GB2179328A - Cassette storage container - Google Patents

Abstract

A container or box which is suitable for housing a video cassette includes a base 2, a back 8 hingedly connected to the base 2 and a lid 7 hingedly connected to the back 8, the base 2 and the lid 7 having upstanding front and side portions 22,23 which meet upon the closure of the box, and a catch 27 formed in one of the front portions 23 for engagement in a slot 26 in the other front portion 22 upon the closure of the box. There is sufficient flexibility in the catch 27 to enable the catch 27 to be disengaged from the slot 26 when pressed. Spigots 3,4 and members 5,6 are designed to locate cassettes of different types. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Container This invention relates to a containerorboxwhich is suitablefor housing avideoflim cassette.

The invention will be described with reference to particular embodiments, byway of example, and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which Figure 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of a container or box with the lid open, Figure 2is a plan view ofthefront part of the base of the box shown in Figure 1, Figure 3 is the front elevation of the base of the box shown in Figure 1, Figure4is a vertical cross-section on the line IV- IV of Figure 2with the lid closed, Figure 5is a plan view of the base of another embo dimentwith the lid open, Figure 6is a vertical cross section on the line VI -Vl of Figure 5 of the front part of the box with the lid closed, and Figure 7is a perspective view of a spigot standing up from the base of the box shown in Figures 5 and 6.

Referring to Figures 1 to 4, there is shown a box 1 having a base portion 2 which carries spigots 3 and 4 designed to locate any one ofthree different types of video cassette. Upstanding from the base of the box, there are also two pairs, and 6, of members which provide location points for video cassettes of different types respectively.

In the particular embodiment a polypropylene plastics material is injection moulded to provide the box 1 consisting of the base 2, a lid 7 and a back 8. The side edges ofthe back 8 are joined to the base 2 and the lid 7 by thin webs 9 and 10 of the plastics material respectively. Pads 12 and 13 of plastics material are provided on the inner face of the back Sat the ends ofthe back in order to improve the closure of the sides of the base 2 and the lid 7 with the back 8.

The lid 7 carries location members 14 - 17 which have slightly curved ends 18 and which locate upon a lip 21 standing up from the base 2 and locate the front 22 of the lid 7 with respect to the front 23 of the base 2 so that the lip 21 is arranged between a lip 25 on the front 22 and the members 14 - 17.

In the front 22 of the lid 7 there is a slot 26which cooperates, when the lid 7 is closed on to the base 2, with a catch 27 which is formed in the front 23 of the base 2.

The catch 27 is formed in the front 23 with a central and slightly protruding portion 28 which may be pressed easily by a person wishing to release the catch 27 from engagement in the slot 26 in the front 22 ofthe lid 7. The catch 27 is a part of a member29 which extends from the base 2, and the portion 28 is carried on the member 29.

As may best be seen from Figure 3, the major part of the width of the member 29 is set back from the front face of the front 23 and between the front face of the front 23 and the front face of the part 29 there are intermediate stepped back portions 30.

Bythis means sufficient flexibility is provided in the arrangement 27 -30 to allow the catch 27 to disengage from the slot 26when pressed and to return upon its release. Itwill be noted from Figure 2 that a strengthening web 31 is provided for the front 23 behind the arrangement 27 - 30.

It will also be noted that behind the front 23, there are location pins 32 and 33 having tapered ends 34.

In Figures 5 and 6, there is shown an embodiment having a catch 35 which is carried bya member36.

The member36 extends behind a portion 37 which is pressed byan operator in orderto causethecatch 35 to be released.

This arrangement does not have the stepped configuration of the arrangement 27 - 30 and although the material of which the box is made has sufficient flexibility to allowthis one-piece moulding to move sufficiently to release the catch from a slot 38 in the lid, the arrangement is not quite so flexible as that shown at 27 - 30 in Figures 1 - 4. It may be seen that location pins 41 and 42 shown in Figures 5 and 6 have slightly different end configurations from those shown at 34 on pins32 and 33 in Figure4.

Referring to Figure 7, a spigot 43, shown in Figure 6, and forming one of the cassette location means may be seen more clearly in a perspective view.

1. A container or box which is suitable for housing a video cassette, and which includes a base, a back hingedly connected to the base, a lid hingedly con- nected to the back, the base and the lid having upstanding front and side portions which meet upon the closure of the box and a catch formed in one ofthe front portions for engagement in a slot in the other front portion upon the closure ofthe box, there being sufficient flexibility in the catch to enable the catch to be disengaged from the slot when pressed.

2. A container or box as claimed in claim 1 including a strengthening web behindthecatch.

3. A container or box as claimed in either claim 1 or claim 2 in which the catch is connected on each side to the remainder of the front by portions providing greater flexibility than the remainder of the front.

4. A container or box as claimed in any one of the preceding claims including location members carried on one of the lid and the base to locate with a lip standing up from the other of the lid and the base.

5. A container or box as claimed in any one ofthe preceding claims including spigots for locating each of a plurality of types of cassette and members providing locations for each of a plurality of cassettes.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (5)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Container This invention relates to a containerorboxwhich is suitablefor housing avideoflim cassette. The invention will be described with reference to particular embodiments, byway of example, and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which Figure 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of a container or box with the lid open, Figure 2is a plan view ofthefront part of the base of the box shown in Figure 1, Figure 3 is the front elevation of the base of the box shown in Figure 1, Figure4is a vertical cross-section on the line IV- IV of Figure 2with the lid closed, Figure 5is a plan view of the base of another embo dimentwith the lid open, Figure 6is a vertical cross section on the line VI -Vl of Figure 5 of the front part of the box with the lid closed, and Figure 7is a perspective view of a spigot standing up from the base of the box shown in Figures 5 and 6. Referring to Figures 1 to 4, there is shown a box 1 having a base portion 2 which carries spigots 3 and 4 designed to locate any one ofthree different types of video cassette. Upstanding from the base of the box, there are also two pairs, and 6, of members which provide location points for video cassettes of different types respectively. In the particular embodiment a polypropylene plastics material is injection moulded to provide the box 1 consisting of the base 2, a lid 7 and a back 8. The side edges ofthe back 8 are joined to the base 2 and the lid 7 by thin webs 9 and 10 of the plastics material respectively. Pads 12 and 13 of plastics material are provided on the inner face of the back Sat the ends ofthe back in order to improve the closure of the sides of the base 2 and the lid 7 with the back 8. The lid 7 carries location members 14 - 17 which have slightly curved ends 18 and which locate upon a lip 21 standing up from the base 2 and locate the front 22 of the lid 7 with respect to the front 23 of the base 2 so that the lip 21 is arranged between a lip 25 on the front 22 and the members 14 - 17. In the front 22 of the lid 7 there is a slot 26which cooperates, when the lid 7 is closed on to the base 2, with a catch 27 which is formed in the front 23 of the base 2. The catch 27 is formed in the front 23 with a central and slightly protruding portion 28 which may be pressed easily by a person wishing to release the catch 27 from engagement in the slot 26 in the front 22 ofthe lid 7. The catch 27 is a part of a member29 which extends from the base 2, and the portion 28 is carried on the member 29. As may best be seen from Figure 3, the major part of the width of the member 29 is set back from the front face of the front 23 and between the front face of the front 23 and the front face of the part 29 there are intermediate stepped back portions 30. Bythis means sufficient flexibility is provided in the arrangement 27 -30 to allow the catch 27 to disengage from the slot 26when pressed and to return upon its release. Itwill be noted from Figure 2 that a strengthening web 31 is provided for the front 23 behind the arrangement 27 - 30. It will also be noted that behind the front 23, there are location pins 32 and 33 having tapered ends 34. In Figures 5 and 6, there is shown an embodiment having a catch 35 which is carried bya member36. The member36 extends behind a portion 37 which is pressed byan operator in orderto causethecatch 35 to be released. This arrangement does not have the stepped configuration of the arrangement 27 - 30 and although the material of which the box is made has sufficient flexibility to allowthis one-piece moulding to move sufficiently to release the catch from a slot 38 in the lid, the arrangement is not quite so flexible as that shown at 27 - 30 in Figures 1 - 4. It may be seen that location pins 41 and 42 shown in Figures 5 and 6 have slightly different end configurations from those shown at 34 on pins32 and 33 in Figure4. Referring to Figure 7, a spigot 43, shown in Figure 6, and forming one of the cassette location means may be seen more clearly in a perspective view. CLAIMS

1. A container or box which is suitable for housing a video cassette, and which includes a base, a back hingedly connected to the base, a lid hingedly con- nected to the back, the base and the lid having upstanding front and side portions which meet upon the closure of the box and a catch formed in one ofthe front portions for engagement in a slot in the other front portion upon the closure ofthe box, there being sufficient flexibility in the catch to enable the catch to be disengaged from the slot when pressed.

2. A container or box as claimed in claim 1 including a strengthening web behindthecatch.

3. A container or box as claimed in either claim 1 or claim 2 in which the catch is connected on each side to the remainder of the front by portions providing greater flexibility than the remainder of the front.

4. A container or box as claimed in any one of the preceding claims including location members carried on one of the lid and the base to locate with a lip standing up from the other of the lid and the base.

5. A container or box as claimed in any one ofthe preceding claims including spigots for locating each of a plurality of types of cassette and members providing locations for each of a plurality of cassettes.