US 5,638,838 · Granted 1997-06-17

Cosmetic compact having snap-on hinge

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.

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