Airtight cosmetic container

Abstract

An airtight cosmetic container in which an inner container (200) and an inner cover (300) can be airtightly sealed without using a separate rubber seal while compensating for a diameter deviation caused by a molding error of the inner cover (300). The inner container (200) includes a packing case (220) in which a cosmetic tray is installed, and which includes inner and outer elastic sidewalls (222, 223) that form a seal groove (221) therebetween, so a sealing rib (320) of the inner cover (300) is inserted into the seal groove (221), with inner and outer curved protrusions (222a, 223a) protruding toward each other on opposed surfaces of the inner and outer elastic sidewalls so as to come into elastic close contact with the inner and outer circumferential surfaces of the sealing rib (320) inserted in the seal groove (221), thereby realizing an airtight sealing effect.

Description

one side of the inner circumferential surface of the outer elastic sidewall 223. Here, the air vent groove 225 may extend from the upper end of the outer elastic sidewall 223 to a middle portion of the outer curved protrusion 223a, as shown in FIG. 10.

In another embodiment, the function of the air vent groove 225 may be realized by an air vent groove formed at another location. That is, as shown in FIG. 11, an air vent groove 322 may be formed on a lower part of the outer circumferential surface of the sealing rib 320 of the inner cover 300. In this case, when the sealing rib 320 of the inner cover 300 is inserted into the seal groove 221 of the packing case 220 by the pressing force of the outer lid 400, air is expelled through a gap formed between the air vent groove 322 of the sealing rib 320 and the outer curved protrusion 223a of the outer elastic sidewall 223, thereby realizing a desired airtight sealing effect.

Further, the height of the inner elastic sidewall 222 of the packing case 220 is lower than the outer elastic sidewall 223, and a downward inclined surface 321 is formed on the inner circumferential surface of the sealing rib 320 of the inner cover 300, so the downward inclined surface 321 can come into contact with the inner curved protrusion 222a of the inner elastic sidewall 222.

Here, the inclined surface 321 is formed on the inner circumferential surface of the sealing rib 320 within a range extending from the lower end to a predetermined height of the sealing rib 320, so the thickness of the sealing rib 320 is gradually reduced in a downward direction.

Accordingly, when the sealing rib 320 of the inner cover 300 is moved around the hinge bracket 330, the inclined surface 321 of the sealing rib 320 primarily comes into contact with the inner elastic sidewall 222 of the packing case 220, so the sealing rib 320 can be easily inserted into the seal groove 221.

Further, the inner curved protrusion 222a of the inner elastic sidewall 222 is formed at a location near the upper end of the inlet of the seal groove 221, and the outer curved protrusion 223a of the outer elastic sidewall 223 is oppositely formed at a location lower than the location of the inner curved protrusion 222a with a height difference between the two curved protrusions.

When the inner and outer curved protrusions 222a and 223a are formed at respective locations with a height difference as described above, the inclined surface 321 of the sealing rib 320 can be easily and smoothly inserted into the seal groove 221 while coming into contact with the inner curved protrusion 222a.

Specifically, the inner elastic sidewall 222 of the packing case 220 is formed at a location lower than that of the outer elastic sidewall 223, and the sealing rib 320 is provided with the downward inclined surface 321 on the inner circumferential surface. Accordingly, when closing the inner cover 300, firstly, the inclined surface 321 of the sealing rib 320 comes into contact with the inner curved protrusion 222a of the inner elastic sidewall 222 at a side near the hinge shaft 331, thereby being inserted into the seal groove 221 while smoothly biasing the inner elastic sidewall 222 radially outward; and secondarily, the outer circumferential surface of the sealing rib 320 comes into close contact with the outer curved protrusion 223a of the outer elastic sidewall 223, thereby forming a desired airtight sealing effect.

When opening the inner cover 300, the sealing rib 320 is removed from the seal groove 221 while firstly the outer circumferential surface of the sealing rib 320 pushes the outer curved protrusion 223a of the outer elastic sidewall 223 so as to bias the outer curved protrusion 223a radially outward, and secondarily the inclined surface 321 comes into contact with the curved protrusion 222a of the inner elastic sidewall 222 at a location near the hinge shaft 331. Thus, when the inner cover 300 is opened and closed, the contact force can be efficiently dispersed, and the hinge shaft 331 that is set in the hinge bracket 330 of the inner cover 300 can move in the shaft hole 230a of the hinge bracket 230 of the packing case 220, so the inner cover 300 can be easily opened and closed.

A reinforcing rim 223b is formed around the upper end of the outer circumferential surface of the outer elastic sidewall 223, thereby realizing a concentric forming of the outer elastic sidewall 223 without eccentrically forming the outer elastic sidewall 223. Further, when the sealing rib 320 is inserted into the seal groove 221, the reinforcing rim 223b increases the elastic restoring force of the outer elastic sidewall 223.

Therefore, when the inner cover 300 is rotated so as to be opened or closed, the contact of the inner and outer circumferential surfaces of the sealing rib 320 with the inner and outer elastic sidewalls 222 and 223 is performed stepwise, so the opening and closing force can be efficiently dispersed. Further, during a process in which the inner cover 300 is closed, the inner and outer elastic sidewalls 222 and 223 come into close contact with the inner and outer circumferential surfaces of the sealing rib 320 at upper and lower portions due to the elastic restoring force of the inner and outer elastic sidewalls 222 and 223, so the present invention can increase the airtight sealing effect of the cosmetic container.

As shown in the enlarged view of FIG. 5, the diameter d of the hinge shaft 331 set in the hinge bracket 330 of the inner cover 300 is smaller than the diameter D of the shaft hole 230a that is formed in the hinge bracket 230 at a side of the packing case 220, so, when the inner cover 300 is rotated so as to be closed, the hinge shaft 331 can move within the shaft hole 230a.

Thus, when the sealing rib 320 of the inner cover 300 is inserted into the seal groove 221 while coming into contact with and biasing the inner and outer elastic sidewalls 222 and 223 of the packing case 220, it is possible to compensate for a diameter deviation (diameter difference) caused by a molding error. In other words, the sealing rib 320 can be efficiently inserted into the seal groove 221 while the hinge shaft 331 moves in the shaft hole 230a of the hinge bracket 230 of the packing case 220, wherein the shaft hole 230a has the diameter D.

The above-mentioned opening and closing operation of the inner cover 300 and the operation of the packing case 220 of the inner container 200 performed accompanying with the opening and closing operation of the inner cover 300 will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 12 to 16.

As shown in FIG. 12, to keep or carry the cosmetic container containing the cosmetic material C after applying the cosmetic, a user closes the inner cover 300 in a state in which both the outer lid 400 and the inner cover 300 have been opened.

When the inner cover 300 is closed as described above, the hinge cover 300 is rotated around the hinge bracket 230 of the packing case 220. Here, firstly the distal end of the inclined surface 321 of the sealing rib 320 comes into contact with the inner curved protrusion 222a that protrudes inward at a location near the upper end of the inner elastic sidewall 222 of the seal groove 221.

When the inner cover 300 is further rotated from the above-mentioned state, the sealing rib 320 is smoothly inserted into the seal groove 221 while the inclined surface 321 of the sealing rib 320 comes into contact with and biases the inner elastic sidewall 222 outward, as shown in FIG. 13.

During the above-mentioned process, the sealing rib 320 of the inner cover 300 can be smoothly inserted into the seal groove 221 while the hinge bracket 330 of the inner cover 300 which is connected to the hinge shaft 331 set in the shaft hole 230a of the hinge bracket 230 of the packing case 220 can move due to the elasticity of the inner elastic sidewall 222, as shown in FIG. 14.

As described above, when the sealing rib 320 is inserted into the seal groove 221, the lower end of the outer circumferential surface of the sealing rib 320 primarily comes into contact with the upper end of the outer elastic sidewall 223 of the seal groove 221 which is farthest from the hinge shaft 331, as shown in FIG. 15, and secondarily comes into contact with the outer curved protrusion 223a, and the sealing rib 320 is fully inserted into the seal groove 221 while biasing and opening the outer elastic sidewall 223 outward, as shown in FIG. 16. When the sealing rib 320 is fully inserted into the seal groove 221, the sealing rib 320 is not brought into contact with the upper end of the outer elastic sidewall 223 of the packing case 220. However, due to the elasticity of the inner and outer elastic sidewalls 222 and 223, the inner and outer curved protrusions 222a and 223a of the inner and outer elastic sidewalls 222 and 223 strongly clamp the inner and outer circumferential surfaces of the sealing rib 320 while forming a desired airtight sealing effect.

