Patent US3750435A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3750435A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Container having a time controlled locking mechanism
Assignee: Blau KG
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Filing: 1971-12-15
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Granted: 1973-08-07
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Expires: 1991-12-15
Abstract
Abstract A container such as, for example, a cigarette container having a time controlled locking mechanism whereby the user can only have access to the container contents at predetermined times, the container having a time controlled locking mechanism wherein the tensioning of the mechanism is effected automatically by the user as a consequence of the steps he may take to open the container at the predetermined time.
Inventors
- 👤 T Gerdes
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 10:24
CPC Classifications
A; A24; A24F; A24F15/00; A24F15/005; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T70/00; Y10T70/70; Y10T70/7006; Y10T70/7034
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
214 words
A container having a time controlled locking mechanism comprising at least two portions coupled together for movement into and out of a closing relationship, latch means located within the container and comprising a pair of component latching members respectively coupled to said portions for locking said portions together, a releasing member located in one of said portions, manually actuatable means accessible from outside the container and coupled to the releasing member, displacement of the former resulting in displacement of the latter into releasing engagement with one of said latch components, a spring biased displaceable detent mounted in said one portion and arranged, in the locking condition of the container to inhibit movement of the releasing member, a clockwork mechanism located in said one portion and drivingly coupled to a displacing element, a predetermined displacement of said displacing element in a given direction resulting in the displacement of the detent against its biasing and the consequent freeing of the release member for movement and tensioning means coupled to the manually actuatable means and adapted to engage with the displacing element so that the displacement of the former required to effect releasing displacement of the releasing member is accompanied by displacement of the displacing element in an opposite direction thereby causing tensioning of the clockwork mechanism.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
214 words
A container having a time controlled locking mechanism comprising at least two portions coupled together for movement into and out of a closing relationship, latch means located within the container and comprising a pair of component latching members respectively coupled to said portions for locking said portions together, a releasing member located in one of said portions, manually actuatable means accessible from outside the container and coupled to the releasing member, displacement of the former resulting in displacement of the latter into releasing engagement with one of said latch components, a spring biased displaceable detent mounted in said one portion and arranged, in the locking condition of the container to inhibit movement of the releasing member, a clockwork mechanism located in said one portion and drivingly coupled to a displacing element, a predetermined displacement of said displacing element in a given direction resulting in the displacement of the detent against its biasing and the consequent freeing of the release member for movement and tensioning means coupled to the manually actuatable means and adapted to engage with the displacing element so that the displacement of the former required to effect releasing displacement of the releasing member is accompanied by displacement of the displacing element in an opposite direction thereby causing tensioning of the clockwork mechanism.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
16 words
A container according to claim 1, wherein said latching members are spring biased into locking engagement.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
169 words
A cOntainer according to claim 2, wherein one of said latching members located in the other portion is fixed and the other of said latching members located in said one portion is capable of limited displacement into and out of locking engagement, first spring means being provided for biasing said other latching member into a disengaging position, and fixed abutment means against which said other latching member is adapted to abut so as to inhibit its displacement by said first spring means, said other latching member comprising an elongated bar pivotally mounted on an axle in such a manner as to allow for limited movement in an axial direction second spring means being provided for retaining said latching members in locking engagement when said portions are in said closing relationship, the arrangement being such that the releasing engagement of said other latching member with said releasing member displaces said other latching member from abutment with said fixed abutment means and frees it for displacement by said first spring means.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
58 words
A container according to claim 3, wherein said other latching member is provided with means which is adapted to engage with said displacing element upon the disengaging displacement of said other latching member by said first spring means so as to prevent displacement of the displacing element by the clockwork mechanism in the unlocked condition of the container.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
42 words
A container according to claim 3, wherein said first and second spring means are constituted by the respective limbs of a leaf spring and are separated by a turned over portion of the leaf spring which is mounted on a fixed support.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
16 words
A container according to claim 1, wherein said manually actuatable means is spring biased against displacement.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
30 words
A container according to claim 1, wherein means are provided for varying at will the magnitude of said predetermined displacement and, in consequence, the timing frequency of said locking mechanism.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
24 words
A container according to claim 7, wherein visual means are provided for indicating the timing frequency and/or remaining cycle time of the locking mechanism.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
66 words
A container according to claim 7, wherein said manually actuatable means is coupled to said tensioning means via a clutch mechanism, means being provided for engaging or releasing said clutch mechanism so that displacement of said manually actuatable means is accompanied either by joint displacement of the tensioning means and release member or by the displacement of said tensioning means with respect to said release member.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
29 words
A container according to claim 9, wherein said manually actuatable means comprises a rotatable cap coupled to said release member and via said clutch mechanism to said tensioning means.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
45 words
A container according to claim 10, wherein said clutch mechanism comprises a pair of meshable serrated surfaces formed on or coupled to said cap and said tensioning means respectively, means for causing said surfaces to intermesh against spring biasing means tending to keep them apart.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
75 words
A container according to claim 11, wherein said cap is coupled to said tensioning means by means of a polygonally sectioned coupling block secured at one end to the tensioning means and located at the other end in a corresponding polygonally shaped aperture formed in said cap whilst said releasing member is secured to a cylindrically apertured collar which surrounds said block, corresponding surfaces of said collar and cap being formed with said serrated surfaces.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
64 words
A container according to claim 12, wherein the means for causing said surfaces to intermesh consists of a screw coupling said cap to said block, a coil spring being located in a cylindrical annular recess formed in said cap and serving on the one hand to bias said cap against rotary displacement thereof and, on the other hand to bias said intermeshing surfaces apart.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
46 words
A container according to claim 1, wherein there is furthermore provided a displaceable element adapted to bear against said deTent and means accessible from outside the container for displacing said element against spring biasing so as to cause said displacement of said detent against its biasing.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-08-06 | 1977-02-05 | 1977-08-07 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-08-06 | 1981-02-05 | 1981-08-07 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-08-06 | 1985-02-05 | 1985-08-07 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |