TW202432027A - Refillable cosmetic product - Google Patents

Abstract

A cosmetic product is provided that includes a container defining a cavity and including a container coupling member, a removable drawer, and a frame. The removable drawer includes a drawer cavity that retains a cosmetic substance. The frame is adapted to be at least partially disposed within the cavity of the container and includes a first opening, a second opening, and a frame coupling member that is adapted to rotatably couple with the container coupling member. The first opening is adapted to expose the cosmetic substance such that it may be collected and removed from the drawer cavity. The second opening is adapted to slidably receive the removable drawer.

Description

Refillable cosmetic products

The present disclosure relates generally to cosmetic products and, more particularly, to cosmetic products having a refillable feature.

Containers and storage containers for cosmetic products and/or substances are provided in several different arrangements and configurations. For example, the containers can be used to hold cosmetic substances in the form of blush powder and/or foundation products. These containers can include a removable and/or rotatable (e.g., flip-up) top to allow a user to access and use the cosmetic substances contained therein. Oftentimes, such existing containers are manufactured by placing the cosmetic substances in a pan that is permanently adhered to the frame of the container to provide stability during manufacturing and during shipping. However, such an arrangement may not be reusable because separating the pan from the frame may permanently damage one or both of these components. Some existing containers may incorporate the use of magnets to releasably couple the tray to the frame. However, while the use of magnets and/or magnetic materials may provide assurance that the tray will remain coupled to the frame, such materials may not be disposed of in a sustainable manner and, in turn, may contribute to environmental waste. Further, the production of magnets requires significant processing and energy, which may be counterproductive to sustainability goals due to the generation of environmental waste. Therefore, there is a need for improved products with improved functionality.

Examples within the scope of the present disclosure relate to the use of a cosmetic product having ergonomic and replaceable features. A cosmetic product is provided, the cosmetic product comprising: a container defining a cavity and including a container coupling member; a removable drawer; and a frame. The removable drawer includes a drawer cavity for holding a cosmetic substance. The frame is adapted to be at least partially disposed within the cavity of the container and includes a first opening, a second opening, and a frame coupling member adapted to be rotatably coupled to the container coupling member. The first opening is adapted to expose the cosmetic substance so that the cosmetic substance can be collected and removed from the drawer cavity. The second opening is adapted to slidably receive the removable drawer. In some examples, the removable drawer can be slidably inserted into the second opening of the frame in a direction generally parallel to the bottom plate member of the frame. In these and other examples, the removable drawer may be prevented from being removed from or inserted into the second opening of the frame until the frame is rotatably moved to a raised position relative to the container. In some forms, the cosmetic product may further include a lid having a lid coupling member rotatably coupled to the container coupling member. In some of these forms, the lid coupling member, the frame coupling member, and the container coupling member may be rotatably coupled to each other via a common hinge. In still other of these forms, a coupling member may be formed on at least one of the lid or the frame. The coupling member may push the frame to the raised position when the lid is rotated to the raised position relative to the container. In some methods, the removable drawer may include a liner disposed within the drawer cavity to retain the cosmetic substance. Further, in some methods, the removable drawer may include a detent that generates tactile feedback when the removable drawer is inserted and/or removed from the second opening of the frame. In some examples, the cosmetic product may further include a gripping member formed on the removable drawer. In still other examples, the cosmetic product may include an applicator disposed within a cavity of the container. According to a second aspect, a cosmetic product is provided, the cosmetic product comprising: a container defining a cavity and including a container coupling member; a removable drawer including a drawer cavity for holding a cosmetic substance; and a frame at least partially disposed within the cavity of the container. The frame includes a floor member extending generally along a plane, side walls defining a frame cavity, slots formed on the side walls, and a frame coupling member adapted to be rotatably coupled to a container coupling member. The slot is adapted to slidably receive a removable drawer in a direction parallel to the base so that the removable drawer can be positioned within the frame cavity.

