Transport Or Mailing Container

Abstract

A transport or mailing container consists of two interfitting sections wherein the outer section has a window aperture and the inner section has label space on opposite walls corresponding to the window aperture, the inner container carrying at least one outwardly biased resilient means for engaging behind a corresponding stop provided on the inside of the outer section which has also an opening opposite the resilient means for exerting inward pressure on the resilient means to clear the stop.

Description

The transport or mailing container of the present invention is suitable for sending through the mails and consists of two interfitting halves or sections designed for slidable engagement one into the other and provided with resilient locking means for automatic locking and release of the two sections.

According to the present invention the inner container section has a label space on two opposite outside walls and a corresponding window-shaped aperture in the outer container section so that upon turning one of the container sections around its axis by 1/2.degree. the other label space becomes visible, and that upon sliding one container section into the other container section the two sections become automatically locked together by means of locking elements.

If one label space carries for instance the name and address of the consignee, and the other label space carries the name and address of the sender, the consignee, in the event that 0.degree.emptied or again filled container is to be returned to the sender, merely has to turn the outer container section by 180.degree. in relation to its original position, and to slide the two container sections together, in order that the two container sections again become automatically locked.

In accordance with an embodiment of the invention, the locking elements consist of leaf springs arranged on the outside of two opposite walls of the inner container section and are biased outwardly so that their ends point toward the adjacent wall of the outer container section, and in the locking position lie behind a stop arranged on the inside of the outer container section.

The novel locking arrangement of the two container sections eliminates the customary time-wasting and costly tying, sealing or wrapping of containers, and in the case of larger containers the arrangement of sliding bolts on the outside of the container and their securing in the locked position by means of seals or locks, which during transport are often hindering and tend to cause damage. The unlocking of the two container sections may be carried out in a simple manner with the aid of pegs or any other suitable readily available pointed article, e.g. a ball point pen, a letter opener etc. which can be inserted into holes made in the walls of the outer container section opposite the locking springs for the purpose of flattening the springs against the inner container wall so that upon pulling the inner container section out of the outer container section, the stops provided on the latter are cleared by the springs and the two container sections become disengaged. After locking the two container sections the holes for inserting the pegs or the like may be closed by seals or by postage strips and stamps etc., in order to make it possible to ascertain unauthorized opening of the container in the case of damage to the seals or stamps. Furthermore, a container construction is feasible without the described type of holes in which the sections are secured with a mortise insert lock or a special lock and key arrangement which guarantee an absolute burglarproof container.

The objects and features of the invention will become more clearly apparent from the following description when taken together with the annexed drawing showing an embodiment of the novel mailing container in a perspective view with parts broken away to reveal pertinent inner portions of the container composed of two interfitting sections.

The mailing container shown in the drawing consists of the outer container section 1 and the inner container section 2 which has been slid into the outer container section. The inner container section 2 has on the outside of two opposite sidewalls a label space 3 and the container section 1 has on one of its sidewalls a corresponding window-shaped aperture 4. The one label space can, for instance, bear the name and address of the sender of the container, and the other label space the name and address of the consignee. The inner container section is equipped on the outside of the top and bottom wall with one leaf-shaped locking spring 5, 6 whose outer end is deflected toward the respectively adjacent wall of the outer container section. This container section has on its inside a stop 7, 8, which is located in front of the deflected ends of the locking springs 5, 6.

When sliding the inner container section into the outer container section the locking springs 5, 6 are tensioned between the stops 7, 8 of the outer section and the top and bottom walls of the inner container section. On passing the stops 7, 8, the locking springs 5, 6 expand outwardly, and when the container section 2 has been fully pushed into container section 1, they come to rest behind stops 7, 8. The container sections 1, 2 are thus locked together. In order to disengage the container sections 1, 2, the locking springs 5, 6 are pressed inwardly by means of pegs or the like, which are inserted into the holes 9, 10, and are held during pulling of the inner container section from the outer container section in this tensioned position until, after a short distance, they have cleared the stops 7, 8. Thereafter the pegs are pulled out of the holes 9, 10, and the inner container section can be pulled fully out of the outer container section.

If the consignee of the container wishes to return it to the original sender either empty or filled, he merely needs to turn for instance container section 1 by 180.degree. around its axis in relation to its original position, upon which, after sliding the inner container section into the outer container section, the previously not visible name and address of the sender of the container, now consignee of the container, appears in the window-shaped aperture of the outer container section.

Depending on the construction and form of the container it is within the scope of this invention to provide several label spaces instead of only two label spaces on the outside of two opposite walls of the inner container section, and to provide one or several locking springs instead of two locking springs on the inner container section, as well as to provide one or more stops instead of two stops on the outer container section, so that in each case one label space of the inner container section appears in the window-shaped aperture of the outer container section, and that at least one locking spring of the inner container section lies in its locking position in front of at least one stop of the outer container section.

Claims

I claim:

1. Transport or mailing container comprising two interfitting sections designed for slidable engagement one inside the other characterized in that at least one label space is provided on the outside of two opposite walls of the inner section 2 and by one corresponding window-shaped aperture (4) in the outer section (1) for each two opposite label spaces through which one of said two opposite label spaces is visible in the assembled position of the two sections so that after turning one of the sections (1, 2) around its axis by 180.degree. the opposite label space is visible in the window aperture, and that resilient locking means provide automatic locking of the two sections by engaging corresponding stops on the inside of the outer section after pushing the inner container section fully into the outer container section.

2. Transport or mailing container according to claim 1, characterized in that the locking means consist of two leaf-shaped locking springs (5, 6) arranged on the outside of two opposite walls of the inner container section, said leaf springs having their outwardly biased extremity extending toward the adjacent wall of the outer container section (1) and engaging in their locked position behind a stop (7, 8) arranged on the inside of the outer container section (1).

3. Transport or mailing container according to claim 1 characterized in that the stops (7, 8) are wedge-shaped.

4. Transport or mailing container according to claim 1, characterized in that a plurality of label spaces (3) are provided on opposite walls of the inner container section (2) and that one corresponding window-shaped aperture is provided in the outer container section (1) for each two opposite label spaces.

5. Transport or mailing container according to claim 1, characterized in that a plurality of locking means consisting each of at least one leaf-shaped spring (5, 6) are arranged on the outside of the inner container section (2), and that a plurality of corresponding stops (7, 8) are arranged on the inside of the outer container section (1).

6. Transport or mailing container according to claim 5, characterized in that at least one opening (9, 10) is provided in the outer section (1) opposite each locking spring (5, 6) located in the locked position behind a corresponding stop on the inside of said outer section (1) and permitting disengagement of the container sections (1, 2) by exerting inward pressure on said locking springs through each opening so that they clear said stops.

7. Transport or mailing container according to claim 6, characterized in that the opening (9, 10) of the outer container section is closed by postage paying means such as a stamp.

8. Transport or mailing container according to claim 6, characterized in that the opening (9, 10) is designed to receive a mortise insert lock for closing and opening said two container sections.