BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates to a cosmetic compact and is more particularly concerned with an improved cosmetic com¬ pact for housing a cosmetic preparation and applicator means.

2. Description of the Prior Art

The majority of cosmetic compacts currently in use comprise a generally dish-shaped base having a receptacle for the cosmetic preparation housed therein and provided with a hinged lid and appropriate latch means for retain¬ ing the lid and base in closed position. This type of compact is generally somewhat bulky for storage in a woman's purse or like carrying means. When the cosmetic preparation is in powder form a dusting pad or like appli¬ cator is generally enclosed within the compact and is separated from the cosmetic powder by means of a suitable screen. However, when the cosmetic preparation is of a creamy nature, as is the case with eyebrow liner, rouge and the like, the necessary applicator brush or like means is generally carried in a separate container thus adding to the space required in a woman's purse.

A number of devices for dispensing cosmetics, tooth powders and the like, have been described which are sub¬ stantially cylindrical in appearance and which occupy less space for storage when not in use. Such devices have also been described in which provision is made for housing applicator means in addition to the cosmetic or similar preparation.

Illustratively Goertz U.S. Patent 1,712,496 shows a generally cylindrical container for housing a receptacle for a cosmetic preparation and an applicator therefor. The container is provided with a hollow cylindrical cover which has to be removed completely in order to gain access to the contents. Turnes U.S. Patent 2,521,269 and Aversa U.S. Patent 3,397,707 show closely related devices which also require removable covers.

Stevens U.S. Patent 1,519,514 shows a powder dispens- ing device ^' having a cap which fits in sliding engagement over the end of a cylindrical container. The cap and container have slots which can be aligned by rotation of the cap in order to dispense the powder.

Stevens U.S. Patent 2,130,975 shows inner and outer cylindrical members rotatable relative to each other. The outer cylinder has a longitudinal slot which can be brought into alignment with an angled slot in the inner cylinder to dispense powder from the inner container on to a brush or like applicator.

Eley U.S. Patent 2,529,004 also shows inner and outer cylindrical members rotatable relative to each other. A slot in the outer member can be aligned by rotation of the member, with an open receptacle containing powder on the inner member, thus providing access to the powder for loading a toothbrush or like applicator.

Cylindrical compacts in which both cosmetic prepara¬ tion and applicator can be housed in separate compart¬ ments, and to which access can be gained by rotation of the cover without removal thereof, have not been described heretofore.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the invention to provide a cos¬ metic compact which is substantially cylindrical in shape, of a highly convenient size for easy storage, and aesthetically pleasing in appearance.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a cosmetic compact which is adapted to house both a cos¬ metic preparation and an applicator therefor and which can be opened by rotation of the cover about the body of the compact to retrieve the applicator and gain access to the cosmetic preparation.

These objects, and other objects which will become apparent from the description which follows, are achieved by the cosmetic compact of the invention. The latter, in its broadest aspect, comprises a hollow cylindrical cover having one end closed and provided with an elongated slot in the wall thereof, said cover being fitted, in rotat¬ able sliding engagement, on an inner cylindrical member having both ends closed. The inner member has an open receptacle for a cosmetic preparation disposed in the wall thereof and also contains a compartment for storage of a cosmetic applicator. Rotation of the cover relative to the inner member causes the elongated slot in the cover to register with the opening of the receptacle for the cosmetic preparation on the inner member thus making the cosmetic preparation accessible by the user of the compact. The alignment of the slot and the receptacle in this manner also causes an aperture in the cover to register with a corresponding aperture in the storage compartment in the inner member and permits retrieval of the applicator therefrom by tilting the compact or by like manoeuvers.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS -

FIGURE 1 is an exploded view, partially cut away, of a cosmetic compact in accordance with the invention.

FIGURE 1A is a plan view of the end of the cap member of the embodiment shown in FIGURE 1.

FIGURE IB is a plan view of the inner end of the body member of the embodiment shown in FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 2 is a perspective view, partially cut away, of the cosmetic compact shown in FIGURE 1 with the cap rotated to give access to the cosmetic preparation recept¬ acle and applicator within the body of the compact.

