US20160113374A1

US20160113374A1 - Applicator with Hidden Product

Info

Publication number: US20160113374A1
Application number: US14/701,269
Authority: US
Inventors: Cindy Sean Yuei Lim
Original assignee: HCT Group Holdings Ltd
Current assignee: HCT Group Holdings Ltd
Priority date: 2014-10-24
Filing date: 2015-04-30
Publication date: 2016-04-28

Abstract

A cosmetic apparatus may include a hollow body cover and an applicator extending out of a first end of the body cover. The apparatus may further include a base that is insertable into and removable from a second end of the body cover. The base may include a handle portion and a tray extending from the handle portion. The tray is accommodated within the body cover.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED PATENT APPLICATION

This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 62/068,515, which was filed Oct. 24, 2014, entitled “Applicator with Hidden Product,” which application is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND

Cosmetic products are generally applied by distributing a product using an applicator having a head (e.g., bristles, sponge, etc.) attached to one end of a handle. Handles may be made of various materials such as wood, metal, plastic, etc. Cosmetics products and applicators may be provided to consumers in many forms, including: a product preloaded directly on an applicator head itself; a package combination including an applicator and a product container, where the applicator is not pre-loaded with the product; and as individual items of a product container and a distinctly selected applicator, each selected according to a purchaser's preference.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The Detailed Description is set forth with reference to the accompanying figures. In the figures, the left-most digit(s) of a reference number identifies the figure in which the reference number first appears, with exception of reference number 502C, which appears first (for clarity) in FIGS. 3A-3C. The use of the same reference numbers in different figures indicates similar or identical items.

FIG. 1A illustrates an isometric view of an example cosmetic apparatus with an enclosed product.

FIG. 1B illustrates an exploded front view of the example cosmetic apparatus depicted in FIG. 1A.

FIG. 1C illustrates a side cross-sectional view of the example cosmetic apparatus depicted in FIG. 1A.

FIG. 2A illustrates an isometric view of another example cosmetic apparatus with an enclosed product and a cap.

FIG. 2B illustrates an exploded front view of the example cosmetic apparatus depicted in FIG. 2A.

FIG. 2C illustrates a side cross-sectional view of the example cosmetic apparatus depicted in FIG. 2A, without the cap.

FIG. 3A illustrates a side cross-sectional view of an alternative cosmetic apparatus with an enclosed product.

FIG. 3B illustrates a bottom cross-sectional view of the example cosmetic apparatus depicted in FIG. 3A, in a position at rest.

FIG. 3C illustrates a bottom cross-sectional view of the example cosmetic apparatus depicted in FIG. 3A, in an actuated position.

FIG. 4A illustrates a front cross-sectional view of an example cosmetic apparatus.

FIG. 4B illustrates a front cross-sectional view of another example cosmetic apparatus.

FIG. 5A illustrates a cross-sectional view of a portion of adjacent wall surfaces of the body cover and the tray of an example cosmetic apparatus.

FIG. 5B illustrates a cross-sectional view of a portion of adjacent wall surfaces of the body cover and the tray of another example cosmetic apparatus.

FIG. 5C illustrates a cross-sectional view of a portion of adjacent wall surfaces of the body cover and the tray of the example cosmetic apparatus depicted in FIGS. 3A-3C.

FIG. 6 illustrates a front view of features of another example cosmetic apparatus.

FIG. 7A illustrates a front view of a first position of yet another example cosmetic apparatus.

FIG. 7B illustrates a front view of a second position of the example cosmetic apparatus depicted in FIG. 7A.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Overview

