US2677044A - Illuminated powder compact - Google Patents

Description

April 27, 1954 R. 5. Y. LAWLER ILLUMINATED POWDER COMPACT Filed 001;. 12, 1950 Gttomegs fO/676L 51 1742 10/97 Patented Apr. 27, 1954 UNITED STTES TNT OFFICE 1 Claim. 1

This invention relates to toilet articles and, in particular, to so-called compacts for holding face powder and a powder puff.

One object of this invention is to provide an illuminated compact which will enable the user to see her face in the mirror attached to the compact, even though she is using the compact in the dark, such as in a darkened theater or in an automobile at night.

Another object is to provide an illuminated compact wherein the tray containing the powder is either partially or wholly translucent so that light from the light source passes through the tray to illuminate the face of the user, the tray being optionally of such translucent material as will difiuse the light passing through it.

Another object is to provide an illuminated compact containing an electric light bulb and a battery for providing the illumination, the compact having a shutter or dark slide which may be opened and closed to additionally enable the user to use the compact as a flashlight to examine objects in the dark, such as to read a program in a darkened theater or find the keyhole in an automobile door lock or in a house door lock at night, yet to confine the light to the compact at times when such use as a flashlight is not desired.

Another object is to provide a compact having a recessed tray for receiving the powder and powder puff, this tray being removably mounted in the casing of the compact in order to enable it to be taken out and cleaned.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary top plan view, partly in section, of an illuminated compact, according to one form of the invention, with portions of the tray broken away to show the parts located beneath it;

Figure 2 is a vertical section taken alon the line 22 in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a vertical section at right angles to the section place of Figure 2, taken along the line 33 in Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a fragmentary right-hand side elevation of the rearward side portion of the compact, showing details of the shutter or dark slide;

Figure 5 is a fragmentary perspective view of a portion of the powder and powder puff tray, showing details of its pivotal connection with the casing; and

Figure 6 is a perspective View of the illuminated compact as a whole.

Heretofore, it has been inconvenient for a woman to apply make-up to her face in a darkened place, although it is often necessary for her to do so. For example, a woman is usually desirous of checking her make-up before she leaves a theater and, in the case of motion picture theaters, where she has entered after a picture has commenced, she leaves before the picture has ended its subsequent showing and consequently the theater is dark at the time she leaves. Furthermore, when she is in an automobile at night, she also desires to check her make-up immediately before arriving at her destination, and the ordinary comp-act has no provision for enabling her to do so. Finally, occasions often arise where she wishes light without being forced to carry a bulky flashlight, such as in examining a program in a darkened theater or finding the keyhole in th lock of her automobile or house door. The present invention provides a compact which has self-contained illumination by which the user may not only illuminate the face to check her makeup but also may use the compact as an emergency flashli ht for the above-mentioned purposes.

Referring to the drawings in detail, Figures 1 to 6 inclusive show an illuminated compact, generally designated it), according to one form of the invention as including a box-like casing I l having a cover I2 hinged thereto as at l3 and carrying a mirror it inside the cover I2. A catch l5 engages a recess or keeper It in the front wall H to releasably hold th cover [2 in a closed position in order to prevent spilling of its contents. The opposite sides 18 are provided with bosses is which are notched as at 20 to receive pivot pins 2! in the form of trunnions (Figure 5) which are seated in bosses 22 formed at the rearward corners of a powder tray 23.

The powder tray 23 is formed partially or wholly of translucent material and is provided with border portions 24 and 25 on one side and at the rear of a powder recess 26 in which the powder and powder puff are housed. It is most convenient to form the tray 23 wholly of translucent plastic, although it is sufiicient for the purposes of the invention to provide a translucent area in the border portion 25 through which light can pass to the face of the user. This translucent area may even consist of a window or opening in the border portion 25.

