CONTAINER HAVING MAGNETIC AND LATCH FASTENING MEANS

• US 3,831,986 A
• Filed: 08/09/1972
• Issued: 08/27/1974
• Est. Priority Date: 08/09/1972
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Sanzo Kobayashi
• Original Assignee: Sanzo Kobayashi
• Inventors: Kobayashi, Sanzo
• Primary Examiner(s): Hall, George T.
• Application Number:
  US05/279,182
• Time in Patent Office: 748 Days
• Field of Search: 220/55K 206/DIG.33 292/144,2D,251.5 70/276
• US Class Current: 292/201
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 47/0038 using permanent magnets
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 292/1082 Motor
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 292/11 Magnetic
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/7057 Permanent magnet

Abstract

A container such as a pencil case comprises a bottom tray and a cover which is engagable over the tray and which is advantageously pivotally connected to one side thereof and is positionable in a closed position in which an eyelet portion of a latching mechanism is engaged within a receiving opening of a hollow space in which a latch member is pivotally mounted. The device includes magnetically operable latch means for locking the cover into position closing the tray and which includes the eyelet on one of the parts, e.g., the cover and a hook mounted in a recess of the other part, i.e., the bottom portion. Spring means are associated with the latch for biasing it toward one of the operating positions, e.g., a latched or closed position and a magnet is employed which may be inserted into a receiving recess of the case for moving the latch to the other of the positions, e.g. an open position. The cover advantageously includes an additional magnet for holding a plate secured on the cover part in a magnetically closed position. The container advantageously includes an outer cover wall part covering at least some of the inner walls thereof and the top or lid is hinged to the outer portion of the double wall of the part.

Claims

1. A container characterized by a bottom portion having side walls with a hollow area with a top hole accessible from the top of said bottom portion and a top cover overlying said bottom portion, a hook piece made of magnetic material being freely rotatably supported on its axis in the hollow area of said bottom portion and being freely accessible to the underside of the hole, an elastic member biasing said hook piece to a restoring position, a magnetic member located in said side walls in a position adjacent the back edge of said hook piece, and a locking member carried by said cover alignable with the hole and which is accessible to the range of the hook piece through said hole when the container is closed, said hook piece having a hoOk portion engageable into said locking member to lock the container.

2. A container, comprising a bottom tray part and a cover part engagable over said tray, and magnetically operable latch means for locking said cover in a position closing said tray including a projecting eyelet an eyelet on one of said tray and cover parts and a latch pivotally mounted on the other said tray and cover parts, said latch having a hook portion engageable into said eyelet to lock said parts in a closed position, said latch hook portion being pivotal away from the closed position to a fully opened position in which it clears the eyelet and releases it to permit opening of said cover, spring biasing means urging said latch hook portion toward one of said closed and opened positions, and magnetic attraction means stronger than said spring biasing means urging said latch hook portion toward the other of said opened and closed positions.

3. A container according to claim 1, wherein said tray part comprises upstanding front and side walls, said cover being pivotally connected to the upper end of one of said side walls and having said eyelet, the other of said side walls having a recess containing said latch.

4. A container according to claim 3, wherein said tray includes at least some walls of a solid plastic inner layer with an outer layer of a double wall plastic formation with a core therebetween, said cover being formed as a portion of said outer layer.

5. A container according to claim 2, wherein said bottom tray part comprises a substantially rectangular tray having a side wall with a recess portion having an opening at the top thereof, said latch being pivotally mounted within said recess portion below the opening, said cover having said eyelet being engagable over said side wall to cause the eyelet to move into said opening and engage with said latch, said cover including a recess adjacent said latch for accommodating said magnetic attraction means.

6. A container according to claim 5, wherein said magnetic attraction means comprises a permanent magnet said cover having a front wall with a widened portion defining said recess for said latch and a second recess alongside said recess for accommodating said permanent magnet.

7. A container comprising a bottom tray having end, and side walls and a bottom, a cover pivoted to one of said side walls and being movable to a closed position in which it overlies the other of said side walls, the other of said side walls having a top surface with an opening and being hollow below said opening, a latch member pivoted on said cover side wall in said hollow and having a hook portion disposed below said opening, said cover having a projecting loop member aligned with the opening and being engagable over said latch to displace said latch, spring means biasing said latch to rotate to a position in which it is urged toward alignment with said opening, and a magnet carried in said side wall for attracting said latch against said biasing means to release said hook portion from said loop member to permit opening of said cover.

8. A container according to claim 7, including a magnetically attractable plate carried on said cover and a holding magnet carried on said tray portion in alignment with said plate for holding said cover in a closed position.