EP0832579B1 - Improved turning case, such as lipstick case - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a rotating case such as a tube lipstick. It relates more particularly to an improvement.

• un corps extérieur cylindrique circulaire,
• un curseur portant le bâton de rouge à lèvres, monté mobile axialement dans le corps et l'embase, sa mobilité étant commandée par un mouvement de rotation de l'embase par rapport au corps de l'étui,
• une embase tournante par rapport au corps, pouvant, dans le cas des gaines basses, remonter à l'intérieur du corps jusqu'à son sommet, tel une gaine, ou pouvant également posséder les spirales de guidage du curseur en sa circonférence intérieure.

We already know lipstick cases comprising a rotating mechanism allowing the extraction or retraction of the lipstick stick, inside a protective case. This mechanism generally includes:

• a circular cylindrical outer body,
• a cursor carrying the lipstick stick, mounted axially movable in the body and the base, its mobility being controlled by a rotational movement of the base relative to the body of the case,
• a rotating base relative to the body, which can, in the case of low sheaths, go up inside the body to its top, like a sheath, or can also have the guide spirals of the cursor in its inner circumference.

In known cases, the height of the base, which is in below the cursor guidance area and its stroke, increases the higher the height of the case, the higher the height of the base. Through elsewhere, the height of the base must be at least equal to the stroke of the cursor. As a result, the height of the base penalizes the visible height of the body for a standard total height of case. We therefore understand that traditional cases have drawbacks that limit the use of their design. This is particularly the case for the revolving cases described in patents US 2,222,415 and US 2,385,643 whose base or slider has guide spirals over the entire height of the case.

The object of the present invention is to propose a new rotating holster mechanism, economical in manufacturing and investment of tools and having great possibilities in term aesthetics and ergonomics, while combining functions additional, such as a simplified packaging system, by pouring the dough on the back of the slider, as well as the concept of economic refills. Let us add that the construction according to the invention allows, for a determined length of lipstick, to obtain a case turning very short.

Thus, according to the invention, the rotating case such as a red tube to lips includes a base, a body and a slider intended to receive the lipstick stick it includes means of blocking in rotation of the cursor relative to the body and means of movement guidance of said cursor relative to the base and is characterized in that it includes at least one helical groove in which is engaged at least one stud making protrusion from the peripheral wall of the cursor, and this, to let the upper body extending beyond the smooth base without grooves.

According to additional characteristics, the means of locking in rotation and the guide means consist of at less a rib integral with the base constituting, moreover, a guide projection, intended to cooperate with at least one notch performed in the cursor wall.

According to another characteristic, the body is blocked in translation longitudinal along the general axis thanks to at least one external projection disposed at the lower part of the ribs intended to cooperate with a circular groove made in the lower part of the body.

According to another additional characteristic, the two nipples guides are arranged at the bottom of the closest slider possible from the lower end plane, while the ribs take birth in the lower part of the body.

In a preferred construction method, the base is made up by an external peripheral wall and by a bottom from which project towards the top two ribs formed by two cylindrical wall portions diametrically opposite, the wall portions being cylindrical with an axis and arranged inside the base to leave between these and the outer peripheral wall of the body a space intended to receive the body, while said body is free to rotate in space by relative to the base to be locked in longitudinal translation thanks to two external projections arranged at the bottom of the ribs intended to cooperate with a circular groove made in the part lower body.

Note that the body and the cursor form a subset can be detached from the base to form a refill interchangeable, while said subset consisting of the body and the cursor can receive a protective warhead and / or suitable for use mold for pouring lipstick paste.

According to a variant, the water, air and solvent tightness is ensured in its lower part, by the collaboration of the faces of the body of the base or faces of the base body, while in the upper part it is ensured by the collaboration of the faces of a cylindrical projection central cover with an internal peripheral rim of the body.

According to one embodiment of the rotating case, its body is made of transparent material.

Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will emerge of the description which will follow with regard to the appended drawings which are not given only by way of nonlimiting examples.

Figures 1 to 8 illustrate a first embodiment of a revolving case of the lipstick type according to the invention.

Figures 1 and 2 are views in longitudinal section of the case without the protective cover, FIG. 1 being a view of the case in position retraction of the lipstick stick known as the protective position, while Figure 2 is a view in the use extraction position so-called distribution position.

FIG. 3 is a view in longitudinal section of a refill of the case.

Figure 4 is a longitudinal sectional view of the base.

Figure 5 is a top view of the base.

Figure 6 is a longitudinal sectional view of the body.

Figure 7 is an external side view of the cursor.

Figure 8 is a top view of the cursor.

