Refillable cosmetic products

Abstract

A cosmetic product is provided, including a container defining a cavity and including a container coupling member, a removable drawer, and a frame. The removable drawer includes a drawer cavity for holding cosmetic substances. The frame is adapted to be at least partially disposed within the container cavity and includes a first opening, a second opening, and a frame coupling member adapted to rotatably couple to the container coupling member. The first opening is adapted to expose the cosmetic substance so that it can be collected and removed from the drawer cavity. The second opening is adapted to slidably receive the removable drawer.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE The present disclosure relates generally to cosmetic products, and more particularly to cosmetic products with refillable features. [Background technology]

[0002] Containers and storage containers for cosmetics and / or substances come in many different arrangements and configurations. For example, containers may be used to hold cosmetic substances in the form of blush powder and / or foundation products. These containers may include removable and / or rotatable (e.g., flip-top) tops to allow users to access and use the cosmetic substances contained therein. Often, such existing containers are manufactured by placing the cosmetic substance in a pan that is permanently adhered to the container's frame to provide stability during manufacturing and transportation. However, such arrangements may not be reusable because separating the pan from the frame may permanently damage one or both of these components. Some existing containers may incorporate the use of magnets to releasably couple the pan to the frame. However, while the use of magnets and / or magnetic materials may provide assurance that the pan will remain coupled to the frame, such materials may not be disposed of in a sustainable manner, resulting in environmental waste. Furthermore, magnets require significant processing and energy to produce, which can be counterproductive because they create environmental waste.

[0003] Therefore, there is a need for improved products with improved functionality. Summary of the Invention

[0004] An example within the scope of the present disclosure is directed to the use of a cosmetic product having ergonomic and replaceable features. A cosmetic product is provided that includes a container defining a cavity and including a container coupling member, a removable drawer, and a frame. The removable drawer includes a drawer cavity for holding cosmetic substances. The frame is adapted to be at least partially disposed within the container cavity and includes a first opening, a second opening, and a frame coupling member adapted to rotatably couple with the container coupling member. The first opening is adapted to expose the cosmetic substance so that it can be collected and removed from the drawer cavity. The second opening is adapted to slidably receive the removable drawer.

[0005] In some examples, the removable drawer may be slidably inserted into the second opening in the frame in a direction generally parallel to the floor member of the frame. In these and other examples, the removable drawer may be prevented from being removed from or inserted into the second opening in the frame until the frame is rotatably moved to a raised position relative to the receptacle.

[0006] In some embodiments, the cosmetic product may further include a cover having a cover coupling member rotatably coupled to the container coupling member. In some of these embodiments, the cover coupling member, frame coupling member, and container coupling member may be rotatably coupled to one another via a common hinge. In still other of these embodiments, the engagement member may be formed on at least one of the cover or the frame. The engagement member may bias the frame to the raised position when the cover is rotated relative to the container to the raised position.

[0007] In some approaches, the removable drawer may include a liner disposed within the drawer cavity to retain the cosmetic substance. Additionally, in some approaches, the removable drawer may include a detent that generates tactile feedback when the removable drawer is inserted into and / or removed from the second opening of the frame. In some examples, the cosmetic product may further include a gripping member formed on the removable drawer. In yet other examples, the cosmetic product may include an applicator disposed within the cavity of the container.