This disclosure is directed to cosmetic products and the packaging thereof. Cosmetic products are generally applied by distributing a product using an applicator having a head (e.g., bristles, sponge, etc.) attached to one end of a handle. Handles may be made of various materials such as wood, metal, plastic, etc. Cosmetics products and applicators may be provided to consumers in many forms, including: a product preloaded directly on an applicator head itself; a package combination including an applicator and a product container, where the applicator is not pre-loaded with the product; and as individual items of a product container and a distinctly selected applicator, each selected according to a purchaser's preference.
Beyond offering consumers multiple means of obtaining cosmetic products, manufacturers generally provide a variety of packaging choices for ease of storage and portability of the product. For example, an individual might carry a cosmetic kit in a handbag. Thus, the products are packaged small enough to be manually portable. In order to prevent the cosmetic product from being exposed to or released inside the interior of the handbag, the products are generally contained in a resealable container. The resealable container allows an individual to access a desired quantity of product and then to store the remainder.
While some applicators may be obtained and/or stored separately from the product, others are contained in a single container as a combination package. Such combination containers permit convenient access to the applicator and the product for quick use. In contrast, when a container only contains the product, an individual desiring to use the product may also need to find a separate applicator. This becomes more complicated when the individual carries a plurality of applicators for different purposes, and as such, the individual may have to search for a particular applicator among the plurality. Or worse, as the applicator did not have a specific container, the applicator may become lost.
Furthermore, there are many types of cosmetics used for different purposes and various colors within each type. Sometimes, many of the types of cosmetics may be used simultaneously. Accordingly, an individual who uses cosmetics may carry many different containers of multiple colors and many different applicators. This only further complicates the situation.
Therefore, in order to maintain the portability of the product(s) and ease of use, it is important to minimize the space taken up by each product and applicator, while simultaneously maintaining ease of use and functionality. Thus, in an example embodiment described herein, a compact device is described in which an applicator is attached to a hollow body, which accommodates therein a tray for holding a product. Thus, the product may be securely stored and hidden within the hollow body and the applicator is attached directly to the hollow body.

