US1735324A - Container - Google Patents

Description

Nov. 12, 1929. c, LENFANT 1,735,324

CONTAINER Original Filed Feb. 5, 1926 3vwen toz Patented Nov. 12, 1929 PATENT OFFICE CHARLES LENFAN1, or NW YORK, i\. Y.

CONTAINER Application filed February 5, 1926, Serial No. 86,130. Renewed ul2, 1928.

This invention relates to containers, and has for its primary object to provide a case orcontainer for cigarettes, cigars and other commodities Which may be simply and inexpensively constructed, and Will be convenient and serviceable in practical use.

It is a more particular object of the invention to provide a container having an article holder enclosed within two similar case sections hingedly connected at one of their ends for relative mOve1nent and to pro- Ivide means constituting a connection between the article holder and the casesections and Which also acts toyieldingly urge the case sections to closed positions. Also, in one embodimeht of the invention, I may provide an additionztl flexible conncction between the case sections and the article holder to positively limit the opening movementof the case sections.

With the above and other objects in view, the invention consists in the improved container and in the form, construction and relative arrangement of its several parts as ma be' hereinafter more fully described, illustrated in the accompanying draWins, and

subsequently incorporated in the su joined claims. In the drawings, wherein I have illustrated one simple and praetie;fl em bo d1ment of the invention, and in Which snn1lar reference characters designate correspondmg parts throughout the several views,

Fi u 1 is aperspect1ve view showing the 235 improved case or container closed;

Fig. 2 is a siniilar vievv, the case being open,

' n n Fig. 3 is an,enlarged longitudinal section of the case with the parts 1n open position. Referring in detail to the drawmgs, I;pro vide an article holder 5 which may be oi: any desired capacity. As shown, thi s l iolder 1s adapted to receive a package oi cigarettes and at one of its ends is enurely open s0 that the individual cigarettes can be readfly withdrawn. At this open endof the holder, the side walls thereof are ont away as 1nd1 cated at 6 to afford more convenient acCess to the contents of the holder.

The article holder 5 is enclosed w1tlnn two rounded or 'convex ends 8. lower end wall 8 of each case section and dissiniilar case sections 7. These case sections as vvell as the holder 5 may be convenientl stamped or iormed from sheet metal. The

sections 7 are preferably provided with the Adj acent the posed in spaced parallel relationthereto a metal plate 9 is positioned between and suitablyfixed to the side walls o:E the case sections. These side walls of the case sections are positioned in a common plane so that when closed the edges of said Walls at the open sides of the case Sections are in contact with 'each othen The corresponding ends of theicetal plates 9 are connected by a suitdirections asindicated at 11.

, The bottom wall 12 of the article holder 5 "arms ,of this clip 13 normally tend to assume a position in parallel relation to each other and urge the case sections 7 to the closed position shown in'Fig.1 of the dr1wings. If desired, "the case sections 8 at their other or npper ends niay ,be provided With any convenient latchmeans shown at 15 to retain said sections in closed positions.

YVhile not an essential element of mypresent improvementS, I may also provide a flexible strap 1Gextending over the bottom wall 12 of the holder 5 and throgh openin'gs at the ends thereofand suitably attach or con nect the eatremities of said strap as at 17 to the lower Corners of the respect ve case sections 7. Thus,the length of the portions of this flexible strap 'extending betWeen the attached end 17 at the cornersof the case sectiens and the lower corners of the holder 5 Will determine the permissible eXtent of relative opening movement of the case sections, thus avoiding excessive bending strain upon the spring clip 13.

From the above description, considered in connection with the accompanying drawings, the construction and manner of operation of the device Will be readily nnderstood. When it is desired to obtain access to the contents of the holder 5, the lower end portions of the two case sections 7 are grasped and swung in relatively opposite directions, such 1nove ment of the case sections being yieldingly resistecl by the arms of the clip 13. Owing to the location of the hinge 10 and the provision of the inclined edges 11 on the lower ends or the case sections, this relative pivotal movement of the tWo sections is permitted not withstanding the fact that the end walls of the case sections are of rounded or convers form. Thus, the cigarettes or other contents of the holder 5 Will be exposed at the open end of the holder between the spaced ends of the case sections 7 so that the cigarettes may be readily withdrawn loy the persons to whom they may be presented. Also, the user 7 may readily open the case by .moving one section thereof relative to the other With one hand while the other hand is used to Withdraw the cigarettes. Immediately upon the release of the case sections, the spring clip 13 Will return the saine to closed position. It Will thns be seen that this clip subserves the double pnrpose of retaining the article holder in proper position between the case sections and also for yielclingly urging said case sections to closed positions over the open end of said holder. Therefore, 0Wing to the very simple form and construction of the several parts of the device, it Will be apparent that the same can be manufactured and sold at comparatively small cost.