Figure 9 illustrates in detail how the sealing of the case, FIGS. 9a and 9b being views on a larger scale.

Figures 10 and 11 show an alternative embodiment according to views similar to Figures 1 and 2, but in a longitudinal section through right angle.

Figure 12 illustrates the different stages of assembly and conditioning of the mechanism.

The mechanism illustrated in Figures 1 and 8 essentially comprises a base (1), a body (3) and a slider (4). The base (1) is made up by an external peripheral wall (10) and by a bottom (30) from which projecting upward two ribs (2a, 2b) formed by two portions of cylindrical walls (20a, 20b), diametrically opposite. Portions of wall (20a, 20b) being cylindrical with an axis (XX ') and arranged inside of the base to leave between them and the external peripheral wall (10) of the body a space "e" intended to receive the body (3). note that said body (3) is free to rotate in space "e" relative to the base (1).

Add that the body (3) is blocked in longitudinal translation thanks to two external projections (8a, 8b) arranged at the bottom of the ribs (2a, 2b) intended to cooperate with a circular groove (9) performed on the lower part of the body (3). Of course, we might not provide only one projection.

Note that the cursor (4) is movable in vertical displacement but is locked in rotation relative to the body by cooperation of two ribs (2a, 2b) with the two corresponding notches (5a, 5b) made on the cursor (4).

The longitudinal movement of the cursor (4) carrying the stick lipstick (11), that is to say the displacement of the position of protection (figure 1) to the dispensing position (figure 2) and conversely, is done by rotation of the base (1) relative to the body (3) thanks to the cooperation of two pins (6a, 6b) arranged on the external face of the cursor (4), with two corresponding helical grooves (7a, 7b) made in the wall of the body (3).

In order to obtain the shortest possible rotating case, the two guide pins (6a, 6b) are arranged at the bottom of the slider (4) as close as possible to the lower end plane (P1), while the helical grooves (7a, 7b) originate at the bottom of the body (3).

According to a characteristic of the invention, the helical grooves (7a, 7b) are arranged in the lower interior part (3a) of the body (3), hidden by the height (H1) of the base (1), thus allowing, when the body (3) is made of transparent material, to obtain a cylindrical surface upper (3b) completely smooth, revealing in the best optical conditions the product color or lipstick stick (11).

Note also that the mechanism is also characterized in that the visible height (H1) of the base (1) can be variable from minimum to maximum, while respecting a height (H2) of product (11) at distribute by extraction, standard.

Add that the value of the operating torque is determined by the force exerted by the projection (s) (8a, 8b) of the ribs (2), cooperating by bending with the internal groove (9).

It will be noted, according to another characteristic, that the body (3) and the cursor (4) form a subset which can be detached from the base (1), by a traction exerted along F1 along the axis (X) and can be assembled by pressure, according to F2 in the base (1), the body (3) and the cursor (4) with its lipstick stick (11) form a sub-assembly which can be detached from the base (1) and constitute thus an interchangeable refill as illustrated in Figure 3; the detachment by pulling upwards until unclipping protrusions (8a, 8b) of the inner groove (9). Besides, this set forming a sub-assembly can receive a warhead (12) intended to serve mold for pouring the lipstick paste, the slider (4) and the warhead (12) packaged with the lipstick paste (11) forming a simplified refill for the lipstick case. In addition, the warhead (12) can also be used as a mold for pouring lipstick paste (11).

Of course, the mechanism can receive a protective cover (14), as shown in thin dashed lines in Figure 1, coming position above the base (1) and around the body (3) to close the tube completely, especially the lipstick tube.

Figures 9, 9a, 9b show in a longitudinal section the details relating to the seal between the cover (14) and the body (3) as well between the base (1) and the body (3).

When the mechanism is closed by the cover (14), the seal at water, air and solvents are provided at the top by collaboration faces (15) of a central cylindrical projection (150) of the cover (14) and a internal peripheral rim (13) of the body (3). In its lower part, sealing is ensured by the collaboration of the faces (18) of the body (3, 19) of the base (1) or of the faces (17) of the body (3, 16) of the base (1). These two possibilities can be combined.

Figures 10 and 11 illustrate an alternative embodiment according to which the height (H4) of the body (3) is as small as possible for a length (H3) of the distribution stroke and for a height (H2) of determined lipstick, the height (H5) of the case then being very small.

Figure 12 illustrates the different stages of assembly and conditioning of the mechanism. Thus, after having produced the body (3) and the cursor (4), the latter is introduced into said body (3), FIG. 12b, until there is engagement of the two pins (6a, 6b) in the grooves helical. The cursor (4) is then moved to the position of distribution, Figure 12c, to receive the lipstick stick (11), figure 12d. The base (1) is then placed on the assembly cursor body (3, 4), Figure 12c. The cursor (4) is then retracted in protective position.

