US2766876A - Cosmetic container - Google Patents

Description

Oct. 16, 1956 R. B. HoPGooD 2,755,876

oosMETlc CONTAINER Filed Jan. 29, 1955 FIG. l. FIG. 2.

,j FIG. 3.

INVENToR. R055?? 1Y0/6000 United States Patent Office 2,766,876 Patented Oct. 16,

cosMErIc CONTAINER Robert B. Hopgood, Cheshire, Conn., assignor to The Eyelet Specialty Company, Waterbury, Conn., a corporation of Connecticut Application January 29, 1953, Serial No. 333,943

12 Claims. (Cl. 20G-456) My invention relates to constructions for cosmetic or the like containers and, in particular, to those carrying a plurality of lipsticks or the like, to be selectively projected for use.

It is an object of the invention to provide improved constructions of the character indicated, wherein projection is -to be eected through one end of the device.

It is another object to provide common propulsion means for two carriers in a device of the character indicated.

It is another object to provide propulsion means for two carriers whereby, for a single direction of advance of an actuating member, one carrier may be propelled inwardly while the other is propelled outwardly and, thereafter, the said one may be propelled outwardly while the other is propelled inwardly.

A further object is to provide an improved cam ccnstruction for a device of the character indicated, whereby maximum propulsive advance per actuating turn is achieved when a carrier is near the outwardly projected position, while minimum advance per turn is achieved when a carrier is near the inwardly retracted position.

Another object is to provide common means for preventing inadvertent propulsion of two independently propelled carriers when a closure cap is in place.

Other objects and various further features of novelty and invention will be pointed out or will occur to those skilled in the art from a reading of the following specification, in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. In said drawings, which show, for illustrative purposes only, preferred forms of the invention:

Fig. 1 is a vertical sectional view of a container incorporating features of the invention and with the parts shown in retracted condition, the container being closed by a removable closure cap;

Fig. 2 is a simplified side view of the device of Fig. l, showing the relationship of parts when one of the carriers has been propelled;

Fig. 3 is .an enlarged transverse sectional view taken in the plane 3--3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of a carrier as employed in the device of Fig. l;

Fig. 4A is a view similar to Fig. 4, but illustrating a a slight modication;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary view in perspective of a lower part of the container of Fig. 2, and with certain elements broken away to reveal a safety feature of the construction.

Fig. 6 is a vertical sectional view illustrating an alternative cosmetic-container construction incorporating features of the invention;

Fig. 7 is a perspective view of a carrier employed in the device of Fig. 6; and

Figs. 8, 9, and l0 are transverse sectional views illustrating further alternative constructions of the invention.

Briey stated, my invention contemplates an improved construction lending itself particularly for use in cosmetic containers wherein two lipsticks or the like are to be available for selective use at one end of the device, and my invention resides in providing common propulsion means for the two carriers. In one form, the arrangement ofthe common propulsion means is such that for a single direction of movement of the common propulsion means one carrier may iirst be moved outwardly while the other is retracted and then, without any change of direction of actuating movement, the said one carrier may be retracted while the said other carrier is propelled. In another form, the actuating direction must be reversed in order to change the direction of movement of a particular carrier. 'Several alternative employments of the common propulsion means with respect to the carriers will be described. I

Referring to Figs. 1 to 4 of the drawings, my invention is shown in application -to a cosmetic container providing common propulsion means for the selective propulsion and retraction of two lipsticks or the like 10-11. The lipsticks 10-11 may be held in separate carrier members 12-13, which I have shown cup-shaped in moreor less conventional manner. The carrier members 12-13 .may be supported in suitable guide means 14-15 within case means 16. The case means 16 happens to be shown as of molded-plastic construction and may be in essentially. one piece, providing -the guide means 14-'15 at cylindrical bores open at the upper end of the container, and with base means 17 closing the other end of the bores. The base 17 may be characterized by a peripherally extending shoulder 1S to receive abutment of a closure cap 19 when in place and, if desired, small nibs 20 may be formed at opposite locations on the body 16 and projecting outwardly into intercepting relation with the closure cap 19, so as to provide an adequate friction grip to maintain 'the closure cap in place, as will be understood, l

