US20090272400A1

US20090272400A1 - Cosmetics Container for Containing Cosmetics

Info

Publication number: US20090272400A1
Application number: US11/794,474
Authority: US
Inventors: Sei Jin Park; Young Hee Park
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2006-03-02
Filing date: 2007-01-10
Publication date: 2009-11-05
Also published as: KR100647455B1

Abstract

Disclosed is a cosmetics container for containing cosmetics. The cosmetics container has a casing, a sponge, and an opening/closing member. The casing contains liquid or powdered cosmetics, and is formed with a discharge port for discharging the cosmetics outside. The sponge is assembled on an outside of the casing on which the discharge port is formed, and the cosmetics permeates to the sponge so that the cosmetics is provided outside thereof. The opening/closing member is disposed on the casing at the discharge port so as to close the discharge port, and is deformed by a deformation of the sponge due to an outside force applied to the sponge so that the discharge port is open. When using the cosmetics container that the sponge is assembled with the casing for containing cosmetics, the amount of the cosmetics discharged through the sponge can be controlled easily since the powder is supplied to the sponge when the sponge is contacted with and pressed by the skin.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a cosmetics container, and more particularly, to a cosmetics container for containing powdered cosmetics and discharging the contained powered cosmetics.

BACKGROUND ART

There are many kinds of cosmetics that are used mainly by women, i.e., liquid type cosmetics such as lotion that is used with a sponge or the like, or powder type cosmetics that a little amount of powdered cosmetics is spread. The powdered cosmetics is generally contained in a casing formed with a plurality of minute discharge ports and the minute discharge ports are open or close according to the rotated position of a lid in order to discharge the cosmetics a little through the discharge ports when used, which is most general fashion for the powdered cosmetics. In such a fashion, the cosmetics discharged through the discharge ports is spread on a sponge and then dressed on a skin, or dressed directly on the skin. Meanwhile, the liquid cosmetics are generally contained in a casing formed with a single discharge port, and a user can discharge the liquid cosmetics by inclining the casing.
Recently, in order to improve the convenience in using the liquid or powdered cosmetics, another type of cosmetics container that the cosmetics container casing is formed integrally with the sponge has been proposed. In such a integral type cosmetics container, the sponge is assembled with the casing that contains the liquid or powdered cosmetics and a discharge port is formed on the casing so that the cosmetics permeates to the sponge through the discharge port. The cosmetics is discharged outside little by little through the minute space formed on the porous sponge, and the user can dress the cosmetics little by little by picking up the casing and then contacting the sponge directly on the skin.
However, such a integral type cosmetics container has a shortcoming that the amount of cosmetics spread on the skin cannot be controlled easily. In other words, as the liquid or powdered cosmetics can be discharged into the inner space of the sponge through the discharge port that is open normally, excessive amount of cosmetics may permeate to the sponge. Thus, undesired amount of cosmetics may be spread onto the skin when the user uses the cosmetics.

TECHNICAL PROBLEM

The present invention has been proposed to solve the above problems, and it is the object of the present invention that the amount of liquid or powdered cosmetics discharged through the sponge in the integral type cosmetics container that the sponge is assembled with the casing for containing the cosmetics can be controlled easily.

