Container for a reel

Claim 2

In a container for storing a reel, said container including in combination a cover member, a base member, and locking means of the keeper and finger type for releasably locking said members together to form a reel receiving enclosure, the improvement wherein the locking means comprises: a keeper having a locking shoulder secured to one of said members; a plurality of latching fingers secured to the other of said members; means for bringing said fingers into locking engagement with said locking shoulder in response to closure of said cover with said base member; pushbutton means carried by the cover member; retaining means including a blocking collar secured to said pushbutTon means, said retaining means being movable with said pushbutton between a first position for blocking with the collar the release of said fingers from said locking shoulder and a second position wherein the collar is moved out of blocking relationship with said fingers, thereby allowing disengagement of said fingers with said locking shoulder whereby to release said cover from said base member; and resilient means for yieldably moving said retaining means into said first position in response to closure of said cover member and base member for blocking the release of said latching fingers from said locking shoulder.

Claim 3

A container, as defined in claim 1, wherein means for disengaging said latching fingers from said locking shoulder are included, said disengaging means being operative to disengage said latching fingers from said locking shoulder in response to the movement of said retaining means to its second named position.

Claim 4

A container, as defined in claim 2, wherein said means for yieldably bringing said retaining means to said first named position includes a spring.

Claim 5

A container, as defined in claim 3, wherein said latching fingers have an outwardly extending portion and wherein said keeper shoulder is an annular flange.

Claim 6

In a container for storing a reel, said container including in combination a cover member, a base member, and locking means of the keeper and finger type for releasably locking said members together to form a reel receiving enclosure, the improvement wherein the locking means comprises: a keeper in the form of a flange secured to one of said members; a plurality of flexible latching fingers secured to the other of said members, said fingers positioned to be placed in juxtaposition to the said keeper flange upon bringing said cover and base member together, said fingers being normally biased out of contact with said keeper flange and constructed for flexure into locking relationship with said keeper flange; retaining means including a blocking collar and a finger guiding surface associated with said collar, said retaining means secured to one of said members being movable between a first position for blocking release of said fingers from said keeper, and a second normal position with the collar moved out of blocking relationship with said fingers, allowing said fingers to assume their normally biased position out of contact with said keeper, said guide surface being operable, as the retaining means is moved from its said second normal position to its said first position, to bear against said flexible fingers and guide them into locking relationship with said keeper; resilient means for yieldably bringing said retaining means into said first position in response to bringing said cover member and base member together; and button actuating means for urging said retaining means to its second named position to release said cover member from said base member.

Claim 7

In a container for storing a reel, said container including in combination a cover member, a base member, and locking means of the keeper and finger type for releasably locking said members together to form a reel receiving enclosure, the improvement wherein the locking means comprises: a keeper in the form of a flange secured to one of said members; a plurality of flexible latching fingers secured to the other of said members, said fingers positioned to be placed in juxtaposition to the said keeper flange upon bringing said cover and base member together, said fingers being normally biased out of contact with said keeper flange and constructed for flexure into locking relationship with said keeper flange; retaining means including a blocking collar and a finger guiding surface associated with said collar, said retaining means secured to one of said members being movable between a first position for blocking release of said fingers from said keeper, and a second normal position with the collar moved out of blocking relationship with said fingers, allowing said fingers to assume their normally biased position out of contact with said keeper, said guide surface being operable, as the retaining means is moved from its said second normal position to its said first position, to bear against said flexible fingers and guide them into locking relationship with said keeper; resilient means for yieldably bringing said retaining means into said first position in response to bringing said cover member and base member together; and button actuating means for urging said retaining means to its second named position to release said cover member from said base member.

Claim 8

A container, as defined in claim 5, wherein said means for yieldably bringing said retaining means to its said first named position includes a spring.

Claim 9

A container, as defined in claim 6, wherein said means for yieldably bringing said retaining means to its said first named position further includes means for actuating said spring in response to bringing said cover and base member together.

Claim 10

A container as defined in claim 7, wherein said retaining means is secured to said means for urging said retaining means to its second named position and said latter means is axially movable.