US2010200581A1PendingUtilityA1

Box that is held and opened with one hand

23
Individually held — no corporate assignee on recordPriority: Feb 12, 2009Filed: Nov 4, 2009Published: Aug 12, 2010
Est. expiryFeb 12, 2029(~2.5 yrs left)· nominal 20-yr term from priority
Inventors:Lawrence J. Maltz
Y10T137/7756B65D 43/267B65D 43/24A01K 97/06B65D 43/165A45C 11/16
23
PatentIndex Score
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Claims

Abstract

A box that is held and opened with one hand includes: a first lid; a second lid; a hinge that rotatably connects the first lid to the second lid so that the box is transitionable between an open orientation, where the lids are apart, and a closed orientation, where the lids are together; a biasing member to urge the first lid and second lid apart, thereby transitioning the box into the open orientation; and a closure to releasably hold the first lid and second lid together, thereby retaining the box in the closed orientation, the first lid and second lid thereby forming a cavity for storing the item. When the closure is released, the biasing member transitions the box into the open orientation. Boxes may be for fishing flies or lures, or for jewelry such as earrings.

Claims

exact text as granted — not AI-modified
1 . A box for storing an item, comprising:
 a first lid;   a second lid;   a hinge that rotatably connects the first lid to the second lid so that the box is transitionable between an open orientation, where the lids are apart, and a closed orientation, where the lids are together;   a biasing member to urge the first lid and second lid apart, thereby transitioning the box into the open orientation; and   a closure to releasably hold the first lid and second lid together, thereby retaining the box in the closed orientation, the first lid and second lid thereby forming a cavity for storing the item;   wherein, when the closure is released, the biasing member transitions the box into the open orientation.   
     
     
         2 . The box of  claim 1 , wherein the biasing member includes a spring under a torquing force adapted to rotate the first lid and second lid apart. 
     
     
         3 . The box of  claim 1 , wherein the biasing member includes a spring having coils that are encapsulated by the hinge and extensions that apply rotational force to urge the first lid and second lid apart. 
     
     
         4 . The box of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a first hinge collar on the first lid;   a second hinge collar on the second lid;   a hinge pin, rotatably connecting the first hinge collar and the second hinge collar;   a first extension on the spring, to press upon the first lid; and   a second extension on the spring, to press upon the second lid;   wherein the spring wraps around the hinge pin so that the extensions rotatably urge the lids apart.   
     
     
         5 . The box of  claim 1 , wherein the first lid has a first rim having a size and a shape, the second lid has a second rim having substantially the same size and the same shape, and the first rim and second rim align when the box is in the closed orientation to enclose the item. 
     
     
         6 . The box of  claim 1 , the closure comprising:
 a latch on the first lid transitionable between an engaged orientation and a released orientation;   a latch spring to urge the latch into the engaged orientation; and   an engaging element on the second lid;   wherein when the box is in the closed orientation, the latch spring urges the latch to engage with the engaging element thereby releasably holding the first lid and second lid together.   
     
     
         7 . The box of  claim 6 , the first lid adapted to be held by a hand of a user while a digit of the hand disengages the latch. 
     
     
         8 . The box of  claim 1 , the first lid having dimensions 4″ to 12″ long, 3″ to 8″ wide, and ⅞″ to 4″ deep. 
     
     
         9 . The box of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a well in the first lid; and   an insert attached to the well, adapted to releasably retain the item so that the item is accessible when the box is in the open orientation, and the item is stored when the box is in the closed orientation.   
     
     
         10 . The box of  claim 1 , wherein the item is a plurality of fishing flies or fishing lures or both, and the insert is adapted to releasably retain said item. 
     
     
         11 . The box of  claim 1 , wherein the item is jewelry and the insert is adapted to releasably retain the jewelry. 
     
     
         12 . A box for storing an item, comprising:
 a first lid having a latch transitionable between an engaged orientation and a released orientation;   a second lid having an engaging element;   a hinge that rotatably connects the first lid to the second lid so that the box is transitionable between an open orientation, where the lids are apart and the item is accessible, and a closed orientation, where the lids are together thereby forming a cavity for storing the item; and   a spring having coils that are encapsulated by the hinge and extensions that apply rotational force to urge the first lid and second lid apart, thereby transitioning the box into the open orientation;   wherein the latch releasably engages with the engaging element to hold the box closed, and when the latch is released, the spring urges the box to open.   
     
     
         13 . The box of  claim 12 , further comprising:
 a latch spring to urge the latch into the engaged orientation, so that the latch is in the engaged orientation when the box is in the closed orientation, and the latch may be released   
     
     
         14 . The box of  claim 12 , further comprising:
 a first hinge collar on the first lid;   a second hinge collar on the second lid;   a hinge pin, rotatably connecting the first hinge collar and the second hinge collar;   wherein the spring wraps around the hinge pin so that the extensions rotatably urge the lids apart.   
     
     
         15 . A method of storing and allowing access to an item, comprising:
 providing a box having a first lid rotatably connected to a second lid;   urging the first lid and second lid apart;   retaining the lids together in a closed orientation utilizing a closure, thereby storing the item;   releasing the closure; and   under the urging, rotating the first lid and second lid apart into an open orientation, thereby allowing access to the item.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the first lid is rotatably connected to the second lid with a hinge having a spring, and the spring has extensions that apply a torquing force to the first lid and second lid, thereby rotatably urging the first lid and second lid apart. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15  further comprising:
 providing a latch on the first lid having an engaged orientation and a released orientation;   urging the latch into the engaged orientation with a latch spring;   engaging the latch with an engaging element on the second lid, thereby retaining the box in the closed position; and   releasing the latch, thereby releasing the closure.   
     
     
         18 . The box of  claim 17 , the first lid adapted to be held by a hand of a user while a digit of the hand disengages the latch. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 15  further comprising:
 holding the box in a hand of a user; and   releasing the closure with the hand, thereby allowing the first lid and second lid to rotate into the open orientation; and   pressing the first lid and second lid together with the hand, thereby rotating the first lid and second lid into the closed orientation.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 15  further comprising:
 producing an audible sound when the box transitions from the open orientation to the closed orientation.

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