US3256892A

US3256892A - Molded plastic containers with concealed integral hinge

Info

Publication number: US3256892A
Application number: US237823A
Authority: US
Inventors: Jr Vincent J Esposito
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1962-11-15
Filing date: 1962-11-15
Publication date: 1966-06-21
Anticipated expiration: 1983-06-21
Also published as: DE1206353B; NL300526A; BE640083A; GB1063108A

Description

June 21, 1966 v. J. ESPOSITO, JR

MOLDED PLASTIC CONTAINERS WITH CONCEALED INTEGRAL HINGE Filed NOV. 15, 1962 4 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR. W/vc E/W' J BPas/m fie.

June 21, 1966 V. J. ESPOSITO, JR

MOLDED PLASTIC CONTAINERS WITH GONCEALED INTEGRAL HINGE Filed NOV. 15, 1962 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 [III V 124 l M2 20 /wz 30c E. F

INVENTOR V/A/CEA/r JBPas/w JZQ BY June 21, 1966 v, J, sposrro, JR 3,256,892

MOLDED PLASTIC CONTAINERS WITH GONCEALED INTEGRAL HINGE Filed Nov. 15, 1962 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 MM fin fim mm MLT MLI United States Patent 3,256,892 MOLDED PLASTIC CONTAINERS WITH CON- CEALEI) INTEGRAL HINGE Vincent J. Esposito, Jr., 31 Jackson Ave., Wayne, NJ. Filed Nov. 15, 1962, Ser. No. 237,823 11 Claims. (Cl. 132-83) This invention rel-ates to the manufacture of molded plastic articles and more particularly is directed to molded plastic cases having folding plastic hinges and a method of manufacture.

Among the objects of the invention is to general-1y improve molded plastic containers having top and bottom casing halves connected by a relatively thin flexible folding hinge and the method of manufacture thereof, which method shall eliminate and correct differential shrinkage and warpage of the casing halves in molding, which container construction shall include an intermediate element integrally connected by a folding hinge to one container casing half and formed for snap-in engagement with a second casing half and thereby be adaptable to a wide variety of applications ranging from those requiring a relatively shallow casing, such as picture frames, to those requiring relatively greater depth to serve as boxes of various kinds including ladys cosmetic powder cases, cigarette cases, vanity dusting powder boxes, tissue boxes, absorbent cotton dispensers and the like, which intermediate element shall permit its adaptation to functions in addition to that of properly locating the integral hinge to bring the two casing halves in proper hinged alignment, namely, as a bezel ring for retaining a mirror in the cover of a ladys compact, an element formed to carry a plurality of keys in a key case, a support and retaining means for a locked-in liner forming a sealed compartment in a vanity dusting powder box and means for providing additional compartments in a wallet, which folding hinge shall be neat in appearance and substantially hidden from view when the container is closed, which method and container construction shall be adaptable to low cost quantity production eliminating all hardware and separable parts requiring costly assembly and labor, which container construction shall have an overall attractive appearance, be foolproof in operation and rugged to withstand rough usage and which shall be practical and efiicient to a high degree in use.

Other objects of the invention will in part be obvious and in part hereinafter pointed out. The'invention accordingly consists of features of construction, combinations of elements, arrangements of parts and steps of' method of manufacture which will be exemplified in the constructions and method hereinafter described, the scope of the application of which will be indicated in the claims following:

In the accompanying drawings in which possible illustrative embodiments of the invention are shown:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a molded piece in the manufacture of a container embodying the invention shown in a spread flat condition of molding, the casing half on the right forming the top cover of the container being shown with its top exterior surface facing upward and integrally connected to an intermediate member in the form of a bezel ring, the casing half on the left forming a bottom container portion being shown with its interior side facing upward and integrally connected -through a hidden hinge element to the bezel ring, the

sprue and runners being shown in broken lines.

