US3750435A - Container having a time controlled locking mechanism - Google Patents

Container having a time controlled locking mechanism Download PDF

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Publication number
US3750435A
US3750435A US00208365A US3750435DA US3750435A US 3750435 A US3750435 A US 3750435A US 00208365 A US00208365 A US 00208365A US 3750435D A US3750435D A US 3750435DA US 3750435 A US3750435 A US 3750435A
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United States
Prior art keywords
displacement
container
spring
releasing
container according
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Expired - Lifetime
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US00208365A
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English (en)
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T Gerdes
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Blau KG
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Blau KG
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    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A24—TOBACCO; CIGARS; CIGARETTES; SIMULATED SMOKING DEVICES; SMOKERS' REQUISITES
    • A24F—SMOKERS' REQUISITES; MATCH BOXES; SIMULATED SMOKING DEVICES
    • A24F15/00—Receptacles or boxes specially adapted for cigars, cigarettes, simulated smoking devices or cigarettes therefor
    • A24F15/005—Receptacles or boxes specially adapted for cigars, cigarettes, simulated smoking devices or cigarettes therefor with means for limiting the frequency of smoking, e.g. with time-control, counting means
    • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y10—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
    • Y10T—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION
    • Y10T70/00—Locks
    • Y10T70/70—Operating mechanism
    • Y10T70/7006—Predetermined time interval controlled
    • Y10T70/7034—Clockwork control

Definitions

  • a container Such as, for example, a cigarette container [51] [BL CL" E05, 43/00 o 65/52, A24f 15/12 having a time controlled locking mechanism whereby 581 Field of Search 70/272, 273, 274 the user can y have access to the container contents at predetermined times, the container having a time 5 References Cited controlled locking mechanism wherein the tensioning UNITED STATES PATENTS of the mechanism is effected automatically by the user 2 675 693 4/1954 E 70,272 as a consequence of the steps he may take to open the mery h 2,681,560 6/1954 Shuttleworth et al. 70/273 con met e predetermmed 14 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures PATENTEDAUG H915 3750.435
  • a container having a time controlled locking mechanismcomprising at least two portions coupled together for movement into and out of a closing relationship, latch means located within the container and comprising a pair of component latching members respectively coupled to said portions for locking said portions together, a releasing member located in one of said portions, manually actuatable means accessible from outside the container and coupled to the releasing member, displacement of the former resulting in displacement of the latter into releasing engagement with one of said latch components, a spring biased displaceable detent mounted in said one portion and arranged, in the locking condition of the container to inhibit movement of the releasing member, a clockwork mechanism located in said one portion and drivingly coupled to a displacing element, a predetermined displacement of said displacing element in a given direction resulting in the displacement of the detent against its biasing and the consequent freeing of the release member for movement and tensioning means coupled to the manually actuatable means and adapted to engage with the displacing element so that the displacement of the former required to effect releasing
  • a container in accordance with the present invention and especially a cigarette container, the user will only be able to open the container and have access to its contents when a predetermined time interval has elapsed. Even after the elapsing of this predetermined time interval opening of the container does not take place automatically but is dependent on a conscious action to be undertaken by the user in displacing the manually actuatable means.
  • the container is provided with means whereby the predetermined time intervals can be varied and thus as the smoker, for example, as he becomes gradually weaned of his habit, can arrange for these time intervals to be of increasing length.
  • visual means are provided for giving an indication of the time intervals involved and/or remainder of time before opening is facilitated.
  • the container can be provided with emergency means whereby access can be had to the contents of the box without waiting for the expiry of the time interval but only as a result of a conscious action on the part of the user which action can be rendered quite difficult.
  • emergency means may be called into use when, for example, the clockwork mechanism fails or when the user finds the strain of waiting for the elapsing of the predetermined time interval overwhelming.
  • FIGS. 1 and 2 are respective side and front elevations of a time controlled cigarette container in accordance with the present invention
  • FIG. 3 is a longitudinally sectioned view on an enlarged scale of a portion of the container shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 and taken along a line IIIIII of FIG. 2,
  • FIG. 4 is a cross sectional view of the container shown in FIG 3 taken along the line IV-IV (just prior to opening), and
  • FIG. 5 is a sectioned plan view of the container taken along the line V-V of the view shown in FIG. 4.
  • the cigarette container consists essentially of a rectangular box 1 comprising a lid portion 2 and a body portion 3 coupled together by a hinge 4 which extends transversely across a rear wall of the box.
  • an inner transverse wall 5 which is spaced from an outer transverse wall 6 of the box and which define between them a region 7 in which is located the entire time control mechanism now to be described.
  • An elongated bar-like locking member 8 constituting a latching member extends through the lid portion 2 adjacent a side wall 9a thereof.
  • the member 8 is pivotally mounted on an axle 10 which is located within an elongated slot 11 formed in the locking member 8.
  • the axle I0 constitutes the head of an axle pin 10a located within and secured to the inner wall transverse 5.
  • Abutting the axle 10 is an axle retaining ring 12 secured to an inner side wall 13a which is parallel to and spaced from the outer side wall 9a and between which the locking member 8 extends.
  • a fixed elongated anchoring member 14 Located between a corresponding outer side wall 9b of the body portion 3 of the container 11 and an inner corresponding side wall 13b of the body portion 3b which is aligned with and constituting an extension of the inner side wall 13a is a fixed elongated anchoring member 14.
  • the anchoring member 14 terminates at its upper end in a flange 14a whilst the locking member 8 terminates in a semi-barbed portion 8a and a rounded end portion 8b, the rounded portion 8b being separated from the semi-barbed portion 8a by an inset 8c.
  • the upper end of the locking member 8 is provided on the one hand with a shoulder 15 and on the other hand with a branch limb 16 (see FIG. 4) which terminates at its free end with a downwardly extending toothed portion 16a.
  • a branch limb 16 see FIG. 4
  • the shoulder 15 rests on a fixed abutment 17 secured to the lid.
  • An elongated leaf spring 18 is pivotally mounted at a turned over portion 18a thereof on a fixed axle 19 secured to the lid portion 2 and consists of a first substantially horizontal limb 18b which is adapted to press on the shoulder 15 thereby biasing the locking member 8 downwardly and of a downwardly directed limb 18 adapted to press on the member 8 so as to tend to rotate it in a clockwise direction about the axle when viewed as in FIG. 3.
  • a clockwork mechanism 20 is schematically shown as being located in the lid region 7.
  • This mechanism 20 drives a boss 21 which is formed integrally with a driven disc 22.