In accordance with a feature ofthe invention, I provide common propulsion means for both carriers 12-13. Such propulsion means may comprise two relatively rotatable members, with follower means reacting against a cam carried by one of these rotatable members to propel each carrier. In the form shown, the cam is formed on'a rotatable member 21 journalled in the body 16 on an axis offset from the propulsion axes of both carriers 12-13.l The cam member 21 is shown characterized by two threads 22--23 having opposite directions of advance and yet axially coextensive and smoothly and continuously joined at opposite ends, as shown clearly at. the upper end 24 in Fig. l. The threads 22-23 yare thus, in effect, a single continuous thread with one stretch Wound back and in' j overlapping relation with the other stretch. For a purpose which will later be clear, the threaded advance per turn for threads 22-23 is preferably relatively shortat the lower or bottom end of cam means 21, and is relatively great at the upper or open end of the container, as will be evident upon inspection of Fig. l. 4

The cam means 21 may be received in a bore 25 (Fig. 3) in the body 16 and may be journalled in a bridg26 at the upper or open end, and in the base 17 at the lower end. An actuating knob 27 may be staked or otherwise secured to the projecting end of the cam means 21' and may be received in a recess 23 in the base 17. In Fig, 2` recess 28 is shown to have outwardly flaring walls 28 open to the lateral sides of the base 17, for easier finger` access to knob 27. l

To permit propulsive action, the cam bore 25 may conlmunicate separately with both carrier bores 14-15by way of channels defined respectively by shoulders 29-30. Cam followers 31--32 carried by the respective Ycarriers 12-13 may thus project through the channels 29- 3 0 into separate engagement with the respective stretches,

22-23 of the cam means and, if desired, the camfol@ lowers may be of a width to slide along (for reaction.

against) the shoulders 29-30 of the channels. However, in the form shown, I illustrate my preference Afor vproviding reaction guide means carried by the respective carl rier members 12-13 independently of the cam-follower?.

Vance. In Fig. 3, Iillustrate that the cam-follower shank may be supported in, spaced bosses 37--38 formed at diametrically opposite locations and out of the cylindrical body of the carrier v13; alternatively, vin Fig. 4, I illustrate a slightly diierent constructionwherein pivot bosses 37-38 are struck out of the base of the carrier member and provide transversely aligned support for the shank 35 of a similar cam follower.

In operation, whichever the manner of supporting the pivoted carrier member, it will be understood that if the `carriers 12-13 are initially assembled with an equal number of turns of the cam means to either end of the cam means, then upon knob actuation at 27 in a single di-V rection, say counterclockwise as viewed from the bottom,

the carrier 13 will be propelled while the carrier 12 is further retracted, until a point of maximum propulsion for the carrier 13 and maximum retraction of carrier 12 will occur, as illustrated in Fig. 2. Upon continued knob actuation in the same (counterclockwise) direction, the pivoted cam followers will be caused to change their slope, and the carrier 13 will be retracted while the carrier 12 is propelled. If desired, this propulsion may be stopped when the Vcarriers are aligned as in Fig. l, or, if desired, the same actuation may be continued so as to elfect a full propulsion of carrier 12 and a full retraction of carrier l13. Continued rotation of knob 27 in the same direction will return the parts to the relation shown in Fig. l, and it will be understood that equally smooth selective operation of the carriers may be achieved for the opposite (clockwise) direction of knob actuation.

' Ordinarily, I prefer that the number of half-turns of each of the cam threads 22-23 shall be an odd number, as. for example the nine (9X1/2=41/2 turns) shown. This relationship will assure that when the carriers level up, as in Fig. l, they will always level up in the same retracted position, whether leveling is accomplished upon retraction of carrier 12 or upon retraction of carrier 13, for the same direction of rotation of knob 27.

In Fig. 4A, I illustrate an alternative cup construction wherein washer means 39 is rotatably carried on the shaft 35' of the cam-follower means, the washer 39 being of a' fdiametral span to permit guiding clearance with the opposite walls of a particular channel 29-30, and to rolltherealong in order to derive the desired reaction for'lcarrier-propulsion purposes. This construction lwill be'lseeu to avoid a manufacturing operation in the formation ofthe carrier -cup 12', at the expense of an assembly operation involved in placing the washer 39 on the shaft 35'.

As a safety feature, and to prevent inadvertent propulsion of a lipstick or 11 against the inside of the closure cap 19 when the'closure cap is in place, I may provide cooperating frictionally engaging parts, projections, or dogs, between the closure cap and a part carried with the kh'ob 2 7, s uch parts beingengaged, of course, only when the closure cap is in place.

inner*` part thereof may directly frictionallyengage the 2,1. tonresistpfopulsion f either carrier.

