Cosmetic containers

Abstract

To provide a cosmetic container which has a lid to be opened / closed by a hinge part, hardly causes troubles of the hinge part, and makes a container body or the lid of the cosmetic container continuously usable even if troubles occur in the hinge part.SOLUTION: A cosmetic container 1A comprises a container body 10, a lid 20 and a hinge part 2, and the lid 20 is opened / closed by the hinge part 2. At least one of the container body 10 and the lid 20 is detachably engaged with the hinge part 2 by a pair of tenon joints arranged separately from each other on a contact surface of the container body 10 or the lid 20 with the hinge part 2. The pair of tenon joints include tenons 23R, 23L and tenon grooves 53R, 53L of the lid extending in an extension direction of the contact surface in plan view of the cosmetic container 1A, or tenons 13R, 13L and tenon grooves 43R, 43L of the container body. The tenons 23R, 23L and the tenon grooves 53R, 53L of the lid are engaged or the tenons 13R, 13L and the tenon grooves 43R, 43L of the container body are engaged by being slid in the extension direction.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a cosmetic container in which a lid is opened and closed by a hinge.

[0002] As a cosmetic container for cosmetics such as foundation, blush, and eyeshadow, which is generally called a compact, a container body for storing cosmetics and a lid are made of resin, and a mirror is attached to the inner surface of the lid as needed, and the lid is opened and closed by a hinge. Such a cosmetic container is widely used. As such a hinge, it is common to fix a metal hinge shaft to one of the container body or the lid and pass it through a shaft hole provided in the other. However, a hinge member separate from the container body or the lid is provided with a metal or resin hinge shaft, and the hinge shaft of the hinge member is fitted into the shaft holes of the container body and the lid (Patent Document 1), or a shaft hole is provided in a hinge member separate from the container body or the lid, and the hinge shaft provided in the container body or the lid is fitted into the shaft hole of the hinge portion (Patent Document 2) is also known.

[0003] On the other hand, from the viewpoints of recent waste separation collection and resource reuse, it has been proposed to make the hinge shaft separable from the container body and the lid (Patent Document 3) and to make the lid and the mirror separable (Patent Document 4).

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0004]

Patent Document 1

Patent Document 2

Patent Document 3

Patent Document 4

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0005] In a cosmetic container in which the lid is opened and closed by a hinge, there may be a problem with the opening and closing of the lid due to deterioration of the resin in the hinge part of the lid. This is because repeated stress is applied to the resin in the hinge part due to the opening and closing of the hinge, and also because the components of the cosmetic may cause deterioration of the resin. Deterioration of the resin in the hinge part, such as cracking or a decrease in physical properties, is fatal to the cosmetic container. For example, if the resin in this part deteriorates and cracks, the entire cosmetic container has to be discarded. This is the same for cosmetic containers (Patent Documents 3 and 4) that enable the separation and recovery of the hinge shaft and mirror. Also, in a cosmetic container in which one of the hinge shaft and the shaft hole is provided in a hinge member separate from the container body or the lid, since the other of the hinge shaft and the shaft hole is formed in the container body or the lid, when the resin in the hinge part deteriorates, the entire cosmetic container has to be discarded (Patent Documents 1 and 2).

[0006] Even if there is no damage to the container body or the lid other than the hinge part, having to discard the entire cosmetic container is very disappointing for users who liked the cosmetic container, and it is not preferable from the viewpoints of effective use of resources and reduction of the amount of resin to be discarded.

[0007] On the other hand, when a user wants to change the design or decoration of the container body or the lid, or when a refill or applicator of a cosmetic that the user wants to use does not fit dimensionally into the container body, even if there is no problem with the hinge part, the entire cosmetic container including the hinge part may be discarded. Thus, discarding the entire cosmetic container when there is no problem with the hinge part is also not preferable from the viewpoints of effective use of resources and reduction of the amount of resin to be discarded.

