Sealed cosmetic case

• US 6,240,930 B1
• Filed: 02/23/2000
• Issued: 06/05/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 02/23/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Yoshida Industry Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Yoshida Industries Co., Ltd.
• Inventors: Yuhara, Yukitomo
• Primary Examiner(s): Manahan, Todd E.
• Application Number:
  US09/511,451
• Time in Patent Office: 468 Days
• Field of Search: 132/293, 132/294, 132/295, 206/581, 206/235, 220/849, 220/848, 220/844
• US Class Current: 132/293
• CPC Class Codes: A45C 13/008 for making water- or air-tight
• CPC Class Codes: A45D 40/22 Casings characterised by a hinged cover

Abstract

A cosmetic case comprised of an upper cover, lower container, pivoting hinge assembly, and latch mechanism utilized to secure the cover against the container to form an atmospheric seal between the cover and container. The hinge assembly is specifically structured so as to provide an elastic deformation property which allows positional displacement of the hinge pin as means of compensating for dimensional differences between the cover and container that would otherwise adversely affect the atmospheric seal.

Claims

1. A cosmetic case comprised of:

a container part within which a cosmetic holding space is provided;

a cover part capable of pivotably exposing or sealing said cosmetic holding space;

a hinge pin provided between said cover part and container part as means of allowing their pivotal movement thereon;

a latch mechanism capable of releaseably securing said cover part against said container part;

a packing piece provided as means of forming an atmospherically tight seal between said cover part and cosmetic holding space according to a securing motion of said latch mechanism;

an elastic deformation structure formed on said container part as a means of allowing a positional displacement of said hinge pin when said cover part is held closed against said container part by said latch mechanism;

said container part incorporates a container hinge boss;

said hinge pin inserts through both of said hinge bosses to form a pivoting joint; and

said elastic deformation structure is provided between said hinge pin and container part as part of said container hinge boss narrowly formed so as to provide a predominantly open space between said hinge pin and container part.

2. A cosmetic case as put forth in claim 1 wherein said hinge pin is formed as an integral part of either said container hinge boss or cover hinge boss, the oppositely facing hinge boss incorporates a releasable hinge joint forming part.

3. A cosmetic case comprised of:

a container part within which a cosmetic holding space is provided;

a cover part capable of pivotably exposing or sealing said cosmetic holding space;

a hinge pin provided between said cover part and container part as meas of allowing their pivotal movement thereon;

a latch mechanism capable of releasably securing said cover part against said container part;

a packing piece provided as means of forming an atmospherically tight seal between said cover part and cosmetic holding space according to a securing motion of said latch mechanism;

an elastic deformation structure formed on said cover part as means of allowing a positional displacement of said hinge pin when said cover part is held closed against said container part by said latch mechanism;

said container part incorporates a container hinge boss;

said cover incorporates a cover hinge boss;

said hinge pin inserts through both of said hinge bosses to form a pivoting joint, and

said elastic deformation structure is provided between said hinge pin and cover part as part of said cover hinge boss narrowly formed so as to provide a predominantly open space between said hinge pin and cover part.

4. A cosmetic case as put forth in claim 3 wherein said hinge pin is formed as an integral part of either said container hinge boss or cover hinge boss, the oppositely facing hinge boss incorporates a releasable hinge joint forming part.

5. A cosmetic case comprised of:

a container part within which a cosmetic holding space is provided;

a cover part capable of pivotably exposing or sealing said cosmetic holding space,

a hinge pin provided between said cover part and container part as means of allowing their pivotal movement thereon;

a latch mechanism capable of releaseably securing said cover part against said container part;

a packing piece provided as means of forming an atmospherically tight seal between said cover part and cosmetic holding space according to a securing motion of said latch mechanism; and

an elastic deformation structure formed either on said cover part or container part as means of allowing a positional displacement of said hinge pin when said cover part is held closed against said container part by said latch mechanism;

said container part incorporates a sidewall and a cover plate able to dose over said container part;

said elastic deformation structure is provided as a flat spring structure with either said sidewall or cover plate; and

said hinge pin mutually joins said sidewall and cover plate through said flat spring structure.

6. A cosmetic case as put forth in claim 5 herein said flat spring structure is formed by means of adjacent vertical parallel slits provided in said sidewall.

7. A cosmetic case as put forth in claim 5 wherein said flat spring structure is formed by adjacent vertical parallel grooves provided in said sidewall.

8. A cosmetic case as put forth in claim 5 wherein said flat spring structure is formed by means of a portion of said sidewall having a thinner cross section.

9. A cosmetic case as put forth in claim 5 wherein said flat spring structure is formed by adjacent horizontal parallel slits provided in said cover plate.

10. A cosmetic case as put forth in claim 5 wherein said flat spring structure is formed by adjacent horizontal parallel grooves provided in said cover plate.

11. A cosmetic case as put forth in claim 5 wherein said flat spring structure is formed by means of a portion of said cover plate having a thinner cross section.