[DESCRIPTION]

[invention Title]

COSMETIC CONTAINER

[Technical Field]

The present invention relates, in general, to cosmetic containers and, more particularly, to an improved cosmetic container, which keeps the interior of the container airtight, thus preventing the condition of cosmetics held in the container from deteriorating.

[Background Art]

Among cosmetics, pressed powder or semi-solid foundation is generally stored in a flat container, called a ^compact' , and is thus marketed. Such a compact-type cosmetic container includes a lower casing which holds cosmetics therein, and a cap which is hinged to the lower casing. A locking means is provided on the fronts of the lower casing and the cap so as to keep the cap closed. Meanwhile, when cosmetics contact the air, the cosmetics dry or become spoiled, so that the deterioration of the cosmetics is accelerated. Thus, the cosmetic container must maintain airtightness when its lower casing is closed, thus preventing the cosmetics from deteriorating, therefore allowing the cosmetics to be used over a lengthy period of time with no change in quality. However, as

described above, the conventional compact-type cosmetic container is problematic in that the cap is constructed to simply cover the top of the lower casing, so that the interior of the container does not maintain airtightness.

[Disclosure] [Technical Problem]

Accordingly, the present invention has been made keeping in mind the above problem occurring in the prior art, and an object of the present invention is to provide an improved cosmetic container, in which a cap is in very tight contact with a lower casing when the cap is closed, thus keeping the interior of the container airtight, therefore preventing cosmetics from drying due to the evaporation of moisture, and preventing the cosmetics from being spoiled by the air, that is, preventing the cosmetics from deteriorating, and storing the cosmetics without being lowered in quality even if the cosmetics are used over a lengthy period of time. Another object of the present invention is to provide a cosmetic container having remarkably improved convenience of manipulation.

[Technical Solution] In order to accomplish the objects, the present invention provides a cosmetic container, including a

cylindrical lower casing 10 having on the upper portion thereof a holding part 12 for holding cosmetics, and a cap 20 coupled to the upper end of the lower casing 10. This cap 20 includes a disk-shaped inner cap part 30 which is hinged at one end thereof to the lower casing 10, and an outer cap part 40 which has the shape of a cylinder having on the circumference thereof a sidewall 42 and which moves up and down while rotating relative to the inner cap part 30. Further, a coupling space 17, which is open at an end thereof, is formed in the outer circumferential surface of the lower casing 10, and an upper portion of the coupling space 17 is inclined, with a coupling protrusion 47 protruding from the outer cap part 40 to be inserted into the coupling space 17. Preferably, the inner cap part 30 includes a plurality of locking protrusions 34 which protrude radially from an outer circumference of the inner cap part and are spaced apart from each other by a predetermined interval, and the outer cap part 40 includes a plurality of locking grooves 46 which are formed in an inner surface of the sidewall 42 so that the locking protrusions 34 are inserted into the locking grooves, and each of the locking grooves 46 has a predetermined arc length (D) in a circumferential direction thereof, and has a predetermined length F in a height direction thereof, so that rotation of the outer cap part 40 is limited by the arc length D of each of the locking

grooves 46, and vertical movement of the outer cap part 40 is limited by the length F in the height direction of each of the locking grooves 46.

According to an aspect of the invention, an elastic member 50 is interposed between the outer cap part 40 and the inner cap part 30.

According to another aspect of the invention, the cosmetic container includes a first projection 36 which has a semi-circular shape and projects out from an outer circumferential surface of the inner cap part 30, a second projection 46a which has a semi-circular shape and projects out from an inner surface of each of the locking grooves 46 in such a way as to slightly interfere with the first projection 36, and a third projection 46b which is provided on a lower portion of the second projection 46a in such a way as to project further than the second projection 46a.

[Advantageous Effects]

As described above, according to the present invention, a cap 20 includes an inner cap part 30 which is rotated up and down to be opened or closed, and an outer cap part 40 which is rotated leftwards and rightwards. Thus, the cap is rotated up and down to be opened or closed by the inner cap part 30, and is moved up and down while being rotated by the outer cap part 40 in the state in which the cap closes the lower casing 10. Such a construction maintains airtightness

between the lower casing 10 and the cap 20.

Therefore, the interior of a holding part 12, containing cosmetics therein, maintains airtightness, thus preventing the moisture of the cosmetics from being evaporated and preventing the cosmetics from spoiling due to contact with the air, therefore preventing the quality of the cosmetics from changing. Hence, the cosmetics maintain their original quality for a lengthy period of time, thus allowing a user to use the cosmetics without deterioration in quality until the cosmetics are used up.

Especially, a structure for limiting the rotation and vertical movement of the outer cap part 40 is provided between the inner cap part 30 and the outer cap part 40, so that the convenience of use is increased.

