US3170588A

US3170588A - Snap release container

Info

Publication number: US3170588A
Application number: US281166A
Authority: US
Inventors: Jr Joe M Lyon
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1963-05-17
Filing date: 1963-05-17
Publication date: 1965-02-23
Anticipated expiration: 1982-02-23

Description

Feb. 23, 1965 J. M. LYON, JR 3,170,588

SNAP RELEASE CONTAINER Filed May 17, 1963 J E M. LYGV J6 INVEN TOR.

United States Patent Office 3,170,588 Patented Feb. 23, 1965 3,170,588 SNAP RELEASE CONTAINER Joe M. Lyon, Jr., 600 E. Capitol St., Salt Lake City, Utah Filed May 17, 1963, Ser. No. 281,166 11 Claims. (Cl. 220-60) The present invention relates to containers or boxes having two basic parts, a receptacle base and removable cover.

It is an objective of this invention to provide a container which has a closure which locks the cover to the receptacle base to provide a sealed container capable of holding wide varieties of products, such as liquids, semiliquids, powders, paper clips, shoe polishes, nail files, tools, garbage and numerous other small articles.

It is a further objective to provide a container having the aforesaid characteristic and in addition having the container openable solely by application of moderate pressure on the center portion of the cover.

It is a further objective of this invention to have a container openable by pressure on the central portion of the cover by a snap action" capable of functioning while the container is resting on a supporting surface, that is, without the necessity of having to lift the container before applying the pressure.

It is a further objective of this invention to provide a container which does not rely merely on the continuing frictional engagement characteristic of ordinary boxes with covers or the frictional engagement of screw-type closures.

It is a further objective of this invention to provide a container which can be manufactured inexpensively and in a wide variety of shapes.

FIGURE 1 shows the container according to the invention in plan view. FIGURE 2 is a cross-section along the line 22 of FIGURE 1 showing the container in a closed or sealed position. FIGURE 3 is also a cross-section along the line 2--2 of FIGURE 1 showing the container in an unsealed or open position wherein the cover may be lifted freely from the lower part of the container. FIGURES 4 and 5 show two of the many possible modifications.

The container comprises a crowned disc or plate 1 as shown; an annular retaining ring or cover in the case of a cylindrical container as shown, 2; a hollow receptacle forming the lower part of container 3; and, an inner cover plate 4.

The flanged ring 2 on its inner face has a bead or locking means 6 and the lower receptacle part 3 has a similar integral annular bead, flange or locking means 5 on its outer face which projects radially. When the cover 2 is pressed firmly down, by pressing on its outer portion, the bead 6 is moved outwardly and on downward movement slips over and interlocks with bead 5, thus releasably locking the cover assembly in place and insuring a pressure at the point of sealing 8, continuing pressure and engagement. Both

heads

5 and 6 may be continuous or interrupted around the surfaces on which they are located.

With the container closed and locked as in FIGURE 2 it may be opened and unlocked by pressing down through opening 11 in the central area'of the crowned disc or plate 1 until said disc snaps into the position as shown in FIGURE 3. The snapping action results from a reversal of the curvature of the preformed crowned disc 1 from an upper position as in FIGURE 2 to a lower position as in FIGURE 3.

With the snapping of the plate from the position shown in FIGURE 2 to the position shown in FIGURE 3, a strong and sudden downward force is applied to the flange cover plate 4, and an upward force is similarly applied to the under side of cover 2 by the upward movement of the periphery of said plate 1 engaging the cover.

The resulting opposite forces combine with the lever action with ring or lug 7 as a fulcrum, and result in the lifting of cover ring 2 with a snap action and overcoming the resistance and engagement of interlocking flange 5 and head 6.

. The cover assembly is thus completely released from any fastening or securance to the lower receptacle part and may then be lifted freely for easy access to the receptacle. When the cover is removed, the bead 6 con-, tacts the periphery of 10 of the cover plate 4 and transmits lifting movement to it and retains said plate 4 in the cover assembly together with plate 1.

To rese-al the container the cover assembly is placed back in the position shown in FIGURE 3, and a downward pressure is applied to the outer portion of cover 2, such pressure resulting in exactly opposite forces that act in the opening process, with a lever action with lug or flange 7 as a fulcrum. When sufiicient pressure is applied .to cover 2, disc 1 will snap back to its original upwardly arched position as shown in FIGURE 2, and flange 5 will seat into the groove of bead 6 and will also snap into an inter-locking position, completing the closing action.

I FIGURE 4 is one modification of the container ,in which the crowned disc 1 and the annular ring 2, shown in FIGURES 1 and 2, are made integral with a connecting flexible relatively thinner annular section at 9 which acts as a flexible hinge joint. This provides for a three piece economical construction.

Otherwise, the description and mounting and removing actions of this modified container is the same as previously described.

FIGURE 5 is another modified form of the container embodying my invention and which has a substantially annular cover 13 whose middle portion is upwardly arched, as illustrated, and which said middle portion is relatively thinner along its annular area, as indicated by the numeral 17. Said cover 13 has formed integral therewith the depending annular skirt of flange 14 which said skirt 14 is formed integral therewith an annular inwardly extending head or flange 15. This modified form eliminates the use of a separate cover plate .described with reference to previous views. The receptacle 3a, of suitable annular shape, has formed thereon an annular bead 16, as illustrated, and the upper portion of the side walls thereof extend inwardly to terminate in a substantially annular integral inwardly and upwardly extending rim of flange 12.

Said upwardly extending annular flange 12 is normally engaged by the inner face of the arched cover 13 to form an effective seal when the cover is in closed position. When said cover 13 is in closed position as illustrated in FIG. 5, said annular flange 12 acts as a fulcrum when or annular ring 7, which is preferably integral with the the middle portion of the cover 13 is manually depressed for the purpose of opening so as to cause the outer and lower portion of annular skirt 14 and its integral bead 15 to move outwardly a short distance to thereby disengage the fiange 15 from looking engagement with the annular bead 16. Upon such disengagement the cover is easily removed. 1

It will be understood that downward pressure .upon the middle portion of said cover will flex said cover inwardly to permit its relatively easy removal and that said cover may be quickly and easily replaced into locking position. In this instance the arched middle portion of said cover replaces the need for a cover plate of a type such as described with reference to FIGURES 2 and 3, and this provides for an economical two-piece construction.

' enlargement of ring 2 upwardly to a height at least as high as the middle portion of the cover 13 so that con tainer would not be accidentally opened by gravity pressure in the event another'object were placed on top of it.

Ari-extension of this modification is a ring or a plurality of lugs formed on the outer portion of the bottom of receptacle 3 to engage with and rest upon said extension of ring 2 in a manner so that several containers could be stacked conveniently in superposed positions and without danger of accidental opening of the containers.

it is anticipated that the disc 1 may be of segmented construction with elastic material between and connecting the segments.

It is anticipated that the disc 1 may be of dissimilar materials having the central area of one material and the outer annular area of another material.

I It is anticipated that in containers with square corners the crowned plate 1 may have rounded corners or be of an elliptical shape. For varying shapes of containers the crowned plate can be a simple square or of rectangular shape.

It is anticipated that the

simple locking beads

5 and 6 can be modified or used in spaced multiples so as to provide a wide range of sealing and locking characteristics.

It is anticipated that the opening 11 in retaining ring 2 may be modified to any shape or size that will permit the application of pressure to the central portion of crowned plate 1'.

It is anticipated that the opening of retaining ring 2 may be completely closed with an elastic material suitably secured at its periphery to ring 2 so that manual pressure applied to crown plate 1 maybe transmitted through said elastic material to said plate 1.

It is anticipated that the opening 11 in retaining ring 2 can be reduced to an appropriate size and a movable push button be mounted in said opening to be used to apply pressure to the central portion of crown plate 1 for the purpose of opening the container.

It is anticipated that this container will be built of various'suitable materials having proper physical properties. The platel may be of glass or metal'including steel, stainless steel, brass, and alloys or of any plastic material having the proper flexible qualities. The balance of the case may be made of any of these suitable materials and may be of the same or dilferent material as the plate 1.

While the foregoing specification sets forth the invention in specific terms, it is to be understood that numerous changes in the shape, size and materials may be resorted to without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed hereinafter and it is contemplated that various changes may be made in the embodiment of the invention herein specifically described without departing from or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention and locking means on the skirt adaptedto releasably engage the locking means on said base; an inner cover plate having an integral annular ridge on its upper surface intermediate its center and the periphery of said plate; a crowned disc havinga portion thereof of curved cross section; i said disc being adapted'to flex and snap downward when pressure is applied through said cover plate opening to separate said cover member and said cover plate and to separate the' cooperating locking means on said base andsaid cover and being adapted to snap upward when said cover assembly is urged downward onto said base to engagesaid locking means. 2. A container of the character described comprising: a base and a cover assembly,

said base including a hollowreceptacle open at the top and having lock-ing means on its exterior surface; said cover assembly including an outer annular cover member having a flat upper surface, a central opening, a depending skirt portion,

' and locking means on the'said skirt portion adapted to engage said locking means on said receptacle;

an inner cover plate having protruding fulcrum means on its upper surface intermediate its center and periphery;

a crowned preformed disc having a curved cross section;

said disc being flexible and responsive in one direction to downward pressure exerted through said opening in said outer cover member and in the other direction by downward pressure on said cover member.

3. A container of the character described comprising:

a base including a hollow receptacle open at the top and having lockingmeans on its sides;

a cover assembly including an outer cover member having a flat upper surface,

a central opening, a depending skirt portion,

and locking means on the inner portion of said skirt adapted to engage said locking means on said base;

an inner cover plate havingprotruding fulcrum means on its upper surface intermediate its center and edge;

a crowned preformed disc having a curved cross section intermediate the outer cover and cover plate,

4. A container of'the character described comprising:

a hollow receptacle open at the topand having an annular locking ridge on its sides;

a cover assembly including an outer cover having an essentially flat upper surface,

a central opening, depending skirt portion,

and an annular locking ridge'on the inner portion of said skirt adapted to engagethe cooperating locking ridgev on said base;

7 an inner cover plate having protruding fulcrum means on its upper surface;

an arched preformed disc having a curved cross section intermediate the outer cover and cover plate,

said disc being flexible and responsive in one direction to downward manual pressure exerted through said opening in said outer cover and being responsive in the other direction to downward pressure on the outer portions of the cover plate on the base.

5. A container of the character described comprising:

a base and a cover assembly, I

said base including a hollow receptacle open at the top and having an annular locking ridge on its sides;

said cover assembly including an outer annular cover 7 ring having an upper flange, adepending skirt portion, i a central opening,

and an annular locking ridge on the inner portion of said skirt adapted to engage the corresponding locking ridge on the base;

an inner cover plate having an annular ridge on its upper surface intermediate its center and edge;

a crowned preformed disc of curved cross section intermediate said outer ring and said cover plate,

said disc being flexible and responsive in one direction to downward pressure exerted through the opening in the outer cover and in the other direction by downward pressure on said ring.

6. A container of the character described comprising:

a base and cover assembly,

said base including a hollow receptacle open at the top and having locking means on its exterior surface;

said cover having a depending skirt; locking means mounted on said skirt adapted to coact with cooperating locking means on the base;

an inner cover plate having protruding fulcrum means on its upper surface inward of its periphery,

a crowned preformed disc having a curved cross-section intermediate the outer cover and cover plate, and adapted to coact with said cover and cover plate by reversing the direction of its arched cross-section to a position wherein its center is urged upwardly and ultimately snaps up when the cover assembly is pushed onto said base assembly;

and, when downward pressure is put on the center of said disc snaps to position wherein the edges of the disc are in an upper position, thereby separating the cover and cover plate and unlocking the container by disengaging the locking means on said base and on said cover skirt.

7. A container of the character described comprising:

a base assembly and cover assembly,

said base assembly including a hollow receptacle open at the top and having locking means on its sides adapted to coact with locking means on the cover;

a cover assembly including an outer cover having an essentially flat upper surface, a central opening, a depending skirt portion,

and locking means on the inner portion of said skirt adapted to engage the corresponding locking means on the base;

an inner cover plate having protruding fulcrum means on its upper surface intermediate its center and edge;

an arcuate preformed disc having a curved cross-section intermediate the outer cover and cover plate, and adapted to coact with the cover and cover plate by reversing the direction of its arched cross-section to a position where its center is urged upwardly and ultimately snaps up when the cover assembly is pushed onto the base,

and, when downward pressure is put on the center of said crowned preformed disc, snaps to a position where the edges of the disc are in an upper position, thereby separating the cover and cover plate and unlocking the container by disengaging the locking ridge on the base and outer cover.

8. A container of the character described comprising:

a base assembly and cover assembly, said base assembly including a hollow receptacle open at the top and having an annular locking ridge on its sides adapted to coact with an annular locking ridge on the cover;

a central opening,

depending skirt portion,

an inner cover plate having protruding fulcrum means on its upper surface intermediate its center and edge,

' an arcuate preformed disc having a curved cross-section intermediate the outer cover and cover plate, and adapted to coact with the cover and cover plate by reversing the direction of its arched cross-section to a position where its center is urged upwardly and ultimately snaps up when the cover assembly is pushed onto said base assembly,

and, when downward pressure is put on the center of said arcuate disc, snaps to a position wherein the edges of said disc are in an upper position, thereby separating the cover and cover plate and unlocking the container by disengaging the locking ridge on the base from said outer cover.

9. A container of the character described comprising:

a base assembly and cover assembly,

said base assembly including a hollow receptacle open at the top and having an annular locking ridge on its sides adapted to coact with an annular locking ridge on the cover;

and an annular locking ridge on the inner portion of said skirt adapted to engage the corresponding looking ridge on the base;

an inner cover plate having an annular ridge on its upper surface intermediate its center and edge,

an arcuate preformed disc having a curved cross-section intermediate the outer cover and cover plate, and adapted to coact with the cover and cover plate by reversing the direction of its arched cross-section to a position where its center is urged upwardly and ultimately snaps up when the cover assembly is pushed onto said base and, when downward pressure is put on the center of said arcuate preformed disc, snaps to a position where the edges of the disc are in an upper position, thereby separating the cover and cover plate and unlocking the container by disengaging the locking ridge on the base and outer cover.

10. A container of the character described comprising:

a base member and a cover,

said base member including a hollow receptacle open at the top and having locking means on its side,

a cover means including a crowned upper surface of curved cross-section and having a depending skirt portion;

and a locking means on said skirt portion adapted to engage the corresponding locking means on said base assembly;

an inner cover plate having an integral annular ridge on its upper surface intermediate the center and edge of said plate;

said crowned portion of the cover means being adapted to snap downward when downward pressure is applied thereto and when contact is made with the annular ridge on the cover plate,

to separate the cover and cover plate and to separate the cooperating locking means on the base and cover,

and being adapted to snap upward when the cover means is urged downward by pressure on its outer portion onto the base to engage said locking means.

11. A container of the character described comprising:

a receptacle having a mouth of smaller diameter than its base and shaped to form an annular ridge at its upper extremity;

a locking means on the side of said receptacle;

a cover means including a crowned upper surface having a curved cross-section,

a depending skirt portion adapted to slidably engage the sides of the receptacle,

and locking means on said skirt adapted to engage said locking means on said base;

said crowned portion of the cover means being adapted to be flexed and snapped downward when downward '2 8 7 pressure is applied-on the center of said crowned porsure onto said base and being adaptedto engage said tion and on the point of contact between said annular locking means. ridge on the upper extremity of the receptacle and the lower side of the said crowned portion, References fitted in the fiie of this patent said pressure impeiled movement being adapted to slid- 5 UNITED STATES PATENTS l 0 V ably separate said C0161 means from the coopcratm 1,605,708 Clark NOV- 1926 locking means on said base, 7 said cover being adapted to snap upward when the edge 2,024,227 Jones Dec. 17, 1935 portions of said cover are urged downward by pres-

Claims

1. A CONTAINER OF THE CHARACTER DESCRIBED COMPRISING: A BASE, INCLUDING A HOLLOW RECEPTACLE OPEN AT THE TOP AND HAVING LOCKING MEANS ON ITS SIDE; A COVER ASSEMBLY INCLUDING AN OUTER COVER MEMBER HAVING A SUBSTANTIALLY FLAT UPPER SURFACE, HAVING A CENTRAL OPENING, A DEPENDING SKIRT PORTION, AND LOCKING MEANS ON THE SKIRT ADAPTED TO RELEASABLY ENGAGE THE LOCKING MEANS ON SAID BASE; AN INNER COVER PLATE HAVING AN INTEGRAL ANNULAR RIDGE ON ITS UPPER SURFACE INTERMEDIATE ITS CENTER AND THE PERIPHERY OF SAID PLATE; A CROWNED DISC HAVING A PORTION THEREOF OF CURVED CROSS SECTION; SAID DISC BEING ADAPTED TO FLEX AND SNAP DOWNWARD WHEN PRESSURE IS APPLIED THROUGH SAID COVER PLATE OPENING TO SEPARATE SAID COVER MEMBER AND SAID COVER PLATE AND TO SEPARATE THE COOPERATING LOCKING MEANS ON SAID BASE AND SAID COVER AND BEING ADAPTED TO SNAP UPWARD WHEN SAID COVER ASSEMBLY IS URGED DOWNWARD ONTO SAID BASE TO ENGAGE SAID LOCKING MEANS.