Generally speaking, according to these various methods, a cosmetic product container is provided, which has a removable drawer or tray for holding cosmetic materials. These removable drawers allow users to quickly and easily replace a first cosmetic material with a different cosmetic material, such as, for example, when the first cosmetic material has been used or completely exhausted. In other examples, the removable drawer allows the user to replace different cosmetic materials with different characteristics (e.g., color tone, long-lasting properties and/or any other characteristics) as needed. It is worth noting that the cosmetic product container described herein provides a quick and smooth removal and insertion process for the desired removable drawer. Turning to the figures, a cosmetic product 100 is provided in the form of a cosmetic tray. Typically, the vanity tray 100 includes a container 102, a lid 106, a removable drawer (or tray) 110, a frame 120, and an applicator 130. The container 102 includes a cavity 102a for selectively holding the drawer 110, the frame 120, and/or the applicator 130, and further includes a container coupling member 104. The container 102 can be constructed of any number of suitable materials and/or combinations of materials, such as, for example, metals, polymers, etc. As illustrated in Figures 1-18, in some examples, the container 102 has a generally cylindrical body, but other examples of suitable shapes and/or configurations are possible. The container may have a generally curved or chamfered transition to improve comfort when handled by a user. As will be discussed in further detail below, in some examples, the container coupling member 104 can be in the form of an opening or other cutout to cooperate with portions of the lid 106 and/or frame 120. The lid 106 can be in the form of a lid or cap and include a lid coupling member 107 in the form of a hinge that engages the container coupling member 104 via a common hinge or pin 108 to hingedly couple the lid 106 to the container 102. In the illustrated example, the lid coupling member 107 is in the form of an extension extending downwardly from the lid 106 and includes any number of protrusions 107a that can be inserted into or otherwise engage a corresponding container coupling member 104. However, in other examples, the components of the container coupling member 104 and the lid coupling member 107 may be inverted. The engagement between the container 102 and the lid 106 allows the lid 106 to be rotated between a closed configuration (as shown in Figures 1-10) and an open configuration (as shown in Figures 14-19). When in the closed configuration, the lid 106 may be secured with the container 102 via any number of suitable methods, such as, for example, a release mechanism 103 (Figure 9) coupled to a latch member 103a, frictional engagement between the lid 106 and the container 102, magnetic attraction between these components, etc. Other examples may be used. Although not shown, in some examples, the lid 106 may additionally include an opening that can receive any number of different lid inserts 110 in the form of discs (not shown). For example, these discs can be transparent and/or translucent to allow a user to visually identify the contents of the cavity 102a when the lid 106 is closed. In other examples, the discs can be reflective or mirrored to assist the user in observing their face while applying a cosmetic product. Other examples are possible. The removable drawer 110 includes a base 112 and sidewalls 113 that define a drawer cavity 113a for holding a cosmetic product or substance 101. For example, the removable drawer 110 can hold eye shadow products, other compressed powder products, such as, for example, highlight products, contour products, and/or concealer products. In other examples, the removable drawer 110 can hold any number of hot pour items, such as, for example, lip products, eye products, concealer products, and/or eyebrow products. Other examples are possible. The removable drawer 110 is sized to be selectively disposed within the cavity 102a of the container 102. As shown in Figures 13, 17, and 19, in some examples, the removable drawer 110 may include a gripping member 114 to assist a user in inserting the removable drawer 110 and/or removing the removable drawer from the container 102. More specifically, the gripping member 114 may be in the form of a ledge or ridge that a user may engage with their fingers or other devices. In the illustrated example, the gripping member 114 is provided in an elliptical or oval shape such that two distinct ridges are formed that are separated by a generally recessed area. Other examples and/or arrangements are possible. The removable drawer 110 may be constructed of any number of suitable materials, such as, for example, metals, metal alloys, polymers, etc. In examples where the removable drawer 110 retains a cosmetic substance 101 pressed into the drawer cavity 113a, a metallic material may be desirable due to its ability to withstand greater pressing forces. In yet other examples, a pad (not shown) may be disposed within the drawer cavity 113a. Such padding may be provided to cushion the removable drawer 110 and/or reduce or otherwise eliminate vibrations during transport or handling of the cosmetic product 100. The frame 120 includes a base or floor member 121 and sidewalls 122 that cooperate to define a cavity 122a. In the illustrated example, the floor member 121 generally extends along a plane. Further, in some examples, the frame 120 may include a cutout 125 formed on the floor member 121. A boss 123 defining a first opening 123a is coupled to the sidewall 122. In the illustrated example, the boss 123 generally extends along a plane parallel to the floor member 121. Further, in some examples, the boss 123 can be sized to abut, rest on, or nest within a sidewall of the container 102 when the frame 