[Description of Drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a cosmetic container, according to an embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along line A-A of FIG. 1 to show the cosmetic container of the invention, in which a lower casing is closed by a cap;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view of the cosmetic container according to the present invention, in which the lower casing is not closed by the cap;

FIG. 4 is plan sectional view taken along line B-B of

FIGS . 2 and 3;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along line C-C of FIG. 4, and showing the closed state of FIG. 2; and

FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken along line C-C of FIG. 4, and showing the open state of FIG. 3.

[Mode for Invention]

Hereinafter, the preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIGS. 1 to 6 show a cosmetic container, according to an embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in the drawings, the cosmetic container of the present invention includes a cylindrical lower casing 10 which has on the upper portion thereof a holding part 12 for holding cosmetics, and a cap 20 which is coupled to the upper end of the lower casing 10.

The lower casing 10 has the shape of a flat cylinder, and the holding part 12 for holding cosmetics therein is provided in the upper portion of the lower casing 10. After the cosmetics are placed in an additional subsidiary casing 11, the subsidiary casing is accommodated in the holding part 12.

Preferably, a subsidiary cap 19 is provided on the upper portion of the holding part 12 to cover the holding part 12. The subsidiary cap 19 has the shape of a tray for

holding a powder puff 2. The subsidiary cap 19 is hinged to a predetermined portion on the lower casing 10 to be rotated up and down via a hinge 18 which is provided on a predetermined portion of the subsidiary cap 19. First protrusions 17b are provided on the outer circumference of the upper end of the lower casing 10 to protrude vertically, and second protrusions 17a are provided so as to incline gently upwards from the corresponding first protrusions 17b. The first and second protrusions 17b and 17a define coupling space 17 which is open at one end thereof. The upper portion of the coupling space 17 is formed to be inclined because of each second protrusion 17a.

Meanwhile, the cap 20 includes an inner cap part 30 which is hinged to the lower casing 10 to be rotated up and down, and an outer cap part 40 which is rotatably coupled to the inner cap part 30. The inner cap part 30 has the shape of a disk, and a hinge 31 protrudes from the inner cap part 30 at a predetermined position. A hinge hole 39 is formed in the hinge 31, and a hinge pin 10a of the lower casing 10 is inserted into the hinge hole 39.

Further, a plurality of locking protrusions 34 is provided on the outer circumference of the inner cap part 30 to protrude radially and be spaced apart from each other at regular intervals. A mirror 32 may be provided on the bottom of the inner cap part 30. Further, the outer cap part 40 has the shape of a flat cylinder which has on the

circumference thereof a sidewall 42 and is open at the bottom thereof. A plurality of locking grooves 46 is formed on the inner surface of the sidewall 42 of the outer cap part 40 so that the locking protrusions 34 are inserted into the corresponding locking grooves. The coupling of the inner cap part 30 with the outer cap part 40 is maintained by the engagement of the locking protrusions 34 with the locking grooves 46. The outer cap part 40 rotates relative to the inner cap part 30 in a circumferential direction thereof while moving in a vertical direction.

Further, each locking groove 46 has a predetermined arc length D in the circumferential direction, and a predetermined length F in the height direction. The length F of each locking groove 46 in the height direction thereof is greater than the thickness of each locking protrusion 34, and the arc length D of each locking groove 46 is longer than the arc length of each locking protrusion 34.

The rotation of the outer cap part 40 is limited by the arc length D of each locking groove 46. The vertical movement of the outer cap part 40 is limited by the length F of each locking groove 46 in the height direction thereof.

In this way, the rotation and vertical movement of the outer cap part 40 according to the present invention are limited. Thus, when the cap 20 is rotated relative to the lower casing 10 and is coupled to the lower casing 10, little force is required to rotate and press the cap 20.

Therefore, the invention is advantageous in that the convenience of use is increased.

Further, coupling protrusions 47 protrude inwards from the lower end of the sidewall 42 of the outer cap part, and are inserted into the corresponding coupling spaces 17, which are formed in the lower casing 10. Thus, when the cap 20 is closed and the outer cap part 40 is turned, the coupling protrusions 47 are inserted into the coupling spaces 17, and are rotated while moving downwards along the second protrusions 17a. Thereby, when the locking protrusions 34 are rotated along the corresponding locking grooves 46, the outer cap part 40 is moved downwards.

Preferably, an elastic member 50 is provided between the inner cap part 30 and the outer cap part 40 to elastically bias the outer cap part 40. The elastic member 50 comprises a plate spring, thus providing elastic force to the outer cap part 40.

