Vanity case

Aug. 6, 1935.

J. KREISLER

VANITY CASE

Filed Jan. 20. 1931

2,010,521

Sheets-Sheet 1

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INVENTOR

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ATTORNEY

Aug. 6, 1935.

J. KREISLER

VANITY CASE

2,010,521

Filed Jan. 20, 1931

Sheets-Sheet.2

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INVENTOR

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ATTORNEY

Patented Aug. 6, 1935

2,010,521

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ° 2,010,521

VANITY CASE Jacques Kreisler, New Rochelle, N. Y.

Application January 20, 1931, Serial No. 509,975 8 Claims. (Cl. 206—37)

This invention relates to a vanity case, or similar container.

It is an object of this invention to provide a container, for use as a vanity case or for similar 5 purposes, in which are provided a plurality of compartments for the reception of individual cosmetics, the compartment being formed in such manner that economy in space, cost of manufacturing, convenience in accessibility to the va10 rious cosmetics, and simplicity of operation are effected.

It is a further! object of the invention to provide a container or case of the character set forth in which a compartment for powder or j 5 similar material is provided, which is easily accessible for use, the compartment being provided with a closure which may be operated to open position by bringing pressure to bear upon the end of the case, so that while the case is held 20 in the hand, the closure may be opened merely by the pressure of that hand, and without the necessity off he application of force from some external medium. .

It is q, further object of the invention to con23 struct the operating mechanism for such closure in a manner to permit the use of precious metals for those portions which would be apparent from the exterior of the case, and yet provide a rigid construction, the parts of the casing which are 30 subjected to any substantial wear during the use of the case being replaceable at small cost.

It is an additional object of the invention to provide, in mechanism of the character set forth, in which relative sliding movement of portions 35 of the casing, which are formed of precious metals is effected, means for confining wear of such precious metals to a very restricted portion of such surface, such wear being confined to a portion of the precious metal which would not be apparent 40 from the exterior of the case.

It is an additional object of the invention to provide mechanism for a closure of the type above , set forth, whereby the closure is directly coupled with and contacted by a movable wall for the 45 case, so that when pressure is brought to bear upon the movable wall, the casing closure will be moved to. open position.

It is a further object of the invention to provide in connection with operating mechanism of 50 the type set forth, means for retaining the closure in open position, after such mechanism has been operated to a predetermined extent.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a case of the character set forth, with which 55 has been assembled a closure in the manner herein above set forth, wherein the means for retaining the closure upon the casing also cooperates with means hereinbefore related, to retain resilient means for moving the closure to closed position in normal operation. 5

It is a further object of the invention to provide, in a vanity case of the character set forth, a casing within which is received a container of such dimensions that it fits securely, but removably therein, such container providing within 10 itself a plurality of compartments for the retention of cosmetics. The container is so formed and related to the casing that it cooperates therewith to provide a stop or rest for the closure, when brought into closed position, at the same 15 time forming a cavity within the casing for the reception of an additional cosmetic element which may be used without distributing the cosmetics in the container and without opening the closure. The space thus provided, while sub- 20 stantially cylindrical in cross-section, has however, an additional portion for cooperation with an extension from the body of such cosmetic element.

It is a further object of this invention to pro- 25 vide, in a vanity case of the character Set forth, a casing, in one of the walls of which is provided an opening, and a closure for said opening, a pivotal mounting for which is situated entirely within the body of said casing. By this construction, 30 it is possible to eliminate certain objectionable features of casing construction of the types herein dealt with, wherein the outer surface of the casing, for decorative purposes, is provided with a coating of enamel or similar material. Where 35 the ordinary hinge construction is utilized, the enamel, when applied may and in most cases does flow into the bearing of the hinge, and interfere with the efficient operation of the closure, and in other ways detract from the appearance of the 40 article.

