US4375863A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Mechanism for automatically closing a storage container
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1981-11-20
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Granted: 1983-03-08
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Expires: 2001-11-20
Abstract
Abstract A mechanism for closing the cover of a storage container, such as a container for an assortment of items or parts, includes a stop pin slidably mounted in a guide sleeve for movement into a first position where it engages a support lever attached to the cover and holds the cover in the open position, and a second position where the cover is automatically closed. A spring is arranged to bias the stop pin out of engagement with the support lever when the storage container is removed or displaced from a support surface with the cover being moved by another biasing arrangement into the closed position.
Inventors
- 👤 Felix Kappler
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 06:07
CPC Classifications
B; B65; B65D; B65D43/00; B65D43/14; B65D43/16; B65D43/163; B65D43/164; B65D2251/00; B65D2251/10; B65D2251/1008
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim
293 words
A mechanism for closing a storage container such as a container divided to hold an assortment of parts, the storage container comprising a box-like part having a bottom, side walls and partition walls within said side walls, a cover hinged to said box-like part and displaceable between a closed position and an open position, first spring means for biasing said cover into the closed position, stop means for countering the action of said first spring means and retaining said cover in the open position, said stop means arranged to release said cover and return said cover to the closed position when the storage container is lifted or displaced from a support base, wherein the improvement comprises that said stop means includes an axially extending guide sleeve secured to and extending upwardly in the axial direction from said bottom of said box-like part, a stop pin positioned within and slidably displaceable in the axial direction of said guide sleeve between a first position where said cover is in the open position and a second position where said cover is in the closed position, second spring means for biasing said stop pin into the second position, an elongated supporting lever having a first end and a second end with said first end pivotally connected to said cover, said stop pin in the open position of said cover being engageable with the second end of said support lever when said bottom of said container is resting on a support base so that said cover remains in the open position and when said bottom of said container is displaced from the support base said second spring means biases said stop pin into said guide sleeve and out of engagement with the second end of said support lever.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
293 words
A mechanism for closing a storage container such as a container divided to hold an assortment of parts, the storage container comprising a box-like part having a bottom, side walls and partition walls within said side walls, a cover hinged to said box-like part and displaceable between a closed position and an open position, first spring means for biasing said cover into the closed position, stop means for countering the action of said first spring means and retaining said cover in the open position, said stop means arranged to release said cover and return said cover to the closed position when the storage container is lifted or displaced from a support base, wherein the improvement comprises that said stop means includes an axially extending guide sleeve secured to and extending upwardly in the axial direction from said bottom of said box-like part, a stop pin positioned within and slidably displaceable in the axial direction of said guide sleeve between a first position where said cover is in the open position and a second position where said cover is in the closed position, second spring means for biasing said stop pin into the second position, an elongated supporting lever having a first end and a second end with said first end pivotally connected to said cover, said stop pin in the open position of said cover being engageable with the second end of said support lever when said bottom of said container is resting on a support base so that said cover remains in the open position and when said bottom of said container is displaced from the support base said second spring means biases said stop pin into said guide sleeve and out of engagement with the second end of said support lever.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
88 words
A mechanism, as set forth in claim 1, wherein a first locking part including a bipolar magnetic element located on said box-like part and a second locking part including a bipolar magnetic element located on said cover with said first and second locking parts being disposed in juxtaposed relation in the closed position of the storage container and said first and second locking parts being arranged for effecting initially a delayed and then accelerated closing action as said cover moves into the closed position on said box-like part.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
113 words
A mechanism, as set forth in claim 2, wherein said bipolar magnetic element associated with said first locking part comprises a positive polarity segment and a negative polarity segment and said magnetic element associated with said second locking part comprises a positive polarity segment and a negative polarity segment and said polarity segments are positioned on said first and second locking parts so that initially during the closing action of said cover into the closed positions segments of the same polarity are disposed in juxtaposed position and then during the continued closing action opposite polarity segments are disposed in juxtaposed position with said cover disposed in the closed position on said box-like part.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
50 words
A mechanism, as set forth in claim 1, wherein said guide sleeve is formed integrally with said bottom of said box-like part and extends upwardly along one of said partition walls of said box-like part and said guide sleeve is formed integrally with said partition wall along which it extends.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
83 words
A mechanism, as set forth in claim 1, wherein a roller is rotatably mounted on the second end of said supporting lever and said roller engages said stop pin in the open position of the storage container, an angle-shaped section formed on and extending laterally from said supporting lever so that said angle-shaped section rests on the adjacent said partition wall in said box-like part so that said angle-shaped section guides the movement of said supporting lever between the opened and closed positions.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
77 words
A mechanism, as set forth in claim 1, wherein said stop pin has an upper end and a lower end with said upper end arranged to project upwardly from said guide sleeve in the open position of said cover, a projection extending laterally outwardly from the upper end of said stop pin, a groove formed in the upper end of said guide sleeve and arranged to receive said projection when said cover is in the closed position.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
48 words
A mechanism, as set forth in claim 1, wherein an actuating member is secured to the lower end of said stop pin, said second spring means comprises a spring encircling said stop pin and extending between said actuating member and a downwardly facing surface in said guide sleeve.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
41 words
A mechanism, as set forth in claim 7, wherein said stop pin and said guide sleeve each having a corresponding planar surface disposed in juxtaposition so that stop pin does not rotate as it is axially displaced within said guide sleeve.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US2850200A
Cited
US3093258A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1986-03-07 | 1986-09-06 | 1987-03-08 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1990-03-07 | 1990-09-06 | 1991-03-08 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1994-03-07 | 1994-09-06 | 1995-03-08 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |