Flexible hinged element, for containers

Abstract

 Flexible hinged element for containers, formed by at least one longitudinal strip (1), integrally developing from half-shells (2) or from peripheral edges (7), along its sides (4) spaced from the adjacent edges (5) of said half-­shells (2) or said edges (7), round which the opening and/­or closing rotation of any type of container (3) takes place.
Said longitudinal strip (1) is preferably of arched form in the direction of its width.
The flexible element is composed of any plastic material.
The half-shells (2) or peripheral edges (7) and the fle­xible element integral to them form the main components of containers of varied type, e.g. spectacle-cases, writ­ing articles, jewels etc.

Description

[0001] Flexible hinged element, for containers, comprising at least one strip of elastic material, e.g. plastic material or simi­lar, which integrally develops along the two approached edges of any type of container, round which the opening and/or clo­sing rotation of said containers takes place.

[0002] Said strip does not extend directly from the corners of said edges, but is spaced from them in such a way as to be suffi­ciently wide to improve its elasticity, which is even more accentutated and improved by the convex conformation assumed by said strip, with respect to the approached corners of said edges.

[0003] According to already noted techniques, many containers are constructed with integral hinges, exploiting the natural ela­sticity and flexibility of the material forming said containers. to do this it is necessary to use only some types of materials, e.g. polypropylene and similar, whose natural flexibility is more than sufficient to guarantee perfect, lasting operation of the hinges.

[0004] Said hinges, however, must be preformed according to a concave conformation which projects along the approached edges of the containers, round which the opening rotation takes place. The concave conformation of the hinges, while valid from the functional point of view, is, however, not very attractive, especially for particular applications, e.g. spectacle cases, pens or pencils, suitcass, packs etc.

[0005] Another problem is that the hinges with concave conformation can only be constructed with certain materials, while, with others, even of higher quality but stiffer, it is impossible to obtain anything similar.

[0006] The object of the present invention is to solve the above problems.

[0007] The invention, as characterized by the claims, solves the problem with a flexible hinged element, for containers, with which the following results are obtained: the hinges are formed by strips of elastic material which integrally deve­lop along the approached edges of the containers, round which the opening and closing rotations take place; the extension of the strips forming the hinges does not take place directly from the sides of the containers, but at a discrete distance from them so that the strips assume a sufficiently wide con­formation to improve their flexibility and elasticity; the hinges are also shaped in such a way that they assume a sub­stantially convex configuration, with respect to the ap­proached corners of the edges of the containers, near which they are applied.

[0008] The advantages of the present invention mainly consist in the fact that the hinges can also be constructed with mate­rials of higher or lower quality or less flexible, compen­sating this limitation with the greater extension of the strips which form them; the convex shape of the hinges makes it possible to construct stylistically more valid con­tainers as along the edges irregular projecting parts are present, but said convex strips improve the construction of decorative profiles.

[0009] The invention is described in more detail below, referring to the attached drawings, in which:

fig. 1 shows the cross-section of a flexible hinged element

fig. 2 shows the cross-section of a second constructive example of a flexible hinged elements,

fig. 3 shows a flexible hinged element applied to a spectacle case, shown in side view, in closed position,

fig. 4 shows the same spectacle case as figure 3, in side view and opening position,

fig. 5 shows the cross-section of a preferred construction of the hinge integral with a peripheral edge, made according to line I-I of fig. 7,

fig. 6 shows an enlarged detail of the cross-section of the hinge, made according to line II-II of fig. 7, and

fig. 7 is a partial view in plan of the flexible hinge, inte­gral with a peripheral edge, in opening position.

[0010] The figures illustrate a flexible hinged element for con­tainers, substantially formed by at least one longitudinal strip (1) which develops integrally from the half-shells (2) which form a container (3).

[0011] The longitudinal strip (1) is composed of the same material as the half-shells (2) and develops from same along the sides (4) which are basically spaced from the adjacent edges (5) of the half-shells (2), round which the opening rotation of the containers takes place, and which, in clo­sing position, are substantially side by side.

[0012] The same strip (1), besides having a significant length, with respect to the adjacent edges (5) of the containers, is preferably convexly profiled, in closing conditions of the containers, with the central part (6) facing the same edges (5).

[0013] In this way, the arched shape and extension in width of the strip (1) improve its elastic deformation during the opening and/or closing phases of the containers (3).

