Latching mechanism

• US 6,189,779 B1
• Filed: 09/08/1999
• Issued: 02/20/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 09/09/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Michael Cranwell, Richard Verdicchio
• Original Assignee: Michael Cranwell, Richard Verdicchio
• Inventors: Verdicchio, Richard, Cranwell, Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): Elkins, Gary E.
• Application Number:
  US09/390,212
• Time in Patent Office: 531 Days
• Field of Search: 229/148, 229/149, 229/150, 229/155, 229/194, 229/195
• US Class Current: 229/155
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 5/2057 Inter-engaging self-locking flaps B65D5/4254 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 75/14 in sheets or blanks folded-up around all sides of the contents from a portion on which the contents are placed

Abstract

A latching mechanism is provided for a container such as a card wallet, folder, small box, small carton, etc. having a closure flap or lid overlying another panel of the container. The container is formed of stiff sheet material such as card stock. Interengaging parts of the latching mechanism are an embossed catch rising from a slit in an under panel and a debossed, stamped out, tongue to engage in the slit in the overlying flap.

Claims

1. A container closable through an upper flap of stiff sheet material which overlies an under portion of the container;

the upper flap latching with the under portion through a latching mechanism;

the latching mechanism comprising;

a projecting catch on the under portion to engage an aperture in the upper flap;

the projecting catch being formed by an embossed tongue of the under portion rising from a root to an upper edge of an arcuate slit in the lower portion concave towards the roof of the embossed tongue;

the aperture having a shape selected from a gibbosity and a segment of a circle, the upper flap being biassed to slide over the under portion to engage a leading edge of the aperture under said upper edge of the arcuate slit, and the upper flap being slidable over the under portion against bias to disengage said leading edge of the aperture under said upper edge of the arcuate slit.

2. A container as claimed in claim 1 in the form of a card wallet, the stiff sheet material being folded to form at least a wallet back panel and a top formed by an upper flap overlying an upper flap, said projecting catch being on the under flap and said aperture being in the upper flap, the position of said projecting catch and the aperture and folds in the stiff sheet material being such as to bias said leading edge of said aperture under said upper edge of said arcuate slit.

3. A container as claimed in claim 2 in which each of the upper flap and the under flap are joined to the back panel through side panels.

4. A container as claimed in claim 2 in which the stiff sheet material is card stock.

5. A container as claimed in claim 2 in which a leading margin of said aperture is debossed to facilitate engagement of said leading edge under said upper edge of said slit.

6. A container as claimed in claim 5 in which said leading margin joins a main body of said upper flap through a stamped coin line.

7. A container as claimed in claim 2 in which a trailing margin of said aperture adjacent a trailing edge is embossed to conform with and to fit above said embossed tongue.

8. A container as claimed in claim 7 in which said trailing margin joins the main body of said upper flap through a stamped coin line.

9. A container as claimed in claim 2 in which said root of said tongue joins a main body of said under flap through a stamped coin line.

10. A container as claimed in claim 2 in which the upper flap joins an adjoining side panel along a proximal edge through a coined fold line to each side of a leverage tongue;

the lever being formed by a short uncoined portion of said proximal edge and a cut out portion of said adjoining side panel, the cut out portion connecting ends of the uncoined portion.

11. A container as claimed in claim 2 in which the aperture is a gibbosity of which the leading edge is less curved than the trailing edge.