120 is in the lowered position. The sidewall 122 further includes a slot or second opening 124. In the illustrated example, the slot or second opening 124 extends around approximately half or more of the circumference of the sidewall 122. The frame 120 further includes a frame coupling member 126. The frame coupling member 126 can be in the form of an opening or other cutout to cooperate with a portion of the lid 106 and/or the container 102. More specifically, in the illustrated example, like the lid coupling member 107, the frame coupling member 126 is in the form of a hinge that engages with the container coupling member 104 via the pin 108. The frame coupling member 126 is in the form of an extension extending downward from the frame 120 and includes any number of protrusions 126a (Figure 4) that can be inserted into or otherwise engage the corresponding container coupling area 104. Further, in the illustrated example, the protrusion 107a formed by the lid coupling member 107 is generally disposed within the area defined by the protrusion 126a. Other arrangements are possible. As a result of the common hinge arrangement, both the lid 106 and the frame 120 can rotate relative to the container 102. In some examples, the lid 106 and the frame 120 can rotate independently relative to each other (i.e., the lid 106 can be raised and lowered while the frame 120 remains within the cavity 102a of the container 102 (Figures 14 and 15)). However, in other examples, components of the container coupling member 104, the lid coupling member 107, and the frame coupling member 126 may be inverted. In other approaches (not shown), the lid 106 and/or the frame 120 may include an engagement member in the form of a finger, hook, or other member that causes the frame 120 to swing or rotate upward and away from the cavity 102a when the lid 106 is opened beyond a certain point (e.g., when the lid 106 forms an angle of approximately 145° relative to the base of the container 102). In other examples, the engagement member may cause the frame 120 to swing or rotate upward when the lid 106 is opened to an angle greater than approximately 90°. Other examples are possible. As illustrated in FIGS. 9 , 10 , 16 , and 18 , in some examples, the container 102 is sized so that the cavity 102a extends below the floor member 121 of the frame 120 when the frame 120 is in the lowered position. An applicator 130 may be disposed in this region of the cavity 102a. The applicator may be constructed of any number of suitable materials, such as, for example, open cell foam materials, fabric materials, polymers, etc., to assist in collecting and applying the cosmetic substance 101. As illustrated in FIG. 16 , the frame 120 may be rotated upward to allow a user to remove or place the applicator 130 in the cavity 102a. Other arrangements are possible. As previously described, the removable drawer 110 (and thus the cosmetic material 101) can be disposed within the frame 120 and can be removed from the frame. More specifically, referring to FIGS. 16-19, when the frame 120 is raised relative to the container 102, the slot 124 becomes unobstructed to allow the removable drawer 110 to be inserted into or removed from the frame 120. When inserting or removing the removable drawer 110, the ledge and the base cooperate to guide the removable drawer 110 into or out of the cavity 122a in a direction generally parallel to the bottom plate member 121. As illustrated in FIGS. 17 and 19 , in some arrangements, the shape of the gripping member 114 of the removable drawer 110 corresponds to the shape of the cutout 125 to properly align and/or position the removable drawer 110 relative to the frame 120. In the illustrated arrangement, a user may grasp any ridge of the gripping member 114 to assist in removing the removable drawer 110 from the frame 120 because the gripping member 114 may protrude a distance below the bottom member 121 of the frame 120. When the removable tray 110 is removed from the cavity 102a, a different removable tray 110 (e.g., a replacement tray including refills, cosmetic substances 101 of different colors/hues, and/or different types of cosmetic substances 101) can be coupled to the frame 120 and thus to the container 102. Thus, a user can use a single container 102 for different purposes as needed, thereby reducing waste by not disposing of the entire container 102. In some examples, a detent, protrusion, or other mechanism (not shown) can be formed on or otherwise coupled to the removable drawer 110 and/or frame 120. Such a detent can provide a tactile feedback response to the user to remind the user that the removable drawer 110 is secured to and/or removed from the frame 120. Notably, when the frame 120 is in the lowered position, the container 102 prevents the removable drawer 110 from being removed from the slot 124. Further, in some examples, the size (e.g., diameter) of the sidewall 113 of the removable drawer 110 may be larger than the corresponding size (e.g., diameter) of the first opening 123a formed by the boss 123. As a result, the boss 123 may prevent the removable drawer 110 from being removed from the drawer cavity 113a via the first opening 123a. This arrangement ensures that the removable drawer 110 will not inadvertently become disconnected from the container 102 when the container 102 is inverted. Other arrangements are possible. In these and other examples, the frame 120 and/or container 102 may include a locking mechanism (not shown) that prevents the frame 120 from rotating upward from the cavity 102 without overcoming the retaining force and/or actively releasing the locking mechanism. Such a locking mechanism may be in the form of a frictional engagement between components, a tab configured to engage a hook, etc. Other examples are possible. When so configured, the container described herein allows a user to selectively hold any number of desired removable drawers 