EP0574284B1 - Case provided with closure having no moving parts - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a housing, of the type formed by two half-housings respectively constituting a cover and a bottom, intended in particular to contain a make-up product in the form of bread, for example a compacted powder bread, and, optionally, a member application such as a puff or brush. In this type of housing, the cover and the bottom are articulated along a hinge so as to be able to pivot relative to each other and closing elements are arranged, on the side opposite the hinge, on the one hand, on the edge of the cover and, on the other hand, on the edge of the bottom. The closing elements most often consist of a hook provided with a spout and a counter-hook comprising an edge of a groove made in the wall of a recess in which the hook can penetrate, the spout cooperating. with the edge of the groove in the closed position. Generally, the hook is arranged on the cover and the counter-hook on the bottom, but the reverse is possible.

The housings are most often manufactured by molding of the various rigid plastic parts. In most known housings: the counter-hook of the closure device comprises a sliding pusher which cooperates with a movable member, pivoting or sliding, itself cooperating with the hook, the movable member making it possible to release the hook and open the housing by pressing the button. This type of movable member closure device is of a relatively complicated construction and assembly which requires great precision. In addition, the different parts, which are obtained by molding plastic, cannot be sufficiently miniaturized and therefore the size of this type of closure device is relatively large for the boxes intended to contain a makeup product. In addition, the moving parts are liable to wear out quickly and the clasp ends up no longer closing.

US-A-4 344 646 discloses a closure system actuated from the outside, comprising a fully elastic bolt, removably attached to the outer wall of the bottom of a housing.

It is known from EP-A 0453 352 to remedy the above drawbacks by manufacturing a closure device not comprising a movable member, comprising a hook entirely made of elastic material which is fixedly and permanently housed in a blind hole in the lid made of rigid material, the elasticity of the hook enabling the case to be opened by exerting a force for separating the cover and the bottom at the level of the closing device. But, according to this arrangement, the free part of the hook made of elastic material, which is outside the blind hole, ends, after several maneuvers, by no longer fulfilling its role, losing, by fatigue, its elasticity.

The present invention relates to a closure device, making it possible to remedy this drawback, in which the hook consists of two parts: a rigid support coming from molding with the half-housing which carries it and a piece of elastic material carrying the spout of the hook which is fixed on the rigid support. Thus, the piece of elastic material is supported, by the rigid support, up to the spout and the elasticity is kept longer, in use, than in the closing devices known hitherto.

The present invention therefore relates to a housing of the type described in EP-A-0 453 352; such a housing is formed of two rigid half-housings respectively constituting a rigid cover and bottom, articulated along a hinge, housing comprising a closure system consisting of two elements capable of cooperating, arranged one on the edge of the cover and the other on the edge of the bottom, on the side opposite the hinge, one of the elements being a hook provided with a projecting spout and the other being a counter-hook constituted by an edge of a groove made in the wall of a blind recess into which the hook can penetrate, said spout cooperating with said edge of the groove in the closed position; the housing according to the invention is characterized in that the hook consists of a projecting rigid support, coming from molding with the half-housing which carries it and of a piece of elastic material carrying the beak of the hook, said piece being fixed on said protruding rigid support.

According to the invention, the piece of elastic material can be glued or welded to the rigid support. It is preferably fixed using the elasticity of the elastic material which constitutes it, the piece of elastic material being held, on the support on which it is fixed for example, by snap-fastening, clipping, gluing or welding.

The elastic material can be any elastic, semi-rigid or flexible material. Among these materials, mention may be made of the materials of the group formed by polyethylenes, polypropylenes, polyamides, polyacetals, thermoplastic elastomers such as polyethylene, polyurethane, polyurethane terephthalate, polyether blockamide, EVA, SBS or vulcanizable elastomers such as nitrile, EPDM.

The rigid support and the piece of elastic material can have various shapes, the only limitations being that the rigid support can easily be obtained by molding with the half-housing and that the area of the piece of elastic material which carries the hook beak is flexible enough to disengage from the counter-hook when the user exerts sufficient force to spread the cover and the bottom of the housing at the closing device.

