Cosmetic product packaging, typically a case with rear clasp

Abstract

A “one-handed” case that is very practical to use and easy to assemble ( 1 ) includes a lid ( 2 ) fitted with a first hinge portion ( 20 ), a concave bottom ( 3 ) forming a cavity ( 33 ) able to contain said cosmetic products, the bottom ( 3 ) being fitted with a second hinge portion ( 30 ), a hinge ( 4 ) formed by engagement of the first and second hinge portions, a clasp ( 5 ) including a push button, a means for the at least partial opening ( 14 ) of the lid, and possibly an applicator ( 8 ). The bottom ( 3 ) includes, at the rear ( 16 ) of the case, a rear channel ( 31 ), and the clasp is a so-called rear clasp ( 5 ) including a so-called rear push button ( 50 ), said clasp ( 5 ) being able to be partially housed in said rear channel ( 31 ), so as to give a so-called “one-handed” case ( 1 ).

1 . Case ( 1 ) intended for the packaging of at least one cosmetic product ( 7 ) including a lid ( 2 ) fitted with a first hinge portion ( 20 ), a concave bottom ( 3 ) possibly including an inner frame integral with said bottom, said bottom ( 3 ) or said inner frame forming a cavity ( 33 ) able to contain said cosmetic products, possibly by means of a pot ( 6 ), said bottom ( 3 ) or said inner frame typically being fitted with a second hinge portion ( 30 ), a hinge ( 4 ) of axis of rotation R ( 40 ) formed by engagement of said first ( 20 ) and second ( 30 ) hinge portions, a clasp ( 5 ) including a push button and a means of locking and unlocking said lid ( 2 ) relative to said bottom or said inner frame, a means of opening ( 14 ) said lid at least partially, as soon as said unlocking means is activated manually, and possibly an applicator ( 8 ) of said cosmetic product ( 7 ), and characterized in that: 
 a) said bottom ( 3 ) and/or said inner frame includes, at the rear of said case, a rear channel ( 31 ),    b) said clasp is a so-called rear clasp ( 5 ) including a so-called rear push button ( 50 ), said clasp ( 5 ) being able to be partially housed in said rear channel ( 31 ), so as to give a case ( 1 ) that is said to be “one-handed”, since it is able to be gripped in one hand typically between the thumb on the one hand and the middle finger and the ring finger on the other, with the index finger placed at the rear of the case against said rear push button ( 50 ) so as to exert manual pressure with one finger against said rear push button ( 50 ) with a view to opening said case ( 1 ),    c) said means for locking/unlocking ( 13 ) said lid ( 2 ) relative to said bottom ( 3 ) or said inner frame includes the engagement of a so-called upper hook ( 130 ) integral with said lid and of a lower hook ( 131 ) integral with said clasp ( 5 ), in such a way that said upper hook ( 130 ) is released when said manual pressure is exerted on said clasp ( 5 ),    d) said lid ( 2 ) includes, at the rear of said case, a hollowed out part ( 21 ), so as to increase the surface of said push button ( 50 ) and thus to facilitate said manual pressure on said push button ( 50 ).    
   
   
       2 . Case according to  claim 1 , wherein: 
 a) said hinge ( 4 ) includes a so-called right-hand half-hinge ( 4 D) and a so-called left-hand half-hinge ( 4 G), said right-hand ( 4 D) and left-hand ( 4 G) half-hinges being separated by a distance E at least equal to 10 mm, said right-hand ( 4 D) half-hinge including an engagement of a first right-hand hinge component ( 20 D) and a second right-hand hinge component ( 30 D), said left-hand half-hinge ( 4 G) including an engagement of a first left-hand hinge component ( 20 G) and a second left-hand hinge component ( 30 G),    b) said push button ( 50 ) is housed between said right-hand ( 4 D) and left-hand ( 4 G) half-hinges and has a width along said axis of rotation R at least equal to E.    
   
