US4615464A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Molded container case with hinge and method for making same
Assignee: Custom Pak Inc
•
Filing: 1985-06-05
•
Granted: 1986-10-07
•
Expires: 2005-06-05
Abstract
Abstract A container case includes a cover, a base and a hinge which pivotally joins the cover and the base on a corresponding side of each. The cover, base and hinge are formed by blow molding. The cover and base are double-walled in construction and identical so that they can be formed from the same mold. Each of the cover and base includes cylindrically-shaped, hollow extensions which form portions of the hinge. When the case is assembled, alternate hinge portions of the cover and base are aligned end-to-end along a common axis and cooperatingly mate to form the full hinge. The hinge is drilled to form openings in the end surfaces of the mating hinge portions which communicate with the interior, hollow areas of the hinge portions to form a single bore through the entire axial length of the hinge. A polyethylene pin is received by the hinge bore to interlock the individual hinge portions. The container case is also provided with a slidable latch having a C-shaped polyethylene bracket which slides on rails or tracks formed on extensions of corresponding sides of the cover and base. The bracket is capable of sliding to overlap mating edge portions of the latch extensions to keep the container case closed.
Inventors
- 👤 James E. Byrns
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-06 10:22
CPC Classifications
B; B29; B29C; B29C49/00; B29C49/0031; B65; B65D; B65D11/00; B65D11/16; B65D43/00; B65D43/14; B65D43/16; B65D43/163; B65D43/164; B65D43/165; B29L; B29L2024/00; B29L2031/00; B29L2031/7418; B65D2251/00; B65D2251/10; B65D2251/1016; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T29/00; Y10T29/24; Y10T29/49; Y10T29/49826; Y10T29/4984; Y10T29/49908; Y10T29/49938; Y10T29/4998
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
244 words
A method for making a container case including a cover and a base, the cover having a substantially planar top wall and peripheral side walls extending from the top wall, the base having a substantially planar bottom wall and peripheral side walls extending from the bottom wall, each of the top wall, bottom wall, and peripheral side walls having an inner wall and an outer wall, each of the cover and the base having a plurality of separated hinge portions connected between the inner and the outer walls of a peripheral side wall, the inner and outer walls of the cover defining a first hollow space, the inner and outer walls of the base defining a second hollow space, comprising the steps of: blow molding the cover from a thermoplastic material to form the top and side walls and hollow hinge portions with end surfaces so that the interiors of the hollow hinge portions communicate with the first hollow space; blowing molding the base from the thermoplastic material to form the bottom and side walls and hollow hinge portions with end surfaces so that the interiors of the hollow hinge portions communicate with the second hollow space; fitting the hinge portions of the cover and the hinge portions of the base together in an end-to-end arrangement along a common axis; drilling opening in the end surfaces of the hinge portions to define a central bore; and inserting a hinge pin into the central bore.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
244 words
A method for making a container case including a cover and a base, the cover having a substantially planar top wall and peripheral side walls extending from the top wall, the base having a substantially planar bottom wall and peripheral side walls extending from the bottom wall, each of the top wall, bottom wall, and peripheral side walls having an inner wall and an outer wall, each of the cover and the base having a plurality of separated hinge portions connected between the inner and the outer walls of a peripheral side wall, the inner and outer walls of the cover defining a first hollow space, the inner and outer walls of the base defining a second hollow space, comprising the steps of: blow molding the cover from a thermoplastic material to form the top and side walls and hollow hinge portions with end surfaces so that the interiors of the hollow hinge portions communicate with the first hollow space; blowing molding the base from the thermoplastic material to form the bottom and side walls and hollow hinge portions with end surfaces so that the interiors of the hollow hinge portions communicate with the second hollow space; fitting the hinge portions of the cover and the hinge portions of the base together in an end-to-end arrangement along a common axis; drilling opening in the end surfaces of the hinge portions to define a central bore; and inserting a hinge pin into the central bore.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
26 words
A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the inserting step includes inserting a hinge pin that is at least as soft as the thermoplastic material.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
78 words
A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the step of blow molding the cover includes forming a first interior rib that extends above the inner wall of the cover, the first interior rib partially encircling the inner periphery of the cover, and wherein the step of blow molding the base includes forming a second interior rib that extends above the inner wall of the base, the second interior rib partially encircling the inner periphery of the base.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
