US5931291A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Multi-media shipping and storage container
Assignee: Autronic Plastics Inc
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Filing: 1998-04-03
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Granted: 1999-08-03
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Expires: 2018-04-03
Abstract
Abstract A multi-media shipping container, such as a compact disc or video cassette container, having a base and a lid hingedly connected by a hinge assembly and movable between open and closed positions, whereby the shipping container includes a tear away latching mechanism which when torn away provides a storage container. The latching mechanism is mounted on the container and includes a pair of flexible flaps or strips which are hingedly connected to the base and lid by reduced thickness living hinges. The flaps overlap one another and interengage one another to thereby lock the base and lid together in a tamper proof and pry-resistant manner. The flaps are grasped and pulled outwardly and along the front of the container by a user thereby tearing them away. The reduced thickness living hinges are torn from the container leaving a usual compact disc or VHS video cassette storage container.
Inventors
- 👤 Nicholas M. Sedon
- 👤 Ronald K. Burdett
- 👤 David P. Ignaczak
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 08:27
CPC Classifications
G; G11; G11B; G11B23/00; G11B23/02; G11B23/023; G11B23/0233; G11B33/00; G11B33/02; G11B33/04; G11B33/0405; G11B33/0411; G11B33/0422; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S206/00; Y10S206/807
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
180 words
A container for shipping and storing objects, said container including: a first compartment which includes a base wall with a pair of spaced sidewalls and an end wall extending therefrom; a second compartment which includes a base wall with a pair of spaced sidewalls and an end wall extending therefrom; at least one hinge extending between the first and second compartments for moving said container between open and closed positions; a locking cavity defined within the end walls of at least one of the first and second compartments; a tear away strip hingedly connected to the first compartment in a pivotable manner from an open position to a closed position, the strip including first latching means engageable with the locking cavity and a tab receiver; and a locking tab hingedly connected to the second compartment in a pivotable manner from an open position to a closed position whereby said closed position involves the locking tab overlapping the tear away strip, the locking tab including second latching means engageable with the tab receiver for securing the first and second compartments together.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
180 words
A container for shipping and storing objects, said container including: a first compartment which includes a base wall with a pair of spaced sidewalls and an end wall extending therefrom; a second compartment which includes a base wall with a pair of spaced sidewalls and an end wall extending therefrom; at least one hinge extending between the first and second compartments for moving said container between open and closed positions; a locking cavity defined within the end walls of at least one of the first and second compartments; a tear away strip hingedly connected to the first compartment in a pivotable manner from an open position to a closed position, the strip including first latching means engageable with the locking cavity and a tab receiver; and a locking tab hingedly connected to the second compartment in a pivotable manner from an open position to a closed position whereby said closed position involves the locking tab overlapping the tear away strip, the locking tab including second latching means engageable with the tab receiver for securing the first and second compartments together.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
23 words
The container defined in claim 1 in which the locking cavity includes at least one locking ridge for engaging the first latching means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
28 words
The container defined in claim 2 in which the first latching means includes at least one latch body having a locking lip thereon for engaging the locking ridge.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
25 words
The container defined in claim 3 in which the tab receiver is a hole within the tear away strip for receiving the second latching means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
50 words
The container defined in claim 4 in which the second latching means includes at least one locking projection having a head extending from the locking tab with a neck therebetween, the neck having a narrower cross dimension than the locking projection thereby defining a locking lip for engaging the hole.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
25 words
The container defined in claim 1 wherein the locking tab overlaps the tear away strip during latching of the first compartment to the second compartment.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
33 words
The container defined in claim 1 in which the tear away strip and the locking tab are each hingedly connected to the first and second compartments respectively by a reduced thickness living hinge.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
19 words
The container defined in claim 1 in which the strip and tab are formed of a thin flexible plastic.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
180 words
A container for shipping and storing objects, said container including: a first compartment which includes a plurality of walls; a second compartment which includes a plurality of walls; first hinge means extending between the first and second compartments for moving said container between open and closed positions; a first tear away strip connected to the first compartment; a first hinge providing the connection between the first tear away strip and the first compartment; a second tear away strip connected to the second compartment; a second hinge providing connection between the second tear away strip and the second compartment; locking means for interlocking the strips together, whereby the first and second strips being pivotable about the hinges so as to overlap one strip with the other and interlock the strips together using the locking means when the container is in the closed position; and latch means formed on one of the walls of one of the compartments for securing the adjacent one of the strips in a pivotable overlap position prior to being overlapped by the other one of said strips.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
180 words
A container for shipping and storing objects, said container including: a first compartment which includes a plurality of walls; a second compartment which includes a plurality of walls; first hinge means extending between the first and second compartments for moving said container between open and closed positions; a first tear away strip connected to the first compartment; a first hinge providing the connection between the first tear away strip and the first compartment; a second tear away strip connected to the second compartment; a second hinge providing connection between the second tear away strip and the second compartment; locking means for interlocking the strips together, whereby the first and second strips being pivotable about the hinges so as to overlap one strip with the other and interlock the strips together using the locking means when the container is in the closed position; and latch means formed on one of the walls of one of the compartments for securing the adjacent one of the strips in a pivotable overlap position prior to being overlapped by the other one of said strips.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
41 words
The container defined in claim 9 in which the latch means includes a first rib formed on an end wall of said one compartment and a mating second rib formed on said one strip which snap fits with said first rib.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
214 words
A container for shipping and storing objects, said container including: a first compartment which includes a plurality of walls; a second compartment which includes a plurality of walls; first hinge means extending between the first and second compartments for moving said container between open and closed positions; a first tear away strip connected to the first compartment; a first hinge providing the connection between the first tear away strip and the first compartment; a second tear away strip connected to the second compartment; a second hinge providing connection between the second tear away strip and the second compartment; locking means for interlocking the strips together, whereby the first and second strips being pivotable about the hinges so as to overlap one strip with the other and interlock the strips together using the locking means when the container is in the closed position; the locking means being defined as the first strip including at least one locking projection and the second strip including at least one projection receiver; the locking means being further defined as at least one of the first and second compartments including a locking cavity for receiving a second locking projection defined in the second strip with the at least one projection receiver therein which receives the at least one locking projection.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
214 words
A container for shipping and storing objects, said container including: a first compartment which includes a plurality of walls; a second compartment which includes a plurality of walls; first hinge means extending between the first and second compartments for moving said container between open and closed positions; a first tear away strip connected to the first compartment; a first hinge providing the connection between the first tear away strip and the first compartment; a second tear away strip connected to the second compartment; a second hinge providing connection between the second tear away strip and the second compartment; locking means for interlocking the strips together, whereby the first and second strips being pivotable about the hinges so as to overlap one strip with the other and interlock the strips together using the locking means when the container is in the closed position; the locking means being defined as the first strip including at least one locking projection and the second strip including at least one projection receiver; the locking means being further defined as at least one of the first and second compartments including a locking cavity for receiving a second locking projection defined in the second strip with the at least one projection receiver therein which receives the at least one locking projection.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
36 words
The container defined in claim 11 in which the at least one locking projection is seatable within the at least one projection receiver when said container is in the closed position and the strips are overlapped.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2002-08-02 | 2003-02-01 | 2003-08-03 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2006-08-02 | 2007-02-01 | 2007-08-03 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2010-08-02 | 2011-02-01 | 2011-08-03 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |