Tri-fold Cosmetic Compact with Selective Rotation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Cosmetic compacts face challenges such as mirrors obstructing the view when closed, instability when rotated, and inefficient packaging that increases costs and waste, with existing solutions either limiting the compact's ability to lie flat or requiring complex and expensive hinges.
Innovation Solution
A tri-fold compact with a selective rotation mechanism, where the article carrier can either translate or rotate with respect to the base, but not both simultaneously, and a see-through cover allowing independent movement of the cover and carrier, enabling stable configurations like the A-frame and flat positions without exposing contents unnecessarily.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a mirror is mounted in the cover member, then the user can view themselves while using the compact, but the mirror obstructs the view through the cover when closed and requires the cover to remain open exposing the product
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the compact into three independent members: base member, cover member, and article carrier. The mirror is mounted on the article carrier rather than the cover, allowing the cover to be closed while the article carrier with mirror remains accessible. This segmentation resolves the contradiction by separating the mirror function from the cover closure function.
Solution Approach 2:
The article carrier is designed with selective rotation capability, allowing it to rotate between a retracted position (when not in use) and an extended position (when mirror is needed). This dynamic movement enables the mirror to be accessible while the cover remains closed and protective, eliminating the need to keep the cover open.
2Stability of the object's composition
If the compact is designed to lie flat when opened, then stability is improved, but complex hinge mechanisms are required for rotations approaching 270°
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses three separate members (base, cover, article carrier) connected by hinges, allowing each member to rotate independently. This segmentation enables the compact to lie flat in a stable configuration without requiring a single complex hinge mechanism, as each hinge only needs to handle simple rotation between adjacent members.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a third member (article carrier) that rotates on an axis perpendicular to the cover rotation axis. This adds a dimensional degree of freedom, allowing the compact to achieve a flat lying position through coordinated rotation of multiple members rather than requiring a complex single-hinge mechanism.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the cover and article carrier move independently, then versatility and stability are improved, but the mechanism becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent separates the cover member and article carrier as independent components with independent rotation capabilities. This segmentation provides versatility by allowing various configurations (cover closed with carrier extended, both open, etc.) while keeping each component's mechanism simple and manageable.
Solution Approach 2:
The selective rotation mechanism allows the article carrier to dynamically switch between retracted and extended positions independently of the cover. This dynamic independence enables versatile configurations while using simple hinge mechanisms rather than complex interconnected systems.
Data Source
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AI summary
A versatile, convenient-to-use, unitary, cosmetic compact of increased stability, comprising a base, a hinged cover capable of rotating with respect to the base and an article carrier that is capable of translation and rotation with respect to the base, via a selective rotation mechanism. The combination of a decoupled motion of the article carrier with respect to the base and the fact that the cover and article carrier move independently, creates a versatile, tri-fold compact that may be held in the hand similar to a bi-fold compact or placed on a surface in various useful configurations, including lying flat, extended base and stable A-frame configurations. The compact has an elegant, playful feel, while being versatile, stable, simple and inexpensive to manufacture.