Lipstick Refill Push-Button Transfer Without Stick Contact

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing lipstick refills are difficult to handle without contacting the stick, and the refilling process is messy and cumbersome due to the need for direct contact with the stick during insertion into the lipstick mechanism.

Innovation Solution

A lipstick refill design featuring a cup with a push-button that projects radially and is engaged in a longitudinal indentation in the case, allowing for easy alignment and transfer into a receiving sleeve without direct contact with the stick, utilizing an annular space between the case and cup for seamless insertion.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If the stick is packaged in a bag and placed in the cup by the user, then the refill can be transferred to the lipstick mechanism, but the fingers come into contact with the stick making it difficult to handle and the process messy

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of handling refillVSAvoidcontact with stick

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The cup acts as an intermediary container that holds the stick and presents only its end portion for interaction. The push-button on the cup exterior serves as a mediator to transfer the refill without requiring direct finger contact with the stick itself, thus solving the hygiene and handling problems

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Adaptability or versatility

If the longitudinal window of the receiving sleeve is open at the lower end, then the push-button can be manually movable, but the refilling operation becomes difficult and messy requiring direct contact with the stick

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemovability of push-buttonVSAvoidease of refilling operation

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The stick is extracted from direct exposure by placing it inside the closed cup. Only the cup's end portion and push-button are exposed for interaction, allowing the refill to be transferred through the push-button mechanism without requiring the user to handle or see the stick directly during the refilling operation

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

3Reliability

If the cup is provided with a push-button that radially projects on the outside of the case by passing through the longitudinal indentation, then the refill entity is securely blocked in position and easily transferable, but the device structure becomes more complex

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepositioning stability of refillVSAvoidcomplexity of cup and case structure

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The push-button serves multiple functions simultaneously: it acts as a positioning element that blocks the refill in the case, a transfer mechanism that enables movement into the receiving sleeve, and a user interface element that can be manually operated. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate components, thereby limiting the increase in device complexity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentUS12414618B2Lipstick refill

Publication Date: 2025.09.16 APTAR FRANCE SAS

AI summary

Lipstick refill having a cup, a stick of lipstick received in the cup so as to jointly form a refill entity, and a case in which the refill entity is fixedly and removably received, the case forming a longitudinal indentation. The cup is provided with a push-button radially projecting on the outside of the case and passing through said longitudinal indentation.