We will understand the simplicity of the rotating case according to the invention which comprises a body (1) of short height and according to which the blocking in rotation of the cursor (4) and its guide in vertical displacement are produced by cooperation of the body and the cursor (4). So the revolving case comprises means for blocking the rotation of the cursor (4) relative to to the body (1) and means for guiding the movement of said cursor (4) relative to the body.

The locking and guiding means being constituted by the cooperation of the two ribs (2a, 2b) extending upwards and corresponding notches (Sa, 5b) in which they are engaged. According to the illustrated embodiments, it will be noted that the ribs (2a, 2b) extend upwards over a height (H6) greater than the height (H1), that is to say beyond the plane P (FIG. 4), but one could also provide for ribs (2a, 2b) which do not exceed the height (H1) of the body to be totally hidden by the wall (10) of the base (1).

Furthermore, it will be noted that the helical grooves (7a, 7b) do not not extend over the whole height of the body, but only in the part low (3a) which is hidden by the base, so that the part high (3b) totally smooth, without groove.

Add that the body (3) is advantageously made of material transparent to reveal the lipstick by transparency (11).

It goes without saying that we could have a base (1) having no external peripheral wall (10) without leaving the frame of the invention. In this case, the protective cover (14) would descend to level of the bottom wall (30) of the base. It also goes without saying that could provide only one guide rib (2).

Claims (10)

1. Rotating case such as a lipstick tube, comprising a base (1), a body (3) and a slider (4) adapted to receive the lipstick (11) and means for blocking the rotation of the slider (4) relative to the body (1) and means for guiding the travel of said slider (4) relative to the base (1), characterised in that the lower part (3a) of the body (3) comprises at least one helical groove (7a, 7b) in which at least one stud (6a, 6b) projecting relative to the peripheral wall of the slider (4) engages, so as to leave the top part (3b) of the body standing clear of the base smooth and free from grooves.
2. Rotating case such as a lipstick tube according to claim 1, characterised in that the rotation blocking means and the guide means consist of at least one rib (2a, 2b) integral with the base (1) which also constitutes a guide projection, adapted to co-operate with at least one notch (5a, 5b) provided in the wall of the slider (4).
3. Rotating case such as a lipstick tube according to claim 2, characterised in that the body (3) is prevented from moving longitudinally by means of at least one external projection (8a, 8b) provided on the lower part of the ribs (2a, 2b) which are adapted to co-operate with a circular groove (9) provided on the lower part of the body (3).
4. Rotating case such as a lipstick tube according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the two guide studs (6a, 6b) are disposed on the lower part of the slider (4) as close as possible to the lower end plane (P1), while the ribs (7a, 7b) start on the lower part of the body (3).
5. Rotating case such as a lipstick tube according to claim 4, characterised in that the base (1) consists of an outer peripheral wall (10) and a bottom (30) from which two ribs (2a, 2b) project upwardly, said ribs consisting of two diametrically opposed cylindrical wall portions (20a, 20b), the wall portions (20a, 20b) being cylinders of axis (XX') disposed inside the base so as to leave a space, between them and the outer peripheral wall of the body, adapted to accommodate the body (3), while said body (3) is freely rotatable in the space "e" relative to the base (1) to be prevented from longitudinal travel by two external projections (8a, 8b) provided on the lower part of the ribs (2a, 2b) adapted to co-operate with a circular groove (9) provided on the lower part of the body (3).
6. Rotating case such as a lipstick tube according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the body (3) and the slider (4) form a sub-assembly capable of being detached from the base (1) to form an interchangeable refill.
7. Rotating case such as a lipstick tube according to claim 6, characterised in that the sub-assembly consisting of the body (3) and the slider (4) is capable of accommodating a socket (12) to protect it and/or to act as a mould for casting lipstick paste.
8. Rotating case such as a lipstick tube according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that a tight seal against water, air and solvents is provided in its lower part by the interaction of the surfaces (18) of the body (3, 19) of the base (1) or the surfaces (17) of the body (3, 16) of the base (1).
9. Rotating case such as a lipstick tube according to claim 8, characterised in that a tight seal against water, air and solvents is provided in the top part by the interaction of the surfaces (15) of a central cylindrical projection (150) of the lid (14) with an inner peripheral edge (130) of the body (3).
10. Rotating case such as a lipstick tube according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the body (3) is made of transparent material.

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