29 words
A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the step of blow molding the cover and the step of blow molding the base are performed using an identical mold.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
17 words
A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the drilling step is performed after the fitting step.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
62 words
A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the step of blow molding the cover includes blow molding hollow hinge portions that extend at an angle of approximately 45° from the associated side wall, and wherein the step of blow molding the base includes blow molding hollow hinge portions that extend at an angle of approximately 45° from the associated side wall.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
48 words
A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the step of blow molding the cover includes blow molding hollow hinge portions with end surfaces that are tapered, and wherein the step of blow molding the base includes blow molding hollow hinge portions with end surfaces that are tapered.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
35 words
A method as recited in claim 7, wherein each blow molding step includes blow molding hollow hinge portions with end surfaces that are tapered, the angle of taper being between about 2° and about 4°.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
244 words
A container case including a cover and a base, the cover having a substantially planar top wall and peripheral side walls extending from the top wall, the base having a substantially planar bottom wall and peripheral side walls extending from the bottom wall, each of the top wall, bottom wall, and peripheral side walls having an inner wall and an outer wall, each of the cover and the base having a plurality of separated hinge portions connected between the inner and the outer walls of a peripheral side wall, the inner and outer walls of the cover defining a first hollow space, the inner and outer walls of the base defining a second hollow space, made by a process comprising the steps of: blow molding the cover from a thermoplastic material to form the top and side walls and hollow hinge portions with end surfaces so that the interiors of the hollow hinge portions communicate with the first hollow space; blow molding the base from the thermoplastic material to form the bottom and side walls and hollow hinge portions with end surfaces so that the interiors of the hollow hinge portions communicate with the second hollow space; fitting the hinge portions of the cover and the hinge portions of the base together in an end-to-end arrangement along a common axis; drilling openings in the end surfaces of the hinge portions to define a central bore; and inserting a hinge pin into the central bore.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
244 words
A container case including a cover and a base, the cover having a substantially planar top wall and peripheral side walls extending from the top wall, the base having a substantially planar bottom wall and peripheral side walls extending from the bottom wall, each of the top wall, bottom wall, and peripheral side walls having an inner wall and an outer wall, each of the cover and the base having a plurality of separated hinge portions connected between the inner and the outer walls of a peripheral side wall, the inner and outer walls of the cover defining a first hollow space, the inner and outer walls of the base defining a second hollow space, made by a process comprising the steps of: blow molding the cover from a thermoplastic material to form the top and side walls and hollow hinge portions with end surfaces so that the interiors of the hollow hinge portions communicate with the first hollow space; blow molding the base from the thermoplastic material to form the bottom and side walls and hollow hinge portions with end surfaces so that the interiors of the hollow hinge portions communicate with the second hollow space; fitting the hinge portions of the cover and the hinge portions of the base together in an end-to-end arrangement along a common axis; drilling openings in the end surfaces of the hinge portions to define a central bore; and inserting a hinge pin into the central bore.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US67747A
Cited
US31086A
Cited
US1503190A
Cited
US1807220A
Cited
US1818454A
Cited
US1878413A
Cited
US2035033A
Cited
US2482920A
Cited
US2601101A
Cited
US2506789A
Cited
US2642202A
Cited
US3025947A
Cited
US3327841A
Cited
US3339781A
Cited
US3346137A
Cited
US3389942A
Cited
US3381782A
Cited
FR1525348A
Cited
US3552551A
Cited
US3828969A
Cited
US3680177A
Cited
US3710761A
Cited
US3886645A
Cited
US3902598A
Cited
US3902628A
Cited
US4005800A
Cited
US4164309A
Cited
USRE31086E
Cited
US4048051A
Cited
US4153178A
Cited
US4216862A
Cited
US4211337A
Cited
US4340139A
Cited
US4343412A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1989-10-06 | 1990-04-07 | 1990-10-07 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1993-10-06 | 1994-04-07 | 1994-10-07 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1997-10-06 | 1998-04-07 | 1998-10-07 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |