably the same thickness as the entire thickness of the closed container. When in a closed position the tabs may be arranged so that the top surface of the tab extending from the base is flush with the top surface of the lid and that the bottom surface of the tab extending from the lid is flush with the bottom surface of the base. This arrangement of tabs provides a completely flush front edge and flush top and bottom surfaces. This arrangement prevents any parts of the container catching as it is inserted into a credit card holder.

Preferably the tabs have a profiled edge toward the outer edge. The edges of the closed container on the other three sides of the container may also be profiled. The closed cpntainer may be thinned toward the outer edges on all sides.

The edges may be chamfered or bevelled. Additionally, the corners of the containers may be rounded. Having profiled edges and/or rounded corners has the advantage of making it easier for the user to insert the container into a credit card holder.

In a preferred embodiment, the container has a catch mechanism that prevents the container being inadvertently opened when in the closed position. The catch mechanism is preferably is a bump and depression which interlock when the container is in the closed position. The bump and depression may be on the inner sides of the tabs that face each other when the container is closed. This catch mechanism wUl be hidden when the container is closed and will not increase the size of the container. This type of catch mechanism would be easy and cheap to manufacture.

Alternatively the catch mechanism may be achieved by the use of magnets on the lid and base of the container or by the means of a friction fit between the tongue and groove mechanism. Neither of these mechanisms will protrude from the container when shut.

Preferably the cosmetic is a semi-solid cosmetic. More preferably the cosmetic is a lip balm.

Viewed from another aspect the present invention also provides a method of manufacturing a container for a cosmetic, the method comprising the steps of providing a lid, providing a base for holding the cosmetic, and providing a hinge connecting the lid and the base, wherein the container is sized to fitin a credit card holder.

In a preferred embodiment the method includes a step of injection moulding.

This step of injection moulding is preferable because it is a cheap and quick manufacturing method. The container may be injection moulded in a single piece.

Alternatively the method may contain a step of making the container by any other known manufacturing process, for example but not limited to casting, forging or compression moulding. The step of making the container can, at least in part, be tailored depending on the material from which the container is made and the exact design parameters.

The method may also include the steps of melting a cosmetic, pouring the molten cosmetic into the cavity and cooling the cosmetic to form a solid or semi-solid cosmetic in the cavity. These steps allow the cavity to be filled with the cosmetic to be held.

The method may include providing featyres of the container as discussed above.

A preferred embodiment of the present invention will now be described by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a orthographic view of a cosmetic container; Figure 2 is a side view of the container shown in Figure 1; and Figure 3 is a close up orthographic view of the hinge.

Referring to Figure 1 a container 1 for holding a cosmetic is shown in an open position. The container is formed of a lid 2 and a base 3 which are connected by a hinge 4. When in a closed position the container is sized to fit in a credit card holder or a credit card slot of a wallet. The container is in a closed position when the lid 2 is on top of the base 3 so that the lid 2 and the base 3 are in contact.

When in the closed position the container has a length of 85.6 mm, a width of 53.9 mm and a thickness of 3 mm. The length and width are substantially the same as a standard size credit card smaller, and the thickness is slightly larger than a standard sized credit card.

The base 3 has a cavity 5 for holding the cosmetic. The lid 2 also has a cavity 6. The cavity 6 in the lid 2 aligns with the cavity 5 in the base and has the same shape, however the cavity 6 in the lid 2 is not as dee� as the cavity 5 in the base. In the cavity 5 of the base 3 there is a protrusion 7 that extends towards the lid 2 when the container 1 is in a closed position. The protrusion 7 protrudes above the cosmetic when the cavity 5 is filled with cosmetic. As can be seen in Figure 2, the protrusion 7 extends slightly above the top surface of the base 3. The cavity 6 in the lid 2 and the protrusion 7 both help prevent the lid 2 coming into contact with the cosmetic when the container 1 is in the closed position. As shown in Figure 1, the protrusion 7 is a logo.

It can be seen that there is a tongue 8 on three sides of the lid 2, parallel to the edge of the lid 2. On the base 3, in a corresponding position to the tongue 8 on the lid 2, there is a groove 9. When the container 1 is in a closed position the tongue 8 will fit into the groove 9. This arrangement will form a seal to prevent dust, dirt and other contaminants entering the container 1 when in a closed position.

There is no tongue 8 and groove 9 arrangement on the fourth side of the lid 2 and base 3 which is next to the hinge 4. The sealing feature of the tongue 8 and groove 9 is not used on the side next to the hinge 4 as the hinge will act to keep out dust and dirt i.e. the hinge 4 provides a seal on this side.

The tongue 8 is on the lid 2 and the groove 9 is on the base 3. This is because the base 3, which houses the cosmetic, is thicker than the lid 2. Therefore it is preferable to remove the material to form the groove 8 in the base 3 as removing the material from a thicker part will have less of an impact on the structural integrity of the component. However, alternatively the groove 9 could be in the lid 2 and the tongue 8 could be on the base 3.