[0008] In contrast, the present invention relates to a cosmetic container in which the lid is opened and closed by a hinge part, making it difficult for problems to occur in the hinge part. Even if a problem occurs in the hinge part, the container body or the lid of the cosmetic container can still be used continuously. Furthermore, when there is no problem with the hinge part and the user desires to change the container body or the lid, the hinge part can still be used continuously.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0009] The inventor has made the hinge part detachably fitted and connected to at least one of the container body and the lid of the cosmetic container by a tenon joint (i.e., a tenon and a tenon groove). For example, even if a problem occurs in the hinge part and it becomes necessary to replace the hinge part, the container body or the lid that is detachable from the hinge part can be continuously used. Also, by providing a pair of tenon joints spaced apart from each other on the contact surface between the container body or the lid and the hinge part, the fitting state becomes better than when the tenon joints are formed across the entire width of the contact surface, and the present invention has been completed.

[0010] That is, the present invention is a cosmetic container including a container body, a lid, and a hinge part, and the lid is opened and closed by the hinge part. At least one of the container body and the lid is detachably fitted to the hinge part by a pair of tenon joints arranged spaced apart from each other on the contact surface between the container body or the lid and the hinge part. The pair of tenon joints each include a tenon and a tenon groove extending in the extending direction of the contact surface in a plan view of the cosmetic container, and the tenon and the tenon groove are slidably fitted in the extending direction. The present invention provides a cosmetic container.

Effects of the Invention

[0011] According to the cosmetic container of the present invention, at least one of the container body and the lid and the hinge part are detachably fitted by a tenon joint extending in the extending direction of the contact surface in a plan view of the cosmetic container at the contact surface between the container body or the lid and the hinge part. Therefore, when a problem such as a decrease in physical properties or cracking occurs in any of the container body, the lid, and the hinge part, the parts that are not defective can be continuously used without discarding the entire cosmetic container. Thus, the amount of resin waste can be reduced and resources can be effectively utilized.

[0012] In addition, since a pair of the dovetail joint formation positions are provided separately from each other on the contact surface between the container body or the lid and the hinge portion, the dovetail joint becomes shorter compared to the case where the dovetail joint is provided over the entire width of the contact surface, and it becomes less likely that a problem occurs in the hinge portion. Further, die forming of the dovetail and the dovetail groove becomes easy, and dimensional changes in the die extraction direction can be reduced, so dimensional stability is improved, and the fitting state of the dovetail and the dovetail groove is good without rattling.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0013]

Figure 1A

Figure 1B

Figure 2A

Figure 2B

Figure 2C

Figure 3

Figure 4A

Figure 4B

Figure 5A

Figure 5B

Figure 6A

Figure 6B

Figure 7

Figure 8

Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[0014] Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. In each figure, the same reference numerals represent the same or equivalent components.

[0015] <Basic Configuration> FIG. 1A is a perspective view of the cosmetic container 1A of an embodiment of the present invention with the lid open, and FIG. 1B is a perspective view of the cosmetic container 1A with the lid closed. Further, FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the cosmetic container 1A.

[0016] This cosmetic container 1A is formed of a container body 10, a lid 20, and a hinge portion 2 that functions to open and close the lid 20. The hinge portion 2 is formed of a container body side hinge piece 40, a lid side hinge piece 50, and a hinge shaft 3 that connects them. The container body 10 is detachably fitted to the container body side hinge piece 40 by a mortise joint, and the lid 20 is detachably fitted to the lid side hinge piece 50 by a mortise joint.

[0017] Inside the container body 10, a cosmetic storage portion 11 for storing cosmetics such as foundation, blush, and eyeshadow, and a cosmetic tool storage portion 12 for storing puffs, sponges, brushes, chips, etc. are formed. The cosmetics may be directly filled into the cosmetic storage portion 11, or a middle plate (not shown) filled with cosmetics may be fixed to the cosmetic storage portion 11 by adhesion or the like. The middle plate may be fitted into the cosmetic storage portion 11 as a refill so as to be replaceable. Further, in the present invention, the cosmetic tool storage portion 12 inside the container body 10 may be omitted, or a cosmetic tool storage portion may be formed so as to overlap the cosmetic storage portion 11.

