US20080236611A1

US20080236611A1 - Carrying case for cosmetics and the like

Info

Publication number: US20080236611A1
Application number: US11/691,520
Authority: US
Inventors: Andrezj M. Redzisz; Donald E. Godshaw
Original assignee: Travel Caddy Inc
Current assignee: Travel Caddy Inc
Priority date: 2007-03-27
Filing date: 2007-03-27
Publication date: 2008-10-02

Abstract

A carrying case for cosmetics includes a base enclosure hinged to a top lid which includes an internal storage panel that is hinged thereto. A mirror is retained within the top of the lid and is hinged to the lid protected between the storage panel and the top of the lid. The cosmetic case may be unfolded and the compartments thereof will be exposed to not only support the mirror, but to provide ease of access because of the angular relationship between the connection of the top lid and the base enclosure to which that lid is attached.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

In a principal aspect the present invention relates to a carrying case which is especially useful for carrying cosmetics and small items which a traveler may wish to have available during travel.
Travelers often desire to carry a small case with them which may be used for personal items, jewelry, cosmetics, medicines, toiletries or the like. By carrying such a case, the traveler may be assured that even though their luggage may be lost or misplaced for some reason, that they will have essentials available for their immediate use and access.
Various features associated with such a carrying case are considered important. For example, the availability of extra storage pouches within the case is a desirable feature. Additionally, the availability of a mirror may be a desired feature. Various other features are potentially desirable, including lightness of weight, durability and the availability of a carrying case which is inexpensive, yet attractive.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Briefly, the present invention comprises a carrying case which includes a lower base section with a hinged lid attached along its backside top edge to the lower base section. A generally flat, storage panel may be folded from the inside of the hinged lid once the lid is opened. The storage panel is hinged to the front side, top edge of the lid. Also maintained within the lid of the carrying case is a mirror panel which is hinged to the lid and which may be moved between a folded and unfolded position when the lid is opened. When the mirror is in a folded position, it fits over the inside of the top lid. The mirror panel may be protected by folding the storage panel over the mirror panel. A removable interior storage bag may be provided to fit over and protect the folded mirror panel. The lid and base enclosure are designed in combination with the storage panel to be folded to define an enclosed carrying case and may be unfolded to provide a series of two compartments which will lay flat on a surface to enable access thereto. The base section, the lid and the storage panel with a mirror folded to a use position may be arrayed to provide a dressing or cosmetic station comprises of three elements. Thus, an individual may use the carrying case as a counter or station for applying makeup or otherwise grooming. The component parts include various fasteners, including magnetic fasteners to retain the parts in the folded position and thereby protect the materials retained within the case.
Thus, it is an object of the invention to provide an improved carrying case for travelers which is rugged, inexpensive and yet fashionable.
A further object of the invention is to provide a carrying case which may be opened to provide three separate but connected sections or compartments that are useful for the carrying of items and which can be manipulated in a manner that provides access to a mirror stored in the middle one of the sections.
Yet another object of the invention is to provide a carrying case which incorporates a mirror that is foldable between a position where it is protected within the carrying case and a position where it can be exposed for use as it is propped up by the sides of the carrying case.
These and other objects, advantages and features of the invention will be set forth in the following description.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

In the detailed description which follows, reference will be made to the drawing comprised of the following figures:

FIG. 1 is an isometric view of an embodiment of the carrying case of the invention as viewed from the front side thereof;

FIG. 2 is an isometric view of the embodiment of FIG. 1 as viewed from the backside thereof;

FIG. 3 is another isometric view of the case of FIG. 1 as viewed from the backside thereof;

FIG. 4 is an isometric view of the embodiment of FIG. 1 wherein the lid of the carrying case has been opened to reveal a folding panel positioned within the lid;

FIG. 5 is an isometric view of the embodiment of FIG. 1 wherein the carrying case has been fully opened with the lid in the open position and with a storage panel folded to an open position;

FIG. 6 is a side elevation of the opened carry case illustrated in FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is an isometric view of the open carry case depicting the position of an interior storage bag removed therefrom to expose a mirror within the lid of the carry case;

FIG. 8 is an isometric and diagrammatic view illustrating the removable storage bag enclosure which is retained within the lid of the carry case to serve as a protective element for the mirror retained therein;

FIG. 9 is an isometric view of the carry case in the open position with the mirror panel positioned in the lid being partially removed toward the position wherein it may be propped against the front side of the lid;