In the construction herein described, the support for the closure is mounted in such manner that even though the closure may be brought into closed position, and then will fit snugly into the 45 r opening to provide a face, substantially flush with the outer surface of the casing, still no portion of the bearing for the closure will be subjected to, or will be so positioned that it will be interfered with by, the enameling, when applied to such ⁵⁰cover.

In the particular construction herein, the pivotal mounting for the closure also operates to provide a mechanism in which the number of parts is reduced below that ordinarily necessary ^M

2,010,831 in the ordinary hinge construction; also, the support for the pivotal mounting, in this case, is formed to provide guides for resilient members, operating against a movable wall for the casing, 5 which, in the manner hereinabove set forth may be utilized to move the closure to open position and permit access to the interior of the casing, at Will.

Other objects of this invention will be apparent 10 from the drawings, and from the description thereof, or will be specifically indicated herein.

The invention is not intended to be restricted to the construction and arrangement of parts herein shown and described, nor to the various ¹⁵ details thereof, as the same may be modified in various particulars without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, practical embodiments of which have been herein illustrated and described, without attempting to show all ²⁰ the various forms and modifications in which the invention might be embodied.

On the drawings, where are disclosed preferred embodiments of the invention,

Fig. ί is a view in perspective of a vanity case, embodying the invention, the closure therefor being shown open, a cosmetic element therewith assembled being partly withdrawn, and portions being broken away to illustrate the construction „„ thereof.

Fig. 2 is a view in perspective of said case, the closure being shown open to illustrate the arrangement of a container within the case.

Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view on the line 35 ³~³ of Fig. 1, the closure being shown closed.

Fig. 4 is a longitudinal sectional view, on the line 4—4 of Fig. 3, part of the container insert being broken away.

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of details of the operating mechanism for the closure, shown in disassociated relation.

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the container insert for said case.

Fig. 7 is a detail transverse sectional view on 45 ^{line 7}—^{7 of Fig}· ^4jto illustrate the arrange^ ment of the closure retaining means in the case.

Fig. 8 is a sectional view of. a modified detail of the construction of the case.

Fig. 9 is a perspective view of a vanity case, 50 embodying the Invention in modified form, portions being broken away to illustrate elements of a modified pivotal construction for the closure.

Fig. 10 is a perspective view, similar to Fig. 5, of the operating mechanism for the closure in _es the embodiment shown in Fig. 9.

Fig. 11 is a longitudinal view on line 11—11, of Fig. 9, the closure being shown' in closed position, and parts being broken away to Illustrate the relation of the operating mechanism for the closure. 60 Fig. 12 is a detail longitudinal vertical sectional view of a construction showing a modified form of certain elements of the vanity case, the closure means being shown open.

The vanity case 10, shown on the drawings, is 65 seen to . comprise a substantially oblong body 12 which may have the bottom 14, side walls 16 and the end wall 18, together with the top wall 20, formed in any suitable manner, such as by diecasting, or the like. One end 21 of the body is 70 not provided with a fixed wall but is open for purposes hereinafter appearing.' The walls may have thereon any desired ornamental work, such as would be in conformity with the type of article intended. The top wall 20 is cut away to pro75 vide an opening 22, relatively to which is positioned a closure 24 which may be moved to open position as shown to permit access to the chamber 26 formed within the body.

Secured to the inner face of bottom 14, at any desired point therein, but preferably adjacent the 5 edge 20 of the opening 22, is an upright member 30. In a preferred construction, member 30 is formed integrally with top wall 20, as a portion thereof, and is then bent down into position to bear against bottom wall 14, to which it may be 10 secured by brazing, or similar process. Member 30 is formed with a plurality of screw-threaded openings 32 therethrough, through which are to be received the threaded portions of a pair of screws 34 inserted from the rear end of the body ¹³and passed first through a plate 36, which is hinged to the closure at 30, and then into openings 32. Plate 36 is passed through a slot 39 between the member 30 and the edge 28 to assume a position to the rear of member 30. The ²θ engagement of the screws within the openings 32 thus anchors the closure in position relatively to the casing. Thp heads of these screws also extend rearwardly n such manner that a pair of springs 40 may be positioned thereupon to ²³cooperate with a movable wall 42 in the manner hereinafter set forth.

