Case with automatic opening

Abstract

The invention in one embodiment relates to a case suitable for packaging a cosmetic product comprising: a lid optionally including a mirror, said lid being fitted with a first hinge element, a bottom optionally having an inner frame integral therewith, said lid and bottom forming a cavity intended to contain the cosmetic product or a trough containing the cosmetic product, the bottom being fitted with a second hinge element such that a hinge means is formed by engagement of the first and second hinge elements so as to allow rotation of the lid relative to the bottom along an axis of rotation, a fastening means for fastening and unfastening the lid relative to the bottom, wherein the case is capable of automatic opening in such a way that the lid opens automatically when force is exerted on the fastening means, and further wherein the hinge is formed by two half-hinges aligned along an axis of rotation, said half hinges including (i) a right-hand half-hinge D including two hinge half-portions D 1 and D 2 which engage, and (ii) a left-hand half-hinge G, including two hinge half-portions G 1 and G 2 which engage, the hinge half-portions D 1 and G 1 being integral with the lid and the hinge half-portions D 2 and G 2 being integral with the bottom. Other cases and processes of manufacturing are also disclosed herein.

1 . A case suitable for packaging a cosmetic product comprising 
 a lid optionally including a mirror, said lid being fitted with a first hinge element,    a bottom optionally having an inner frame integral therewith, said lid and bottom forming a cavity intended to contain the cosmetic product or a trough containing the cosmetic product, the bottom being fitted with a second hinge element such that a hinge means is formed by engagement of the first and second hinge elements so as to allow rotation of the lid relative to the bottom along an axis of rotation,    a fastening means for fastening and unfastening the lid relative to the bottom,    wherein the case is capable of automatic opening in such a way that the lid opens automatically when force is exerted on the fastening means, and further wherein    the hinge is formed by two half-hinges aligned along an axis of rotation, said half hinges including (i) a right-hand half-hinge D including two hinge half-portions D 1  and D 2  which engage, and (ii) a left-hand half-hinge G, including two hinge half-portions G 1  and G 2  which engage, the hinge half-portions D 1  and G 1  being integral with the lid and the hinge half-portions D 2  and G 2  being integral with the bottom.    
   
   
       2 . A case of  claim 1 , wherein the first half-hinge is formed by engagement of a male part and a female part, at least one of which is carried by the hinge half-portion G 1 , the other of the female or male parts being carried by the hinge half-portion G 2 , and wherein the second half-hinge D includes a longitudinal connecting component placed along the axis of rotation and thereby engaging with the hinge half-portions D 1  and D 2 .  
   
   
       3 . A case of  claim 2 , further comprising a longitudinal, component including an axial spring that ensures an engagement in rotation with the opposite hinge half-portions by a first and second anchoring means, and wherein the spring has, between ends thereof, a pre-set angular torsion α such that when the lid is unfastened from said lid, the angular torsion α of the spring transfers a pre-set opening torque Co to said lid, so as to facilitate automatic opening of the case.  
   
   
       4 . A case according to  claim 3  wherein each of the anchoring means includes a head such that a first head is anchored to a first end of the spring so as to engage with the hinge half-portion D 1 , and, at a second end thereof, there is provided a second head anchored to a second end of the spring engaging with the hinge half-portion D 2 , the first head and the second head having therebetween the pre-set angular torsion α when the case is closed.  
   
   
       5 . A case according to  claim 3 , wherein the longitudinal component forms an axle, a first end of the axle engaging with a first channel formed in one of the two hinge half-portions D 1  and G 1  integral with the lid, and the second end engaging with a second channel formed in one of the hinge half-portions D 2  and G 2  integral with the bottom.  
   
   
       6 . A case according to  claim 5  wherein the first and second heads engage with the first and second channels respectively by a noncircular cross-section of the heads and the channels, or by engagement of convex and concave elements so as to form a means of engagement in rotation.  
   
   
       7 . A case according to  claim 6  wherein the spring is in a permanent state of compression or axial tension along the axis of rotation, in such a way that the first and second heads are thus maintained in the first and second channels respectively.  
   
   
       8 . A case according to  claim 5  wherein the spring is capable of being compressed axially, so as to be able to be compressed over a length L 1  or L 2  in the first or the second channel for the purpose of assembling the hinge, the lengths L 1  and L 2  corresponding to the depth of the first and second channels respectively.  
   
   
       9 . A case according to  claim 3  wherein each of the anchoring means includes a skirt, a first skirt being integral with the first head, and a second skirt being integral with the second head, the first and second skirts being coaxial, wherein at least one of the skirts is an inner skirt, and another skirt being an outer skirt, such that the longitudinal component forms a torsion damper, and is simultaneously able to be compressed axially for the purpose of assembling the hinge, and to have a pre-set angular torsion of angle α for the purpose of forming the pre-set opening torque Co of the lid.  
   
   
       10 . A case according to  claim 9  wherein the inner skirt or a head integral therewith includes a shoulder forming a stop for the outer skirt at an end thereof, so as to limit compression of the longitudinal component or of the torsion damper to a pre-set length L.  
   
