US1821085A - Plural-section casing and latching mechanism therefor - Google Patents

Description

' PLURAL SECTION CASING AND LATCHING MECHANISM THEREFOR Sept. 1 ,1931. L; v. ARONSON Fil ed Feb. 16. 1929 INVENTOR lam s" 11%razzpvzz.

iiml ATTORNEYS Patented Sept. 1, 1931 i rrsn srrss amas are LOUIS V. ARONSON, QF NEW'ARK, NEXV JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TO ART METAL WORKS, INC., A CORPORATION OF NEVI JERSEY PLUBAL-SFCTION CASING AND LATCHING- MECHANISM THEREFOR Application filed February 16, 1929. Serial No.340,472.

My invention relates to a casing, case, on closing structure, or equivalent, hereinafter generically termed a casing and utilizable for any desired purpose, particularly for the temporary reception or storage of cigarettes.

In accordance with my invention, a casing, as aforesaid, comprises sections or receptacles hinged or pivoted together and maintained in casing-closing position by coacting members detachable in response to movement of one of said sections or receptacles in a direction different from that taken thereby when moving in casing-opening direction.

Further in accordance with my invention, a casing, as foresaid, comprises sections or receptacles hinged or pivoted together, one of said sections or receptacles being pivoted with respect to another of said sections or receptacles for movement'in a direction substantially at right angles to that taken thereby during movement toward or from casingclosing position.

Further in accordance with my invention, a casing utilizable particularly for the temporary storage of cigarettes comprises shallow, substantially rectangular receptacles pivoted together in end-to-end relation and retained in casing-closing position by locking or latching mechanism comprising members detachable in response to such relative movement of said receptacles as brings their peripheries out of coincidence.

Further in accordance with my invention, the receptacles last named are so controlled by a spring, or equivalent,that, upon disengagement of said detachable members, the cigarettes or other articles may be manually removed from that receptacle containing the same.

My invention resides in the mechanism, article, features of construction and combination of parts of the character hereinafter described and claimed, by way of example only.

For an illustration of some of the forms my mechanism or article may take, reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure l is a side elevational view of a casing utilizable particularly for the reception of cigarettes;

Fig. 2 is a plan View of the article shown in Fig. l with the receptacles constituting the casing in open position;

Fig. 3 is a horizontal sectional view taken on the line 33 of 1 and looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 4: is a view similar to Fig. 3 but show ber 12 pivoted'at 13 to the other section 11.

The pivoting arrangement may be such as is suitable or desirable,- as illustrated, a set of spaced hinge ears are formed on the member 12 and another set is formed along one side of the section 11. After the openings through said hinge ears are brought into registering relation, a rod, not shown, is passed therethrough and frictionally, or otherwise held, to constitute the pivotal or hinging axis for said receptacles or sections 10 and 11. I

To the end that the receptacles or sections 10 and 11 may be biased to open position,

Fig. 2, two of the side-by-side hinge ears are spaced one from another and a spring 14 is coiled around the aforesaid rod forming the pivotal or hinging axis, ends of the spring 14: coacting, respectively, with the receptacle or section 11 and plate 12 to bias the sections 10 and 11 toward or into the position illustrated in Fig. 2.

In accordance with my invention, the aforesaid receptacles or sections 10 and 11 are $0 arranged, Fig. 2, that one section may be moved with. respect to the other, such ice movement occurring substantially within or along the planes of the section. In other words, assuming that the receptacles or sec tions are closed, Fig. 1, and that the pivotal arrangement 13 is of the character described, it is characteristic of my invention that one of said sections .may be angularly moved with respect to the line defining the pivotal axis of said sections to the position illustrated by the broken lines of Fig. 1, for example.

As one form of an arrangement for obtaining such pivotal movement, a plurality of bolts or rivet members .15, 16 and 17 are shown for securing together the plate 12 and receptacle 10. These bolts are disposed substantially in straight-line relation and, preferably, are symmetrically spaced along the plate 12. The latter comprises a firstelongated slot 18 extending in one direction from the bolt 15 and a'second elongated slot 19 extending in adirection the reverse of said one direction. The bolt v16 passes through an ordinary circular perforation in the plate 12. Accordingly, assun'iing that thereceptacle or section 11 and plate 12 are held stationary, Fig. 2, the receptacle or section-lO'may be swung in a clockwise direction, Fig. 2, about the bolt 16.

