Refillable lipstick case

Abstract

A refillable lipstick case includes a refill, an outer shell, and a cap. The refill is configured to be at least partially removably received within the hollow cylindrical body of the outer shell, allowing the refill to be replaced when a consumer has used up a cosmetic stick held within the refill. The outer shell and cap are retained for reuse, and the refill can be replaced with a new one.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure generally relates to refillable lipstick cases. Background Art

[0002] Since 1915, lipstick has been available in cylindrical metal tubes for adding color, texture, and protection to the lips.

[0003] The user conventionally must purchase a lipstick dispensing tube with the lipstick, thereby adding significant cost. The lipstick container has become so associated with the lipstick product it contains that the dispensing tube itself is also referred to as "lipstick." The marketing of lipstick often becomes the marketing of the dispenser tube. Due to the high cost of the lipstick and dispenser combination, manufacturers may limit the number of lipstick types or lipstick colors offered to avoid overstocking relatively expensive dispensers containing less popular lipstick colors or shades.

[0004] Refill containers for consumer products are considered environmentally friendly, allowing for the use of less material in their manufacture. These are also economical for consumers as well as manufacturers. Consumers do not have to spend the same amount of money on refills, while for manufacturers, they enable a reduction in the consumption of inputs such as raw materials and energy. Various attempts have been made to improve cosmetic packaging (such as compacts, lipsticks, etc.) to provide the option of refilling products.

[0005] Known refill containers for cosmetics typically include a refillable housing that contains the product, which may or may not have a propulsion / dispensing mechanism, and into which the refill is then replaced once the product is used by the user. For example, refillable stick product packaging is available in which the refill cartridge is replaced once the stick is used by the user.

[0006] There remains a need for an improved refillable lipstick case in which removal and attachment of the refill is simple and easy. Summary of the Invention

[0007] A refillable lipstick case according to the present disclosure includes a refill, an outer shell, and a cap.

[0008] The housing has a hollow cylindrical body with sidewalls having openings at its proximal and distal ends, respectively. The refill is configured to be at least partially removably received within the hollow cylindrical body of the housing, allowing the refill to be replaced when a consumer has used up the cosmetic stick held within the refill. In other words, the housing and cap are retained for reuse, and the refill can be replaced with a new one.

[0009] The housing further includes a neck at its distal end, the neck including features for removably attaching the cover at the neck. In an exemplary embodiment, the neck of the housing includes an outer annular ring, and the cover includes a corresponding annular groove on its inner surface for a snap fit. In alternative embodiments, the cover and the housing can be removably secured to each other by any other method known in the art (e.g., by threaded engagement, by a resilient fit, by clamping, by magnetization, by bayonet attachment, etc.).

[0010] The refill further comprises an inner shell, an inner body, a spiral, a cup, and a plug. The spiral has an elongated hollow body, and the inner surface of the elongated hollow body is provided with a spiral thread. The spiral has an upper portion connected to the inner body and a lower portion connected to the plug. The spiral and the inner body are connected by a rotatable snap fastener, wherein the upper portion of the spiral has two circular ribs on its outer surface, the two circular ribs defining a groove therebetween, and the groove is snap-fitted onto a corresponding rib on the inner surface of the inner body.

[0011] The cup comprises a cylindrical cup forming a seat for receiving a rod of the product and a drive rod extending downwardly from the bottom surface of the cylindrical cup. The drive rod is a flat rectangular rod. Protrusions are provided on two opposite narrow sides of the drive rod, near the bottom end of the drive rod. Stop blocks are provided on the other two opposite sides of the rectangular drive rod. The bottom end of the drive rod is configured to be received in the hollow body of the spiral so that the protrusions engage with the helical thread of the spiral and form a drive device for moving the cup relative to the outer shell between a storage position of the cup in the inner shell and a use position in which the rod is at least partially exposed from the upper opening of the inner shell.

[0012] Further, the inner body has an inverted cup-shaped body having a top face and a cylindrical side wall extending downward from the top face. The top face of the inner body is provided with a hole for the drive rod to pass through. More specifically, the hole has a cross section similar to the cross section of the drive rod, so the drive rod of the cup passes through the hole of the inner body so as to engage with the spiral thread formed on the inner surface of the helix. Due to the rectangular shape of the drive rod and the rectangular shape of the hole, the cup can only move up and down, but cannot rotate. The upper part of the helix extends into the interior of the inner body and is received therein, so that there is an axially constrained connection between the inner body and the helix. According to a preferred embodiment, the upper part of the helix is retained inside the inner body by a rotatable snap fit, however in other embodiments, any other method known in the art can be used to connect, which allows the helix and the inner body to be rotatably fixed to each other.

