BOX CLOSURE AND TRANSPORT ASSEMBLY

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to Spanish Utility Model ES U 202431651, having a filing date of Jun. 9, 2024, the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference.

FIELD OF TECHNOLOGY

This following relates to an improved box closure and transport assembly, of the type used in boxes whose halves are joined with hinges and are capable of storing items in each of their halves, such as briefcases or toolboxes.

BACKGROUND

Currently, and as a reference to the state of the art, there are numerous latches or locks capable of keeping the hinged halves of boxes in the closed position until an action is performed by the user.

Latches conventionally have a handle with a cavity formed inside it, which is pivotally attached to one half of the box and rotates to insert, in its closed position, a protrusion located on the other half. The protrusion may be formed directly on the box or consist of a separate element attached thereto. However, these latches are prone to opening in the event of a bump or accidental drop of the box.

Traditionally, this problem was solved by adding small protrusions on the handle that fit into corresponding grooves to prevent accidental opening. But this system is not efficient when dealing with heavily loaded boxes or when the rigidity of the box itself is insufficient to prevent deformation. This problem is exacerbated in the increasingly common case of boxes manufactured from moulded plastic.

Latches are also known that, to ensure box closure under extreme conditions such as drops or accidental impacts, consist of a handle, a locking element and an intermediate component, often combined with elastic elements that provide closing pressure between both halves of the box to prevent unwanted opening even if the box deforms. However, since they consist of several often small components, they are costly to manufacture and assemble.

Furthermore, to close the box using this type of latch, it is first necessary to insert the end of the handle that rotates relative to the intermediate element into the catch and then apply pressure to the intermediate element, which rotates relative to the box. This requires the user to pay attention and spend time in the open-close process, making it more cumbersome to use. As the handle rotates relative to another rotating element, in the open position the handle can easily end up positioned in the closing path of the box, preventing immediate closure; in other words, the handle may inadvertently be located between the two lids, blocking their coupling and requiring additional attention and time during the closing process as the handle must be moved out of the way before closing the box.

SUMMARY

An aspect relates to an improved box closure and transport assembly that comprises an upper lid, a lower lid and a securing element in which the upper lid pivots relative to the lower lid. These lids have at least one fastening protrusion on the upper lid, where a locking device is located, and a corresponding locking protrusion on the lower lid that aligns in the closed position. The locking device consists of a fastening connector and a locking puller composed at one end of a rotation hole and at the opposite end of a closing prominence whose closing projection can be inserted into a closing slot arranged in the locking protrusion. The fastening connector is non-rotatably fixed to the upper lid via fastening protrusions located at both ends of the fastening connector, and the insertion of fastening projections located at the ends of each fastening protrusion into fixation slots provided at the ends of the fastening protrusion. The securing element is composed of a stiffening bar and a hooking element.

Thanks to this configuration, simple assembly is achieved by fixing the fastening connector non-rotatably to the upper lid using fastening protrusions located at both ends of the connector and inserting fastening projections at the ends of each protrusion into corresponding fixation slots on the ends of the fastening protrusion. This allows the insertion/assembly operation to be performed by applying adequate pressure to the fastening connector against the fixation prominence in a single motion. Accidental removal is prevented thanks to the insertion of the fastening projections, and it also prevents the handle from being positioned in the closing path of the lids.

This configuration also allows for cost-effective manufacturing since the latch components are limited to two and include the attachment both to the box and between themselves, eliminating the need for additional small parts. The assembly is reinforced against deformation from use through the improved assembly characteristic provided by the incorporation of the stiffening bar.

The rotation hole of the locking puller can rotatably house a rotation pin arranged at one end of the fastening connector. Thus, once the fastening connector is mounted on the box, it is firmly attached thereto, enabling the rotational connection between the fastening connector and the locking puller. In this way, the open/close movement of the locking puller rotates around a single axis defined by the rotation pin of the fastening connector, mounted on the box, thereby allowing easy opening/closing for the user, who can lock or unlock the device with a single movement.

Thanks to the placement of a grip cavity at the end of the locking puller opposite the rotation hole, the user can lock/unlock the locking device with a single movement even when wearing work gloves, as it allows partial insertion of the fingers into the cavity to operate the handle. This also prevents pinching since the grip cavity is distanced from the closing prominence.

Additionally, the locking puller has a retention pin that aligns with a retention hole located on the fastening connector.

Thanks to the joint action of the retention pin with the shape of the retention hole, it is possible to keep the locking puller in an open position in which the closing prominence is at its furthest point from the box, thus preventing the handle from being positioned in the box opening and obstructing its immediate closure.