When a user closes the outer lid 400 by rotating the outer lid 400 around the hinge bracket 410 in the above state, the lower surface (the mirror 450) of the outer lid 400 compresses the pressure protrusion 310 of the inner cover 300, so the inner cover 300 is moved downward while air is expelled from the cosmetic tray 210 through the air vent groove 225 formed on the inner circumferential surface of the outer elastic sidewall 223 of the packing case 220 until the locking protrusion 420 is caught by the locking step 161 of the push button 160 of the lower case 110 constituting the container body 100, thereby realizing the airtight sealing effect.

When the locking protrusion 420 is caught by the locking step 161, the inner cover 300 is further moved downward, so the lower surface of the inner cover 300 from which the sealing rib 320 extends comes into contact with the upper end surface of the outer elastic sidewall 223 of the packing case 220, thereby completely isolating the cosmetic material C contained in the cosmetic tray 210 of the inner container 200 from the environment and realizing a desired airtight sealing effect for the cosmetic material C.

When opening the inner cover 300 after opening the outer lid 400 so as to use the cosmetic material C, the inner cover 300 is rotated around the hinge shaft 331 that is set in the shaft hole 230a of the hinge bracket 230 of the packing case 220, so a portion of the outer circumferential surface of the sealing rib 320 which is farthest from the hinge shaft 331 is removed from the seal groove 221 while pushing and opening the outer curved protrusion 223a of the outer elastic sidewall 223. In the above state, the inclined surface 321 of the sealing rib 320 is removed from the seal groove 221 while coming into contact with a portion of the curved protrusion 222a of the inner elastic sidewall 222 of the packing case 220 which is nearest to the shaft hole 230a of the hinge bracket 230, so, when the inner cover 300 is opened or closed, the contact force can be efficiently dispersed

As described above, when the inner cover 300 is opened or closed, the force formed by the sealing rib 320 that is removed from or inserted into the seal groove 221 of the packing case 220 can be efficiently dispersed, so the opening or closing operation can be easily performed.

Although the preferred embodiments of the present invention have been disclosed for illustrative purposes, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the present invention is not limited to embodiments described above and shown in the accompanying drawings.

For example, the present invention may be used in a threaded type opening/closing container which can be opened or closed by rotating the threaded outer lid 400 hinged to the container body 100 in a state in which the outer lid 400 is closed relative to the container body 100.

Although the preferred embodiment (s) of the present invention have (has) been disclosed for illustrative purposes, those skilled in the art will appreciate that various modifications, additions and substitutions are possible, without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention as disclosed in the accompanying claims.

<Description of the Reference Numerals in the Drawings>


100: container body      110: lower case
120: outer support case  200: inner container
210: cosmetic tray       220: packing case
221: seal groove         222: inner elastic sidewall
223: outer elastic sidewall
225, 322: air vent groove
250: inner support case  300: inner cover
310: pressure protrusion 320: seating rib
400: outer lid           C: cosmetic material

Claims

1. An airtight cosmetic container, comprising:

a container body;

an inner container installed in the container body and containing a cosmetic material therein;

an inner cover rotatably and openably combined with a side of the inner container and having a sealing rib that comes into close contact with an upper end surface of the inner container by a pressing force of a pressure protrusion; and

an outer lid combined with a side recess of the container body by a hinge bracket and having a locking protrusion at a portion opposed to the hinge bracket so as to be locked to a locking step of a locking hole of a pushbutton mounted to the container body at a portion opposed to the side recess, so, when the outer lid is closed, the outer lid brings the sealing rib into close contact with the inner container by pressing a pressure protrusion of the inner cover, and when the push button is pushed so as to release the locking protrusion, the outer lid is opened;