[0008] According to a second aspect, a cosmetic product is provided that includes a container defining a cavity and including a container coupling member, a removable drawer including a drawer cavity for holding a cosmetic substance, and a frame at least partially disposed within the container cavity. The frame includes a floor member extending generally along a plane, a sidewall defining the frame cavity, a slot formed in the sidewall, and a frame coupling member adapted to rotatably couple with the container coupling member. The slot is adapted to slidably receive the removable drawer in a direction parallel to the base such that the removable drawer is positionable within the frame cavity. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0009] The above needs are met, at least in part, by providing one, two or more, or any combination of, the refillable cosmetic products described in the following detailed description, particularly when considered in conjunction with the drawings. [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a top right front perspective view of a first exemplary cosmetic product, according to various examples. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a bottom left rear perspective view of the exemplary cosmetic product of FIG. 1, according to various examples. [Figure 3] FIG. 3 is a front view of the exemplary cosmetic product of FIGS. 1 and 2, according to various examples. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a top view of the exemplary cosmetic product of FIGS. 1-3, according to various examples. [Figure 5]FIG. 5 is a left side view of the exemplary cosmetic product of FIGS. 1-4, according to various examples. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is a right side view of the exemplary cosmetic product of FIGS. 1-5, according to various examples. [Figure 7] FIG. 7 is a top view of the exemplary cosmetic product of FIGS. 1-6, according to various examples. [Figure 8] FIG. 8 is a bottom view of the exemplary cosmetic product of FIGS. 1-7, according to various examples. [Figure 9] FIG. 9 is a left side cross-sectional elevation view of the exemplary cosmetic product of FIGS. 1-8, according to various examples. [Figure 10] FIG. 10 is a perspective cross-sectional view of the exemplary cosmetic product of FIGS. 1-9, according to various examples. [Figure 11] FIG. 11 is a perspective view of an exemplary frame member for use with the exemplary cosmetic product of FIGS. 1-10, according to various examples. [Figure 12] FIG. 12 is a perspective view of an exemplary removable drawer or tray for use with the exemplary cosmetic products of FIGS. 1-11, according to various examples. [Figure 13] 13 is a bottom perspective view of the exemplary removable tray of FIG. 12, according to various examples. [Figure 14] FIG. 14 is a perspective view of the exemplary cosmetic product of FIGS. 1-13 in a partially open configuration, according to various examples. [Figure 15] FIG. 15 is a perspective view of the exemplary cosmetic product of FIGS. 1-14 in a substantially open configuration, according to various examples. [Figure 16] FIG. 16 illustrates a perspective view of the exemplary cosmetic product of FIGS. 1-15 with the exemplary frame member in a raised position, according to various examples. [Figure 17] FIG. 17 illustrates a perspective view of the exemplary cosmetic product of FIGS. 1-16 with the exemplary removable tray in a partially inserted position, according to various examples. [Figure 18] FIG. 18 illustrates a perspective view of the exemplary cosmetic product of FIGS. 1-17 with the exemplary removable tray in a partially inserted position, according to various examples. [Figure 19] FIG. 19 is a perspective view of the exemplary cosmetic product of FIGS. 1-18 with the exemplary removable tray removed from the exemplary frame, according to various examples.

[0010] Those skilled in the art will understand that elements in the figures are illustrated for simplicity and clarity and have not necessarily been drawn to scale. For example, the dimensions and / or relative placement of some of the elements in the figures may be exaggerated relative to other elements to help to improve understanding of the various examples. Also, common but well-understood elements that are useful or necessary in commercially feasible examples are often not depicted in order to facilitate easy depiction of these various examples. It will be further understood that certain acts and / or steps may be described or depicted in a particular order of occurrence, although those skilled in the art will understand that such specificity with respect to order is not actually required. It will also be understood that the terms and phrases used herein have the ordinary technical meanings as given to such terms and phrases by those skilled in the art, as set forth above, unless a different specific meaning is otherwise set forth herein. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0011] Generally speaking, according to these various approaches, cosmetic product containers are provided that have removable drawers or trays for storing cosmetic substances. These removable drawers allow a user to quickly and easily replace a first cosmetic substance with a different cosmetic substance, for example, when the first cosmetic substance is used or completely depleted. In other examples, the removable drawers may allow a user to replace different cosmetic substances with different properties (e.g., color, longevity characteristics, and / or any other characteristics) as desired. In particular, the cosmetic product containers described herein provide a quick and smooth process for removing and inserting the desired removable drawer.

[0012] Referring to the figures, a cosmetic product 100 is provided in the form of a palette. Generally, the palette 100 includes a container 102, a cover 106, a removable drawer (or tray) 110, a frame 120, and an applicator 130. The container 102 includes a cavity 102a for selectively holding the drawer 110, the frame 120, and / or the applicator 130, and further includes a container coupling member 104. The container 102 may be constructed from any number of suitable materials and / or combinations of materials, such as, for example, metal, polymer, etc. As shown in FIGS. 1-18 , in some examples, the container 102 has a generally cylindrical body, although other examples of suitable shapes and / or configurations are possible. The container may have generally curved or chamfered transitions to improve comfort when handled by a user.

