Patent Description:
There is a plurality of different types of devices comprising a casing and a cover releasably connected to the casing by a latching mechanism in the prior art.

One problem with some of such prior art devices is that it can be difficult to open the cover.

Another problem with some of such prior art devices is that the security of the device is low, leading to undesired opening of the cover.

An example of prior art is disclosed in e.g. <CIT>, <CIT> or <CIT>.

An object of the present invention is to avoid the problems of the prior art and provide a device comprising a casing and a cover which is easy to open and still prevents at least certain types of undesired opening thereof. The device according to the present invention results in that a tool is required to open the device, which prevents undesired opening and tampering by, e.g. children. Hence, the device can be considered child-proof. Simultaneously, the invention results in that the device can be opened with a tool in the form of a common hand-held object.

The present invention relates to a device comprising a casing and a cover, wherein the casing comprises a bottom and walls forming an interior chamber, wherein the cover is releasably connected to the casing by means of a latching mechanism having first and second interacting latching parts, at least one of said latching parts being displaceable in relation to the other, and wherein one of said casing walls is formed with a through slot for receiving a portion of a hand-held object for operating the displaceable latching part, characterised in that said slot is arranged with a first dimension and a second dimension for receiving a portion of a handheld object in the form of a rectangular card in an insert direction through the slot, and one of said first and second latching parts is displaceable at least partially in the insert direction and comprises an actuating portion extending inside the chamber for engaging a corner portion of said rectangular card when inserted through the slot to release the latching mechanism. As the casing is formed with a slot adapted for receiving the card for unlatching the latching mechanism the cover can be removed easily by means of a common standard type plastic card used for a variety of purposes, such as payment cards, driver licences, ID cards, membership cards, etc., which normally is readily available for a person that wishes to open a device according to the present disclosure, while opening of the device without the card or similar object is prevented. Hence, the device is arranged so that it cannot be opened by hand but the card or similar object is required.

The device can comprise a slanting surface to force the cover away from the casing when the latching mechanism has been released and the displaceable latching part is further displaced. Hence, the cover can be easily removed also when the cover is arranged flush with the end part of the casing walls. The slanting surface can be arranged on the displaceable latching part connected to the cover, e.g. on the actuating portion, wherein the cover will be pushed away from the casing when the card is pushed against the slanting surface of the actuating portion and the latching mechanism is unlatched. Alternatively, the slanting surface can be arranged on a protrusion of the cover, wherein the cover is pushed away from the casing when the displaceable latching part connected to the casing is pushed against the slanting surface of said protrusion.

The slot is adapted for receiving a corner portion of the card and prevent access without the use of the card or similar object. Hence, the slot is adapted to prevent access to the latching mechanism by a finger or a nail of a person. The first dimension of the slot can be <NUM> to <NUM> and the second dimension of the slot can be <NUM> to <NUM> or about <NUM>-<NUM>. Hence, the slot is arranged for receiving a corner portion of said card, said card having a size of <NUM> x <NUM>, a thickness of <NUM> and rounded corners with a radius of <NUM> to <NUM>.

The present invention also relates to a method for releasing a cover from a casing, wherein the cover is releasably connected to the casing by means of a latching mechanism having interacting latching parts arranged in an interior chamber of the casing, and wherein at least one of which latching parts is displaceable, said method comprising the steps of.

Further characteristics and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the description of the embodiments below, the appended drawings and the dependent claims.

The invention will now be described in more detail with the aid of exemplary embodiments and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:.

With reference to <FIG> a device <NUM> according to one embodiment of the invention is illustrated. The device <NUM> comprises a casing <NUM> and a cover <NUM>. The casing <NUM> comprises walls <NUM> forming an enclosure. For example, the casing <NUM> also comprises a bottom <NUM> connected to the walls <NUM> to form a box-shaped enclosure, a compartment or similar. For example, the cover <NUM> is a casing front cover or back cover, wherein the cover <NUM> e.g. is arranged as a bracket for mounting on a structure, such as a wall, ceiling, door frame, window frame or any other suitable supporting structure. Alternatively, the casing <NUM> is arranged for mounting on such a supporting surface, wherein the bottom <NUM>, e.g. is arranged as a bracket or to be mounted on a separate bracket. For example, the device <NUM> is attachable to the supporting structure by means of conventional fastening means, such as screws or similar. The cover <NUM> is releasably connectable to the casing <NUM>, so that the device <NUM> can be opened and closed.

For example, the device <NUM> is an intrusion alarm component, wherein the casing contains electronic parts, a detector, a battery compartment, an intrusion alarm gateway or similar. Alternatively, the device <NUM> is a battery compartment of a toy, tool or any other type of product having a casing <NUM> and a cover <NUM> for housing an object. The casing <NUM> and the cover <NUM> are, for example, made of plastic materials, which plastic materials optionally have inherent resilient flexible properties. For example, the casing <NUM> and cover <NUM> are exclusively made of plastic materials. Alternatively, the casing <NUM> and cover <NUM> are made of metal or includes components of metal and/or plastic materials.