Secured to the bottom wall 28 of the casing II and preferably molded integral therewith, or optionally connected to either or both of the front and rear sides I l and 29 respectively (Figures 1 and 2) is a partition 3|] which subdivides the interior of the casing ll into a battery compartment 3| and a powder receptacle compartment 32. Mounted on the partition 3!] is an internally threaded socket 33 for a conventional electric light bulb 34 which is threaded therein and has the end of its threaded metal side portion 35 engageable with an L-shaped conductor strip 35, the upper portion of which is seated in the socket 33 (Figure 1). The conductor strip 36 is provided with an aperture 37 through which the insulated central contact 38 of the electric light bulb as may project without touching it. The lower arm 39 of the L-shaped conductor strip 36 enters the battery compartment 3| and is bowed or made arcuate in order to yieldingly engage the lower end 40 of a dry cell or other suitable form of battery 4|, the central contact 42 of which is slidably engaged by an L-shaped contact arm 43 secured to a push button 44 Which projects through a hole 45 in the left-hand side wall it of the casing H. An annular ridge 45 serves to restrain the push button 44 from being pushed outward completly through the opening 45 and also provides a surface to which the contact arm 43 may be secured. The push button 44 has an internal reduced diameter portion 47 of metal or other conducting material electrically connected with the contact arm 43 and carrying a central contact pin 48 and also an inner helical spring 49-.

An outer helical spring has one end abutting against the contact arm 43 on the push button 44 and the other end abutting against the partition 3! within an annular member 5! surrounding an aperture '52 in the partition is through which the contact 38 projects. A reflector 53 of rightangle cross-section is mounted in the casing ll adjacent and beneath the rearward tray portion 25 and electric light bulb 34 and serves to reflect the light from the latter through the former into the face of the user. The right-hand end wall is is provided with an aperture 54 (Figure 1) behind which is mounted a shutter or dark slide 55 which is pivoted as at 56 to swing to and fro across the aperture 54 to open and close the latter, a pin 51 projecting through the aperture to open and close the latter, a pin 5'! projecting through the aperture 54 and serving as a handle. When the shutter 55 is in a position completely uncovering the aperture 54, the handle is received in a notch 58 to one side of the aperture 54.

In the use of the invention, the lid is lifted so as to expose the mirror 14, and the push button 44 is pressed inward to close the circuit between the battery 4| and the electric light bulb 34. The light from the electric light bulb 34 shines or is reflected upward through the translucent rearward border portion 25 of the tray 23, illuminating the users face sufiiciently to enable her to apply powder or lipstick or merely to check her makeup. In case she wishes to use the compact as a flashlight, she pulls the pin 51 upward, causing the shutter to uncover the aperture 54. The

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light from the light bulb 34 then shines directly out through the aperture 54 and illuminates the program, keyhole, or other object which it is desired to illuminate. It is preferable to use an electric light bulb 34 of the type having a lens incorporated in its forward end so as to focus the light and concentrate it properly. Such bulbs are used in so-called fountain-pen flashlights and avoid the necessity of providing an extra lens for this purpose. When the user has finished with the compact, she closes the cover, whereupon the catch i5 engages the recess or keeper l6 and holds the compact closed.

To clean the tray 23 or to install a new battery 4! or bulb 34, the user lifts or pries u the forward edge of the tray 23, swinging it upward to permit it to be grasped in the fingers, thereby enabling it to be lifted out of its recess, withdrawing the pivot pins 2! from the notches 23. When the tray 23 has been cleaned or the battery or bulb installed, the tray is replaced in its previous position by reversing the foregoing procedure.

While the preferred construction of the corn pact has the powder receptacle 26 integral with the border portions 24 and 25, so that their assembly forms a closure for the lower part of the casing, it is evident that the powder receptacle 26 might be made separate from and independently removable relatively to the border portions 24 and 25.

What I claim is:

An illuminated compact comprising a shallow box having a substantially flat open top, a powder tray of translucent light-diffusing material secured to said top of said box in closing relation- Ship therewith, said tray having a substantially fiat border portion and a powder cup portion integral therewith and depending therefrom into the interior of said box, said powder cup portion being spaced apart from at least one edge of said tray to provide a chamber in the interior of said box disposed between one side of said powder cup portion and one side of said box, an electric bat-- tery disposed in said chamber, an electric light bulb electrically connected to said battery and disposed beneath said tray border between one side of said cup portion and one side of said box, a lid hingedly attached to said box, and a mirror attached to the inner side of said lid.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,321,026 Freed et a1 Nov. 4, 1919 1,889,143 Hirsh Nov. 29, 1932 2,270,636 Klarfield Jan. 20, 1942 2,302,043 Matway Nov. 17, 1942 2,515,437 Bisch et al July 18, 1950 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 955,011 France June 20, 1949

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