TECHNICAL SOLUTION

To solve the above problem, the present invention provides a cosmetics container comprising: a casing for containing liquid or powdered cosmetics, the casing being formed with a discharge port on an area thereof, the discharge port for discharging the cosmetics outside; a sponge being assembled on an outside of the casing on which the discharge port is formed, the sponge to which the cosmetics discharged outside the casing through the discharge port permeates so that the cosmetics is provided outside thereof; and an opening/closing member so disposed on the casing near the discharge port as to close the discharge port, the opening/closing member being deformed by a deformation of the sponge due to an outside force applied to the sponge so that the discharge port is open. Here, the opening/closing member comprises: a plate portion of which edge is disposed to be fixed between the lower casing and the upper casing, the plate portion being formed with passage holes for allowing passage of the cosmetics; an opening/closing portion for maintaining close state of the discharge port by an elastic force of the plate portion; and an actuating portion being moved by the deformation of the sponge so that the opening/closing portion opens the discharge port.
The casing comprises a lower casing for containing the cosmetics, and an upper casing assembled with the lower casing and having the discharge port. The edge of the opening/closing member is disposed to be fixed between the lower casing and the upper casing. Meanwhile, the edge of the opening/closing member is formed over all area that the lower casing and the upper casing are in contact with each other. The opening/closing member is made of flexible material. The casing is maintained to an airtight state with respect to the outside air by such a construction.
The plate portion, the opening/closing portion, and the actuating portion can be formed integrally in a body. The plate portion is located on an inside of the casing, the opening/closing portion is disposed near the discharge port, and the actuating portion is extended to be in contact with the inner surface of the sponge.
According to the preferred embodiment of the present invention, a pressing member is disposed between the actuating portion and an inner surface of the sponge. The pressing member is in contact with the inner side of the sponge so as to provide a surface pressed by the deformation of the sponge.
Meanwhile, a supporting member is fixed on the casing and made of flexible material. The supporting member is covered by the sponge so as to maintain an appearance of the sponge. The supporting member has a passage hole connected with the discharge port of the casing, the passage hole through which the actuating portion passes.
According to another preferred embodiment of the present invention, the opening/closing member has a plurality of said actuating portions respectively extended from the opening/closing portion toward an inner surface of the sponge, and a plurality of said opening/closing portions corresponding to said actuating portions respectively.
In such a situation, the supporting member has a plurality of holes connected with the discharge port, the passage holes through which said plurality of actuating portions pass respectively so as to be opened/closed by said plurality of opening/closing portions.

ADVANTAGEOUS EFFECTS

According to the present invention, when using the cosmetics container that the sponge is assembled with the casing for containing cosmetics, the amount of the cosmetics discharged through the sponge can be controlled easily. Furthermore, since the airtight status of the container can be maintained, the solidification or the leakage of the liquid or powdered cosmetics can be prevented effectively.

DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the cosmetics container according to the first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a side sectional view of the cosmetics container of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a side sectional view of the cosmetics container of FIG. 2 in which the opening/closing member is open to be used;

FIG. 4 is a partial perspective view of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a plan view of the opening/closing member of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a modification of FIG. 2;

FIG. 7 is a view similar to FIG. 2 according to the second embodiment of the present invention;

FIGS. 8 and 9 are a plan view and a side sectional view of the supporting member of FIG. 7; and

FIGS. 10 and 11 are a plan view and a side sectional view of the opening/closing member of FIG. 7.

