Abstract:
Case including a lid and a base provided with a closure having a hook and a counter hook cooperating to close the case. The hook includes a rigid support on the lid to which an elastic component carrying the catch of the hook is mounted. The elastic component deforms upon opening and closing to engage and disengage, respectively, the catch and counter hook.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates to a case of the type formed by two case halves respectively consisting of a lid and a base, intended, inter alia, to hold a make-up product in cake form, e.g. a cake of compacted powder, and possibly an applicator member, such as a powder puff or a brush. In this type of case, the lid and the base are linked along a hinge in such a manner that one can be pivoted relative to the other and closure elements are disposed on the side opposite the hinge, on the one hand, on the edge of the lid and, on the other hand, on the edge of the base. The closure elements usually consist of a hook provided with a catch and a counter hook comprising one edge of a groove formed in the wall of a recess into which the hook can penetrate, the catch cooperating with the edge of the groove in the closed position. The hook is generally disposed on the lid and the counter hook on the base, but the reverse is also possible. 
     The cases are usually made by molding the different components in rigid plastic. In the majority of the known cases, the counter hook of the closure device includes a sliding pusher which cooperates with a movable pivoting or sliding member, itself cooperating with the hook, the movable member making it possible to free the hook and open the case by actuating the pusher. The design and assembly of this type of closure device having a movable member are relatively complicated and require great precision. In addition, the different components obtained by molding plastic cannot be made sufficiently small and, consequently, the overall dimensions of this type of closure device are relatively large for cases intended to hold a make-up product. Moreover, the movable components are likely to wear rapidly and in the end the clasp will no longer close. 
     It is known from EP-A 0 453 352 to obviate the above disadvantages by making a closure device not including a movable member, comprising a hook made entirely of elastic material which is housed in a fixed and permanent manner in a blind hole of the lid of rigid material, the elasticity of the hook making it possible to open the case by exerting a force to separate the lid and the base at the closure device. However, according to this arrangement, in the end, the free part of the elastic hook which is outside the blind hole, will no longer fulfill its function after several operations, losing its elasticity as a result of fatigue. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates to a closure device by means of which it is possible to obviate this disadvantage, in which the hook consists of two parts, i.e. a rigid support molded in one piece with the case half carrying it, and an elastic component carrying the catch of the hook which is fixed to the rigid support. In this manner, the elastic component is supported by the rigid support as far as the catch and the elasticity is preserved longer during use than in the closure devices known hitherto. 
     This invention therefore relates to a case formed by two rigid case halves, respectively consisting of a rigid lid and a rigid base linked along a hinge, the case including a closure system consisting of two elements that can cooperate, one disposed on the edge of the lid and the other on the edge of the base on the side opposite the hinge, one of the elements being a hook provided with a catch and the other being a counter hook consisting of one edge of a groove formed in the wall of a recess into which the hook can penetrate, the catch cooperating with the said edge of the groove in the closed position. The hook consists of a rigid support molded in one piece with the case half carrying it, an elastic component carrying the catch of the hook being fixed to the rigid support. 
     According to the invention, the elastic component can be glued or welded on to the rigid support. It is preferably fixed using the elasticity of the elastic material from which it is made, the elastic component being held on the support to which it is fixed, e.g. by snapping, clipping, gluing or welding. 
     The elastic material can be any semi-rigid or flexible elastic material. Possible examples of these materials include the materials of the group formed by polyethylenes, polypropylenes, polyamides, polyacetals, thermoplastic elastomers, such as polyethylene, polyurethane, polyurethane terephthalate, polyether block amide, EVA, SBS or vulcanisable elastomers, such as nitrile, EPDM, etc.. 
     The rigid support and the elastic component can have various shapes, the only limitations being that the rigid support can be obtained in a simple manner by molding with the case half and that the zone of the elastic component carrying the catch of the hook is sufficiently flexible to be released from the counter hook when the user exerts sufficient force to separate the lid and the base of the case at the closure device. 