*A However, in Fig. 5, I illus-I trater'ny preference forforming a part of the body 16V InrFigs. 6 and 7 I illustrate a modified container construction wherein propulsion of one carrier and retraction of the other carrier' 51 is always eifected upon a particular direction of actuation of a propulsion knob 52. The common propulsion means for producing this result may include asingle cam 53 generally resembling that of Fig. l, but characterized by separate threads 54-55 which do not smoothly join at their respective ends. There is, thus, no need to have the cam followers (as at 56 for the carrier 50, and at 57 for the carrier 51) reverse at any time and, therefore, such cam followers 56-57 may be formed by striking directly out of the material of the carrier 50. However, to promote smooth action at the crossover points forthe respective threads 54-55, I prefer that the follower 56 shall be elongated in the direction of threaded advance, as shown in Fig. 7; and, if desired, the limits 56' of such follower 56 may serve as guide means reacting against the channels'or shoulders 58, for propulsion purposes. With a fixed follower of the type shown in Fig. 7, it becomes necessary to maintain the pitch or threaded advance per turn on the cam 53 substantially constant, but if pivotal followers of the type described in connection with Fig, l are employed, then the pitch of the threads near the bottom end of the container may be shorter than that of those near the open end, and an overall saving in length of the container may be effected, as will be understood.

In Fig. 8, I illustrate another arrangement wherein common propulsion means serve the carriers for two lipsticks 60-61. The common propulsion means may comprise a single threaded member 62 journaledin the body 63 of the container and generally resembling either the cam means 21 of Fig. 1, or the cam means 53 of Fig. 6, but being accommodated in a bore 64 displaced off the line of centers for propulsion of the two carriers 60-61, thus permitting the two carriers to be placed closer together and reducing the overall width requirements for the construction. As in the case of Fig. 3, the central bore 64 may be joined to the bores for the carriers 60-61 by channel means 66-67 against which Vpropulsive elements may react, as will be understood.

In Fig. 9, I illustrate another configuration employing non-circular lipsticks and carriers, but still utilizing com- Y and supported in similarly oval carriers guided in ovalV guide bores in the body 71. Because of the non-circular cross-section of the carriers, there is no normal tendency for both carriers.

for the carriers to rotate in their respective bores and,

therefore, no particular reaction guide means need be. Thus,`

formed in, nor carried by, the respective carriers. pivoted follower means 74vmay provide all the necessary connection to the propulsion means 70.

In Fig. l0, I illustrate still another modified form e111-,Y

ments 83-84 are provided for the propulsion of each;

carrier and, therefore, only a single direction of threaded advance need characterize the cam formation on;

each of the elements 83-84. This fact will be seen to simplify the requirements for thecam-follower con-V struction so that, in each case, the cam-follower need,

only be a lug or other simple projection formed in or carried by a carrier member. YSeparate knobs 86-,87- may be provided for independent actuation of the re-,

spective cams 83-84, thereby in effect providing two independent propulsion systems in the same contain# er. However, in the form shown, I illustrate my preference for means coordinating the action of these propulsion systems, thus providing common propulsion means To effect this purpose, both cams S3v-84A may be duplicatesof each other, that is, having threads advancing in the same directionY (as, forv a'reasve example, right-handed threads), and the actuating knobs 86-87 may be formed as meshing pinions, whereby upon actuating either one of the knobs 86-87, the cams 8.3-84 will be rotated in opposite directions, and one lipstick will be propelled outwardly while the other is further retracted.

It will be seen that l have disclosed a relatively simple and ingenious means for selectively propelling and retracting a particular one of two lipsticks or the like in a cosmetic container. This result is achieved with fewer parts than would be required in a container involving two independent propulsion systems, and the action is foolproof.

While I have described my invention in detail for the preferred forms shown, it will be understood th'at modications may be made within the scope of the invention as defined in the claims which follow.

I claim:

1. In a container of the character indicated, two carrier members, case means including separate guide means for said carrier members, common propulsion means for said carrier members and including a rotatable member journalled in said case means, a closure cap slidably received over said case means, and movable means formed out of the body of said case means and projecting into intercepting relation with said closure cap, said movable means including a part radially adjacent a part of said rotatable member, so that upon placement of said closure cap, said movable means will be displaced, said movable means being engaged with said rotatable member upon closure cap-actuated displacement of said movable means.

