WO1995032643A1

WO1995032643A1 - Lever operated latch release for a hinged package

Info

Publication number: WO1995032643A1
Application number: PCT/US1995/006652
Authority: WO
Inventors: Robert Stanley Dirksing
Original assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
Priority date: 1994-06-01
Filing date: 1995-05-25
Publication date: 1995-12-07
Also published as: AU2650195A

Abstract

In accordance with the present invention there is provided a package (1) having opposing front (2) and back (3) portions and opposing side portions. The package has a closed position and an open position. The package includes a cover (10) having a top wall (11), and a base (20) having a bottom wall (21) and a peripheral wall (22) surrounding and attached to the bottom wall. The peripheral wall (22) abuts against the top wall when the package is in its closed position so as to define an interior compartment (30). The cover (10) and the base (20) are joined together along the back portion by a hinge (31). The package also has at least one latch (40) for maintaining the package in its closed position. Consequently, the package has at least one lever (50) for releasing the latch (40), the lever has a top (51), bottom and an exterior (53) and is integral with the peripheral wall of the base. The lever is attached to the package along its bottom by a pivot area (55) located away from the peripheral wall towards the interior compartment. Therefore, when the exterior of the lever is pushed inwardly the top of the lever moves upwardly so as to move the cover away from the base and release the latch.

Description

LEVER OPERATED LATCH RELEASE FOR A HINGED PACKAGE

FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to releasing mechanisms for hinged packages. The present invention has further relation to such releasing mechanisms which are lever operated. The present invention has even further relation to such a lever operated release mechanism for a compact.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Packages, such as cosmetic compacts, having a base and a cover hinged together along their back portions have been available for years. Typically a closure or latching device is provided in the front portion of the package. In order to keep the cost of the compacts low, most mass marketed compacts are opened by simply prying the cover from the base thus overcoming the latching device engagement. A common complaint associated with these compacts is high frequency of broken finger nails. To overcome this problem, more expensive compacts may include a push button which assists in opening the latching device. For example, U.S. Patent 5,050,623 issued to Yuhara et al. on September 24, 1991 discloses a separate push button attached to the cover which operates against a ramped surface on the base to aid in overcoming the latching device. Yuhara also discloses a similar compact but includes two push buttons located on the sides of the compact. Unfortunately, this disclosed push button system comprises separate elements which increases molding and assembly costs.

Therefore, in attempt to overcome this there have been compacts which have the push button integral with the base so that it can be molded as one piece. Such a mechanism is described in U.S. Patent 5,205,431 issued to Zinnbauer on April 27, 1993. However, the Zinnbauer compact as well as the Yuhara et al. compact have their push buttons extending above the plane containing the upper surface of the base. This adversely affects the appearance of the package and can interfere with the user's access to the contents of the compact.

Accordingly, there has been a desire to provide a cosmetic case having a latch release or pair of releases which assist in disengaging the cover and the base to facilitate opening the cosmetic case and access to its contents; There has been a further desire to provide a cosmetic case wherein the latch release is integrally molded to the base thereby requiring no additional steps for assembly;

There has still been a further desire to provide a compact wherein the push buttons do not extend above the plane containing the upper surface of the base so as to preserve the aesthetic design of the cosmetic case and improve its functionality.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In accordance with the present invention there is provided a package having front and back portions and two side portions. The package has a closed position and an open position. The package includes a cover having a top wall, and a base having a bottom wall and a peripheral wall surrounding and attached to the bottom wall. The peripheral wall abuts against the cover when the package is in its closed position so as define an interior compartment. The cover and the base are joined together along the back portion by a hinge. The package also has at least one latch for maintaining the package in its closed position. Consequently, the package has at least one lever for releasing the latch. The lever has a top, bottom and an exterior and is integral with the base. The lever is attached to the package along its bottom by a pivot area located away from the peripheral wall towards the interior compartment. Therefore, when the exterior of the lever is pushed inwardly the top of the lever moves upwardly so as to move the cover away from the base and release the latch.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

While the specification concludes with claims particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming the subject invention, it is believed the same will be better understood from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a a perspective view of package, made in accordance with the present invention, shown in its open position.

Figure 2 is a simplified cross sectional view of front portion of the package of Figure 1, showing it in its closed position.

Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 2 but showing the package as it is being opened.

Figure 4 is a view similar to Figure 1 but showing an alternative embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring now to the drawings in detail wherein like numerals indicate the same element throughout the views there is shown in Figure 1 a package 1 made in accordance with the present invention. Package 1 has opposing front and back portions 2 and 3, respectively, and opposing side portions 4 and 5. Package 1 includes a cover 10 having a top wall 11. Top wall 11 preferably has a surrounding wall 12 having a lower surface 13. Package 1 further includes a base 20 having a bottom wall 21 and a peripheral wall 22 which surrounds and is attached to bottom wall 21. Peripheral wall 22 has an upper surface 23. When package 1 is in the closed condition, peripheral wall 22, along upper surface 23, abuts against cover 10, along lower surface 13 of surrounding wall 12 and an interior 30 is defined. Base 20 and cover 10 are joined together along the back portion 3 by a hinge 31. Base 20 and cover 10 can be made from any number of materials known in the art including ABS (Acrylonitrile butadiene styrene) and SAN (Styrene acrylonitrile).

By referring to Figure 2 one can see that package 1 includes at least one latch 40 for maintaining the package in its closed position as shown in the figure. Latch 40 includes a lower catch 41 and an upper catch 42. Lower catch 41 has a protrusion 43 extending therefrom which engages protrusion 44 extending from upper catch 42 so as to maintain the package in its closed position.

Package 1 further includes at least one lever 50 for releasing the latch and initiating the opening the package. Peripheral wall 22 and bottom wall 21 are interrupted by slots or cuts 58 and 59 to form a lever 50. Lever 50 has a top 51, a bottom 52 and an exterior 53. Lever 50 is integral with base 20 so that the base 20 and lever 50 can be molded as one piece using any molding techniques known in the art such as injection molding. Lever 50 is connected to base 20 along its bottom 52 by a pivot area 55. Pivot area 55 is preferably an area of reduced thickness relative to adjoining material but can be any similar means for forming an area of weakness. Referring to Figure 3, to open package 1 the user of the package would push inwardly on the exterior 53 of lever 50 as shown by arrow 54 so that the lever operates as a push button. The force applied to exterior 53 causes lever 50 to rotate about pivot area 55. The center of rotation is generally indicated by center marker 56. Rotation of lever 50 causes top 51 to generally follow arc path 57 thereby providing vertical lift of top 51 indicated as "V" with a corresponding horizontal displacement indicated as "H". The vertical lift of top 51 operates against the lower surface 13 of surrounding wall 12 of cover 10. This force is translated to upper catch 42 which causes protrusion 44 to disengage from protrusion 43 thereby initiating the opening of package 1.

The vertical and horizontal distance from pivot area 55 to the top 51 of lever 50 is indicated as "Y" and "X", respectively. Preferably, the ratio of "Y : X" is 1, but ratios between .75 to about 1.5 are acceptable depending upon the force or cover displacement desired. Rotation of lever 50 about pivot area 55 causes top 51 to travel about an arc generally indicated as 56. Depending on the vertical distance Y, if the horizontal distance X is too close to the peripheral wall 20, the lever would not have enough vertical lift V to open the package. Moreover, if the pivot area is placed too far away from the peripheral wall 20, pushing the lever 50 along its exterior 53 would not produce enough vertical lift to open the package either. One would then have to push vertically against the bottom 52 of lever 50 to open the package.

Figure 4 shows an alternative embodiment of the package in accordance with the present invention, package 101. Package 101 includes a cover 110 having a top wall 111. Top wall 111 has surrounding wall 112 having a lower surface 113. Package 101 further includes a base 120 having a bottom wall 121 and a peripheral wall 122 which surrounds and is attached to bottom wall 121. Peripheral wall 122 has a upper surface 123. When package 101 is in the closed position, upper surface 123 of peripheral wall 122 abuts against lower surface 113 of surrounding wall 112 of cover 110. Base 120 and cover 110 are joined together by a hinge 131. Base 220 has a bore 224, creating hinge side walls 225 and 226. A hinge arm 270, extending from cover 110, is inserted into bore 224 and is connected to hinge side walls 225 and 226 by a pin. The pin can be what is referred to in the art as a spring pin so that there is some friction on the hinge when the cover is opened so that the cover can remain stationary at a desired angle. In a particularly preferred embodiment of package 101, hinge 131 further includes a spring 132 which biases cover 110 to the open position after latch 140 is released. Package 101 further includes platform 160 having an opening 130 which can receive a cosmetic product or the like. The latch 140 is still located along the front 102, however, it could be along either or both side portions 104 and 105.

