GB2404652A

GB2404652A - Pivoting case container

Info

Publication number: GB2404652A
Application number: GB0318222A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Chettan Karsan
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2003-08-04
Filing date: 2003-08-04
Publication date: 2005-02-09
Anticipated expiration: 2023-08-04
Also published as: GB2404652B; US20070228059A1; WO2005014416A3; WO2005014416A2; GB0318222D0

Abstract

A container 1 comprises a base 4, a case 2 having a closed end that is pivoted to the base and an open end, and a lid 3 hinged to the open end of the case and having a closed end connected to the base pivotally by lugs 7 slidable in slots 8 in the base such that the container can be held in one hand and simultaneously opened using only that hand. For this purpose, the base has a cut-through through which a finger can push the case from the underside of the base to open the container. The base has trimming to hide mechanical features of the container and latching means 5,6 are provided to hold the container closed.

Description

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2404652

PIVOTING CASE CONTAINER

This invention relates to a container which provides the robust storage of any product that fits within the container envelope requiring only a single handed operation to open it. A list of typical uses may be to store cigarettes, sweets, credit cards, money, mobile devices and other personal items.

Conventional lid and case containers whether hinged or separable, open and close in most cases requiring both hands.

The object of this invention is to provide a means of storing items in a robust container where potential risk of damage is minimised. And to provide the user a single handed operation for opening, which would allow one hand to remain free for any other purpose.

The invention consists ofa case, a lid, and a base. The closed end of the case is mounted to the base by means ofa pair of cylindrical pivot lugs assembled co-axially within the corresponding circular holes in the base. The open end of the case has a boss parallel to the edge of the case with a concentric, cylindrical hole for which the lid with a corresponding cylindrical pin would be assembled co-axially with the hole in the boss. This provides a hinge interconnecting the case and lid and providing a second pivot point. The closed end of the lid is mounted by means ofa pair of cylindrical lugs inserted into a corresponding pair of slots in the base these lugs are free to slide within the slot length. There are also two protruding lugs on each side of the case which when the case is closed, has a latching effect on the assembly There is a cut-out through the base so in the closed state, the case may be pushed from the underside to provide the opening force.

For aesthetic purposes, the present invention may hide the slot and hole features on the base by means of trimming pieces on the external faces of the base which could be adapted to provide clip retaining features.

The present invention will preferably made from a plastic material but could wholly or partly be produced from materials such as card, wood, metal, ceramic or rubber.

A specific embodiment of the present invention will now be described by way of the example with reference to the following drawings in which:-

Figure 1 shows a perspective view of the container in its closed state.

Figure 2 shows a view from the underside, with the container in its closed state.

Figure 3 shows a side view of the container in the fully open state.

Figure 4 shows a perspective view from the opposite side and observing into the case.

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Referring to the drawings, Figures 1 and 2, portray the container 1 in the closed position depicting the constituent parts a case 2, a lid 3 and a base 4. In the preferred embodiment of the invention the parts may be made from plastic, and may be coloured and semi-transluccnt or opaque.

In the closed state, the case 2 is retained in position, symmetrically on either side of the case 2 by means ofa pair of cylindrical protruding latching features 5. They possess either a spherical end face or the end face having a large radius relative to its diameter. A relatively large radius at the base of the latching features 5 would ensure that they do not snap off. As the force of closing the case 2 is applied either to case 2 or lid 3, each latching feature 5 would slightly interfere with the inside of the base 4 until they position into their corresponding holes 6 in the base 4 which would each have a slightly larger diameter than that of the latching features 5. This would hold the container 1 closed until manually opened. Relief slots (not shown) could be present in the base 4, either side of the holes 6, to relieve the area which is stressed on opening and closing, allowing a cantilevered displacement of the stressed area on interference of the boss 5.