FIG. 2 is a side view of the molded piece shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a plan view of the molded piece shown in FIG. 1, but turned upside down.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken through a mold showing the piece being molded substantially as seen in FIG. 2.

FIGS. 5, 6 and 7 are sectional views taken substantially on lines 5-5, 66 and 7-7, respectively, in

FIG. 4.

FIG. 8 is a side view of the molded piece shown in FIG. 1, showing the manner of assemblying the mirror in the container cover to be retained by the bezel ring to form a ladys compact.

FIG. 9 is a side view of the compact fully assembled with the cover in open position.

FIG. 10 is a front view of the compact fully assembled I taken substantially along line 1313 in FIG. 11.

FIG. 14 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken on line 1414 in FIG. 12.

FIG. 15 is a sectional view of a modified form of the invention suitable for use as a dressing table powder box in which the intermediate bezel ring is enlarged to form a support for a preformed liner cooperating with the bottom container portion to provide a closed receptacle for face or bath powder, the top and bottom casing halves and the intermediate ring bearing the liner being shown spread flat in the manner similar to FIG. 2, the bottom casing half and the intermediate bezel ring having an exterior interlocking means.

FIG. 16 is a sectional view of the assembled powder box shown in FIG. 15.

FIG. 17 is a sectional view of another modified form of the invention similar to that shown in FIG. 15, but in which the bottom casing half and the intermediate bezel ring has an interior interlocking means, and

FIG. 18 is a sectional view of the assembled powder box shown in FIG. 17.

Referring in detail to the drawings, 20 denotes a molded piece embodying the invention shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 in the spread flat condition of removal from injection molding equipment after manufacture in accordance with the improved method hereinafter described. Piece 20, molded of an elastomeric plastic resin, such as, polypropylene, linear polyethylene or the like material having tough foldable tear resistant properties satisfying the requirements for an integral hinge, is seen to comprise a first casing half or cover 21 integrally connected by a relatively thin foldable link 22 to intermediate bezel ring 23 and a second casing half or bottom container portion 24 integrally connected by a relatively thin folding hinge 25 to bezel ring 23 at a position opposite link 22. Cover 21 has a top wall 21a and a peripheral side wall 21b terminating in a rim edge having an exterior flange 21c upstanding from an interior shoulder 21d. Likewise, bottom container portion 24 has a bottom wall 24a and a peripheral side wall 24b terminating in a rim edge having an interior flange 24c upstanding from an exterior shoulder 24d, flange 24c and shoulder 24d being sized to engage shoulder 21d and flange 210, respectively, of cover 21 providing a closure joint between bottom casing half 24 and cover 21 when in assembly as compact as shown in FIG. 13. Side wall 21b is also formed with a pair of

recesses

21g and 21h located in alignment with foldable link 22 and folding hinge 25,

recesses

21g and 21h extending below shoulder 21d dividing the latter and flange 210 into two sections.

A feature of the invention is the provision of a folding hidden hinge between two casing halves, namely, the cover and container portion, of a case. This is generally accomplished vby utilizing an intermediate attachment member integrally molded with the folding hinge and one of the casing halves, the intermediate member being suitably attached to the other casing half to position the hinge in a substantially concealed manner for proper hinged coaction between the casing halves. To this end, folding hinge 25 may be wedge shaped having the base, that is, the thick end of the wedge, integral with bezel ring 23, the thin end or apex of the wedge forming the fold line or bight 25a of the hinge being located in close proximity to side wall 24b of bottom container portion 24 and joining a ledge 246 which extends across shoulder 24d. As is clear from FIGS. 1 and 2, folding hinge 25 has a relatively flat surface 25b which, when bezel ring 23'and container portion 24 are in side by side spread flat relation, extends in a plane common to the outer edge of bezel ring 23 and the upper surfaces of ledge 24c and flange 24c.

Attachment between bezel ring 23 and cover 21 in the assembly of compact 120 may be accomplished by a tongue and groove arrangement, shown in FIGS. 1, 2, 3, 7 and 13 as a pair of arcuate tongues 23a extending radially from bezel ring 23 to engage registering undercut grooves 21e formed on the interior of cover side wall 21b and a short tongue 23b aligned beneath folding hinge 25 to engage short undercut groove 21 Bezel ring 23 when assembled in cover 21 seats the wedge shaped portion of folding hinge 25 in recess 2171, which is beveled inwardly'to conform to the wedge shape bringing surface 25b substantially into the plane of shoulder 21d. This arrangement permits the hinge to be substantially concealed in close proximity to abutting side Walls 21]) and 24b of the closed compact 120 as will be clear from FIGS. 11 and 14.

Foldable link 22 is positioned to extend from bezel ring 23 diametrically opposite folding hinge 25 and is seen to comprise two oppositely extending wedge shaped

bosses

22a and 22b having their apex regions joining to form a fold line or bight 22c. Boss 22a has its base integral with bezel ring 23 and a surface 22d lying in the plane common to the outer edge of bezel ring 23 and surface 25b of folding hinge 25. The other boss 22b has its base, which may be thicker than that of boss 22a, integral with side wall 21b of cover 21. Foldable link 22, when bezel ring 23 is in assembly with cover 21 as compact 120, may be formed to provide one element of a closure fastening means, namely, a lip 22e, integrally formed with boss 22a adjacent bight 220 to extend substantially at right angles to the plane of surface 22d. Side wall 2112 has a recess 21g aligned with boss 22b and extending below shoulder 21d, recess 21g being beveled inwardly from the surface of boss 22b to accommodate boss 22a when link 22 is in folded position with bezel ring 23 seated in cover 21.

A companion element of the closure fastening means of compact 120 may be provided on the exterior of side wall 24b of bottom container portion 24 as a pair of ledges 24f spaced to receive lip 22e therebetween. To effect a retentive engagement, opposite edges 22 of lip 22e may be slightly divergent in a downward direction engaging similarly divergent opposite facing ends 24g of ledges 24 as shown in FIG. 12. Rounding of the corners of ends 24g facilitate snap-in and snap-out engagement of the parts.

The improved method embodying the invention'contemplates the use of injection molding equipment shown in FIGS. 4, 5, 6 and 7 as fixed platen M1 and movable platen M2 which may have one or more cavities for molding piece 20 as an integral unit in spread flat con-' dition. The plastic is injected through a centrally located sprue 20a having a pair of runners 20b extending perpendicular thereto and terminating in gates 20c which conduct the molten plastic material symmetrically into opposite sides of bezel ring cavity 123. The latter in turn serves as a runner for conducting the molten plastic in opposite directions through link gate 122 into cover cavity 121 and through hinge gate 125 into bottom container portion cavity 124. In this manner the molten plastic is seen to radiate outwardly from bezel ring cavity 123 and simultaneously fill cover cavity 121 and bottom container portion cavity 124. This provides a balanced flow and pressure condition of the molten plastic eliminating cold welding within a section of the piece and reducing to a minimum any differential in shrinkage and warpage between the cover and bottom casing sections for a superior molded product.

The assembly of compact will now be apparent. After piece 20, molded to provide the elements shown in the drawing and hereinbefore described, is removed from the mold and trimmed of the sprue and runners, mirror 26, sized and shaped to snugly fit into cover 21, is placed with its back against the interior surface of top wall 21a and bezel ring 23 is folded, as shown in FIG. 8, along fold line 220 of link 22 to register with cover 21. Bezel ring 23, upon application of pressure, will readily snap into locked position in cover 21 with tongues 23a and short tongue 23b of bezel ring 23 engaging grooves 21e and short groove 21], respectively. The folding of link 22 along fold line 22c seats boss 22a in recess 21g and aligns lip 222 with boss 22b as an extension beyond flange 210, as seen in FIGS. 9, 10, l1 and 14. As bezel ring 23 is snapped into place, the wedge shaped portion of folding hinge 25 seats in recess 21h and locates fold line 25a in a substantially concealed position between

side walls

21b and 24b as is clear from FIG. 14.

Compact 120 is now ready to receive :a packet of face powder or other cosmetic preparation (not shown) in bottom container portion 24 in the well understood manner. Although any suitable snap locking means may be utilized to retain cover 21 in closed position, as shown in FIGS. 10 and 12, such locking is effected by engagement of lip 22e between spaced ledges 247. This may readily be accomplished by closing cover 21 and holding compact 120 between thumb and forefinger, exerting a slight pressure to snap lip 22e into engagement between ledges 24f. To open compact 120 the finger is placed beneath lip 222 and a slight upward force will disengage lip 22e.

Two modifications of the invention are illustrated in FIGS. 16 and 18 as dressing table powder boxes in which the bezel ring is modified to retain a preformed liner and the casing half corresponding to the cover in compact 1 20 is deepened to be utilized as a bottom container portion while the other casing half is made relatively shallow to serve as 'a cover for the box.

Molded piece 30 of modified construction isshown in FIG. 15 in spread flat condition to comprise a first casing half or bottom container portion 31 connected by a relatively thin foldable link 32 to intermediate ring 33 and a second casing half or cover 34 integrally connected by a relatively thin folding hinge 35 to ring 33. Bottom container portion 31 has a bottom wall 3 1a and a side wall 311) terminating in a rim edge having a peripheral bead 31c. Cover 34 has a top wall 34a and a side wall 34b terminating in a rim edge having an exterior flange 34c upstanding from an interior shoulder 34d. Intermediate ring 33, relatively larger than bezel ring 23 of molded piece 20 and shaped to perform a different but analogous function, telescopes into bottom container portion 31 and has a large peripheral ledge 33a formed with an undercut groove 33b on the underside thereof snapping over and interlocking with bead 31c. The upper side of ledge 33a is provided with an upstanding flange 33c providing an exterior shoulder 33d, flange 33c and shoulder 33d being sized to engage shoulder 34d and flange 340, respectively, of cover 34 as a closure joint for powder as shown in FIG. 16. Folding hinge 35 integrally connects the edge of exterior flange 34c of cover 34 to the edge of exterior shoulder 33d of peripheral ledge 33a and has a suitable fold line similar to fold line 25a of hinge 25 to provide hinging of the parts. Likewise, foldable link 32 which connects bead 310 of bottom container portion 31 to peripheral ledge 33a of ring 33 has a suit-able fold line similar to fold line 220 of link 22, a recess 332 is provided in the underside of ledge 33a communicating with groove 33b to receive link 3-2 when the latter is folded over for telescoping interengagement of ring 33 with bottom container portion 31.

Intermediate ring 33 supports a liner 36 seen in FIG. 15 as dish-shaped to provide a bottom wall 36a, a side wall tioned to provide a powder puff space 40b.

36b and a peripheral flange 36c extending radially from the upper edge of side wall 36b. Liner 36 may be formed of paper, relatively thin plastic or metal -foil and is sized and shaped to snugly fit into ring 33 with flange 36c extending over free edge 33 In use, intermediate ring 3-3, fitted with liner 36 is held in the position shown in FIG. 15 so that the bottom wall of liner 36a forms a compartment 30a which maybe filled with bath or dusting powder (not shown). Bottom container portion 31 is then folded over at link 32 and snapped into engagement with intermediate ring 33, the latter being properly sized so that edge 33 retains flange 360 of liner 36 against bottom wall31a. This completely closes compartment 30a and when po wder box 130 is inverted as shown in FIG. 16, cover 34 is swingably attached to the bottom container portion of the box by integral hinge 35 and may be secured in closed position by suitable means, such as lip 34e integrally formed to extend from side wall 34b at a position diametrically opposite hinge 35 and having an enlarged end 34 which may releasably engage under ledge 33a. When box 130 is closed, side wall 34b of cover 34 is proportioned to provide a space 30b above the inverted liner bottom wall 36a to accommodate a powder pufi. (not shown). The user of powder box 130 filled with dusting powder opens cover 34 and merely perforates the inverted liner bottom wall 36a in the well understood manner.