The rigid support according to the invention advantageously consists of at least one tab, preferably two legs. The legs may have in cross section either a polygonal shape such as a rectangle, square, triangle shape, or a rounded shape such as a circular or oval shape. Each tab can also carry projections or notches intended to improve the fixing of the part made of deformable material. When there are several tabs, these are advantageously connected to each other by at least one rib, so as to reinforce their hold on the half-housing. This rib is preferably integral with the half-housing.

The piece of elastic material advantageously has a shape such that it is capable of being put on like a sock or a glove on the tab (s) forming the rigid support. For this purpose, it can be constituted by an envelope comprising a cavity in which the (or all) tab (s) can (can) be threaded or by an envelope comprising a cavity for each of the legs.

The piece of elastic material can also be fixed on the support by snapping or clipping of fixing lugs which it carries.

To improve the flexibility of the piece of elastic material in the vicinity of the spout, the area of the piece carrying the spout may be a thin area in line with a recess in the piece, or said area may be a tongue.

To better understand the object of the present invention, we will describe below as examples purely illustrative and not limiting, several embodiments illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

• la figure 1 est une vue en perspective d'un boîtier ouvert comportant un dispositif de fermeture selon l'invention,
• la figure 2 est une vue en coupe du même boîtier en position fermée,
• la figure 3 est une vue de face du couvercle du boîtier portant le crochet,
• les figures 4 à 6 représentent en vue éclatée différents modes de réalisation du crochet selon l'invention dans lesquels le support comporte des pattes ayant en section transversale une forme polygonale, qui sont enfilées à l'intérieur de la pièce en matériau élastique,
• la figure 7 représente en vue éclatée un mode de réalisation du crochet dans lequel le support se fixe par claquage sur des pattes de fixation de la pièce en matériau élastique,
• la figure 8 est une vue éclatée d'un autre mode de réalisation du même type de crochet et
• la figure 9 est une vue de face de ce même crochet,
• la figure 10 est une vue en perspective d'une pièce en matériau élastique adaptable sur le support de la figure 8,
• la figure 11 est une vue éclatée d'un mode de réalisation d'une variante du crochet des figures 4 à 6,
• la figure 12 est une vue éclatée d'un mode de réalisation d'un crochet dans lequel la pièce en matériau élastique comporte des pattes de fixation, par claquage, du support,
• la figure 13 est une vue éclatée d'un mode de réalisation d'une variante du crochet de la figure 12 et
• la figure 14 est une vue en coupe de la pièce en matériau flexible de la figure 13,
• la figure 15 est une vue éclatée d'un mode de réalisation du crochet dans lequel les pattes sont cylindriques,
• la figure 16 est une vue éclatée d'un autre mode de réalisation du crochet du même type que sur la figure 15.

In these drawings:

• FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an open box comprising a closing device according to the invention,
• FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the same housing in the closed position,
• FIG. 3 is a front view of the cover of the housing carrying the hook,
• FIGS. 4 to 6 show in exploded view different embodiments of the hook according to the invention in which the support comprises tabs having a polygonal shape in cross section, which are threaded inside the piece of elastic material,
• FIG. 7 shows in exploded view an embodiment of the hook in which the support is fixed by snap-fastening on lugs for fixing the piece of elastic material,
• FIG. 8 is an exploded view of another embodiment of the same type of hook and
• FIG. 9 is a front view of this same hook,
• FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a piece of elastic material adaptable to the support of FIG. 8,
• FIG. 11 is an exploded view of an embodiment of a variant of the hook of FIGS. 4 to 6,
• FIG. 12 is an exploded view of an embodiment of a hook in which the piece of elastic material comprises fixing lugs, by snap-fastening, of the support,
• FIG. 13 is an exploded view of an embodiment of a variant of the hook of FIG. 12 and
• FIG. 14 is a sectional view of the piece of flexible material of FIG. 13,
• FIG. 15 is an exploded view of an embodiment of the hook in which the legs are cylindrical,
• FIG. 16 is an exploded view of another embodiment of the hook of the same type as in FIG. 15.