. Wall 42 includes a presser element 46, preferably of precious metal, fashioned into a flat cuplike formation, the metal at the open end of the 30 cup being cut away to leave a body substantially of U-shape contour, the bar of the U consisting of a cup-like member 44, while the arms are left with substantially shallow recesses. The arms are spaced apart at such distance that when ³⁵mserted through the open end 21, they will fit snugly against the inner surfaces of side walls 16. Wall 42 is made up of element 46 and a strap 48 which may be bent to fit within the recesses of element 46. Strap 48 preferably is 40 formed from any suitable material which will give to wall 42 a desired rigidity and strength and permit the assembly therewith of the closure for the casing and the operation thereof by the wall 42, in the manner hereinafter set forth. 40

At, the ends 50 of the strap are formed enlarged portions 52 which extend beyond the walls of the recesses of element 46, which are cut out at 54 to permit assembly of the element and the strap in this manner. A slot 58 in each end 50 50 is provided to receive prongs 60, which preferably are integrally formed with the metal of element 46, thus to anchor the strap relatively to element 46. By suitable working of the prongs 60, and by hammering the base portions 62 of 55 element 46 upon which the strap rests, any desired elevation of the strap, relative to the element, may be secured.

&lt;A pair of vertical slots 64 are also provided immediately adjacent the ends 50 of the strap and 60 provide guide ways with which cooperate a pair of pins 66, carried upon a pair of lugs 68, which may be formed integrally with, or in any other manner, secured upon, closure 24. By this construction, movement of wall 42 through the open 65 end of the case acts to pivot the closure relatively to opening 22. The inner face of the closure is polished so that, in open position, it mav serve as a mirror.

The springs 40, which are carried upon the 70 screws 34, are further anchored with a pair of openings 70 in the strap 48, which are substantially in alignment with said screws. The action of the springs is, therefore, normally to force wall 42 outwardly and away from member 30, 75

2,010,621 and by such action to pivot φβ closure downwardly and into closing position over opening 22. At the upper end of either one or each of the slots 84 Is formed an indentation 72, upon which 6 a pin 88 will be brought to rest when the wall 42 has been moved inwardly to the extreme of the movement thereof, as limited by contact of closure 24 and edge 28. Due to the fact that springs 40, in such arrangement, apply a force 10 substantially vertically upwardly at the contacting surface of the indentation 72, the closure will be retained in open position until some ex. temal force is brbught to bear upon the closure to move the pin or pins 66 out of engagement 15 with the indentation and into the main body of the slots. Thereupon the springs will be able to force the wall 42 rearwardly, and thus to pivot the closure down over the opening 22.

Since element 46 preferably Is made of some 20 precious metal, in order to guard the same against wear as it moves through the open end of the case, a rib 74 may be formed immediately at the edge 76 of the element 46; such rib is intended to be of such dimensions that, as the wall 25 moves in and out of the casing, friction between element and casing will occur only at such rib, and the two end portions of the U member 46, and not at the narrower or inwardly offset cupportion 44.

Within compartment 26 is positioned a container 78 which is formed substantially of resilient metal and is of such contour that the side walls thereof will engage with the inner faces of the walls of the case, and thus retain the con35 tainer frictionally therein. The container consists of a body portion 80 and a hinged top portion 82, the hinge being located and constructed in such manner that the top portion may be swung upwardly and then outwardly and through 40 opening 22, and then lie substantially flat down against the top wall of the case, permitting unobstructed access to the cosmetic or similar material retained within the body portion.

