GB2205348A

GB2205348A - Latch fastening

Info

Publication number: GB2205348A
Application number: GB08713119A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Reginald William Breese
Original assignee: TOLY PRODUCTS
Current assignee: TOLY PRODUCTS
Priority date: 1987-06-04
Filing date: 1987-06-04
Publication date: 1988-12-07
Also published as: GB8713119D0

Abstract

The fastening for a lidded box such as a powder compact or other cosmetic container (2) comprises interengaging members (16, 34), one attached to the lid (32) and the others to container base (4), the member (16) being part of a bow spring (8), one end (10) of the bow spring being trapped against the base or lid and an opening button (26) being provided to apply an opening force along the length of the spring towards end (10) to cause the bow of the spring to increase to release the fastening. As shown button (26) projects through base side wall (22), and moves an arm (18) connected to the other end of the bow spring to apply opening force thereto. The arm (18) and spring (8) are formed as a moulding of e.g. acetal resin. <IMAGE>

Description

IMPROVEMENTS RELATING TO CATCHES This invention relates to catches for lidded boxes such as powder compacts and other cosmetic containers.

Inter-engaging, snap-action catches for such boxes are well-known. Conventionally, one catch member is part of a bow spring and a free button is slideably located in the bow of the spring and acts to directly push the spring catch member away from the fixed catch member and release the catch.

Cosmetic containers and powder compacts are, when used with the lid open, usually held in one hand with a user's thumb to one side of the container. With a conventional snap-catch container, the catch is opened by thumb action to the front edge and the container is then turned to the above-mentioned side thumb holding position.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a catch for a lidded box or like container wherein the catch can be opened b action on the side of the box.

According to the present invention, a catch for a lidded box or like container comprises inter-engaging catch members respectively attached to the lid and the box base, one of the catch members being rigidly attached te the lid or the base and the other catch merger bering part of a bow spring, one end of the bow sprIng being trapped against the base or iic and meats being provided to applv an opening force to the other end of the bow spring and directed along the length thereof towards the trapped end; operation of the opening means causes the bow of the spring to increase and release the catch.

In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, an opening button is provided in the side of the box and a relatively rigid operating linkage connects the opening button to said other end of the bow spring.

The above and other features of the present invention are illustrated, by way of example, in the Drawings, wherein: Fig. 1 is a plan of a cosmetic container having a catch in accordance with the present invention; and, Fig. 2 is a detailed, enlarged section on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

As shown a generally rectangular cosmetic container 2 has a base 4 with a generally L-shaped catch 6 held within the front and side edges of the base. Catch 6 is a single moulding of a suitable resilient plastics material, such as acetal resin, and has one arit 8 formed as a bow spring located just behind the front edge of tre base. The free end 10 of the sprinr -~ arm 8 has a cylindrical bush 12 that pivots about a pin 14 rising from t;e bottor of the base 4. centre part of spring 8 has a laterally projecting flange 16 (see Fi. 2).

The other arm 18 of the L-section catch 6 is of thicker cross-sedtion than sprint arm 8 and is thus less flexible. The free end 26 of arm 18 is trapped against the base side wall 22 by a vertically extending flange 24 that is integral with side wall 22. The centre part of arm 18 is formed as an elongate button 26 that projects through the base side wall 22. The junction of the catch arms 8 and 18 is provided with a reinforcing fillet 28 and a further support pin 30 rises from the base bottom between the fillet 28 and the "bow" of spring 8.

A lid 32, hinged to the base 4, has a hook-shaped catch member 34 depending from the lid to engage under flange 18 on bow spring 8.

The resilience of spring 8 tends to "flatten-out" the bow and force the two catch parts together.

A pressure on button 26, directed to the left in the Drawing and shown b the arrow, is directly transmitted to the bow spring 8; owing to the greater rigidity of arm 18 t spring 8. Reaction against pivot pin 14, guided b sort pin 3O, and under the pressure along the length o the spring, causes the bow to increase as shout in dottec line of Fig. 1 and, the catch hook member 16 and 34 te dis-engage an release the catch.

Inwards movement cf bttcn 26 is perritted by some flexibility in catch arm 18 and by the arm end 20 sliding under flange 24. Once the button is released, the resilience of bow spring 8 returns the button to its original position.

The upper surface 26 of spring flange 16 and the lower surface 38 of lid catch member 34 are bevelled to that, when the lid 32 is closed there is a cams.ing action between the catch members to force spring 8 to increase the bow and thereby permit catch 34 to hook under and engage spring catch member 16.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A catch for a lidded box or like container and comprising inter-engaging catch members respectively attached to the lid and the box base, one of the catch members being rigidly attached to the lid or the base and the other catch member being part of a bow spring; wherein one end of the bow spring is trapped against the base or lid and means are provided to apply an opening force to the other end of the bow spring and directed along the length thereof towards the trap end; operation of the opening means causing the bow of the spring to increase and release the catch.

2. A catch as claimed in claim 1, wherein an opening button is provided in the side of the box and a relatively rigid operating linkage connects the opening button to said other end of the bow spring.

3. A catch as claimed in claim 2, wherein the bow spring, the opening button and the operating linkage are a single L-shaped moulding of resilient plastics material, the bow spring being formed in one arm of the moulding and the opening button in the other arm.

4. A catch as claimed in any of claims 1 to 3, wherein said one end of the bow spring is pivotally attached to the base.

A A. catch as claimed in claims

5 and 4, wherein t free end of the opening button arm is longitudinally, slidingly engaged by the base.

6. A catch for a lidded box or like container substantially as described with reference to or as shown by the Drawings.