FIRST ILLUSTRATIVE EMBODIMENT

FIGS. 1A-1C illustrate an example cosmetic apparatus 100 with an enclosed, hidden product 112. FIG. 1A specifically depicts an embodiment of the apparatus 100 that may include an applicator 102, a body cover 104, and a base 106. In this embodiment, the applicator 102 is depicted as an exposed brush, and is uncovered, however, the apparatus 100 may include a cover like the cap 216 shown in FIG. 2A. Further, it is contemplated that the applicator 102 may be retractable within the body cover 104. In general, the applicator 102 may be any type of applicator, like the brush as depicted, or other non-brush based examples such as a sponge or a stick, for example. In FIG. 1A, however, the brush applicator 102 depicted may be made of a synthetic hair, a natural hair, or a combination thereof. In other examples, brush applicators may include additional or alternative materials including a sponge, foam, silicone, or other material compatible with applying cosmetic products.
Moreover, while the applicator 102 is illustrated as comprising a thick, fan-shaped group of bristles for application of a product such as blush, applicators according to this disclosure may also be used to apply other products, such as foundation, mascara, or other cosmetic products and may take on other shapes, such as having multiple flat fan-shaped group of bristles, a flat rectangular-shaped group of bristles, multiple flat rectangular-shaped groups of bristles, a tapered group of bristles, a few individual larger bristles, or the like.
The body cover 104 depicted in FIGS. 1A-1C may act as a housing and may have a generally flattened rectangular shape with rounded corners and sides. Further, the body cover 104 may have a cavity, which cavity is sufficiently hollow to the extent that the base 106 may fit inside of the body cover 104. As depicted, the external shape width of the body cover 104 may correspond with the width of the brush applicator 102, which may be attached to a first end of the body cover 104. It is noted, however, that the body cover 104 may be any other shape, so long as the base 106 may fit therein and an applicator 102 may be attached thereto.
The body cover 104 may also serve as a handle with which to hold the applicator 102 when applying the cosmetic. Therefore, the material of the body cover 104 may be sufficiently strong to allow a user to grasp the body cover 104 without easily crushing it. The material could be any of various materials such as wood, metal, plastic, etc. Additionally or alternatively, the body cover 104 may be a composite of different materials. For example, the body cover 104 may have a window area 140 on a side thereof (as depicted in the body cover 104 in apparatus 100 of FIG. 1B), which allows a user to see an interior of the body cover 104 for various purposes, including to determine the color of a product 112 therein without having to remove the base 106 and to determine how much product 112 remains. The window area 140 may vary in size and shape. Materials to be used for the window area may include glass, plastic, and other transparent or translucent materials. Furthermore, an entirety of the body cover 104 may be made of a transparent or translucent material so that the entire body cover 104 permits a user to see therein.
In some examples, a light 142 may be disposed within the body cover 104, or base 106, to illuminate the product 112. The light 142 may be used to assist a user see the product 112 or a mirror (referred to below) in the dark. Further, the light 142 may be motion-activated and/or activated by a switch included in either the base or the cover, as shown in FIGS. 1B and 1C.
A portion of the base 106 is seen in part in FIG. 1A, and an entirety of the base 106 is shown in more detail in FIG. 1B and described here. Note that, FIG. 1B shows an exploded view of the applicator 102, the body cover 104, and the base 106. The base 106 may include a tray 108, (a perimeter of which is defined at least in part by the tray wall 110), and a handle portion 114. Base 106 may also further include the product 112 disposed within a pocket of the tray 108. The handle portion 114 may be used to extract the tray 108 from the body cover 104 to apply the product 112. The handle portion 114 may be integral with the tray or it may also be detachable from the tray 108.
FIGS. 1B and 1C show that a width and thickness, respectively, of the handle portion 114 is wider than a width and thickness, respectively, of the tray 108, such that the handle portion 114 abuts a second end of the body cover 104 in a position in which the base 106 is inserted into the body cover 104. FIG. 1A shows that the dimensions and shape of the perimeter of the handle portion 114 are the same as or nearly the same as the dimensions and shape of the perimeter of the body cover 104, so as to form a smooth transition at the abutment between the body cover 104 and the handle portion 114. Alternatively, it is contemplated that the dimensions and shape of the perimeter of the handle portion 114 may be larger or smaller than the dimensions and shape of the perimeter of the body cover 104. Furthermore, it is also contemplated that the handle portion 114 may be sized and shaped independently of the body cover 104 so that the handle portion 114 may be of any size or shape.
Inasmuch as the handle portion 114 may be held to extract and secure the product 112 in tray 108, the material of the handle portion 114 should be sufficiently strong to withstand being crushed while being grasped. The material could be any of various materials such as wood, metal, plastic, porcelain, glass, etc. Further, the material of handle portion 114 need not be the same as that of the body cover 104.
FIG. 1C depicts a side cross-sectional view of the assembled apparatus 100. The tray 108 fits within the body cover 104 such that the product 112 faces an internal surface of the body cover 104 and a bottom of the tray 108 faces an opposing internal surface of the body cover 104. The applicator 102 is shown in FIG. 1C as being inserted into a recessed pocket on an end of the body cover 104. However, in an alternative embodiment, the body cover 102 may have a planar surface and the applicator 102 may be fixed to the planar surface, as it appears in FIGS. 1A and 1B.
Additional embodiments contemplated of a closure mechanism 150, as schematically represented in FIG. 1A, for securing the base 106 within the body cover 104 may include: another spring loaded closure mechanism, which may include a switch on a side of the body cover 104 that is actuated to release the base 106; and a push-in closure mechanism, by which the base 106 is secured or removed by the same action of pushing in on the base 106.