Moreover, the joint action of the retention pin with the shape of the retention hole, when in the closed position of the locking puller in which the closing projection is inserted into a closing slot in the locking protrusion, provides additional security against unintended opening of the locking device.

The stiffening bar of the securing element can be inserted into a T-shaped attachment hole of the lower lid, and the hooking element, external to the lower lid, can house a hook element such as a ring or carabiner attachable to a shoulder strap, allowing safe transport of the assembly.

This execution of the securing element, in addition to ensuring a practical and safe housing for attaching a carrying strap—an increasingly common feature in such boxes—also allows for the use of a strap even on boxes carrying heavy loads, thanks to the characteristic shape of the T-shaped hole into which the securing element is inserted.

Furthermore, the positioning of the securing element's stiffening bar reinforces the area around the locking device, preventing deformation due to insufficient material stiffness and ensuring proper closure even in plastic boxes.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION

Some of the embodiments will be described in detail, with references to the following Figures, wherein like designations denote like members, wherein:

FIG. 1 shows a perspective and exploded view illustrating the constitution of the proposed device, showing the assembly of the box (1) where the top cover (2) can be seen, which in the exemplary embodiment shows two fastening protrusions (2a), and the bottom cover (3) in which two locking protrusions (3b) and the ends of the two T-shaped securing holes (3a) can be observed. To each set of fastening protrusion (2a) and locking protrusion (3b), a locking device (4) is connected, composed of a fastening connector (4a) and a locking puller (4b) (a cut is presented in one of the locking pullers (4b) shown), and to each T-shaped securing hole (3a), a securing element (5) is connected, composed of a hooking element (5a) and a stiffening bar (5b). On the fastening connector (4a), a rotation pin (4a.1) and a retention hole (4a.2) can be observed (see enlarged detail) on each side. On the locking puller (4b), a rotation hole (4b.1) can be observed (see enlarged detail) on each side, which align during assembly with the rotation pins (4a.1) of the fastening connector (4a), and a retention hole (4a.2) on each side; in the cut of the locking puller (4b), it can be seen how on its inner side it has retention pins (4b.2) (see enlarged detail) which align with the retention holes (4a.2) of the fastening connector (4a), and the locking protrusion (4b.3).

FIG. 2 shows a cross-sectional view of the box (1) in a semi-open position in which the securing element (5) inserted into the T-shaped securing hole (3a) can be observed, with the stiffening bar (5b) close to the locking protrusion (3b), and the locking device (4) composed of a fastening connector (4a) attached to the fastening protrusion (2a) by insertion into the fastening grooves (2a.1) of the fastening projections (4a.3.1) of the fastening protrusions (4a.3), and a locking puller (4b) attached to the fastening connector (4a) in a rotatable manner by the insertion of the rotation pin (4a.1) into the rotation hole (4b.1) (see FIG. 1). It can be observed how the retention pin (4b.2) (see FIG. 1) of the locking puller (4b) is inserted into the retention hole (4a.2) of the fastening connector (4a). At the end of the locking puller (4b), the pulling recess (4b.4) and the locking protrusion (4b.3) ending in a locking projection (4b.3.1) can be seen. On the locking protrusion (3b), a locking groove (3b.1) can be observed.

FIG. 3 shows a perspective view of the box (1) in the closed position, in which a carrying shoulder strap (6) can be seen installed, linked with the hooking elements (5a) of the securing element (5).

In THESE FIGURES, THE FOLLOWING REFERENCES ARE INDICATED

• • 1.—Box
  • 2.—Top cover
  • 2a.—Fastening protrusion
  • 2a.1.—Fastening groove
  • 3.—Bottom cover
  • 3a.—T-shaped securing hole
  • 3b.—Locking protrusion
  • 3b.1.—Locking groove
  • 4.—Locking device
  • 4a.—Fastening connector
  • 4a.1.—Rotation pin
  • 4a.2.—Retention hole
  • 4a.3.—Fastening protrusion
  • 4a.3.1.—Fastening projection
  • 4b.—Locking puller
  • 4b.1.—Rotation hole
  • 4b.2.—Retention pin
  • 4b.3.—Locking protrusion
  • 4b.3.1.—Locking projection
  • 4b.4.—Pulling recess
  • 5.—Securing element
  • 5a.—Hooking element
  • 5b.—Stiffening bar
  • 6.—Carrying shoulder strap