In the present invention, constructed as described above, when the cap 20 is closed and thereafter the outer cap part 40 is turned, the coupling protrusions 47 are inserted into the coupling spaces 17, thus preventing the cap 20 from being undesirably opened. Further, the coupling protrusions 47 are inserted into the coupling spaces 17, so that the coupling protrusions 47 are rotated while moving downwards along the second protrusions 17a. Thus, the outer cap part 40 is also moved downwards. Thereby, as shown in

FIG. 2, the cap 20 closes the lower casing 10. According to this invention, as the outer cap part 40 is simultaneously moved downwards and rotated along the inner cap part 30 in the circumferential direction, the airtightness of the holding space of the subsidiary casing 11 and the holding part 12 of the lower casing 10 is further improved.

Conversely, when a user desires to use the cosmetics, the outer cap part 40 is turned in the opposite direction so that the coupling protrusions 47 are removed from the coupling spaces 17. Afterwards, the inner cap part 30 is rotated upwards relative to the lower casing 10. In this case, as shown in FIG. 3, the outer cap part 40 is biased outwards by the elastic member 50, so that the outer cap part 40 is further spaced apart from the inner cap part 30. FIGS. 4 to 6 show a structure for limiting the rotation of the outer cap part 40 in the state where the cap 20 opens the lower casing 10, according to an embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in the drawings, first projections 36, each having a semi-circular shape, project out from the outer circumferential surface of the inner cap part 30 such that each of the first projections 36 is spaced apart from a corresponding locking protrusion 34 by a predetermined interval. Further, second projections 46a, each having a semi-circular shape, project out from the inner surfaces of the locking grooves 46 in such a way as to slightly

interfere with the first locking projections 36. A third projection 46b, having a semi-circular shape, is provided on the lower portion of each second projection 46a, and projects inwards more than the corresponding second projection 46a. That is, when external force is applied to each second projection 46a in the state in which each first projection 36 is adjacent to the second projection 46a, the outer cap part 40 is rotated while the second projection 46a contacts the first projection 36. Meanwhile, when each first projection 36 is adjacent to the corresponding third projection 46b, the third projection 46b is locked to the first projection 36 regardless of the application of external force, so that the rotation of the outer cap part 40 is restricted. Through such a construction, when the cap 20 is closed (see FIG. 2), the outer cap part 40 is moved downwards relative to the inner cap part 30. When the cap 20 is opened (see, FIG. 3) , the outer cap part 40 is biased upwards by the elastic member 50, so that the outer cap part maintains a position higher than the position of the outer cap part when the cap 20 is closed. Thus, in the state where the cap 20 is closed, as shown in FIG. 5, each first projection 36 and each second projection 46a are positioned at the same height. Meanwhile, in the state where the cap 20 is opened, as shown in FIG. 6, each first projection 36 and each third projection 46b are positioned at the same

height .

Each second projection 46a prevents the closed cap 20 from being undesirably opened by the rotation of the outer cap part 40. For example, when the cosmetic container is put into a handbag or a similar article and is carried, the outer cap part 40 may be undesirably rotated by external force acting on the cap 20, thus opening the cap 20. However, unless external force sufficient to rotate the outer cap part 40 acts in the state in which each second projection 46a slightly interferes with a corresponding first projection 36, the outer cap part 40 is not rotated. Thereby, the unexpected opening of the cap 20 is prevented due to the undesirable rotation of the outer cap part 40. Further, when a user turns the outer cap part 40 to close the cap 20, she can confirm that the locking protrusions 34 are inserted into the locking grooves, so that the cap 20 is completely locked, thanks to the sound and tactile sensation generated when each second projection 46a contacts a corresponding first projection 36. Thus, excessive rotation of the outer cap part 40 is not required, so that it is convenient to use.

Further, each third projection 46b prevents the outer cap part 40 from being rotated relative to the inner cap part 30 when the cap 20 is opened. When the cap 20 is opened, the coupling protrusions 47 of the outer cap part 40 must be provided outside the coupling spaces 17. In this

case, a user has only to rotate the outer cap part 40 in the direction of locking the cap 20 in order to close the cap 20, so that it is convenient to use. In the state where the cap 20 is opened, each third projection 46b of the outer cap part 40 and each first projection 36 of the inner cap part 30 are positioned to interfere with each other. Thus, each third projection 46b is locked to the corresponding first projection 36, thus limiting the rotation of the outer cap part 40. Thus, when the cap 30 is opened, the coupling protrusions 47 are always positioned outside the coupling spaces 17 of the lower casing 10, so that it is convenient to use.

According to this embodiment, the subsidiary cap 19 is provided on the upper portion of the holding part 12. However, the subsidiary cap 19 may be omitted. When the subsidiary cap 19 is omitted, the inner cap part 30 directly presses the upper surface of the holding part 12, so that the airtightness of the holding part 12 is maintained by the inner cap part 30.