Abstract:
A container having a lid and storage portions connected about a self opening, spring actuated hinge is provided with at its front with a push button actuated latch so that one handed opening is possible.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     The present invention relates generally to compact cases which carry a variety of goods incorporating a one handed operation to both open and close the case without spilling the contents from over exertion while opening the case.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     It has been the common practice to use compact cases in which to carry a variety of goods. These compact cases vary in size and shape and offer many different degrees of service. Previously, these compact cases were opened and closed manually. That is, one person would be required to use both hands in order to both open and close the case. With certain compact cases it has been found that a substantial amount of force is required in order to get the case open. In such circumstances the contents of the compact case may be accidentally spilled. Furthermore, current compact cases allow only those people who have both hands functioning properly and possess excellent fine motor skills to open and close the case.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0003]     The present invention provides a compact case which can be opened and closed with the use of only one hand so as to minimize the chance for spillage of the contents of the case while opening the case.  
         [0004]     In accordance with the present invention there is provided a case which consists of a top and bottom portion. The top portion includes a square surface with walls extending downward on each side. The bottom portion includes a square surface with walls extending upward on each side wherein the walls of the bottom portion mate with the walls of the top portion. The bottom portion includes two posts on the rear wall with a recess in one post and a larger recess with a groove in the other post. On the front end of the bottom portion there consists a push button attached to a latch in order to both securely close and initiate opening of the case. The latch secures the case when closed and the push button releases the latch so as to initiate the case opening. The top portion is shaped such that on the rear wall there is provided a peg in one corner and a self-actuating hinge inside a hollow tube on the other corner. Both the self-actuating hinge and the peg are inserted into the two corresponding recesses on the posts of the bottom portion. On the front wall of the top portion there is a recess in which to hold the latch from the bottom portion in order to keep the case closed.  
         [0005]     The self-actuating hinge includes a spring, a viscous lubricant and a screw. The spring is attached securely inside the hollow tube of the top portion. The screw is grooved on both ends; one end is grooved to be attached to the spring and the other end is grooved to mate to the groove of the larger recess of the post in the bottom portion. The screw is then coated in a viscous lubricant on the spring end of the screw and inserted into the hollow tube and attached to the spring. The viscosity of the lubricant is used to alleviate any damage to the screw while in use and maintains the speed at which the case automatically opens.  
         [0006]     While the case is opened, the spring is in its rest state and the screw is secured to both the spring of the top portion and the groove of the larger recess of the bottom portion. When closing the case the screw remains stationary and the spring, being attached to both the top portion and the screw, becomes twisted or wound-up gaining enough force to automatically urge the top portion to move to an open position once the push button is pushed. When the case is closed and the push button is pushed, the latch is then released and the spring is able to unwind itself and in so doing causes the top portion to be pushed away from the bottom portion.  
         [0007]     It would only require one hand in order to open and close the case since there consists a push button in order to open the case and the user need only push down in order to close the case. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0008]     The present invention will now be described by way of example only with reference to the following figures in which:  
         [0009]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the compact case when open;  
         [0010]      FIG. 2  is a sectional view of the rear end of the top portion; 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0011]     With reference to  FIG. 1 , the compact case  2  consists of a top portion  10  and bottom portion  20  wherein a push button  15  is located on the bottom portion.  
         [0012]     The bottom portion  20  includes two posts on the rear wall, post  4  includes a small recess  8  to mate with peg  12  of the top portion and post  5  includes a larger recess  9  with a groove made to mate with screw  13  of the self-actuating hinge. On the front end of the bottom portion there consists a push button  15  attached to a latch  11  in order to both securely close and initiate opening of the case. The latch  11  secures the case when closed and the push button  15  releases the latch  11  so as to initiate the case  2  to open.  
         [0013]     With reference to  FIG. 2 , the top portion  10  is shaped such that on the rear wall there is a peg  12  in one corner and a self-actuating hinge  13  inside a hollow tube  16  on the other corner. Both the peg  12  and the screw  13  of the self-actuating hinge are inserted into the two corresponding recesses  8  and  9  of the bottom portion. On the front end of the top portion  10  there is a recess  7  in which to hold latch  11  from the bottom portion  20  as shown in  FIG. 1 .  
         [0014]     The top portion  10  includes a hollow tube  16 . A spring  18  is secured to both the hollow tube of the top portion  10  and the screw  13 . The screw  13  is grooved on both ends; one end is grooved to be attached to the spring  18  and the other end is grooved to mate to the groove of the larger recess  9  of post  5  of the bottom portion  20 . The screw  13  is then coated in a viscous lubricant on the spring end of the screw  13  and inserted into the hollow tube  16  and attached to the spring  18 . The viscosity of the lubricant is used to alleviate any damage to the screw while in use and maintains the speed at which the case automatically opens.  
         [0015]     While the case  2  is in an opened position, the spring  18  is in its rest state and the screw  13  is secured to both the spring  18  of the top portion  10  and the groove  9  of the larger recess of the bottom portion  20 . When closing the case  2  the screw  13  remains stationary and the spring  18 , being attached to both the top portion  10  and the screw  13 , becomes twisted or wound-up gaining enough force to automatically urge the top portion  10  to move to an open position once the push button  15  is pushed. When the case  2  is closed and the push button  15  is pushed, the latch  11  is then released and the spring  18  is able to unwind itself and in so doing causes the top portion  10  to be pushed away from the bottom portion  20 .