VVhile I have herein shown one desirable embodiment of my present improvements, it Will nevertheless be understood that the essential features thereof might also be incorporated in various other alternative structures, and I accordingly reserve the privilege of adopting all such legitimate changes ther in as may be fairly embodied within the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed.

I daim:

l. A container comprisii1g an article holder, an enclosing case therefor compris- .ing tWo sections, a transverse hinge connecti ng said sections in spaced relation to the bottom end Walls thereof, and means extending -throrwh the article holder and embracin the b b .lnnge, sa1d ineans also engagmg the bottom end Walls of the case sections to urge the said case sections intoclosed position about the article holder.

2. A container comprising an article holcler, an enclosing case therefor compris-' mg two sections, a transverse h1nge connect- ,ingsaid sections in spaced relation to the bottom walls thereof, a resilient member extending through the bottom wall et the article holder and straddling the hinge and arme on the resilient member engaging the outer sides of the bottom walls of the enclosing sections for yieldably nrging said sections into closed position about the article holder.

3. A container of the character described comprising an article holder, an enclosing case thereior consisting of two sections having corresponding side and end walls positioned in the same plane for edge to edge contact when the case is closed, the end walls of said case sections being rounded or conve:, a transVersehinge connection between said case sections in spaced relation to the bottom end Walls thereof, a member extending through the bottom Wall of the article holder embracing the hinge connection and engagecl with said bottom end WallS 01" the case sec tions whereby said article holder is connected with said case sections, and means limiting the relative opening movement of the case sections.

4. A container 0l: the character described comprising an article holder, an enclosing case theretor consisting ct two sections having rounded or conven end walls, plates fixed between the side walls or each case section in spaced relation to the bottom end Wall thereof and hingedly connected with each other at the edges or" said side walls,said edges of the side walls of the case sections being obliquely inclined in opposite directions from said plates to the bottom walls or the case sections to permit of the relative pivotal mvement of the case sections, and means engaged with the bottom wall of the article holder and yieldingly coacting with the bottom wall of the case section to retain said holder and the case sectionsin assembled relation.

5. A container of the character described comprising an article holder, an enclosing case theretor consisting of two sections having rounded or convex end walls, plates fixecl between the side walls of each case section in spaced relation to the bottom end Wall thereof and hingedl connected With each other at the edges et said side walls, said edges of the side walls et the case sections oeing obliquely inclined in opposite directions tronc said plates to the bottom walls of the case sections t0 permit of the relative pivotal movement of the case sections, a resilient metal clip engaged through the bottom wall o:E the article holder having spzced arme embracing said hinge and ei1gaged with respective bottom walls of the case sections to yieldingly urge said case sections to closed position and retain the article holder in assembled relation with said case sections.

6. A container of the character described comprising an article holder, an enclosing case theretor consisting of two sections having ronnded orconvex end walls, plates fixed be- A tween the side walls of each case section in spaced relation to the bottom end wall thereof and hingedly connected with each other at the edges of said side walls, said edges of the side walls of thecase sections being obliquely inclined in opposite directions from said plates to the bottom Walls of the case sections to permit of the relative pivotal movement of the case sections, a resilient metal clip engaged throngh the bottom wall of the article holder having spaced arms embracing said hinge and engaged With respective bottom walls of the case sections to yieldingly urge said case sections to closed position and retain the article holder in assembled relation With said case sections, and additional means for positively limiting the relative opening movement of the case sections with respect to the article holder.

7. A container comprising an article holder, an enclosing case therefor consisting of two sections having ahinge connection between said case sections in spaced relation to the bottom walls thereof, and a member extendingthrongh the bottom wall of the article holder embracing the hinge cohnection and engaged with said bottom walls of the case sections whereby said article holder is connected with said case sections.

8. A container comprising an article holder,

an enclosing case therefor, consisting of two sections adapted to close about said holder, a transverse hinge uniting said sections et a point adjoining the bottom of said holder, a

resilient clip fixed in the bottom of the holder and having a pair of arms passing astride said hinge and throngh said sections and respectively tensioned directly npon said sections whereby t0 cause said sections to assume a closed position about said holder.

' In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my invention, I have signed my name hereto.

CHARLES LENFANT.

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