Transparent Cosmetic Container with Movable Cup

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing cosmetic product packaging, such as lipstick receptacles, are opaque, requiring users to remove caps to identify contents, which adds manufacturing steps and can lead to indicator fading or loss over time, and may damage packaging.

Innovation Solution

A transparent cosmetic product receptacle with a movable cup that can be driven from a high to a low position, allowing the cup to be visible through a transparent part, eliminating the need for external indicators and protecting the indication within the receptacle.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Object-affected harmful factors

If the receptacle and cap are made opaque to protect components and cosmetic product, then protection from external environment is improved, but the ability to identify contents without removing cap deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprotection from external environmentVSAvoidability to identify contents
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The body is made partially transparent rather than completely opaque or completely transparent. This local quality change allows the cosmetic product to be visible through the transparent body while still providing protection from the external environment, resolving the contradiction between protection and content identification.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

2Loss of information

If external indicators are added to identify contents, then content identification is improved, but manufacturing complexity and indicator deterioration over time worsen

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecontent identificationVSAvoidmanufacturing complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of informationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The indication function is extracted from external indicators (labels, markings on cap or packaging) and integrated directly into the cosmetic product itself. The product's inherent color and properties serve as the indicator, eliminating the need for separate indication components and their associated manufacturing steps.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The cosmetic product serves its own indication function through its natural color and appearance. The product itself communicates its identity and characteristics without requiring external labels or indicators, making the system self-sufficient for content identification.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

3Loss of information

If external indicators are used to show contents, then content identification is improved, but reliability of indication over time deteriorates due to fading

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecontent identificationVSAvoidindication durability
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of informationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The cosmetic product provides its own indication through its inherent color and physical properties, which are intrinsic to the product and do not fade or deteriorate over time. This self-indication mechanism ensures reliable content identification throughout the product's shelf life and usage period.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentEP3082499B1Container for a cosmetic product, in particular for a stick of cosmetic product
Publication Date: 2021.09.01 ALBEA SERVICES SAS
  • EP3082499B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3082499B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The invention relates to a container (10) for a cosmetic product, in particular for a stick of cosmetic product, including a body (20), and a cup (40) which is movable relative to the body (20). The cup (40) is capable of receiving the product. Said body (20) includes a transparent portion (30) that allows the cup (40) to be seen when in a position wherein it is retracted into the body (20). The invention also relates to an assembly of the above container (10) and said product, said cup (40) providing information on said product.