EP0608757A1 - Small container, especially case - Google Patents

Abstract

The small container has a lid (12), which is mounted pivotably on a bottom part (10), and elastic projections (16, 18; 20, 22) which are mounted on the side of the bearing on the bottom part (10) and on the lid (12), slide along one another during the opening and closing movements, and produce a snap-on effect. In order to obtain, with simple means which are not visible from the outside, a clearly defined snap-on effect with a relatively steeply increasing resistance and, after overcoming a peak, a powerful, self-acting flap movement, the elastic projections are pins (16, 20) projecting from the inner walls of the bottom part (10) and of the lid (12) and having thickened heads (18, 22). The heads are arranged in such a way that they strike against one another during the opening movement of the lid (12), but can be moved past one another with elastic deformation of at least one of the respectively interacting pins (16, 20). The opening angle can be limited by similar means. <IMAGE>

Description

The invention relates to small containers, in particular cases, with a pivotally mounted lid on a lower part, pivotable between a closed position and an opening position locked in the closing direction, and on the side of the bearing on the lower part as well as on the lid, elastic projections attached to one another during the opening and closing movements glide along and create a snap effect.

Cases that are used as packaging for writing implements, lighters, jewelry and the like. Serve like, should make the impression of a valuable commodity itself, but be extremely cheap. One of the frequently requested properties is a snap-action and locking mechanism, so that the lid pops open when you overcome resistance and is held in a wide open position of approximately 90 ° so that it does not fall back. This normally requires relatively expensive mechanical spring elements, which must be installed in addition to the hinge parts (cf. DE 90 14 531 U1). Spring members made of plastic, in particular from the relatively strong and stiff plastics that come into question for the lower part and the cover, would be unsuitable since they do not provide the necessary spring travel with comparable spring force.

A reusable bottle stopper according to US Pat. No. 4,158,902, on the other hand, can consist of a more elastic material. This known closure provides hinges formed between a hinged lid and a lower part which can be fastened to the bottle neck, and between them a projection with an outer thickening formed on the lower edge of the lid, which protrudes radially inward from it Arranged, integrally formed with the lower part spring tongue cooperates to produce a snap effect during the opening and closing movement and to keep the lid open. Since the spring tongue is formed on the outer wall of the lower part and the thickening on the outer wall of the cover, they disturb the external appearance. The known snap mechanism is therefore unsuitable for use in cases for valuable objects. In addition, the snap effect is weak and affected by relatively strong friction, because the spring tongue has only an outer, essentially flat pressure surface and therefore the direction of the pressure force changes only slightly during the opening movement. Finally, in the closed state, the cover keeps the spring tongue formed on the outer wall of the lower part permanently in an inwardly deformed state, so that its spring force decreases considerably over the course of the storage period.

The invention has for its object to develop a small container with a snap effect and locking mechanism that produces a pronounced snap effect with simple, externally invisible means with a relatively steeply increasing resistance and after overcoming a climax, a powerful, automatic folding movement of the lid.

The above object is achieved in that the elastic projections projecting from the inner walls of the lower part and of the cover are pins with thickened heads arranged in such a way that the heads of cooperating pins butt against one another during the opening movement of the cover, but with elastic deformation of at least one of the pins are movable past each other.

The effect of the proposed mechanism is based on the one hand on a deformation process essentially in the area of the pin or pins, on the other hand on the reversal of the direction of the pressure force component acting in the direction of movement of the cover. This is initially opposed to the movement when opening and closing the cover and then acts in the direction of movement, because the cooperating, rounded heads first hit each other with their front surfaces in the direction of movement and after lateral elastic deflection in the direction of the hinge axis in the second Repel phase with their rear surfaces. Due to point contact, the friction is low.

The strength of the snap effect and the desired holding force can be adjusted by dimensioning the diameter of the heads, the degree of lateral deflection and the cross section of the pins. It is enough very small lateral deflections when the heads slide past each other in the order of magnitude of about 0.3-1.0 mm in order to use pins, which themselves are only about 2 mm in diameter, and made of a solid plastic, such as. B. Acrylbutadienstyrol (ABS) exist to generate the desired holding force.

On the other hand, an embodiment in which certain pins with heads are only elastically deformed when the heads glide past for a short time offers the best guarantee that the elasticity is retained in the long term.

The new mechanism is already working satisfactorily with a single pair of headed pins. However, depending on the desired properties of the case, 2 - 6 or even more pairs of pins can easily be provided simply by multiplication in order to have the same spring force or an even stronger torque on the cover to achieve less lateral deflection of a pin. For the same reason, preferably both cooperating pins of each pair are elastically deformed while their heads slide past each other.

Good sliding conditions are obtained with substantially spherical heads, which can be kept very small if they are offset on the free end of the pin carrying them, towards the side on which the head cooperating with them is located. Non-round heads can ensure that the force required to close the case is greater than that required to open the case.

Another step in the direction of low manufacturing costs is that the pegs are formed on the inside on the rear walls of the lower part and the cover between or next to the hinge parts attached there so that the lower part and the cover can be identical injection molded parts. With a single pair of pins this is e.g. B. achieved in that both by the same amount of z. B. 1.75 mm from the center of the rear wall. If, in the example, heads with a diameter of 3 mm protrude about 1 mm above the pins on the opposite side, there is an elastic lateral deflection of the pins when the heads are pushed past each other by about 0.5 mm.

Film hinges are preferably used as the hinge or joint connection. These are provided with an embossed groove as a predetermined bending plastic strips, for. B. made of polyethylene or polypropylene. They can be glued to the rear walls of the lid and the lower part or inserted into matching, molded pockets. A particularly inexpensive version is obtained if the film hinge is formed in one piece with the lower part and / or the cover, the entire case including the snap and locking mechanism and possibly also the locking members securing the closed position can be produced in a single injection process. In addition to the small space requirement, film hinges have the further advantage that they firmly connect the two suite parts in the longitudinal direction of the rear wall and are rigid in this direction, so that the lateral forces occurring on the pins do not result in a relative displacement of the suite parts. In addition, the joint function and the internal friction in the joint are not influenced by the lateral forces exerted by the pins.

If one dispenses with the fact that the lower part and the lid of the hinge are identical parts, in particular if the case is formed in one piece, two pins with heads on one etuiteil can interact with a pin arranged between them and head on the other part. In this embodiment variant, the central pin is only slightly deflected. The elastic deformation takes place primarily in the two lateral pins.

A spring force effective in the closed position, which tends to cause the case to open automatically after the lid lock is released, can be produced in a practical embodiment with the same elastically deflectable pins with heads, by pressing them against the spring force before the closing movement ends the deformation can slide onto a second rounded or sloping surface, in which it can, for. B. can be a surface on a pin on the other etuiteil. Alternatively, additional pins, possibly without a head, could also be provided for this function. When the case is closed, the elastic deformation of the pins is retained. It then lets the heads or ends of the pins slide back along the curved or inclined surfaces when the cover is released, the cover springing open. Preferably the arched ones or inclined surfaces and / or the intrinsic elasticity of the hinge up to approximately the abutment of the second head interacting with it, so that the lid does not resist a certain resistance when using a hinge or other means which oppose an opening movement beyond the locked opening position can only have two, but three defined positions: the closed position secured by locking the cover, the locked open position of e.g. B. 90 °, in which the pin heads abut one another on the upper side, and a less open intermediate position in which the forces acting in the opening direction have led the pin heads to the mutual inner or lower contact.

The proposed mechanism can also be easily molded onto particularly thin-walled suite parts, even if they have a wall thickness of less than 1.2 mm. As material come e.g. B. ABS or styrene acrylonitrile (SAN) in question, but also other plastics of sufficient strength, such as. B. polystyrene or polyethylene, where appropriate depending on the material with a slightly larger wall thickness of z. B. 1.8 mm or more will work.