   
       11 . A case according to  claim 3  wherein the hinge has an axial play E along the axis of rotation between the hinge half-portions D 2  and G 2  integral with the bottom and the hinge half portions D 1  and G 1  integral with the lid , the axial play E being in a range from about 0.3 to about 1.5 mm, so as to facilitate the assembly of the hinge.  
   
   
       12 . A case according to  claim 3  wherein the first half-hinge is formed by engagement of a male part and a female part, the engagement being over an axial distance greater than the axial play E, and wherein one of the male or female parts is carried by the bottom and the other of the female or male parts is carried by the lid.  
   
   
       13 . A case according to  claim 12  wherein the female part is formed by a first ring of diameter D 1  and the male part by a second ring of diameter D 2 <D 1 , the first and second rings being over an angle β in a range from 200° to 280°, so as to form the hinge without axial play E, and/or to facilitate assembly of the first half-hinge.  
   
   
       14 . A case according to  claim 13  wherein the female part includes at a center portion thereof a center pin of diameter D 3 <D 2 .  
   
   
       15 . A case according to  claim 3  wherein the first half-hinge includes an auxiliary longitudinal connecting component equipped with an auxiliary helical spring, so as to form an auxiliary axle, and/or to provide a pre-set angular torsion of angle α, either for bringing a contribution C′o to the opening torque of the lid, and/or for obtaining an antagonistic torque Ca, the actual opening torque being Co−Ca or Co+C′o−Ca, so as to impart a particular feel when handling the lid.  
   
   
       16 . A case according to  claim 3  wherein the fastening means comprises a clasp comprises a lateral right-hand D or left-hand G clasp, its position on a right-hand D or left-hand G part or side of the case being selected according to whether the case is intended to be used by a left-handed or right-handed person.  
   
   
       17 . A case according to  claim 16  wherein the lateral clasp includes a push-button forming a component cast in one piece with the bottom.  
   
   
       18 . A case according to  claim 16  wherein the clasp is formed by a lateral translation of the lid relative to the bottom along the axis of rotation over a length at least equal to the axial play E, such that a push-button is not included.  
   
   
       19 . A case according to  claim 18  wherein comprising a fastening hook integral with the lid, and a nose integral with the bottom, and wherein the hook and nose engage over a length, taken along the direction of the axis of rotation in a range from 0.5E to 0.9E.  
   
   
       20 . A case according to  claim 18  wherein the lateral clasp is a left-hand G clasp, the second half-hinge being a right-hand D half-hinge.  
   
   
       21 . A case according to  claim 18  wherein the lateral clasp is a right-hand D clasp, the second half-hinge being a left-hand G half-hinge.  
   
   
       22 . A case according to  claim 3  wherein the bottom and the lid include a rectilinear side forming the hinge, and wherein the case is square, rectangular, partly round or oval in shape.  
   
   
       23 . A case according to  claim 3  wherein the hinge is formed by a series of hinge half-portions denoted D 1 -D 2 G 2 -G 1  or by a series of hinge half-portions denoted D 2 -D 1 G 1 -G 2 , according to whether the hinge includes a central part formed by the first hinge element including contiguous half-portions D 2  and G 2  denoted D 2 G 2 , or by the second hinge element including contiguous half-portions D 1  and G 1  denoted D 1 G 1 , the hinge including an outer part formed by the second hinge element including spaced out half-portions D 1  and G 1  or by the first hinge element including spaced out half-portions D 2  and G 2  respectively.  
   
   
       24 . A process for manufacturing a case according to  claim 12  comprising forming the second half-hinge, assembling the longitudinal component, forming the first half-hinge by angularly positioning the bottom relative to the lid optionally with an assembly angle of about 180°, wherein the angular positioning is chosen so as to facilitate free engagement of the male part with the female part.  
   
   
       25 . A process according to  claim 24  wherein the bottom and the lid include angular locking means so as to lock the rotation of the lid at an angle lower than the angle of assembly.  
   
   
       26 . A process for manufacturing a case according to  claim 5  comprising forming the first half-hinge, forming the second half-hinge by temporarily compressing the longitudinal component in the first or second channel.  
   
   
       27 . A process according to  claim 26  further comprising compressing the longitudinal component with at least one plate of thickness less than about the axial play E, wherein the first half-hinge includes an auxiliary longitudinal connecting component equipped with an auxiliary typically helical spring so as to form an auxiliary axle.  
   
   
       28 . A case comprising: 
 a lid said lid being fitted with a first hinge element,    a bottom, the bottom being fitted with a second hinge element such that a hinge means is formed by engagement of the first and second hinge elements so as to allow rotation of the lid relative to the bottom along an axis of rotation,    a fastening means for fastening and unfastening the lid relative to the bottom, wherein the case is capable of automatic opening in such a way that the lid opens automatically when force is exerted on the fastening means, and further wherein said opening is at an angle at least equal to 10° and/or is provided by a gap between a front edge of the lid and a front edge of the bottom of the case in excess of 3 mm, and further wherein said hinge does not include a spring.