Technical Field

[1] The present invention is directed to a cosmetics case, and more particularly to a slide type cosmetics case slidably open/closed in a semi-automatic manner by an external force greater than a certain level. Background Art

[2] Generally, a cosmetics case is used for storing a cosmetics article such as a compact, an eye shadow, a two-way cake, a powder, and a puff, which thus allows a user to conveniently use the cosmetic article when desired.

[3] Such a cosmetics case should be manufactured for being conveniently storable and portable while not only preventing external separation of the cosmetics article stored therein but also blocking intrusion of external foreign matters.

[4] A conventional cosmetics case is open/closed largely classified by a flip type and a slide type. The flip type cosmetics case is constructed such that an upper case is hinge- coupled to a lower case so as to be rotatable to each other. Then, a mirror is attached to a lower surface of the upper case, and a cosmetics article is stored in the lower case. This structure is the most widely available for a cosmetics case. The slide type cosmetics case is constructed such that an upper case is joined to be slidable with respect to a lower case, and a hook unit for providing a clicking sense on a connection portion where the upper case is joined to the lower case. Disclosure of Invention Technical Problem

[5] However, the conventional cosmetics case is inconvenient in that a user have to use both hands when opening/closing the case. In more detail, in case of a flip type cosmetics case, both hands are used because a lower case is gripped by one hand and an upper case is open by the other hand. In case of a slide type cosmetics case, an upper case forcibly slides by a user's strength from an open point to an opening-finish point in order to open the upper case with respect to the lower case by free sliding. Accordingly, a female user with a small hand can open a cosmetics case of a relatively small dimension by a single hand operation, but uses both hands as ever when opening a cosmetics case of a relatively large dimension.

[6] Meantime, the conventional slide type cosmetics case has a drawback of degrading space application of storing a cosmetics article due to a small opening range of the upper case with respect to the lower case.

[7] Furthermore, the conventional slide type cosmetics case has a problem that, because of being attached on an outer surface, a mirror is apt to be broken.

Advantageous Effects of Invention

[8] The present invention is contrived to solve the above-mentioned conventional problems, accordingly, the present invention provides a slide type cosmetics case having a simple structure allowing for manufacturing a small and slim product, and opening/being closed by a semi-automatic operation allowing for an easy and smooth opening/closing operation by a single hand.

[9] The present invention also provides a slide type cosmetics case, in which a stroke between an upper case and a lower case is the greatest to maximize application of a storage space.

[10] The present invention provides a slide type cosmetics case of improving a convenience by automatically opening a mirror when an upper case is open with respect to a lower case. Brief Description of Drawings

[11] FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a cosmetics case according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[12] FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating an open state of the cosmetics case of FIG. 1;

[13] FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view illustrating the cosmetics case according to the embodiment of the present invention;

[14] FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along a line A-A of FIG. 1;

[15] FIG. 5 is a perspective view illustrating a cosmetics case according to another embodiment of the present invention; and

[16] FIG. 6 is a perspective view illustrating an example of operating the cosmetics case of FIG. 5. Best Mode for Carrying out the Invention

[17] According to an embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a slide type cosmetics case comprising: a lower case including a container unit for holding a cosmetics article; and an upper case disposed on an upper surface of the lower case for opening/closing the retainer unit. Also, a slide driving unit allows the upper case to be slidable against the lower case. The upper case includes an outer case and an inner case, and the slide driving unit is disposed in a space formed between the outer case and the inner case.

[18] In this case, the lower case includes a fitting unit formed to encase the inner case.

The slide driving unit joins the fitting unit and the inner case to each other permits the upper case to slide against the lower case by an elastic restoring force when the upper case starts to slide with respect to the lower case using an external force.

[19] Furthermore, the fitting unit is inward bent after extending upward from the lower case so as to encase the inner case, and is disposed to an end of the lower case so as not to externally detached when the upper case is maximally open by sliding against the lower case.