     The rigid support according to the invention advantageously consists of at least one lug, preferably two lugs. In cross section, the lugs can have a polygonal shape, such as a rectangular, square or triangular shape, or a rounded shape, such as a circular or oval shape. Each lug can also carry projections or notches intended to improve the fixing of the component of deformable material. When there are several lugs, these are advantageously connected to one another by at least one rib, so as to reinforce their grip on the case half. This rib preferably forms an integral part of the case half. 
     The elastic component advantageously has a shape such that it can be slipped like a sock or a glove on to the lug (or lugs) forming the rigid support. To this end, it can consist of a casing including a cavity into which the lug (or all of the lugs) can be slipped or a casing including a cavity for each of the lugs. 
     The elastic component can also be fixed to the support by snapping or clipping fixing lugs which it carries. 
     In order to improve the flexibility of the elastic component in the vicinity of the catch, the zone of the component carrying the catch can be a thin zone at right angles with a recess of the component or the zone can be a tongue. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The object of this invention will be more readily understood from the following description of several embodiments given purely by way of non-limiting examples and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an open case including a closure device according to the invention; 
     FIG. 2 is a section of the same case in the closed position; 
     FIG. 3 is a front view of the lid of the case carrying the hook; 
     FIGS. 4 to 6 are exploded views of different embodiments of the hook according to the invention, in which the support includes lugs which have a polygonal shape in cross section and are slipped into the interior of the elastic component; 
     FIG. 7 is an exploded view of an embodiment of the hook, in which the support is fixed by snapping to the fixing lugs of the elastic component; 
     FIG. 8 is an exploded view of another embodiment of the same type of hook; 
     FIG. 9 is a front view of this same hook; 
     FIG. 10 is a perspective view of an elastic component which can be fitted to the support of FIG. 8; 
     FIG. 11 is an exploded view of a variant embodiment of the hook of FIGS. 4 to 6; 
     FIG. 12 is an exploded view of an embodiment of a hook, in which the elastic component includes lugs for fixing the support by snapping; 
     FIG. 13 is an exploded view of a variant embodiment of the hook of FIG. 12; 
     FIG. 14 is a section of the flexible component of FIG. 13; 
     FIG. 15 is an exploded view of an embodiment of the hook, in which the lugs are cylindrical, and 
     FIG. 16 is an exploded view of another embodiment of the hook of the same type as that of FIG. 15. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     FIGS. 1 to 3 show a case 1 according to the invention which includes a lid 2 and a base 3 molded in rigid material connected along a hinge 4. The closure device of the case 1 consists of two elements, i.e. an element 5 forming a hook which is disposed on the edge of the lid 2 opposite the hinge 4 and an element forming a counter hook 6 which is disposed on the edge of the base 3 opposite the hinge 4 so that it can cooperate with the element forming the hook 5. 
     The element 5 consists of two parts, i.e. a support 7 which is molded in one piece with the lid 2 and which is consequently made of rigid material and an elastic component 8 which carries a catch 9 of the hook 5. The support 7 consists of two lugs 10a and 10b connected by a reinforcing rib 11 which is integral with the bottom of the lid 2. The lugs 10a and 10b have a cross section in the shape of a rectangle except at their free ends where the lugs 10a and 10b carry a projection 12a, 12b having a longitudinal section in the shape of a right-angled triangle, the point of the right angle being opposite the bottom of the lid. The elastic component 8 is a parallelepipedal casing in which a cavity 13 having the shape of the support 7 is formed. The catch 9 is disposed on the front face of the component 8 and it projects towards the exterior. 
     The counter hook 6 consists of the edge of a groove 15 formed in the wall of a recess 14. 
     When the case 1 is closed (see FIG. 2), the hook 5 is housed in the recess 14, the catch 9 cooperating with the edge of the groove 15 and being held by the upper edge (in the position shown in FIG. 2) of this groove 15. When the user wishes to open the case 1, he exerts a force on the closure device tending to separate the lid 2 from the base 3 at the closure. Under the action of this force, the elastic catch 9 is deformed until the catch 9 is freed from the groove 15 and, consequently, the hook 5 is freed from the counter hook 6. When the user closes the case 1 again, the catch 9 of the hook 5 moves aside by deformation and then is housed in the groove 15. 