In the illustrated embodiment, the device <NUM> is box-shaped, wherein the bottom <NUM> and cover <NUM> are substantially flat and square or rectangular, optionally having rounded corners, and are arranged substantially in parallel to each other. However, it is understood for a skilled person in view of the invention as disclosed herein that the device <NUM> can be of a variety of shapes. For example, the cover <NUM> can be inclined in relation to the bottom <NUM> and/or the walls <NUM>. Further, the cover <NUM> and/or the casing <NUM> can be arched. Further, the cover <NUM> and/or bottom <NUM> can be, e.g. circular, oval, etc. In the illustrated embodiment, an exterior surface of the cover <NUM> is flush with an end of the walls <NUM>. The cover <NUM> is supported by a shoulder <NUM> on the walls <NUM> as illustrated in <FIG> by means of dashed lines. Alternatively, the end of the walls <NUM> extend beyond the exterior surface of the cover <NUM>. Alternatively, the exterior surface of the cover <NUM> extends in a plane beyond the end of the walls <NUM>.

The casing <NUM> is arranged to form a chamber <NUM> within the walls <NUM>, which chamber <NUM> can be closed by the cover <NUM> and is accessible by lifting or removing the cover <NUM> from the casing <NUM>. The chamber <NUM> is defined by the interior of the casing <NUM> and cover <NUM> which are illustrated by means of dashed lines in <FIG>. The cover <NUM> is detachably attachable to the casing <NUM> by means of a latching mechanism <NUM>. The latching mechanism <NUM> is arranged inside said chamber <NUM>. Hence, the latching mechanism <NUM> is arranged inside the device <NUM>. In <FIG> a part of said latching mechanism <NUM> is illustrated with dashed lines.

One of the walls <NUM> is formed with a slot <NUM>. The slot <NUM> is elongated and substantially rectangular, optionally with rounded corners or rounded end portions. Hence, the slot <NUM> has two substantially parallel long sides connecting two opposite ends. For example, the long sides are straight and regular. The slot <NUM> is a through slot <NUM> extending through the wall <NUM>. For example, the slot <NUM> extends from the chamber <NUM> to the exterior side of the casing <NUM>. The slot <NUM> is arranged with a first dimension x and a second dimension y, wherein the second dimension y extends perpendicular to the first dimension x and in the same plane. The first dimension x substantially corresponds to the long sides of the slot <NUM>. For example, the first dimension x corresponds to a length of the slot <NUM>. For example, the second dimension y corresponds to a height of the slot <NUM>. For example, the first dimension x is <NUM>-<NUM>, <NUM>-<NUM> or <NUM>-<NUM>, wherein the second dimension y is <NUM>-<NUM>, <NUM>-<NUM>, <NUM>-<NUM> or <NUM>-<NUM>.

The slot <NUM> is arranged for receiving a portion of a handheld object in the form of card <NUM>, which is illustrated in <FIG>. The card <NUM> is a common plastic card used for ATM cards, payment cards, debit cards, bank cards, ID cards, driver licences, membership cards, public transport cards and many other applications, which many people carry in their wallet, purse, handbag, pocket or similar. For example, the card <NUM> has flat, level, opposite and parallel main surfaces. For example, the card <NUM> is rectangular, optionally with rounded corners, has a length of <NUM>-<NUM> or <NUM>-<NUM>, and a width of <NUM>-<NUM> or <NUM>-<NUM>. The thickness of the card <NUM> is, e.g. <NUM>-<NUM> or <NUM>-<NUM>. For example, the main surface of the card <NUM> is <NUM> x <NUM>, wherein a thickness is <NUM>. The corners of the card <NUM> are, e.g. rounded with a radius of <NUM> to <NUM>. For example, the card <NUM> complies with the ISO standard ISO/IEC <NUM> ID-<NUM> (December <NUM>, <NUM>). In the illustrated embodiment, the slot <NUM> is arranged for receiving a corner portion of the card <NUM>, so that said corner portion can be introduced into the chamber <NUM> for operating the latching mechanism <NUM> to open the cover <NUM>.

