Air tight toggle cosmetic compact

Abstract

A compact with a cover and a mating base, the base and cover being hinged together. A toggle lever is connected to the base or cover. The lever is pivotally movable into and out of engagement with the cover or base. The lever when the cover and base are so engaged clamping these parts together with an air tight seal at constant pressure and when the cover and base are not so engaged, pivotally separating them and destroying the seal.

1 . An air tight cosmetic compact comprising: 
 a cover element that is the external upper part of the compact;    a mating base element that is the external lower part of the compact;    means pivotally hinging one end of the base element to a mating end of the cover element, whereby when the compact is closed the base and cover elements are closed in mating engagement and when the compact is opened the cover element is pivotally separated from the base while remaining secured thereto;    a toggle lever disposed at ends of the elements oppositely the mating ends thereof and connected a selected one of the elements, the lever being pivotally movable by manual action into and out of engagement with the other one of the elements, the lever when the elements are so engaged clamping the elements together with an air tight seal at constant pressure and when the elements are not so engaged, pivotally separating the elements and destroying the seal, the seal being created at constant pressure every time the lever clamps the two elements together.    
   
   
       2 . The compact of  claim 1  wherein one of the elements at its end opposite said mating ends has a top surface with a first recess, the lever being connected to the other element and is manually snapped into clamping position to engage the recess.  
   
   
       3 . The compact of  claim 2  wherein the other one of the elements at its end opposite the mating ends has a side surface with a second recess, the lever being connected to the other element in the second recess and being moved into and out of engagement with the first recess.  
   
   
       4 . The compact of  claim 3  wherein the lever has the shape of an L having first and second legs disposed at right angles to each other, one leg being connected to the other element and disposed in the second recess, the other leg engaging the first recess when the lever is in clamping position and the two elements are positively clamped together and being spaced from the first recess to cause the elements to pivot apart.  
   
   
       5 . The compact of  claim 4  wherein the first element is provided with a first seal and the second element is provided with a second seal, these seals being in mating engagement when the elements are clamped together.