US3295713A

US3295713A - Hinged box construction

Info

Publication number: US3295713A
Application number: US432643A
Authority: US
Inventors: Philip S Optner
Original assignee: Lermer Packaging Corp
Current assignee: Lermer Packaging Corp
Priority date: 1965-02-15
Filing date: 1965-02-15
Publication date: 1967-01-03
Anticipated expiration: 1984-01-03

Description

Jan. 3, 1967 P. s. OFTNER 32%,733

HINGED BOX CONSTRUCTION Filed Feb. 15, 1965 United States Patent Ofiice 3,255,713 Patented Jan. 3, 1967 3,295,713 HINGE!) BOX CONSTRUCTIGN Philip 'S. Optner, Roslyn Heights, N.Y., assignor to Lermer Packaging (Iorporation, Garwood, NJ. Filed Feb. 15, 1965, Ser. No. 432,643 3 Claims. (Cl. 220--31) This invention relates generally to the field of plastic containers, and more particularly to an improved hinged box construction of a type suitable for packaging small articles of merchandise, pills, medicaments and the like. Devices of this type are generally known in the art, and the invention lies in the specific constructional details permitting improved ease of assembly, durability and improved, useful life of the same.

In plastic containers of this type, it is known in the art to provide a hinged interconnection between mating halves ofthe container in which each mating half is provided with cooperating detents and projections which are forced into engagement at the time of assembly. While such containers may perform relatively well for short periods of time, increased wear resulting from continuously opening and closing the box causes excessive play at the hinged interconnection, with the result that ultimately the hinge is unable tosustain itself, andthe container falls apart.

Hinges employing a pintle for interconnecting the two halves of the hinge are not unknown in box construction of the instant type, however, owing to the fact that in synthetic resinous containers, the hinging means is molded integrally with the container half, the assembly of such devices has been eXtremely difiicult, and the hinge interconnection Weak.

It is therefore among the principal objects of the present invention to provide an improved synthetic resinous box construction incorporating an interconnecting hinge means in which the above mentioned disadvantages of the prior art construction have been substantially eliminated.

Another object of the invention lies in the provision of an improved synthetic resinous box construction in which each of the mating halves is provided with hinge pintle means engageable in a corresponding cylindrical recess on the other of said mating halves to obtain a pintype hinge joint.

Another object of the invention lies in the provision of an improved synthetic resinous hinged box construction possessed of the above advantages, in which assembly of the same is conveniently manually accomplished without excessive distortion of mating synthetic resinous parts.

Yet another object of the invention lies in the provision of an improved synthetic resinous box construction in which the parts of fabrication may be of a reasonably low order, with consequent wide sale, distribution and use.

A further object of the invention lies in the provision of an improved synthetic resinous box construction which although readily assembled, cannot be accidentally disassembled, by virtue of the provision of interfitting arts capable of providing a permanent interconnection once the component parts of the box are assembled.

A feature of the invention lies in the fact that the inventive construction may be embodied in a wide variety of synthetic resinous materials to accommodate individual requirements.

These objects and features, as well as other incidental ends and advantages, will more fully appear in the progress of the following disclosure, and be pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings, to which reference will be made in the specification, similar reference characters have been employed to designate corresponding parts throughout the several views.

FIGURE 1 is a side elevational view of an embodiment Cir of the invention showing a first stage of assembly thereof.

FIGURE 2 is a similar side elevational view, showing the side opposite that seen in FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 3 is a side elevational view corresponding to that seen in FIGURE 1, but showing the embodiment in fully assembled condition.

FIGURE 4 is a side elevational view showing the side opposite that seen in FIGURE3.

FIGURE 5 is a fragmentary sectional view as seen from plan 55 in FIGURE 3.

FIGURE 6 is a fragmentary sectional view from the plane 66 in FIGURE 3.

FIGURE 7 is a fragmentary sectional view as seen from the plan 7-7 in FIGURE 3. 1

FIGURE 8 is a fragmentary sectional view from plane 8-8 in FIGURE 4.

FIGURE 9 is a view in perspective showing the embodiment in fully assembled open condition.

In accordance with the invention, the device generally indicated by the reference character 10, comprises broadly: first and second mating elements 11 and 12. As illustrated in FIGURE 9 in the drawing, these elements may be identical and formed from the same mold cavity, or if desired, one of the elements may be greater in depth than the other to comply with individual requirements of volume shape and the like. Each of the leading elements 11 and 12 includes a pair of side walls 14 and 15, end walls 16 and 17, as well as

corner bend portions

18, 19, 20, and 21. Positioned on the side wall 14 are interlocking detent closure means 22, each including first and

second protuberances

23 and 24, defining a tapered channel 25 therebetween, as well as an outwardly extending flange 26, preferably having a finger engaging button 27 thereon.

Each of the elements 11 and 12 is provided with first hinge means 30 forming a cylindrical socket, and second hinge means 31 forming a pintle engageable within said socket. The first hinge means 30 include a first or outer member 32 integrally molded with the side wall 15 and defining a lower continuous edge 33. Extending outwardly from the edge 33 are a pair of end surfaces 34 and 35, a first convex side surface 36 and a second side surface 37 of tapered concave configuration. The surface 37 is bordered by a pair of planar surface segments 38 and 39.

The second or inner member 46 of the first hinge means 3% is also bounded by a lower continuous edge 41, as Well as end surfaces 42 and 43, a convex side surface 44 and a concave side surface 45. As best seen in FIGURE 3 in the drawing, the

concave surfaces

37 and 45 are oppositely faced as well as axially spaced to form a con tinuous bore 46 of substantially cylindrical configuration.