Inaccordance with one form of my invention, the relative movementjust described of the receptacles or sections 10 and 11 is utilized for unlocking them when they are in-closedposition and for locking them into such closed position. To this end, latch structure or'mechanism of any-suitable character may be employed.

Such latch mechanism, in the example shown, comprises coacting members carried, respectively, by the receptacles or sections 10 and 11. One of said sections, for example, the section 10 carries, at its end removed from the pivot 18, spaced web or strip- like members 20 and 21 coactable, respectively, with spaced angular members 22 and 23 carried, respectively, by the other receptacle or section 11. The members 20, 21, 22 and 23 may be formed integrally with the respective receptacles or sections 10 and 1.1 but, preferably, they are first separately formed and later soldered, or otherwise suitably secured, .in their properpositions.

'With the casing closed as illustrated in Figs. 1 and 3, a person may grasp the same in one hand, for example, the left hand with.

the thumb contacting with the exterior surface of one of the receptacles or sections and with'one or more fingers contacting with the exterior surface of the other receptacle or section. Then, the two receptacles or sections may be moved with respect to one another about the pivot 16, the latch members 20 and 22 on the one hand and 21 and '23 on the other hand so moving relatively that eventually they reach'the position illustrated in Fig. 4 whereupon the hand may be opened or the thumb withdrawn to permit the spring 14 to open said receptacles or sections. In this manner, the casing comprising the receptacles or sections 10 and 11 is opened to remove or dispose articles therein,

Conversely, the pivoted sections of the casing may be closed in response to the relative movement thereof about the pivot 13 by pressure applied by the fingers or thumb to their exterior surfaces. lVhen first moved to closed position, the section 10 takes the position illustrated by the broken lines in Fig. 1 and thereafter is manually shifted about the pivot 16 to bring into locking engagement the latch members 20 and 22 on the one hand and 21' and 23 on the other hand.

As hereinbe'fore stated, a casing of the character hereinbefore described may be utilized for any desired purpose; moreover. the wall structure of the various sections together with the other parts may be formed of such material as is suitable or desirable. 1n the example illustrated, said casing is utilizable as a container for cigarettes and, therefore, the sections 10 and 11 should be relatively shallow and otherwise conformable with cigarette containers of types well known to the art.

Ordinarily, the "all structures of the receptacles l0 and, 11 are formed from sheet like'metallicmaterial, such as iron. or steel, which is suitably broug'ht to the desired configuration, as by die-shaping operations. As is well understood, exterior and interior surfaces of the receptacles 10 and '11 may be suitably decorated, coated, or otherwise treated toproduce an ornamental effect.

Then a casing constructed in accordance with my invention'is utilized as a container for cigarettes, the latter ordinarily are stacked in side-by-side relation in one of said receptacles, for example, the receptacle 1O, the receptacle ll constituting a cover therefor. Accordingly, to the aforesaid plateor member 12, there may be pivoted a strap or band 2a of suitable semi-elastic material which, at its end removed from the plate 12, comprises'a suitable latch for engag'ement with a cooperatingmember carried by thereceptacle 10 adjacent the periphery thereof. As is well understood, the ciga rettes, in superposed or side-by-side relation, are stacked or cisposed in the receptacle 10 and'there releasably held by the member To facilitate gripping action by the thumb and fingers on the exterior surfaces of the receptacles 10 and 11, the latter, in

suitable external regions or areas thereof,'

may be provided with gripping pads or members 25, each of which, in the example shown, is cemented, glued or otherwise suitably secured to a plate 26, one each of which is carried by the respective receptacles 1O Ill) and 11. In lieu of the aforesaid gripping pads, exterior surfaces of said receptacles l and ll may be indented or serrated in proper regions thereof. However, it shall be understood that the described arrangements whereby the respective receptacles 10 and 11 are gripped may be dispensed with entirely, if desired.

The receptacles 10 and 11, as illustrated in Fig. 2, are of identical sizes. Accordingly, when said receptacles are brought to casing-closing position, the peripheries hereof should be in coincidence and it is this position to which they are manually brought after the latch members have been engaged, 3. To preserve such coincidental relation of the receptacle peripheries and to maintain the receptacle 10 in alinement with the receptacle 11, an arrangement such as. illustrated in Fig. may be provided wherein a leaf spring 27 is shown as disoosed in a recess 28 formed in that side of the receptacle adjacent the pivot 13. The spring 27 is symmetrically curved or bent; substantially centrally thereof, it engages a part of the aforesaid receptacle 10 and, a or adjacent its ends and on each side of the pivot 16, engages the receptacle 11 or the plate 12 to maintain the receptacles l0 and 11 in alinement, as aforesaid.