SECOND ILLUSTRATIVE EMBODIMENT

FIGS. 2A-2C illustrate an alternative embodiment of the cosmetic apparatus 100 described above. Features of the alternative cosmetic apparatus 200 that are similar to those in apparatus 100 will not be discussed in detail again, as they are already explained above. Elements of the same name, however, may be described under a different reference number to distinctly reflect how the elements are involved in the alternative embodiment with respect to FIGS. 2A-2C.
Briefly summarized, FIGS. 2A-2C depict a cosmetic apparatus 200, which may include an applicator 202, a body cover 204, a base 206, and a cap 216. In this embodiment, the applicator 202 is a sponge instead of a brush. The base 206 may include a handle portion 214, a tray 208 bordered by a tray wall 210, a product 212, and a reflective surface 213, such as a mirror or a reflective film. The reflective surface 213 may be located on a back surface of the tray, as depicted in FIG. 2C. Alternatively, the reflective surface may be located elsewhere on the body cover. For example, a reflective surface may be on an outside surface of the body cover 604 (see the reflective surface 613 a in FIG. 6) and/or on a side of the tray 608 adjacent to the product 612 (see the reflective surface 613 b in FIG. 6).
Thus, some of the differences of the apparatus 200, as seen in FIG. 2A, compared to the apparatus 100 in FIG. 1 include the addition of cap 216, which covers the sponge applicator 202, and the reflective surface 214. As seen in FIG. 2B, cap 216 is removable to access the applicator 202. In FIG. 2A, like the base 106 in connection with the body cover 204, the dimensions and shape of the perimeter of the cap 216 are such that cap 216 aligns so as to be flush with the dimensions and shape of the perimeter of the body cover 204, thereby forming a smooth transition at the abutment between the body cover 204 and the cap 216. Alternatively, it is contemplated that the dimensions and shape of the perimeter of the cap 216 may be larger or smaller than the dimensions and shape of the perimeter of the body cover 204. Cap 216 also may be sized and shaped independently of the body cover 204 so that the cap 216 is easily handled by an individual.
Inasmuch as the cap 216 may be manually removed to access the applicator 202, the material of the cap 216 should be sufficiently strong to withstand being crushed while being grasped. The material could be any of various materials such as wood, metal, plastic, etc. Further, the material of cap 216 need not be the same as that of the body cover 204.