FIG. 10 is an isometric view similar to FIG. 9 wherein the mirror maintained within the lid is moved to the fully open position; and

FIG. 11 is an isometric view of the carry case wherein the elements comprising the carry case including the main base section, the lid, and the storage panel are in the open position and further illustrating a sectional view of the storage panel.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

The carry case depicted in the figures is comprised of three connected elements. A base enclosure or section 20 is hinged to a top lid 22. An internal storage panel 24 is hinged to the top lid. The three connected elements may be positioned in an unfolded manner as depicted in FIG. 5, for example, wherein base enclosure 20 is hinged to the top lid 22 and the storage panel 24 is hinged to the top lid 22. These three elements, namely the base enclosure 20, the top lid 22 and the storage panel 24 may thus be opened or unfolded to reveal a side profile as depicted in FIG. 6 wherein the storage panel 24 and the peripheral edge of the open top lid 22, as well as the peripheral edge of the open base enclosure 20 define a plane which is arranged at an angle with respect to a bottom side 28 of the base enclosure 20 and the top panel 30 of the lid 22. In this configuration, the bottom side 28 and top lid 30 are co-planar. The outer edge 32 of the storage panel lies in the same plane, or may lie in the same plane. In this manner, as described hereinafter, the storage case or carry case of the invention may serve as a makeup or cosmetic counter or station, providing ease of access thereto and providing, as described hereinafter, a means for support of a mirror or a mirror panel so that it may be easily and conveniently used.
Referring again to FIG. 1 through FIG. 5, the base enclosure or section 20 includes a back side 36, a front side 38, a first lateral side 40 and a second lateral side 42. The interior of the base enclosure 20 may include a series of storage bands or tapes 44 for holding or retaining various items. The base enclosure 20 further includes a carry strap 50 extending between the outside surface of the first and second lateral sides 40 and 42. The carry strap 50 is an adjustable length strap and includes a cushioned shoulder pad 52 which is slidably mounted on the strap 50. The front side 38 of the base enclosure 20 includes a front side panel having a first hinge boundary 56 which comprise a hinge connection to the top lid 24. The hinge line or boundary 56 is dimensionally located a first dimension or distance 58 from the bottom side 28 of the base enclosure 20.
The lid 22 includes a top panel 30 with a carry handle 62 attached thereto. The lid 22 further includes a front side panel 64, a back side panel 66 and a first lateral side panel 68 and a second lateral side panel 70. The lid 22 further includes an adjustable strap 72 on the front side panel 64 which may be fitted over a hook, for example, to support the carry case. The front side panel 64 has a second dimension 74 which is substantially equal to the first dimension 58 of the front side panel 38 of the base enclosure 20. The second dimension 74 is equal to the first dimension 58 so that when the lid 20 is folded about the hinge line 56, the configuration depicted in FIG. 6 results, wherein the front side of the lid 22 and the front side of the base enclosure 20 are opposed one against the other.
The top plan profile of the carry case is a generally elliptical configuration. That is, the lateral sides or side panels are aligned and are generally convexly curved. The front and back sides or front and back panels are generally planar. The lid 22 is attached to the base enclosure or section by a fastener mechanism, namely a zipper 80.
The interior of the lid 22 is further depicted in FIGS. 4 through 11. Referring to those figures, the interior of the lid 22 includes storage panel 24 hinged about the hinge connection 82 which is defined along the back side edge of the back panel of the lid 22. The storage panel 24 is substantially congruent in configuration with the top panel of the lid 22. The storage panel 24 includes a fastener tab 84 which has a magnet element 86, as shown in FIG. 4, which enables the storage panel 24 to be maintained at a fixed distance above the top panel of the lid 20. In other words, the storage panel 24 is maintained in a generally parallel configuration with the top panel of the lid 22 by means of the fastening mechanism or the panel fastening mechanism 84 and 86.
Positioned within the lid 22 is an interior or internal storage bag 88. The internal storage bag 88 has a configuration which is also generally congruent with the top panel of the lid 22. The interior storage bag 88 is preferably formed as depicted in FIG. 8 with an underside 90 that includes a foam material therein. The interior storage bag 88 includes a zipper mechanism 92 which enables access to the interior of the storage bag 88 by opening the cover 94.
The underside or lower panel of the storage bag 88 includes a series of magnets, such as magnet 96 which engages with or can adhere to magnet of opposite polarity 98 in the top panel of the lid 22, as depicted in FIG. 8. This holds the storage bag 88 in position to cover a mirror 106 and mirror panel 100. The mirror panel 100 is hinged about a living hinge 102 to the top panel of the lid 22 so that it may pivot about that hinge 102 between the position depicted in FIG. 8 to the position depicted in FIG. 10. In this position, the mirror 100 rests against the front panel of the top lid 22. The mirror 106 of the mirror panel 100 thus can be viewed and used for application of cosmetics. The interior of the top panel or lid 22 is cushioned. Thus, the mirror is maintained between cushioned surfaces associated with the top panel of the lid 22 and the bottom panel 90 of the interior storage bag 88. It will be noted that the hinge 102 associated with the mirror 106 is generally parallel with the hinge connecting the base enclosure 20 and the lid 22.
FIG. 11 illustrates in greater detail a construction for the interior storage panel 24. The panel preferably is comprised of outer layers of fabric, namely outer layers 110 and 112 which cover a polyethylene board to provide some rigidity. A binding 114 retains a peripheral wire rod or metal rod 116 about the periphery of the panel 24. It will be noted that the wire rod maintained by the binding 114 projects upwardly above the plane of the panel 24 and thus serves as a retainer for items which are placed on the panel 24. The panel 24 thus provides for a generally or semi-rigid enclosure that may be fitted into the top lid 22 for retaining the storage bag 88.
While there has been set forth a description of the embodiment of the invention, it is to be understood that variations of the embodiment, as well as alternative embodiments are may be considered to be within the scope of the invention. The invention is therefore to be limited only by the following equivalents thereof.