Fig. 1

eine perspektivische Teil-Darstellung eines Etuis mit weit geöffnetem und in dieser Stellung durch einen Schnappeffektmechanismus offen gehaltenen Deckel;

Fig. 2

einen Teil-Querschnitt durch das Unterteil und den Deckel eines Etuis in der Stellung nach Fig. 1 mit einem Schnappeffektmechanismus nach Fig. 3 bis 6;

Fig. 3 und 4

Seitenansicht und Querschnitt eines aus zwei Zapfen bestehenden Schnappeffektmechanismus bei halb geöffnetem Deckel;

Fig. 5 und 6

Seitenansicht und Querschnitt des Schnappeffektmechanismus nach Fig. 3 und 4 bei geschlossenem Deckel;

Fig. 7 bis 10

Ansichten entsprechend Fig. 3 bis 6 einer abgewandelten Ausführungsform des Schnappeffektmechanismus;

Fig. 11

eine perspektische Ansicht von zusätzlich an den Rückwänden des Unterteils und des Deckels angeformten, zusammenwirkenden Zapfen mit Köpfen, die Anschläge bilden, zur Begrenzung des Öffnungswinkel des Deckels;

Fig. 12

eine perspektivische Darstellung eines Etuis sowohl mit elastischen Zapfen mit Köpfen zur Erzeugung eines Schnappeffekts als auch mit weiteren Zapfen mit Köpfen zur Begrenzung der Öffnungsbewegung des Deckels.

Embodiments of the invention are explained below with reference to the drawing. Show it:

Fig. 1

a partial perspective view of a case with the lid wide open and held open in this position by a snap effect mechanism;

Fig. 2

a partial cross section through the lower part and the lid of a case in the position shown in Figure 1 with a snap effect mechanism according to Fig. 3 to 6.

3 and 4

Side view and cross section of a snap effect mechanism consisting of two pins with the lid half open;

5 and 6

Side view and cross section of the snap effect mechanism of Figures 3 and 4 with the lid closed.

7 to 10

3 to 6 a modified embodiment of the snap effect mechanism;

Fig. 11

a perspective view of additionally formed on the rear walls of the lower part and the lid, cooperating pins with heads that form stops to limit the opening angle of the lid;

Fig. 12

a perspective view of a case both with elastic pins with heads to produce a snap effect and with additional pins with heads to limit the opening movement of the lid.

The case shown in Fig. 1 consists of a lower part 10 and a hinged lid 12 on its rear wall. Preferably, these two parts are identical injection molded parts. When assembling the case you can, depending on its purpose, in the usual way with an inner Lining or upholstery are provided, which usually also covers the rear walls and the joint between the rear walls.

The hinge between the two suite parts 10, 12 can also be of a conventional type. A film hinge consisting of one or more plastic strips with an embossed predetermined bending point is preferred, which is attached to the rear walls of the etuiteile 10, 12 or molded in one piece. The axis of rotation of the hinge is located between the rear walls of the etuiteile 10, 12 or somewhat outside of it, as can be seen from FIG. 2, where the joint is formed by a weak point 14 between the etuiteile 10, 12 which are integrally connected to one another.

On the side of the case opposite the joint 14, i.e. H. on the front circumferential walls of the lower part 10 and the cover 12 is a not shown, since known lock attached, which snaps into place when the cover 12 is closed and can be unlocked by pressing a button accessible from the outside to open the cover. When you press this button, the lid should open automatically if possible. Above all, however, as with the case with a steel snap spring, it should automatically spring open during the opening movement after overcoming an initially increasing rotational resistance into a certain opening position of approximately 90 ° and be kept open by a relatively strong holding force.

In order to ensure these functions, the snap effect and locking mechanism described below is provided. In its simplest design, it consists of a pin 16 formed on the rear wall of the lower part 10 and the cover 12, with the semicircular shape shown in FIGS. 4 and 6 or an elongated, rounded cross-section and with a substantially round head 18 on the free end of the pin protruding beyond the edge of the rear wall. As can be seen from FIG. 2, the pin 16 formed on the rear wall of the lower part 10 with vertical extension protrudes very little, approximately 1 mm or less, depending on the design of the hinge 14, beyond the upper edge of the rear wall, in order to reach the head there 18 to pass. Because of the identity of the parts 10 and 12, the same applies accordingly to the peg 16 with head 18 formed on the cover 12. It can also be seen from FIG. 2 that the heads 18 do not protrude rearward over the inner upper edge of the rear wall, since they would otherwise prevent the case from closing completely. But even in the longitudinal direction of the rear wall, the heads 18 do not sit symmetrically on the pin 16. From FIGS. 3 and 5 it can be seen that they are each offset to the side on which the other pin is located.