   
       3 . Case according to  claim 1 , wherein said clasp ( 5 ) engages with said bottom ( 3 ) or said inner frame by means of a fastening means ( 11 ), in such a way that said clasp ( 5 ), subsequent to said manual pressure, is able to undergo a translatory displacement relative to said bottom ( 3 ) or said inner frame, typically a translation in a horizontal plane ( 10 ) corresponding to the mean plane of said case ( 1 ), said displacement being over a distance D typically between 1 mm and 4 mm, and preferably between 2 mm and 3 mm.  
   
   
       4 . Case according to  claim 3 , wherein said fastening means ( 11 ) includes the engagement of a male component ( 110 ), typically a rib or a plurality of raised pins, and of a female component ( 111 ), typically a groove, one of the two male ( 110 ) or female ( 111 ) components being carried by said clasp ( 5 ), the other component being carried by said bottom ( 3 ) or said inner frame.  
   
   
       5 . Case according to  claim 4 , wherein said clasp ( 5 ) includes laterally two parallel ribs ( 51 ) in said horizontal plane forming said male component ( 110 ), said bottom ( 3 ) or said inner frame including two parallel grooves ( 32 ) forming said female component ( 111 ), in such a way that the two parallel ribs ( 51 ) are able to slide in said grooves ( 32 ) so as to give said translatory displacement.  
   
   
       6 . Case according to  claim 4 , wherein said clasp ( 5 ) includes laterally two parallel grooves ( 51 ′) in said horizontal plane forming said female component ( 111 ), said bottom ( 3 ) or said inner frame including two parallel ribs ( 32 ′) forming said male component ( 110 ), in such a way that the two parallel ribs ( 32 ′) are able to slide in said grooves ( 51 ′) in order to give said translatory displacement.  
   
   
       7 . Case according to  claim 1 , wherein said clasp ( 5 ) engages with said bottom ( 3 ) or said inner frame by means of a return means ( 12 ) ensuring the return of said push button ( 50 ) to its initial position when said manual pressure ceases.  
   
   
       8 . Case according to  claim 7 , wherein said return means ( 12 ) includes or is formed by at least one spring ( 120 ).  
   
   
       9 . Case according to  claim 8 , wherein said return means ( 120 ) is formed by at least one metal spring ( 121 ).  
   
   
       10 . Case according to  claim 7 , wherein said return means ( 120 ) is formed by at least one tab ( 122 ) in a resiliently bending plastic material, said tab ( 122 ) typically forming a part cast in one piece with said clasp ( 5 ) or with said bottom ( 3 ) or said inner frame.  
   
   
       11 . Case according to  claim 1 , wherein said upper ( 130 ) and lower ( 131 ) hooks are located at a distance d from said axis of rotation R ( 40 ), with d being between 7 mm and 25 mm, and preferably between 10 mm and 20 mm, said upper ( 130 ) and lower ( 131 ) hooks having an overlap over a width d R , in a plane perpendicular to said axis of rotation R ( 40 ), of at least 0.5 mm, and with d R <D.  
   
   
       12 . Case according to  claim 11 , wherein said lower hook ( 131 ) is formed by a flange ( 131 ′) of a hollowed out part ( 52 ) of said clasp ( 5 ).  
   
   
       13 . Case according to  claim 1 , wherein said hollowed out part ( 21 ) is placed between said right-hand and left-hand half-hinges and opposite said rear channel ( 31 ).  
   
   
       14 . Case according to  claim 13 , wherein said hollowed out part ( 21 ) includes an upper hollowed out part ( 210 ) typically in the shape of a half circle the size of a fingertip, and wherein said rear channel ( 31 ) includes a lower rear channel ( 310 ), in such a way that said finger exerting said manual pressure, typically the index finger, does not inhibit said lid from fully opening.  
   
