US2190538A - Vanity case - Google Patents

Description

Feb. 13, 1940. F. M. WILLIAMSON VANITY CASE Filed July 11. 1938 Patented Feb. 13 l940 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE VANITY CASE Floyd M. Williamson, Detroit, Mich. Application July 11, 1938, Serial No. 218,510 7 Claims. (01. 206-37) This invention relates to vanity cases in general, and in particular to vanity cases equipped with novelly arranged and readily operable cosmetic containers.

Vanity cases, to be marketable, must be compact though containing roomy compartments, and they must be readily serviceable and yet be extremely attractive. Although the price to the purchaser of this type of device is secondary if the device has embodied therein the above qualities, yet, to the manufacturer cost is an important factor. 80, to rearrange the various essential cosmetic compartments within a vanity case so as to make these compartments more readily accessible and more independently operable, without incurring too much additional manufacturing costs and without sacrificing the beauty and compactness of the device, presents problems the solutions of which require ingenuity which has not as yet been exercised in the vanity case field.

For the accomplishment of these ends one of the main objects of the invention is to improve the present day vanity case whereby it will be better adapted for serving the wants of the user because of its increased utility.

Another object is to preserve the compactness of a vanity case without sacrificing its attractiveness by providing in said vanity case but outside of the main cosmetic compartment a separate cosmetic compartment containing one of the necessary and widely used cosmetics which is made readily accessible and usable with or without opening thevanity case, thereby to increase the serviceability of the vanity case.

Still another object of the invention is to provide in a vanity case having a main cosmetic compartment an auxiliary cosmetic compartment made accessible without opening the vanity case to gain access to said main compartment.

A further object is to provide a vanity case with novelly arranged means whereby the operation thereof will perform the above objects, the construction, cost and arrangement of said means increasing the serviceability and utility of the vanity ness and beauty thereof or adding materially to the manufacturing cost and selling price of such device.

Other objects and advantages will become.

case without sacrificing the compact-' vanity case embodying the present invention, and showing same in operative position;

Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the vanity case in closed position, partly broken away and partly in section for better illustrating structural details of the device;

Fig. 3 is an edge elevation of the device shown in Fig. 2 and looking at the latter from the left thereof;

Fig. 4 is a top edge elevation of the device I shown in Fig. 2;

Figs. 5 and 6 are sectional views taken along the lines 55 and 6-6, respectively, in Fig. 2; Fig. '7 is a sectional view taken along the lines 1-1 in Fig. 3; and

'Fig. 8 is a sectional lines 8-8 in F18. 2.

The vanity case which is shown in the figures comprises a pair of casing members it and view taken along the i2, hinged as at II, and each casing being formed with inturned flanged edges which abut each other when the casings are in closed position. Casing In, which forms no part of the invention but which is a necessary element in the vanity case proper, serving both as a cover member and also as a mirror container, is provided with a marginal flange l6 disposed slightly above the back face of the casing and beneath which, to be held in place thereby, is a mirror l8. Casing I0 is also provided with an opening 20 which,

when casings i0 and I2 are in closed, abutting position, is engaged by a locking member, to be discussed later, on casing l2 for locking said casings together when the vanity case is not in use.

Casing member l2, which comprises the main cosmetic container, is formed at its top end with an outwardly proiectingsection 22 which extends beyond casing l0 when said casings Ill and i2 are in closed position. Section 22 is flanged at its edges as is the main portion of casing l2 and is enclosed by an upraised portion 24 of a casing member 26 which is also flanged at the edges of portion 24 to abut the flanged edges of the section 22 of casing i2, casing 26 extending downwardly from portion 24 in parallel spaced relation to the back surface of the main portion of casing l2 and fitting thereinto to form compartments 28 and 30 for cosmetics, such as powder and rouge, said compartments 28 and 30 being formed in casing 26 byproviding apertures therein with rearwardly projecting walls 32 and 34, respectively, said apertures 28 and 30 being adapted for receiving and holding packages of, say,

some of the powder and rouge.

' I2 are in closed position, this provision being for the sake of appearance.