  • a releasing lug 23 Secured to and projecting outwardly from the disc 22 is a releasing lug 23 whilst secured to and projecting upwardly from the disc 22 and located along a diameter thereof asymmetrically with respect to the center of the disc 22 are a'pair of tensioning lugs 24a and 24b.
  • a peripheral portion 25 of the disc 22 is formed with radial serrations into any one of which the toothed portion 160 of the branch limb 16 can extend thereby preventing the driven disc 22 from rotating.
  • a tensioning disc 26 Spaced above the driven disc 22 is a tensioning disc 26 having a centrally disposed, downwardly directed centering axle 27 located in a corresponding recess 21a formed in the boss 21.
  • a square sectioned coupling block 28 Secured to and extending centrally upwardly from the tensioning disc 26 is a square sectioned coupling block 28.
  • Formed integrally with and extending downwardly from the edge of the tensioning disc 26 is an engaging lug 29a whilst secured to an extension 30 of the tensioning disc 26 at a position diametrically opposite that Of the lug 29a is a downwardly extending engaging lug 29b.
  • the lugs 29a and 2% are located along a diameter of the tensioning disc 26 and are located asymmetrically with respect to the center of the tensioning disc 26 in a manner similar to the asymmetric location of the tensioning lugs 24a and 24b on the driven disc 22.
  • the coupling block 28 extends through a cylindrical bore formed in a collar member 31.
  • the lower end of the collar member 31 fits into a central aperture formed in a releasing disc 32 sandwiched between the tensioning disc 26 and the outer transverse wall 6 of the lid portion 2, the collar 31 being secured to the releasing disc 32 so that rotation of the collar 31 results in rotation of the releasing disc 32.
  • Extending diametrically out of the releasing disc 32 is a releasing arm 33 whose free end 34 projects downwardly.
  • the upper surface of the collar member 31 is radially serrated and mates with a correspondingly radially serrated surface of an annular cap 35 through which passes a bolt 36 which screws into a correspondingly threaded bore formed in the coupling block 28 thereby securing the cap 35 to the block 28.
  • a compression spring 38 Located within an annular cylindrical recess 37 formed in the cap 35 is a compression spring 38 which is anchored at its upper end to the cap 35 and at its lower end to an upwardly extending boss 39 formed integrally with the outer transverse wall 6 of the lid 2 of the box.
  • the upper end of the square sectioned coupling block 28 formed in the cap 35 projects into a correspondingly square sectioned bore 40 centrally.
  • pivotal catch 42 Pivotally mounted with respect to the transverse outer wall 6 of the lid portion 2 on a pivotal axle 4' is a pivotal catch 42 constituting a detent having at one end a retaining shoulder 42a and at the other end an abutment nose 42b.
  • a compression spring 43 bears at one end on a fixed portion of the lid portion 2 and at the other end is located in a recess 44 formed in the catch 42, the spring 43 thereby tending to rotate the catch 42 in an anticlockwise direction as viewed in FIG. 5.
  • an emergency release mechanism 45 which consists of a plug 46 which is slidable in a transverse aperture 47 formed in the lid region 7.
  • a press pin 48 Secured to the plug 46 is a press pin 48 which projects out of a side wall 49 of the lid portion 2 and is screw-coupled to the plug 46.
  • a release pin 50 Secured to the plug 46 at a surface thereof remote from the press pin 48 is a release pin 50 which is also slidable within an appropriate aperture formed in the lid portion 2, the outer tip of the release pin 50 bearing on the abutment nose 42b of the catch 42.
  • the plug 46 is biased outwardly with respect to the lid portion 2 by means of a compression spring 51 which bears at one end on the plug 46 and at the other end on a fixed portion of the lid portion 2.
  • the plug 46 is inhibited in its outward motion under the influence of the spring 51 by its abutting an appropriate shoulder 52 formed in the lid portion 2.
  • FIGS. 1, 2, 3 and 5 of the drawings The normal location of the control components when the container is locked is asshown in FIGS. 1, 2, 3 and 5 of the drawings whilst the position of the components just prior to opening of the container is as shown in FIG. 4 of the drawings.
  • the clockwork mechanism 20 having been previously tensioned, by means to be described below, operates so as to cause the rotation of the driven disc 22 in an anticlockwise direction as viewed in FIG. 5.
  • the releasing lug 23 will have been rotatably displaced sufficiently to bear against the retaining shoulder 42a of the pivoted catch 42.
  • the latter will be pivotally displaced in a clockwise direction about its axle 41 and against the biasing effect of the spring 43 sufficiently for the retaining shoulder 42a no longer to be located adjacent the releasing lever 33.
  • the rounded end 8b of the locking member 8 slides over the flange 14a of the fixed anchoring member 14 and the locking member 8 disengages from the anchoring member 14 and the container can be opened by the tilting of its lid portion 2 with respect to the body portion 3 about the axle 4.
  • the toothed portion 16a of the branch limb 16 engages the peripheral serrations of the driven disc 22 and in consequence, and as long as this engagement persists (i.e., as long as the container is open) the driven disc 22 is prevented from rotating and so the clockwork mechanism 20 stops operating.
  • the tensioning disc 26 which is directly coupled to the coupling block 28 is also rotatably displaced (in view of the fact that the square sectioned coupling block 28 mates in the correspondingly square sectioned coupling bore 40 formed in the cap 35.
  • the engaging lugs 29a and 29b will respectively abut the tensioning lugs 24a and 24b and the contined rotation of the tensioning disc 26 will cause the corresponding tensioning rotation of the driven disc 22 thereby automatically tensioning the clockwork mechanism 20.
  • the predetermined times at which the locking mechanism becomes releasable are determined by the relative angular position of the releasing lug 23.
  • the mechanism just described provides means for varying this angular position as desired and thereby varying the time intervals involved. This can be effected as follows. If, when the mechanism is in a locked condition, i.e., the releasing limb 33 is retained between the flxed abutment 155 and the retaining shoulder 42a of the catch 42 the screw 36 is removed, the compression spring 38 will force the cap 35 away from the collar 31 thereby disengaging the cap 35 from the collar with which it has previously been in meshed engagement.
