Container for at least one elongated object

Abstract

A container for at least one elongate object, in particular a pen, comprising a case having an opening for introducing and removing the object, and a closure device which is pivotably coupled to the case and which can assume at least three pivotal positions, namely a first pivotal position in which it at least partially closes the opening, a second pivotal position in which it at least partially opens the opening for introducing or removing the object and a third pivotal position which is between the first and second pivotal positions. The closure device is biased in the third pivotal position towards the second pivotal position.

1 - 12 . (canceled) 
   
   
       13 . A container for at least one elongate object comprising:
 a case having an opening for introducing and removing the object, and a closure device which is pivotably coupled to the case and which can assume at least three pivotal positions, comprising   (1) a first pivotal position in which it at least partially closes the opening,   (2) a second pivotal position in which at least partially opens the opening for introducing or removing the object, and   (3) a third pivotal position between the first and second pivotal positions, wherein the closure device is biased in the third pivotal position towards the second pivotal position.   
   
   
       14 . A container as set forth in  claim 13 , wherein the closure device can assume a fourth pivotal position which is between the first pivotal position and the third pivotal position wherein the closure device is biased towards the first pivotal position. 
   
   
       15 . A container as set forth in  claim 13  or  claim 14 , wherein a pivotal angle (α) between the first and second pivotal positions is 45° to 180°. 
   
   
       16 . A container as set forth in  claim 13  or  claim 14 , wherein a pivotal angle (α) between the first and second pivotal positions 80° to 120°. 
   
   
       17 . A container as set forth in  claim 13  or  claim 14 , wherein a pivotal angle (α) between the first and second pivotal positions is 90° to 110°. 
   
   
       18 . A container as set forth in  claim 13 , further including an elastic device for producing biasing. 
   
   
       19 . A container as set forth in  claim 18 , wherein the elastic device is a spring. 
   
   
       20 . A container as set forth in  claim 18 , wherein the elastic device is a polymer spring. 
   
   
       21 . A container as set forth in  claim 18 , wherein the elastic device in a pivotal movement of the closure device in a direction from the second pivotal position to the first pivotal position is increasingly stressed in a front pivotal portion delimited at the beginning by the second pivotal position. 
   
   
       22 . A container as set forth in  claim 21 , wherein the elastic device in a pivotal movement of the closure device in a direction from the first pivotal position to the second pivotal position is increasingly stressed in a pivotal portion delimited at the beginning by the first pivotal position. 
   
   
       23 . A container as set forth in  claim 18 , wherein the elastic device has a first end coupled to the case and a second end coupled to the closure device and the second end is further away from the first end in the third pivotal position than in the second pivotal position. 
   
   
       24 . A container as set forth in  claim 23 , wherein the second end is further away from the first end in the fourth pivotal position than in the first pivotal position. 
   
   
       25 . A container as set forth in  claim 18 , wherein the elastic device has a first end coupled to the case and a second end coupled to the closure device and the second end both in the first pivotal position and also in the second pivotal position is on a notional circular arc about the first end but in the third pivotal position and/or in the fourth pivotal position it is outside the notional circular arc about the first end. 
   
   
       26 . A container as set forth in  claim 18 , further including a device for releasably fixing the elastic device in a position which the closure device adopts when the closure device is in the second pivotal position. 
   
   
       27 . A container as set forth in  claim 26 , further including an undercut configuration at the fixing device.