The compartment which is 'thus provided between the outwardly extending section 22 of casing I2 and the upraised section 24 of inner casing 26, when said casings are joined and fitted together in any desirable manner, such as by spot welding or otherwise, comprises an auxiliary cosmetic compartment for housing, say, a lip stick. A lip stick has been chosen for purpose of illustration, but it is obvious that any other form of cosmetic can be substituted therefor. The lip stick 36 is contained within the usual container 38, the container 38 being provided with the usual removable cap member 48, and the unit of lip stick container and cap is pivoted at one end, such as by a pin 42 which extends transversely through the container 38 and between the sides of the sections 22 and 240i casings I2 and 26, pivot pin 42 having its ends preferably concealed for the sake of appearance and also to prevent same from catching and tearing materials usually accompanying the vanity case within the owners hand bag.

To provide for egress and ingress of the lip stick from and into the compartment containing same, the flanges which form the abutting relationship between the sections 22 and 24 of casings I2 and 26 are removed from the top end of the vanity case adjacent the lip stick unit, thus providing a slot 44 which should, naturally, be dimensioned in accordance with the plan dimensions of the lip stick unit. Also, it is preferable to have the top exposed surfaces of the lip stick unit and of the adjacent flanges of sections 22 and 24 of casings I2 and 26 lie in substantially the same plane when the lip stick is concealed or not in use.

Within the housing supporting the lip stick and its container is a spring 46 which is anchored at one end to the inner wall of the section 24 of casing 26 between the end of the lip stick container and said wall the end of spring 46 opposite its anchored end underlying said lip stick container and constraining the latter to move outwardly through slot 44 about the pivot 42. Spring 46 is anchored in any ordinary manner, but the employment of welding is preferable in order to minimize the number of unnecessary elements protruding from the outer surface of the vanity case assembly. Also anchored to an inner wall of said section 24, at a point beyond the free end of spring 46 and underneath a more central portion of lip stick container 38, is another spring 48 the free end of which, due to its resiliency. is constrained upwardly about its anchorage. Spring 48,- at a point substantially directly below the pivot 42 of lip stick container 38, is provided with an upstanding lug 58 which is cooperable with a shoulder 52 on the underside of container 38 for locking the later against upward movement about the pivot. See Figs. 1 and 2 for the unlocked and locked positions, respectively, of the lip stick unit 363848.

Also in the lip stick compartment there is provided a third spring member 54 which is anchored at one end to an upper portion of the flanged edge of section 24 of casing 26. Spring 54, from its anchorage point, substantially follows the inner side edge of the lip stick compartment to the wall of section 28 forming the lower wall of section 24, at which wall and for the purpose of avoiding and underlying same spring 54 is notched, such as at 56 (see Fig. 3). Spring 54 is directed forwardly from the notched portion 56 through an opening 58 (see Figs. 1 and 2) in casing26 and extends to a position adjacent the top corner of the flanged edge of casing I8 whereat the opening 28 in casing I8 is provided (see Figs. 3 and 7). The free end of spring 54 is provided with a hook 68 which is engageable over a side of the wall forming the opening 28 in casing l8 for locking the casings I8 and I2 together.

I Intermediate the ends of spring 54, and integral therewith, is a short rod 62 which extends outwardly from the lip stick compartment through an opening in the wall of said compartment provided therefor, the inner end of rod 62 being pointed to provide a camming surface thereat. The axis of rod 62 lies in a plane slightly above the upper surface of spring 48, when the lip stick unit is in inoperative position, and the point of the inner end of rod 62 slightly overlaps the free end of said spring 48, said free end of said spring being turned downwardly and, in alignment therewith in the lower wall of section 24 of casing 26, there is an opening 64 into which said free end of said spring is free to project during the downward movement thereof caused by inward movement of the rod 62.