110 in any number of heterogeneities and/or arrangements. The removable drawers 110 can be quickly coupled or decoupled from the container 102 to allow the user to travel with their desired cosmetic substances. The removable drawer 110 is securely held within the container and thus will not be damaged during use or transport. It will be appreciated that in some examples (not shown), the container may have different shapes and/or configurations. For example, the container may be provided in a generally rectangular shape, a generally elliptical shape, a generally triangular shape, or any other desired shape. Further, in some examples, the container may be sized to accommodate any number of frames that may be selectively and/or collectively rotated relative to the container. This arrangement will result in removable makeup trays of different cosmetic materials being held within a single container. Further, in other examples (not shown), the container need not include a rotatable frame member. Instead, the container itself may include a slot that allows a user to insert or remove a removable tray into or from the container. It will be appreciated that in this example, any number of retaining mechanisms may be provided to ensure that the removable tray is not inadvertently disconnected from the container. In yet other examples (not shown), a similar arrangement of a "frame" may be provided in a retail environment. In such an example, a retail shelving system or display rack may be provided in the form of a multi-slot frame, whereby a user may quickly and easily remove a desired removable tray for purchase. The user may then insert the newly purchased removable tray into their container in a similar sliding manner. Other examples are possible. In the foregoing specification, specific embodiments have been described. However, those of ordinary skill in the art appreciate that various modifications and changes may be made without departing from the scope of the invention as set forth in the claims below. Accordingly, the description and drawings are to be viewed in an illustrative rather than a restrictive sense, and all such modifications are intended to be included within the scope of the present teachings. Additionally, the described embodiments/examples/implementations should not be interpreted as mutually exclusive, and should instead be understood as potentially combinable (if such combination is permitted in any way). In other words, any feature disclosed in any of the above-described embodiments/examples/implementations may be included in any of the other above-described embodiments/examples/implementations. Benefits, advantages, solutions to problems, and any (multiple) elements that may cause any benefit, advantage, or solution to appear or become more significant will not be interpreted as key, required, or essential features or elements of any or all claims. The claimed invention is defined solely by the appended claims including any amendments made during the pendency of this application and all equivalents of those claims as published. Furthermore, in this document, relational terms (e.g., first and second, top and bottom, etc.) may be used solely to distinguish one entity or action from another entity or action without necessarily requiring or implying any actual such relationship or order between such entities or actions. The terms "comprises," "comprising," "has," "having," "includes," "including," "contains," "containing," or any other variations thereof are intended to cover a non-exclusive inclusion such that a process, method, article, or apparatus that comprises, has, contains, or includes a list of elements does not include only those elements but may include other elements not expressly listed or inherent to such process, method, article, or apparatus. An element preceded by "comprising ... one," "having ... one," "including ... one," or "containing ... one" does not, without more constraints, exclude the presence of additional identical elements in the process, method, article, or apparatus that comprises, has, contains, or includes such element. The terms "a" and "an" are defined as one or more unless expressly stated otherwise herein. The term "substantially," "essentially," "approximately," "about," or any other form thereof is defined as approximating to the understanding of a person of ordinary skill in the art, and in one non-limiting embodiment, this term is defined as within 10%, within 5% in another embodiment, within 1% in another embodiment, and within 0.5% in another embodiment. The term "coupled," as used herein, is defined as connected, though not necessarily directly and not necessarily mechanically. A device or structure that is "configured" in a certain way is configured in at least that way, but may also be configured in ways that are not listed. The abstract of this disclosure is provided to allow the reader to quickly ascertain the nature of the technical disclosure. The abstract is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims. Additionally, in the foregoing specific embodiments, it can be seen that various features are grouped together in various embodiments for the purpose of simplifying the disclosure. This method of disclosure is not to be interpreted as reflecting an intent that certain claimed embodiments require more features than those expressly described in each claim. Rather, as reflected in the following claims, inventive subject matter may lie in less than all features of a single disclosed embodiment. Therefore, the following claims are hereby incorporated into the specific embodiments, where each claim stands alone as a separately claimed subject matter. The claims at the end of this patent application are not intended to be construed under 35 U.S.C. § 112(f) unless traditional means-plus-function language is expressly recited, such as "means for" or "steps for" language, in the claim(s).

