Container for small articles with hidden cover locking device

• US 5,893,478 A
• Filed: 05/21/1996
• Issued: 04/13/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 07/04/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Nifco Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Nifco Incorporated
• Inventors: Maruoka, Hiroyuki
• Primary Examiner(s): Cronin, Stephen K.
• Assistant Examiner(s): HYLTON, ROBIN ANNETTE
• Application Number:
  US08/651,672
• Time in Patent Office: 1,057 Days
• Field of Search: 16/354, 224/542, 296/37.14, 296/37.8, 220/335, 220/334, 220/326, 220/324, 220/323, 220/264, 220/670, 220/671, 220/669, 220/675, 220/676, 295/DIG. 17, 312/326-329, 312/7.2, 312/7.1
• US Class Current: 220/827
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 7/04 in driver or passenger space , e.g. using racks B60R7/005, B60R7/08 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 83/32 for console boxes, e.g. between passenger seats

Abstract

A container for small articles is formed of a housing having a an opening at an upper face thereof, a cover movably attached to the housing, and a locking device. The cover moves between a closing position for closing the opening, and an opening position for opening the opening of the housing. The cover is located at one side of the housing in the opening position. The locking device includes a catcher having a latching portion therein and attached to the cover, and a striker attached to housing. When the cover is disposed to the closing position, the striker engages the latching portion to lock the cover at the closing position, and when the cover in the closing position is pushed, the striker engaged with the latching portion is released from the latching portion, so that the cover is moved to the opening position.

Claims

1. A container for articles comprising,

a housing having a box shape and an opening at an upper face thereof, said housing including a projecting portion therein extending inwardly from an outside of the housing to form a dent at the outside thereof;

a cover movably attached to the housing, said cover moving between a closed position for closing said opening and an open position for opening said opening, said cover having an arm extending from one side of the cover toward the housing in the closed position;

a locking device including a catcher having a latching portion therein and attached to the arm of the cover, and a striker attached to the housing to engage the catcher in the closed position, said striker being located at one side of the housing near the arm and at a position communicating with said dent so that when the cover is in the open position, the arm and the catch are located in the dent, said striker projecting downwardly from the housing and being locked and engaging with said latching portion to lock said cover at said slosed position when said cover is disposed to said closed position, said striker engaged with said latching portion and being released from said latching portion when said cover in said closed position is pushed at a position away from the arm to move the cover further toward the closed position so that the cover is moved to said open position; and

means for moving the cover to the open position.

2. A container according to claim 1, wherein said means for moving the cover to the open comprises a spring member situated between the cover and the housing for urging the cover toward the open position.

3. A container according to claim 2, wherein said cover has supporting portions extending downwardly from side portions thereof, each supporting portion having a hole and a gear around a periphery thereof, and said housing has pivot pins and dampers with gears at side portions thereof, each pivot pin engaging the hole and each gear of the damper engaging the gear of the supporting portion.

4. A container according to claim 3, wherein said housing has spring attaching portions at both sides thereof and leaf springs attached to the respective spring attaching portions.

5. A container according to claim 4, wherein said housing has at least two holding members therein, said holding members assuming a using position situated in the housing for holding a cup therein, and a non-using position situated in the cover when said cover is opened.