  • the angular position of the tensioning disc 26 can be varied as desired as of course can be the angular position of the tensioning lugs 29a and 2%.
  • This variation of the initial angular position of the tensioning lugs 29a and 29b carries with it as a consequence that the ultimate position of the releasing lug 23 attached to the driven disc 22 will depend on the final position to which this driven disc is rotated by the tensioning lugs 29a and 29b during the tensioning procedure which will take place prior to the opening of the box.
  • the predetermined time interval involved will be relatively short whilst if it is arranged that this angular spacing is relatively small then the time intervals involved will be correspondingly long.
  • the mechanism just described can be provided with visual means whereby it can be readily seen what are the predetermined time intervals and/or the remaining time before opening can take place.
  • the outer transverse wall 6 of the box can be provided, opposite the tensioning disc, with a transparent window and the relative angular position of the disc can be observed and in this way a visual indication is given of the time intervals involved.
  • the emergency release mechanism 45 can be employed.
  • inward displacement of the press pin 48 against the strong counter-bias effected by the compression spring 51 results in a corresponding inward displacement of the release pin 50 which, bearing against the abutment nose 42b of the catch 42, causes a pivotal displacement of the catch 42 similar to that caused by the abuttal thereon by the release lug 23 during the normal operation of the time controlled mechanism.
  • pivotal displacement of the catch 42 opening of the box can be effected in a manner identical to that described above for normal time controlled operation.
  • Closing of the container is simply effected by restor ing the lid portion 2 to a closed position whereupon the locking member 8 is pushed upwardly by the anchoring member 14 whilst the limb 18c of leaf spring 18 pushes the locking member 8 to the left as shown in FIG. 3 so that the flange 14a engages between the barbed portion 8a and the rounded portion 8b.
  • the shoulder 15 is replaced on the fixed abutment 17 thereby preventing the downward displacement of the locking member 8 under the influence of the limb 18b of the leaf spring 18.
  • the time controlled mechanism just described facilitates the production of a container, whether a cigarette container or container of other commodities, to which access can or should be had only at predetermined intervals, means being provided that the clockwork mechanism inherent in such a mechanism is automatically tensioned prior to the opening of the box and as a result of the operations inherent in opening the box. Furthermore, simple means are provided whereby the predetermined times can be readily varied. Finally, the mechanism just described can, if desired, be provided with an additional means whereby the box can be opened in emergencies without waiting for the clockwork mechanism as a whole to operate.
  • a container having a time controlled locking mechanism comprising at least two portions coupled together for movement into and out of a closing relationship, latch means located within the container and comprising a pair of component latching members respectively coupled to said portions for locking said portions together, a releasing member located in one of said portions, manually actuatable means accessible from outside the container and coupled to the releasing member, displacement of the former resulting in displacement of the latter into releasing engagement with one of said latch components, a spring biased displaceable detent mounted in said one portion and arranged, in the locking condition of the container to inhibit movement of the releasing member, a clockwork mechanism located in said one portion and drivingly coupled to a displacing element, a predetermined displacement of said displacing element in a given direction resulting in the displacement of the detent against its biasing and the consequent freeing of the release member for movement and tensioning means coupled to the manually actuatable means and adapted to engage with the displacing element so that the displacement of the former required to effect releasing displacement of the releasing member is accompanied by
  • a container according to claim 1 wherein means are provided for varying at will the magnitude of said predetermined displacement and, in consequence, the timing frequency of said locking mechanism.
  • a container according to claim 9, wherein said manually actuatable means comprises a rotatable cap coupled to-said release member and via said clutch mechanism to said tensioning means.
  • a container according to claim 10, wherein said clutch mechanism comprises a pair of meshable serrated surfaces formed on or coupled to said cap and said tensioning means respectively, means for causing said surfaces to intermesh against spring biasing means tending to keep them apart.
  • a container according to claim ll wherein said cap is coupled to said tensioning means by means of a polygonally sectioned coupling block secured at one end to the tensioning means and located at the other end in a corresponding polygonally shaped aperture formed in said cap whilst said releasing member is secured to a cylindrically apertured collar which surrounds said block, corresponding surfaces of said collar and cap being formed with said serrated surfaces.
  • a container according to claim 12, wherein the means for causing said surfaces to intermesh consists of a screw coupling said cap to said block, a coil spring being located in a cylindrical annular recess formed in said cap and serving on the one hand to bias said cap against rotary displacement thereof and, on the other hand to bias said intermeshing surfaces apart.
  • a container according to claim 1 wherein there is furthermore provided a displaceable element adapted to bear against said detent and means accessible from outside the container for displacing said element against spring biasing so as to cause said displacement of said detent against its biasing.