[0018] The lid 20 is opened and closed with respect to the container body 10 by the hinge portion 2, and the closed state is held by the engagement of the engagement groove 21 and the hook 14a. That is, as shown in FIG. 3, a hook piece 14 with a protruding hook 14a is provided at the center of the front surface of the container body 10. As shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B, the hook piece 14 has the hook 14a and the leaf spring 15 integrated therewith. The leaf spring 15 biases the hook piece 14 from the inside to the outside of the container body 10. On the other hand, an engagement groove 21 that engages with the hook 14a is provided at the center of the front surface of the lid 20. FIG. 3 shows an enlarged view of the engagement groove 21 portion. When the lid 20 is closed, the hook 14a and the engagement groove 21 engage with each other, and this engagement is stabilized by the biasing force of the leaf spring 15. Further, when the hook piece 14 is pushed into the inner side of the container body with the lid 20 closed, the engagement between the hook 14a of the hook piece 14 and the engagement groove 21 is released. By using such an engagement mechanism, even if there is a slight deviation in the fitting by the tenon joint between the lid 20 or the container body 10 and the hinge portion 2, the lid 20 and the container body 10 can be engaged. In this embodiment, the leaf spring 15 is integrally formed with the hook 14a, but the leaf spring may be provided at the attachment portion of the hook piece of the container body 10.

[0019] A mirror 22 is provided on the inner surface of the lid 20 as necessary. In this embodiment, the mirror 22 is adhered to the inner surface of the lid 20.

[0020] As the forming material of the container body 10 and the lid 20, for example, resin materials such as acrylonitrile-styrene (AS), acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene (ABS), polystyrene (PS), polyethylene terephthalate (PET), and polycyclohexylene dimethylene terephthalate (PCT) can be used, and wood, pottery, metal, etc. can also be combined as decorative boards.

[0021] Further, the entire container body 10 and the lid 20 may be formed of metal. In this case, it is preferable to form the lid 20 of metal and make its inner surface a mirror surface. Thereby, it becomes unnecessary to attach a mirror to the lid, and it also becomes unnecessary to separate the lid and the mirror when the cosmetic container is discarded.

[0022] <Hinge portion> As shown in FIG. 3, in this embodiment, the hinge portion 2 has a hinge shaft 3 that connects the container body side hinge piece 40 and the lid side hinge piece 50. The container body side hinge piece 40 has a notch portion 41 that extends in the axial direction of the hinge shaft 3 at the center of its back surface, and the lid side hinge piece 50 has a ridge portion 51 that fits into the notch portion 41 of the container body side hinge piece 40. The hinge shaft 3 is driven into the driving position 52 of the ridge portion 51 of the lid side hinge piece 50 through the shaft hole 42 of the container body side hinge piece 40 to connect the container body side hinge piece 40 and the lid side hinge piece 50. As a result, the lid side hinge piece 50 rotates with respect to the container body side hinge piece 40 with the hinge shaft 3 as the center axis of rotation L as shown by the arrow in FIG. 2B, and the hinge portion 2 can take a closed state as shown in FIG. 5A or an open state as shown in FIG. 5B.

[0023] In this case, by making the hole diameter of the shaft hole 42 smaller than the shaft diameter of the hinge shaft 3 and further reducing the hole diameter of the shaft hole at the driving position 52, appropriate friction is generated between the hinge shaft 3 and the shaft hole 42 of the container body side hinge piece 40 when the hinge portion 2 is opened and closed, and the hinge portion 2 can have a free stop function.

[0024] Here, the free stop function refers to a function that can hold the opening angles of the hinge piece 40 on the container body side and the hinge piece 50 on the lid side at an arbitrary angle. The free stop function can be obtained by the frictional force between the hinge shaft 3 and the shaft hole 42. To obtain the free stop function, as the hinge shaft 3, one having a spiral groove or an axial slit may be used, or a spiro roll pin formed by rolling a metal plate into a cylindrical shape may be used. In this embodiment, the hinge piece with a shaft hole opened on the side surface of the cosmetic container 1A is the hinge piece 40 on the container body side. The hinge shaft 3 is driven into the hinge piece 50 on the lid side through the shaft hole 42 of the hinge piece 40 on the container body side, and the hinge shaft 3 is fixed to the hinge piece 50 on the lid side. The free stop function is obtained by the friction between the hinge shaft 3 and the shaft hole 42 of the hinge piece 40 on the container body side. However, the hinge shaft 3 may be driven into the shaft hole 42 of the hinge piece 40 on the container body side, the hinge shaft 3 may be fixed to the hinge piece 40 on the container body side, and the free stop function may be obtained by the friction between the hinge shaft 3 and the shaft hole of the hinge piece 50 on the lid side. Further, the hinge piece with a shaft hole opened on the side surface of the cosmetic container may be used as the hinge piece 50 on the lid side (not shown). In that case, the hinge piece into which the hinge shaft 3 is driven may be used as the hinge piece 40 on the container body side. In the present invention, the configuration of the hinge shaft 3 itself and the attachment method of the hinge shaft 3 can directly utilize known pin driving methods and insertion methods of hinge parts, etc.