100: cosmetic product (cosmetic tray) 101: cosmetic substance 102: container 102a: cavity 103: release mechanism 103a: latch member 104: container coupling member 106: lid 107: lid coupling member 107a: protrusion 108: pin 110: removable drawer (removable tray) (lid insert) 112: base 113: side wall 113a: drawer cavity 114: grip member 120: frame 121: bottom plate member 122: side wall 122a: cavity 123: ledge 123a: first opening 124: Groove (second opening) 125: Cut-out opening 126: Frame connecting member 126a: Protrusion 130: Applicator

The above needs are at least partially met by providing one, more than one, or any combination of refillable cosmetic products described in the following detailed description, particularly when studied in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein: [FIG. 1] illustrates a top, right front perspective view of a first example cosmetic product according to various examples; [FIG. 2] illustrates a bottom, left rear perspective view of an example cosmetic product according to FIG. 1 of various examples; [FIG. 3] illustrates a front elevation view of an example cosmetic product according to FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 of various examples; [FIG. 4] illustrates a top plan view of an example cosmetic product according to FIG. 1-3 of various examples; [FIG. 5] illustrates a left side elevation view of an example cosmetic product according to FIG. 1-4 of various examples; [Figure 6] illustrates a right side front view of the example cosmetic product of Figures 1-5 according to various examples; [Figure 7] illustrates a top plan view of the example cosmetic product of Figures 1-6 according to various examples; [Figure 8] illustrates a bottom plan view of the example cosmetic product of Figures 1-7 according to various examples; [Figure 9] illustrates a left side cross-sectional front view of the example cosmetic product of Figures 1-8 according to various examples; [Figure 10] illustrates a perspective cross-sectional view of the example cosmetic product of Figures 1-9 according to various examples; [Figure 11] illustrates a three-dimensional view of an example frame member for use with the example cosmetic product of Figures 1-10 according to various examples; [FIG. 12] illustrates a perspective view of an example removable drawer or tray for use with the example cosmetic products of FIG. 1-11 according to various examples; [FIG. 13] illustrates a perspective view of the lower portion of the example removable tray of FIG. 12 according to various examples; [FIG. 14] illustrates a perspective view of the example cosmetic products of FIG. 1-13 in a partially open arrangement according to various examples; [FIG. 15] illustrates a perspective view of the example cosmetic products of FIG. 1-14 in a substantially open arrangement according to various examples; [FIG. 16] illustrates a perspective view of the example cosmetic products of FIG. 1-15 according to various examples, with the example frame members in a raised position; [FIG. 17] illustrates a perspective view of the example cosmetic product of FIG. 1-16 according to various examples, wherein the example removable tray is in a partially inserted position; [FIG. 18] illustrates a perspective view of the example cosmetic product of FIG. 1-17 according to various examples, wherein the example removable tray is in a partially inserted position; and [FIG. 19] illustrates a perspective view of the example cosmetic product of FIG. 1-18 according to various examples, wherein the example removable tray is removed from the example frame. A skilled artisan will appreciate that the elements in the figures are illustrated for simplicity and clarity and are not necessarily drawn to scale. For example, the size and/or relative positioning of some of the elements in the figures may be exaggerated relative to other elements to help improve understanding of the various examples. Moreover, common but well-understood elements that are useful or necessary in commercially viable examples are often not depicted in order to facilitate a less obstructed view of these various examples. It will be further understood that certain actions and/or steps may be described or depicted in a particular order of appearance, while those skilled in the art will understand that such specificity with respect to sequence is not actually required. It will also be understood that the terms and expressions used herein have the general technical meanings consistent with such terms and expressions as set forth above as understood by those skilled in the art, except where different specific meanings have been otherwise set forth herein.