The molded on the rear wall pin 16 is so far from the center of the rear wall that, according to FIGS. 3 and 5, the extensions of the two pins 16 lie essentially next to the other pin, but the heads 18 projecting laterally beyond the pin 16 against butt the other head 18 and, if desired, slide along the substantially semi-cylindrical circumferential surface of the pin 16 in the longitudinal and circumferential directions when the case is completely closed.

The interacting pins 16 with heads 18 initially ensure that the cover 12 remains under the action of the restoring force of the film hinge or other forces acting in the closing direction in the 90 ° open position shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, that is to say it is locked on one side. A considerable amount of force must be exerted in order for the cover 12 to be locked out by the heads 18 that abut against one another To pivot the open position in the closing direction, because the heads 18 must be moved past each other in a mutually abutting manner while elastically deforming the adjacent regions of the pins 16. This is only possible by deflecting the heads 18 in the longitudinal direction of the rear wall against the spring force of the elastic deformation of the pins 16.

After the obstacle of the heads 18 abutting against one another - the locking - has been overcome with a snap effect, in the embodiment according to FIGS. 3-6 the pins 16 and heads 18 come into the intermediate position shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 in the further course of the closing movement. In the exemplary embodiment, each head 18 now abuts against the rounded circumferential surface of the peg 16 formed on the other etuiteil and is thereby increasingly deflected further in the longitudinal direction of the rear wall while sliding along the circumferential surface of the peg towards the closed position shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 , in which the head 18 comes to rest against the rear wall. The deformation of the region of the pegs adjacent to the head by the other peg is substantially less with this deflection than with the mutual deflection of the heads 18 sliding past one another. This has the advantage that the pegs 16 during the long times in which the case is closed is only slightly deformed elastically. The elastic material then does not tire so quickly, fatigue breaks are avoided, and the opening of the lid when the lock is released is not too violent. In an alternative embodiment, the heads and pins can also be dimensioned such that the heads do not slide onto the pins.

In the modified exemplary embodiment according to FIGS. 1 and 7-10, a pin 16 with head 18 formed on the cover 12 acts together with two with a small spacing apart molded on the rear wall of the lower part 10 pin 20 with heads 22. In this case, the pin 16 with head 18 is neither when the heads 18 and 22 slide past each other when overcoming the locking or when pivoting the cover 12 in the closed position in the longitudinal direction of the rear wall deflected, because the forces exerted by the two heads 22 and by the two pins 20 on the head 18 in this direction cancel each other out. The region of the pin 16 adjacent to the head 18 can, however, be elastically deflected in the direction described away from the rear wall. Such a deflection away from the rear wall also takes place in the embodiment according to FIGS. 1-6 in addition to the deflection in the direction of the rear wall. Since the forces acting in the longitudinal direction of the rear wall are compensated for in a case according to FIGS. 1 and 7-10, any hinges can be used

From the illustrations and the above statements it is clear that the heads 18 and 22 do not necessarily have a spherical shape and the pins do not necessarily have an approximately semicircular cross section. The heads could e.g. B. can also be designed in a drop or egg shape. On the back, d. H. Flattened heads on the side opposite the respective pin result in a particularly reliable fixing of the cover in the open position and a particularly impressive snap effect when closing. The pins 16, 20 could, for. B. be shaped with a rectangular, triangular or trapezoidal cross-section, possibly in such a way that the heads 18, 22 run up before closing the cover 12 on an inclined surface through which they are increasingly deflected in the longitudinal direction of the rear wall until reaching the closed position .