wherein the inner container includes a cosmetic tray, and a packing case in which the cosmetic tray is installed and a hinge bracket is provided so as to be combined with a hinge bracket of the inner cover;

wherein the packing case includes inner and outer elastic sidewalls that form a seal groove therebetween, so the sealing rib of the inner cover is inserted into the seal groove, with inner and outer curved protrusions protruding toward each other on opposed surfaces of the inner and outer elastic sidewalls so as to come into elastic close contact with inner and outer circumferential surfaces of the sealing rib inserted in the seal groove, thereby realizing an airtight sealing effect;

wherein the container body includes a lower case to which the push button is mounted, and an outer support case that is seated in a seat of the lower case and has a through hole through which the locking protrusion of the outer lid passes;

wherein the packing case is seated in the seat of the lower case in such a way that the outer elastic sidewall of the packing case is fitted and held in an inner circumferential surface of the outer support case, and the inner elastic sidewall of the packing case is held by an outer circumferential surface of an inner support case that is fitted over an outer circumferential surface of the cosmetic tray; and

wherein, to allow the inner and outer elastic sidewalls to be opened, the packing case is assembled with the inner and outer support cases in such a way that a predetermined gap is defined between inner and outer circumferential surfaces of the inner and outer elastic sidewalls and inner and outer circumferential surfaces of the inner and outer support cases.

2. An airtight cosmetic container, comprising:

a container body;

an inner container installed in the container body and containing a cosmetic material therein;

an inner cover rotatably and openably combined with a side of the inner container and having a sealing rib that comes into close contact with an upper end surface of the inner container by a pressing force of a pressure protrusion; and

an outer lid combined with a side recess of the container body by a hinge bracket and having a locking protrusion at a portion opposed to the hinge bracket so as to be locked to a locking step of a locking hole of a push button mounted to the container body at a portion opposed to the side recess, so, when the outer lid is closed, the outer lid brings the sealing rib into close contact with the inner container by pressing a pressure protrusion of the inner cover, and when the push button is pushed so as to release the locking protrusion, the outer lid is opened;

wherein the inner container includes a cosmetic tray, and a packing case in which the cosmetic tray is installed and a hinge bracket is provided so as to be combined with a hinge bracket of the inner cover;

wherein the packing case includes inner and outer elastic sidewalls that form a seal groove therebetween, so the sealing rib of the inner cover is inserted into the seal groove, with inner and outer curved protrusions protruding toward each other on opposed surfaces of the inner and outer elastic sidewalls so as to come into elastic close contact with inner and outer circumferential surfaces of the sealing rib inserted in the seal groove, thereby realizing an airtight sealing effect;

wherein an air vent groove is formed on an inner circumferential surface of the outer elastic sidewall by extending from an upper end of the inner circumferential surface of the outer elastic sidewall to a middle portion of the outer curved protrusion, so, when the outer lid is closed, a lower surface of the inner cover comes into airtight close contact with the packing case of the inner container.

3. The airtight cosmetic container as set forth in claim 2, wherein the inner elastic sidewall of the packing case has a height lower than a height of the outer elastic sidewall, and the sealing rib of the inner cover is provided with a downward inclined surface on the inner circumferential surface thereof so as to come into contact with the curved protrusion of the inner elastic sidewall.

4. An airtight cosmetic container, comprising:

a container body;

an inner container installed in the container body and containing a cosmetic material therein;

an inner cover rotatably and openably combined with a side of the inner container and having a sealing rib that comes into close contact with an upper end surface of the inner container by a pressing force of a pressure protrusion; and

an outer lid combined with a side recess of the container body by a hinge bracket and having a locking protrusion at a portion opposed to the hinge bracket so as to be locked to a locking step of a locking hole of a push button mounted to the container body at a portion opposed to the side recess, so, when the outer lid is closed, the outer lid brings the sealing rib into close contact with the inner container by pressing a pressure protrusion of the inner cover, and when the push button is pushed so as to release the locking protrusion, the outer lid is opened;