[0025] In the hinge part 2 having a free stop function, stress is applied each time the hinge part is opened and closed. Among them, a large load is applied to the hinge piece that supports the hinge shaft (that is, the hinge piece into which the metal pin is driven), so the resin constituting the hinge piece is likely to deteriorate in physical properties and crack. In particular, when the components of the cosmetic contain an ultraviolet absorber or the like that accelerates the deterioration of the resin, this tendency is significant. Therefore, as the forming material of the container body side hinge piece 40 and the lid side hinge piece 50 of the hinge part 2, it may be the same as the forming material of the container body 10 and the lid 20 described above, but it is preferably a resin with excellent chemical resistance to cosmetics and high durability that is difficult to deteriorate even when stress is repeatedly applied. For example, an ABS resin with a high chemical resistance grade can be used. However, a resin with such excellent chemical resistance and durability has poor moldability, and it may be difficult to perform highly designed processing on the lid and the container body. On the other hand, in the cosmetic container of this embodiment, such a resin can be used only for the hinge part 2, so the design property of the entire cosmetic container can be enhanced, and the chemical resistance and durability of the hinge part can be enhanced. Also, even if a problem occurs in the free stop function in the hinge part 2, only the hinge part 2 can be replaced.

[0026] <Dovetail joint> In the present invention, at least one of the container body and the lid is detachably fitted to the hinge part by a dovetail joint. The dovetail joints are arranged in a pair so as to be spaced apart from each other on the contact surface between the container body or the lid and the hinge part, and each dovetail joint extends in the extending direction of the contact surface in a plan view of the cosmetic container (that is, a view of the cosmetic container seen from a direction perpendicular to its bottom surface). In this embodiment, this extending direction is the width direction of the cosmetic container 1A, and the container body 10 and the container body side hinge piece 40 are detachably fitted by dovetail joints extending in the width direction at both ends of the width direction of the cosmetic container 1A of these contact surfaces, and the lid 20 and the lid side hinge piece 50 are also detachably fitted by dovetail joints extending in the width direction at both ends of the width direction of the cosmetic container 1A of these contact surfaces. Here, the width direction of the cosmetic container in the present invention refers to the direction parallel to the hinge shaft 3.

[0027] More specifically, as shown in Fig. 6A, on one end WR in the width direction W of the cosmetic container 1A on the back surfaces of the container body 10 and the lid 20, ridges extending from the end of the end are formed as keyways 13R and 23R. The cross-section of this ridge in a plane orthogonal to the width direction W of the cosmetic container is L-shaped.

[0028] As shown in Fig. 6B, the hinge piece 40 on the container body side has a keyway groove 43R facing the keyway 13R of the container body 10, including a groove portion 43R1 with an L-shaped cross-section extending from the end of one end WR of the hinge piece 40 on the container body side, and a groove portion 43R2 with a rectangular cross-section following it. The keyway 13R with an L-shaped cross-section facing this groove portion 43R2 with a rectangular cross-section can be inserted into the groove portion 43R2 with a rectangular cross-section. The groove portion 43R1 with an L-shaped cross-section fits with the keyway 13R with an L-shaped cross-section by sliding the keyway 13R with an L-shaped cross-section inserted into the groove portion 43R2 with a rectangular cross-section in the width direction W. Similarly, the hinge piece 50 on the lid side also has a keyway groove 53R facing the keyway 23R of the lid 20, including a groove portion 53R1 with an L-shaped cross-section and a groove portion 53R2 with a rectangular cross-section.

