Sliding Top Container

Abstract

A small, portable container with a sliding top. The container may be a compact for holding cosmetics. The container has a base that defines one or more volumes to hold substances or devices such as makeup and/or an applicator, a lid constructed and adapted to slide relative to the base, and a slide mechanism anchored to the base and slidingly engaged with the lid.

1 . A small, portable container with a sliding top, comprising:
 a base that defines one or more volumes to hold substances or devices such as makeup and/or an applicator;   a lid constructed and adapted to slide relative to the base; and   a slide mechanism anchored to the base and slidingly engaged with the lid.   
     
     
         2 . The container of  claim 1  in which the slide mechanism is integrally formed with the base. 
     
     
         3 . The container of  claim 1  in which the slide mechanism is separate from the base and is coupled to the base through interfitting features on the slide mechanism and the base. 
     
     
         4 . The container of  claim 3  in which the interfitting features comprise hooks on the slide mechanism that engage into cavities in the base. 
     
     
         5 . The container of  claim 4  wherein the slide mechanism comprises four hooks, two each on two downwardly-projecting legs, with one leg on each opposed side of the slide mechanism. 
     
     
         6 . The container of  claim 1  wherein the slide mechanism comprises a bridge that is anchored to the base. 
     
     
         7 . The container of  claim 6  wherein the bridge defines overhangs on two sides. 
     
     
         8 . The container of  claim 7  wherein the lid defines projecting shelves that fit under the overhangs. 
     
     
         9 . The container of  claim 8  defining bearing surfaces between the lid and the bridge. 
     
     
         10 . The container of  claim 9  wherein the bearing surfaces are vertical surfaces where the shelves and the bridge meet. 
     
     
         11 . The container of  claim 1  further comprising a tray that snap fits into the base and defines one or more receiving volumes, wherein the slide mechanism snap fits to the base and defines a bridge that is located above the tray, wherein the lid snap fits over the slide mechanism and is movable relative to the slide mechanism, further comprising a slide cover that snap fits onto the underside of the lid, and further comprising a bi-stable spring located between the lid and the slide cover, where one end of the spring is coupled to the underside of the bridge and the other end is coupled to the underside of either the slide cover or the lid. 
     
     
         12 . The container of  claim 11  wherein the tray defines a tray shelf located at one end of the base, and the tray shelf defines the area in which the lid and base overlap when the lid is slid into the open position. 
     
     
         13 . The container of  claim 1  wherein the slide mechanism is a unitary structure that is separate from the base and is coupled to the base through interfitting features on the slide mechanism and the base, in which the interfitting features comprise hooks on the slide mechanism that engage into cavities in the base, wherein the slide mechanism comprises four hooks, two each on two downwardly-projecting legs, with one leg on each opposed side of the slide mechanism, wherein the slide mechanism further comprises a bridge that is anchored to the base, wherein the bridge defines overhangs on two sides, wherein the lid defines projecting shelves that fit under the overhangs, and there are bearing surfaces between the lid and the bridge, wherein the bearing surfaces are vertical surfaces where the shelves and the bridge meet. 
     
     
         14 . The container of  claim 1  wherein the lid defines hooks that fit into and ride in slots in the base. 
     
     
         15 . The container of  claim 14  wherein the base defines shelves that the hooks fit under when the lid is in the closed position covering the base, to inhibit lifting the lid off the base or pivoting the lid relative to the base. 
     
     
         16 . The container of  claim 1  wherein the lid and the base each define multiple spaced small projections on facing surfaces, to help define the spacing between the lid and the base. 
     
     
         17 . A compact with a sliding top, comprising:
 a base that defines one or more volumes to hold substances or devices such as makeup and/or an applicator;   a lid constructed and adapted to slide relative to the base; and   a slide mechanism anchored to the base and slidingly engaged with the lid, wherein the slide mechanism is a unitary structure that is separate from the base and is coupled to the base through interfitting features on the slide mechanism and the base, in which the interfitting features comprise hooks on the slide mechanism that engage into cavities in the base, wherein the slide mechanism comprises four hooks, two each on two downwardly-projecting legs, with one leg on each opposed side of the slide mechanism, wherein the slide mechanism further comprises a bridge that is anchored to the base, wherein the bridge defines overhangs on two sides, wherein the lid defines projecting shelves that fit under the overhangs, and there are bearing surfaces between the lid and the bridge, wherein the bearing surfaces are vertical surfaces where the shelves and the bridge meet;   a tray that snap fits into the base and defines one or more receiving volumes;   wherein the slide mechanism snap fits to the base and defines a bridge that is located above the tray;   wherein the lid snap fits over the slide mechanism and is movable relative to the slide mechanism;   a slide cover that snap fits onto the underside of the lid; and   a bi-stable spring located between the lid and the slide cover, where one end of the spring is coupled to the underside of the bridge and the other end is coupled to the underside of either the slide cover or the lid.   
     
     
         18 . The compact of  claim 17  wherein the tray defines a tray shelf located at one end of the base, and the tray shelf defines the area in which the lid and base overlap when the lid is slid into the open position. 
     
     
         19 . The compact of  claim 17  wherein the compact is made entirely from plastic except for the spring.