FIGURE 3 is a perspective view of the cosmetic com¬ pact shown in FIGURE 2 with the cap rotated to the closed position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The invention will now be illustrated by reference to the accompanying drawings. In the exploded view shown in FIGURE 1 the cap 1 _, 0 comprises a hollow cylindrical member having a closed end ^4 and an open end 16 and having elongated slot j7 disposed in the wall thereof. The body 12 of the compact comprises an inner cylindrical member having both ends 1 _ and 20_ closed. Receptacle 2 f° ^r receiving a cosmetic preparation and storage compartment 24 which extends substantially the whole length of the interior of the body 1 are separated from each other by divider panel 2j5. The latter panel also serves to form the floor 28, of receptacle 2_2. The receptacle is shown in the inverted position in FIGURE 1 with the floor 28 uppermost and the open top facing downwardly.

The cap 1_0 and body 12. are advantageously fabricated from resilient plastic material such as polypropylene.

ABS and the like by injection molding or like techniques. The two halves 1_0 and 2 of the compact are assembled by sliding the body ±2 into the interior of cap _10 until the annular projection .30., on the perimeter of the end _ of body 12, snaps into place in annular groove 3_ appro¬ priately located on the interior wall of cap 1_0. In order to facilitate assembly in this manner end __ of body 12 is not installed until assembly is completed. Alternatively one or more apertures can be present in end 2O during the assembly of cap and body and these aper¬ tures are sealed after assembly is complete.

When so assembled the edge 3 of the end 16 _, of cap ^0. is in closely abutting sliding relationship with the sur¬ face of shoulder 316. on body 12. Cap 10 _, is free to be rotated relative to body JL about the common axis of these two members between a position (shown in FIGURE 2) in which the receptacle 22 in the body 2 is aligned with elongated slot 17 in cap lTJ and a position (shown in FIGURE 3) in which the said receptacle and slot are located on diametrically opposed sides of the common axis of said body and cap. The rotational movement of cap and body between these two positions is facilitated and con¬ trolled by the sliding interaction between the semi- annular groove or step .52 on the inner end of the body JL2. and stop or rib 5_4 projecting from the inner surface of the wall of cap 1) at the junction with end 14 _, . Annular projection _L ^is ^ sliding engagement with the walls of annular groove 3 and rotational movement of cap J) about the body 12 is unrestricted thereby but longitudinal movement of cap lO with respect to body 12 _, is prevented.

As shown in FIGURES 1A and IB the ends .14 and lj5 of the cap .10 and body 32, respectively, have apertures 38 and 4_0, respectively, which are of substantially equal size. Aperture 4_ communicates with storage compartment

24 in body 12 and is of sufficient size to permit inser¬ tion or retrieval, in the manner to be described below, of applicator 42 _, into and from said storage compartment. In the particular embodiment shown in FIGURE 1 applicator 42 has an elongated handle 44 provided with applicator tip 4_6 which can take the form of a brush, felt pad or like applicator means. While the apertures 3J3 and 40 have been shown with circular cross-section it will be readily appreciated . by one skilled in the art that other cross-sections such as square, rectangular, hexagonal, octagonal and the like can be employed if desired.

When the compact shown in FIGURE 1 is assembled with the cap 10 and body 12 in the particular configu ations shown in that FIGURE the end 18 _, of body 12 _, is in close abutting relationship with the inner side of end .14: of cap 10 but the apertures 3j_ and 40 _, in said ends are sub¬ stantially diametrically separated from each other. Similarly, elongated slot 37 is on the opposite side of the assembled compact from the open receptacle 22_ in the body ^2 and the receptacle is closed from access from the exterior by the intervening wall of cap 10.

Rotation of cap ^0 _, about the body 12, brings the elongated slot 12 into registry with the receptacle 22 as shown in perspective view, partly cut away, in FIGURE 2. In the position there shown the apertures 3_§. and 4) have also been brought into registry and applicator 42_ can thus be removed from storage compartment 24 by tilting of the compact or other appropriate means.

In an optional, but preferred embodiment of the inven- tion, the ends 14 _, and 20_ are provided with gripping means such as a series of grooves, shown as 48. and J5J3, which advantageously are disposed longitudinally along a portion of the periphery of the cap and body adjacent the

respective ends J and 9.. Such gripping means facili¬ tate the gripping of the said ends between the thumb and forefinger of each hand of the user when opening or clos¬ ing the compact.

FIGURE 3 is a perspective view of the compact shown in FIGURE 2 but with the cap _. 10 rotated so that the elongated slot 11_ no longer registers with the receptacle 22 and the apertures 3j_ and 4_0. no longer register with each other. The compact is therefore in the closed position for storage.

The cosmetic compact of the invention has been described above with reference to certain specific embodiments. It is to be understood, however, that these embodiments have been given for purposes of illustration only and are not intended to be limiting. As will be readily appreciated by one skilled in the art various modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the present invention.