Compact with hidden hinge

Abstract

A cosmetic container that includes a lid assembly and a base assembly each configured to hold a cosmetic product. The lid assembly and the base assembly are pivotably coupled with a hinge assembly. The hinge assembly may be positioned and secured within recesses of the lid assembly and the base assembly such that the cosmetic container can lie flat on a level surface in a fully open configuration.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A cosmetic container comprising:
 a lid assembly including a housing having a top surface and one or more walls defining a cavity for holding a product, the housing further including a first recess disposed along an edge of the housing;   a base assembly including a base housing having a bottom surface and one or more walls defining a cavity for holding a product and a second recess disposed along an edge of the base housing; and   a hinge assembly disposed at least in part in the first recess and the second recess, the hinge assembly coupled to the lid assembly and the base assembly adjacent to the first recess and the second recess and configured to allow the lid assembly to pivot relative to the base assembly to move the cosmetic container between a closed configuration and a fully open configuration;   wherein when the cosmetic container is in the fully open configuration, the top surface of the lid assembly and the bottom surface of the base assembly are configured to lie flat on a surface.   
     
     
         2 . The cosmetic container of  claim 1 , wherein the hinge assembly comprises a hinge, a first pair of pins, and a second pair of pins. 
     
     
         3 . The cosmetic container of  claim 2 , wherein at least one of the pins of the first pair of pins is movable along a longitudinal axis of the hinge. 
     
     
         4 . The cosmetic container of  claim 1 , wherein when the cosmetic container is in the fully open configuration, the hinge assembly is not visible from the bottom surface of the base assembly or the top surface of the lid assembly. 
     
     
         5 . The cosmetic container of  claim 2 , wherein at least one of the pins of the second pair of pins is movable along a longitudinal axis of the hinge. 
     
     
         6 . The cosmetic container of  claim 2 , wherein the first pair of pins are configured to engage a pair of apertures in the lid assembly, the first pair of apertures positioned in opposing side walls of the first recess. 
     
     
         7 . The cosmetic container of  claim 2 , wherein the second pair of pins are configured to engage a pair of apertures in the base assembly, the pair of apertures positioned in opposing side walls of the second recess. 
     
     
         8 . The cosmetic container of  claim 1 , wherein the hinge assembly further comprises one or more magnets. 
     
     
         9 . The cosmetic container of  claim 8 , wherein the one or more magnets are configured to releasably couple the cosmetic container to a second cosmetic container. 
     
     
         10 . The cosmetic container of  claim 1 , further comprising a magnetic latching mechanism disposed in the lid assembly and the base assembly. 
     
     
         11 . The cosmetic container of  claim 1 , wherein the lid assembly and the base assembly are symmetric when in the fully open configuration. 
     
     
         12 . The cosmetic container of  claim 1 , wherein when in the closed configuration, the hinge assembly is disposed within the first recess and the second recess to define a generally flat hinge edge. 
     
     
         13 . A cosmetic container comprising:
 a lid assembly including a housing having a top surface and one or more walls defining a cavity for holding a product, the housing further including a first recess disposed along an edge of the housing;   a base assembly including a base housing having a bottom surface and one or more walls defining a cavity for holding a product and a second recess disposed along an edge of the base housing, the base housing having a similar shape to the housing of the lid assembly; and   a hinge assembly disposed at least in part in the first recess and the second recess, the hinge assembly coupled to the lid assembly and the base assembly adjacent to the first recess and the second recess and configured to allow the lid assembly to pivot relative to the base assembly to move the cosmetic container between a closed configuration and a fully open configuration;   wherein when the cosmetic container is in the fully open configuration, the top surface of the lid assembly and the bottom surface of the base assembly are configured to lie flat on a surface; and   wherein when in the closed configuration, the hinge assembly is disposed within the first recess and the second recess to define a generally flat hinge edge.   
     
     
         14 . The cosmetic container of  claim 13 , wherein the hinge assembly comprises a hinge, a first pair of pins, and a second pair of pins. 
     
     
         15 . The cosmetic container of  claim 14 , wherein at least one of the pins of the first pair of pins is movable along a longitudinal axis of the hinge. 
     
     
         16 . The cosmetic container of  claim 13 , wherein when the cosmetic container is in the fully open configuration, the hinge assembly is not visible from the bottom surface of the base assembly or the top surface of the lid assembly. 
     
     
         17 . The cosmetic container of  claim 13 , wherein when in the closed configuration, the hinge assembly is disposed within the first recess and the second recess to define a generally flat hinge edge. 
     
     
         18 . A cosmetic container assembly comprising:
 a first cosmetic container, the first cosmetic container comprising:
 a first lid assembly including a housing having a top surface and one or more walls defining a cavity for holding a product, the housing further including a first recess disposed along an edge of the housing; 
 a first base assembly including a base housing having a bottom surface and one or more walls defining a cavity for holding a product and a second recess disposed along an edge of the base housing; and 
 a first hinge assembly including at least one magnet, the first hinge assembly disposed at least in part in the first recess and the second recess, the hinge assembly coupled to the first lid assembly and the first base assembly adjacent to the first recess and the second recess; 
   a second cosmetic container, the second cosmetic container comprising:
 a second lid assembly including a housing having a top surface and one or more walls defining a cavity for holding a product, the housing further including a first recess disposed along an edge of the housing; 
 a second base assembly including a base housing having a bottom surface and one or more walls defining a cavity for holding a product and a second recess disposed along an edge of the base housing; and 
 a second hinge assembly including at least one magnet, the second hinge assembly disposed at least in part in the first recess and the second recess, the hinge assembly coupled to the second lid assembly and the second base assembly adjacent to the first recess and the second recess; 
   wherein the at least one magnet in the first hinge assembly and the at least one magnet in the second hinge assembly are configured to releasably couple the first cosmetic container and the second cosmetic container.   
     
     
         19 . The cosmetic container assembly of  claim 18 , wherein the first hinge assembly is configured to allow the first lid assembly to pivot relative to the first base assembly to move the first cosmetic container between a closed configuration and a fully open configuration and the second hinge assembly is configured to allow the second lid assembly to pivot relative to the second base assembly to move the second cosmetic container between a closed configuration and a fully open configuration when the first and second cosmetic containers are uncoupled. 
     
     
         20 . The cosmetic container assembly of  claim 19 , wherein when the first and second cosmetic containers are in the fully open configurations, the top surface of the first and second lid assemblies and the bottom surface of the first and second base assemblies are configured to lie flat on a surface; and
 wherein when the first and second cosmetic containers are in the closed configuration, the first and second hinge assemblies are disposed within the respective first recesses and the second recesses to define a generally flat hinge edge on each of the first and second cosmetic containers.