Magnetic secured container closure with release by movement of magnetic member

Abstract

A container for a plurality of thin plates has a driving unit for moving one of a pair of magnetic members, at least one of which is a magnet, embedded in a container body and contained in a chamber in a lid, respectively, to selectively produce attractive and non-attractive magnetic conditions between the first and second magnetic members. In one embodiment, the driving unit includes a rotatable plate, and an arm having one end attached to the rotatable plate and the second end attached to the movable magnetic member to move the movable magnetic member in response to rotation of the rotatable plate. In a second embodiment a parallel movement link has a long groove for engaging a pin provided on the rotatable plate; a magnetic member supporting link has a first end attached to one end of the parallel movement link and has its second end attached to the movable magnetic member. In a third embodiment the rotatable plate has a first bevel gear meshing with a second bevel gear on a shaft supporting the movable magnetic member.

1 . A container for a plurality of thin plates comprising: 
 a container body having an interior for receiving and supporting the plurality of thin plates;    a lid for being detachably mounted on the container body for sealing the interior of the container body;    a first magnetic member provided in the container body;    a second magnetic member provided in the lid;    one of said first and second magnetic members being a magnet; and    driving means for moving a movable magnetic member of said first and second magnetic members to selectively produce first and second magnetic conditions between said first and second members, said first magnetic condition being to generate a magnetic attractive force between the first and second magnetic members sufficient to secure the lid to the container body, and said second magnetic condition being to release said attractive magnetic force between the first and second magnetic members sufficient to allow the lid to be freely removed from the container body.    
     
     
         2 . A container for a plurality of thin plates according to  claim 1  wherein said first magnetic member is embedded in said container body, said second magnetic member is the movable magnetic member, and said lid has a substantially enclosed chamber containing the second magnetic member.  
     
     
         3 . A container for a plurality of thin plates according to  claim 1  wherein the driving means comprises: 
 a rotatable plate provided with engagement means;  
 a parallel movement link which has a long groove for engaging with the engagement means provided on the rotatable plate and which is adapted to have its ends move in parallel in response to rotation of the rotatable plate;  
 a magnetic member supporting link having a first end attached to one end of the parallel movement link and having its second end attached to the movable magnetic member to move the movable magnetic member in response to rotation of the rotatable plate between first and second positions producing the first and second magnetic conditions.  
 
     
     
         4 . A container for a plurality of thin plates according to  claim 2  wherein the driving means is contained in the chamber in the lid and comprises: 
 a rotatable plate provided with engagement means;  
 a parallel movement link which has a long groove for engaging with the engagement means provided on the rotatable plate and which is adapted to have its ends move in parallel in response to rotation of the rotatable plate;  
 a magnetic member supporting link having a first end attached to one end of the parallel movement link and having its second end attached to the movable magnetic member to move the movable magnetic member in response to rotation of the rotatable plate between first and second positions producing the first and second magnetic conditions.  
 
     
     
         5 . A container for a plurality of thin plates according to  claim 1  wherein the driving means comprises: 
 a rotatable plate having a first bevel gear provided on one surface thereof; and  
 a rotatable shaft having one end provided with a second bevel gear meshing with the first bevel gear and having its other end supporting the movable magnetic member so that the movable magnetic member is moved between first and second positions producing the first and second magnetic conditions by rotation of the shaft in response to rotation of the rotatable plate.  
 
     
     
         6 . A container for a plurality of thin plates according to  claim 2  wherein the driving means is contained within the chamber in the lid and comprises: 
 a rotatable plate having a first bevel gear provided on one surface thereof; and  
 a rotatable shaft having one end provided with a second bevel gear meshing with the first bevel gear and having its other end supporting the movable magnetic member so that the movable magnetic member is moved between first and second positions producing the first and second magnetic conditions by rotation of the shaft in response to rotation of the rotatable plate.  
 
     
     
         7 . A container for a plurality of thin plates comprising: 
 a container body having an interior for receiving and supporting the plurality of thin plates;    a lid for being detachably mounted on the container body for sealing the interior of the container body;    said lid having a substantially enclosed chamber formed therein;    a first magnetic member embedded in the container body;    a second magnetic member contained in the chamber in the lid; and    driving means provided in said lid for operating one of said first and second magnetic members to selectively produce first and second magnetic conditions between said first and second members, said first magnetic condition being to generate a magnetic attractive force between the first and second magnetic members sufficient to secure the lid to the container body, and said second magnetic condition being to release attractive magnetic force between the first and second magnetic members sufficient to allow the lid to be freely removed from the container body.    
     
     
         8 . A container for a plurality of thin plates according to  claim 7  wherein said one magnetic member includes a coil, and said driving means selectively applies an electric current to said coil to produce the first and second magnetic conditions.  
     
     
         9 . A container for a plurality of thin plates according to  claim 8  wherein said driving means includes a built-in power supply for providing the electric current to the coil.  
     
     
         10 . A container for a plurality of thin plates according to  claim 8  wherein said driving means is contained in the chamber in the lid and said one magnetic member is said second magnetic member contained in the chamber in the lid.  
     
     
         11 . A container for a plurality of thin plates according to  claim 9  wherein said driving means is contained in the chamber in the lid and said one magnetic member is said second magnetic member contained in the chamber in the lid.  
     
     
         12 . A container for a plurality of thin plates comprising: 
 a container body having an interior with an open end for receiving and supporting the plurality of thin plates; and    a lid for being detachably mounted on the container body for sealing the interior of the container body;    said lid including a lid body for being received in the open end of the container body, a lid plate covering a side of the lid body and extending outward from the body to engage the container body around the open end of the container body; and    a seal between the lid plate and lid body;    said seal having a tongue portion extending outwardly from said lid body around the lid body for engaging the container body to seal the interior of the container body.    
     
     
         13 . A container of a plurality of thin plates according to  claim 12  wherein the tongue portion of the seal engages between the outer surface of the lid body and the container body.  
     
     
         14 . A container for a plurality of thin plates according to  claim 12  wherein the tongue portion of the seal engages between the lid plate and the container body.  
     
     
         15 . A container for a plurality of thin plates according to  claim 12  wherein said lid has an enclosed chamber formed by the lid body and the lid plate; and wherein the container further comprises: 
 a first magnetic member embedded in the container body;  
 a second magnetic member contained in the chamber in the lid; and  
 driving means for operating one of said first and second magnetic members to selectively produce first and second magnetic conditions between said first and second members, said first magnetic condition being to generate a magnetic attractive force between the first and second magnetic members sufficient to secure the lid to the container body, and said second magnetic condition being to release attractive magnetic force between the first and second magnetic members sufficient to allow the lid to be freely removed from the container body.