Top portion 82 is intended to be formed with 45 a depression 84 suitable for the reception of cake rouge. Body 80 preferably will be filled with powder or the like. The shallow portion 86 of top 82 is intended to receive a powder puff or similar element which will be retained in a po50 sition by an extended nib 88. This nib also functions as a handle to permit raising the top portion away from the body portion, in the manner set forth. The flanged outer wall 90 of the body portion may be indented at 92 to provide 55 means for cooperation with an enlargement at the nib 88 whereby a desired spring action is assured to lock the top 82 relatively to the body 80, in closed position, but permitting separation of the top and body at will. Comers 94 of the CO body are pressed inwardly to provide a pair of bearing surfaces against which the closure 24 may abut when in closed position.

Within compartment 26, adjacent end wall 18, is secured in any preferred manner an addice tional wall 96 which furnishes a compartment 98, access to which is had through an opening 100 in one of the side walls 16. This compartment is intended to receive a cosmetic appliance 102, such as lipstick, or the like, which is housed in 70 a metallic cylinder 104. The pusher 108, generally provided in such appliances, has a projecting pin 110 to permit pressure to be brought to bear to feed the cosmetic as desired. By the formation of wall 96, the cylinder 104 may be 75 positioned with the pin HO extending into an additional cavity 122, thus to be retained securely within the case. In order to locate appliance 192 In the proper maimer, the head 114 is cut away at 118 to cooperate with the straight face 118 on the end wall 18, the location of the appliance 5 relatively to the compartment, on assembly of these portions being thus assured. An extension 120 may be provided upon cylinder 104 to cooperate with face 118, when pushed past it, in which case the metal at face 118 will spring to io lock the appliance in position, but permitting ready separation thereof from the case. It is, of course, obvious that the compartment 98 may have a cross-section other than cylindrical in cross-section. 15

The end wall 124 of the body 80, in preferred construction, is formed as shown in Fig. 4 so as to rest upon wall 96 within compartment 26, locating the container 78 relatively to the case. Also in this manner the necessity for pressed-in 20 corners 94 is avoided, the wall 124 serving as the closure stop in this instance.

In order to use the appliance, it is merely necessary to grasp the case in the fingers of one hand and press against the wall 18 and 42, where- 25 upon closure 24 will be swung open. Access is immediately had to the powder puff, and to the rouge, and by grasping the nib 88 and swinging the top away from the body 80, use may be made of powder within the container. Also by grasp- 30 ing the head 114, the appliance 102 may be withdrawn and the cosmetic 106 utilized for the desired purpose. . '

In a modified form of the invention, as shown in Figs. 9 to 12, inclusive, there appears a cas- 35 ing 130, substantially similar to case 10, having a closure 132, co-operating with an opening 134 in the top wall 136 of the casing. An end wall 138 is made movable through an open end 140 of the casing, and mechanism is provided, and 40 will be described hereinafter, whereby movement of wall 138 into the casing, through the opeh end, will cause movement of the closure relatively to its opening, in the manner hereinabove set forth. 45

A container 142, constructed similarly to container 78, except as herein further related, is mounted within chamber (44, formed by the hollow interior of the casing. This container may be provided with individual compartments for 50 different cosmetics, or appliance, in the manner set forth, and is constructed to seat within the chamber and fill the same substantially entirely. Rear, wall 146 of the container is bent rearwardly as shown at 148, and then upwardly to position 55 its extreme upper edge 150 immediately beneath, and behind the rear edge 152 of opening 134.

The dished bottom 154 of the container is substantially throughout its perimeter, less in d mensions than chamber 144, so that a strap 156 of co metal or like material, bent in the manner to be described, may have the extending arms 158 positioned against the inner faces of the walls of chamber 144, and beneath the shoulder 160, formed, between bottom 154 and upper edge 150 ¢5 of the container.

Strap 156 is preferably formed from a single piece of material, stamped, or, in any other manner, made into a U-shaped contour, providing the arms 158 and body portion 164. From the 70 body portion extends upwardly a pair of lugs 166, and rearwardly, a pair of ears 168. The lugs extend above the upper edge 170 of body 164, which is positioned at such height as to fit snugly beneath shoulder 160. The lugs are bent rear- 75

2,010,621 wardly, away from the plane of body 164, in order to clear the bent rear wall 146, and to position, immediately, at the plane of arms 158, pins 172, which are formed preferably integrally, or, in 5 any other manner, provided on, and extending laterally from arms 174 which are directed toward the inner faces of the walls of the chamber from each of lugs 166.