wherein the inner container includes a cosmetic tray, and a packing case in which the cosmetic tray is installed and a hinge bracket is provided so as to be combined with a hinge bracket of the inner cover;

wherein the packing case includes inner and outer elastic sidewalls that form a seal groove therebetween, so the sealing rib of the inner cover is inserted into the seal groove, with inner and outer curved protrusions protruding toward each other on opposed surfaces of the inner and outer elastic sidewalls so as to come into elastic close contact with inner and outer circumferential surfaces of the sealing rib inserted in the seal groove, thereby realizing an airtight sealing effect; and

wherein an air vent groove is formed on a lower part of the outer circumferential surface of the sealing rib of the inner cover, so, when the sealing rib of the inner cover is inserted into the seal groove of the packing case by a pressing force of the outer lid, a lower surface of the inner cover comes into airtight close contact with the packing case while air is expelled through a gap formed between the air vent groove and the outer curved protrusion of the outer elastic sidewall.

5. The airtight cosmetic container as set forth in claim 4, wherein the inner elastic sidewall of the packing case has a height lower than a height of the outer elastic sidewall, and the sealing rib of the inner cover is provided with a downward inclined surface on the inner circumferential surface thereof so as to come into contact with the curved protrusion of the inner elastic sidewall.

6. An airtight cosmetic container, comprising:

a container body;

an inner container installed in the container body and containing a cosmetic material therein;

an inner cover rotatably and openably combined with a side of the inner container and having a sealing rib that comes into close contact with an upper end surface of the inner container by a pressing force of a pressure protrusion; and

an outer lid combined with a side recess of the container body by a hinge bracket and having a locking protrusion at a portion opposed to the hinge bracket so as to be locked to a locking step of a locking hole of a push button mounted to the container body at a portion opposed to the side recess, so, when the outer lid is closed, the outer lid brings the sealing rib into close contact with the inner container by pressing a pressure protrusion of the inner cover, and when the push button is pushed so as to release the locking protrusion, the outer lid is opened;

wherein the inner container includes a cosmetic tray, and a packing case in which the cosmetic tray is installed and a hinge bracket is provided so as to be combined with a hinge bracket of the inner cover;

wherein the packing case includes inner and outer elastic sidewalls that form a seal groove therebetween, so the sealing rib of the inner cover is inserted into the seal groove, with inner and outer curved protrusions protruding toward each other on opposed surfaces of the inner and outer elastic sidewalls so as to come into elastic close contact with inner and outer circumferential surfaces of the sealing rib inserted in the seal groove, thereby realizing an airtight sealing effect;

wherein the container body includes a lower case to which the push button is mounted, and an outer support case that is seated in a seat of the lower case and has a through hole through which the locking protrusion of the outer lid passes;

wherein the packing case is seated in the seat of the lower case in such a way that the outer elastic sidewall of the packing case is fitted and held in an inner circumferential surface of the outer support case, and the inner elastic sidewall of the packing case is held by an outer circumferential surface of an inner support case that is fitted over an outer circumferential surface of the cosmetic tray; and

wherein a lower part of an outer circumferential surface of the outer support case has an uneven surface and is combined with an uneven inner circumferential surface of a support ring protruding upward from the seat of the lower case, and

wherein the packing case is seated in the seat of the lower case in such a way that the outer elastic sidewall is held in the inner circumferential surface of the outer support case, and an uneven inner circumferential surface of the inner elastic sidewall of the packing case is combined with a lower part of an uneven outer circumferential surface of the inner support case that is fitted between the inner circumferential surface of the inner elastic sidewall and an outer circumferential surface of the cosmetic tray.

7. An airtight cosmetic container comprising:

a packing case including an inner sidewall and an outer sidewall that define a seal groove therebetween;

an inner cover rotatably and openably combined with the packing case and including a sealing rib corresponding to the seal groove;

a protrusion disposed on the outer sidewall;

at least one air vent groove defined on an inner circumferential surface of the outer sidewall by extending from an upper end of the inner circumferential surface of the outer sidewall in a direction to a portion of the protrusion,

wherein when an outer lid is closed, the outer sidewall comes into an elastic airtight contact with the sealing rib by expelling air from the packing case through the at least one air vent groove and a lower surface of the inner cover comes into airtight close contact with the packing case.