[0029] Preferably, as shown in Fig. 2A, a micro-projection 13Rt is provided near the end of the keyway 13R of the container body 10 close to the side surface of the container body. In the keyway groove 43R of the hinge piece 40 on the container body side that fits with the keyway 13R, it is preferable to provide a step portion 43Rt at a position adjacent to the micro-projection 13Rt during fitting and at the upper position in the sliding direction during fitting. Similarly, a micro-projection 23Rt is provided near the end of the keyway 23R of the lid 20 close to the side surface of the lid, and it is also preferable to provide a step portion 53Rt at a position adjacent to the micro-projection 23Rt in the keyway groove 53R of the hinge piece 50 on the lid side that fits with the keyway 23R and at the upper position in the sliding direction during fitting.

[0030] On one side, at the other end WL in the width direction W of the cosmetic container 1A, as shown in Fig. 6A, the container body 10 has a tenon 13L. It has a convex strip portion 13L1 with an L-shaped cross-section extending from the end of the other end WL and a subsequent convex strip portion 13L2 with an I-shaped cross-section. Similarly, the lid 20 also has a tenon 23L, with a convex strip portion 23L1 with an L-shaped cross-section and a subsequent convex strip portion 23L2 with an I-shaped cross-section. Also, as shown in Fig. 6B, the hinge piece 40 on the container body side has a tenon groove 43L facing the tenon 13L of the container body 10. It has a groove portion 43L1 with an L-shaped cross-section extending from the end of the other end WL in the width direction W of the cosmetic container and a subsequent groove portion 43L2 with an I-shaped cross-section. The convex strip portion 13L1 with an L-shaped cross-section and the convex strip portion 13L2 with an I-shaped cross-section of the tenon 13L of the container body 10 respectively fit into the groove portion 43L1 with an L-shaped cross-section and the groove portion 43L2 with an I-shaped cross-section of the tenon groove 43L of the hinge piece 40 on the container body side. Similarly, the hinge piece 50 on the lid side also has a groove portion 53L1 with an L-shaped cross-section that fits with the convex strip portion 23L1 with an L-shaped cross-section of the lid 20 and a groove portion 53L2 with an I-shaped cross-section that fits with the convex strip portion 23L2 with an I-shaped cross-section.

[0031] Preferably, as shown in Fig. 2A, a micro protrusion 13Lt is provided at the boundary between the convex strip portion 13L1 with an L-shaped cross-section and the convex strip portion 13L2 with an I-shaped cross-section of the tenon 13L of the container body 10. In the tenon groove 43L of the hinge piece 40 on the container body side that fits with the tenon 13L, it is preferable to provide a step portion 43Lt at a position adjacent to the micro protrusion 13Lt during fitting and at the upper position in the sliding direction during fitting. Similarly, a micro protrusion 23Lt is provided at the boundary between the convex strip portion 23L1 with an L-shaped cross-section and the convex strip portion 23L2 with an I-shaped cross-section of the tenon 23L of the lid 20. In the tenon groove 53L of the hinge piece 50 on the lid side that fits with the tenon 23L, it is preferable to provide a step portion 53Lt at a position adjacent to the micro protrusion 23Lt during fitting and at the upper position in the sliding direction during fitting.

[0032] To fit the container body 10, the lid 20, and the hinge portion 2 together, first, as shown in FIGS. 6A and 6B, the L-shaped tenon 13R at one end of the container body 10 is opposed to the rectangular groove portion 43R2 of the hinge piece 40 on the container body side, and the L-shaped tenon 23R of the lid 20 is opposed to the rectangular groove portion 53R2 of the hinge piece 50 on the lid side. Next, the L-shaped tenon 13R of the container body 10 is pushed into the rectangular groove portion 43R2 of the hinge piece 40 on the container body side, and the L-shaped tenon 23R of the lid 20 is pushed into the rectangular groove portion 53R2 of the hinge piece 50 on the lid side. At this time, the I-shaped rib portion 13L2 of the tenon 13L at the other end WL in the width direction W of the cosmetic container 1A is inserted into the L-shaped groove portion 43L1 of the hinge piece 40 on the container body side, but the L-shaped rib portion 13L1 is not inserted into the tenon groove 43L. Similarly, the I-shaped rib portion 23L2 of the tenon 23L of the lid 20 is inserted into the L-shaped groove portion 53L1 of the hinge piece 50 on the lid side, but the L-shaped rib portion 23L1 is not inserted into the tenon groove 53L.