Molded piece 40 and powder box 140 shown in FIGS. 17 and 18, respectively, are similar to molded piece 30 and powder box 130 in comprising bottom container portion 41 having bottom wall 410: and side wall 41b, link 42, intermediate ring 43, hinge 45 and cover 44 having top Wall 44a and side wall 44b. Molded piece 40 differs from piece 30 in that the interlocking means between bottom container portion 41 and ring 43 is internal with respect to the bottom container portion instead of external. To this end, side wall 41b of bottom container portion 41 terminates in an exterior flange 41c upstanding from an interior shoulder 41d, flange 41c and shoulder 41d engaging exterior shoulder 44d and interior flange 44c, respectively, of cover 44 providing a closure joint between bottom container portion 41 and cover 44. Intermediate ring 43 is sized to -fit entirely within bottom container portion 41 and has an annular tongue or .rib 41a on the exterior surface thereof which on assembly snaps into annular groove 41a formed on the interior surface of side wall 41b spaced from shoulder 41d. A suitable recess 41] is provided in flange 41c and extends below shoulder 41d to accommodate foldable link 42, the latter being integrally formed to extend from the bottom of recess 41 and having a suitable fold line adjacent side wall 41b as will be clear from FIGS. 17 and 18. A second recess 41g, diametrically opposite recess 41] is provided in flange 41c and shoulder 41d to seat hinge 45, the latter being integrally formed to extend from a boss provided on shoulder 44d of cover '44 with a suitable fold line positioned substantially between side wall 41b and 44 when cover 44 is in closed position as seen in FIG. 18. A lip 44:: is integrally formed to extend from side wall 44b and has a notch 44 for releasably engagmg a registering project-ion 41h formed on the exterior of side wall 41b to serve as a securing means for cover 44 when in closed position.

In forming powder box 140, intermediate ring 43 may also be fitted with linear 36 which cooperates with bottom container portion 41 to provide compartment 40a in the same manner as liner 36 cooperates with ring 33 and The concealed integral hinge embodying the invention contemplates a foldable connection between one casing 'half of a container and an intermediate member which in turn may be integrally connected to a second casing half of the container as are molded

pieces

20, 30 and 40 or the second casing half may be molded as a separate piece. It will thus be apparent that the latter alternative permits each casing half to be made in a different color or of different material and requires the omission of

foldable links

22, 32 and 42 and associated structure.

It is to be understood that this invention contemplates further modification of molded

pieces

20, 30 or 40 to provide a wide variety of containers. For example, the facility with which bezel ring 23 snaps into and out of cover 21 suggests a picture frame in which the ring retains a picture and transparent protective sheet in one of the container portions. Likewise, modification of the bezel ring to provide hook means for attachment of keys or to retain an insert which carries such hook means will render a key case of simple and novel construction. Other slight modifications of the construction will result in cigarette cases, tissue or absorbent cotton dispensing containers and the like. It is also contemplated that

closed compartments

30a and 40a may be filled with any suitable ma terial in accordance with the desired use of the respective containers.

It is thus seen that there is provided improved molded plastic containers with concealed integral hinge and a method of manufacture thereof in which the several ob- 'jects of the invention are achieved and which are Well adapted to meet conditions of practical use.

As various possible embodiments might be made in the above invention and as various changes might be made in the containers and method above set forth it is to be understood that all the matters herein set forth or shown in the accompanying drawings are to be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

Having thus described my invention I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent:

1. A molded piece of elastorneric resinous material for assembling into a hinged container comprising, a first casing half, an intermediate bezel ring, a relatively thin foldable link integrally connecting said first casing half with the intermediate bezel ring, a second casing half, and a relatively thin folding hinge integrally connecting said intermediate bezel ring with said second casing half, said hinge being located on said ring diametrically opposite said link, said ring having means for engaging said first casing half in telescoping position upon folding of said link, said hinge being located when the ring is in said telescoping position to bring the first and second casing halves together to form a hinged container having an edge to edge abutment closure, said hinge having a pivotal axis located substantially along said edge to edge abutment when the ring is in said telescoping position. 2. A container comprising first and second casing halves each having a peripheral side wall terminating in a rim edge for bringing together in a closure joint when the container is in closed position, an intermediate element secured to the first casing half and being connected to the second casing half by an integral folding hinge forming means for hingedlyinterconnecting the first and second casing halves, said hinge including a boss projecting from said intermediate element, the rim edge of said first casing half side wall being recessed to seat said boss, said hinge having a relatively thin told line between said boss and the rim edge of said second casing half positioned substantially between said peripheral side wall rim edges when the container is in closed position, said intermediate element, second casing half and integral hinge being molded of an elast-omeric resinous plastic material.

3. A compact construction comprising a cover and container portion each having a peripheral side wall terminat- 7 ing in a rim edge for bringing together in a closure joint when the container is in closed position, hinge means interconnecting said cover and container portion, a mirror positioned in said cover, a bezel ring adapted to snap into the cover in engagement with the peripheral wall thereof securing the mirror in position in the cover, .the rim edge of said cover having a recess, a fol-dable link integrally connecting the bezel ring with said cover, said link including a first boss projecting from the peripheral side wall of the cover in alignment with said recess and a second boss projecting from said bezel ring joining the first boss along a thin told line, a lip extending substantially at right angles to said second boss adjacent said told line, said second boss being positioned in said recess when the link is folded with said lip extending in alignment with the first boss and projecting as an element of a releasable catch for the compact to overlie an exterior surface of the container portion peripheral side wall, and a companion element of said catch integrally formed with the container portion peripheral side wall to engage said lip when the cover is closed over the container portion, said cover, foldable link and bezel ring being molded of an elastomeric resinous plastic material.

4. A molded piece of elastomeric resinous material for assembling into a hinged container comprising, a firs-t casing half having a peripheral wall terminating in a free edge, an intermediate bezel ring, a relatively thin t-oldable link integrally connecting said first casing half peripheral wall with the intermediate bezel ring, a second casing half having a peripheral wall terminating in a free edge and extending in a direction opposite to said first casing half peripheral wall, and a relatively thin folding hinge integrally connecting said intermediate bezel ring with said second casing half peripheral Wall adjacent said free edge, said hinge and link being diametrically opposite each other and constructed and arranged to told in opposite directions to telescope the intermediate bezel ring into said first casing half and locate said hinge to bring the first and second casing halves together in edge to edge abutment relation to form a hinged container.

5. A hinged container comprising a first casing half forming a cover, a second casing half forming a container portion having a bottom wall, a foldable plastic hinge connecting the cover to the container portion to swing from open to closed position, an intermediate ring having a rim edge, said ring telescopingly engaging said container portion with said rim edge adjacent said bottom wall, a dish shaped liner seated in said ring having aperipheral flange extending between said rim edge and said container portion bottom wall, said liner, intermediate ring and container portion bottom wall forming an inner closed chamber, said toldable plastic hinge, cover and intermediate ring being integrally formed of an elastomeric resinous plastic material to effect said connection between the cover and container portion.

6; A hinged container comprising first and second casing halves each having a peripheral side wall, an intermediate ring adapted to snap into the first casing half mengagement with said peripheral side wall thereof and being connected to the second casing half by :an integral folding hinge, a dish shaped liner seated in said ring having a peripheral [flange extending between said intermediate ring and a bottom wall of said first casing half, said liner, intermediate ring and first casing half bottom wall torming an inner closed chamber for said container, said first casing half, fol-dable hinge and intermediate ring being molded of ela-stomeric resinous plastic material.

