Tri-Fold Cosmetic Compact With Removable Pan and Mirror
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional cosmetic compacts are not recyclable due to the permanent gluing of the mirror and pan to the inner surfaces, making them difficult to disassemble and recycle.
Innovation Solution
A tri-fold recyclable compact base with a pan receiving portion, pan securing portion, mirror receiving portion, and hinges that allow for removable and secure attachment of the pan and mirror, using a snap-fit mechanism and living hinges to facilitate easy disassembly and recycling.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the mirror and pan are permanently glued to the inner surfaces of the lid and base, then the compact provides reliable securement of components, but the entire compact cannot be recycled
Solution Approach 1:
The compact is divided into separable components (lid, base, mirror, pan) that can be detached from one another. The mirror and pan are not permanently attached but can be removed and replaced, allowing the housing to be recycled separately from the cosmetic components.
Solution Approach 2:
The mirror and pan are extracted as separate, removable components from the compact housing. This allows the housing to be recycled while the cosmetic components can be disposed of or replaced independently, resolving the contradiction between securement and recyclability.
2Ease of manufacture
If the mirror and pan are not glued to the inner surfaces, then the compact can be recycled, but the pan and mirror are very difficult to reliably secure in the compact
Solution Approach 1:
The compact transitions from a static, permanently attached design to a dynamic, reversible attachment system. Components can be securely attached during use and easily detached for recycling or replacement, providing both reliability and recyclability.
Solution Approach 2:
The design allows for the discarding of cosmetic components (pan, mirror) while recovering and recycling the housing. The removable attachment mechanism enables selective disposal of consumable parts while preserving the reusable housing structure.
Data Source
AI summary
A tri-fold recyclable compact base including a pan receiving portion having an inner ring and an outer ring, the inner ring or the outer ring including at least one catch, and the inner ring configured to removably receive a cosmetics pan, a pan securing portion, the pan securing portion including a top flange and an inner ring extending perpendicularly from the top flange and an outer ring extending perpendicularly from the top flange, the inner ring or the outer ring including at least one circumferential ring configured to mate with the at least one catch, a first hinge rotatably connecting the pan receiving portion and the pan securing portion, a mirror receiving portion, and a second hinge rotatably connecting the mirror receiving portion and the pan securing portion.