[0013] Furthermore, when the driving rod reaches the maximum extended position, the stop block of the driving rod limits the upward movement of the driving rod by abutting against the inner surface of the top end surface of the inner body.

[0014] Furthermore, the lower portion of the inner shell is fixedly connected to the outer surface of the inner body, more specifically, to the outer surface of the side wall of the inner body, and the upper portion of the inner shell completely surrounds the cylindrical cup.

[0015] The inner body has a protrusion on the outer surface of its side wall, which engages with a corresponding recess provided at the lower end of the inner shell, so that the inner body and the inner shell are non-rotatable relative to each other. In alternative embodiments, the inner body and the inner shell can be fixed to each other by any other method known in the art (for example, by screwing, by elastic fit, by clamping, by magnetization, by bayonet attachment, etc.).

[0016] The middle portion of the spiral body is a protrusion, and the lower surface of the protrusion is provided with a plurality of reinforcing ribs in a radial arrangement, which engage with a stepped circular latch provided at the inner surface of the housing.

[0017] The plug is positioned on the lower portion of the spiral so that it surrounds the lower portion of the spiral. The plug includes a sidewall and a bottom wall, as well as a cavity for receiving the lower portion of the spiral. The sidewall of the plug includes a plurality of grooves that are radially spaced apart and extend lengthwise from the upper edge of the sidewall. Each of the plurality of grooves extends through the entire thickness of the sidewall and extends a portion of the length of the plug's sidewall. When the plug and spiral are secured together, the plurality of grooves receive corresponding reinforcing ribs of the spiral.

[0018] Furthermore, the width of each of the plurality of reinforcing ribs of the spiral is greater than the thickness of the side wall, so when the reinforcing rib is received in the corresponding groove, a portion of each of the plurality of reinforcing ribs extends outward from the corresponding groove.

[0019] Furthermore, each of the plurality of reinforcing ribs extends at a greater radial distance relative to the central longitudinal axis of the refillable lipstick housing than the radial distance at which the corresponding recess is located. Thus, when the reinforcing rib is received in the corresponding recess, a portion of each of the plurality of reinforcing ribs extends outward from the corresponding recess. In other words, the outer diameter formed by the plurality of reinforcing ribs is greater than the diameter formed by the recess of the plug. When the reinforcing rib is secured in the corresponding recess, the outer surface of the reinforcing rib is not flush with the outer surface of the corresponding recess and together form a non-continuous outer surface.

[0020] After all components of the refill are assembled, the refill is preferably inserted into the hollow housing through an opening at the distal end of the housing. Upon insertion of the refill, the reinforcing ribs of the spiral engage with stepped circular latches provided on the inner surface of the housing. Preferably, portions of the plurality of reinforcing ribs extending outward from corresponding grooves engage with the stepped circular latches provided on the inner surface of the housing. Furthermore, the inner surface of the housing includes longitudinal ribs at its lower end that provide a tight fit with the sidewalls of the refill plug, such that the spiral and the refill plug cannot be displaced longitudinally and rotationally relative to the housing.

[0021] In the assembled state, the bottom wall of the plug is flush with the bottom edge of the side wall of the housing. To replace the refill, the housing is held in one hand and the refill is pushed toward the distal end of the housing through the opening at the proximal end of the housing, thereby overcoming the force of the tight fit between the housing and the plug, and the force of the fit between the reinforcing ribs of the spiral and the stepped circular latch.

[0022] In the assembled state, the inner body and the inner shell are non-rotatable relative to each other. Further, the outer shell, the plug and the spiral are non-rotatable relative to each other. In addition, the outer shell, the plug and the spiral can rotate relative to the inner body and the inner shell.

[0023] In use, the user holds the inner shell and rotates the outer shell, causing the rotation of the spiral body, while the inner body remains stationary. As a result, the protrusion of the drive rod moves in the spiral thread of the spiral body, driving the drive rod and the cylindrical cup to move up and down in the inner shell.

