US2061413A

US2061413A - Box lid holding device

Info

Publication number: US2061413A
Application number: US56616A
Authority: US
Inventors: Frank P Tropea
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1935-12-30
Filing date: 1935-12-30
Publication date: 1936-11-17
Anticipated expiration: 1953-11-17

Description

Nov. 17, 1936.

F., P. TROPEA Box LID HOLDING DEVICE F[G ZL Filed Deo. 30, 1935 WITIYSS x INVENToR v Frank i? Trppa? BY /wq v ToRNEYS.

Patented Nov. 17, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT vOFFICE BOX LID HOLDING DEVICE Frank P. Tropea, St. Louis, Mo.- Application December 30,1935,`Serial'No. 56,616 4 6 claims. (ci. zul-60)" This invention relates to devices useful in holding open the lids of cigar boxes and the like for exposure of their contents to view as well as to display trade-marks or descriptive matter on the inner sides of the lids having reference to the products on sale.

The aim of my invention is to provide a. simple and inexpensive device suitable for the above purpose, which can be economically manufactured 10 in quantity from sheet metal, and which can be easily and quickly applied to the boxes without the aid of separate or special seeming means.

In the attached drawing, Fig. I is a perspective view of a box embodying the lid holding device of my invention, with the box lid of the box shown in open position.

Fig. II is a fragmentary sectional view taken as indicated by the arrows II-II in Fig. I.

Fig. III is a fragmentary view on a larger scale showing the lid holding device in elevation with the box lid open; and

Fig. IV is a View corresponding to Fig. II but with the box lid closed.

With more detailed reference to these illustrations, l designates a cigar box of ordinary construction; and 2 the lid thereof which is hinged at 3 to the top edge of the rear wall 4 of said box.

The lid holding device with which my invention is more especially concerned, comprises two components which are respectively indicated comprehensively by the

numerals

5 and 6, and which, in practice, vare both fashioned from stiff springy sheet metal or the like of relatively fine gauge. As shown, the component 5 is 'in the form of a small oblong plate with integrally formed anchorage prongs 1 at opposite ends, and with socket means in its surface comprising a series of parallel slots 8, of which there are two in the illustrated instance. The plate 5 is secured to or fixed on the top face of the lid 2 at the hinge edge of the latter by forcing the prongs 'l under pressure into the material of the lid 2, and afterwards clinching them over as shown in full and dotted lines at 9 in Figs. II

and III respectively.

The other component 6 of the lid holding device is in the form of a narrow resiliently flexible tongue with anchorage prongs I0 along opposite side edges and bottom, and With its free top end rounded or bent to provide a relatively short lateral projection H. The tongue 6 is xed on or secured upright to the center of the back wall 4 o-f the box I in line with the plate 5 by forcing its prongs l0 into said box wall under pressure and afterwards clinching them over as shown in full and dotted lines at I2 in Figs. II and III respectively. From Fig. IV it will be noted that the tongue 6 is so placed that the lateral projection Il at its free end normally overlies or overreaches the rear edge of the plate 5 when the box lid 2 is closed.

If desired, the prongs of the plate 5 as Well as those of the tongue 6 may be made shorter than shown and the clinching operation dis- 10 pensed with. Under these circumstances, the components of the device can be applied to the boxes after packing of the merchandise.

The operation of my invention is as follows:

As the lid 2 is raised, the tongue 6 flexes as 15 its lateral end projection Il rides over the surface of the plate 5 until it enters one or the other of the' slots 8 in said plate as shown in full and dotted lines in Fig. II to hold the lid open at correspondingly different angles, for display of 20 the trademark or other advertising on the inner face of said lid and to expose to View the mer- 'chandise Within the box.

From the foregoing it will be seen that the lid holding device of my invention is very inexpensive 25 to manufacture by die stamping, easily attached to the boxes; and capable of functioning as a means to yieldingly hold the box lids in different angular positions as may be desired. It is moreover compact and inconspicuous and does not interfere with stacking or packing.

While I have herein particularly shown and described my invention in connection with a. cigar box, it is obvious that it may be employed with attainment of equal advantages in connection with boxes for other commodities. Furthermore, the illustrated device is to be considered as typical of other forms in which my invention may be readily embodied within the scope of the ap- 40 pended claims without sacrifice of any of the advantages hereinbefore pointed out.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. A box lid holding device comprising an apertured plate adapted to be secured to the top 45 of the lid at the hinge edge; and a resiliently flexible tongue adapted to be xed on the back wall of the box with a projection at its free end normally overreaching said plate, so that when the lid is raised, the projection of the flexible tongue 50 will automatically engage an aperture in the plate to yieldingly hold the lid in open position.

2. A box lid holding device according to claim 1, wherein the plate and the tongue are fashioned from sheet metal or the like with anehor- 55 age prongs adapted to be forced under pressure into the material of the box and its lid.

3. A box lid holding device comprising a plate, with a series of apertures therein, adapted to be secured to the top of the lid at the hinge edge; and a flexible tongue adapted to be secured to the back Wall of the box, said tongue having a projection at its free end normally overreaching the plate, so that When the lid is raised, the projection of the tongue can be selectively engaged With one of the series of apertures in the plate to yieldingly hold the lid open at different angles.

4. A box lid holding device according to claim 3, wherein the tongue and the plate are fashioned' from sheet metal or the like with! anchorage prongs adapted to be forced underpreslsulre into the material of the box and its lid.

hinged thereto, of holding means forthe, lid

comprising a resiliently iiexible tongue fixed to the box and having a lateral projection at its free end, adjacent the box lid, and a component fixed on the lid having a surface with a socket therein for automatic yielding engagement by said tongue projection when the lid is swung to open position.

6. The combination With a box and a lid hinged thereto, of holding means for the lid comprising a resiliently exible tongue fixed to the box and having a lateral projection at its free end, adjacent the box lid, and a component fixed on the ...,.lid having a surface with a series of sockets 4therein for automatic selective engagement by E` said tongue projection when the lid is swung to open position, so as to hold the lid open at correspondingly different angles. 5. The combination with a kbox andy aV lid FRANK P. TROPEA.