GB2222144A - Box - Google Patents

Abstract

A box comprises two substantially identical shells (22A, 22B) of molded plastics. The shells (22A, 22B) are hinged along two sides (24A, 24B) and have handle-forming apertures (58) at the opposite sides. Also there is a spring clip (26) which clips onto both shells (22A, 22B) adjacent the handle-forming apertures (58) and which can be unclipped selectively from either of the shells (22A, 22B) to open the box. The spring clip (26) is shaped like a symmetrical curved letter "w". If forced too far, the spring clip (26) completely disengages, to avoid damage. <IMAGE>

Description

BOX This invention relates to a box comprising two shells of molded plastics material.

The invention provides a box as claimed in each of claims 1 to 8, to which reference is directed.

Objects and advantages of the invention will appear from the following description, given by way of example, of a box embodying the invention.

In the drawings, illustrating by way of example the above-mentioned box embodying the invention: Fig. 1 is a front view of one of two identical shells of the box embodying the invention; Fig. 2 is a side view of the shell; Fig. 3 is a plan view of the shell; Fig. 4 is a rear view of the shell; Fig. 5 is a longitudinal section through the box, showing the two shells and the spring clip; Figs. 6, 7, 8 and 9 are sections on 6-6, 7-7, 8-8 and 9-9 respectively in Fig. 1; Figs. 10 and 11 are enlarged scrap views on arrows 10 and 11 respectively in Fig. 1; Fig. 12 is a section on 12-12 in Fig. 11; Fig. 13 is an enlarged scrap view on arrow 13 in Fig. 4; Fig. 14 is an enlarged perspective view of the spring clip; and Fig. 15 and 16 are enlarged sections of parts of the two shells closed and open respectively, each showing two positions for the spring clip.

Referring to the drawings, the illustrated box comprises two shells 22A, 22B of molded plastics material. The shells 22A, 22B are substantially identical (except that one is transparent and the other is opaque).

A hinge structure 23 interconnects the shells 22A, 22B at respective first sides 24A, 24B, thereof.

A spring clip 26 is provided for holding the box closed by being clipped onto both shells 22A, 22B near respective second sides 28A, 28B thereof, opposite the first sides 24A, 24B.

Since the two shells 22A, 22B are identical, the drawing Figs which show only one shell omit the suffixes A and B.

Each shell 22 comprises a substantially flat wall 30, side walls 32, 34 almost perpendicular (30 of draft) to the flat wall 30 at the sides 24, 28 respectively and side walls 36, 38 at intermediate sides 40, 42 respectively. Each shell is smoothly curved where walls 30, 32, 34, 36 and 38 adjoin each other, both along the sides 24, 28, 40, 42 and at the corners 44a-d. The four side walls 32, 34, 36, 38 have edges 46, 48, 50, 52 respectively in a common plane 56 which is parallel to the plane of the flat wall 30 and which is the central plane of the box 20.

Each shell 22 is provided with a handle-forming aperture 58, bounded by two straight, spaced-apart walls 60,62 interconnected by two curved walls 64, 65. The straight walls 60, 62 are parallel to each other and to the side walls 32, 34. The wall 60, nearer to wall 32, is joined by a curved portion 68 to the flat wall 30.

The wall 62, nearer to wall 34, adjoins two walls 66, 67 parallel to wall 30 and lying intermediate the plane 56 and the plane of the wall 30.

The spring clip 26 engages each shell 22 at a clip-engagement portion 70 of the shell 22 in the region of the handle-forming aperture 58. The clip-engagement portion 70 is defined by:- two end walls 72, 74 which are parallel to side walls 36, 38 and which are at inner ends of the two walls 66, 67; and a wall 76 interconnecting walls 72, 74. The wall 76 has an inner end portion 78 which slopes, relative to the plane 56 and the plane of the wall 30 for a purpose described hereinafter, and terminates in a cylindrically bulbous end portion 80 forming a pivot for the spring clip 26.

The spring clip 26 has a symmetrical cross-section like a curved letter w", with two curved outer walls 82, 84 and two inner walls 86, 88 defining two part-cylindrical cavities 90, 92, separated by a generally U-shaped central cavity 94. The cavities 90, 92 are adapted to receive the portions 80A, 80B of shells 22A, 22B to hold the box closed as shown in Figs.

5 and 16 (with spring clip 26 in the chain-dotted position in Fig. 16). In this position the walls 82, 84, 86, 88 are partly wrapped resiliently around portions 80A, 80B.

To facilitate manual disengagement of the spring clip 26 from selectively either shell 22A or 22B, each shell 22 has a recess 95 between the wall 76 and the plane of the wall 30, to receive a finger of the user.

When disengaged from either shell 22A or 22B, the spring clip 26 can remain engaged with the other shell 22B or 22A, as illustrated in Fig. 15 (in the full line position of the spring clip 26) and in Fig. 16. If the spring clip 26 is forced further downwards from the position shown in full lines in Fig. 15, it disengages completely, that is, it comes away from the other shell as well. This is due to abutment of outer wall 82 upon wall portion 78A. Thus damage is avoided.Referring to Fig. 16, if the spring clip 26 is in the position shown in full lines, the above-mentioned slope of the inner end portion 78 of wall 76 causes deflection of the spring clip 26 to the position shown in chain-dot lines in Fig. 16 when the two shells 22A, 22B are closed together from the Fig. 16 position to the Fig. 15 position, whereafter the spring clip 26 can be snapped into the engagement position shown in clain-dot lines in Fig. 15 to hold shells 22A, 22B closed as in Figs. 5 and 15. Because the spring clip 26 is symmetrical, it can be fitted either way round to the (substantially identical) shells 22A, 22B.

The hinge structure 23 comprises a group 100 of three devises 102, 104, 106 on one side (Fig. 1) and a group 108 of two devises 110, 112 of the other side of each shell 22. All five devises project outwardly as shown in Figs. 1 and 2 from the side wall 32. The group 100 is nearer to side 40 (side wall 36) whilst the group 108 is nearer to side 42 (side wall 38). The two devises 110, 112 of each shell 22A, 22B fit into spaces 114, 116 between the three devises 102, 104, 106 of the other shell 22B, 22A respectively.The hinge structure 23 also comprises two pins 118, one pin 118 engaging clevis group 100A of shell 22A and clevis group 108B of shell 22B, the other pin 118 engaging clevis group 100B of shell 22B and clevis group 108A of shell 22A. All five devises 102, 104, 106, 110, 112 have a side opening 120 for releasing the clevis pin 118 under excessive load. Hence, if the contents (not shown) of box are excessive and the top end sides 28A, 28B are forced together with the intention of closing the box, the hinge structure 23 releases, the pins 118 springing through the openings 120, at the bottom end sides 24A, 24B.

Other, minor, features of the box can be seen in the drawings.

In a modification, the pins may be molded integrally with one or other of the two clevis groups 100, 108.

In another modification, instead of just one spring clip, there may for example be two or more spring clips, suitably positioned at any side (except the hinge side).

Claims (8)

Claims

1. A box comprising two shells of molded plastics material, a hinge structure hingedly interconnecting said shells at respective first sides thereof, and at least one spring clip for holding the box closed by being clipped onto both shells at or near second sides thereof, the spring clip being capable of being unclipped from selectively either shell while remaining clipped to the other shell for opening the box.

2. A box as claimed in claim 1 wherein the second sides of the shells are opposite the first sides thereof.

3. A box as claimed in claim 1 or 2 wherein both shells are provided with handle-forming apertures near the second sides thereof.

4. A box as claimed in claim 3 wherein the spring clip is clipped onto the shells directly adjacent the handle-forming apertures.

5. A box as claimed in any preceding claim wherein each shell is formed with a surface which is sloped to cause the spring clip to ride over the surface into a position of readiness for clipping onto that shell when the spring clip is unclipped from that shell while remaining clipped to the other shell and the box is being closed by relative hinged movement of the two shells.

6. A box as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the hinge structure is resiliently releasable to permit movement apart from each other of the two shells at said first sides thereof.

7. A box as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the two shells are identical.

8. A box as claimed in any preceding claim wherein each shell has devises which are interengageable with corresponding devises of the other shell in the hinge structure.