2. In a container of the character indicated, two cylindrical carrier cups adapted to support stick cosmetic projecting axially of corresponding ends of said cups, case means having two laterally spaced cylindrical guide bores for said cups, said bores being closed at one end of said container and open at the other end for projection of stick cosmetic out said other end, cam means including elongated overlapping right-hand and left-hand threads laterally offset from and generally between the axes of said guide bores and journalled for rotation in said case means, said case means having a further bore to accommodate said cam means and elongated channels communicating between said bores, cam-following connections between said threads and said carrier cups, and guide means carried by each. of said carrier cups and projecting into one of said channels for sliding engagement with a wall of said channel; said guide bores being suiciently elongated and said cups being so engaged to said cam means as to accomplish retraction of both cups loaded with stick cosmetic for one position of said cam means, and so as to accomplish full propulsion of one cup to the exclusion of propulsion of the other cup for a second position of said cam means, and so as to accomplish full propulsion of said other cup to the exclusion of propulsion of said one cup for a third position of said cam means.

3. A container according to claim 2, in which for each carrier said guide means is formed out of the cylindrical carrier body and includes abutments spaced substantially by the width of the adjacent channel for sliding reacting engagement with either wall of said channel, depending upon the direction of propulsion of said carrier.

4. A container according to claim 2, in which for each carrier said guide means includes a washer pivotally carried on a side of said carrier.

5. A container according to claim 2, in which for each carrier said carrier includes cam-follower means integrally formed out of the cylindrical body of said carrier member, and in which said guide means is dened by' transverse limits of said cam-follower means.

6. A container according to claim 2, in which each said cam-following connection to a particular cup comprises a pin journalled in diametrically aligned bosses formed out of the bottom of said particular cup.

7. In a container of the character indicated, two cylindrical carrier cups adapted to support stick cosmetic projecting axially of corresponding ends of said cups, case means having two laterally spaced guide bores for said cups, said bores being closed at one end of said container and open at the other end for projection of stick cosmetic out said other end, cam means substantially longitudinally coextensive with said bores and including elongated overlapping right-hand and left-hand threads laterally offset from and generally between the axes of said guide bores and journalled for rotation in said case means, each of said guide bores having a longitudinally extending slot therein adjacent said cam means, cam-following connections between said threads and said carrier cups and passing through said slots, and externally accessible manual actuating means for said cam means; said guide bores being su-fliciently elongated and said cups being so engaged to said cam means as to accomplish retraction of both cups loaded with stick cosmetic for one position of said cam means, and so as to accomplish full propulsion of one cup to the exclusion of propulsion of the other cup for a second position of said cam means, and so as to accomplish full propulsion of said other cup to the exclusion of propulsion of said one cup for a third position of said cam means.

8. A container according to claim 7, in which said actuating means includes a knob externally accessible at a locally recessed part of the closed end of said case means.

9. A container according to claim 7, in which both said threads are characterized by relatively short advance per turn and by relatively long advance per turn at corresponding ends.

10. A container according to claim 7, in which said threads are continuously joined to each `other at their respective ends, whereby for continuous rotation of said cam means in the same direction, one of said carrier cups may be propelled outwardly while the other is propelled inwardly and, thereafter, the said one may be propelled inwardly while the said other is propelled outwardly.

11. A container according to claim 7, in which the axis of said cam means is substantially on the line of centers of symmetry for said carrier cups.

l2. A container according to claim 7, in which said cam means is displaced to one side of the line of centers of symmetry of said carrier cups, whereby the spacing between carrier cups may be minimized.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 396,469 Costigan Jan. 22, 1889 1,549,264 Nealon Aug. 11, 1925 1,664,071 Furedy Mar. 27, 1928 1,664,166 Furedy Mar. 27, 1928 1,675,365 McAtree July 3, 1928 1,994,074 Kendall Mar. l2, 1935 2,104,902 Morrison Jan. 11, 1938 2,159,872 Younghusband May 23, 1939 2,352,448 Reichenbach Jan. 27, 1944 2,476,866 Heyman July 19, 1949 2,504,490 Broder Apr. 18, 1950 2,519,502 Rem Aug. 22, 1950 2,626,047 Crane Ian. 20, 1953

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