The tongue 8 may simply sit inside the groove 9 or it may be a friction fit in which the tongue 8 has to be pushed into, and pulled out of, the groove 9. In the latter of these alternatives the tongue 8 and groove 9 could be used as a catch mechanism to prevent the container I inadvertently opening when in the closed position.

As can be seen best in Figure 2, the tongue 8 has a varying height. The tongue 8 is tallest in the middle of the edge of the lid 2 and is shallowest at the corners of the lid 2. The groove 9 has a corresponding varying height. In another embodiment the tongue 8 and groove 9 could have a constant height and depth along their entire length.

The hinge 4 extends across the entire of one of the longer sides of the container 1. A close up view of the hinge 4 can be seen in Figure 3. The hinge 4 is a living hinge formed from a thin piece of material which connects the lid 2 to the base. The hinge 4 is also arranged to be a bi-stable hinge which, when pushed, flips between two. stable positions, open and closed.

The container 1 is formed from a single piece of material and had been formed by injection moulding. The container 1 is made of polypropylene.

Alternatively the container I could be made by any known manufacturing method or any known suitable material. For example the container 1 could be made of a metal. Also, the container I could be made from multiple parts rather than being a single piece.

It can be seen in Figure 1, that the lid 2 has a tab 10 extending from it and that the base 3 has a tab 11 extending from it. When in the closed position the tabs 10, 11 are side by side and are flush to create a continuous edge along the front edge of the container 1. Also when the container us closed the bottom surface of the tab 10 extending from the lid 2 is flush with the bottom surface of the base 3 and the upper surface of the tab 11 extending from the base 3 is flush with the top surface of the lid 2. This means that when the container 1 is closed the top and bottom surfaces are completely flush. This is to make it easier for the container I to be inserted into a credit card holder.

When the container 1 is closed all the edges, except the edge with the hinge1 are profiled. This means that the edges become thinner in a direction away from the container 1. This makes it easier for the container 1 to be inserted in to a credit card holder.

On one side of the tab 11 extending from the base is a depressEon 12. This depression 12 engages with a bump (not visible) on the other tab 10 when the container is closed. This bump and depression arrangement provides a catch mechanism for the container to prevent the container inadvertently opening when closed. Alternatively other type of catch mechanisms could be used, for example a magnet array or, as previously discussed, the tongue and groove could be used as the catch mechanism. -10-

Claims

CLAIMS: 1. A container for a cosmetic comprising: a lid; a base for holding the cosmetic; and a hinge connecting the lid and the base; wherein the container is sized to fit in a credit card holder.
2. The container of claim 1, wherein the base has a cavity for holding the cosmetic.
3. The container of claim 2, wherein there is a protrusion in the cavity of the base.
4. The container of any preceding claim, wherein there is a tongue on one of the lid or the base and a corresponding groove on the other of the lid or the base.
5. The container of claim 4, wherein the tongue and groove arrangement is on at least three edges of the container.
6. The container of claims 4 or 5, wherein the tongue has a varying height and the groove has a corresponding varying depth.
7. The container of any preceding claim, wherein the hinge is a living hinge.
8. The container of any preceding claim, wherein the hinge is a bi-stable mechanism.
9. The container of any preceding claim, wherein the container is a single piece which has been formed by injection moulding.
10. The container of any preceding claim, wherein there is a tab extending from the lid and a tab extending from the base.
11. The container of claim 10, wherein when the container is in a closed position the first and second tabs are completely flush with each other and flush with the top and bottom surfaces of the container to create a continuous front edge and a continuous top and bottom surface.
12. The container of claim 10 or 11, wherein the tabs have a profiled edge at the edge located away from the container.
13. The containerof any preceding claim, wherein the container further comprises a catch mechanism.
14. The container of claim 13 wherein the catch mechanism is formed from a corresponding bump and depression which engage when the container is in a closed position.
15.' The container of any preceding claim, wherein when the container is in a closed position, the container has a thickness less than 4 mm.
16. The container of any preceding claim, wherein the cosmetic is semi-solid cosmetic.
17. The container of claim 16 wherein the semi-solid cosmetic is lip balm.
18. A method of manufacturing a container for a cosmetic, the method comprising the steps of: providing a lid; providing a base for holding the cosmetic; and providing a hinge connecting the lid and the base, wherein the container is sized to fit in a credit card holder.
19. The method of claim 18, wherein the method includes a step of injection moulding.
20. The method of claim 18 or 19, wherein the method includes the steps of melting the cosmetic; pouring the:molten cosmetic into a cavity in the base; and cooling the cosmetic to form a solid or semi-solid cosmetic in the cavity.
21. A container for a cosmetic substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 1 to 3 of the accompanying drawings.