It can be seen in figures 1 and 2 that there is one cylindrical pivoting and sliding lug 7 on each side of the lid 3. They are symmetrically opposite each other about the mid-plane of lid 1 widthways. In the closed state of the container 1, the lugs 7 are on the lower end of the sloping slot 8. The diameter of the lugs 7, are smaller than the width of the slot 8 thus allowing translation and rotation of the lid 3 about the lugs 7. There is a pivot lug 9 on each side of the case 2, symmetrically opposite each other and about its mid-plane lengthways, they are smaller in diameter than the corresponding holes 10 in the base 4 thus allowing a rotation of the case 2 about the pivot lugs 9.

Figures 3 and 4 show the container 1 in its maximum opening position. The container 1 includes a hinge feature which interconnects with the lid 3 by means of an integrated pin 11 feature on the lid 3 and an integrated receptacle boss 12 feature on the case 2. The boss 12 is a feature which protrudes lengthways along the open edge of the case 2 and has a cylindrical hole with a length and diameter suitable for the pin 11. The pin 11 is a feature which is placed along but offset from the edge of the lid 3 the offset is enough to allow the boss 12 feature to rotate about the pin 11 feature. The pin 11 assembles co-axially within the boss 12 and is a loose fit so that the lid 3 is free to rotate with the case 2 whilst they are coupled together. In other embodiments of this invention a non-integrated hinge may be used in the place of the integrated hinged features, or the boss 12 feature may be on the lid 3 and the pin 11 feature may be on the case 2.

It can be seen in the figures 3 and 4 that the pivoting and sliding lugs 7 on each side of the lid 3 are on the other extreme of the slots 8. The contents of the container 1 are fully accessible in this state where the lid 3 and case 2 interface is at approximately right angles. The opening angle is dependant on the slot 8 length, angle and form. In other embodiments of this invention, a variation in opening angle may be achieved by varying the dependant factors of the slot 8.

To open the container 1, it may be held in one hand with the thumb using the exposed edge of the cut-out 13 on the base 4 wall as the fulcrum and applying a force to the case 2 directly or through the cut-out 14 (shown in figure 2) in the base 4 perpendicular to the base 4 and in the direction tending the rotation of the case 2 in

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thc anticlockwise direction about the pivot lug 9 with specific reference to the view shown in Figure 3. This action would simultaneously slide and rotate the lid 3 clockwise (also referring to figure 3) throughout the travel permitted by the slot 8 length. The cut-out 13 may be any form suitable for the thumb or a finger to be placed on. The cut-out 13 is feature that would be necessary in embodiments of the invention where the case 2 and lid 3 widths are greater than that of the base 4 above the wall height of the base 4. The cut-out 14 in the base 4 may be any size and shape with the requirement that it allows a reasonable finger sized access to the face of the case 2 without significantly compromising the structure and strength of the base 4.

This force may be applied by pushing a convenient finger of the holding hand through the cut-out 14 thereby permitting the single handed operation lor opening. Alternatively the case 2 may be pulled directly whilst the base 4 is held in place by a hand or a fixture thereby applying the same direction of force and opening the container 1 as required.

To close the container 1, a force to the case 2 in the opposite direction to that as described for the opening action is required.

