Lunchbox with safety lock

• US 5,427,265 A
• Filed: 10/22/1993
• Issued: 06/27/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 10/22/1993
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Dart Industries Incorporated (Tupperware Brands Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Dart Industries Incorporated (Tupperware Brands Corporation)
• Inventors: Cautereels, Victor J. J., Ferris, Ian
• Primary Examiner(s): Shoap, Allan N.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Caretto, Vanessa
• Application Number:
  US08/140,385
• Time in Patent Office: 613 Days
• Field of Search: 220/318, 220/326, 220/338, 220/339, 220/755, 220/756, 220/768, 206/541, 206/542, 206/549, 206/1.5
• US Class Current: 220/318
• CPC Class Codes: A45C 11/20 Lunch or picnic boxes or the like
• CPC Class Codes: A45C 13/28 Combinations of handles with other devices
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 65/5276 parallel to the wing edge
• CPC Class Codes: E05C 19/06 in which the securing part if formed or carried by a spring and moves only by distortion of the spring, e.g. snaps

Abstract

A lunchbox including a lid and base pivotally engaged by snap together hinge assemblies and including a pivotal latch assembly and a separate lock assembly. The lock assembly includes a pair of locking collars on the pivoting handle on the base which engage a pair of lugs on the lid with withdrawal of the lugs being prevented in the carrying position of the handle.

Claims

1. A carrying box including first and second shells, each shell comprising a peripheral wall including a front wall portion and a rear wall portion, hinge means joining said rear wall portions for selective pivotal movement of said shells between a closed position overlying each other and closing said box, and an open position with said shells outwardly pivoted relative to each other, latch means comprising first and second selectively interlockable latch components, one on each of said shell walls remote from said rear wall portions, said latch components aligning and engaging in said closed position for retention of said shells against movement to said open position, a carrying handle, at least one mount on said first shell wall remote from said rear wall portion thereof, means engaging said handle to said mount for movement of said handle between a carrying position extending generally perpendicular to said first shell wall, and a release position remote from said carrying position, and lock means for locking said shells in said closed position independently of said latch means, said lock means comprising a first lock component on said handle and a second lock component on said second shell wall, said lock components being alignable and releasably engageable upon movement of said shells to said closed position and with said handle in said release position remote from said carrying position, said lock components locking against release upon movement of said handle from said release position toward said carrying position.

2. The carrying box of claim 1 wherein said means engaging said handle to said mount comprises pivot means for pivotal movement of said handle between said carrying position and said release position.

3. The carrying box of claim 2 wherein said first lock component comprises a keeper with an access opening therein, said second lock component comprising a lug receivable in said keeper through said access opening, said access opening aligning with said lug solely in said release position of said handle whereby withdrawal of said lug from said keeper is precluded in other than said release position.

4. The carrying box of claim 3 wherein said pivot means comprises a pivot pin on said mount, and an aperture defined in said handle and receiving said pin, said keeper comprising a collar on said handle encircling and coaxial with said aperture whereby said collar rotates, upon pivotal movement of said handle, about said pivot pin, said access opening being defined radially through said collar at an area on the periphery of said collar for radial introduction of said lug into said collar.

5. The carrying box of claim 4 wherein said latch means and said lock means are both mounted on said front wall portions.

6. The carrying box of claim 5 wherein said handle is substantially U-shaped and comprises a grip bar with laterally extending legs at opposite ends thereof, said pivot means being associated with one of said handle legs, with said pivot means aperture being defined in said one of said handle legs.

7. The carrying box of claim 6 including duplicate pivot means associated with the second one of said legs.

8. The carrying box of claim 7 wherein said lock means includes one of said first lock components on each handle leg, and one of said second lock components on said second shell wall aligned with each of said first lock components.

9. The carrying box of claim 8 wherein said latch components are aligned between said handle legs.

10. The carrying box of claim 9 wherein said first latch component comprises a latch, a pivot member integrally mounting said latch on said second shell wall, said latch including a catch and a pressure area for selective manipulation of said latch to release said latch catch, said second latch component including a latch keeper on said first shell automatically engaging and retaining said latch catch in said closed position of said shell for selective release by manipulation of said pressure area.

11. The carrying box of claim 10 wherein said hinge means comprises a retainer and a hinge panel on respective ones of said rear wall portions, said hinge panel having a living hinge defined thereacross, said hinge panel including an insert end to one side of said living hinge and releasably locked within said retainer and fixing said shells together for pivotal movement of said shells between open and close positions about said living hinge.

12. The carrying box of claim 11 wherein said pivot pin includes an enlarged head on the outer end thereof remote from the associated mount, said enlarged head including resiliently flexible peripheral edge portions, the associated pin receiving aperture including shoulder means for engagement inward of said head of said associated pivot pin upon forcible engagement of said head through said aperture.

13. The carrying box of claim 4 wherein said pivot pin includes an enlarged head on the outer end thereof remote from the associated mount, said enlarged head including resiliently flexible peripheral edge portions, the associated pin receiving aperture including shoulder means for engagement inward of said head of said associated pivot pin upon forcible engagement of said head through said aperture.

14. The carrying box of claim 1 wherein said hinge means comprises a retainer and a hinge panel on respective ones of said rear wall portions, said hinge panel having a living hinge defined thereacross, said hinge panel including an insert end to one side of said living hinge and releasably locked within said retainer and fixing said shells together for pivotal movement of said shells between open and close positions about said living hinge.