8. The airtight cosmetic container of claim 7, wherein the at least one air vent groove is defined on the protrusion.

9. The airtight cosmetic container of claim 7, wherein the outer sidewall has higher ductility and elasticity compared with the sealing rib.

10. The airtight cosmetic container of claim 9, wherein, upon an insertion of the sealing rib to the seal groove, the outer sidewall is elastically expanded.

11. The airtight cosmetic container of claim 7, wherein the packing case includes a container hinge bracket, and wherein the cover includes a cover hinge bracket which is combined with the container hinge bracket, and wherein an inner diameter (D) of a shaft hole of the container hinge bracket is larger than an outer diameter of a hinge shaft combined with the cover hinge bracket and when the hinge shaft is rotated in the shaft hole, the hinge shaft is movable in the shaft hole.

12. The airtight cosmetic container of claim 7, wherein the inner sidewall has a height smaller than a height of the outer sidewall.

13. The airtight cosmetic container of claim 7, wherein the sealing rib has a tapered thickness.

14. The airtight cosmetic container of claim 7, further comprising:

a container body including the packing case; and

the outer lid coupled to the container body and interposing the inner cover and an inner container between the outer lid and the container body.

15. The airtight cosmetic container of claim 14, wherein the packing case is installed in the container body and a predetermined gap is defined between outer surfaces of the outer sidewall of the packing case and inner surfaces of the container body.

16. The airtight cosmetic container of claim 15, wherein a pressure protrusion is disposed on the inner cover being pressed by the outer lid when the outer lid is closed.

17. The airtight cosmetic container of claim 7, the at least one air vent groove is defined on one side of the inner circumferential surface of the outer sidewall.

18. The airtight cosmetic container of claim 7, the at least one air vent groove has a single air vent groove.

19. An airtight cosmetic container comprising:

a packing case including an inner sidewall and an outer sidewall that define a seal groove therebetween;

an inner cover rotatably and openably combined with the packing case and including a sealing rib corresponding to the seal groove;

at least one air vent groove defined on an inner circumferential surface of the outer sidewall by extending from an upper end of the inner circumferential surface of the outer sidewall in a direction to a portion of the inner circumferential surface of the outer sidewall,

wherein when an outer lid is closed, the outer sidewall comes into an elastic airtight contact with the sealing rib by expelling air from the packing case through the at least one air vent groove and a lower surface of the inner cover comes into airtight close contact with the packing case.

20. The airtight cosmetic container of claim 19, further comprising a protrusion disposed on the outer sidewall, wherein the at least one air vent groove is defined on at least a portion of the protrusion.

21. The airtight cosmetic container of claim 19, the at least one air vent groove is defined on one side of the inner circumferential surface of the outer sidewall.

22. The airtight cosmetic container of claim 19, the at least one air vent groove has a single air vent groove.

23. The airtight cosmetic container of claim 19, wherein the inner sidewall has a height smaller than a height of the outer sidewall.

24. An airtight cosmetic container comprising:

a packing case including an inner sidewall and an outer sidewall that define a seal groove therebetween;

an inner cover rotatably and openably combined with the packing case and including a sealing rib corresponding to the seal groove;

a protrusion disposed on the outer sidewall;

at least one air vent groove defined on an inner circumferential surface of the outer sidewall by extending from an upper end of the inner circumferential surface of the outer sidewall in a direction to a portion of the protrusion,

wherein, upon an insertion of the sealing rib to the seal groove, the outer sidewall is elastically expanded,

wherein when an outer lid is closed, the outer sidewall comes into an elastic airtight contact with the sealing rib by expelling air from the packing case through the at least one air vent groove and a lower surface of the inner cover comes into airtight close contact with the packing case, and

wherein the inner sidewall has a height smaller than a height of the outer sidewall.

25. The airtight cosmetic container of claim 24, the at least one air vent groove is defined on one side of the inner circumferential surface of the outer sidewall.

26. The airtight cosmetic container of claim 24, the at least one air vent groove has a single air vent groove.