An arrangement of the character illustrated in 5 may be utilized in connection with the latching mechanisms shown in Figs. 2, 3 and If so, it is necessary to overcome the effect of said spring before disengaging the coacting members of the latch mechanism and also before engaging said coasting members. The arrangement of Fig. 5 particularly useful in connection with latching mechanism of the type shown in G where the receptacles 10 and 11 locked or latched in closed position without the necessity of any preceding lateral movement. As shown in Fig. 6, one of the receptacles, for example, receptacle 10 carries spaced members 29 corresponding essentially \ith the members and 21 described above. Coactable with the members 29 are the respective resilient books preferably forming the bent ends of a single member carried by the receptacle 11. The surfaces of the hooks 30 facing the receptacle 10 are inclined as illustrated.

To open the casing illustrated in Fig. 6, it is necessary to proceed as described above in connection with Figs. 3 and 4:. That is, one or the other of the receptacles 10 and 11 may be shifted laterally with respect to the other to disengage the members 29 from the books 30. The spring 14 then functions to swing the receptacles 10 and 11 to open position. Particularly, if the spring 27 of Fi 5 is employed with the construction of Fig. 6, the receptacles may be closed solely by a snap action, said receptacles throughout the closing movement beingin alinement and not displaced laterally. In thus closing, the members 29 engage th ii'iclined faces of the members 30 and bend them to one side to permit passage therebeneath of said members 29.

While I have described my invention in detail. and with respect to a certain embodiment thereof, I do not desire to be limite to such detai s or forms, since many changes and modifications may be made and the in vention may be embodied in other forms without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention in its broader aspects. Hence I desire to cover all modifications and forms coming within the language or scope of any one or more of the appended claims.

lVhat I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A casing comprising sections movable toward and from. casing-closing position about a pivotal axis, one of said sections being pivoted with respect to another of said sections for movement in a direction sub stantially at right angles to that taken thereby during movement toward or from casingclosing position, means for biasing said sec tions toward open position, andv means for locking said sections in casing-closing position.

0 f .3.,.,t t. 13', a. it casing 01 (again es compiism shallow, substantially rectangular receptaelse, a plate, means for pivoting said plate to one of said receptacles, means for pivoting another of said receptacles to said plate, iii the pivotal movoi'ncnt of said other of said receptacles with respect to said plate being limited, means for biasing said receptacles toward open position, and coacting members carried, respectively, by said receptacles, said members being disengaged in response to said pivotal movement of said other of said receptacles.

3. A casing for cigarettes comprising shal low, substantially rectangular receptacles, a plate, means for pivoting said plate tonne of said receptacles, means for pivoting another of said receptacles to said plate, the pivotal movement of said other of said receptacles with respect to said plate being limited, means for biasing said receptacles toward open position, and co-acting members carried, respectively, by said receptacles,

aid members being disengaged or engaged in response to said pivotal movement of said other of said receptacles.

l. A casing for cigarettes comprising shallow, substantially rectangular receptacles, a plate, means for pivoting said" plate to one of said receptacles, means for pivoting another of said receptacles to said plate, the pivotal movement of said other of said receptacles with respect to said plate being limited, coacting members carried, respectively, by said receptacles, said members being disengaged or engaged in response to said plvotal movement of said other of said receptacles, and means for releasably re taining said members in engagement.

5. A casing for cigarettes comprising shallow, substantially rectangular receptacles, a plate, means for pivoting said plate to one of said receptacles, means for pivoting another of said receptacles to said plate, said last named means comprising a plurality of pins connecting said plate to said other of said receptacles, one of said pins being oscillatory in an elongated slot, and coacting members carried, respectively, by said rece )tacles said members bein disen a ed or 7 b D D engaged in response to said pivotal movement or" said other of said receptacles.

6. A casing for cigarettes comprising shal- 10W, substantially rectangular receptacles, a plate, means for pivoting said plate to one of said receptacles, means for pivoting another of said receptacles to said plate, said last named means comprising a plurality of pins connecting said plate to said other of said receptacles and disposed in a row sub stantially parallel With the pivotal axis of said one of said receptacles, one of saidpins being oscillatory in an elongated slot, coacting members carried, respectively, by said receptacles, said members being disengaged or engaged in response to said pivotal movement of said other of said receptacles, and a spring for retaining said receptacles in predetermined relation With respect to each other.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification.

LOUIS V. ARON SON

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