US2287903A - Closed receptacle or case - Google Patents

Description

June 30, 1942. L, RATHBUN 2,287,903

CLOSED RECEPTACLE OR CASE Filed Aug. 1, 1940 Patented June 30, 1942 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,287,903 CLOSED RECEPTACLE'ORCASVE- Merrill L. Rathbun, Salamanca, N. Y. Application August 1, 1940, Serial No. 349,203 '1 Claim; (014220-41) This invention relates to an improvement in pivotal structures for closed receptacles.

One form of the invention discloses a recap tacle and cover having cooperating pivotal elements held in operable pivotal relationship by one or more spring members. The spring members, being engaged with bothelementsof the receptacle, also serve to yieldingly secure the elements in relative opened or closed position.

Prior to this invention it has been the practice to apply this type of pivotal structure to closed receptacles formed from hard materials, such, for example, as metal, thermo-setting plastics and the like. The present trend in closed receptacle manufacture, particularly that relating to the jewelry or analogous trades, is to utilizea moldable material that is thermo-plastic; i. e., one that after being molded is somewhat soft and pliant. Through the use of thermo-setting plastic material, the resulting articles Anotherobject of the invention is to provide pivotal means for closed receptacles that includes one or moresprings designed to secure the pivotal elements in operable relationship and ineffective in use to wear, out into, or otherwise damage the material from which the recep tacle may be formed.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be more fully understood and appreciated from a consideration of the .following specifica tion, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing; .and in which Figure .1 is a perspective view of a closed receptacle embodying one form of a pivotal structure constituting the subject matter of the pres ent invention; V

Figure 2 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view through the receptacle, being taken to show the pivotal structure;

Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 2 showing the receptacle in opened position;

Figure 4 is a fragmentary plan view of the receptacle, partly in section to disclose certain of the structural details of the pivot elements;

Figure 5 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical sectional view of a modification of the receptacle, showing the elements thereof in closed position;

Figure 6 is a view similar to Figure 5 showing the .elements'of the receptacle in opened position; 1 1

Figures 7 and 8 are "enlarged front and side elevational views of one form of spring embodied in the pivotal structure disclosed;

Figures 9 and 10'are front and side elevational views of a conventional spring to the sharp gripping edges of which clips have been applied; and

Figure 11 is a perspective view of the spring and clip structure shown in Figures 9 and 10.

Reference is now had to. the drawing wherein the numeral H) is employed: to generally designate a receptaclein which is embodied one form of the invention. The receptacle may be comprised of a body member H and cover [2. The body member includes conventional base, side and front walls, and a rear wall. 13. The upper edge of the rear wall may be formed with a bead M. In the present disclosure this bead is slightly rearwardly ofi'set'to'overhang the edge of wall !3. However, since the disposition of this bead may control the degree of opening of the cover with respect to the body, it forms no specific part of the present disclosure.

Not only fromthe standpoint of economy, but for the sake of appearance as Well, only the rear wall i3 is of substantial thickness as compared with the other walls of'the body I I. One or more recesses l6 are formed in the inner face of the wall It. The base wall I"! of each recess is formed with a shoulder [8 that provides a seat for one end of a spring hereinafter described. From the shouldertlfl, the base wall I! may be continued upwardly in a slightly laterally curved surface [9 that terminates at the upper end of the Wall I3 in the bead M. The bead l4 may 8X"? tend the full length of the wall l3, although this is not essential to the proper functioning of the invention.

The cover ['2 includes conventional top, side, and front walls, and a rear wall 22 of the same proportions as wall l3 of the body ll. One or more recesses 23, adapted to align with the recess I6, are formed in the inner face of the wall 22. The base wall 24 of the recess 23 is formed with a shoulder 26 that provides a seat for the other end of a spring. From the shoulder 26 the base wall of the recess 23 maybe curvedto terminate 'aclja.-

cent one edge of a recess 21 that may extend the full length of the wall 22. In the present disclosure the rear edge of the recess 21 terminates in a bead 28 projecting laterally beyond the outer face of the wall 22. This, it will be understood, serves in conjunction with certain portions of the pivotal means to limit the extent of opening of the cover 12 with respect to the body II.