BEST MODE

Hereinbelow, the present invention will be described in greater detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the cosmetics container according to the first embodiment of the present invention, and FIGS. 2 and 3 are side sectional views of the cosmetics container of FIG. 1. In the embodiment of the present invention, the example of the container that the powdered cosmetics are contained will be shown. However, the cosmetics container of the present invention can be used as the container for containing the powdered cosmetics as well as the liquid cosmetics container, and the present invention includes such cases. Further, the term “liquid” in the present invention means not only the cosmetics such as a general lotion or a skin conditioner but also alcohol, water, or the like.
Referring to FIG. 1, the cosmetics container according to the present invention is comprised of a casing 30 for containing powder, a sponge 60 attached to the upper side of the casing 30, and a cap 40 assembled with the casing 30.
Referring to FIG. 2, the casing 30 is comprised of a lower casing 10 and an upper casing 20. The lower casing 10 has a shape of a container of which upper side is open, and contains powder P in the inner space thereof. In that situation, screwed portions 11 and 21 are formed respectively on the outer side of the upper part of the lower casing 10 and the inner side of the upper casing 20, by which the lower casing 10 and the upper casing 20 are screwedly assembled with each other. A discharge port 26 shown in FIG. 4 for discharging the powder P contained in the lower casing 10 outside is formed on the central area of the upper casing 20.
Meanwhile, a stripe shape protrusion 22 is formed on the outer peripheral of the upper casing 20, and a recess 43 assembled with the protrusion 22 is formed on the lower inner side of the cap 40. Therefore, the cap 40 is assembled detachably with the upper casing 20 by insertion.
The sponge 60 is assembled with the upper side of the upper casing 20 that the discharge port 26 is formed. The sponge 60 provides the function that the powder P discharged outside the upper casing 20 through the discharge port 26 permeates thereto and then is provided to the outside of the sponge 60.
Meanwhile, a supporting member 80 is disposed between the sponge 60 and the upper casing 20 in order to assemble the sponge 60 with the upper casing 20. The supporting member 80 is manufactured to have a shape of a tray that is formed with a passage hole 86 communicating with the discharge port 26 of the upper casing 20 at the central area thereof as shown in FIG. 4. As the lower part of the supporting member 80 is assembled with the edge of the discharge port 26 of the upper casing 20, the supporting member 80 is fixed on the upper casing 20. And, as the supporting member 80 is covered by the sponge 60, the sponge 60 is supported on the upper casing 20 by the supporting member 80, and the appearance of the sponge 60 is maintained by the supporting member 80. The supporting member 80 is preferably made of flexible material.
A mesh 70 is disposed on the inner surface of the sponge 60. The mesh 70 filters the lump cosmetics to become powder before the powder P permeates to the sponge.
Meanwhile, the cosmetics container according to the present invention includes an opening/closing member 50 installed on the discharge port 26 of the upper casing 20. The opening/closing member 50 maintains the normal close state of the discharge port 26, and is deformed by the deformation of the sponge 60 due to the outer force applied to the sponge 60 to open the discharge port 26.
More particularly, the opening/closing member 50 is comprised of a plate portion 51, an opening/closing portion 52, and an actuating portion 53.
As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the plate portion 51 has a shape of a wheel with a plurality of passage holes 57 on a disc shape plate. The plate portion 51 is disposed in the casing 30, and the edge 55 of the plate portion 51 is disposed to be fixed between the lower casing 10 and the upper casing 20. Then, the overall opening/closing member 50 is fixed. The passage holes 57 of the plate portion 51 allow the passage of the powder P through the plate portion 51.
The opening/closing portion 52 is formed to have a shape of a cone at the central area of the plate portion 51, and is disposed in the discharge port 26 of the upper casing 20. The opening/closing portion 52 is maintained to be in contact with the edge of the discharge port 26 by the elastic force applied by the plate portion 51, by which the discharge port 26 is maintained to a close state.
The actuating portion 53 has a shape of a bar extended upward from the opening/closing portion 52, and it is extended toward the inner surface of the sponge 60. Accordingly, when the sponge 60 is deformed to be recessed downward by the outside force applied to the upper side of the sponge 60, the actuating portion 53 moves downward. Then, the opening/closing member 52 moves against the elastic force of the plate portion 51 to be the status as shown in FIG. 3. In such a status, the discharge port 26 of the upper casing 20 is open, so the inner space of the casing 30 becomes connected with the inner space of the sponge 60. Therefore, the powder P in the casing 30 can move toward the sponge 60.
Meanwhile, it is preferable that the plate portion 51, the opening/closing portion 52, and the actuating portion 53 are formed integrally in a body so that the overall opening/closing member 50 is formed by a single member. In such a situation, the opening/closing member 50 is made of flexible material such as synthetic rubber or flexible plastic.