[0033] Next, with respect to the container body 10 and the lid 20, by moving the hinge portion 2 in the direction of the arrow in FIG. 6B, the tenon 13R at one end of the container body 10 is slid in the direction of the L-shaped groove portion 43R1 of the hinge piece 40 on the container body side and fitted with the L-shaped groove portion 43R1. Also, the tenon 23R of the lid 20 is slid in the direction of the L-shaped groove portion 53R1 of the hinge piece 50 on the lid side and fitted with the L-shaped groove portion 53R1. At this time, for the tenon 13L at the other end WL in the width direction W of the cosmetic container 1A, the L-shaped rib portion 13L1 is fitted with the L-shaped groove portion 43L1 of the hinge piece 40 on the container body side, and the I-shaped rib portion 13L2 is inserted into the I-shaped groove portion 43L2 of the hinge piece 40 on the container body side. Similarly, the L-shaped rib portion 23L1 of the lid 20 is fitted with the L-shaped groove portion 53L1 of the hinge piece 50 on the lid side, and the I-shaped rib portion 23L2 of the lid 20 is inserted into the I-shaped groove portion 53L2 of the hinge piece 50 on the lid side.

[0034] In this way, the container body 10 and the container body side hinge piece 40 are detachably fitted by the tenon and mortise grooves extending in the width direction W of the cosmetic container 1A, and the lid 20 and the lid side hinge piece 50 are detachably fitted. As a result, the degree of freedom in design is increased by the combination of the container body and the lid of the cosmetic container, and further by the combination of the container body, the lid, and the hinge part. It becomes possible for the user to customize this combination. And even after starting use once, it is possible to change the design while continuing to use at least the container body or the lid. Therefore, the amount of resin waste can be reduced even when changing the design.

[0035] Also, when detachably fitting the container body 10 and the container body side hinge piece 40, and the lid 20 and the lid side hinge piece 50, instead of forming the tenon and mortise grooves over the entire width in the width direction W of the cosmetic container 1A, by forming them at both end portions WR, WL, when fitting or detaching by sliding the tenon and mortise grooves when attaching or detaching the container body 10 or the lid 20 and the hinge part 2, the stroke of the slide becomes shorter. Therefore, it becomes easier to attach and detach the container body 10 or the lid 20 and the hinge part 2, and the risk of damage to these during attachment and detachment is also reduced. Also, the die forming of the tenon and mortise grooves becomes easier, and the dimensional change in the die ejection direction can be reduced, so the dimensional stability is improved, and the fitting state of the tenon and mortise grooves is also good without rattling.

[0036] Also, in the tenons 13L, 13R of the container body 10 and the tenons 23L, 23R of the lid 20, by providing a cross-sectional L-shaped portion on the surface perpendicular to the width direction W of the cosmetic container 1A, the strength of the tenon joint is improved and the fitting state is also stabilized.

[0037] Furthermore, in this embodiment, micro-protrusions 13Rt and 13Lt are respectively provided on the tenons 13R and 13L of the container body 10, and step portions 43Rt and 43Lt are provided at positions adjacent to these micro-protrusions 13Rt and 13Lt and at the upper position in the sliding direction during fitting in the tenon grooves 43R and 43L of the hinge piece 40 on the container body side (FIG. 2A). When the container body 10 and the hinge piece 40 on the container body side are fitted together, a light lock can be applied to prevent the fitting from accidentally coming off, which is preferable. Similarly, micro-protrusions 23Rt and 23Lt are respectively provided on the tenons 23R and 23L of the lid 20, and step portions 53Rt and 53Lt are provided at positions adjacent to these micro-protrusions 23Rt and 23Lt and at the upper position in the sliding direction during fitting in the tenon grooves 53R and 53L of the hinge piece 50 on the lid side. When the lid 20 and the hinge piece 50 on the lid side are fitted together, a light lock can be applied to prevent the fitting from accidentally coming off, which is preferable.