100: Cosmetic products (makeup palette)

102:Container

103: Release mechanism

106: Cover

Claims (19)

A cosmetic product comprising: a container defining a cavity and comprising a container coupling member; a removable drawer comprising a drawer cavity adapted to hold a cosmetic substance; and a frame adapted to be at least partially disposed within the cavity of the container, the frame having a first opening, a second opening and a frame coupling member adapted to be rotatably coupled to the container coupling member; wherein the first opening is adapted to expose the cosmetic substance so that the cosmetic substance can be collected and removed from the drawer cavity, and the second opening is adapted to slidably receive the removable drawer. A cosmetic product as described in claim 1, wherein the removable drawer is slidably inserted into the second opening of the frame in a direction generally parallel to the bottom plate member of the frame. A cosmetic product as described in claim 1, wherein the removable drawer is prevented from being removed from or inserted into the second opening of the frame until the frame is rotatably moved to a raised position relative to the container. The cosmetic product as described in claim 1 further includes a cover, wherein the cover includes a cover coupling member suitable for being rotatably connected to the container coupling member. A cosmetic product as described in claim 4, wherein the lid coupling member, the frame coupling member and the container coupling member are rotatably connected to each other via a common hinge. The cosmetic product as described in claim 5 further includes a coupling member formed on at least one of the lid or the frame, wherein the coupling member is suitable for pushing the frame to a raised position when the lid is rotated to a raised position relative to the container. A cosmetic product as described in claim 1, wherein the removable drawer includes a liner, which is disposed in the drawer cavity to retain the cosmetic material. A cosmetic product as described in claim 1, wherein the removable drawer includes a detent adapted to generate tactile feedback when the removable drawer is inserted and/or removed from the second opening of the frame. The cosmetic product of claim 1 further comprising a gripping member formed on the removable drawer. The cosmetic product of claim 1 further comprises an applicator adapted to be disposed in the cavity of the container. A cosmetic product comprising: a container defining a cavity and comprising a container coupling member; a removable drawer comprising a drawer cavity adapted to hold a cosmetic substance; and a frame adapted to be at least partially disposed within the cavity of the container, the frame comprising a base member extending generally along a plane, side walls defining the frame cavity, grooves formed on the side walls, and a frame coupling member adapted to be rotatably coupled to the container coupling member; wherein the groove is adapted to slidably receive the removable drawer in a direction parallel to the base so that the removable drawer can be positioned within the frame cavity. The cosmetic product of claim 11, wherein the removable drawer is prevented from being removed from or inserted into the slot until the frame is rotatably moved to a raised position relative to the container. The cosmetic product as described in claim 11 further includes a cover, wherein the cover includes a cover coupling member suitable for being rotatably connected to the container coupling member. A cosmetic product as described in claim 13, wherein the lid coupling member, the frame coupling member and the container coupling member are rotatably connected to each other via a common hinge. The cosmetic product of claim 14 further comprises an engaging member formed on at least one of the lid or the frame, the engaging member being adapted to push the frame to a raised position when the lid is rotated to a raised position relative to the container. A cosmetic product as described in claim 11, wherein the removable drawer includes a liner, which is disposed in the drawer cavity to retain the cosmetic material. A cosmetic product as described in claim 11, wherein the removable drawer includes a detent adapted to generate tactile feedback when the removable drawer is inserted and/or removed from the second opening of the frame. The cosmetic product of claim 11, further comprising a gripping member formed on the removable drawer. The cosmetic product of claim 11, further comprising an applicator suitable for being disposed in the cavity of the container.

Images