Container system

Abstract

A container having a cover and a base for holding cosmetics is disclosed. The container includes a hinge having a spring and coupling the cover to the base and configured for pivoting the cover from a closed position to an opened position relative to the base. The spring is in a tensioned configuration when the cover is in the closed position and the spring is in an at least partially relaxed configuration when the cover is in the opened position. A container having a damper coupled to the hinge and configured to limit pivoting of the cover relative to the base at rate of about 90 to 120 degrees per second is also disclosed. A container for holding cosmetics and having a first platform and a second platform. A method for assembling a container for holding cosmetics is also disclosed.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A container for holding cosmetics and having a cover and a base, the container comprising: 
 a hinge assembly having a spring and coupling the cover to the base and configured for pivoting the cover from a closed position in which the cosmetics are concealed to an opened position relative to the base in which the cosmetics are revealed;    wherein the spring is tensioned when the cover is in the closed position and the spring is at least partially relaxed when the cover is in the opened position.    
     
     
         2 . The container of  claim 1  wherein one end of the spring is coupled to the cover and the other end of the spring is coupled to the base.  
     
     
         3 . The container of  claim 2  wherein the spring is a coil spring configured for unwinding as the cover is pivoted from the closed position to the opened position.  
     
     
         4 . The container of  claim 3  further comprising a lock for selectively releasing the cover relative to the base.  
     
     
         5 . The container of  claim 4  further comprising a user interface configured for disengaging the lock so that the cover automatically pivots from the closed position to the opened position.  
     
     
         6 . The container of  claim 3  further comprising a detent coupled to at least one of the cover and the base to limit the range the cover pivots from the closed position to the opened position.  
     
     
         7 . The container of  claim 6  wherein the cover is configured to pivot less than about 120 degrees relative to the base.  
     
     
         8 . The container of  claim 7  wherein the cover is pivoted from the closed position to the opened position at a rate of less than about 120 degrees per second.  
     
     
         9 . The container of  claim 6  further comprising a plug attached to one end of the spring to fix the end of the spring relative to the base.  
     
     
         10 . The container of  claim 9  further comprising a damper assembly.  
     
     
         11 . The container of  claim 10  wherein the damper assembly comprises a plug.  
     
     
         12 . The container of  claim 11  wherein the damper assembly comprises a viscous fluid.  
     
     
         13 . The container of  claim 12  wherein the viscous fluid comprises a grease.  
     
     
         14 . The container of  claim 12  wherein the viscous fluid is tacky.  
     
     
         15 . The container of  claim 14  wherein frictional engagement between the plug and the cover limits the rate at which the cover pivots relative to the base.  
     
     
         16 . The container of  claim 15  wherein the spring is encapsulated in a cartridge and the cartridge is configured to rotate about the plug.  
     
     
         17 . The container of  claim 16  wherein a display is revealed when the cover is in the opened position.  
     
     
         18 . The container of  claim 17  wherein the cover in the opened position is pivoted at least 60 degrees relative to the base  
     
     
         19 . A container for holding cosmetics and having a cover and a base, the container comprising: 
 a hinge assembly having a spring and coupling the cover to the base and configured for pivoting the cover from a storage position to a use position relative to the base;    a damper assembly coupled to the hinge assembly and configured to limit pivoting of the cover at rate of about 60 to 120 degrees per second;    wherein the spring is in a tensioned configuration when the cover is in the storage position and the spring is in an at least partially relaxed configuration when the cover is in the use position.    
     
     
         20 . The container of  claim 19  wherein one end of the spring is fixed relative to the base and the other end of the spring is fixed relative to the cover.  
     
     
         21 . The container of  claim 20  wherein the spring is a coil spring configured to unwind when the cover is pivoted from the storage position to the use position.  
     
     
         22 . The container of  claim 21  further comprising a lock for selectively releasing the cover from the base.  
     
     
         23 . The container of  claim 22  further comprising a stopper coupled to the cover to limit the range the cover pivots from the storage position to the use position.  
     
     
         24 . The container of  claim 23  wherein the damper assembly comprises a plug attached to one end of the spring to fix the spring relative to the base.  
     
     
         25 . The container of  claim 24  wherein the damper assembly comprises a viscous fluid.  
     
     
         26 . The container of  claim 25  wherein the viscous fluid comprises a grease.  
     
     
         27 . The container of  claim 26  wherein the viscous fluid is tacky.  
     
     
         28 . The container of  claim 26  wherein frictional engagement between the plug and the cover limits the rate at which the cover pivots relative to the base.  
     
     
         29 . The container of  claim 28  further comprising a cartridge coupled to the damper assembly.  
     
     
         30 . The container of  claim 29  wherein the spring is encapsulated in a cartridge.  
     
     
         31 . The container of  claim 30  wherein the cartridge is configured to rotate about the plug.  
     
     
         32 . A method for assembling a container for holding cosmetics and having a cover and a base including a hinge assembly having a spring and coupling the cover to the base and configured for pivoting the cover from a closed position to a threshold opened position relative to the base, the method comprising: 
 coupling the cover to the base so that the spring is unloaded;    pivoting the cover toward the base to a position less than the threshold opened position, thereby loading the spring;    wherein the spring is in a tensioned configuration when the cover is in the closed position and the spring is in an at least partially relaxed configuration when the cover is in the threshold opened position.    
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 32  further comprising inserting the spring into the hinge assembly.  
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 33  further comprising preloading the spring into a cartridge and inserting the cartridge into the hinge assembly.  
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 34  further comprising locking the cover in the closed position.  
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 35  further comprising unlocking the cover SO that the cover automatically pivots to the opened position.  
     
     
         37 . A container for holding cosmetics and having a first platform and a second platform, the container comprising: 
 hinge means for coupling the first platform and a second platform and for automatically pivoting the first platform from a storage position to a use position relative to the second platform;    damper means for limiting pivoting of the cover at rate of about 60 to 120 degrees per second;    wherein the first platform in the storage position conceals the cosmetics and the first platform in the use position reveals the cosmetics.    
     
     
         38 . The container of  claim 37  wherein the hinge means comprises a spring  
     
     
         39 . The container of  claim 38  wherein the spring is in a tensioned configuration when the cover is in the storage position and the spring is in an at least partially relaxed configuration when the cover is in the use position.  
     
     
         40 . The container of  claim 39  wherein the damper means comprises a plug.  
     
     
         41 . The container of  claim 40  wherein the damper means comprises a viscous fluid.