Abstract:
A package comprising an outer sleeve with an inner void having a push-release locking mechanism positioned therein, and a tray for receiving articles that is pivotally connected to the outer sleeve, in which the push-release locking mechanism includes a means for locking and a means for spring loading, each located between the tray and the outer sleeve; and a method for releasing the tray from the outer sleeve, are described herein.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0001]    This invention relates generally to portable packages and, more specifically, to a push-release locking mechanism in a package including a pivoted tray. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
         [0002]      FIGS. 1 and 2  are perspective views of a transparent package according to the present invention. 
           [0003]      FIG. 3  is a top view of the transparent package of  FIG. 1  as the push button is pressed. 
           [0004]      FIGS. 4 and 5  are top views of the transparent package of  FIG. 1  as the push button is released. 
           [0005]      FIG. 6  is a perspective view of the transparent package of  FIG. 1  as the tray is rotated from the outer sleeve. 
           [0006]      FIG. 7  is a detail view of the transparent package of  FIG. 1  showing the movement of the push-release locking mechanism. 
           [0007]      FIG. 8  is a top view of an alternative embodiment of a transparent package according to the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0008]    As required, detailed embodiments of the present invention are disclosed herein. It will be understood that the disclosed embodiments are merely examples to illustrate aspects of the invention that may be embodied in various and alternative forms. The figures are not necessarily to scale, and some features may be exaggerated or minimized to show details of particular components. In other instances, well-known materials or methods have not been described in detail to avoid obscuring the present invention. Therefore, specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but as a basis for the claims and for teaching one skilled in the art to variously employ the present invention. 
         [0009]    Referring now to the drawings, wherein like numerals indicate like elements throughout the several views, the drawings illustrate certain of the various aspects of exemplary embodiments of a package. Generally described, the package includes an outer sleeve pivotally connected to an inner tray and includes a push-release locking mechanism. 
         [0010]      FIGS. 1 and 2  show an exemplary embodiment of a package  10  according to the present invention. The package  10  includes an outer sleeve  12  that receives a pivoting tray  14 . The outer sleeve  12  and the pivoting tray  14  can be formed of plastic material and formed by injection molding. However, it will be appreciated that other materials and processes can be used to form the package  10 , such as, in some instances, paperboard, without departing from the scope of the present invention. As shown in  FIG. 1 , the outer sleeve  12  includes a top wall  22 , a bottom wall  24 , a first side wall  26 , a second side wall  28 , and a rear wall  30 . The walls  22 ,  24 ,  26 ,  28 ,  30  are substantially rectangular and rigidly connected to leave a front opening  32  and define a void  34  where the pivoting tray  14  is received and stored. More specifically, the bottom wall  24  is substantially parallel to and aligned with the top wall  22 , the side walls  26 ,  28  extend between and are substantially perpendicular to the walls  22 ,  24  on opposing sides of the package  10 , and the rear wall  30  extends between, and is substantially perpendicular to, the walls  22 ,  24 ,  26 ,  28 . In alternative embodiments, the outer sleeve  12  may be any size or shape that is able to receive a pivoting tray  14 . 
         [0011]    As shown in  FIG. 2 , the pivoting tray  14  includes a top surface  42 , a bottom surface  44 , and an edge surface  46 . More specifically, the top surface  42  is substantially parallel and aligned with the bottom surface  44  and the edge surface  46  extends between and is substantially perpendicular to the surfaces  42 ,  44 . The pivoting tray  14  may be any shape or size that is suitable to being received by the void  34  defined by the outer sleeve  12  and additionally can be adapted to receive articles or items positioned on the tray  14 . Further, the pivoting tray  14  can be shaped to deflect the locking arm in the process that will be described in further detail below. In the exemplary embodiment, the top surface  42  includes receptacles  48  that may contain products including, but not limited to, cosmetics, jewelry, candy, medication, or any portable item or items. The receptacles  48  may be any suitable shape or size to adapt to any item to be contained therein. In alternative embodiments, the top surface  42  may include a known receiving structure, such as a mount or hub for receiving a compact disc. 
         [0012]    In the illustrated exemplary embodiment, the pivoting tray  14  is pivotally connected to the outer sleeve  12  by axels  50  that extend from the top surface  42  and the bottom surface  44  of the pivoting tray  14 , and are received in. respective apertures  52  in the top wall  22  and the bottom wall  24  of the outer sleeve  12 . The apertures  52  are located adjacent to the corner of the outer sleeve  12  formed by the first side wall  26  and the front opening  32 . Similarly, the axels  50  are positioned such that the pivoting tray  14  can pivotally rotate in and out of the outer sleeve  12  as will be described in more detail below. In alternative embodiments, axels may extend from the inner surfaces of the top wall  22  and bottom wall  24  into an aperture in the pivoting tray  14 . 