[20] Meantime, the lower case comprises: an auxiliary plate interposed between the upper case and the lower case, and hinge-coupled to the lower case so as to be rotated upward; and a spring fitted to the hinge shaft for applying an elastic force in a direction for opening the auxiliary plate with respect to the lower case. Thus, the auxiliary plate is automatically open when the upper case is open with respect to the lower case.

[21] In this case, the auxiliary plate comprises a mirror.

Mode for the Invention

[22] Embodiments of the present invention are described in detail in the detailed description and the accompanying drawings.

[23] FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a cosmetics case according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating an open state of the cosmetics case of FIG. 1, and FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view illustrating the cosmetics case according to the embodiment of the present invention;

[24] As illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 3, a slide type cosmetics case 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a lower case 10, an upper case 20 and a slide driving unit 30.

[25] The lower case 10 includes a container unit 11 for holding a cosmetics article of various kinds. The number of the container unit 11 may be one or plural. The container unit 11 may be diversely shaped such as a square, a circle, and a triangle. The lower case 10 is slidably joined to the upper case 20, which may include an inner case for slidable joining and an outer case surface-polished smoothly for being externally displayed.

[26] The upper case 20 is disposed on an upper side of the lower case 10. The upper case

20 is sliding against the lower case 10 so that the container unit 11 of the lower case 10 is open to be exposed outward when the upper case 20 is open by sliding on the lower case 10.

[27] The slide driving unit 30 is interposed between the lower case 10 and the upper case

20, and the number of the slide driving unit 30 may be one or plural. The slide driving unit 30 permits the upper case 20 to be slidably joined to the lower case 10.

[28] Meantime, the upper case 20 includes an outer case 26 and an inner case 25. The outer case 26 may be fitted into the inner case 25 using bolt coupling, etc. Also, the outer case 26 and the inner case 25 may be integrally formed with each other. The outer case 26 houses the inner case 25 so as to form a predetermined space between the outer case 26 and the lower case 25. [29] Also, the slide driving unit 30 is disposed in the space formed between the outer case

26 and the inner case 25. Therefore, the slide driving unit 30 is not externally exposed.

[30] As stated above, the upper case 20 includes the outer case 26 and the inner case 25, and the predetermined space is formed between them, and the slide driving unit 30 is disposed in the space so that a slidable length range of the upper case 20 with respect to the lower case 10 is increased. This is because, since the sliding of the upper case 20 against the lower case 10 is carried out within the inner space of the upper case 20, a stroke of the upper case 20 is secured as long as the length in the sliding direction of the space formed within the upper case 20.

[31] Accordingly, the container unit 11 of the lower case 10 involves excellent space application, and the slide driving unit 30 is not exposed outside to make an outer appearance neat.

[32] When describing a structure by a comparative example so as to indicate characteristics of the present invention, a structure, in which a slide driving unit is disposed between an upper case and a lower case, may be considered. In such a structure, a connection portion of the upper case and the lower case must be secured as long as the length of the slide driving unit in order to elastically trigger the slide driving unit. Consequently, the upper case is stroked as many as a half of the lower case. However, in the cosmetics case 100 according to the present invention, the slide driving unit 30 is driven in the space between the inner case 25 and the upper case 20 so that the upper case 20 can be stroked by a half and more with respect to the lower case 10.

[33] Furthermore, the lower case 10 includes fitting units 15. FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along a line A-A of FIG. 1. Referring to FIG. 4, the fitting unit 15 is formed to house at least a portion of the inner case 25.

[34] The slide driving unit 30 allows the fitting unit 15 to be coupled the inner case 25 to each other. When the upper case 20 starts to slide against the lower case 10 by an external force, the slide driving unit 30 makes the upper case 20 slide against the lower case 10 by an elastic restoring force without being supplied with an additional external force

[35] That is, when the sliding of the upper case 20 against the lower case 10 is initiated, the slide driving unit 30 permits the upper case 20 to completely slide against the lower case 10 automatically by the elastic restoring force.

[36] Accordingly, when a user applies an external force to open the upper case 20 by sliding against the lower case 10 at an initial time, the slide driving unit 30 continues the sliding of the upper case 20 against the lower case 10 even though an additional external force is not supplied, thereby allowing for completely opening the upper case 20 with respect to the lower case 10.

