US2141449A

US2141449A - Closed receptacle or case

Info

Publication number: US2141449A
Application number: US113864A
Authority: US
Inventors: Merrill L Rathbun
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1936-12-02
Filing date: 1936-12-02
Publication date: 1938-12-27
Anticipated expiration: 1955-12-27

Description

27,1938. I M; L.RATHBU N -2,1 41,449

CLOSED RECEPTAGLE OR CASE Filed Dec. 2, i956 ///IIIIIIIIIIIIIIYIIIIIIII Wern/mmwm Frs-E m 1m 6mm,

Patented Dec. 22', 1938 UNI-TED srA'r -zs PATENTOFFICE Merrill L. Bathbun, Jamestown, N. Y.

Application December 2, 1938, Serial No. 113,864

3Claims- This invention relates to an improvement in closed receptacles or cases and more particularly to receptacles comprising three or more elements.

The invention is more specifically directed to the provision of a closed receptacle having suitable base and cover elements. Between these elements is located one or more intermediate elements. The intermediate elements may combine with the base and cover elements to determine the depth of the receptacle. The method of pivotally joining all of these elements, in modified form, is that employed and disclosed in my Patents 1,833,305, 2,014,951, and 2,046,133. It is intended that one or more intermediate elements will serve to divide the interior of the receptacle into several compartments, thereby adapting the receptacle for a variety of uses.

Although the receptacle in the present invention is produced from a moldable susbtance, it will be understood that the specific material from which the receptacle is formed has no bearing on the invention inasmuch as wood or metal may be used with equal satisfaction in practicing the invention.

One of the objects of the invention lies in the provision of a closed receptacle comprising three or more pivotally connected elements.

Another object of the invention lies in the provision of one or more elements interposed between base and cover elements which serve in conjunction therewith to determine the depth of the receptacle.

Another object of the invention lies in the provision of a closed receptacle having intermediate elements which cooperate with the cover and base elements to form the side walls of the receptacle and which may provide a plurality of trays or compartments within the receptacle.

Another object of the invention lies in the adaptation of the hinge construction disclosed in my earlier patents (enumerated above) to a receptacle embodying three or more elements.

Other and further objects of the invention will be more fully understood from a consideration of the following specification taken in conjunction with, the accompanying drawing and in which Fig. 1 is a perspective view of one modification of the invention showing a three element receptacle in partly opened position;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary plan view of the invention with the cover partly broken away to disclose the position of the structure utilized to secure the elements of the receptacle in pivotal relationsh p;

, Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical sectional view of the rear portion of thereceptacle, taken substantially on line 3- -3 of Fig. 2, showing the pivotal connection between a receptacle cover and an intermediate element;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical sectional view, taken substantially on line ,l-4 of Fig. 2, showing the pivotal connection between an intermediate element and the base element of a receptacle;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged vertical sectional view showing three elements of a receptacle in position for assembly; and

Fig. 6 is a vertical sectional view showing the position assumed by the cover element when opened with respect to an intermediate element.

Referring to the drawing, one modification of the invention, generally indicated by the reference numeral I0, is shown to be comprised of a base element ll, cover l2, and intermediate element l3. Although only a three element receptacle is shown and described, it will be understood that the receptacle may include several intermediate elements between base and cover elements.

The base element II is formed with a bottom wall I5, side walls l6, front wall l1, and a reinforced rear wall l8. The wall l8 may have the relative thickness shown in Figure 2 of the drawing, or may have reinforced portions at the locations where the base element is to be connected to an intermediate element. Along the upper edge of the reinforced wall I8 is a rolled portion or bead I9. The diameter of this bead is preferably less than the thickness of the wall l8 and provides a ledge or shoulder 20 upon which a part of the intermediate element I3 may rest when these elements are relatively closed. If the wall 18 is of lesser thickness than shown in the drawing, the bead may be offset rearwardly of the receptacle and thus the ledge or shoulder 20 may also be produced. If the bead I9 is rearwardly ofiset, it will be apparent that greater than one hundred and eighty degrees thereof is provided for contact with a corresponding part on the intermediate element. The bead l9 may be interrupted at one or more places in its length by a recess or slot 22 which continues downwardly'of the reinforced wall Ill. The base wall 23 of the recess is preferably formed in a predetermined curve or provided with a suitable projection and terminates in a spring seat 24. The curvature of the wall 23 or the projection on the surface thereof constitutes a stop to limit movement of the intermediate element l3 to a desired degree by contact thereof with a strap spring which forms a part of the pivot hinge structure.

