HUP0100104A2 - A closing device - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a closing structure (10), which is fixed on one side of or forms part of a storage part (11) for receiving dry or wet, preferably wet wipes. Storage part (11) has a stationary cover part (12) and a movable cover part (13), and the stationary cover part (12) has a device that allows the movable cover part (13) to slide in a plane parallel to the stationary cover part (12) from the storage to facilitate access to the content of section (11). The movable cover part (13) and the stationary cover part (12) are connected by at least one elastic element (21), which is elastically pre-tensioned in the closed state of the movable cover part (13), and the stationary cover part (12) and/or the movable cover part ( 13) includes means in the form of a latch (25) for holding the movable cover part (13) in the closed position, or for releasing the movable cover part (13) held in the pulled state through the flexible member (21) in order to access the contents of the storage device. In addition to one of the design forms of the invention, when the storage device can be easily transported outside the house, the combined height of the closing structure and the storage part is no more than 5 cm, preferably no more than 2.5 cm. HE

Description

Oi.d. b.

Locking mechanism

The invention relates to a closure device for a storage box, in particular for a storage box filled with dry or active ingredient-impregnated wet wipes.

Various types of wet wipe storage boxes are commercially available to which the present invention can be applied. Such storage boxes typically comprise a storage portion adapted to receive wet wipes for cleaning the user's skin and to remove them one after another from a stack, and a closure device is secured to the storage portion for closing the upper opening. This closure device comprises a fixed lid directly secured to the storage portion and a movable cap connected to a hinge secured to one side of an opening formed in the central region of the fixed lid through which one wipe can be removed one after another.

The following solutions relate to a closure/dispensing structure for a storage box for holding wet wipes. EP-A1-748 748 (published 18.12.1996) discloses a storage box for holding wet wipes, comprising a storage portion and a movable lid hinged to a fixed lid. A release latch combined with an elastic strip is used to automatically open the bundle. US 3 982 659 (published 28.09.1976) discloses a package for dispensing wet wipes. The opening comprises curved surfaces which are substantially free of sharp corners and which define a channel into which successive sheets are directed during dispensing. WO 96/06556 (published 7 March 1996) relates to a pile of moistened, zigzag-folded wipes which are retained by their free ends in a slot in a storage container by friction until they are pulled through by hand. A hinged cap is provided to keep the exposed portion of the wipe moist. EP-A1-629 560 (published 21 December 1994) discloses a cap with a hinged top cover. A rubbery elastic member is provided to automatically open the unit. JP-A-0 910 4484 (published on 22 April 1997) discloses a cover unit which is disposed at the opening of a flexible storage container. The cover unit has an opening for removing wet wipes and a slide.

The above-described closures have several disadvantages. The hinged cap forms a protrusion when the storage container is open, which makes the unit unstable, and if the stored wipes are baby wipes, a small child may grab or knock on it, thereby overturning or damaging the container. Furthermore, with such a hinged cap, the contents of the container can only be accessed from the front side, not from the back side, which is inconvenient for the user.

However, the user of such a storage unit is often in a situation where only one hand is free to open the container, although the previously presented containers cannot be opened with one hand.

70.165/BE is easy or automatic. Finally, if the hinged lid of a storage unit opens automatically, there is a risk that the hinged lid will pop off and injure the baby.

Furthermore, it appears that the vast majority of consumers use baby wipes away from home. The number of such wipes used away from home typically ranges from 15 to 25. Commercially available containers are generally large in size, such as those shown above, making them difficult to use outside the home.

Storage devices are available that have a storage portion and a hinged lid attached thereto. These storage units have a low height, making them easy to carry around. In most cases, the wet wipes are inserted so that they can be removed one by one from the container, which requires a shaped dispensing opening, for example with a tapered surface. Containers with a hinged lid do not allow for such removal of the inserted wipes.

Procter and Gamble EP 738 667 describes a portable container for wet wipes, which is provided with a dispensing opening for individual removal of the inserted wipes. Although the container disclosed in the patent has a hinged openable cap, the solution does not suffer from the stability problems that are usually encountered with such hinged caps.