[37] Therefore, the user can conveniently use the cosmetics article stored in the container unit 11 because the upper case 10 is thoroughly open by sliding against the lower case 10 automatically by pushing the upper case 20 using a thumb while gripping the cosmetics case 100. At this time, a force capable of compressing the slide driving unit 30 is enough as the force applied by pushing with the thumb. When the slide driving unit 30 is once compressed, the opening performed by sliding the upper case 20 against the lower case 10 is continued by the elastic restoring force of the slide driving unit 30 although the user applies no more force. Additionally, the closing operation of the upper case 20 with respect to the lower case 10 is performed in the semi-automatic manner identically to the opening operation.

[38] In this case, the fitting unit 15 is inward bent after extending upward from the lower case 10 so as to encase the inner case 25. At this time, the inward bent portion of the fitting unit 15 is disposed on an upper portion of the inner case 25. Also, the fitting unit 15 may be placed to an end of the lower case 10 so as not to externally detached when the upper case 20 is maximally open by sliding against the lower case 10.

[39] As described above, the fitting unit 15 acts for joining the upper case 20 and the lower case 10 to slide on each other, and simultaneously, preventing detachment of the upper case 20 from the lower case 10.

[40] The foregoing structure makes the fitting unit 15 firmly hold the inner case 25 of the upper case 20, so that the upper case 20 and the lower case 10 are not shaken but stably maintain the joining when the upper case 20 is maximally open by sliding against the lower case 10.

[41] The slide driving unit 30 may be at least one selected from the group consisting of a torsion spring, a line spring, a compression coil spring, a tension coil spring and a spring module. In other words, the slide driving unit 30 may use a single spring or a spring module that has a plurality of springs.

[42] On the other hand, the inner case 25 may include guide rods 16 in both sides thereof.

The guide rods 16 guide the sliding of the fitting units 15.

[43] Also, the inner case 25 may have guide rails in both sides thereof. However, the inner case 25 may be slidably joined to the lower case 10 in various ways.

[44] FIG. 5 is a perspective view illustrating a cosmetics case according to another embodiment of the present invention. As illustrated in FIG. 5, the lower case 10 may further include an auxiliary plate 17 and springs 18.

[45] The auxiliary plate 17 is interposed between the lower case 10 and the upper case 20.

The auxiliary plate 17 is hinge-coupled to the lower case 10, and rotatable to an upper side of the lower case 10. The springs 18 are each fitted into a hinge shaft of the auxiliary plate 17 and the lower case 10. The spring 18 provides an elastic force in a direction to open the auxiliary plate 17 with respect to the lower case 10. Accordingly, when the upper case 20 is open by sliding against the lower case 10, the auxiliary plate 17 is rotatably open upward from the lower case 10 automatically by the elastic triggering of the springs 18.

[46] FIG. 6 is a perspective view illustrating an example of operating the cosmetics case of FIG. 5. Referring to FIG. 6, the auxiliary plate 17 includes a mirror 19. The mirror 19 is mounted to a lower surface of the auxiliary plate 17. Consequently, when a user opens the upper case 20 by sliding the upper case 20 against the lower case 10, the mirror 19 is automatically open to allow the user to put on makeup while looking at the mirror 19.

[47] While the present invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to exemplary embodiments thereof, it will be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art that various changes in form and details may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined by the following claims. Industrial Applicability

[48] According to the present invention, a slide type cosmetics case has a highly simple structure to be manufactured small, slim and lightly. Also, opening/closing operation performed in a semi-automatic manner increases convenience of a user when opening and closing the cosmetics case, and a slide driving unit for embodying the semiautomatic sliding is not outward exposed to permit an external appearance to be fine.

[49] Furthermore, the slide type cosmetics case according to the present invention improves an application of a storage space by maximizing an open range by sliding.

[50] Meantime, in the slide type cosmetics case according to the present invention, a space occupied by the mirror can be used for another storage space to further the application of the storage space, and a mirror is automatically open when opening the cosmetics case to increase a convenience of a user.