[0038] In addition, in this cosmetic container 1A, with the hinge piece 40 on the container body side attached to the container body 10, as shown in FIGS. 2B and 2C, the lower surface of the container body 10 and the lower surface of the hinge piece 40 on the container body side are flush. With the hinge piece 50 on the lid side attached to the lid 20, the upper surface of the lid 20 and the upper surface of the hinge piece 50 on the lid side are flush, resulting in a shape that is easy to use as a cosmetic container.

[0039] The fitting between the container body 10 and the hinge piece 40 on the container body side and the fitting between the lid 20 and the hinge piece 50 on the lid side may be performed simultaneously as described above, or may be performed separately as necessary.

[0040] When detaching the fitted container body 10 from the hinge portion 2 or the fitted lid 20 from the hinge portion 2, reverse the sliding direction and perform the operation opposite to the above-described operation.

[0041] <Modification> The present invention can take various modified forms. For example,

[0042] The cosmetic container 1B shown in Fig. 7 is such that, in the above-described cosmetic container 1A, the extending direction of the contact surface between the lid 20 and the lid-side hinge piece 50 in the plan view of the cosmetic container 1B is oblique with respect to the width direction W of the cosmetic container 1B, and the lid 20 and the lid-side hinge piece 50 are detachably fitted together by a pair of tenon joints (tenons 23R’, tenon grooves 53R’)(tenons 23L’, tenon grooves 53L’) provided on this contact surface. The container body 10 and the container-body-side hinge piece 40 are fitted together in the same manner as in the above-described cosmetic container 1A, and the extending direction of these contact surfaces is the width direction of the cosmetic container 1B. Thus, by making the extending direction of the contact surface between the lid 20 and the lid-side hinge piece 50 oblique with respect to the width direction W of the cosmetic container, diversification of the design can be achieved. Also, for the user, it becomes easier to distinguish between the lid-side hinge piece 50 and the container-body-side hinge piece 40, and the sliding direction when fitting the lid 20 and the lid-side hinge piece 50 together becomes clearer.

[0043] In the cosmetic container 1B, the pair of tenon joints on the contact surface between the lid 20 and the lid-side hinge piece 50 both have the same shape as the tenon joint (tenon 23R, tenon groove 53R) at one end WR of the above-described cosmetic container 1A. That is, ridges with an L-shaped cross section are formed as the tenons 23R’, 23L’ of the lid 20, and tenon grooves with an L-shaped cross section followed by tenon grooves with a rectangular cross section are formed as the tenon grooves 53R’, 53L’ of the lid-side hinge piece 50. The pair of tenon joints (tenons 23R’, tenon grooves 53R’)(tenons 23L’, tenon grooves 53L’) are arranged so as to be separated from each other, but both are formed in the central part rather than at the ends in the extending direction of the contact surface between the lid 20 and the lid-side hinge piece 50. Thus, in the present invention, the formation positions of the pair of tenon joints provided on the contact surface between the container body or the lid and the hinge part are not limited to both ends in the extending direction of the corresponding contact surface. By forming the tenon joints in the central part rather than at the ends in the extending direction of the corresponding contact surface, the shape of the tenon joints does not appear on the side surface of the container body or the lid, and the design property of the cosmetic container is improved.

[0044] The cosmetic container 1C shown in Fig. 8 is formed by integrally molding the lid 20 and the lid-side hinge piece 50 of the above-described cosmetic container 1A. This makes it possible to assemble the cosmetic container more simply. When a resin mirror is provided as the mirror 22 and the need to replace the mirror in the lid 20 is low, etc., it is preferably assembled more simply. Similarly, in the above-described cosmetic container 1A, the container body 10 and the container-body-side hinge piece 40 may be integrally molded.

[0045] Also, in the above-described aspect, as the tenon joint configuration, tenons may be formed on the hinge part, and tenon grooves may be formed on the container body or the lid.

[0046] The outer shape of the cosmetic container is not limited to a rectangle, and the sides where the tenon joints are provided on the container body or the lid can be appropriately determined according to the outer shape of the container body. For example, the outer shape of the cosmetic container in plan view may be a polygon with five or more sides, or a shape having an arc of a circle or an ellipse. In any case, tenon joints are provided at both ends of the side of the container body or the lid that is connected to the hinge part.

