Coating implements with material supply – Solid material for rubbing contact or support therefor – Including means to advance material
Reexamination Certificate
2000-04-10
2001-02-20
Recla, Henry J. (Department: 3751)
Coating implements with material supply
Solid material for rubbing contact or support therefor
Including means to advance material
C401S068000, C401S075000, C401S077000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06190074
ABSTRACT:
This invention concerns a turning case mechanism, the same type as those used for cosmetic products, such as lipsticks or lip creams, for example.
A number of turning cases are known in the prior art, such as the one described in the applicant's French patent request no. 97 10166, for example. The principle behind these cases consists of making a traveler—a product-holding device—move axially by means of rotating a body with a spiral groove in which a finger or guide pin of the traveler intended for running inside said groove, cooperates. This type of mechanism requires means for blocking the traveler in rotation with respect to the pivoting body in such a way as to bring about the axial movement of the latter when the spiral groove pivots thus making the finger or guide pin of the traveler run inside of it.
These blocking means can be comprised of an independent third piece, such as a base, for example, from which two parts with a longitudinal profile extend, intended to cooperate with two peripheral channels in the outside of the traveler for guiding it when it slides and stopping it in rotation with respect to the pivoting body. However, these mechanisms can also only be comprised of two separate pieces i.e., a conventional pivoting body and a main piece comprising a base, a traveler and articulated hinges connecting the base to the pivoting body allowing one piece to move axially with respect to the other by opening up but preventing any rotation between them.
However, these devices, though they have the advantage of reducing the number of pieces needed for the turning case mechanism, nevertheless have disadvantages related to the delicacy of the hinges' movement between the pieces, as well as their placement in a closed position. The superposition of the hinge elements above the base is a problem in complying with the size constraints of this type of cosmetic product, and in particular for long bases, chosen for aesthetic reasons.
The object of the present invention is to resolve the above-mentioned problems with means that are simple, reliable, inexpensive and easy to implement. It proposes a turning case mechanism capable of being used in cosmetology that is solid with a reduced size with respect to similar products of the prior art.
According to its main feature, the turning case mechanism—particularly suitable for cosmetic products according to the invention—is comprised of a pivoting body mounted in rotation on a main piece, formed by a traveler, a base and hinge elements connecting the base to the traveler between a lower articulation point on the base and an upper articulation point on the traveler. This traveler is intended to be mobile between an open or upper position and a closed or lower position and is characterized in that when the traveler is in the lower position, the hinged elements are arranged at least in part below the horizontal plane that contains the lower articulation point.
Another feature of the turning case mechanism is the base with a space extending below the lower articulation point, in which at least a portion of the hinge elements is placed, when the traveler is in the lower position.
According to one embodiment of the turning case mechanism, the space is made by a reaming out of the base.
According to another feature of the turning case mechanism according to the invention, when the traveler is in the lower position, all of the hinge elements are arranged below the horizontal plane that contains the lower articulation point.
According to the preferred embodiment of the turning case mechanism, the hinge elements are comprised of two elements, a lower element and an upper element articulated between themselves at an intermediate articulation point.
There is another feature of the turning case mechanism wherein the lower articulation points between the base and the lower element and the upper element, between the traveler and the upper element, the lower and upper elements are arranged in alignment on either side of the mechanism in a mean longitudinal plane when the traveler is in the upper position.
According to one of the embodiment variations of the turning case mechanism, at least a part of the traveler is below the horizontal plane that contains the lower articulation point, when in the lower or closed position.
According to this embodiment variation, the traveler has in its lower portion a clearance notch in which one of the hinge elements is positioned in part when the mechanism is in the lower or closed position.
According to another characteristic of the turning case mechanism according to the invention, when the traveler is in the lower or closed position, the upper articulation point is situated below the horizontal plane containing the lower articulation point.
According to another characteristic of the turning case mechanism, the latter is characterized in that it has stopping means constituted of stop surfaces of the pivoting body and support surfaces of the traveler of the main piece.
According to one embodiment of the turning case mechanism according to the invention, the support surfaces are arranged on the traveler's guide pins and are formed by the pins' beveled surfaces.
According to this embodiment, the stop surfaces are arranged in the inner grooves of the pivoting body at their respective ends.
According to pother characteristic of this embodiment, the stopping means have side support and stop surfaces which prevent the rotation between the traveler and pivoting body in the extreme positions of the closed and opened traveler and side support and stop surfaces that prevent any longitudinal movement of the traveler in the pivoting body when it is in its open position.
According to an additional characteristic of the turning case mechanism invention, it is characterized in that the hinge elements have a rounded or curved transversal profile.
According to another characteristic of the turning case mechanism, the main piece is fabricated in a plastic material chosen among the polyolefin and acetylic materials.
Other features and advantages of the invention will become evident from the following description referring to the attached drawings which are provided by way of illustrative and non-limiting examples.
REFERENCES:
patent: 2818973 (1958-01-01), Croce et al.
patent: 3771881 (1973-11-01), Swenson
patent: 249508 (1948-04-01), None
patent: 1133527 (1968-11-01), None
patent: 8-275823 (1996-10-01), None
patent: 9-000345 (1997-01-01), None
Demellier Stephane
Joulia Pierre
Giancana Peter M.
Lowney Karen A.
Nguyen Tuan
Recla Henry J.
The Estee Lauder Companies, Inc.
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