Meanwhile, as mentioned above, the edge 55 of the plate portion 51 of the opening/closing member 50 is disposed to be fixed between the lower casing 10 and the upper casing 20. In such a situation, the edge 55 of the opening/closing member 50 are formed over all area that the lower casing 10 and the upper casing 20 are in contact with each other. Therefore, the edge 55 functions as a gasket between the lower casing 10 and the upper casing 20, by which the airtight state of the inner space of the casing 30 is maintained.
The cosmetic container according to the present invention having the above-described construction can be used as follows.
As the user opens the cap 40, the sponge 60 is exposed outside. As the user grasps the casing 30 with his hand and pats the skin with the sponge 60, the powder P discharged a little is spread on a skin.
In such a situation, while the user pats with the sponge 60, the sponge 60 is pressed as shown in FIG. 3 so that the opening/closing member 50 opens the discharge port 26, and accordingly, the powder P in the casing 30 permeates to the sponge 60 through the passage hole 57 of the opening/closing member 50 and the discharge port 26 of the upper casing 20. Furthermore, while the user does not pat with the sponge 60, the opening/closing member 50 maintains the discharge port 26 to a close state, so the powder P is not provided to the sponge 60 any more. Therefore, the powder is provided to the sponge 60 only when the user uses the cosmetics container, so the excessive supply of the powder P to the sponge 60 which may be caused by the usual open state of the discharge as in the case of the prior art does not occur.
Meanwhile, the upper casing 20 and the lower casing 10 that form the space for containing powder P are assembled not only by screw assembly as in the case of the prior art, but the flexible edge 55 of the opening/closing member 50 is disposed between them. Therefore, the airtight state can be maintained more steadfastly by the edge 55.
As the airtight status of the inner space of the casing 30 is maintained, the leakage of the powder P does not occur and the outside air or moisture does not permeates into the inner space of the casing 30. Therefore, the deterioration or solidification of the powder P in the casing 30 does not occur. In such a situation, since the gasket is constituted by the edge 55 of the opening/closing member 50, the cosmetics container with various advantages can be manufactured with a simple structure. Furthermore, as the airtight close of the inner space of the casing 30 is maintained, the inner space of the casing 30 can be pressed more strongly when the sponge 60 is pressed as shown in FIG. 3, so the powder P can be supplied more smoothly into the sponge 60 along the arrow shown in FIG. 3.
FIG. 6 shows the modification of FIG. 2.
In this modification, a pressing member 90 is additionally prepared on the cosmetics container as shown in FIG. 2. The pressing member 90 is manufactured to a shape of a disc disposed between the actuating portion 53 of the opening/closing member 50 and the inner surface of the sponge 60, more particularly, the inner surface of the mesh 70. The upper surface of the pressing member 90 is in contact with the inner surface of the sponge 60, and the lower surface thereof is formed with an assembly portion 91 assembled with the upper end of the actuating portion 53 by insertion.
The pressing member 90 provides the surface pressed when the sponge 60 is deformed by the outside force, to press the actuating portion 53. Accordingly, when the user presses the sponge 60 on his/her skin for the makeup, the pressed area is enlarged to prevent the damage of the sponge by the sharp end of the actuating portion 53 and make the user feel smooth when the sponge 60 is contacted with the skin.
FIG. 7 is a view similar to FIG. 2 according to the second embodiment of the present invention, and FIGS. 8 through 11 show the supporting member and the opening member shown in FIG. 7. In the present embodiment, parts similar to those in the first embodiment are referred to with the same reference numerals, and the detailed description thereof is omitted.
In the present embodiment, the construction of the opening/closing member 50 and the supporting member 80 is somewhat different and the other parts are substantially identical.
In other words, as shown in FIGS. 10 and 11, a plurality of actuating portions 53 a, more particularly, three actuating portions 53 a are prepared, and three opening/closing portions 52 a are prepared to conform with the respective actuating portions 53 a. Three actuating portions 53 a have a shape of bars extended in parallel with each other, and are extended from the opening/closing portions 52 a toward the inner surface of the sponge 60.
As in the first embodiment, the pressing member 90 is installed at the upper end of the actuating portion 53 a, and the pressing member 90 has three assembly portions 91 a corresponding to three actuating portions 53 a.
Meanwhile, as shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, the supporting member 80 has three passage holes 86 a to conform with the construction of the actuating portions 53 a and the opening/closing portions 52 a, through which respective actuating portions 53 a pass. The respective passage holes 86 a are opened and closed by the respective opening/closing portions 52 a.
The operation of the cosmetics container according to the second embodiment of the present invention is identical to that of the first embodiment. However, the present embodiment has additional advantages as follows.
That is, as the passage holes 86 a of the supporting member 80 are arranged at various positions, the discharged powder will be contacted with large area of the sponge 60. Accordingly, the cosmetics discharged outside of the sponge 60 are spread over large area uniformly.
Furthermore, since the actuating portions 53 a pressed when the sponge 60 is contacted with the user's skin exist over large area, the user feels soft when the sponge 60 is contacted with his/her skin.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