7. The container defined in claim *6 in which said first casing half peripheral side wall terminates in a bead, said intermediate ring having a peripheral ledge formed with an undercut groove into which said bead snaps forming said engagement between-said intermediate ring and the first casing half peripheral side wall.

8. The container defined in claim 6 in which said intermediate ring and peripheral side wall engagement includes a tongue and groove snap-in interconnection located on the interior surface of said side wall and exterior surface of the ring.

9. The container defined in claim 6 in which said first casing half is formed independently of said second casing half and of a material having an appearance contrasting therewith.

10. A compact construction comprising a first casing half forming a cover, a second casing "half forming a container portion, a mirror positioned in said cover, a bezel ring attached to said cover and securing said mirror in position, a folding hinge integrally formed with said bezel ring and container portion of material having elastomeric properties and serving to pivotally interconnect said cover and container portion for closing in an edge to edge abutment relation, said hinge having a pivotal axis located substantially along said edge to edge abutment.

11. A container construction comprising a first casing half forming a cover and having a peripheral side wall formed with a free edge, a second casing .half forming a container portion and having a peripheral side wall formed with a free edge, an insert positioned in said cover, a bezel ring securing said insert in position, said ring and cover having a tongue and groove interconnection for retaining the ring in snap-in engagement with the cover, a foldable hinge integrally formed with said bezel ring and said container portion connecting the cover to the container portion when the bezel ring is in said snap-in engagement, said foldable hinge being located to swing said cover from an open position to an edge to edge abutment closure, and integrally formed hinge, bezel ring and container portion being formed of elastomeric plastic material.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,690,403 11/ 1928 Coryell 132-83 1,806,303 5/1931 McAtree 13283 1,936,465 11/1933 Whitlick 13283 2,125,040 7/ 1938 Younghusband 13279 2,542,263 2/1951 Schultz 1855 2,811,768 11/1957 Axelson 220-31 X 2,834,992 5 1958 Jupa 18-55 2,919,702 l/1960 Pinteau 13283 2,975,426 3/ 1961 Rabb 88--52 3,106,602 10/ 1963 Hartz 174-60 FOREIGN PATENTS 1,035,074 4/ 3 France.

RICHARD A. GAUDET, Primary Examiner.

JORDAN FRANKLIN, Examiner.

GREGORY MCNEILL, Assistant Examiner.

Claims

2. A CONTAINER COMPRISING FIRST AND SECOND CASING HALVES EACH HAVING A PERIPHERAL SIDE WALL TERMINATING IN A RIM EDGE FOR BRINGING TOGETHER IN A CLOSURE JOINT WHEN THE CONTAINER IS IN CLOSED POSITION, AN INTERMEDIATE ELEMENT SECURED TO THE FIRST CASING HALF AND BEING CONNECTED TO THE SECOND CASING HALF BY AN INTEGRAL FOLDING HINGS FORMING MEANS FOR HINGEDLY INTERCONNECTING THE FIRST AND SECOND CASING HALVES, SAID HINGE INCLUDING A BOSS PROJECTING FROM SAID INTERMEDIATE ELEMENT, THE RIM EDGE OF SAID FIRST CASING HALF SIDE WALL BEING RECESSED TO SEAT SAID BOSS, SAID HINGE HAVING A RELATIVELY THIN FOLD LINE BETWEEN SAID BOSS AND THE RIM EDGE OF SAID SECOND CASING HALF POSITIONED SUBSTANTIALLY BETWEEN SAID PERIPHERAL SIDE WALL RIM EDGES WHEN THE CONTAINER IS IN CLOSED POSITION, SAID INTERMEDIATE ELEMENT, SECOND CASING HALF AND INTEGRAL HINGE BEING MOLDED OF AN ELASTOMERIC RESINOUS PLASTIC MATERIAL.