   
       15 . Case according to  claim 1 , wherein said clasp ( 5 ) includes or forms an upper channel ( 53 ) able to conceal said rear channel ( 31 ), a part ( 530 ) of said upper panel ( 53 ) opposite said upper hollowed out part ( 21 ,  21 ′) having a shape selected in such a way that, when said case is closed, there is substantially a continuity of form between said part ( 530 ) visible from the outside, and said lid.  
   
   
       16 . Case according to  claim 15 , wherein said upper panel ( 53 ) has an inner front edge ( 531 ) which is adjacent to said cavity ( 33 ), said front inner edge ( 531 ) projecting over said cavity ( 33 ) over said distance D when said push button is displaced at the end of travel over said distance D.  
   
   
       17 . Case according to  claim 15  wherein said clasp ( 5 ) includes, where necessary, a lower panel ( 54 ), said lower panel ( 54 ) forming a “U-shape” or a “V-shape” with said upper panel ( 53 ), the lower end of the “U-shape” or of the “V-shape” forming said push button ( 50 ), the lower panel ( 54 ) possibly including a part ( 540 ) that is visible externally opposite said lower rear channel ( 310 ), said part ( 540 ) having a form selected in such a way that there is externally a continuity of form between said part ( 540 ) of said panel ( 54 ), visible from the outside, and said bottom ( 2 ).  
   
   
       18 . Case according to  claim 1 , wherein said first and second right-hand hinge components ( 20 D,  30 D) are right-hand hub components ( 20 D′,  30 D′) forming a right-hand hub ( 41 D), anchored by a right-hand axle ( 42 D), and/or wherein said first and second left-hand hinge components ( 20 G,  30 G) are left-hand hub components ( 20 G′,  30 G′) forming a left-hand hub ( 41 G), anchored by a left-hand axle ( 42 G).  
   
   
       19 . Case according to  claim 18 , wherein said opening means is formed by said engagement between said hub, right-hand ( 41 D) and/or left-hand ( 41 G), and said axle, right-hand ( 42 D) and/or left-hand ( 42 G), at least one of said right-hand ( 42 D) and/or left-hand ( 42 G) axles forming or including a so-called “drive” spring, right-hand ( 42 D′) and/or left-hand ( 42 G′), one end ( 420 ) of which is integral with said first hub component, right-hand ( 20 D′) and/or left-hand ( 20 G′), and the other end ( 421 ) of which is integral with said second hub component, right-hand ( 30 D′) and/or left-hand ( 30 G′), so as to form said opening means ( 14 ).  
   
   
       20 . Case according to  claim 19 , wherein one of the two hubs, right-hand ( 41 D) or left-hand ( 41 G), includes or forms said so-called “drive” spring, right-hand ( 42 D′) or left-hand ( 42 G′), and the other hub, left-hand ( 41 G) or right-hand ( 41 D) including or forming a braking component, typically a so-called “brake” spring, left-hand ( 42 G″) or right-hand hand ( 42 D″).  
   
   
       21 . Case according to  claim 15 , wherein said upper panel ( 53 ) forms or includes a resilient part able to form said opening means ( 14 ) of said lid ( 2 ).  
   
   
       22 . Case according to  claim 1 , wherein a flexible upper tab ( 55 ) typically integral with said clasp ( 5 ), but possibly with said bottom or said inner frame, forms said opening means ( 14 ) of said lid ( 2 ).  
   
   
       23 . Case according to  claim 1 , wherein said bottom includes a lateral wall ( 34 ) with an upper end ( 340 ) surrounding an edge ( 22 ) of said lid ( 2 ), in such a way that manually gripping said case ( 1 ), with one hand, is not able to prevent or inhibit the opening of said lid ( 2 ).  
   
   
       24 . Case according to  claim 23 , wherein, when said case ( 1 ) is closed, said edge ( 22 ) of said lid ( 2 ) is inside said upper end ( 340 ).  
   