Claims

-4- CLA1MS 1. A container comprising a base, a case pivoted to the base, and a lid pivoted to the case and pivotally slidably connected to the base, the container being such that it can be held in one hand and simultaneously opened using only that hand. 2. A container as claimed in claim 1, in which the case has a closed end that is pivoted to the base and has an open end, and the lid has a hinge at which it is pivoted to the open end of the case and has a closed end pivotally slidably connected to the base. 3. A container as claimed in claim 2, in which the base is provided with slots and the lid has lugs which slide pivotally in the slots. 4. A container as claimed in claim 2, in which the closed end of the case is mounted to the base by means ofa pair of cylindrical pivot lugs assembled co-axially within corresponding circular holes in the base, the open end of the case has a boss parallel to the edge of the case with a concentric, cylindrical hole, the lid has a corresponding cylindrical pin assembled co-axially with the hole in the boss, thereby providing a hinge interconnecting the case and lid and providing a second pivot point, the closed end of the lid is mounted by means ofa pair of cylindrical lugs inserted into a corresponding pair of slots in the base, these lugs being free to slide w ithin the slot length. 5. A container as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4, in which the base has a cut-through through which a finger can push the case from the underside of the base to open the container. 6. A container as claimed in claim 5, in which the base has trimming to hide mechanical features of the container. 7. A container as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 6, comprising latching means to hold the container closed. 8. A container as claimed in claim 7, in which the latching means comprise two protruding lugs one on each side of the case which, when the container is closed, have a latching effect to maintain the container closed. 9. A container for single-handed operation, substantially according to any example hereinbefore described. 10. A container for single-handed operation, substantially according to any example hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings. Amendments to the claims have been filed as follows CLAIMS

1. A container comprising a base, a case pivotally connected to the base, and a lid pivotally slidably connected to the base and, intermediate these two connections, pivotally connected to the case, the container being such that it can be held in one hand and simultaneously opened using only that hand.

2. A container as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that the case has a closcd end that is pivoted to the base and has an open end, and the lid has a hinge at which it is pivoted to the open end of the case and has a closcd end pivotally slidably connectcd to the base.

3. A container as claimcd in claim 2, characterised in that the base is provided with slots and the lid has lugs which slide pivotally in the slots.

4. A container as claimed in claim 2, characterised in that the closed end of the case is mounted to the base by means of a pair of cylindrical pivot lugs assembled co-axially within corresponding circular holes in the base, the open end of the case has a boss parallel to the edge of the case with a concentric, cylindrical hole, the lid has a corresponding cylindrical pin assembled co-axially with the hole in the boss, thereby providing a hinge interconnecting the case and lid and providing a second pivot point, the closed end of the lid is mounted by means of a pair of cylindrical lugs inserted into a corresponding pair of slots in the base, these lugs being free to slide within the slot length.

5. A container as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4, characterised in that the base has a cut-through through which a finger can push the case from the underside of the base to open the container.

6. A container as claimed in claim 5, characterised in that the base has trimming to hide mechanical features of the container.

7. A container as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 6, characterised in that it comprises latching means to hold the container closcd.

8. A container as claimed in claim 7, characterised in that the latching means comprise two protruding lugs one on cach side of the case which, when the container is closed, have a latching effect to maintain the container closed.

9. A container for single-handed operation, substantially according to any example hereinbefore described.

10. A container for single-handed operation, substantially according to any example hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

11. A container comprising a case, a lid and a base, in which there arc first means to pivot the case to the lid, and second and third means to pivot the case and lid to the base, the first means being intermediate between the second and third means, one of the said means being adapted to effect a pivotal slidable conncction, the container being such that it can be held in one hand and simultaneously opened using only that hand.

12. A container as claimed in claim 11, having the characterising features of any one of claims 2-8.

13. A container comprising a base, a case and a lid, in which there are first means to pivot the case to the base, second means to pivot the lid to the case and third means to connect pivotally slidably the lid to the base, the second means being intermediate between the first and third means, the container being such that it can be held in one hand and simultaneously opened using only that hand.

14. A container as claimed in claim 13, having the characterising features of any one of claims 2-8.

15. A container comprising a base, a case pivotally connected to the base, and a lid pivotally connected to the case and, beyond these two connections, pivotally slidably connected to the base, the container being such that it can be held in one hand and simultaneously opened using only that hand.

16. A container as claimed in claim 15, having the characterising features of any one of claims 2-8.

17. A container comprising a base, a case having a pivotal first connection to the base, and a lid having a pivotal second connection to the ease and having, further from the first conncction than is the second connection, a pivotal slidable third connection to the base, the container being such that it can be held in one hand and simultaneously opened using only that hand.

18. A container as claimed in claim 17, having the characterising features of any one of claims 2-8.