The cover 32 is formed with a top wall 28, side walls 21, front wall 28, and a rear wall 29. The

wall 29 may be reinforced throughout its length throughout its length or may have one or more reinforced portions. If the receptacle is made with reinforced portions, the number thereof in the intermediate element l3 must correspond to the number of reinforced portions of the base and cover elements or of further adjacent intermediate elements. The upper edge of the rear wall 39 is formed with a bead 40 which corresponds in size and position, with respect to the rear edge of the receptacle, to the bead of the base element. This bead is interrupted by one or more recesses or slots 42 which correspond in position to the recess 32 of the wall 29 of the cover element l2. The base wall 43 of this recess is curved and terminates in a spring seat 44. A spring clip 46 having claw ends 41 is adapted to engage

spring seats

34 and 44 of the cover and intermediate elements respectively and serves to secure the bead 40 in position against the seat 3|. When the cover element is moved into open position (see Figure 6) the

curved base walls

33 and 43 of

recesses

32 and 42 form a continuous curved surface against which the central portion of a spring clip 46 contacts for the purpose of limiting or determining the degree of opening of the cover element relative to the intermediate element.

The lower edge of the wall 39 of element I3 is formed with a seat 50 which is adapted to receive the bead iii of element II. A suitable recess or slot 5| is made adjacent the seat 5il, the base wall 52 thereof, being curved and cooperating with the curved wall 23 of wall l8, when elements H and I3 are relatively pivoted to constitute a stop or opening limit. A further spring 54 engages a seat 55 of the element l3 and seat 24 of element Ii. It will be noted that the intermediate element l3 has a base wall 38 and that the slot 5| extends into this wall in order that the spring 54 may project therethrough to secure elements II and I3 as above described. It is contemplated that the intermediate element l3 may be formed without the base wall 38, thereby constituting a shell by which to increase the depth of the receptacle, or that a top wall may be provided. In the'present instance, wall 38 provides a closed compartment the depth of the base element II, and forms with the cover element I 2 a compartment approximately twice the depth of that of the base element. If the base and cover elements of the receptacle are identical, the box, of course, may be inverted and the smaller size compartment will then become merely a shelf inasmuch as the side walls thereof are removed when the cover element is moved to open position. It is considered, however, that any wall spanning the sides of the intermediate element may be located as desired to provide large or small compartments at the top or bottom of the receptacle or compartments of identical size. It

amines may be desirable. in adapting a receptacle of this class to certain uses, to increase this height of the side and front walls of either or both base and cover elements. Thus. the intermediate element would consist of the reinforced wall 22 only and would serve as means for opening a cover element approximately one hundred and eighty degrees with respect to a base or body element.

Attention is now particularly directed to Figure 2 in conjunction with Figures 3 and 4. The present modification discloses-a closed receptacle comprising three elements. In a receptacle of this size it is found expedient to provide two spring clips for connecting each pair of relatively pivotable elements. If the intermediate element i3 was of a depth greater than that required to introduce the upper and lower spring seats and

mount springs

43 and 54, it would be possible to arrange all of the springs, seats, etc. in verticalalignment. Inasmuch as the intermediate element is of comparatively little depth, it is necessary to offset the spring seats and springs substantially as shown in the drawing. It will be noted that springs 45 and

seats

34 and 44 are laterally offset from seats 24 and 55'which position springs 54. When it is desired to include more than one intermediate element in a receptacle of this type, the spring location is staggered throughout the full depth of the box.

Although elements of the receptacle shown in the drawing are each formed with a bead located within the outer elements thereof, it is con templated that a greater degree of opening may be had as between any pair of elements by rearwardly ofisetting either bead l9 or 40. It will thus be apparent that applicant can open the base element and cover one hundred and eighty degrees or more with respect to each other and the intermediate element will be ninety degrees to the other elements. A receptacle open to this position can be utilized for the display of all manner of jewelry in suitably positioned pads in the intermediate element. The intermediate element might also be arranged to secure cigarettes, manicuring equipment etc., in such a manner that the receptacle would constitute a means of display for these articles. It is thus evident that many uses of a multiple element receptacle of the type shown and described are possible and also that various modifications or adaptations of the structure herein disclosed are contemplated and may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the hereunto annexed claims.

Having thus set forth my invention what I claim as new and for which I desire protection by Letters Patent is: I

l. A receptacle comprising base and cover elements, an intermediate element having a vertical wall, a pivot bead on one horizontal edge of said wall, a pivot seat on the other horizontal edge of said wall, a corresponding pivot bead and seat on the base and cover elements, spring seats in all of said elements, said seats being arranged in pairs, one in each adjacent element, and being in operative alignment, one pair of said seats being laterally offset and overlapping another pair of said seats to facilitate use thereof in a relatively shallow receptacle and springs engageable with said seats for securing all of said elements in pivotal relationship.

2. A structure of the class described comprising at least three elements cooperating to form a closed receptacle, complementary pivotal means in corresponding walls of pairs of adiacent elein corresponding portions of pairs of adjacent ments, spring seats in all of said elements, said seats being arranged in cooperative pairs, oneelements, spring seats in all of said elements, said seats being arranged in pairs, one seat in each adjacent element, and being in substantially vertical alignment, each pair of said seats being further characterized by being laterally offset with respect to the vertically next adjacent pair of seats, and a spring engaged with each pair of seats and securing the complementary pivotal means of a pair of adjacent elements in operable 1 pivotal relationship.

MERRILL L. RATHBUN.