[0013] As will be described in more detail below, in some examples, the container coupling member 104 may be in the form of an opening or other cutout for cooperating with a portion of the cover 106 and / or the frame 120 .

[0014] The cover 106 may be in the form of a lid or cap and includes a cover coupling member 107 in the form of a hinge that engages with the container coupling member 102 via a common hinge or pin 108 to hinge the cover 106 to the container 104. In the illustrated example, the cover coupling member 107 is in the form of an extension that extends downwardly from the cover 106 and includes any number of protrusions 107a that are insertable into or otherwise engage with corresponding container coupling members 104. However, in other examples, the components of the container coupling member 104 and the cover coupling member 107 may be reversed. The engagement between the container 102 and the cover 106 allows the cover 106 to pivot between a closed configuration (as shown in FIGS. 1-10 ) and an open configuration (as shown in FIGS. 14-19 ).

[0015] When in the closed configuration, the cover 106 may be secured to the container 102 by any number of suitable approaches, such as, for example, a release mechanism 103 coupled to a latch member 103a (FIG. 9), frictional engagement between the cover 106 and the container 102, magnetic attraction between these components, etc. Other embodiments may be used.

[0016] Although not shown, in some examples, the cover 106 can further include openings that can receive any number of various cover inserts 110 in the form of disks (not shown). For example, these disks can be transparent and / or translucent to allow a user to visually identify the contents within the cavity 102a when the cover 106 is closed. In other examples, the disks can be reflective or mirrored to help a user see their face when applying a cosmetic product. Other examples are possible.

[0017] The removable drawer 110 includes a base 112 and sidewalls 113 that define a drawer cavity 113a for holding a cosmetic product or substance 101. For example, the removable drawer 110 may hold other pressed powder products, such as eyeshadow products, highlighting products, contouring products, and / or concealer products. In other examples, the removable drawer 110 may hold any number of hot pour items, such as lip products, eye products, concealer products, and / or brow products. Other examples are possible. The removable drawer 110 is dimensioned to be selectively positionable within the cavity 102a of the container 102.

[0018] 13, 17, and 19, in some examples, the removable drawer 110 may include a gripping member 114 to assist a user in inserting and / or removing the removable drawer 110 from the container 102. More specifically, the gripping member 114 may be in the form of a ledge or ridge that a user can engage with a finger or other device. In the example shown, the gripping member 114 is provided in an elliptical or oval shape such that two distinct ridges are formed, separated by a generally concave region. Other examples and / or configurations are possible.

[0019] The removable drawer 110 may be constructed from any number of suitable materials, such as, for example, metals, metal alloys, polymers, etc. In examples where the removable drawer 110 holds cosmetic substances 101 that are pressed into the drawer cavity 113a, a metallic material may be desirable due to its ability to withstand greater pressing forces. In yet other examples, a liner (not shown) may be disposed within the drawer cavity 113a. Such a liner may be provided to cushion the removable drawer 110 and / or to reduce or otherwise eliminate vibration during transport or handling of the cosmetic products 100.

[0020] The frame 120 includes a base or floor member 121 and a sidewall 122 that cooperate to define a cavity 122a. In the illustrated example, the floor member 121 extends generally along a plane. Further, in some examples, the frame 120 may include a notch 125 formed on the floor member 121. A ledge 123 that defines a first opening 123a is coupled to the sidewall 122. In the illustrated example, the ledge 123 extends generally along a plane parallel to the floor member 121. Further, in some examples, the ledge 123 may be dimensioned to abut, rest on, or fit within the sidewall of the container 102 when the frame 120 is in the lowered position. The sidewall 122 further includes a slot or second opening 124. In the illustrated example, the slot or second opening 124 extends approximately halfway or more around the circumference of the sidewall 122.