According to the present invention, when using the cosmetics container that the sponge is assembled with the casing for containing cosmetics, the amount of the cosmetics discharged through the sponge can be controlled easily. Furthermore, since the airtight status of the container can be maintained, the solidification or the leakage of the liquid or powdered cosmetics can be prevented effectively.
The preferred embodiments have been illustrated and described so far, however, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications can be made within the spirit and the scope of the present invention, and accordingly, the scope of the present invention is not limited within the described range but the following claims and the equivalents thereof.

Claims

1. Cosmetics container comprising:

a casing for containing liquid or powdered cosmetics, the casing being formed with a discharge port on an area thereof, the discharge port for discharging the cosmetics outside;

a sponge being assembled on an outside of the casing on which the discharge port is formed, the sponge to which the cosmetics discharged outside the casing through the discharge port permeates so that the cosmetics is provided outside thereof; and

an opening/closing member so disposed on the casing near the discharge port as to close the discharge port, the opening/closing member being deformed by a deformation of the sponge due to an outside force applied to the sponge so that the discharge port is open,

wherein the casing comprises a lower casing for containing the cosmetics, and an upper casing assembled with the lower casing and having the discharge port, and

the opening/closing member comprises,

a plate portion of which edge is disposed to be fixed between the lower casing and the upper casing, the plate portion being formed with passage holes for allowing passage of the cosmetics;

an opening/closing portion for maintaining close state of the discharge port by an elastic force of the plate portion; and

an actuating portion being moved by the deformation of the sponge so that the opening/closing portion opens the discharge port.

3. The cosmetics container as claimed in claim 1, wherein the edge of the opening/closing member is formed over all area that the lower casing and the upper casing are in contact with each other.

4. The cosmetics container as claimed in claim 3, wherein the opening/closing member is made of flexible material.

5. The cosmetics container as claimed in claim 1, wherein the plate portion, the opening/closing portion, and the actuating portion are formed integrally in a body.

6. The cosmetics container as claimed in claim 5, wherein the plate portion is located on an inside of the casing, the opening/closing portion is disposed near the discharge port, and the actuating portion is extended to be in contact with the inner surface of the sponge.

7. The cosmetics container as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a pressing member disposed between the actuating portion and an inner surface of the sponge, the pressing member being in contact with the inner side of the sponge so as to provide a surface pressed by the deformation of the sponge.

8. The cosmetics container as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a supporting member fixed on the casing and made of flexible material, the supporting member being covered by the sponge so as to maintain an appearance of the sponge, the supporting member having a passage hole connected with the discharge port of the casing, the passage hole through which the actuating portion passes.

9. The cosmetics container as claimed in claim 1, wherein the opening/closing member has a plurality of said actuating portions respectively extended from the opening/closing portion toward an inner surface of the sponge, and a plurality of said opening/closing portions corresponding to said actuating portions respectively.

10. The cosmetics container as claimed in claim 9, further comprising a supporting member fixed on the casing and made of flexible material, the supporting member being covered by the sponge so as to maintain an appearance of the sponge,

wherein the supporting member has a plurality of holes connected with the discharge port, the passage holes through which said plurality of actuating portions pass respectively so as to be opened/closed by said plurality of opening/closing portions.

11. The cosmetics container as claimed in claim 10, further comprising a pressing member disposed between the actuating portion and an inner surface of the sponge, the pressing member being in contact with the inner surface of the sponge so as to provide a surface pressed by the deformation of the sponge.