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  • Closures For Containers (AREA)
  • Packaging Of Annular Or Rod-Shaped Articles, Wearing Apparel, Cassettes, Or The Like (AREA)
US00208365A 1971-01-05 1971-12-15 Container having a time controlled locking mechanism Expired - Lifetime US3750435A (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
IL35957A IL35957A (en) 1971-01-05 1971-01-05 A container having a time controlled locking mechanism

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US3750435A true US3750435A (en) 1973-08-07

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US00208365A Expired - Lifetime US3750435A (en) 1971-01-05 1971-12-15 Container having a time controlled locking mechanism

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US (1) US3750435A (de)
CH (1) CH528420A (de)
DE (1) DE2165565A1 (de)
IL (1) IL35957A (de)

Cited By (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4615681A (en) * 1983-10-11 1986-10-07 Schwarz Eitan D Programmable, user interactive cigarette dispenser and method therefor
US4620555A (en) * 1983-10-11 1986-11-04 Schwarz Eitan D Cigarette dispenser
DE29504813U1 (de) * 1995-03-21 1995-05-24 Avilés, Susan, 80798 München Zeitgesteuertes Schließsystem
US20090307961A1 (en) * 2008-06-13 2009-12-17 Eleven Llc Animal trap having timed release door
US20210007396A1 (en) * 2018-03-09 2021-01-14 Philip Morris Products S.A. An aerosol-generating device comprising a cover element mechanism
US11533903B2 (en) * 2020-08-13 2022-12-27 Woodstream Corporation Cage trap door-opening assembly and cage trap with the same

Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB623325A (en) * 1947-04-30 1949-05-16 Eric Thomas Robins Improvements in and relating to containers
US2675693A (en) * 1954-04-20 Time locked case for cigakettes
US2681560A (en) * 1951-01-16 1954-06-22 Shuttleworth Inc Cigarette case having a timecontrolled locking means
US3030795A (en) * 1960-03-24 1962-04-24 Ebauches Sa Time controlled container
US3363439A (en) * 1966-03-21 1968-01-16 Kende George Cigarette container with variable period time lock

Patent Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2675693A (en) * 1954-04-20 Time locked case for cigakettes
GB623325A (en) * 1947-04-30 1949-05-16 Eric Thomas Robins Improvements in and relating to containers
US2681560A (en) * 1951-01-16 1954-06-22 Shuttleworth Inc Cigarette case having a timecontrolled locking means
US3030795A (en) * 1960-03-24 1962-04-24 Ebauches Sa Time controlled container
US3363439A (en) * 1966-03-21 1968-01-16 Kende George Cigarette container with variable period time lock

Cited By (10)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4615681A (en) * 1983-10-11 1986-10-07 Schwarz Eitan D Programmable, user interactive cigarette dispenser and method therefor
US4620555A (en) * 1983-10-11 1986-11-04 Schwarz Eitan D Cigarette dispenser
DE29504813U1 (de) * 1995-03-21 1995-05-24 Avilés, Susan, 80798 München Zeitgesteuertes Schließsystem
US20090307961A1 (en) * 2008-06-13 2009-12-17 Eleven Llc Animal trap having timed release door
US7958668B2 (en) * 2008-06-13 2011-06-14 Eleven Llc Animal trap having timed release door
US20110214337A1 (en) * 2008-06-13 2011-09-08 Eleven, Llc Animal trap having timed release door
US8104221B2 (en) * 2008-06-13 2012-01-31 Eleven Llc Animal trap having timed release door
US20210007396A1 (en) * 2018-03-09 2021-01-14 Philip Morris Products S.A. An aerosol-generating device comprising a cover element mechanism
US12089634B2 (en) * 2018-03-09 2024-09-17 Philip Morris Products S.A. Aerosol-generating device comprising a cover element mechanism
US11533903B2 (en) * 2020-08-13 2022-12-27 Woodstream Corporation Cage trap door-opening assembly and cage trap with the same

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
DE2165565A1 (de) 1972-09-21
IL35957A (en) 1973-08-29
IL35957A0 (en) 1971-03-24
CH528420A (de) 1972-09-30

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