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

With reference to the drawings and aforementioned references, the attached diagrams illustrate an improved box closure and transport assembly comprising a top cover (2), a bottom cover (3), and a securing element (5), wherein the top cover (2) pivots relative to the bottom cover (3). Each of the covers is provided, at its ends, with at least one fastening protrusion (2a) on the top cover (2) and a locking protrusion (3b) aligned in the closed position with the bottom cover (3). A locking device (4) is located on the top cover (2), consisting of a fastening connector (4a) and a locking puller (4b). The locking puller (4b) has at one end a rotation hole (4b.1) and, at the opposite end, a locking protrusion (4b.3), whose locking projection (4b.3.1) can be inserted into a locking groove (3b.1) located on the locking protrusion (3b). The fastening connector (4a) is non-rotatably secured to the top cover (2) by fastening protrusions (4a.3) at both ends of the connector, which include fastening projections (4a.3.1) inserted into fastening grooves (2a.1) located at the ends of the fastening protrusion (2a). The securing element (5) contains a stiffening bar (5b) and a hooking element (5a).

As seen in FIGS. 1 and 2, the fastening connector (4a) of the locking device (4) is non-rotatably secured to the top cover (2) by the fastening protrusions (4a.3) at both ends, which block lateral movement, and by inserting the fastening projections (4a.3.1) into the fastening grooves (2a.1) at the ends of the fastening protrusion (2a), which prevent extraction. This connection can be achieved by applying adequate pressure to the fastening connector (4a) against the fastening protrusion (2a) in a single user action. Thus, the components of the locking device (4) are limited to two, incorporating both the attachment to the top cover (2) and the interconnection between the parts, eliminating the need for additional small elements such as screws or rivets. This avoids perforating the box (1) and reduces assembly time.

Additionally, by equipping the securing element (5) with a stiffening bar (5b), added rigidity is provided to the locking device (4), preventing accidental disengagement of the locking device (4) due to deformation of the box (1), and allowing secure transport even under heavy loads.

Furthermore, since the rotation hole (4b.1) of the locking puller (4b) can rotatably house a rotation pin (4a.1) located at one end of the fastening connector (4a), the opening/closing motion of the locking puller (4b) rotates around a single axis defined by the rotation pin (4a.1), which is mounted to the box (1). This ensures easy opening and closing by the user, who can unlock/lock the locking device with a single motion and without the handle interfering between the top cover (2) and the bottom cover (3).

At the end of the locking puller (4b) opposite the rotation hole (4b.1), a pulling recess (4b.4) is provided, allowing the unlocking/locking of the locking device (4) in one single movement, even when the user is wearing work gloves. This is achieved by allowing partial finger insertion into the pulling recess (4b.4), preventing slippage and also avoiding pinching during closure, as the recess is positioned away from the locking protrusion (4b.3).

Moreover, the locking puller (4b) includes a retention pin (4b.2) that aligns with a retention hole (4a.2) located in the fastening connector (4a). The joint action of the retention pin (4b.2) and the shape of the retention hole (4a.2) makes it possible to keep the locking puller (4b) in an open position, where the locking protrusion (4b.3) is at its furthest point from the box (1), as seen in FIG. 2. This prevents the locking puller (4b) from resting between the top (2) and bottom (3) covers of the box (1), which would otherwise obstruct immediate closure. Additionally, in the closed position—where the locking projection (4b.3.1) of the locking protrusion (4b.3) is inserted into the locking groove (3b.1) of the locking protrusion (3b)—the joint action of the retention pin (4b.2) and the shape of the retention hole (4a.2) provides added safety against unintentional opening of the locking device (4).

The stiffening bar (5b) of the securing element (5) is insertable into a T-shaped securing hole (3a) in the bottom cover (3), and the hooking element (5a), external to the bottom cover (3), allows attachment of one end of a carrying shoulder strap (6). Thanks to the placement of the stiffening bar (5b), rigidity is provided to the area surrounding the locking device, preventing deformation due to low material rigidity and ensuring proper closure, even in plastic boxes. The insertion of the stiffening bar (5b) into the T-shaped securing hole (3a) prevents accidental extraction of the securing element (5) when the carrying shoulder strap (6) is pulled, thereby ensuring optimal transport.

Variations in materials, shape, size and arrangement of the component elements—described here in a non-limiting manner—do not affect the essence of embodiments of the invention, and the description provided is sufficient for reproduction by an expert in the field.

Although the present invention has been disclosed in the form of embodiments and variations thereon, it will be understood that numerous additional modifications and variations could be made thereto without departing from the scope of the invention.

For the sake of clarity, it is to be understood that the use of “a” or “an” throughout this application does not exclude a plurality, and “comprising” does not exclude other steps or elements. The mention of a “unit” or a “module” does not preclude the use of more than one unit or module.