THIRD ILLUSTRATIVE EMBODIMENT

FIGS. 3A-3C illustrate alternative embodiment of the cosmetic apparatus 100 described above. Features of the alternative cosmetic apparatus 300 that are similar to those in the embodiment of apparatus 100 will not be discussed in detail again, as they are already explained above. Elements of the same name, however, may be described under a different reference number to distinctly reflect how the elements are involved in the alternative embodiment with respect to FIGS. 3A-3C.
FIGS. 3A-3C depict a cosmetic apparatus 300, which may include an applicator 302, a body cover 304, and a base 306. In this embodiment, the applicator 302 is a sponge. The base 306 may include a handle portion 314, a tray 308 bordered by a tray wall 310, and a product 312. Furthermore, as depicted in FIG. 3A, in some embodiments, the entirety of the base 306, including the handle 314, may be completely inserted into the body cover 304, such that a bottom surface of the base 306 is substantially flush with the bottom surface of the body cover 304, or inserted further therein.
Due to the base 306 being inserted entirely within the body cover 304, a user may not be able to easily grab the handle 314 to extract the base 306 to access the product 312. Thus, FIGS. 3A-3C depict a closing and release mechanism 502C, which is further depicted in FIG. 5C, that may facilitate access to the base 306. In particular, in some embodiments, the sides of the body cover 304 may be pinched or squeezed toward each other inwardly, as indicated by the large arrows pointing at the sides of the body cover 304 in FIG. 3C. Upon squeezing, the closing and release mechanism 502C is actuated. The squeezing of the sides of the body cover 304 may result in the front and back walls of the body cover 304 flexing outward away from each other. When the front and back walls of the body cover 304 are flexed outward, this may allow one or more hook portions 506C (see FIG. 5C) to disengage from catching in a correspondingly located clasp portion 504C, which may be a slot or groove in an inner surface of the handle 314. In this position, the base 306 may be able to slide out gently, however, the apparatus 300 may also include a bias means, such as spring 316, which assists in pushing the base 306 completely out of the body cover 304. That is, upon insertion of the base 306, the end of the base 306 opposite the handle 314 may compress the spring 316, which is attached to an inside of the body cover. Thus, upon pinching or squeezing the sides of the body cover 304, the tension in the spring 316 created by compression from the base 306 may be released by forcing the base 306 out of the body cover 304.
Illustrative Means of Maintaining a Tray within a Body of a Cosmetic Apparatus
In order to avoid exposing cosmetic products into the handbags or other portable means in which they may be carried, the products may be enclosed within small resealable containers in some instances. There are many ways in which the containers might be sealed or secured. FIGS. 4A and 4B illustrate front cross sections at lines IVA and IVB, respectively, of example alternative embodiments depicting how the tray 408 might be maintained within the body cover 404 of the cosmetic apparatus 400 by way of an interference fit. The implementation of an interference fit allows the tray 408 to be freely slidable within the body cover 404 up to a position where a peripheral surface of the base 406, such as a wall 410 of the tray 408, contacts an interior wall surface of the body cover 404. At that point, in a position in which the base 406 is completely inserted into the body cover 404, the base 406 becomes secured to the body cover 404 via tight contact, i.e., an interference fit point, between the body cover 404 and a portion of the base 406 such as tray 408.
In particular, apparatus 400 of FIG. 4A may include a brush applicator 402 a, a body cover 404, and a base 406 including a handle portion 414 and a tray 408 defined by a tray wall 410. FIG. 4A depicts base 406 being maintained inside the body cover 404 via a lower interference fit point 418 a. The lower interference fit point 418 a may be created by contact between base 406 and body cover 404 when a width of the tray 408 is greater at an end of the tray 408 adjacent to the handle portion 414 than both a corresponding width of the tray 408 at an end of the tray 408 opposite the handle portion 414 and a corresponding width of an interior space at the second end of the body cover 404. For example, a thickness of a portion of the tray wall 410 at the end of the tray 408 adjacent to the handle portion 414 may be greater than a thickness of a portion of the tray wall 410 at the end of the tray 408 adjacent to the first end of the body cover 404. Thus, there is a clearance 419 a between the first end of the body cover 404 and the tray 408, and the lower interference fit point 418 a specifically occurs between the tray 408 and the second end of the body cover 404.
Alternatively, apparatus 400 of FIG. 4B may include a brush applicator 402 b, a body cover 404, and a base 406 including a handle portion 414 and a tray 408 defined by a tray wall 410. FIG. 4B depicts base 406 being maintained inside the body cover 404 via an upper interference fit point 418 b. The upper interference fit point 418 b may be created by contact between base 406 and body cover 404 when a width of an interior space at the first end of the body cover 404 is smaller than both a corresponding width of the interior space at the second end of the body cover 404 and a corresponding width of the tray 408. For example, a thickness of a wall portion of the body cover 404 at the first end of the body cover 404 is greater than a thickness of a wall portion of the body cover 404 at the second end of the body cover 404. Thus, there is a clearance 419 b between the second end of the body cover 404 and the tray 408, and the upper interference fit point 418 b occurs between the tray 408 and the first end of the body cover 404.
