Containers with slide covers

Jan. 30, 1962

3,018,918

S. TAPPER

CONTAINERS WITH SLIDE COVERS Filed Feb. 2, I960

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SEC. A-A

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INVENTOR

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United States Patent Office

3,918,918

Patented Jan. 30, 1962

3,018,918

CONTAINERS WITH SLIDE COVERS

Samuel Tapper, 440 Baldwin Road, Maplewood, N.J.

Filed Feb. 2, 1960, Ser. No. 6,252

Claims. (CI. 220—41)

This invention relates to containers, and more particularly to containers with slide and snap-on covers.

The object of my invention is to create a new, useful and practical slide cover for a rectangular container that can also be snapped on and thereby be fastened to one edge of the container, leaving the opposing edge free.

A further object of this invention is to provide a container with a slide cover that can be stopped at any of several locations. This objective would be most useful where the container was divided into a series of individual cells, such as would be used for tablets or capsules.

The important features of this invention are the cooperating conformations of the slide cover and container, together with the flexibility that permits the slide cover to be snapped on. In the case where a series of stops are useful, such cover stops would be regulated by a series of recesses and bars along the operating side wall of the container acting in concert with a spring tab located at either end of the slide cover.

It is important to note that although the slide cover in my invention is fastened to and slides freely lengthwise along one edge of the container, it cannot move upwards or across the container. Also, pressure applied to the top, as would be normal when the thumb is placed on the top of the cover to move it, does not cause a tightening in the locking or sliding areas. The cover responds as though it were a free moving top panel resting loosely on the container.

It should also be noted that while applicant shows jnly rectangular shaped containers, the novel and unique method of joining cover to container permits the use of odd shaped containers because all the guiding mechanism employed by applicant in his invention is confined to one wall of the container.

Where a measure of resistance to sliding movement of the cover is advantageous, the cover unit shown in FIG. 3 can be combined with the container unit shown in FIG. 2. The result would be a slide cover and container wherein the slide cover would be gently held in position anywhere along the line of movement of the said cover on its co-operating container, and would not interfere with the fastening mechanism employed to hold the cover on the container.

Referring to the figures of the drawing:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the slide cover, without provision for individual stops, showing end, top and side areas.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of container, together with the slide cover shown in FIG. 1 attached, said slide cover being in a partially opened position.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a slide cover with two raised areas, one on each of two individual spring segments of the side wall of said slide cover.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the container showing conformation along one side wall adapted to receive the slide cover shown in FIG. 3, showing a series of bars and recesses therebetween.

FIG. 5 is a cross-section through A—A in FIG. 2, showing more clearly how slide cover and container form an interlocking unit.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view showing the container appearing in FIG. 4 assembled with its co-operating slide cover in FIG. 3.

A more detailed description is as follows:

In FIG. 1 the slide cover consists of a top 1 and a side wall 2. On the under portion of 1 along the line where 1 and 2 meet is a channel 3, which traverses the entire length of the slide cover. Along the lower edge of 2 and facing inward is flange 4 which traverses the entire length of the said edge of 2. The configuration of FIG. 1 is made to conform to the configuration of the top area and side wall of the co-operating container shown in FIG. 2.

In FIG. 2, running lengthwise along the top edge of side wall 7 is flange 6, said flange rising above the plane of the top of said container. Lower on 7, and directly below 6, running parallel to 6 and the plane of the top of said container is an undercut 8. Slide cover and container can be joined together in two ways, either by sliding cover on from one end of the container, or by placing the cover on the container so that channel 3 is directly over flange 6, and pressing down on the top of the cover. Such pressure would cause the side wall 2 of the cover to bow outward until flange 4 of cover snaps under undercut 8 on container wall.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a slide cover consisting of a top 9 and one side wall divided into three parts, 10, 12, 12'. Between 12 and 10 is a space 15, and between 12' and 10 is another space 15*. The purpose of 15 and 15' is to allow 12 and 12' to move independently from 10, thus providing separate spring action. As in FIG. 1, on the under surface of 9, and adjoining the side wall, of which 10 is a part, is a channel 11. Along the bottom edge of 10, and facing inward is flange 14. On the lower portion of 12 and facing inward is a raised area 13. A similar raised area 13' is placed on 12'. 12 and 12' are separated from 10 so that the slide cover remains continuously locked onto its co-operating container while said slide cover is being moved in either direction.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of one form of container in my invention and shows a rectangular container with an open top. Along one side wall, rising above the plane of the top of said container and traversing its entire length is flange 17. Directly below and parallel to 17, and above the bottom edge of said side wall is a series of vertical bars 19, 19', 19 etc. and recesses therebetween. The lower end surfaces of the said vertical bars are all in a horizontal plane, parallel to the plane of the top of the container. When FIG. 3 is joined to FIG. 4, either by sliding it on from one end or by snapping it onto the container from above, 14 of FIG. 3 fits under the lower extremities of bars 19, 19', 19, etc. and thus effectuates the locking action. When the slide cover is moved to the right from a closed position, 12 (FIG. 3) will flare outward as 13 passes over 19 and will resume its original position When 13 falls between two bars 19 and 19 . In this way any number of stopping positions are provided.

FIG. 5 is a cross-section of FIG. 2 through A—A and shows how slide cover and container fit together.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view showing how the slide cover (FIG. 3) assembles with its co-operating container (FIG. 4). Here it is seen that flange 14 on the center section of the depending side wall of the slide cover snaps under the lower ends of the bars on the side wall of the container to hold the slide cover and container together.