Claims

1. A carrying case for cosmetics and the like comprising, in combination:

A base section including a generally flat planar bottom side, a generally flat planar front side extending a first dimension upwardly from the bottom side and terminating along a generally straight first hinge line generally parallel to the bottom side, said base section further including a back side spaced from the front side and extending a second dimension upwardly from the bottom side greater than the first dimension, and first and second spaced lateral sides connecting the front side and back side to form an enclosure with an open top side;

a lid including a top panel generally parallel to the base section bottom side, a front panel having a lower edge hinged to base enclosure hinge line, said front panel having a third dimension between the hinge line and top panel substantially equal to the first dimension, said lid including a back panel and connecting side panels,

a fastening mechanism for attaching the lid to the base section to enclose the carrying case, said lid foldable about the first hinge line to juxtapose said lid front panel against the base section front side; and

a generally flat storage panel hinged to the top edge of the back panel of the lid and foldable between a first position in said lid and a second position extending outwardly from the lid back panel.

2. The case of claim 1 including a mirror in the lid and wherein the storage panel is foldable over said mirror, said mirror hinged within the lid for pivotal movement between a generally flat storage position and a use position supported by the inside of the front panel.

3. The case of claim 2 wherein said storage panel includes a panel fastener mechanism for attachment to the inside of the lid to maintain the storage panel spaced from the lid top panel.

4. The case of claim 2 further including an internal storage bag within the lid between the storage panel and the mirror.

5. The case of claim 5 further including an internal storage bag within the lid between the storage panel and the mirror.

6. The case of claim 4 wherein the internal storage bag is generally congruent with the top panel of the lid.

7. The case of claim 4 further including a fastening device for holding the internal storage bag within the lid.

8. The case of claim 7 wherein the fastening device comprises a magnetic catch.

9. The case of claim 1 wherein the top panel of the case has a generally elliptical configuration generally congruent with the bottom side.

10. The case of claim 1 wherein the storage panel comprises a reinforcing rod member extending at least about the free edge margin of said panel to maintain the shape of the panel.

11. The case of claim 10 further including a reinforcing member forming at least in part, said panel.

12. The case of claim 1 wherein the storage panel, lid top panel and enclosure bottom side are generally congruent.

13. The case of claim 12 wherein the case includes a removable interior storage bag maintained within the lid in the case closed condition intermediate the lid top panel and the storage panel.

14. The case of claim 13 further including a mirror panel hinged to the inside of the top panel of the lid and foldable between a first position leaning against the inside front panel of the lid.

15. The case of claim 2 wherein the storage panel and edges of the side panels of the lid and edges of the lateral sides of the base enclosure are coplanar when the case is opened for resting the mirror against the front side panel of the lid, and the bottom side of the base enclosure and the top panel of the lid are generally coplanar.