Package 101 is very similar to package 1 except that it has two levers 150 and 250, one lever on each side portion 104 and 105, respectively. Both levers are substantially identical so only lever 150 will be described. Peripheral wall 122 and bottom wall 121 are interrupted by slots 158 and 159 so that lever 150 is free to rotate about pivot area 155. A portion of platform 160 is shown cut away to expose pivot area 155 of lever 150. Lever 150 is integral with the base 120 so that the base 120 and lever 150 can be molded as one piece using any molding techniques known in the art such as injection molding. Lever 150 is connected to base 120 along its bottom 152 by a pivot area 155. Pivot area 155 is an area of reduced thickness relative to adjoining material such that an area of relative weakness is formed. A similar structure is provided for lever 250. The top 151 and top 251 of levers 150 and 250, respectively, are generally in the plane of the upper surface 123 of peripheral wall 122. Accordingly, no obstructions project above this plane and decoration of this surface by means such as hot stamp transfer are easily accomplished. Furthermore, no obstructions interfere with the users access to the contents of the package. It is also preferred that the exteriors of levers 150 and 250 project outwardly from the package or have protrusions extending from the exterior, either near the top or the bottom. This helps prevent the user's fingers from interfering with the opening of the package. Larger levers also help prevent this.

A relief 161 in platform 160 forms clearance 162 to provide for inward rotation on lever 250. Clearance 161 limits the inward travel of lever 250. A similar structure is provided for lever 150. It is preferred that the package will not open unless both levers are pressed inwardly. By limiting . the travel of levers 150 and 250, the vertical displacement of either of the levers 150 or 250 individually is insufficient to disengage latch 140. However, when both levers 150 and 250 are pressed simultaneously, the vertical displacement of cover 110 is sufficient to disengage latch 140. This is an advantage in preventing accidental opening of the package such as in the user's purse. In package 101, when latch 140 is disengaged, spring 132 will cause cover 110 to open, preferably to about 130° with respect to the base. The combination provides the user with the benefit of "one handed" opening.

While particular embodiments of the present invention have been illustrated and described herein it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention and it is intended to cover in the appended claims all such modifications that are within the scope of this invention.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A package (1) having front and back portions (2 & 3) and two side portions (4 & 5), the package has a closed position and an open position, the package includes a cover (10) comprising a top wall (11), and a base (20) comprising a bottom wall (21) and a peripheral wall (22) surrounding and attached to the bottom wall, the peripheral wall abuts against the cover when the package is in its closed position so as define an interior, the cover and the base are joined together along the back portion by a hinge (31), the package further includes at least one latch (40) for maintaining the package in its closed position, the package characterized by:

at least one lever (50) for releasing the latch, the lever has a top (51), bottom (52) and an exterior (53), the lever is integral with the peripheral wall of the base and is attached to the package along its bottom by a pivot area (55) located away from the peripheral wall towards the interior, whereby when the exterior of the lever is pushed inwardly the top of the lever moves upwardly moving the cover away from the base and releasing the latch.

2. The package according to Claim 1 wherein the horizontal distance from the top of the lever to the pivot area is X and the vertical distance from the top of the lever to the pivot area is Y and wherein Y ranges from about 0.5X to about 1.5X.

3. The package according to Claim 2 wherein Y and X are substantially equal.

4. The package according to Claim 1 wherein the lever is located on the front of the package.

5. The package according to Claim 1 wherein the latch is located adjacent the front of the package.

6. The package according to Claim 1 wherein the package has two levers one located on each side portion of the package.

7. The package according to Claim 1 wherein the pivot area is an area of reduced thickness relative to adjacent portions of the package.

8. The package according to Claim 1 wherein the peripheral wall has an upper surface and the top of the lever is in substantially the same plane as the upper surface of the peripheral wall.