GB2164381A - Lidded container - Google Patents

Abstract

A container having a lid which closes to abut the top edge of a side wall of the container is provided with two cooperating fastening elements (7,23) which serve to retain the lid in the closed position. One of the fastening elements (23) is slidably mounted so that the lid can be freed by sliding the slidable fastening element out of engagement with the other fastening element. Such releasing movement of the slidable fastening element is opposed by biassing means (19) attached to the other fastening element. Preferably, the container is a box file. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Lidded container This invention relates to lidded containers, and more particularly to lidded containers having a device for releasably securing the lid of the container in the closed position. The invention is particularly applicable to containers formed from lightweight materials such as cardboard.

An example of such a container is a box file for storing papers and documents, such a file being in the form of a box constructed of stout board with a hinged lid.

Economic considerations dictate that fastening devices for lightweight containers such as box files must be of simple construction, and formed from inexpensive materials. A further desirable characteristic, but one which has not hitherto been realised in practice, is that the fastening device gives positive closure despite some initial misalignment of the cooperating parts of the fastening device. Such initial misalignments can arise as a result of warping of the material of the container in use, or as a result of imprecision in the assembly of the container.

British Patent Specification No. 1572245 discloses a box file comprising a tray-like body portion, a hinged lid which closes to abut the top edge of a front wall of the body portion, a latch member attached to the inner face of the front wall, and a cooperating catch member attached to the inner face of the lid for snap engagement with a hooked end formation of the latch member as the lid is fully closed, the lid being freed by relative inward displacement of the latch member. Specification No. 1572245 states that "the use of catch and latch members attached within the box file enables their interengaging parts to be adequately dimensioned for positive closure while permitting some latitude in tolerance in the assembly of the file and the mounting of said members on the lid and front wall".

However, nothing further is said as to how this result is achieved. Indeed, study of Fig. 4 of Specification No. 1572245 reveals that a very small misalignment of the catch and latch members would be sufficient to prevent the snap engagement of the two parts.

The present invention seeks to provide an improved arrangement for releasably securing the lid of a container. This is achieved by means of cooperating members which are arranged to engage each other positively despite substantial initial misalignment.

According to the present invention there is provided a container having a lid which closes to abut the top edge of a side wall of the container, the inner face of the lid being provided with a first fastening element, and the inner face of the side wall being provided with a second fastening element which releasably engages the first fastening element when the lid of the container is closed, wherein one of the fastening elements is slidably mounted on the lid or side-wall (as the case may be), and wherein the lid is freed by sliding the slidable fastening element against the resistance provided by biassing means attached to the other fastening element.

This arrangement has the advantage that the biassing force which serves to hold the two fastening elements in engagement with each other is essentially independent of any initial misalignment of the two fastening elements.

This means that comparatively large misalignments can be accommodated, while still ensuring positive engagement between the fastening elements.

Preferably, the slidable fastening element is provided with a hook, and the other fastening element is provided with a detent for engaging the hook, and a resilient guide member inwardly spaced from the detent, the arrangement being such that on bringing the lid towards the closed position, the hook is received in the gap between the guide member and the detent, and (on closing fhe lid fully) the hook displaces the guide member to become engaged with the detent, the lid being freed by sliding the slidable fastening element against the bias provided by the guide member.

In a preferred construction, the fastening elements each comprise a pair of substantially parallel face pieces joined by means of a connecting piece. The lid or side-wall is slidably received in the space between the face pieces, and the connecting piece bears against the free edge of the lid or side-wall.

The slidable fastenting element may be constrained to slide in only one direction relative to the lid or side wall by providing the slidable fastening element with a lug which is received in an elongate slot in the lid or side wall.

For simplicity and economy of manufacture, it is preferred that one or both of the fastening elements are formed as a one-piece construction, for example as a moulding of resilient plastics material. Injection moulding is particularly preferred.

A lidded container according to the present invention is now described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a fragmentary sectional elevation of a container according to the invention, Figure 2 is a view in the direction of arrow A in Fig. 1, Figure 3 is a view in the direction of arrow B in Fig. 1, and Figure 4 is a section on line IV-IV of Fig. 1.

In the drawings, only part of a container is shown. The construction of the remainder of the container forms no part of the present invention and will not be described further.