[0024] More specifically, during use, a user rotates the housing in a first direction, which causes rotation of the helicoid, which in turn causes axial movement of the drive rod and cylindrical cup in an upward direction to reveal the product in the cup from an opening at the distal end of the housing.

[0025] After use, the user rotates the outer shell in a second direction opposite to the first direction, which causes the spiral to rotate in the second direction, which in turn causes the drive rod and the cylindrical cup to move axially in a downward direction to hide the product in the cylindrical cup inside the inner shell.

[0026] The housing may be made in particular of one of the following: glass, metal, ceramic, porcelain, crystal and plastic, in particular polymethyl methacrylate, polystyrene, polycarbonate, polyethylene terephthalate, ionomer resins such as those known under the trade name ethylene vinyl copolymers, etc.), natural stone, synthetic stone, ceramics, porcelain, wood and urea-formaldehyde.

[0027] The housing may be translucent, or even transparent. This gives the housing and the refillable lipstick case an aesthetic effect that users appreciate. The housing may also be opaque.

[0028] The cover can be translucent, even transparent, or otherwise opaque. The cover is made, for example, of one of the following: wood, ceramic material, metal, porcelain, rigid foam (for example of the polyurethane type), natural stone, synthetic stone, mixed stone powder converted into a binder by injection, leather, glass, crystal, plastic (including sand thermosetting plastics such as formalin urea or thermoplastics and / or in particular frosted and / or painted plastics and / or lacquered and / or metallized and / or galvanized and / or plastics providing visual effects), natural fabric or synthetic fabric, or any other known material for making covers.

[0029] The refillable inner shell can be made of metal, aluminum, aluminum alloy, steel, glass, plastic, ceramic, porcelain, cardboard, in particular coated cardboard or multi-layer cardboard composited with other materials (such as metal sheets or plastic sheets). More noble materials such as porcelain, ceramic or glass can be selected to ensure an aesthetic effect. The use of these materials can also contribute to the aesthetic effect of the refillable lipstick shell, especially when the outer shell is translucent or transparent.

[0030] The above summary provides a basic understanding of aspects of the disclosure. This summary is not an extensive overview of all contemplated aspects and is not intended to identify all key or critical elements or to delineate the scope of any or all aspects.

[0031] The above and other objects, features and advantages of the present disclosure will become apparent from the following description of the preferred embodiments when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0032] In order that the manner in which the above-recited features of the present disclosure are explained in detail, a more particular description of the disclosure, briefly summarized above, may be had by reference to embodiments, some of which are illustrated in the appended drawings.

[0033] Figure 1 shows a front view of a refillable lipstick case in a closed state according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0034] Figure 2 Shown Figure 1 A cross-sectional view of a refillable lipstick housing;

[0035] Figure 3 Shown in open state Figure 1 a perspective view of a refillable lipstick housing;

[0036] Figure 4 Shown Figure 1 An exploded view of a refillable lip balm housing;

[0037] Figure 5 Shown Figure 1 a front view of a refill of a refillable lipstick housing;

[0038] Figure 6 Shown Figure 5 a rear view of the refill;

[0039] Figure 7 Shown Figure 5 a cross-sectional view of the refill; and

[0040] Figure 8 Shown Figure 5 Exploded view of a refill for FIG. 1 , the refill plug is not shown.

[0041] To facilitate understanding, identical reference numerals have been used, where possible, to designate identical elements that are common to the figures. It is to be noted, however, that the appended drawings illustrate only typical embodiments of this disclosure and are therefore not to be considered limiting of its scope, for the disclosure may admit to other equally effective embodiments. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0042] Figures 1-4 A refillable lipstick case 100 is shown extending along a central longitudinal axis AA in accordance with the present disclosure. The refillable lipstick case 100 includes a refill 10, a housing 20, and a cap 30.

[0043] like Figure 2 and Figure 4 As shown in FIG, the housing 20 has a hollow cylindrical body having a sidewall 22 having openings 22a and 22b at its proximal and distal ends, respectively, and defining a hollow cavity 23 therein. The refill 10 extends along a central longitudinal axis AA and is configured to be at least partially removably received within the hollow cylindrical body of the housing 20 so that the refill 10 can be replaced when the consumer has used up the cosmetic stick (not shown) held within the refill 10. In other words, the housing 20 and the cap 30 are retained for reuse, and the refill 10 can be replaced with a new refill 10.

