Refillable cosmetic container

Abstract

A refillable cosmetic container system comprising an outer container that can be closed by an optional lid, and an inner cosmetic holding canister that can be removably mounted within the container. A coupling system can be implemented to allow the outer container and the inner canister to be selectively coupled to each other, such as a lug-and-groove interface, latch and catch interface, etc. The coupling system may be configured such that rotation of the inner canister relative to the outer container causes the coupling/decoupling (e.g., locking/unlocking) between the outer container and the inner canister. To aid in selective coupling (e.g., coupling and decoupling) of the inner canister with respect to the outer container, a handle is provided on the inner container.

1 . A refillable cosmetic container system, comprising:
 an outer container with an outer wall defining an inner chamber with a first opening proximate a top of the outer container and a second opening proximate a bottom of the container;   an inner canister supported within the inner chamber of the outer container;   a handle proximate a bottom end of the inner canister, the handle configured to pass through the second opening of the outer container.   
     
     
         2 . A refillable cosmetic container system of  claim 1 , wherein the inner canister is rotationally supported by the outer container, and wherein a rotational force can be applied to the handle to rotate the inner canister with respect to the outer container. 
     
     
         3 . The refillable cosmetic container system of  claim 1 , wherein a torque applied to the handle allows for coupling of the inner canister to the outer container. 
     
     
         4 . The refillable cosmetic container system of  claim 1 , wherein the handle is hingedly coupled to the inner canister. 
     
     
         5 . The refillable cosmetic container system of  claim 4 , wherein the handle is moved about a hinge from a first position in which the handle is configured to pass through the second opening of the outer container and a second position in which the handle is stowed adjacent a bottom wall of the inner canister. 
     
     
         6 . The refillable cosmetic container system of  claim 4 , further comprising
 a living hinge coupling the handle to the inner canister.   
     
     
         7 . The refillable cosmetic container system of  claim 1 , wherein the outer container is reusable and the inner canister is replaceable. 
     
     
         8 . The refillable cosmetic container system of  claim 1 , wherein the outer container is reusable. 
     
     
         9 . The refillable cosmetic container system of  claim 1 , wherein the inner canister contains a cosmetic formula. 
     
     
         10 . The refillable cosmetic container system of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a lid coupleable to the outer container.   
     
     
         11 . A method of replacing a cosmetic formula in a reusable container; the method comprising:
 inserting an inner canister containing cosmetic formula into an inner chamber of an outer container, the inner canister having a handle;   applying a rotational force to the handle to move the inner canister to a locked position.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the inner canister and the outer container include first and second locking features, respectively, wherein the first and second locking features are substantially aligned when the inner canister is in the locked position. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising moving the handle into an extended position before the step of applying a rotational force to a handle. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 after the inner canister is in the locked position, moving the handle into an extended position; thereafter   applying a rotational force to the extended handle to move the inner canister to the unlocked position; and   removing the inner canister from the outer container.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the step of moving the handle to an extended position includes pivoting the handle about a hinge.