[0021] The frame 120 further includes a frame coupling member 126. The frame coupling member 126 may be in the form of an opening or other cutout for cooperating with a portion of the cover 106 and / or the container 102. More specifically, in the illustrated example, the frame coupling member 126, like the cover coupling member 107, is in the form of a hinge that engages with the container coupling member 104 via a pin 108. The frame coupling member 126 is in the form of an extension extending downwardly from the frame 120 and includes any number of protrusions 126a ( FIG. 4 ) that are insertable into or otherwise engage with corresponding container coupling regions 104. Also, in the illustrated example, the protrusions 107a formed by the cover coupling member 107 are generally located within the area defined by the protrusions 126a. Other arrangements are possible.

[0022] As a result of the common hinge arrangement, both the cover 106 and the frame 120 are rotatable relative to the container 102. In some examples, the cover 106 and the frame 120 are independently rotatable relative to one another (i.e., the cover 106 can be raised and lowered while the frame 120 remains within the cavity 102a of the container 102 (FIGS. 14 and 15)). However, in other examples, the components of the container coupling members 104, the cover coupling members 107, and the frame coupling members 126 may be reversed. In another approach (not shown), the cover 106 and / or the frame 120 may include engagement members in the form of fingers, catches, or other members that cause the frame 120 to pivot or rotate upward and out of the cavity 102a when the cover 106 is opened beyond a certain point (e.g., when the cover 106 forms an angle of approximately 145° with respect to the base of the container 102). In other examples, the engagement members may cause the frame 120 to pivot or rotate upward when the cover 106 is opened to an angle greater than about 90°. Other examples are possible.

[0023] As shown in Figures 9, 10, 16, and 18, in some examples, the container 102 is sized so that the cavity 102a extends below the floor member 121 of the frame 120 when the frame 120 is in the lowered position. The applicator 130 may be positioned in this area of ​​the cavity 102a. The applicator may be constructed from any number of suitable materials, such as, for example, open-cell foam, fabric, polymer, etc., to aid in the collection and application of the cosmetic substance 101. As shown in Figure 16, the frame 120 may be rotated upward to allow a user to remove or place the applicator 130 from or within the cavity 102a. Other arrangements are possible.

[0024] As previously mentioned, the removable drawer 110 (and therefore the cosmetic substance 101) is positionable within and removable from the frame 120. More specifically, with reference to FIGS. 16-19, when the frame 120 is lifted relative to the container 102, the slot 124 becomes unobstructed to allow the removable drawer 110 to be inserted into or removed from the frame 120. When inserting or removing the removable drawer 110, the ledge and base cooperate to guide the removable drawer 110 into or out of the cavity 122a in a direction generally parallel to the floor member 121. As shown in FIGS. 17 and 19, in some arrangements, the shape of the gripping member 114 of the removable drawer 110 corresponds to the shape of the notch 125 to properly align and / or position the removable drawer 110 relative to the frame 120. In the arrangement shown, the gripping member 114 can project a distance below the floor member 121 of the frame 120 so that a user can grasp any ridge on the gripping member 114 to assist in removing the removable drawer 110 from the frame 120.

[0025] When the removable tray 110 is removed from the cavity 102a, a different removable tray 110 (e.g., a refill, a cosmetic substance 101 having a different color / hue, and / or a replacement tray containing a different type of cosmetic substance 101) can be coupled to the frame 120 and, therefore, the container 102. Thus, a user may use a single container 102 for various uses as desired, thereby reducing waste by not disposing of the entire container 102.

[0026] In some examples, detents, protrusions, or other features (not shown) may be formed on or otherwise coupled to the removable drawer 110 and / or frame 120. Such detents may provide a tactile feedback response to alert the user that the removable drawer 110 has been secured to and / or removed from the frame 120.

[0027] In particular, the container 102 prevents the removable drawer 110 from being removed from the slot 124 when the frame 120 is in the lowered position. Furthermore, in some examples, the sidewall 113 of the removable drawer 110 may have a dimension (e.g., diameter) that is larger than a corresponding dimension (e.g., diameter) of the first opening 123a formed by the ledge 123. As a result, the ledge 123 may prevent the removable drawer 110 from being removed from the drawer cavity 113a through the first opening 123a. Such an arrangement ensures that the removable drawer 110 is not inadvertently separated from the container 102 if the container 102 is inverted. Other arrangements are possible. In these and other examples, the frame 120 and / or container 102 may include a locking mechanism (not shown) that prevents the frame 120 from rotating upwardly out of the cavity 102 without overcoming a retaining force and / or actively releasing the locking mechanism. Such locking mechanisms may be in the form of frictional engagement between components, tabs configured to engage catches, etc. Other examples are possible.