[0044] like Figure 2 and Figure 4 As shown, the housing 20 further includes a neck 24 at its distal end, the neck 24 including features for removably attaching a cap 30 at the neck 24. In an exemplary embodiment, as shown Figure 2As shown, the neck 24 of the housing 20 includes an outer annular ring 25, and the cover 30 includes a corresponding annular groove 32 at its inner surface for a snap fit. In alternative embodiments, the cover 30 and the housing 20 may be detachably secured to each other by any other method known in the art, such as by threaded engagement, by elastic fitting, by clamping, by magnetization, by means of a bayonet attachment, etc.

[0045] like Figure 2 、 Figure 7 and Figure 8 As shown in FIG, the refill 10 further includes an inner shell 11, an inner body 12, a spiral 13, a cup 14 and a plug 15. The spiral 13 has an elongated hollow body, and the inner surface of the spiral 13 is provided with a spiral thread 131. The spiral 13 has an upper portion connected to the inner body 12 and a lower portion connected to the plug 15. Figure 8 The spiral body 13 and the inner body 12 are connected by a rotatable snap-fit, and wherein, for the rotatable snap-fit, the upper portion of the spiral body 13 has two circular ribs 13c on its outer surface, the two circular ribs 13c define a groove 13d between them, and the groove 13d is snap-fitted to the corresponding rib 12a on the inner surface of the inner body 12 (see Figure 7 )superior.

[0046] Cup 14 includes a cylindrical cup 141, which forms a seat for receiving a stick of cosmetics (such as lipstick), and a drive rod 142, which extends downward from the bottom surface of cylindrical cup 141. Drive rod 142 is a flat rectangular rod. Furthermore, protrusions 143 are provided on two opposing narrow sides of drive rod 142, near the bottom end of drive rod 142. Stoppers 144 are provided on the other two opposing sides of rectangular drive rod 142. The bottom end of drive rod 142 is configured to be received within the hollow body of spiral 13, such that protrusions 143 engage with the helical threads 131 of spiral 13 and form a drive mechanism for moving cup 14 relative to outer shell 20 between a storage position within inner shell 11 and a use position in which the stick is at least partially exposed from the upper opening of inner shell 11.

[0047] Further, the inner body 12 has an inverted cup-shaped body, which has a top surface 12b and a cylindrical side wall 12c extending downward from the top surface. The top surface 12b of the inner body 12 is provided with a through hole 121 for the drive rod 142 to pass through. More specifically, the hole 121 has a cross-section similar to the cross-section of the drive rod 142, so that the drive rod 142 of the cup 14 passes through the hole 121 of the inner body 12 to engage with the spiral thread 131 formed on the inner surface of the spiral body 13. Due to the rectangular shape of the drive rod 142 and the rectangular shape of the through hole 121, the cup 14 can only move up and down, but cannot rotate. The upper part of the spiral body 13 extends into the interior of the inner body 12 and is received therein, so that there is an axially constrained connection between the inner body 12 and the spiral body 13. According to a preferred embodiment, as described above, the upper portion of the spiral body 13 is retained inside the inner body 12 by a rotatable snap fit, however, in other embodiments, any other connection method known in the art that allows the spiral body 13 and the inner body 12 to be rotatably fixed to each other can be used.

[0048] Furthermore, when the driving rod 142 reaches the maximum extended position, the stop block 144 of the driving rod 142 limits the upward movement of the driving rod 142 by abutting against the inner surface of the top end surface 12 b of the inner body 12 .

[0049] Furthermore, the lower portion 11a of the inner shell 11 is fixedly connected to the outer surface of the inner body 12, more specifically, to the outer surface of the side wall 12c of the inner body 12, and the upper portion 11b of the inner shell 11 completely surrounds the cylindrical cup 141 of the cup 14, referring to Figure 2 and Figure 7 .

[0050] The inner body 12 has a protrusion 123 on the side wall 12c (see Figure 6 ), the protrusion engages with a corresponding notch 11c provided at the lower portion 11a of the inner shell 11, so that the inner body 12 and the inner shell 11 are non-rotatable relative to each other. In alternative embodiments, the inner body 12 and the inner shell 11 may be fixed to each other by any other method known in the art, such as by threaded engagement, by elastic fitting, by clamping, by magnetization, by bayonet attachment, etc.