Rod 62 is constrained outwardly by spring 54, the normal position of said rod being out of contact with spring 48. To open the casings I8 and I2 and also to throw out the lip stick unit, the rod 62 is pressed inwardly at which time the free end of spring 64 is forced away from the wall of opening 28 in casing I 8, thereby disengaging casings I8 and I2, and the spring 48 is forced downwardly, thereby disengaging the lug and shoulder portions 58 and 52 on spring 48 and container 38 and permitting the spring 46 to throw outwardly the free end of the lip stick container 38. The closing operation of the vanity case with its lip stick container is obvious from the above. It should be noted that, if it is desired to use only the lip stick, the casings I8 and I2 can be held in closed position by the hand while the rod 62 is pushed inwardly, in which case as soon as the lip stick container is released the rod 62- is forced outwardly by spring 54, thereby locking casings I8 and I2 together.

I Although the invention has been described with some detail such description is not intended to limit the scope of the inventive idea. The right is reserved to make such changes in the specification and drawing as will come within the purview' of the attached claims.

What I claim is:

1. In a vanity case, a pair of inter-fitting casing members forming a compartment therebetween, a cover hinged to one of said casing members, a cosmetic holder normally confined within said compartment and pivotally supported at an end therein, said compartment having an opening adjacent said holder, means engaging the free end of said holder for urging same about its pivoted support through said opening, a member anchored at one end in said compartment and formed intermediate its ends with an upstanding portion, an interruption formed on. the surface of said holder and engaged by said upstanding portion for locking said holder against pivoted movement, a spring supported and positioned in said compartment, and a cam operable externally of said compartment for depressing the free end of said anchored member to release said upstanding portion from said interruption,

whereby said holder is urged outwardly through said opening by said means, said spring having a free hooked end engageable with said cover for locking said cover and casing members together during the normal position of said cam.

2. In a vanity case, a compartment, a cosmetic holder supported for movement about a pivotal axis into and out of said compartment through an opening provided therefor in said compartment, means cooperable with the surface of said holder opposite said opening for normally constraining said holder outwardly through said opening about said axis, and releasable lockin means cooperable with the same surface of said holder for normally opposing the action of said first means.

3. In a vanity case, a compartment, a cosmetic holder supported for movement about a pivotal" axis into and out of said compartment through an opening provided therefor in said compartment,- a spring having one of its ends anchored in said compartment and its other end resiliently cooperable with the surface of said holder opposite said opening for normally constraining said holder outwardly through said opening about said axis, and releasable locking means cooperable with the same surface of said holder for normally opposing the action ofsaid spring.

4. In a vanity case, a compartment, a cosmetic holder supported 'for movement about a pivotal axis into and out of said compartment through an opening provided therefor in said compartment, means cooperable with the surface of said holder opposite said opening for normally constraining said holder outwardly through said opening about said axis, locking means cooperable witiLtige a-me surface of said holder for normally opposifigfithemiion of said first means, and means operable externa of said compartment 0' for releasing said locking means:-

' 5. In a vanity case, a compartment, a cosmeti the locking action thereof and simultaneously holder supported for movement about a pivotal axis into and out of said compartment through an opening provided therefor in said compartment, means cooperable holder opposite said opening for normally constraining said holder outwardly through said opening about said axis, a spring normally urged toward said holder and having an element thereon cooperable with a receiving portion therefor with the surface of said on said surface of said holder for locking said holder against the action of said means, and means operable externally of said compartment for releasing said element from said portion.

6. In a. vanity case, a compartment, a cosmetic holder supported for movement about a pivotal axis into and out of said compartment through an opening provided therefor in said compartment, a spring having one of its ends anchored in said compartment and its other end resiliently cooperable with the surface of said holder opposite said opening for normally constraining said holder outwardly through said opening about said axis, a second spring mounted in said compartment and normally urged toward said holder and having an element thereon cooperable with a receiving portion therefor on said surface of said holder for locking said holder against the action of said first spring, and means operable externally of said compartment for releasing said element from said portion.

' '7. In a vanity case having a compartment provided with an opening in a wall thereof and a second compartment having a closure member, a cosmetic holder pivotally mounted in the first compartment for movement through the opening into and out of the compartment, means cooperable with that surface of said holder opposite the opening for normally urging said holderutward- 1y therethrough, meansgcooperabl'with the same surface of said holder for normally locking said holder in place in its compartment against the action of said first means, and 'means cooperable with said second means for ineffectuating eflectua ng'theopening/ofjhe closure member.

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