US2206664A - Container and locking device therefor - Google Patents

Description

Jul 2, 1940.

Filed May 22, 1957 INVENT OR ATTORNEYS Patented July 2, 1940 UNITED? STATES CONTAINER AND Loo INo DEVICE THEREFOR Frank Rutledge Davis, Scarsdale, N. Y assignor to Davis Emergency Equipment Company, In-

corporated, New York,

New York N,"Y., a corporation of Application May 22 1937, Serial No. 144,178

3 Claims.

This invention relates to containers and more particularly to containers adapted to be secured in a fixed location as on a wall or in a vehicle. The container is intended primarily for use in 1 conjunction with first-aid or other materials which must be kept available for instant use in case of an emergency, and which must also be kept in good condition and protected from the elements over long periods of non-use.

m It is an object of this invention to provide a container which comprises a completely 'enwhich device is capable of being locked or unlocked by a single movement of a handle, which also serves as a carrying handle for the recepac e. l

Other objects of the invention will become apparent from the detailed description of an ems bodiment of the invention shown in the accom- 26 panying drawing, in Which- Fig. 1 is a perspective View of a complete container in assembled position;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the bottom end showing in detail one form of locking device; and

Fig. 3 is a front elevation partly in section and with the cover of the inner receptacle broken away to show the contents of said receptacle.

Fig. 4 is a section through the locking end of a container embodying another form'of construction which includes a seal between theouter container and the inner receptacle.

Referring to the drawing, the complete container comprises two main parts, a long rectangular box 5 to one side of which are secured, as by welding, a pair of brackets it having screw holes 1 whereby the box 5 may be permanently secured to any desired object. It will be noted that the box 5 is closed on five sides, and is open only at one end so that if secured in the position shown in the drawing it will serve to protect the inner receptacle and its. contents from the elements even if in an exposed position. If otherwise protected, however, it may be secured in any position.

The receptacle for holding packets of first aid or other material is in the form of an elongated rectangular tray 8 of such size as to slide freely inside the box 5. This tray is provided with a cover 9 fastened to the tray at one end by a hinge 10. The cover 9 overlaps three edges of the tray 65 8 and is held in closed position by slight projections l l in the walls of the tray over which the cover snaps. The tray 8 is shown as filled with unit packets I2 and multiple unit packets I3 and Hi containing first-aid material. The tray 8 is'in efiect a covered drawer sliding in the cabinet provided by the box 5.

The tray 8 has secured to its outer end a recessed stamping it slightly larger than the end of thetray and adapted to fit snugly in the end of the box 5. Pivotally mounted in the stamping is a rectangular plate It provided at diagonally oposite corners with cars IS. The stamping H5 is provided with openings It so placed as to permit the cars it to protrude through them as shown in full lines in Fig. 2. The box 5 is provided with similar openings which register with the openings in the stamping when the tray 8 is fully inserted within the box 5. A handle 20 is fastened to the plate l6 and provides means whereby the plate. may be turned from the position shown in full lines in Fig. 2 to the position shown in dotted lines, which are, respectively, the locked and unlocked positions. The plate It is secured to the stamping l5 and the tray 8 by means of a rivet 2i which is surrounded by a washer (not shown) u which separates plate it from stamping I5 and eliminates friction therebetween. The handle 2|! also provides means whereby the tray .8 may be carried. It will be noted that the corners of plate it limit the movement of the plate in the unlocked position.

This locking device is not limited in its application to a single kit as shown but wouldbe equally useful with such modifications as would be obvious to any mechanic as a lock for the drawers of a card filing device or similar drawer structure. l

To hold the inner receptacle in the box 5 in such manner that it will not rattle and cannot be accidentally disconnected therefrom, a spring member 22 is fastened to the inner end of the tray 3 and so positioned as to exert pressure against the end of the box 5 when the tray and box are locked together. The outward pressure exerted upon the tray by the spring causes the ears H! of the locking plate to press against the outer edges of the openings in the box 5 through which they protrude, and to further assure against accidental unlocking these ears may be provided with transversely extending notches 23 which will engage the lower edges of the openings of the box 5.

From the foregoing description it will be clear that with the assembled unit in position as shown in Fig 1, the first-aid kit can be removed for use by simply grasping the handle 20 and twisting it slightly in a counter-clockwise direction and withdrawing the tray 8. After use it can be returned in a similar manner by inserting the tray.

8 in the box 5, exerting a slight inward pressure to compress the spring 22, the two units 'being.

locked together by twisting the handle 20 slightly in a clockwise direction.

This invention is of particular usefulness where, for example, it is desired to equip a fleet of trucks or buses with first-aid kits.. It is of prime importance that in such installations each kit shall have its full complement of supplies;

To assure this, the operator of each vehicle can be made responsible for the contents of his kit and can be subjected to daily inspection. By

- that in case of emergency the complete first-aid kit can be quickly detached by means of the handle 20 and carried thereby to the scene of an accident.v During the normally long periods of nonuse the contents are doubly protected by the covered receptacle 8 and the box 5. I

In order to provide a substantially air-tight seal between the outer container and the inner receptacle the construction illustrated in Fig. 4 may be used. As shown, the container 5 is provided with a flange secured to its inner surface a short distance from the open end. The stamping 3| which is secured to the end of the inner receptacle 8' is provided with a shoulder 32 and a rim 33. A washer 34 of rubber or other gasket material is secured either to the flange 30 or the shoulder 32 so as to lie between them. The rim 33is extended so as to be flush with the sides of the container 5. Pivotally mounted in the stamping 3! on rivet 2| is a locking plate I6 having ears I8 and a handle 20' which function in a manner similar to the device of Fig. 3 except that the ears "3' look under the flange 30. The relative sizes of container 5and receptacle 8" are somewhat diiferent as the receptacle must be small enough to clear the flange 30.

Itwill be understood that the foregoing is a description of the present preferred embodiment of theinvention and that various modifications may be made therein within the scope of the following claims.

said flange, a gasket interposed between said flange and said end-member to form a tight joint therebetween, a movable locking member disposed on said end-member and having parts adapted to be moved into engagement with the inner face of said flange, and a carrying handle for said receptacle adapted to actuate said locking member upon movement of said handle.

2. A container for an emergency kit of first-aid materials or the like comprising an outer box having a single opening and adapted to be permanently secured in a selected location for the kit, a completely removable separately covered receptacle for said materials adapted to fit into said box and for insertion thirough said opening, a locking device of the type actuated by partial rotation pivotally mounted on the outer end of said receptacle, means on the end of said box adjacent the outer end of the receptacle adapted for engagement by said locking device, and a carrying handle for said receptacle adapted to serve also as means for actuating said locking device, whereby said receptacle can be unlocked, withdrawn from said box and transported merely by grasping the handle, turning it and pulling out the receptacle.

3. A container for an emergency kit of first-aid materials or the like comprising an outer box having a single opening and adapted to be permanently secured ina selected location for the kit, a completely removable separately covered receptacle for said materials adapted to fit into said. box and for insertion through said'opening, said container being of such length that when fully inserted in said box the edges of the box extend beyond the end of the container, a rotatable locking memberpivotally mounted on the outer end of said receptacle and having oppositely disposed ears, the walls of said box being provided with apertures adapted to receive said ears, and a carrying handle for said receptacle attached to said locking member by which it can be rotated 'to efiect insertion of said ears into said apertures and their withdrawal therefrom.

F. RU'ILEDGE DAVIS.

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