[0028] So configured, the containers described herein allow a user to selectively retain any number of desired removable drawers 110 in any number of different configurations and / or arrangements. The removable drawers 110 may be quickly coupled and detached from the container 102 to allow the user to travel with the desired cosmetic substances. The removable drawers 110 are securely held within the container and therefore will not be damaged during use or transport.

[0029] It should be understood that in some examples (not shown), the container may have different shapes and / or configurations. For example, the container may be provided in a generally rectangular, generally oval, generally triangular, or any other desired shape. Furthermore, in some examples, the container may be sized to accommodate any number of frames that may be selectively and / or collectively rotated relative to the container. Such an arrangement provides a removable palette of various cosmetic substances held within a single container. Furthermore, in other examples (not shown), the container need not include rotatable frame members. Rather, the container itself may include slots that allow a user to insert and / or remove a removable tray from the container. In such examples, it should be understood that any number of retention mechanisms may be provided to ensure that the removable tray does not inadvertently separate from the container.

[0030] In yet another example (not shown), a similar arrangement of "frames" may be provided in a retail environment. In such an example, a retail shelving system or display may be provided in the form of a multi-slot frame, whereby a user can quickly and easily remove a desired removable tray therefrom for purchase. The user may then insert a newly purchased removable tray into their container in a similar sliding fashion. Other examples are possible.

[0031] In the foregoing specification, specific embodiments have been described. However, those skilled in the art will understand that various modifications and changes can be made without departing from the scope of the present invention, as set forth in the following claims. Accordingly, the specification and drawings should be considered in an illustrative rather than a restrictive sense, and all such modifications are intended to be included within the scope of the present teachings. Additionally, the described embodiments / examples / implementations should not be construed as mutually exclusive, but instead should be understood as potentially combinable where such combination is somehow permissible. In other words, any feature disclosed in any of the foregoing embodiments / examples / implementations may be included in any of the other foregoing embodiments / examples / implementations.

[0032] Benefits, advantages, solutions to problems, and any elements that may cause or make more pronounced any benefit, advantage, or solution should not be construed as critical, necessary, or essential features or elements of any or all claims. The claimed invention is defined solely by the appended claims, including any amendments made during the pendency of this application, and all equivalents of those claims as issued.

[0033] Additionally, as used herein, relational terms such as first and second, upper and lower, etc. may be used merely to distinguish one entity or operation from another and do not necessarily require or imply an actual relationship or ordering between such entities or operations. The terms "comprises," "comprising," "has," "having," "includes," "including," "contains," "containing," or any other variation thereof, are intended to cover a non-exclusive inclusion, such that a process, method, article, or apparatus that comprises, has, includes, or contains a list of elements does not include only those elements, but may include other elements not expressly listed or inherent to such process, method, article, or apparatus. An element followed by "comprises...a," "has...a," "includes...a," or "contains...a" does not, without further constraints, preclude the presence of additional identical elements in the process, method, article, or apparatus that comprises, has, includes, or encompasses the element. The terms "a" and "an" are defined herein as one or more, unless expressly stated otherwise. The terms "substantially," "essentially," "about," "approximately," or any other variation thereof, are defined as approximation as understood by one of ordinary skill in the art, and in one non-limiting embodiment, the term is defined to be within 10%, within 5%, within 1%, and within 0.5%. The term "coupled," as used herein, is defined as connected, although not necessarily directly, and not necessarily mechanically. A device or structure that is "composed of" a certain way is at least composed of that way, but may be composed of unrecited ways.