Explanation of Reference Numerals

[0047] 1A, 1B, 1C Cosmetic containers 2 Hinge part 3 Hinge shaft 10 Container body 11 Cosmetic storage part 12 Cosmetic tool storage part 13L, 13R Tenons 13Lt, 13Rt Micro protrusions 13L1 Convex strip part with an L-shaped cross section 13L2 Convex strip part with an I-shaped cross section 14 Hook piece 14a Hook 15 Leaf spring 20 Lid 21 Engaging groove 22 Mirror 23L, 23R Tenons 23Lt, 23Rt Micro protrusions 23L1 Convex strip part with an L-shaped cross section The rib portion with an I-shaped cross-section at the 23L2 section 40 Hinge piece on the container body side 41 Notch 42 Shaft hole 43, 43L, 43R Dovetail groove 43Lt, 43Rt Step portion 43L1 Groove portion with an L-shaped cross-section 43L2 Groove portion with an I-shaped cross-section 43R1 Groove portion with an L-shaped cross-section 43R2 Groove portion with a rectangular cross-section 50 Hinge piece on the lid side 51 Rib portion 52 Driving-in position of the rib portion 53, 53L, 53R Dovetail groove 53Lt, 53Rt Step portion 53L1 Groove portion with an L-shaped cross-section 53L2 Groove portion with an I-shaped cross-section 53R1 Groove portion with an L-shaped cross-section 53R2 Groove portion with a rectangular cross-section W Width direction of the cosmetic container WR One end of the width direction of the cosmetic container WL The other end of the width direction of the cosmetic container

Claims

1. A cosmetic container comprising a container body, a lid, and a hinge portion, the lid being opened and closed by the hinge portion, wherein at least one of the container body and the lid is detachably fitted to the hinge portion by a pair of tenon joints arranged at a distance from each other on an abutment surface between the container body or the lid and the hinge portion, the pair of tenon joints each comprising a tenon and a tenon groove extending in the extension direction of the abutment surface in a plan view of the cosmetic container, In one of the pair of mortise and tenon joints, the tenon has a convex portion with an L-shaped cross section, and the mortise groove has a groove portion with an L-shaped cross section followed by a groove portion with a rectangular cross section, and the convex portion with an L-shaped cross section facing the groove portion with a rectangular cross section is inserted into the groove portion with a rectangular cross section, slides in the extension direction, and engages with the groove portion with an L-shaped cross section.

2. The hinge portion has a container body side hinge piece, a lid side hinge piece, and a hinge shaft connecting these pieces, The container body is detachably fitted to the container body side hinge piece, 2. The cosmetic container according to claim 1, wherein the lid is detachably fitted to the lid side hinge piece.

3. A cosmetic container as described in claim 1 or 2, wherein the other of the pair of mortise and tenon joints has a tenon having a convex stripe portion with an L-shaped cross section followed by a convex stripe portion with an I-shaped cross section, and the mortise groove of the other mortise and tenon joint has a groove portion with an L-shaped cross section followed by a groove portion with an I-shaped cross section, and the L-shaped cross section convex stripe portion and the I-shaped cross section convex stripe portion fit into the L-shaped cross section groove portion and the I-shaped cross section groove portion, respectively.

4. A cosmetic container as described in claim 3, wherein the extension direction of the abutment surface in a planar view of the cosmetic container is the width direction of the cosmetic container, one of the pair of mortise and tenon joints is provided at one end in the width direction, and the L-shaped cross-sectional convex portion and the L-shaped cross-sectional groove portion extend from the end of the one end, and the other of the pair of mortise and tenon joints is provided at the other end in the width direction, and the L-shaped cross-sectional convex portion and the L-shaped cross-sectional groove portion extend from the end of the other end.

5. A cosmetic container as described in claim 4, wherein at one end of the cosmetic container in the width direction, the tenon has a small protrusion near the end of the end, and the tenon groove has a step portion located adjacent to the small protrusion when engaged and upstream in the sliding direction when engaged.

6. A cosmetic container as described in claim 4 or 5. At the other end of the width direction of the cosmetic container, the tenon has a small protrusion at the boundary between the L-shaped cross-sectional convex strip portion and the I-shaped cross-sectional convex strip portion, and the tenon groove has a step portion adjacent to the small protrusion when engaged and upstream in the sliding direction when engaged.

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