Figures 1 to 3 show a housing 1 according to the invention which comprises a cover 2 and a bottom 3 molded of rigid material connected along a hinge 4. The closing device of the housing 1 consists of two elements: an element 5 forming a hook which is disposed on the edge of the cover 2 opposite the hinge 4 and a counter-hook element 6 which is arranged on the edge of the bottom 3 opposite the hinge 4 so as to be able to cooperate with the hook element 5.

The element 5 consists of two parts: a support 7 which comes from molding with the cover 2 and which is, therefore, of rigid material and a piece of elastic material 8 which carries the beak 9 of the hook 5. The support 7 consists of two legs 10 a and 10 b connected by a reinforcement rib 11 which is integral with the bottom of the cover 2. The legs 10 a and 10 b have in cross section the shape of a rectangle except at their free end where the tabs 10 a and 10 b carry a projection 12 a , 12 b having in longitudinal section a shape of right triangle, the point of the rectangle facing the bottom of the cover. The piece of elastic material 8 is a parallelepipedic envelope in which is formed a cavity 13 having the shape of the support 7. The spout 9 is disposed on the front face of the piece 8 and it projects outwards.

The counter-hook 6 is formed by the edge of a groove 15 formed in the wall of a recess 14.

When the housing 1 is closed (see FIG. 2), the hook 5 is housed in the recess 14, the spout 9 cooperating with the edge of the groove 15 and being retained by the upper edge (in the position shown in FIG. 2 ) of this groove 15. When the user wishes to open the housing 1, he exerts, at the closing device, a force tending to move the cover 2 away from the bottom 3 at the closing. Under the action of this force, the spout 9 of elastic material is deformed until the spout 9 is released from the groove 15 and that, consequently, the hook 5 is released from the counter-hook 6; when the user closes the housing 1, the beak 9 of the hook 5 disappears while deforming and then becomes housed in the groove 15.

The following figures show variants of closure systems according to the invention; in these figures, the same provisions or constituent elements bear the same references increased by multiples of 100.

4 shows, in exploded perspective view, a hook 105 consisting of a support 107 and a piece 108 of elastic material carrying a spout 109. The support 107 has the same shape as the support 7 illustrated in Figures 1 to 3, except that the reinforcement rib 111 is not integral with the cover 102. The part 108 is a parallelepipedic envelope open on its upper face (in the position shown). In the casing 108 is formed a recess 113 which is also rectangular as a whole, except that the beads 116 a, 116 b are provided to retain the projections 112 a and 112 b of the lugs 110 a and 110 b integrally molded with the cover 102.

5 shows a variant of the hook 105 of Figure 4; according to this figure, a hook 205 is constituted by a support 207 similar to that shown in Figures 1 to 3 except that the projections 212 a and 212 b of the legs 210 a and 210 b have in longitudinal section a shape of a rectangular trapezoid, the short side of the trapezium having a length slightly greater than the thickness of the wall of the part 208 made of elastic material. The piece of elastic material 208 is, like the piece 108 of FIG. 4, made up of a hollow envelope comprising a cavity 213 parallelepiped. In the side walls 208 a , 208 b of the envelope are formed, just above the wall forming the bottom, two openings 217 for the passage of the projections 212 a and 212 b of the rigid support 207. In the front wall 208 c of the envelope is arranged a rectangular tongue 218 carrying the spout 209. This gives greater flexibility of the spout of the hook 209, which facilitates the opening and closing of the housing.

Figure 6 shows, in exploded view, partially in section, partially from the front, a hook 305 whose support 307 consists of two tabs 310 a and 310 b provided with two projections 312 a and 312 b facing one other. The piece 308 of elastic material is of generally parallelepiped shape and carries a spout 309; in the part 308 are formed two passages 313 a and 313 b having a shape complementary to that of the legs 310 a and 310 b , with the necessary clearance, and bordered by the side walls 308 a and 308 b .