[0034] The Abstract of the present disclosure is provided to allow the reader to quickly ascertain the nature of the technical disclosure. It is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims. Additionally, in the foregoing Detailed Description, it can be seen that various features are grouped together in various embodiments for the purpose of streamlining the disclosure. This method of disclosure is not to be interpreted as reflecting an intention that the claimed embodiments require more features than are expressly recited in each claim. Rather, as the following claims reflect, inventive subject matter may lie in less than all features of a single disclosed embodiment. Accordingly, the following claims are hereby incorporated into the Detailed Description, with each claim standing on its own as separately claimed subject matter.

[0035] The final claims of this patent application are not intended to be construed under 35 U.S.C. §112(f) unless conventional means-plus-function language is expressly recited, such as when the claim expressly includes the phrase "means for" or "step for."

Claims

1. A cosmetic product comprising: a container defining a cavity and including a container coupling member; a removable drawer including a drawer cavity adapted to hold a cosmetic substance; a frame adapted to be at least partially disposed within the cavity of the container, the frame having a first opening, a second opening, and a frame coupling member adapted to rotatably couple with the container coupling member; A cosmetic product, wherein the first opening is adapted to expose the cosmetic substance so that it can be collected and removed from the drawer cavity, and the second opening is adapted to slidably receive the removable drawer.

2. The cosmetic product of claim 1 , wherein the removable drawer is slidably inserted into the second opening of the frame in a direction generally parallel to a floor member of the frame.

3. 2. The cosmetic product of claim 1, wherein the removable drawer is prevented from being removed from or inserted into the second opening of the frame until the frame is rotatably moved to a raised position relative to the container.

4. The cosmetic product of claim 1 , further comprising a cover including a cover coupling member adapted to rotatably couple with the container coupling member.

5. The cosmetic product of claim 4 , wherein the cover coupling member, the frame coupling member, and the container coupling member are rotatably coupled to one another via a common hinge.

6. 6. The cosmetic product of claim 5, further comprising an engagement member formed on at least one of the cover or the frame, the engagement member adapted to bias the frame to a raised position when the cover is rotated relative to the container to a raised position.

7. The cosmetic product of claim 1 , wherein the removable drawer includes a liner disposed within the drawer cavity for holding the cosmetic substance.

8. 10. The cosmetic product of claim 1, wherein the removable drawer includes a detent adapted to generate tactile feedback when the removable drawer is inserted into and / or removed from the second opening of the frame.

9. The cosmetic product of claim 1 , further comprising a gripping member formed on the removable drawer.

10. The cosmetic product of claim 1 , further comprising an applicator adapted to be disposed within the cavity of the container.

11. A cosmetic product comprising: a container defining a cavity and including a container coupling member; a removable drawer including a drawer cavity adapted to hold a cosmetic substance; a frame adapted to be at least partially disposed within the cavity of the container, the frame including a floor member extending generally along a plane, a sidewall defining a frame cavity, a slot formed on the sidewall, and a frame coupling member adapted to rotatably couple with the container coupling member; The slot is adapted to slidably receive the removable drawer in a direction parallel to the base such that the removable drawer is positionable within the frame cavity.

12. 12. The cosmetic product of claim 11, wherein the removable drawer is prevented from being removed from or inserted into the slot until the frame is rotatably moved to a raised position relative to the container.

13. The cosmetic product of claim 11 , further comprising a cover including a cover coupling member adapted to rotatably couple with the container coupling member.

14. The cosmetic product of claim 13 , wherein the cover coupling member, the frame coupling member, and the container coupling member are rotatably coupled to one another via a common hinge.

15. 15. The cosmetic product of claim 14, further comprising an engagement member formed on at least one of the cover or the frame, the engagement member adapted to bias the frame to a raised position when the cover is rotated relative to the container to a raised position.

16. 12. The cosmetic product of claim 11, wherein the removable drawer includes a liner disposed within the drawer cavity for holding the cosmetic substance.

17. 12. The cosmetic product of claim 11, wherein the removable drawer includes a detent adapted to generate tactile feedback when the removable drawer is inserted into and / or removed from the second opening of the frame.

18. The cosmetic product of claim 11, further comprising a gripping member formed on the removable drawer.

19. The cosmetic product of claim 11 , further comprising an applicator adapted to be disposed within the cavity of the container.

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