[0051] refer to Figure 8 The middle portion of the spiral body 13 is a protrusion 130, and the lower surface of the protrusion 130 is provided with a plurality of reinforcing ribs 132 in a radial arrangement, and the plurality of reinforcing ribs 132 engage with the stepped circular latch 26 provided at the inner surface of the housing 20 (refer to Figure 2 ).

[0052] like Figure 5 、 Figure 6 and Figure 8As shown in FIG, the plug 15 is provided on the lower portion of the spiral body 13 so that the plug 15 surrounds the lower portion of the spiral body 13. Figure 4 and Figure 7 Plug 15 includes sidewalls 15a and bottom wall 15b, as well as a cavity 15c for receiving the lower portion of spiral body 13. Sidewall 15a of plug 15 includes a plurality of grooves 15d that are radially spaced apart and extend lengthwise from the upper edge of sidewall 15a. Each of the plurality of grooves 15d extends through the entire thickness of sidewall 15a and up to a portion of the length of sidewall 15a of plug 15. When plug 15 and spiral body 13 are secured together, the plurality of grooves 15d receive corresponding reinforcing ribs 132 of spiral body 13, see FIG. Figures 5 and 6 .

[0053] Furthermore, each of the plurality of reinforcing ribs 132 extends at a greater radial distance relative to the central longitudinal axis AA of the refill or refillable lipstick case 100 than the radial distance at which the corresponding recess 15d is located. Therefore, when the reinforcing rib 132 is received in the corresponding recess 15d, a portion 132a of each of the plurality of reinforcing ribs 132 extends outward from the corresponding recess 15d. In other words, the outer diameter formed by the plurality of reinforcing ribs 132 is greater than the diameter formed by the recess 15d of the plug 15. When the reinforcing rib 132 is secured in the corresponding recess 15d, the outer surface of the reinforcing rib 132 is not flush with the corresponding outer surface of the recess 15d and together form a non-continuous outer surface.

[0054] After all the components of the refill 10 are assembled together, the refill 10 is preferably inserted into the hollow housing 20 through the opening at the distal end 22b of the housing 20. When the refill 10 is inserted, the reinforcing ribs 132 of the spiral body 13 engage with the stepped circular latch 26 provided at the inner surface of the housing 20, as shown in FIG. Figure 2 Preferably, portions 132a of the plurality of reinforcing ribs 132 extending outward from the corresponding grooves 15d engage with the stepped circular latches 26 provided at the inner surface of the housing 20. Further, the inner surface of the housing 20 includes longitudinal ribs 27 at its lower end portion, which provide a tight fit with the sidewalls 15a of the plug 15 of the refill 10, so that the spiral body 13 and the plug 15 of the refill 10 cannot be displaced longitudinally and rotationally relative to the housing 20.

[0055] In the assembled state, the bottom wall 15b of the plug 15 is flush with the bottom edge of the side wall 22 of the housing 20. Figure 2To replace the refill 10, the housing 20 is grasped with one hand and the refill 10 is pushed through the opening 22a at the proximal end of the housing 20 toward the distal end 22b of the housing 20, thereby overcoming the force of the tight fit between the housing 20 and the plug 15, and the fit between the reinforcing ribs 132 of the spiral 13 and the stepped circular latch 26.

[0056] In the assembled state, the inner body 12 and the inner shell 11 are non-rotatable relative to each other. Further, the outer shell 20, the plug 15 and the spiral 13 are non-rotatable relative to each other. In addition, the outer shell 20, the plug 15 and the spiral 13 can rotate relative to the inner body 12 and the inner shell 11.

[0057] In use, the user holds the inner shell 11 and rotates the outer shell 20, causing the screw 13 to rotate, while the inner body 12 remains stationary. As a result, the protrusion 143 moves in the helical thread 131 of the screw 13, driving the drive rod 142 and the cylindrical cup 141 to move up and down in the inner shell 11.

[0058] More specifically, during use, the user rotates the housing 20 in a first direction, which causes the screw 13 to rotate, which in turn causes the drive rod 142 to move axially in an upward direction together with the cylindrical cup 141, so that the cosmetics in the cylindrical cup 141 are exposed from the opening 11d at the distal end of the housing 11, see Figure 3 .

[0059] After use, the user rotates the outer shell 20 in a second direction opposite to the first direction, which causes the screw 13 to rotate in the second direction, which in turn causes the drive rod 142 to move axially in a downward direction together with the cylindrical cup 141 to hide the cosmetics in the cylindrical cup 141 inside the inner shell 11.