A strap spring 29 serves to secure the pivotal parts of the body and cover in operable relationship. This spring is of a contour substantially that disclosed and terminates at its ends in flanges 3| that are somewhat return bent to provide surfaces 32 and rounded portions 33. The distance between the portions 33 is somewhat less than that between the shoulders 18 and 26. Consequently, the spring must be slightly extended to be engaged with the elements of the receptacle, and, when so engaged, is under sufficient tension to prevent inadvertent disengagement. It is to be noted that the spring seats in the body and cover are of such proportions that when the spring is engaged therewith, the portions 33 contact the bases of the seats and the surfaces 32 abut the base walls I1 and 24 when the elements of the receptacle are in the position shown in Figure 2. The shoulders I8 and 26, when the receptacle is closed, are out of contact with the spring 29. When the cover moves from closed to opened position, substantially as shown in Figure 3, the portions 33 are free to rotate slightly on the spring seats without damage thereto, and flanges 3| of the spring come into contact with shoulders I8 and 26.

As has already been mentioned, the invention is well adapted for use with material of somewhat soft, pliant form, such, for example, as would be readily cut through or chipped by contact with the sharp edge of a strap spring. By reason of the substantial amount of material interposed between the spring ends and because of the provision of rounded spring ends that rotate on their seats, the spring 29 is ineffective to break off or wear through the shoulders l8 and 26. Since the receptacle to which the invention is applied is of relatively small proportions, it would be possible to rotate the cover further and break or chip the spring seats. However, this is guarded against by causing the inner surface of the central portion of the spring to contact the bead I4 when the cover [2 assumes its openmost position. Additionally, the bead 28 of the cover cooperates for this purpose.

Reference is now had particularly to Figures and 6 wherein is disclosed a modification of the structure already described. In this instance, the rear walls 34 and 36 of the body and cover of a receptacle 35 terminate along their adjacent edges in corresponding recesses 31 and 38. Spring seats 39 and 4| are formed in the walls 34 and 36 in the manner described in connection with the disclosure in Figures 2 and 3. A pin or roller 42 is interposed between the surfaces 31 and 38 and substitutes for the head [4 that is integral with the rear wall of the body I l of the receptacle already described. This pin may have a receptacle divider 40 joined to or made integral therewith. A spring 43, similar to spring 29, is engaged with the spring seats 39 and 4| and serves to hold the roller 42 in engagement with recesses 31 and The spring 43 additionally, when the receptacle is open, contacts the pin or roller 42 and serves as a stop to limit further opening of the cover with respect to the body. In both modifications described, it will be noted, with the cover fully opened and the spring in contact with the bead or pin, that there is space between a part of the inner face of the spring and the curved surfaces adjacent the spring seats and, at least insofar as the cover is concerned, it could. be rotated slightly beyond the opened position until the curved surfaces contacted the spring. While this position of the cover is beyond the position which the cover would normally assume, no damage to the elements of the receptacle would occur. The invention is, therefore, well adapted to somewhat soft, pliant material, the spring seat positions and spring arrangement providing a safeguard against damage from improper operation of the cover.

The spring shown in Figures 7 and 8 is the same spring as indicated at 29 and 43 in the modification already described. It is contemplated under certain circumstances of use of the invention that a conventional spring, such as indicated at 44 (Figures 9 and 10), may be used. In this instance, the spring has sharply defined end flanges 46. These flanges, whilesuitable for engagement with metal spring seats or seats formed from suitably hard material, would cut into, wear, or break off spring seats in a receptacle that is formed from somewhat soft and pliant material. It is, therefore, desirable to enclose the flanges 46 by providing substantially U-shaped clips 41. These clips have a somewhat rounded surface 48 that prevents their cutting into the material of the spring seats. The spring 44, when mounted in a receptacle of the type illustrated, functions in the manner described.

It is evident from the foregoing that through the provision of reinforced spring seats relocation of the seat positions with respect to their center of rotation and a modified type of strap spring, a pivotal structure of the pin and socket type may be successfully incorporated in a receptacle formed from somewhat soft, pliant material, and although applicant has shown and described only two modifications of the applicability of the invention, it will be understood that other modifications or adaptations are contemplated insofar as they are within the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the here unto annexed claim.

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

In a closed receptacle having a body and cover, cooperating pivotal means on said body and cover, spring seats integral with said body and cover and within said receptacle adjacent said pivotal means and separated thereby, each of said seats having two contact surfaces connected by a rounded surface, the seat in said body comprising an outwardly projecting shoulder defining a downwardly opening groove and the seat in said cover comprising an outwardly projecting shoulder defining an upwardly opening groove when said cover is in closed position, a flat spring engageable with said seats and serving to secure said pivotal means in operable relationship, each end of said spring having two contact surfaces connected by a rounded surface, the rounded surfaces being opposite and contacting the rounded surfaces of said seats, whereby during movement of the cover to and from closed position a rounded surface of said spring will rotate on the rounded surface of said seats.

MERRILL L. RATHBUN.

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