FIG. 7 shows in exploded view a hook 405 which consists of a support 407 comprising two tabs 410 a and 410 b connected by a rib 411 secured to the cover 402 here shown vertically. The legs 410 a and 410 b carry at their ends triangular projections 412 a and 412 b respectively which are turned towards one another. The piece of elastic material 408 consists of a plate 419 on the upper face of which the spout 409 is disposed. On the lower face of the plate 419, there are two fixing lugs 420 a and 420 b in the form of an angle at a right angle. , one of the sides of each angle iron 420 a and 420 b being parallel to the plate 419 and the other perpendicular to said plate 419. These angles provide two rectangular spaces 421 a and 421 b , each space 421 a , 421 b having dimensions in cross section equal to the dimensions of the legs 410 a , 410 b outside the projections 412 a and 412 b . The latter protrude from the part 408 when the latter is mounted on the support 407. The part 408 is therefore fixed to the support 407 by means of the fixing lugs 420 a and 420 b and the projections 412 a and 412 b . In this embodiment, the spout 409 is located on a flexible area of the plate 419 facilitating the operation of the spout 409 in cooperation with the corresponding counter-hook.

Figures 8 and 9 illustrate an embodiment of a hook 505 consisting of a support 507 molded with the cover 502 and a piece 508 of elastic material carrying the spout 509 of the hook. The support 507 consists of two tabs 510 a and 510 b carrying two projections of triangular longitudinal section 512 a , 512 b facing outwards; the tabs 510 a and 510 b are connected together by a reinforcement rib 511 secured to the cover 502. The part 508 is a parallelepipedic envelope whose rear face 508 d (in the position shown in FIGS. 8 and 9) is open, this opening opening up to the front wall 508 c through openings 517 a , 517 b at each of the angles between the side walls 508 a and 508 b and the front wall 508 c ; the openings 517 a , 517 b have dimensions such that the projections 512 a , 512 b can penetrate therein and hold the part 508 by clipping, as illustrated in FIG. 9, on the edges of the openings 517 a , 517 b defined by the side walls 508 a , 508 b . A rectangular opening 522 crosses the part 508 to the right of the spout 509, and gives greater elasticity to the hook 505 at spout level 509; Figure 9 shows the use of this elasticity during the operation of the closure device.

FIG. 10 represents a part 608 of elastic material which can be used with the support 507 shown in FIG. 8. This part 608 is analogous to part 508 illustrated in FIGS. 8 and 9, except that the flexibility of the hook at the level of the spout 609 is obtained by a tongue 618, cut on the upper wall 608 e of the part 608 and carrying the spout 609.

FIG. 11 illustrates a hook 705 consisting of a support 707, of rigid material, and a part 708, of elastic material, carrying the spout 709. The support 707 comprises two tabs 710 a , 710 b connected by a rib 711 secured to the cover 702. The legs 710 a , 710 b have a progressively decreasing cross section from the rib 711 towards their free end. An external lateral notch 723 a , 723 b is formed at the level of the reinforcement rib 711 in each of the tabs 710 a , 710 b . The piece 708 of elastic material is a hollow envelope of prismatic shape. The lateral faces 708 a and 708 b are slightly convergent towards the front wall 708 c . They carry internally on their edge facing the cover 702 beads 724 a and 724 b . On the front wall 708 c is formed a front cut 722 of generally rectangular shape; the spout 709 is thus disposed on the flexible upper wall limiting the opening 722 of the part 708.

FIG. 12 illustrates a hook 805 consisting of a rigid support 807 and a piece 808 of flexible material. The rigid support 807 has two legs 810 a , 810 b connected at one of their ends by a reinforcement rib 811 which is integral with the cover 802. The free end of the legs 810 a , 810 b carries a projection 812 a , 812 b , the two projections being turned towards each other. The piece 808 made of elastic material consists of a plate 819 carrying on its lower face two tabs 820 a , 820 b in the form of a right angle angle providing space 821 a , 821 b opening laterally outward. This space has dimensions such that the legs 810 a , 810 b can be introduced there, the projections 812 a and 812 b being arranged on the front edge of the legs 820 a and 820 b so as to fix the part 808 by clipping onto legs 810 a , 810 b . The beak 809 of the hook 805 is disposed on a tongue 818 formed on the front edge of the plate 819.

Figures 13 and 14 illustrate an embodiment of a variant of the hook 805 of Figure 12. In the piece 908 of elastic material, the tabs 920 a , 920 b each have a right angle, the two returns being turned towards each other, and are arranged on the underside of the plate 919. The beak 909 of the hook is fixed on a tongue 918. The tabs 910 a , 910 b of the support 907 have lateral projections 912 a , 912 b turned towards each other.