The second hinge means 31 includes a mounting flange 48 extending from a continuous edge 49' from the side walls 15 and bounded by

end surfaces

51 and 51 as well as side surfaces 52 and 53. Extending from the end surface 51 is an elongated pintle 54 including a tapered portion 55 extending from a base 56 and an enlargement 58 on the free end thereof. The enlargement includes a conical surface 59 as well as an annular surface 60 extending at right angles to the principal axis of the shaft 55.

As has been mentioned hereinabove, the first and second mating elements 11 and 12 may be formed from a single molding cavity, and as molded is ready for immediate assembly with another mating element to form the completed device 10. Referring to FIGURE 1, assembly is simply accomplished by positioning the open cavities 61 of each element in mutually offset relation such that the means 31 on one element is thereby positioned adjacent the means 31 of the oppositely placed mating element. Where it is desired to assemble the device 10 in closed condition, the closure means 22 may also be simultaneously aligned as shown in FIGURE 2. By exerting gentle as seen as seen pressure on the oppositely disposed end walls 15, the conical surfaces 59 of the pintles 54 will engage the continuous bore 46 formed by the

members

32 and 40 and pass through the same to a point where the surface 60 engages an end surface 34 to prevent subsequent disengagement of the pintle from the bore, while permitting axial rotation which permits the opening and closing of the device. If desired, assembly may be provided by means of a small compressed air fixture (not shown) which will permit rapid assembly of a plurality of similar devicesv Owing to the fact that a true hinge is formed, wear between the hinge elements is negligible, and the useful life of the device is almost unlimited unless undue pressure is placed upon the pintles by forcing one mating element against the other.

I wish it to be understood that I do not consider the invention limited to the precise details of structure shown and set forth in this specification, for obvious modifications will occur to those skilled in the art to which the invention pertains.

I claim:

1. In a synthetic resinous molded hinged box construction, including first and second mating elements, the improvement comprising: socket-forming hinge means on one of said mating elements including a first member having a generally semi-circular recessed surface forming a portion of a circular socket, and a second member adjacent the first member and in juxtaposed relation there to having a second generally semi-circular surface forming the remaining part of said circular socket; said first and second members being capable of limited flexibility to allow enlargement of said socket; the other of said mating elements having a mounting flange extending from an outer surface thereof, and an elongated shaft extending laterally from said mounting flange and generally parallel to said last-mentioned outer surface, said shaft having a free end thereof selectively projectable into said circular sockets to be freely rotatable therein.

2. In a synthetic resinous molded hinged box construction, including first and second mating elements, the improvement comprising: socket-forming hinge means on one of said mating elements including a first member having a generally semi-circular recessed surface forming a portion of a circular socket, and a second member ad- 4 jacent the first member and in juxtaposed relation thereto having a second generally semi-circular surface forming the remaining part of said circular socket; said first and second members being capable of limited flexibility to allow enlargement of said socket; the other of said mating elements having a mounting flange extending from an outer surface thereof, and an elongated shaft extending laterally from said mounting flange and generally parallel to said last-mentioned outer surface, said shaft having a free end thereof selectively projectable into said circular sockets to be freely rotatable therein; at least one of said semi-circular surfaces being of tapered configuration, said shaft having a camming surface thereon for engaging said tapered surface and spreading said socket.

3. In a synthetic resinous molded hinged box construction, including first and second mating elements, the improvement comprising: socket-forming hinge means on one generally semi-circular recessed surface forming a portion of a circular socket, and a second member adjacent the first member and in juxtaposed relation thereto having a second generally semi-circular surface forming the remaining part of said circular socket; said first and second members being capable of limited flexibility to allow enlargement of said socket; the other of said mating elements having a mounting flange extending from an outer surface thereof, and an elongated shaft extending laterally from said mounting flange and generally parallel to said last-mentioned outer surface, said shaft having a free end thereof selectively projectable into said circular sockets to be freely rotatable therein; at least one of said semi-circular surfaces being of tapered configuration, said shaft having a camming surface thereon for engaging said tapered surface and spreading said socket; said camming surface terminating in a locking surface disposed at right angles with respect to the axis of said first and second members to prevent withdrawal of said shaft from said socket.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,212,125 10/1965 Hussell 2203 1 THERON E. CONDON, Primary Examiner.

J. B. MARBERT, Assistant Examiner.

Claims

1. IN A SYNTHETIC RESINOUS MOLDED HINGED BOX CONSTRUCTION, INCLUDING FIRST AND SECOND MATING ELEMENTS, THE IMPROVEMENT COMPRISING: SOCKET-FORMING HINGE MEANS ON ONE OF SAID MATING ELEMENTS INCLUDING A FIRST MEMBER HAVING A GENERALLY SEMI-CIRCULAR RECESSED SURFACE FORMED A PORTION OF A CIRCULAR SOCKET, AND A SECOND MEMBER ADJACENT THE FIRST MEMBER AND IN JUXTAPOSED RELATION THERETO HAVING A SECOND GENERALLY SEMI-CIRCULAR SURFACE FORMING THE REMAINING PART OF SAID CIRCULAR SOCKET; SAID FIRST AND SECOND MEMBERS BEING CAPABLE OF LIMITED FLEXIBILITY TO ALLOW ENLARGEMENT OF SAID SOCKET; THE OTHER OF SAID MATING ELEMENTS HAVING A MOUNTING FLANGE EXTENDING FROM AN OUTER SURFACE THEREOF, AND AN ELONGATED SHAFT EXTENDING LATERALLY FROM SAID MOUNTING FLANGE AND GENERALLY PARALLEL TO SAID LAST-MENTIONED OUTER SURFACE, SAID SHAFT HAVING A FREE END THEREOF SELECTIVELY PROJECTABLE INTO SAID CIRCULAR SOCKETS TO BE FREELY ROTATABLE THEREIN.