The container in Fig. 1 has a lid 1 which closes to abut the top edge 3 of a side wall 5 of the container. Mounted on the top edge 3 of the side wall 5 is a first fastening element 7 in the form of a pair of substantially parallel spaced face pieces 9, 11 connected by a bridging piece 13. The side wall 5 is accommodated in the space between the two face pieces 9, 11, the fastening element 7 being firmly retained in position by means of lugs (not shown) projecting inwardly from the face pieces 9, 11. It will be appreciated, of course, that the fastening element 7 can be attached to the side wall 5 by any other suitable means, such as by riveting, or by means of adhesive.

The face pieces 9, 11 as shown in the drawings are of trapezoidal shape, but of course other shapes can be used.

The inner face 9 of the fastening element 7 includes a detent 15 and an angled surface 17. The inner face 9 also carries an integrally formed resilient arm 19 which serves as a guide member during closure of the lid, as will be more fully described below. The arm, which has a rounded end 21, is spaced from the detent 15, leaving a gap 16.

The lid has mounted on the edge thereof a slidable fastening element 23. Like the first fastening element 7, the slidable fastening element 23 is of integral one-piece construction.

The slidable fastening element 23 comprises a pair of substantially parallel spaced face pieces 25, 27, connected by a bow-shaped bridging piece 29.

The inner surface of the outer facing piece 25 carries a lug 31 which is slidably received in an elongate aperture 33 in the lid 1 (see Fig. 4).

The inner surface of the inner face piece 27 is provided with an integral hook 35, having a rounded tip 37.

When the lid is brought towards the closed position, the tip 37 of the hook 35 is received in the gap 16 between the resilient arm 21 and the detent 15. In the event that the tip 37 of the hook 35 is insufficiently precisely aligned relative to the gap 16 (for example, as a result of warping of the lid 1 or the side wall 5) the rounded tip 37 of the hook will be brought to bear against the round end 21 of the resilient arm 19 or the angled surface 17.

Since the fastening element 23 is free to slide relative to the lid, any contact of the resilient arm 19 or of the angled surface 17 with the tip 37 of the hook 35 causes the hook 35 to align itself correctly.

It will be seen from Fig. 1 that the gap 16 between the resilient arm 19 and the detent 15 is smaller than the corresponding dimension of the hook 35. Thus, when the lid is closed further, the hook 35 displaces the resilient arm 19 towards the left (as shown in Fig. 1) before the hook becomes engaged with the detent 15. Accidental disengagement is prevented by the bias provided by the resilient arm 19.

When it is desired to release the lid, the catch 23 is moved against the bias of the resilient arm 19, thereby freeing the hook 35 from the detent 15.

Claims (9)

1. A container having a lid which closes to abut the top edge of a side wall of the container, the inner face of the ltd being provided with a first fastening element, and the inner face of the side wall being provided with a second fastening element which releasably engages the first fastening element when the lid of the container is closed, wherein one of the fastening elements is slidably mounted on the lid or side wall, and wherein the lid is freed by sliding the slidably fastening element against the resistance provided by biassing means attached to the other fastening element.

2. A container according to claim 1 wherein the slidable fastening element is provided with a hook, and the other fastening element is provided with a detent for engaging the hook and a resilient guide member inwardly spaced from the detent, the arrangement being such that on bringing the lid towards the closed position the hook is received in the gap between the guide member and the detent, and, on closing the lid fully, the hook displaces the guide member to become engaged with the detent, the lid being freed by sliding the slidably fastening element against the bias provided by the guide member.

3. A container according to claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the first fastening element comprises a pair of substantially parallel face pieces joined by means of a connecting piece, the lid or side wall being accommodated in the space between the face pieces, such that the connecting piece bears against the free edge of the lid or side wall.

4. A container according to any preceding claim wherein the second fastening element comprises a pair of substantially parallel face pieces joined by means of a connecting piece, the lid or side wall being accommodated in the space between the face pieces, such that the connecting piece bears against the free edge of the lid or side wall.

5. A container according to any preceding claim wherein the slidable fastening element is constrained to slide in only one direction relative to the lid or side wall by providing the slidable fastening element with a lug which is received in an elongage slot in the lid or side wall.

6. A container according to any preceding claim wherein one or both of the fastening elements are formed in one piece.

7. A container according to claim 6 wherein one or both of the fastening elements is injection moulded from a resilient plastics material.

8. A box file according to any preceding claim.

9. A container substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.