     The subsequent figures show variants of closure systems according to the invention. In these figures, the same arrangements or components carry the same reference numerals increased by multiples of 100. 
     FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of a hook 105 consisting of a support 107 and an elastic component 108 carrying a catch 109. The support 107 has the same shape as the support 7 shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, except that the reinforcing rib 111 is not integral with the lid 102. The component 108 is a parallelepipedal casing open on its upper face (in the position shown). A cavity 113 is formed in the casing 108 and is also parallelepipedal in its entirety, except that beading 116a, 116b is provided to hold the projections 112a and 112b of the lugs 110a, 110b molded in one piece with the lid 102. 
     FIG. 5 shows a variant of the hook 105 of FIG. 4. According to this Figure, a hook 205 consists of a support 207 similar to the one shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, except that the projections 212a and 212b of the lugs 210a and 210b have a longitudinal section in the shape of a right-angled trapezium, the small side of the trapezium having a length slightly greater than the thickness of the wall of the elastic component 208. The elastic component 208, like the component 108 of FIG. 4, consists of a hollow casing including a parallelepipedal cavity 213. Two openings 217 for the passage of the projections 212a and 212b of the rigid support 207 are formed in the lateral walls 208a, 208b of the casing, just above the wall forming the base. A rectangular tongue 218 carrying the catch 209 is provided in the front wall 208c of the casing. This gives greater flexibility of the catch of the hook 209, thereby facilitating opening and closure of the case. 
     FIG. 6 is an exploded view, partly in section and partly in a front view, of a hook 305 the support 307 of which consists of two lugs 310a and 310b provided with two projections 312a and 312b facing one another. The elastic component 308 is of generally parallelepipedal shape and carries a catch 309. Two passages 313a and 313b having a shape complementary to that of the lugs 310a and 310b, except for the necessary clearance, and bordered by the lateral walls 308a and 308b are formed in the component 308. 
     FIG. 7 is an exploded view of a hook 405 which consists of a support 407 including two lugs 410a and 410b connected by a rib 411 integral with the lid 402 shown vertically here. The lugs 410a and 410b are provided at their ends with triangular projections 412a and 412b respectively facing one another. The elastic component 408 consists of a plate 419 on the upper face of which the catch 409 is disposed. Two fixing lugs 420a and 420b, each in the form of a right-angled bracket, are disposed on the lower face of the plate 419, one of the sides of each bracket 420a and 420b being parallel to the plate 419 and the other being perpendicular to the plate 419. These brackets form two rectangular spaces 421a and 421b, each space 421a, 421b having cross-sectional dimensions equal to the dimensions of the lugs 410a, 410b outside the projections 412a and 412b. These project beyond the component 408 when the latter is mounted on the support 407. The component 408 is thus fixed to the support 407 with the aid of fixing lugs 420a and 420b and projections 412a and 412b. In this embodiment, the catch 409 is situated over a flexible zone of the plate 419 facilitating the operation of the catch 409 in cooperation with the corresponding counter hook. 
     FIGS. 8 and 9 show an embodiment of a hook 505 consisting of a support 507 molded in one piece with the lid 502 and an elastic component 508 carrying the catch 509 of the hook. The support 507 consists of two lugs 510a and 510b carrying two projections having a triangular longitudinal section 512a, 512b directed towards the exterior. The lugs 510a and 510b are connected to one another by a reinforcing rib 511 integral with the lid 502. The component 508 is a parallelepipedal casing, the rear face 508d of which (in the position shown in FIGS. 8 and 9) is open, this opening extending as far as the front wall 508c by openings 517a, 517b at each of the corners between the lateral walls 508a and 508b and the front wall 508c. The openings 517a, 517b have dimensions such that the projections 512a, 512b can penetrate therein and hold the component 508 by clipping, as shown in FIG. 9, on the edges of the openings 517a, 517b defined by the lateral walls 508a, 508b. A rectangular opening 522 traverses the component 508 at right angles with the catch 509 and gives greater elasticity to the hook 505 at the catch 509. FIG. 9 shows this elasticity being used to advantage during the operation of the closure device. 