With reference to <FIG> the latching mechanism and the operation thereof by means of the card <NUM> is illustrated more in detail according to one embodiment. The latching mechanism comprises two interacting latching parts, herein referred to as a first latching part <NUM> and a second latching part <NUM>. The first latching part <NUM> is connected to the casing <NUM>, wherein the second latching part <NUM> is connected to the cover <NUM>, so that the cover <NUM> is detachably attachable to the casing <NUM> by means of the first and second latching parts <NUM>, <NUM>. When the casing <NUM> is closed by means of the cover <NUM> the first and second latching parts <NUM>, <NUM> are arranged in the chamber <NUM>, wherein the latching mechanism is accessible through the slot <NUM> by means of the card <NUM> for releasing the latching mechanism. The first and second latching parts <NUM>, <NUM> extend in opposite directions towards each other to overlap and form the latching mechanism. For example, the first and second latching parts <NUM>, <NUM> extend in a plane parallel to the cover <NUM> when the casing <NUM> is closed by the cover <NUM>, wherein the first latching part <NUM> is arranged between the second latching part <NUM> and the interior side of the cover <NUM>. For example, the first and second latching parts <NUM>, <NUM> extend in a direction substantially perpendicular to the wall <NUM> having the slot <NUM>. The second latching part <NUM> is suspended from the interior side of the cover <NUM>, e.g. through a plate, arm or similar to form the required distance to the interior side of the cover <NUM>.

One of the first and second latching parts <NUM>, <NUM> is movable in relation to the other. In the embodiment of <FIG> the first latching part <NUM> is movable. The first latching part <NUM> is connected to an actuating portion <NUM> for operating the latching mechanism. The actuating portion <NUM> extends inside the chamber <NUM> in a position to be engaged by the card <NUM> when inserted through the slot <NUM> in the casing wall <NUM> in an insert direction z as illustrated in <FIG>. For example, the actuating portion <NUM> extends in a plane substantially perpendicular to the insert direction z. For example, the actuating portion <NUM> extends substantially in parallel to the wall <NUM> having the slot <NUM>. The actuating portion <NUM> is arranged behind the slot <NUM>, in the insertion path of the card <NUM>, so that the actuating portion <NUM> overlaps the slot <NUM>, with or without a gap to the interior side of the wall <NUM> having the slot <NUM>. For example, the actuating portion <NUM> extends substantially perpendicular to the first latching part <NUM>. In the embodiment of <FIG> the first latching part <NUM> and the actuating portion <NUM> are suspended from a structure <NUM> being spring biased towards the latched position by means of a spring (not illustrated). For example, said structure <NUM> is spring biased in a direction corresponding to the direction of the first latching part <NUM> and towards the second latching part <NUM>, i.e. generally perpendicular to the actuating portion <NUM> and towards the wall <NUM> having the slot <NUM>.

The actuating portion <NUM> is arranged a distance D between an exterior side of the casing wall <NUM> having the slot <NUM> and the actuating portion <NUM> when the device <NUM> is in the latched position. For example, said distance D is less than <NUM> or less than <NUM>. For example, said distance D substantially corresponds to the thickness of the wall <NUM>, wherein the actuating portion <NUM> extends along the interior side of the wall <NUM> and optionally also engages it. Alternatively, the actuating portion <NUM> is arranged with a gap to the interior side of the wall <NUM> having the slot <NUM> as illustrated in <FIG>.

In the embodiment of <FIG> the interior side of the cover <NUM> is provided with a protrusion <NUM>. For example, the protrusion <NUM> extends in a direction perpendicular to a plane of the cover <NUM>. The protrusion <NUM> is arranged with a slanting surface <NUM>, so that the protrusion is tapered in a direction away from the interior side of the cover <NUM>. The first latching part <NUM> is connected to an engaging surface <NUM> for engaging the slanting surface <NUM> of the protrusion <NUM>, which engaging surface <NUM> is illustrated with dashed lines and is described in more detail below. For example, the engaging surface <NUM> is also inclined. For example, the engaging surface <NUM> extends in a direction substantially in parallel to the slanting surface <NUM>.

When the corner portion of the card <NUM> is inserted through the slot <NUM> in the insert direction z it engages the actuating portion <NUM> as illustrated in <FIG>. Then, when the card <NUM> is further pushed in the insert direction z it displaces the actuating portion <NUM> and the first latching part <NUM> to disengage the first latching part <NUM> from the second latching part <NUM> as illustrated in <FIG>, wherein the latching mechanism is released and the cover <NUM> can be removed from the casing <NUM>. Hence, the first latching part <NUM> is displaced in the insert direction z of the card <NUM> away from the slot <NUM> to be released from the second latching part <NUM>. The displacement of the first latching part <NUM> is made against the spring action biasing the first latching part <NUM> towards the second latching part <NUM> and the latched position.