   
       25 . Case according to  claim 1 , wherein said second hinge portion ( 30 ), typically formed in said bottom ( 3 ) or said inner frame, is replaced by a second hinge portion ( 56 ) formed in said clasp ( 5 ), and wherein said means of locking/unlocking ( 13 ) said lid ( 2 ) relative to said bottom ( 3 ) or said inner frame includes the engagement of said so-called upper hook ( 130 ) integral with said lid ( 2 ) and of said lower hook ( 131 ) integral with said bottom ( 3 ) or said inner frame, said upper ( 130 ) and lower ( 131 ) hooks being located typically on a front part of said case ( 1 ), said upper and lower hooks having an overlap over a width d R , in a plane perpendicular to said axis of rotation R, of at least 0.5 mm, and with d R <D, in such a way that said upper hook ( 130 ) is released when said manual pressure is exerted on said clasp ( 5 ).  
   
   
       26 . Case according to  claim 1 , wherein said bottom ( 3 ) includes a first cavity ( 330 ) intended to contain said product ( 7 ) and a second cavity ( 331 ) intended to contain said application means ( 8 ).  
   
   
       27 . Case according to  claim 1 , that is rectangular in shape, said hinge forming the width  1  of said rectangle, the length L being such that L/1 is between 1.5 and 2.5, and is typically close to 2.  
   
   
       28 . Process for the manufacture  claim 1 , wherein: 
 a) said lid ( 2 ), said clasp ( 5 ) and said bottom ( 3 ) and possibly said inner frame are formed or supplied,    b) said clasp ( 5 ) is assembled to said bottom ( 3 ) or possibly to said inner frame,    c) said clasp ( 5 ) is compressed, typically from the rear towards the front in said horizontal plane ( 10 ), so as to displace it relative to said bottom ( 3 ) or to said inner frame by said distance D, and in this way to disengage the space between said second right-hand ( 30 D) and left-hand ( 30 G) hinge components, in order to be able to fasten said first right-hand ( 20 D) and left-hand ( 20 G) hinge components of said lid ( 2 ) and in this way to form said hinge ( 4 ),    d) where necessary, said inner frame ( 3 ′) can be snapped into said bottom ( 3 ).    
   
   
       29 . Process for the manufacture of a case according to  claim 1 , wherein: 
 a) said lid ( 2 ), said clasp ( 5 ) said bottom ( 3 ) and possibly said inner frame are formed or supplied,    b) said hinge ( 4 ) is formed by assembling said first right-hand ( 20 D) and left-hand ( 20 G) hinge components of said lid ( 2 ) and said second right-hand ( 30 D) and left-hand ( 30 G) hinge components of said bottom ( 3 ) or of said inner frame,    c) said clasp ( 5 ) is then snapped onto the unit formed in b), after or before having, as the case may be, snapped said bottom ( 3 ) to said inner frame ( 3 ′).    
   
   
       30 . Process according to  claim 29 , wherein, at step c), said clasp ( 5 ) is snapped on from the rear of said case, by a frontward movement from the rear in said horizontal plane ( 10 ), said lid ( 2 ) being in the closed position.  
   
   
       31 . Process according to  claim 29 , wherein, at step c), said clasp ( 5 ) is snapped on from above, by a downward movement from above, said case ( 1 ) being open said lid ( 2 ) being in the open position with an opening angle typically of 180° relative to said bottom ( 3 ).  
   
   
       32 . Process for the manufacture of a case ( 1 ) according to  claim 25 , wherein: 
 a) said lid ( 2 ), said clasp ( 5 ) and said bottom ( 3 ) and possibly said inner frame ( 3 ′) are formed or supplied,    b) said hinge ( 4 ) is formed by assembling said first ( 20 ) and second ( 56 ) hinge portions of said lid ( 2 ) and of said clasp ( 5 ), and the unit so formed is snapped onto said bottom ( 3 ) or said inner frame ( 3 ′).