[0060] According to an aspect of the present disclosure, the upper opening 11c at the distal end of the inner shell 11 is inclined relative to the longitudinal axis of the lipstick case 100. In alternative embodiments, the upper opening at the distal end of the inner shell 11 may not be inclined.

[0061] The housing 20 may be translucent, or even transparent. This gives the housing and the refillable lipstick case an aesthetic effect that users appreciate. The housing 20 may also be opaque.

[0062] The cover 30 can be translucent, even transparent, or otherwise opaque. The cover 30 is made, for example, of one of the following: wood, ceramic material, metal, porcelain, rigid foam (for example of the polyurethane type), natural stone, synthetic stone, mixed stone powder converted into a binder by injection, leather, glass, crystal, plastic (including sand thermosetting plastics such as formalin urea or thermoplastics and / or in particular frosted and / or painted plastics and / or painted and / or metallized and / or galvanized and / or plastics providing visual effects), natural fabric or synthetic fabric, or any other known material for making covers.

[0063] The inner shell 11 of the refill 10 can be made of, in particular, metal, aluminum, aluminum alloys, steel, glass, plastic, ceramic, porcelain, cardboard, and in particular coated cardboard or multi-layered cardboard composited with other materials such as metal sheets or plastic sheets. More noble materials such as porcelain, ceramic, or glass can be selected to ensure an aesthetic effect. The use of such materials can also contribute to the aesthetic effect of the refillable lipstick shell, especially when the outer shell is translucent or transparent.

[0064] The present disclosure is not limited to the above references Figure 1-8 The embodiments described are, on the contrary, capable of many variations readily available to those skilled in the art. In particular, the features of the various embodiments described may be combined in Figures 1 to 8 In an embodiment not shown in the figure.

[0065] It should be understood that the above description is merely an illustration of the present disclosure. Without departing from the present disclosure, those skilled in the art may design various replacements and modifications. Therefore, the present disclosure is intended to encompass all such alternatives, modifications, and variations that fall within the scope of the appended claims.

Claims

1. A refillable lipstick case comprising: a housing having a hollow cylindrical body with a sidewall, the housing having an opening at a proximal end of the housing and an opening at a distal end of the housing; a cover removably secured to the housing; a refill configured to be at least partially removably received within the hollow cylindrical body of the housing; The refill further comprises an inner shell, an inner body, a spiral, a cup and a plug; wherein the spiral has an upper portion connected to the inner body and a lower portion connected to the plug, and wherein the spiral has an elongated hollow body, the hollow body being provided with a spiral thread on an inner surface of the spiral; wherein the cup comprises a cylindrical cup and a driving rod, the cylindrical cup forming a seat for receiving a stick-shaped object of cosmetics, the driving rod extending downward from the bottom surface of the cylindrical cup; wherein the bottom end portion of the drive rod is configured to be received in the elongated hollow body of the screw body such that a protrusion present on the drive rod engages with the helical thread of the screw body; wherein the driving rod passes through a hole provided on the top surface of the inner body; Wherein, the lower portion of the inner shell is fixedly connected to the outer surface of the inner body; The middle part of the spiral is a protrusion, and the lower surface of the protrusion is provided with a plurality of radially arranged reinforcing ribs. wherein the plug comprises side and bottom walls and a cavity for receiving the lower portion of the helix; wherein the side wall of the plug includes a plurality of grooves; wherein the plurality of grooves are radially spaced apart and extend lengthwise from an upper edge of a side wall of the plug, and wherein the plurality of grooves receive the reinforcing ribs of the spiral when the plug and spiral are secured together.

2. The refillable lipstick case of claim 1, wherein: Each of the plurality of grooves extends through the full thickness of the sidewall of the plug and up to a portion of the length of the sidewall of the plug.

3. The refillable lipstick case of claim 1 , wherein: Each of the plurality of reinforcing ribs of the spiral extends at a radial distance relative to the central longitudinal axis of the refill, and wherein the radial distance of each of the plurality of reinforcing ribs relative to the central longitudinal axis of the refill is greater than the radial distance of each of the plurality of grooves relative to the central longitudinal axis of the refill.

4. The refillable lipstick case of claim 1 , wherein: When the plug and the auger are secured together, a portion of each of the plurality of reinforcing ribs extends outwardly from the groove.