When or after the first latching part <NUM> has been disengaged from the second latching part <NUM> the engaging surface <NUM> is brought to engage the slanting surface <NUM> of the protrusion <NUM>. Then, when the card <NUM> is pushed further into the chamber <NUM> in the insert direction z the engaging surface <NUM> slides against the slanting surface <NUM> and forces the cover <NUM> away from the casing <NUM> as illustrated by means of the arrow A in <FIG> to open the casing <NUM>. Hence, in a default position, in which the latching mechanism is in the latched position, the engaging surface <NUM> is arranged with a gap to the slanting surface <NUM>, which gap corresponds to or is larger than the overlap between the first and second latching parts <NUM>, <NUM> and hence, the distance required to displace the first latching part <NUM> to disengage it from the second latching part <NUM>.

With reference to <FIG> the latching mechanism and the operation thereof by means of the card <NUM> is illustrated more in detail according to one alternative embodiment. In the embodiment of <FIG> the second latching part <NUM> is connected to the cover <NUM> and is displaceable for unlatching the latching mechanism. The first latching part <NUM> is connected to the casing <NUM> and is projecting from the interior side of the wall <NUM> having the slot <NUM>. For example, the first latching part <NUM> is arranged between the free end of the wall <NUM> and the slot <NUM>, i.e. between the slot <NUM> and the cover <NUM> when the cover <NUM> is connected to the casing <NUM>. The first latching part <NUM> extends in a direction along the insert direction z of the card <NUM> and, e.g. in parallel to the cover <NUM> and perpendicular to the wall <NUM>. The second latching part <NUM> is suspended from the interior side of the cover <NUM> by means of a resiliently flexible portion <NUM>, such as a plate, arm or similar. The first latching part <NUM> is arranged between the interior side of the cover <NUM> and the second latching part <NUM>, so that the cover <NUM> can be latched to the casing <NUM>. The second latching part <NUM> is biased to engage the first latching part <NUM> by means of the inherent resilient flexible properties of the flexible portion <NUM>, which is illustrated in <FIG>. In the embodiment of <FIG> the second latching part <NUM> includes the actuating portion <NUM> for operating the latching mechanism by means of the card <NUM>. The actuating portion <NUM> is arranged in a level corresponding to the slot <NUM> and the path of insertion of the card <NUM> through the slot <NUM>. In the embodiment of <FIG> the actuating portion <NUM> is formed with the slanting surface <NUM>.

When the card <NUM> is inserted through the slot <NUM> in the insert direction z it engages the actuating portion <NUM> of the second latching part <NUM>, which is illustrated in <FIG>. Then, further insertion of the card <NUM> through the slot <NUM> and into the chamber <NUM> results in displacement of the second latching part <NUM> to disengage it from the first latching part <NUM>, as illustrated in <FIG>. When the second latching part <NUM> is disengaged from the first latching part <NUM>, the cover <NUM> is forced away from the casing <NUM> due to the slanting surface <NUM>. Hence, when the card <NUM> is pushed against the slanting surface <NUM>, the actuating portion <NUM> slides against the card <NUM> and pushes the cover <NUM> away from the casing <NUM> when the second latching part <NUM> is disengaged from the first latching part <NUM> as illustrated by means of the arrow A in <FIG>. Further, the resilient properties of the flexible portion <NUM> biases the second latching part <NUM> in a direction back towards the wall <NUM> having the slot <NUM>, which causes the slanting surface <NUM> to engage and push against the first latching part <NUM> to further force the cover <NUM> away from the casing <NUM> in the direction A, which is illustrated in <FIG>. Hence, the slanting surface <NUM> slides against the first latching part <NUM> and pushes the cover <NUM> open by the resilient flexible properties of the flexible portion <NUM>. For example, the first latching part <NUM> is formed with an inclined surface <NUM> for interaction with the slanting surface <NUM> to further improve the sliding operation between the first and second latching parts <NUM>, <NUM> after unlatching.

Claim 1:
A device (<NUM>) comprising a casing (<NUM>) and a cover (<NUM>), wherein the casing (<NUM>) comprises a bottom (<NUM>) and walls (<NUM>) forming an interior chamber (<NUM>), wherein the cover (<NUM>) is releasably connected to the casing (<NUM>) by means of a latching mechanism (<NUM>) having first and second interacting latching parts (<NUM>, <NUM>), at least one of said latching parts (<NUM>, <NUM>) being displaceable in relation to the other, and wherein one of said casing walls (<NUM>) is formed with a through slot (<NUM>) for receiving a portion of a hand-held object for operating the displaceable latching part (<NUM>, <NUM>), characterised in that
said slot (<NUM>) is arranged with a first dimension (x) and a second dimension (y) adapted for receiving a portion of a handheld object in the form of a rectangular plastic card (<NUM>) in an insert direction (z) through the slot (<NUM>), and
one of said first and second latching parts (<NUM>, <NUM>) is displaceable at least partially in the insert direction (z) and comprises an actuating portion (<NUM>) extending inside the chamber (<NUM>) for engaging a corner portion of said rectangular card (<NUM>) when inserted through the slot (<NUM>) to release the latching mechanism.