     FIG. 10 shows an elastic component 608 which can be used with the support 507 shown in FIG. 8. This component 608 is similar to the component 508 shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, except that the flexibility of the hook at the catch 609 is obtained by a tongue 618 cut out of the upper wall 608e of the component 608 and carrying the catch 609. 
     FIG. 11 shows a hook 705 consisting of a support 707 of rigid material and an elastic component 708 carrying the catch 709. The support 707 includes two lugs 710a, 710b connected by a rib 711 integral with the lid 702. The lugs 710a, 710b have a cross section which gradually decreases from the rib 711 towards their free ends. An outer lateral notch 723a, 723b is formed at the reinforcing rib 711 in each of the lugs 710a, 710b. The elastic component 708 is a hollow prismatic casing. The lateral faces 708a and 708b converge slightly towards the front wall 708c. They are provided internally on their edges opposite the lid 702 with beading 724a and 724b. A front cutout 722 of generally rectangular shape is formed on the front wall 708c. The catch 709 is thus disposed on the flexible upper wall limiting the opening 722 of the component 708. 
     FIG. 12 shows a hook 805 consisting of a rigid support 807 and a flexible component 808. The rigid support 807 includes two lugs 810a, 810b connected at one of by a reinforcing rib 811 which is integral with the lids 802. The free ends of the lugs 810a, 810b carry a projection 812a, 812b, the two projections facing one another. The elastic component 808 consists of a plate 819 provided on its lower face with two lugs 820a, 820b in the form of a right-angled bracket forming a space 821a, 821b opening laterally towards the exterior. This space has dimensions such that the lugs 810a, 810b can be introduced therein, the projections 812a and 812b being disposed on the front edge of the lugs 820a and 820b so as to fix the component 808 by clipping to the lugs 810a, 810b. The catch 809 of the hook 805 is disposed on a tongue 818 formed on the front edge of the plate 819. 
     FIGS. 13 and 14 show an embodiment of a variant of the hook 805 of FIG. 12. In the elastic component 908, the lugs 920a, 920b each include an angle return, the two returns facing one another, and are disposed on the lower face of the plate 919. The catch 909 of the hook is fixed to a tongue 918. The lugs 910a, 910b of the support 907 include lateral projections 912a, 912b facing one another. 
     FIG. 15 shows a hook 1005 consisting of a support 1007 including two cylindroconical lugs 1010a and 1010b molded in one piece with the lid 1002. On each lug 1010a, 1010b, the diameter of the conical part at its junction with the cylindrical part is greater than the diameter of the cylindrical part so as to form a collar 1024a, 1024b defining around and at the ends of the cylindrical parts a flat bearing surface opposite the lid. The elastic component 1008 consists of a plate 1019 carrying the catch 1009 of the hook. Two cylindrical spaces 1025a, 1025b are provided under the face of the plate 1019 at each of the ends of the plate 1019. The lugs 1010a and 1010b slip into the spaces 1025a, 1025b like into the fingers of a glove, the clipping collars 1024a and 1024b holding the component 1008 relative to the support 1007 by bearing against the flat bearing surfaces of the lugs 1010a, 1010b on the front face of the component 1008. 
     FIG. 16 shows a hook 1105 consisting of a rigid support 1107 and an elastic component 1108. The rigid support 1107 consists of two cylindroconical lugs 1110a and 1110b similar to the lugs 1010a, 1010b of FIG. 15. The component 1108 consists of an endless belt 1119 which can be straddled over the lugs 1110a and 1110b. The belt 1119 carries the catch 109 of the hook on its front edge (in the position shown in FIG. 16).