5. The refillable lipstick case of claim 4, wherein: The portion of each of the plurality of reinforcing ribs extending outward from the groove engages with a stepped circular latch provided at an inner surface of the housing.

6. The refillable lipstick case of claim 5, wherein: The inner surface of the housing includes longitudinal ribs at a lower end of the inner surface that provide a close fit with a side wall of the refill plug.

7. The refillable lip balm case of claim 6, wherein: The refill can be replaced by pushing the refill from the opening at the proximal end of the housing toward the distal end of the housing so that the refill overcomes the friction between the housing and the plug and the engagement between the reinforcing ribs of the spiral and the stepped circular latch.

8. The refillable lipstick case of claim 1 , wherein: When the plug and the spiral are fixed together, the outer surface of the reinforcing rib is not flush with the corresponding outer surface of the groove and together form a non-continuous outer surface.

9. The refillable lipstick case of claim 1 , wherein: The bottom wall of the plug is flush with the bottom edge of the side wall of the housing.

10. The refillable lipstick case of claim 1, wherein: The refill is inserted into the hollow cylindrical body of the housing through the opening at the distal end of the housing.

11. The refillable lipstick case of claim 1 , wherein: The housing further comprises a neck at a distal end of the housing, and wherein the neck of the housing comprises an outer annular ring for snapping into a corresponding annular groove provided at an inner surface of the cover.

12. The refillable lipstick case of claim 1, wherein: The spiral and the inner body are connected by a rotatable snap, and wherein, for the rotatable snap, the upper part of the spiral has two circular ribs on the outer surface of the upper part of the spiral, the two circular ribs defining a groove between the two circular ribs, and the groove snap fits onto the corresponding rib on the inner surface of the inner body.

13. The refillable lipstick case of claim 1 , wherein: The drive rod is a flat rectangular rod, and wherein the protrusions are provided near the bottom end of the drive rod on two opposite narrow sides of the drive rod.

14. The refillable lipstick case of claim 1 , wherein: The housing, the spiral and the plug are non-rotatable relative to each other.

15. The refillable lipstick case of claim 1 , wherein: The inner body and the inner shell are non-rotatably fixed relative to each other.

16. The refillable lipstick case of claim 15, wherein: The side wall of the inner body has a protrusion for engaging with a corresponding recess provided at a lower portion of the inner shell.

17. The refillable lipstick case of claim 1, wherein: When the housing rotates in a first direction, the screw rotates in the first direction, which in turn causes the drive rod and the cylindrical cup to move axially in an upward direction, so that the stick of cosmetic in the cylindrical cup is exposed from the opening at the distal end of the housing.

18. The refillable lipstick case of claim 17, wherein: When the outer shell rotates in a second direction opposite to the first direction, the spiral body rotates in the second direction, thereby causing the drive rod to move axially in a downward direction together with the cylindrical cup to hide the stick of cosmetics in the cylindrical cup in the inner shell.

19. The refillable lipstick case of claim 1, wherein: The inner shell also includes: An upper opening at a distal end of the inner shell.

20. A refill for a refillable lipstick case, the refill extending along a central longitudinal axis and comprising: inner shell, inner body, spiral, cup and plug; wherein the spiral has an upper portion rotatably connected to the inner body and a lower portion fixedly connected to the plug, and wherein the spiral has an elongated hollow body with a helical thread provided on an inner surface of the spiral; wherein the cup comprises a cylindrical cup and a driving rod, the cylindrical cup forming a seat for receiving a stick-shaped object of cosmetics, the driving rod extending downward from the bottom surface of the cylindrical cup; wherein the bottom end portion of the drive rod is configured to be received in the elongated hollow body of the screw body such that a protrusion present on the drive rod engages with the helical thread of the screw body; wherein the driving rod passes through a hole provided on the top surface of the inner body; The middle part of the spiral is a protrusion, and the lower surface of the protrusion is provided with a plurality of reinforcing ribs arranged radially relative to the central longitudinal axis. wherein the plug comprises side and bottom walls and a cavity for receiving the lower portion of the helix; wherein the side wall of the plug includes a plurality of grooves; wherein the plurality of grooves are radially spaced apart and extend lengthwise from an upper edge of the sidewall, and wherein the plurality of grooves receive the reinforcing ribs of the spiral; and Wherein, when the plug and the spiral body are fixed together, a portion of each of the plurality of reinforcing ribs extends outward from the groove.

Images