[0014] These characteristics are sufficient to permit the construc­tion of flexible hinged elements even with different mate­rials from those used at present, in which any intrinsic lower elasticity is compensated by the rise in flexibility due to the greater length and the shape of the strips (1). This improves the use of said strips (1) on any type of con­tainer (3), e.g. suitcases, folders, cases, boxes, packs etc., constructed with any type of plastic material, e.g. ABS, polypropylene and similar.

[0015] According to another preferred constructive solution, the same strips (1), instead of being integral with the half-­shells (2) of the containers (3), are constructed integrally with peripheral edges (7) equipped with grooves (8) in which the peripheral profiles (9) of the half-shells (2′) forming the containers (3) are engaged.

[0016] The operation principle of the elastic element and its pos­sibilities of use remaining valid, its integral construction with the edges (7) consents a much wider use, simplifies as­sembly phases, makes it possible to prepare ranges of products with different characteristics and forms an interesting peri­pheral decorative element.

[0017] For example, with reference to figs. 3 and 4, the peripheral edges (7), besides forming the means in which the sides (9) of the half-shells (2′) are connected, form a double periphe­ral profile which follows the entire opening of the container (3), forming a reinforcing structure of same, and creating, at the same time, a decorative element in which the elastic strip forming the hinge appears as a continuous, not project­ing, element, similar to the decoration.

[0018] A further advantage obtained through the use of said trim­ming (7) is that, with equal conformation, it is possible to apply on them half-shells (2′) of any type, colour, shape, material and/or size, equal or different, obtaining wide ran­ges of containers (3) with different characteristics.

[0019] With this procedure, it is possible to construct, for example, cases for spectacles, pens and/or pencils, sewing accessories, pipes, jewels etc., with the half-shells (2′) of the most varied shapes, with equal trimmings (7).

[0020] These can, however, be applied also on other containers, e.g. cases, bags, boxes and similar, simplifying the pro­duction processes and greatly reducing costs.

[0021] Also the trimmings (7), similarly to the previous solution, are constructed in the same plastic material forming the flexible hinged strips (1), e.g. ABS, polypropylene and si­milar, while the half-shells (2′) can be formed with any other material in addition to the plastic ones.

[0022] Figures 5 to 7 show a special preferred construction of the flexible hinge in plastic or similar, in which the longitu­dinal strip (1), shaped semicircularly (6) in opening posi­tion, is modified to a convex conformation, in closing con­dition.

[0023] The strip (1) is integral with two opposite peripheral edges (7) with the relative grooves (8) suitable to contain the edges (9) of the half-shells (2′).

[0024] The construction illustrated is particularly suitable for spectacle or pen cases, but can also be used to advantage for containers of other objects; its shape, besides its func­tion of support and hinge, is a decorative element.

Claims

1) Flexible hinged element, for containers, characterized by the fact of consisting of at least one longitudinal strip (1) which develops integrally from half-shells (2) or peri­pheral edges (7), along its sides (4) which are spaced from the adjacent edges (5) of said half-shells (2) or said edges (7), round which the opening and/or closing rotation of any type of container (3) takes place.

2) Flexible hinged element according to claim 1, characte­rized by the fact that the strip (1) is preferably arch-­shaped (6), in the direction of its width, with the central part facing the adjacent edges (5) round which the opening and/or closing rotation of any type of container (3) takes place.

3) Flexible element according to claims 1 and 2, characte­rized by the fact of being formed by any type of plastic material, e.g. ABS, polypropylene and similar, and of being integral with the half-shells (2) forming the containers (3), or with the edges (7) on which are engaged or fixed the peripheral profiles (9) of half-shells (2′), also composed of plastic material, or any other material.

4) Flexible element according to claims 1 to 3, characterized by the fact that the peripheral edges (7) are equipped with grooves (8) which extend for their entire length and in which are engaged and fixed the peripheral profiles (9) of half-shells (2′) which form the containers (3); said edges (7) being such as to form a double peripheral profile which develops along the entire opening of each container (3), forming a reinforcing structure of same, and a decorative element in which the elastic strip (1) forms integral part as continuous, not projecting element, similar to said decoration.

5) Flexible element according to claims 1 to 4, characte­rized by the fact of forming integral part of half-shells (2) or peripheral edges (7), forming the basic components of containers (3), e.g. cases for spectacles, pens, pencils, jewels, cases, bags, boxes etc.

Drawing