An additional possibility to influence the spring and locking properties of the mechanism described, consists in exposing the pins 16, 20 on a more or less large part of their length, starting from the head 18 or 22, from the rear wall of the lower part 10 or the cover 12 or only via a relatively narrow web with the rear wall connect. The pins can then be bent elastically more easily in the longitudinal direction of the rear wall. A gap or a groove between part of the pin 16, 20 and the rear wall does not interfere with the function described above in connection with FIGS. 4 and 6 or 8 and 10, as long as the point of contact of the head 18, 22 on which it increases as it closes laterally deflecting rounded or inclined peripheral surface of the pin 16 or 20 remains and does not get beyond the lateral edge of the gap or the groove. Only in the latter case could the head get caught behind the peg, as a result of which the lid would be kept closed instead of snapped open when the lock was released.

11 and 12, two or three further cooperating pins 24 with heads 26 can be attached to the rear wall of the lower part 10 and the cover 12, preferably, but not necessarily with the difference, that the heads 26 are hook-shaped or with stop surfaces and are arranged by the position and length of the pin 24 so that they open at a certain opening angle of z. B. 90 ° or a slightly larger angle against each other or hooking engagement. They therefore represent a stop that limits the opening area of the cover. This is particularly advantageous if a film hinge formed in one piece with the lower part 10 and the cover 12, due to its inherent elasticity, tends to extend the cover 12 far beyond the 90 ° position open out. According to FIG. 12, pins 16 with heads 18 for producing the snap effect combined with pins 24 and heads 26 forming stops are obtained one locks the cover in its 90 ° position in both swivel directions.

Claims (11)

Small container, in particular case, with a cover (12) pivotably mounted on a lower part (10), pivotable between a closed position and an open position locked in the closing direction, and on the side of the bearing (14) on the lower part (10) and on the cover (12) attached elastic projections (16, 18; 20, 22) which slide along each other during the opening and closing movements and produce a snap effect, characterized in that the elastic projections (16, 18; 20, 22) from the inner walls of the lower part (10 ) and the cover (12) projecting pins (16, 20) with thickened heads arranged in such a way that the heads (18, 22) cooperating pins (16, 20) butt against each other during the opening movement of the cover (12), but below elastic deformation of at least one of the pins (16, 20) can be moved past one another. Small container according to claim 1, characterized in that the heads (18) are substantially spherical and on the side on which the head (18) cooperating with them is offset on the free end of the pin (16 ) are arranged. Small container according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the heads (18, 22) after an opening movement of the lid (12) are moved past one another by approximately 75-110 ° from the closed position. Small container according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that at least one each on the side of the bearing (14) on the lower part (10) and on the cover (12) Pin (24) with a head (26) is attached to the free end such that the heads (26) of cooperating pins (24) abut against one another during the opening movement of the cover (12) at a certain maximum opening angle and block further opening. Small container according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that at least one of the two cooperating pins (16, 20, 24) is formed with two heads (18, 22, 26), one of which (18, 22) has the snap effect generated and the other (26) forms a stop limiting the opening movement. Small container according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the lower part (10) and the lid (12) together with the molded-on pins (16) and heads (18) are identical injection molded parts. Small container according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that two pins (20) with heads (22) on one part (10) of the case with a pin (16) with a head (18) arranged between them on the other part ( 12) of the case interact. Small container according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the articulated connection (14) between the lower part (10) and the lid (12) consists of film hinges which are at least partially the same distance from the corners of the case as cooperating pins ( 16, 20, 24) with heads (18, 22, 26). Small container according to claim 1, characterized in that at least one elastic projection, preferably in the form of a pin (16, 20) with a head (18, 22), is attached to the lower part (10) or lid (12) such that it is at Approach of the cover (12) to the closed position against the spring force of the deformation runs onto a rounded or inclined surface (16). Small container according to claim 9, characterized in that the pins (16, 20) are formed as ribs on the inside of a peripheral wall of the lower part (10) or the cover (12) and at the same time also form the rounded or inclined surfaces, and that the over the circumferential wall projecting heads (18, 22) are arranged overall on their inside. Small container according to claim 9 or 10, characterized in that the heads (18, 22) in an intermediate position of the lid (12) both on the heads (18, 22) cooperating with them and simultaneously on the rounded or inclined surfaces (interacting with them) 16, 20).

Images