In yet another embodiment, an alternative means of securing the base within the body cover may be via a snap fit closure. A snap fit closure is achieved when two components are pressed against each other such that adjacent parts engage with each other in a locking manner that is reversible. The snap fit and reversibility may occur because of the material of the components being pressed together, where at least the material of one component has elastic properties. FIG. 5A depicts an example embodiment of a snap fit closure 500A. The closure 500A may be achieved via a closing mechanism 502A. The closing mechanism 502A may include an indentation 504A on one of a tray wall 508A or a body cover wall 510A, and a detent 506A on the opposing one of the tray wall 508A or the body cover wall 510A, whichever does not contain the indentation 504A. It does not matter which of tray wall 508A or body cover wall 500A includes the indentation 504A or the detent 506A, so long as there is one indentation 504A in an interior wall surface that aligns with a detent 506A on the facing wall surface upon insertion and closure of the base into the body cover.
In still another embodiment, an alternative means of securing the base within the body cover may be via a magnetic closure. A magnetic closure is achieved when distinct parts of a container engage with each other in a magnetically attractive manner such that the mating surfaces, (i.e., the surfaces of the distinct parts in contact with each other), of the parts remain together absent external forces to drive them apart. The magnetic closure may be achieved using magnets, or a magnet and a piece of ferrous metal, between which there is an attraction force that is both strong enough to maintain the base inside the body cover when no external force is being deliberately and directly exerted to separate the magnetic attraction, as well as weak enough to allow an average user to easily disrupt the magnetic attraction and pull apart the mating surfaces to separate the base from the body cover.
FIG. 5B depicts an example embodiment of a magnetic closure 500B. The closure 500B may be achieved via a closing mechanism 502B. The closing mechanism may include a magnetic force 504B and a magnetic force 506B located, respectively, on one of any two mating surfaces between any part of the base and the body cover. For example, the magnetic force 504B and the magnetic force 506B may be located respectively in a tray wall 508B and a body cover wall 510B. Any type of magnetic force may be used to achieve the closure 500B, including: 1) plastic mixed with magnetic components suitable for injection molding, whereby the base and the body cover may be molded from magnetically attracted materials; 2) physical magnets or a combination of a magnet and a piece of ferrous metal, which are either embedded in or disposed on the walls 508B and 510B, whereby upon insertion of the base into the body cover, the magnetic forces align and securely close the base within the body cover; and 3) an electromagnetic source (not depicted), which can be activated to induce a magnetic attraction between components within the base and the body cover.
As previously discussed with respect to FIGS. 3A-3C, FIG. 5C depicts another view—a side cross-sectional view—of the closing and release mechanism 502C implemented in the embodiment of FIGS. 3A-3C. A hook portion 506C and a clasp portion 504C may be placed on either of walls 508C and 510C such that the base remains within the body cover when inserted via engagement between the hook portion 506C and the clasp portion 504C. Hook portion 506C may include a piece of material that protrudes beyond the general plane of the inner wall, which protrusion includes a first surface that extends inwardly away from and transverse to the wall 508C(510C) and a second sloped surface extending from an end of the first surface to the wall. This configuration permits the base with tray to slide easily into and out of the body cover, while forming a stop upon which the base hooks after a predetermined amount of insertion to hide the product. It is noted that, in the configuration depicted in FIG. 5C, the left-side wall may be the base wall so that the hooked portion 506C catches the base from falling out of the body cover. Alternatively, if the left-side wall is the body cover wall, then the hook portion 506C may be flipped so as to have the first transverse surface on the underside and the second sloped surface on top.
Reiterating the features in FIG. 6, as indicated above relating to FIG. 2, FIG. 6 illustrates that a reflective surface 613 a may be on an outside surface of the body cover 604. Further, a reflective surface 613 b may also be on a side of the tray 608 adjacent to the product 612.
Another magnetic closure embodiment is depicted in FIGS. 7A and 7B. The apparatus 700 includes magnetic closure mechanism 720 which involves placing magnetic materials of opposite polarity (the polarity of the materials being represented via the “plus” and “minus” signs) on opposing sides of the second end 704 a of the body cover 704, and corresponding magnetic materials on an upper surface of the handle portion 714 of the base 706. The handle portion 714 may further be connected to the tray 708 via a centrally located pivot joint 722 such that the handle portion 714 pivots to align the magnetic materials thereof with those of the body cover 704. Then, to release the base 706 from the body cover 704 and expose the hidden tray 708, a user need only pivot the handle portion 714 of the base 706 to disrupt the magnetic attraction and thereby extract the tray 708 from the body cover 704.

