US 5,638,838 AGranted

Cosmetic compact having snap-on hinge

OwnerCarl M. Lombardiinventor

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Abstract

A cosmetic compact formed by an open container having stored therein a facial powder, and a hinged cover to close the container, the cover having a mirror mounted on its inner wall which when the cover is swung open to assume a predetermined obtuse viewing angle, the user holding the compact can then observe her face while applying powder thereto. The hinge includes a pair of spaced gudgeons projecting from the rear wall of the container and bridged by a pivot pin, each gudgeon having formed on one side a stop positioned between the corresponding end of the pivot pin where it joins the gudgeon and the rear wall. At the rear of the cover at a right angle thereto is a pair of resilient jaws formed by parallel front and back plates which snap-fit into the space between the gudgeons to clamp onto the pin. When the cover is swung open to assume the predetermined obtuse angle with respect to the container, the leading edge of the front plate then abuts the stops and the cover is thereby maintained at this angle. But if the cover is forced beyond this angle, the hinge will not break, but the cover will snap off the pin and can thereafter be snapped back to restore the hinge.

Claims7

Dependent claims

A cosmetic compact comprising:

A. container having an open top adapted to store a cosmetic to be applied to the face of a user;
B. a cover for the container having a mirror mounted on its inner surface so that when the cover is opened, the user holding the compact can view her face while applying the cosmetic thereto;
and
C. a snap-on hinge hinging a rear side of the cover to a corresponding side of the container, said hinge including:
(C.sub.1) a pair of spaced gudgeons projecting from the side of the container and bridged by a pivot pin spaced from this side, and a stop on each gudgeon placed between the end of the pin where the pin joins the gudgeon and the side of the container;
and
(C.sub.2) a pair of resilient jaws mounted on the rear side of the cover at right angles thereto formed by parallel front and rear plates which fit to the space between the gudgeons and clamp onto the pin, said front plate having a leading edge which is adapted to engage the stop on each gudgeon when the hinged cover is swing open whereby when the cover is opened, it can be swung to assume a predetermined obtuse viewing angle with respect to the open container and is maintained at this angle by the stops on each gudgeon which at this angle is abutted by the leading edge of the front plate.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.