Flat pack guides

• US 9,731,876 B1
• Filed: 02/25/2014
• Issued: 08/15/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 02/26/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: CSP Technologies North America LLC (AptarGroup Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: CSP Technologies Incorporated (AptarGroup Incorporated)
• Inventors: Giraud, Jean-Pierre, Pichot, Herve
• Primary Examiner(s): Smalley, James N
• Application Number:
  US14/189,798
• Time in Patent Office: 1,267 Days
• Field of Search: 220833-835, 132293
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 11/12 of drawer-and-shell type
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2215/02 requiring the combination of simultaneous actions
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 43/16 hinged for upward or downward movement cigar or cigarette receptacles A24F15/00; suitcases, ètuis A45C; casings for cosmetic substances with hinged covers A45D40/22; toolboxes B25H3/02; hinges of door or similar type E05D ; boxes for switchboards with hinged covers H02B1/066
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 43/163 the container and the lid being made separately B65D43/161 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 43/22 Devices for holding in closed position, e.g. clips
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 50/04 requiring the combination of simultaneous actions, e.g. depressing and turning, lifting and turning, maintaining a part and turning another one B65D55/02 takes precedence; caps or covers secured by rotation with bayonet cams B65D41/06, B65D41/36

Abstract

A package comprises a latch including first and second legs and an actuating portion. The first and second legs are joined at an angle. The actuator portion of the first leg is positioned to be displaced generally laterally to displace the second leg generally longitudinally to release the latch. According to certain embodiments, the package includes a guide that at least assists in guiding the movement of the first leg when a user displaces an actuator portion. Further, the guide may prevent the first leg from bending when the latch is displaced. According to embodiments, the guide may mate with a slot positioned between an actuator portion and outer end of the first leg.

Claims

1. A package comprising:

a first shell portion having a base, a base sidewall extending generally upward about an outer edge of the base, an opening, and a guide extending from the base;

a second shell portion having first latching abutments; and

two latches for releasably latching the first shell portion and the second shell portion together, each of said two latches comprising;

a first leg and a second leg joined at an angle;

a second latching abutment secured to the second leg, the second latching abutment configured to engage a corresponding one of said first latching abutments when the second leg is in a latched position, and to be disengaged from said corresponding one of said first latching abutments when the second leg is in a released position; and

the first leg having a first end and an actuator portion, the actuator portion adapted to be displaced by a user to displace the second leg from a latched position to a released position, the first end including a slot positioned between the actuator portion and an outer end of the first end, the slot configured to engage a guide, positioned within said first shell portion, to limit the direction of movement of the first leg when the actuator portion is displaced.

2. The package of claim 1, wherein the slot engages the guide to limit the direction of movement of the first leg to a direction extending generally parallel to the first leg.

3. The package of claim 1, wherein the slot and guide have generally mating rectangular configurations.

4. The package of claim 1, wherein the guide has a wall thickness of approximately 0.8 mm.

5. The package of claim 1, wherein the slot has a width of approximately 0.9 mm.

6. The package of claim 1, wherein the guide is a wall extending between the base and the base sidewall.

7. The package of claim 1, wherein the slot slidably receives the guide.

8. The package of claim 1, wherein the guide inhibits the first leg from bending when a user displaces the actuator portion.

9. A package comprising:

a first shell portion having a base, a base sidewall extending generally upward about an outer edge of the base, and a guide extending from the base;

a second shell portion including first latching abutments; and

two latches for releasably latching the first shell portion and the second shell portion together, each of said two latches comprising;

a first leg and a second leg joined at an angle;

a second latching abutment secured to the second leg, the second latching abutment configured to engage a corresponding one of said first latching abutment when the second leg is in its latched position and to release said corresponding one of said first latching abutments when the second leg is in its released position; and

the first leg having an actuator portion, the actuator portion adapted to be displaced by a user to displace the second leg from a latched position to a released position, the actuator portion including a slot configured to engage a guide, positioned within said first shell portion, to limit the direction of movement of the first leg when the actuator portion is displaced.

10. The package of claim 9, wherein the slot engages the guide to limit the direction of movement of the first leg to a direction extending generally parallel to the first leg.

11. The package of claim 9, wherein the slot and guide have generally mating rectangular configurations.

12. The package of claim 9, wherein the guide has a wall thickness of approximately 0.8 mm.

13. The package of claim 9, wherein the slot has a width of approximately 0.9 mm.

14. The package of claim 9, wherein the guide is a wall extending between the base and the base sidewall.

15. The package of claim 9, wherein the slot slidably receives the guide.