Integrally formed with or in any other man10 ner secured to closure 132 is a pair of lugs 176, which extend in the closed, position of the closure, angularly downwardly and rearwardly, and then upwardly and rearwardly. At the approximate bottom portion 178 of each lug, there may 15 be provided a pin 180, and at the upper extremity 182, an opening 184. Each opening 184 is intended to be received over the pin 172 located adjacent thereto, which thereby provides a bearing for the closure. Arms 158, body 164 and 20 lugs 166 are cut away in such manner that lugs 176 are permitted free, swinging movement as closure 132 moves toward and away from opening 134. The corners formed by the bending of body 164 into arms 158 are made as sharply as 25 possible in order to bring pin 172 as close as possible to the lateral boundaries of chamber 144, so that sufficient clearance will be provided for the lugs in their movement. In this manner, the pivotal mounting for the closure is sit30 uated entirely within chamber 144, and enameling of the outer face 186 of the closure will not result in the deposit of any foreign-matter upon the pivot formed between pins 172 and openings 184.

Pins 180 may cooperate with movable wall 138 substantially in the same manner that wall 42 and pins 66 cooperated with the construction of Figs. 1 to 8, inclusive. However, ears 168 are provided in this construction to substitute for 40 screws 34, so that spring members may cooperate with end wall 138 in substantially the same manner as that above described, the construction of the end wall being substantially that of wall 42.

In the assembly of the container and the strap • in chamber 144, the container 142 is first positioned in the chamber, and then the strap is pushed firmly against the rear wall 146 of the container, so that the body portion 164 fits snug50 ly beneath the shoulder 160, and is soldered to the base of the chamber, or otherwise secured against movement. In order to assure this result, it may be necessary to cut away metal of body portion 164 at each side of ears 168 and 55 lugs 166, at their intersection with the body portion, in order that these parts may be bent in the case of the ears beneath the level of the upper face of body porion 164, and in the case of the lugs, away from body portion 164, to CO clear the bottom face of shoulder IGO.

In Fig. 12, there appears a construction eliminating the necessity for the use of finger tabs, or the like, in opening the powder container. In this construction, the closure 188 is mounted C5 upon a casing 190 in substantially the same manner as the closure 132 in the construction shown in Figs. 9 to 11. A lug 192, similar to the lug 176 in the other construction, is here, however, provided with a nub 194 at an intermediate por70 tion of the edge of the lug, and a foot, 196 adjacent the closure 188.

Within the casing 190 is positioned a container 198, similar in detail to those in the other constructions, and having the pivoted closure 200 in75 tended to fit snugly down upon, and seat within, the upper edges of the container. The cover has an extending flange 202 which must be gripped in order to move the cover to open position, and also provides a stop limiting the inward closing movement of the closure relatively to the 5 container. The nub 194 and foot 196 are located in such manner that, as the closure 188 is pivoted to open or closed position, there will be a co-operation between these parts and flange 202 to effect opening of the cover without the 10 use of the fingers of the user, and positive seating of the cover within the container, as set forth. For this purpose, the nub is intended to engage under flange 202 in its rising movement and to apply a lifting pressure to such flange in sep- 15 arating the cover from the container. When it is desired to close the container, the cover is merely positioned above the open end of the container and then the closure 188 pushed down to closed position, whereupon the foot 196 will 20 engage the flange and drive it into tight engagement with the edges of the container.

As many changes may be made in the construction herein involved and many widely different embodiments of the invention designed, 25 without departing from the spirit and scope of 'the invention, the matter set forth in the description herein may be interpreted as illustrative of operative, but not limiting, embodiments of the invention. 30