One object of the invention is therefore to provide the user with a storage device for receiving dry or wet wipes, the closure mechanism of which is secure, easy to use and

70.165/BE is easy to handle, especially when only one hand is available to operate the structure and extract the contents, which makes the storage structure stable, especially in its open state, and which ensures easy and convenient access to the contents of the storage structure.

Another object of the invention is to provide a storage device that does not have protruding or sharp edges in the vicinity of the dispensing opening.

A further object of the invention is to provide a storage device in which the pop-up opening mechanism is not accessible from the inner surface of the storage device, especially during the refilling phase.

A further object of the invention is to provide a storage device in which the side containing the sliding lid portion does not need to be opened for the refilling operation, thus being protected against bending or damage.

Another object of the invention is to provide a storage device which is designed to be suitable for use outside the home.

The invention relates to a closure device that can be attached to or is part of a storage device, which storage device is used to receive, in particular, dry or wet wipes, but in particular, moistened wipes. The closure device has a fixed cover part and a movable cover part, and the fixed cover part has an element that allows the movable cover part to slide along a plane parallel to the fixed cover part in order to access the contents. Said fixed and movable cover parts are preferably connected by at least one elastic element,

70.165/BE which is in a prestressed state due to its elasticity in the closed state of the movable cover part. Said fixed and movable cover parts preferably have a releasable locking mechanism for locking the movable cover part in the closed state, or for releasing the movable cover part held in a prestressed state by the elastic element, which allows access to the contents of the storage device via a dispensing device. In one embodiment of the invention, when the storage device can be easily transported outside the house, the combined height of the locking mechanism and the storage part is not more than 5 cm, preferably not more than 2.5 cm.

The invention is described in more detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings, where:

- Figure 1 is a perspective view of the storage device according to the invention.

- Figure 2 is a top view of the standing cover section.

- Figure A3 is a bottom view of the standing cover part.

- Figure 4 is a side view of the movable cover part in section.

- Figure 5 is a top view of the movable cover part.

- Figure 6 is a side view of the closure mechanism in the open position.

- Figure 7 is a side view of the closure mechanism in the closed position.

- Figure 8 is a side view of the standing cover part according to the invention.

- Figure 9 shows a possible design of the closing mechanism

70.165/BE is the schematic image.

- Figure 10 is a side view in section of the closure device fitted into the rim of the storage part.

- Figures 11 and 12 are enlarged views of the closure device according to the invention in the open and closed positions.

- Figure 13 is a perspective view of a version of the invention particularly suitable for outdoor use.

1-10. The closure device 10 is shown, which is attached to or forms part of the storage part 11, which storage part 11 receives a portion of dry or wet wipes. The closure device has a fixed cover part 12 and a movable cover part 13, each of which is made of a suitable synthetic plastic and is connected by at least one elastic element 21 and a releasable closure mechanism 25, which holds the closure device 10 in the closed position. Optionally, the storage part can be filled with a flexible bag containing a charge of dry or wet wipes.

When the fixed cover part 12 is formed as a separate part from the storage part 11, it is integrally molded with the storage part 11, and the two parts are hingedly connected by a hinge 35. Said hinge is located at the rear of the storage structure, allowing the storage structure to be opened and closed, for example to fill the storage structure with a new portion of wipes.

Preferably, the combined height of the closure structure and the storage part (the total height of the storage structure in the closed state) is no more than 5 cm, preferably no more than 2.5 cm.

70.165/BE

In one embodiment of the invention, the storage part 11 has an upper opening 11a and an edge 11b extending around the outer edge of the opening 11c. The storage part is made of a suitable synthetic plastic in the shape of a generally rectangular parallelepiped.

In another embodiment of the invention, the storage part 11 has a second movable side, preferably on the lower side, which is closed by a removable lid so that the emptied storage part can be refilled with a new portion or roll of wipes. The lower surface of the storage part 11 is preferably larger than the upper surface to increase the stability of the storage part. Furthermore, the removable lid is made of a material that has such elasticity that it increases the tension between the storage part 11 and the removable lid.

The standing cover part 12 and the storage part 11 in both of the previously presented versions of the invention can be formed as part of the storage part 11, in which case it forms the upper part of the storage part 11, or it can be formed as a separate part that can be fitted to the storage part 11.

As shown in Figures 2, 3, 6 and 7, the stationary cover part 12 firstly has a top plate 14, on which at least one opening 15 is provided, over which the movable cover part 13 can be freely slid. Said opening 15 is preferably located on one side of the stationary cover part 12. Said stationary cover part 12 secondly has a side wall 16, which is injection-molded in one piece with the top plate 14. The stationary cover part 12 has a means, for example a guide rail, for guiding the movable cover part 13 to the stationary cover part 12.

70.165/BE to ensure its sliding in a plane parallel to the lid part in order to make the contents of the storage part 11 accessible through the opening 15. Preferably, especially when the contents of the storage part are dry or wet wipes, and particularly preferably when the contents are wet wipes, the stationary lid part 12 has a dispensing means 18, which is either part of the stationary lid part 12 or a separate element fixed to the stationary lid part 12. Said dispensing means 18 is located in the lower part of the stationary lid part 12. This dispensing means 18 has boundary surfaces 19 which are free from sharp transitions and form a delimited channel 20 through which the wipes can be fed one by one during use. The defined channel 20 is preferably S-shaped and has a width of preferably 20-60 mm, particularly preferably 55 mm. As a wipe passes through the channel 20, the leading edge of said wipe curls up around one arm 20a of the S-shaped opening, and when the next wipe is pulled out, its leading edge curls back around the opposite arm 20b of the S-shaped opening. This continues alternately as one and a further wipe are pulled out. This occurs because the wipes are folded in an alternating zigzag pattern, which causes the wipes to alternately pass through the front and then the back of the formation when pulled out.

In the case where the storage part is filled with a flexible bag containing the product to be dispensed, it is not necessary for the dispensing mechanism to be attached to or integrally molded with the standing cover part. In this case, the

The 70.165/BE dispensing mechanism is part of the flexible pouch and is accessed through a wide opening that is created in the fixed lid section as soon as the user releases the latch and the movable lid section slides into the open position.

As shown in Figures 4, 5, 6 and 7, the movable cover portion 13 consists of one or two plates and is preferably polygonal or round, preferably rectangular. Its dimensions are determined such that when the closure device 10 is in the closed position, it completely covers the dispensing means 18 (Figure 7), and when in the open position (Figure 6), the movable cover portion 13 slides under the upper plate 14 of the stationary cover portion 12 so as to allow access to the contents of the storage portion through the dispensing means 18. The movement by which the movable cover portion 13 slides into the open or closed position is either linear or rotary, preferably linear, and it is possible that while linear in the horizontal direction, the upper surface of the stationary cover portion 12 may be curved so that the movement of the movable cover portion 13 is arcuate in the vertical direction. The means by which the movable cover part 13 can be slidably secured to the fixed cover part 12 are preferably implemented in the form of two series of continuous or discontinuous guide rails 17, the length of which is at least 10 mm, which are parallel to the longitudinal sides of said fixed cover parts 12 and are injection-molded together with the fixed cover part 12, so that the movable cover part 13 is slidably located between the guide rails 17 and under the upper plate 14 of the fixed cover part 12 in a horizontal plane. The fixed cover part 12 has at least one projection 22 on its inner surface, which is used to open the movable cover part 13.

70.165/BE, so that at least a portion 23 of the movable cover part 13 remains accessible to the user in the open state for closing. Optionally, a device 24, such as a tab, may be provided on said portion 23 to facilitate the closing operation.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, as shown in Figures 6 and 7, one or more, preferably one, elastic members 21 are connected at least at one point to the fixed cover part 12 and at least at another point to the movable cover part 13 such that when the closure device is in the closed state, said elastic member 21 is sufficiently pre-tensioned by its elasticity to automatically open the movable cover part 13, which occurs when the latch 25 is actuated by the user. Said elastic energy may come from compression, torsion or elongation, but preferably from elongation. The elastic element may be, for example, a flat strap with a section of between 0.5 and 5 mm and notches at both ends. It is attached at one end to the inner part of the fixed cover part 12 by means of a structure 21a, for example a hook molded into the fixed cover part 12, while at the other end it is attached to the movable cover part 13 by means of another structure 21b, for example another hook. As can be seen in Figures 4 and 5, the movable cover part 13 preferably has a recess 21c in which said structure 21b is located so as not to come into contact with or damage the contents.

The elastic member 21 may be formed in the form of one or more coiled spiral springs with extended ends, which are connected to the spring 12.

70.165/BE is positioned between the fixed and movable cover part 13 so that when the closure device is in the closed state, said elastic member 21 is sufficiently pre-tensioned by its elasticity to automatically open the movable cover part 13, which occurs when the latch 25 is actuated by the user. Said spring force may be a result of pressure, torsion or tension.

The latch 25 shown in Figures 6, 7, 10 and 11 is realized by a catch 26, which is provided with one or more, preferably a matching recess 27. Either the catch 26 or the recess 27 may be located on the movable cover part 13, while the other is located on the stationary cover part 12. The catch 25 holds the movable cover part 13 in the closed position. In a possible embodiment of the invention, the catch 25 is directly formed as a resilient element 28, for example a push button, to which said catch 26 is connected and which, when pressed, releases the catch 26 from the recess 27. In another possible variant, the latch is implemented indirectly when the user, by applying pressure to an area sufficiently close to said latch, creates an elastic deformation such that the catch 26 slides out of the recess 27. The elastic deformation can be implemented by generating a small tension, such that it allows the use of a single finger to operate the latch.

Another variant of the invention, shown in Figure 9, differs from those previously shown in that the movable cover portion 13 is divided into two separate, separated cover portions 13a and 13b. These cover portions may be polygonal or round,

70.165/BE but preferably rectangular. These sliding lid parts 13a and 13b slide in opposite directions from a line of contact 13c, thus allowing access to the contents of the storage part. In accordance with what has been outlined above, this sliding movement may be strictly linear or curved in a horizontal plane, thus following the general shape of the upper part of the closure mechanism. Moreover, two protrusions are provided on the inner surface of the stationary lid part 12, which limit the movement of the two lid parts 13a and 13b in the open state, so that a part of each lid part 13a and 13b is accessible to the user for the closing operation. For example, there may be 24 latches on the part of the lid parts 13a and 13b accessible to the user to facilitate the closing operation.

In this embodiment of the invention, as in the first embodiment, the stationary cover part 12 has an opening over which the two cover parts 13a and 13b can slide freely. Said opening is preferably located in the central region of the stationary cover part 12. The stationary cover part 12 also has two series of continuous or discontinuous guide rails, the length of which is at least 10 mm, which are parallel to the longitudinal sides of said stationary cover parts 12 and are injection-molded together with the stationary cover part 12 so that the cover parts 13a and 13b are slidably disposed in a horizontal plane between the guide rails.

Each of these sliding cover parts 13a and 13b has at least one elastic member as previously described, so that when the closure device is in the closed state, said elastic member is sufficiently prestressed by virtue of its elasticity.

70.165/BE for the automatic opening of the sliding cover parts 13a and 13b, which occurs when the latch 25 is actuated by the user. Said elastic energy may come from compression, torsion or elongation, preferably from elongation.

The elastic member may optionally be formed in the form of one or more coiled spiral springs with extended ends, which are located between the fixed cover part 12 and the sliding cover parts 13a and 13b of the movable cover part, such that when the closure device is in the closed state, said elastic member is sufficiently pre-tensioned by its elasticity to automatically open the sliding cover parts 13a and 13b, which occurs when the latch 25 is actuated by the user. Said spring force may be a compression, torsional or tensile force.

The use of a releasable latch 25 is also advantageous, as described above in the description of the first embodiment of the invention, and which is implemented by means of latches and recesses that fit them. In one possible embodiment of the invention, the latch 25 is directly implemented as a flexible element 28, for example a push button, to which said latches are connected so that the latches and recesses are disconnected. In another possible embodiment, the latch 25 is implemented indirectly when the user, by applying pressure to an area suitably close to said latch 25, creates an elastic deformation so that the latch 26 slides out of the recess 27.