In FIG. 15 is illustrated a hook 1005 constituted by a support 1007 comprising two cylindrical-conical lugs 1010 a and 1010 b coming from molding with the cover 1002. On each lug 1010 a and 1010 b , the diameter of the conical part at its junction with the cylindrical part is greater than the diameter of the cylindrical part so as to form a flange 1024 a , 1024 b defining around and at the end of the cylindrical parts a flat surface facing the cover. The piece 1008 of elastic material consists of a plate 1019 carrying the beak 1009 of the hook. Under the face of the plate 1019 are provided two cylindrical spaces 1025 a , 1025 b at each end of the plate 1019. The tabs 1010 a and 1010 b are threaded into the spaces 1025 a , 1025 b as in the fingers of a glove , the clipping flanges 1024 a and 1024 b retaining the part 1008 relative to the support 1007 by abutting the flat bearing surfaces of the legs 1010 a , 1010 b on the front face of the part 1008.

FIG. 16 illustrates a hook 1105 consisting of a rigid support 1107 and a piece 1108 of elastic material. The rigid support 1107 consists of two tabs 1110 a and 1110 b cylindroconical similar to the tabs 1010 a , 1010 b of FIG. 15. The piece 1108 consists of an endless band 1119 capable of being pulled astride the tabs 1110 a and 1110 b . The strip 1119 carries the beak 1109 of the hook on its front edge (in the position shown in Figure 16).

Claims (12)

1. A case formed by two rigid half cases (2, 3) respectively constituting a rigid lid (2) and bottom (3) articulated along a hinge (4), said case comprising a closure system constituted by two elements capable of cooperating, disposed one on the edge of the lid (2) and the other on the edge of the bottom (3), one of the elements being a hook (5) provided with a projecting catch (9) and the other being a counter-hook (6) constituted by an edge of a groove (15) arranged in the wall of a blind cutout (14) into which the hook (5) can penetrate, the said catch (9) cooperating with the said edge of the groove (15) in the closed position, characterized in that the hook (5) is constituted by a projecting rigid support (7) obtained by moulding with the half case (2, 3) which carries it, and a part (8) made of a resilient material carrying the catch (9) of the hook, the said part being fixed on the said projecting rigid support (7).
2. A case according to claim 1, characterized in that the part (8) made of a resilient material, is fixed by using the resilience of the resilient material, the part made of a resilient material being kept in position on the support whereon it is fastened by catch or clip engagement, bonding or welding.
3. A case according to one of claims 1 or 2, characterized in that the resilient material constituting the part (8) is one of the materials of the group formed by the polyethylenes, the polypropylenes, the polyamides, the polyacetals, the thermoplastic elastomers such as polyethylene, polyurethane, polyurethane terephthalate, blocamide polyether, EVA, SBS or vulcanizable elastomers such as nitrile, EPDM.
4. A case according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the rigid support (7) is constituted by at least one tab (10a, 10b).
5. A case according to claim 4, characterized in that the rigid support (7) is constituted by two tabs (10a, 10b).
6. A case according to one of claims 4 or 5, characterized in that the tab or tabs (10a, 10b) has, or have a cross-section in a polygonal or rounded shape.
7. A case according to one of claims 4 to 6, characterized in that the tabs (10a, 10b) are connected to one another by a strengthening rib (11, 111).
8. A case according to claim 4, characterized in that the part (8) has a cavity into which all the tabs (10a, 10b) can be fitted.
9. A case according to claim 4, characterized in that the part (1008) has a cavity (1025a, 1025b) for each tab (1010a, 1010b).
10. A case according to one of claims 4 to 7, characterized in that the part (908) has fastening tabs (920a, 920b) for fastening the tabs (910a, 910b) of the rigid support (907).
11. A case according to one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that the zone of the part (508) carrying the catch (509) corresponds to an opening (522) of the part (508).
12. A case according to one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that the zone of the part (208) carrying the catch (209) is a tongue (218).

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