         [0013]    The package  10  includes a push-release locking mechanism that will now be described. In the exemplary embodiment, the push-release mechanism includes a push button  54  located on the portion of the edge wall  46  that is adjacent to the front opening  32 , as the pivoting tray  14  is fully received by the outer sleeve  12  or otherwise in a locked position as shown in  FIG. 2 . The push-release mechanism further includes a means for locking and a means for spring loading. In the exemplary embodiment, the means for locking includes an arm  62  that is integral to and extends from the tray  14 , and a locking arm  64  that is integral or otherwise rigidly attached to the inner surface of the first side wall  26 . The locking arm  64  may optionally be attached to the inner surface of the outer sleeve  12  by a pin connection where a spring may be used to control the deflection of the locking arm  64 . 
         [0014]    In the locked position, the distal end of the arm  62  is secured or otherwise prevented from rotating by an edge  66  of the locking arm  64 . In the exemplary embodiment, the means for spring loading includes a spring  70  and the arm  62 . In the locked position, the spring  70  may be at least partially loaded to hold the distal end of the arm  62  against the edge  66 . More specifically, in terms of the internal stresses that are present in the push-release locking mechanism elements when the elements are in the locked position, the spring  70  is in compression, a portion of the locking arm  64  extending from the first side wall  26  up to the edge  66  is in tension and the remaining portion is substantially in compression, and the arm  62  is in bending. 
         [0015]    As shown in  FIG. 3 , the pivoting tray  14  is released from the locked position by first applying a force F to the push button  54 . In the exemplary. embodiment, applying a force F to the push button  54  rotates the pivoting tray  14  into the void  34  to simultaneously deflect the locking arm  64 , rotate the arm  62  from the edge  66 , and rotate the arm  62  to additionally load the spring  70 . More specifically, in terms of the internal stresses that are present in the push-release locking mechanism elements when the elements are as shown in  FIG. 3 , the spring  70  is in compression, the locking arm  64  is in bending, and the arm  62  is in bending. 
         [0016]    The force F is then removed to release the pivoting tray  14  out of the void  34 , as shown in  FIGS. 4 and 5 . More specifically, as the force F is removed, the loaded or otherwise compressed spring  70  pushes against the arm  62  to quickly rotate the pivoting tray  14  and with it the arm  62 , such that as the locking arm  64  returns to a non-deflected position the arm  62  is not obstructed by or otherwise reengaged to the edge  66 , or returned to the locking position. The pivoting tray  14  is further rotated out of the void and through the front opening  32 , as shown in  FIG. 6 , to access the items contained in the package  10 . 
         [0017]      FIG. 7  shows a detailed illustration of an arcuate path P 1  that a point on the edge  66  of the locking arm  64  follows as the locking arm  64  rotates about the point X, an arcuate path P 2  that a point on the free end of the arm  62  follows as the arm  62  rotates with the pivoting tray about the point Y, and intersection point Z of the paths P 1 , P 2 . The points A 1 , B 1  and A 2 , B 2  correspond to  FIGS. 4 and 6 , respectively, such that the points A 1 , B 1  respectively represent the points on the edge  66  and the distal end of the arm  62  at a position earlier in a sequence of events as shown in  FIG. 3  and the points A 2 , B 2  respectively represent the points on the edge  66  and the distal end of the arm  62  at a position that is later in a sequence of events shown in  FIG. 5 . The intersection point Z substantially defines where the respective points on the edge  66  and the distal end of the arm  62  substantially meet when the edge  66  and the distal end of the arm  62  are engaged in the locking position shown in  FIG. 2 . Thus, to further describe the timing of the push-release locking mechanism, a force F is applied to the push button  54  to position the edge  66  at the point A 1  and the distal end of the arm  62  at the point B 1 , as shown in  FIG. 7 . As the force F is released, the distal end of the arm  62  moves from the point B 1  to the point B 2  along the path P 2  such that it reaches the point Z before the edge  66  as it moves from the point A 1  to the point A 2  along the path P 1 . 
         [0018]    In an alternative embodiment shown in  FIG. 8 , the package  110  is substantially similar to the package  10  and only certain aspects will be discussed. The alternative embodiment includes a push-release locking mechanism that functions substantially similarly to that of the package  10  where the means for locking is a locking arm  164  that is held against the edge  166  of a bump  162  on the pivoting tray  114  and the means for spring loading is an elastic leg  170  that extends from the pivoting tray  114  to a stationary surface  172 . Alternatively, the locking arm may include the bump to be received in a depression in the pivoting tray. Further, the stationary surface may alternatively be a means for spring loading. It should be noted that the means for spring loading includes helical or coil spring and flat spring where the helical spring further include compression springs, extension springs, and torsion springs. 
         [0019]    It must be emphasized that the law does not require and it is economically prohibitive to illustrate and teach every possible embodiment of the present claims. Hence, the above-described embodiments are merely exemplary illustrations of implementations set forth for a clear understanding of the principles of the invention. Many variations and modifications may be made to the above-described embodiments without departing from the scope of the claims. All such modifications, combinations, and variation are included herein by the scope of this disclosure and the following claims.