In the first version, the 28 flexible elements are connected to the 12 fixed surfaces.

70.165/BE is located on the south side, for example in the middle part of the longitudinal side of the fixed cover part 12. In the second variant, the area whose elastic deformation is caused may be located, for example, on one of the two sliding cover parts 13a and 13b of the movable cover part 13, to which a latch is connected, while the fitting recess is located on the other sliding cover part, such that the releasable latch 25 is located between the two sliding cover parts 13a and 13b of the movable cover part 13.

A further embodiment of the invention differs from the first described embodiment in that the movable cover part is a polygonal, rounded or round plate, preferably round, having an opening in the region of its edge. A hook is fitted into said opening, which is located on the inner side of the stationary cover part so that the movable cover part performs a rotational movement around the hook. A projection is provided on the inner surface of the stationary cover part to limit the rotational movement of the movable cover part so that, when the movable cover part is open, the dispensing opening is accessible and a part of the movable cover part remains accessible to the user in order to be able to perform the closing operation. Optionally, a device, such as a tab, may be provided on said part of the movable cover part to facilitate the closing operation. The above specific embodiment of the invention is also preferably equipped with a releasable latch, as previously described in connection with the first embodiment of the invention.

In any of the above-described embodiments of the invention, the fixed and movable cover portion and the dispensing means

70.165/BE are made of polypropylene or other suitable material by injection molding, such as polyethylene, polystyrene, acrylonitrile butadiene styrene, polyester, polyvinyl chloride, polycarbonate or elastomer, but preferably polypropylene. The storage part can also be made of any of the aforementioned materials by injection molding. The elastic member can be made of injection molding rubber or other synthetic resin exhibiting rubber-like elasticity, such as silicone rubber, chloroprene rubber, butadiene rubber, ethylene-propylene copolymer or natural rubber.

In any of the above-described embodiments, in which the closure is a separate unit connected to the storage part, as shown in Figure 10, the storage part 11 has an edge 11b extending around the upper opening 11a and a flange extending therefrom. On the inner surface of the upper opening 11a are longitudinal ribs and/or grooves 29 extending along the longer and shorter sides of the storage part 11, which cooperate with corresponding ribs and/or grooves 30 formed on the standing cover part 12. Thus, no overhang or overlap occurs during assembly, and the surface of the unit is regular, especially in the upper part, and does not contain sharp edges. The unit may include an opening tongue extending beyond the edge extending in the vicinity of the upper opening of the storage part on one surface, preferably on one of the shorter sides, the size of which is less than 5 mm, preferably less than 3 mm, and the opening tongue is preferably curved in order not to cause injury to the finger of the operator.

The designs described above can be implemented independently or combined with each other at the user's discretion.

70.165/BE to achieve the best convenience of a wipe storage design. Moreover, in the case where the purpose is to use the wipes outside the home, a preferred embodiment of the invention can be provided with a structure that includes both the spring element and the latch for automatically opening the sliding lid portion with a finger, and the total height of the storage structure is not more than, preferably not more than 2.5 cm. The automatically opening sliding lid portion, which results in a user-friendly storage and dispensing device for dispensing wipes, is best suited for use outside the home, for transportation in a package or bag.

70.165/BE

Claims (30)