Conclusion

Although several embodiments have been described in language specific to structural features and/or methodological acts, it is to be understood that the claims are not necessarily limited to the specific features or acts described. Rather, the specific features and acts are disclosed as illustrative forms of implementing the claimed subject matter.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A cosmetic apparatus, comprising:

a hollow body cover;

an applicator extending out of a first end of the body cover; and

a base that is insertable into and removable from a second end of the body cover, the base including:

a handle portion, and

a tray extending from the handle portion, the tray being accommodated within the body cover.

2. The cosmetic apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a reflective surface on a back side of the tray,

wherein, in a position in which the base is inserted into the body cover, the tray and the reflective surface are enclosed within the body cover.

3. The cosmetic apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the reflective surface is a mirror disposed on the back side of the tray.

4. The cosmetic apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a width of the handle portion is wider than a width of the tray, such that the handle portion abuts the second end of the body cover in a position in which the base is inserted into the body cover.

5. The cosmetic apparatus according to claim 1, wherein an exterior shape of the handle portion corresponds in dimension to an exterior shape of the body cover at a position of abutment with the body cover, such that adjacent surfaces of the body cover and the handle portion are flush with each other.

6. The cosmetic apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the applicator includes one of a brush or a sponge.

7. The cosmetic apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the tray is freely slidable within the body cover up to a position where a peripheral wall surface of the tray contacts an interior wall surface of the body cover, such that, in a position in which the base is completely inserted into the body cover, the base is secured to the body cover via an interference fit point between the body cover and the tray.

8. The cosmetic apparatus according to claim 7, wherein a width of an interior space at the first end of the body cover is smaller than both a corresponding width of the interior space at the second end of the body cover and a corresponding width of the tray, such that the interference fit point occurs between the tray and the first end of the body cover.

9. The cosmetic apparatus according to claim 7, wherein a thickness of a wall portion of the body cover at the first end of the body cover is greater than a thickness of a wall portion at the second end of the body cover.

10. The cosmetic apparatus according to claim 7, wherein a width of the tray is greater at an end of the tray adjacent to the handle portion than both a corresponding width of the tray at an end of the tray opposite the handle portion and a corresponding width of an interior space at the second end of the body cover, such that the interference fit point occurs between the tray and the second end of the body cover.

11. The cosmetic apparatus according to claim 10, wherein a thickness of a wall portion of the tray at the end of the tray adjacent to the handle portion is greater than a thickness of a wall portion of the tray at the end of the tray adjacent to the first end of the body cover.

12. The cosmetic apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a snap fit closure mechanism that secures the tray within the body cover.

13. The cosmetic apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the snap fit closure occurs via engagement between an indentation and a correspondingly shaped detent that reversibly engages the indentation upon sliding the base into the body cover, the indentation and the detent being located, respectively,

on an interior wall surface of the body cover and a side wall surface of the tray, or

on the side wall surface of the tray and the interior wall surface of the body cover.

14. The cosmetic apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a magnetic closure mechanism that secures the tray within the body cover.

15. The cosmetic apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the magnetic closure occurs via interaction between a first magnetic force in a portion of a wall of the body cover and a second magnetic force in a portion of the base, such that upon insertion of the base into the body cover, the first magnetic force in the body cover is attracted to the second magnetic force in the base such that the handle portion abuts the second end of the body cover.

16. The cosmetic apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the handle portion of the base is smaller in dimensions than the body cover such that the handle portion is insertable within the body cover, the handle portion engaging a closing mechanism when inserted into the body cover so as to maintain the handle within the body cover

17. The cosmetic apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a cap that encloses the applicator against the body cover.

18. An apparatus, comprising:

a housing having a cavity therein;

an applicator protruding from the housing;

a cap configured to cover the applicator and abut the housing;

a tray having a pocket, a peripheral shape of the tray corresponding to a perimeter shape of an opening into the cavity of the housing, such that the tray is insertable into the cavity of the housing so as to enclose the pocket of the tray within the housing.

19. The apparatus according to claim 18, further comprising a reflective surface disposed on the tray.

20. The apparatus according to claim 18, further comprising a product for application via the applicator, the product disposed in the pocket.

21. The apparatus according to claim 18, further comprising a light source disposed on one of the housing or the tray.

22. The apparatus according to claim 18, wherein the tray engages the housing via a closing mechanism which maintains the tray in position within the housing unless an external force is exerted on the apparatus.

23. The apparatus according to claim 22, wherein the closing mechanism includes:

a spring disposed within the housing such that, when the tray is inserted into the housing, the spring applies a bias force against the tray in a direction of pushing the tray outward from the housing, and

a hook portion and a clasp portion disposed respectively across from each other on one of an inner wall of the housing and an outer surface of the tray, and

wherein the hook engages the clasp and maintains the tray within the housing unless an external force is applied to sidewalls of the housing via squeezing.