Patent claims 1. A closure device (10) attachable to or forming part of a storage part (11), having a fixed cover part (12) and a movable cover part (13), characterized in that the fixed cover part (12) has a means which allows the movable cover part (13) to slide in a plane parallel to the fixed cover part (12) to facilitate access to the contents of the storage part. 2. A closure device according to claim 1, wherein the movable cover part (13) and the stationary cover part (12) are connected by at least one elastic element (21) which is elastically biased in the closed state of the movable cover part, and the stationary cover part (12) and/or the movable cover part (13) comprise means in the form of a latch (25) for retaining the movable cover part (13) in the closed state, or in the form of the biased elastic member (21) for retaining the movable cover part (13) in the closed state, or for releasing the movable cover part (13) held in the pulled state by means of the elastic member (21) in order to access the contents of the storage device. 3. A locking device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the latch (25) has a catch (26) which fits into a cooperating recess (27). 4. A locking device according to any one of claims 1-3, wherein the latch (25) is implemented directly by moving a movable element to which the latch (26) is connected, thereby releasing the latch (26) from the recess (27). 70.165/BE 5. The locking device according to any one of claims 1-3, wherein the latch (25) is implemented indirectly by disconnecting the latch (26) and the recess (27) through elastic deformation created in the immediate vicinity of the latch (25). 6. A closure device according to any one of claims 1-5, wherein the elastic member (21) is attached at least at one point to the stationary cover part (12) and at least at another point to the movable cover part (13). 7. A closure device according to any one of claims 1-6, having a dispensing means (18) with boundary surfaces (19) which are free from sharp transitions and form a defined channel (20) through which wipes can be fed individually during use. 8. A closure according to claim 7, wherein the dispensing means (18) is injection molded in one piece with the standing cover portion (12). 9. A closure device according to claim 7, wherein the dispensing device (18) is a separate element attachable to the stationary cover portion (12). 10. A closure device according to any one of claims 1-6, wherein the dispensing means (18) is formed as part of a separate flexible pouch located in the storage portion, which contains the filling. 11. A closure device according to any one of claims 1-10, wherein the sliding movement of the movable cover part (13) is linear in both horizontal and vertical directions, which is achieved by means of guide rails (17) molded as part of the stationary cover part (12). 12. A closure device according to any one of claims 1-10, 70-165/BE where the sliding movement of the movable cover part (13) is in a curved vertical direction, which is achieved by means of guide rails (17) molded as part of the stationary cover part (12). 13. A closure device according to claims 11 and 12, wherein the guide rails (17) are of continuous design. 14. A closure device according to claims 11 and 12, wherein the guide rails (17) are of a discontinuous design. 15. A closure device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the movable cover part (13) is formed as a single piece. 16. A closure device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the releasable latch is provided on the stationary cover part (12) and the movable cover part (13). 17. A closure device according to any one of claims 1-14, wherein the movable cover part (13) consists of two cover parts (13a, 13b) that can be slid in the opposite direction from the meeting line (13c) so that in the open position of the closure device, the contents of the storage part can be accessed between the slidable cover parts (13a, 13b). 18. A closure device according to any one of claims 1-14 and 17, wherein the releasable latch (25) is located on the movable cover part (13). 19. A closure device according to any one of claims 1-10, wherein the sliding movement of the movable cover part (13) is a rotational movement about an axis, and the axis is formed by a hook extending from the stationary cover part (12). 20. A closure device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the access point for the contents of the storage part and the dispenser 70.165/BE device (18) is located in the center of the standing cover part (12). 21. A closure device according to any one of claims 1-19, wherein the access point for the contents of the storage part and the dispensing device (18) are located on one side of the standing cover part (12) itself. 22. A closure device according to any one of the preceding claims, for use with individually folded wipes, preferably wet wipes. 23. A closure device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the movable cover part (13), the fixed cover part (12) and the separate dispensing means (18) are made of plastic. 24. A closure device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the elastic member (21) is made of natural rubber or synthetic derivatives. 25. A closure device according to any one of claims 1-10, wherein the resilient member (21) is one or more coiled coil springs having extended ends. 26. A closure device according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising ribs and grooves (30) which engage with cooperating ribs and grooves (29), and the closure device is adjustably connectable to the storage part (11) such that the resulting mating surface is free of edges. 27. A closure device according to claim 26, comprising an opening tongue extending beyond an edge (11b) extending around the upper opening of the storage part. 28. A closure device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the combined height of the closure device and the storage portion is no more than 5 cm. 70.165/BE ·*·* «<· 29. A closure device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the combined height of the closure device and the storage portion is no more than 2.5 cm. 30. A closure device according to any one of the preceding claims, which is fixed to or forms part of one side of the storage part (11), wherein the storage part (11) has a second openable side, preferably the bottom, which is closed by a removable lid. The authorized person: 70.165/BE