Package with locking mechanism including flexible member having engaging structure between elbow and front surface of contact structure

Abstract

The package includes a base, a primary lid connected to an upper portion of the base via a first hinge, the primary lid and the base collectively defining a primary storage area when the primary lid is in a closed position, and a locking mechanism on a first end of the package, the locking mechanism including a flexible member including a first segment and a second segment that are connected by an elbow, the first segment being connected to the primary lid, a distal end of the second segment including at least one contact structure, the flexible member including at least one first engaging structure between the elbow and a front surface of the at least one contact structure, a second engaging structure on a first wall of the base, the flexible member being in a first position when the primary lid is in the closed position.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A package, comprising:
 a base;   a primary lid connected to an upper portion of the base via a first hinge, the primary lid and the base collectively defining a primary storage area when the primary lid is in a closed position; and   a locking mechanism on a first end of the package, the locking mechanism including
 a flexible member including a first segment and a second segment that are connected by an elbow, the first segment being connected to the primary lid, a distal end of the second segment including at least one contact structure, the flexible member including at least one first engaging structure between the elbow and a front surface of the at least one contact structure, 
 a second engaging structure on a first wall of the base, 
 the flexible member being in a first position when the primary lid is in the closed position, the at least one first engaging structure being retained by the second engaging structure to lock the primary lid onto the base in the closed position, 
 the flexible member being configured to be moved from the first position to a second position when a first force is applied in a first direction on the at least one contact structure to articulate the second segment toward the first segment and disengage the at least one first engaging structure from the second engaging structure. 
   
     
     
         2 . The package of  claim 1 , wherein the second segment at least partially defines a slit, the slit dividing the second segment into a first section and a second section, the first engaging structure including first exposed surfaces of the second segment that are exposed by the slit. 
     
     
         3 . The package of  claim 2 , wherein the slit configures the first section and the second section of the second segment to be articulated toward the first segment independently of each other. 
     
     
         4 . The package of  claim 2 , wherein the first section includes a first contact structure, of the at least one contact structure, extending from a first distal end of the first section, and the second section includes a second contact structure, of the at least one contact structure, extending from a second distal end of the second section, the first engaging structure including bottom surfaces and exterior side surfaces of the first contact structure and the second contact structure. 
     
     
         5 . The package of  claim 2 , wherein the first section includes a first projection extending from a first distal end of a first outer surface of the first section, and the second section includes a second projection extending from a second distal end of a second outer surface of the second section. 
     
     
         6 . The package of  claim 5 , wherein the first section includes a first inclined surface abutting the first projection and the second section includes a second inclined surface abutting the second projection, the first inclined surface and the second inclined surface being inclined toward the front surface of the at least one contact structure. 
     
     
         7 . The package of  claim 6 , wherein the first section includes a first contact structure extending from the first projection, and the second section includes a second contact structure extending from the second projection. 
     
     
         8 . The package of  claim 7 , wherein the first wall defines a first cutout and a second cutout, the first contact structure and the second contract structure being configured to respectively mate with, and at least partially fit within, the first cutout and the second cutout when the primary lid is in the closed position,
 the first engaging structure including mating surfaces of the first contact structure and the second contact structure, and   the second engaging structure including second exposed surfaces of the first wall that are exposed by the first cutout and the second cutout, the second exposed surfaces being configured to mate with the mating surfaces.   
     
     
         9 . The package of  claim 8 , wherein a first end edge of the first inclined surface and a second end edge of the second inclined surface are at a same elevation of a first lower surface of the first cutout and a second lower surface of the second cutout, respectively. 
     
     
         10 . The package of  claim 8 , wherein the first contact structure includes a first pair of struts on ends of a first ledge and the second contact structure includes a second pair of struts on ends of a second ledge, and
 the mating surfaces include exterior side surfaces and bottom surfaces of each of the first pair of struts and the second pair of struts.   
     
     
         11 . The package of  claim 2 , wherein
 the first section includes a first contact structure extending from a first distal end of the first section, and the second section includes a second contact structure extending from a second distal end of the second section,   the first wall includes a first cutout and a second cutout, the first contact structure and the second contract structure being configured to respectively mate with, and at least partially fit within, the first cutout and the second cutout when the primary lid is in the closed position.   
     
     
         12 . The package of  claim 11 , wherein first mating surfaces of the first contact structure and the second contact structure mate with second mating surfaces of the first cutout and the second cutout, respectively, the first engaging structure including the first mating surfaces and the second engaging structure including the second mating surfaces. 
     
     
         13 . The package of  claim 8 , wherein the first wall includes a pedestal between the first cutout and the second cutout, and a post extends along a portion of an inner surface of the pedestal, a longitudinal length of the post being about perpendicular with a first plane, an upper surface of the primary lid existing in the first plane when the primary lid is in the closed position. 
     
     
         14 . The package of  claim 13 , wherein the post slides into the slit and side surfaces of the post engage with first exposed surfaces of the flexible member when the primary lid is in the closed position,
 the first engaging structure including the first exposed surfaces and the second engaging structure including the side surfaces of the post.   
     
     
         15 . The package of  claim 14 , wherein the elbow also partially defines the slit. 
     
     
         16 . The package of  claim 4 , wherein
 the first section includes a first projection extending from a first distal end of a first outer surface of the first section, and the second section includes a second projection extending from a second distal end of a second outer surface of the second section,   the first contact structure extending from the first projection and the second contact structure extending from the second projection, respectively.   
     
     
         17 . The package of  claim 11 , wherein an inner shape of a first vertical cross-section of the first cutout and the second cutout are substantially conformed to an outer shape of a second vertical cross-section of the first contact structure and the second contact structure, respectively. 
     
     
         18 . The package of  claim 17 , wherein the inner shape of the first vertical cross-section and the outer shape of the second vertical cross-section are one of rectangular or square. 
     
     
         19 . The package of  claim 4 , wherein the first contact structure and the second contact structure each include,
 a ledge with a first front exterior surface,   a pair of struts on either end of the ledge, each of the pair of struts including a second front exterior surface, the front surface including the first front exterior surface and the second front exterior surface,   the first contact structure and the second contact structure being configured so that the first force is applied in the first direction to the first front exterior surface, the second front exterior surface, or both the first front exterior surface and the second front exterior surface when the primary lid is in the closed position, in order to move the flexible member to the second position.   
     
     
         20 . The package of  claim 19 , wherein the ledge of each of the first contact structure and the second contact structure includes a lower surface and lower edge, the lower edge being between the first front exterior surface and the lower surface,
 the first contact structure and the second contact structure being configured so that a second force is applied in a second direction to the lower surface, the lower edge, or both the lower surface and the lower edge when the primary lid is in the closed position and the flexible member is in the second position, in order to lift and open the primary lid.   
     
     
         21 . The package of  claim 19 , wherein an upper surface of the ledge of the first contact structure and the second contact structure is flush with an upper surface of the primary lid when the primary lid is in the closed position. 
     
     
         22 . The package of  claim 1 , wherein the second segment extends in an outward direction, away from the first segment due to a spring force from the elbow, such that the flexible member is in a third position when the primary lid is in an opened position. 
     
     
         23 . The package of  claim 22 , wherein the first position is a first flexed position of the flexible member, the second position is a second flexed position of the flexible member, and the third position is a relaxed position. 
     
     
         24 . The package of  claim 1 , wherein the elbow is made from a resilient material, the elbow providing a spring force that causes the second segment to extend away from the first segment. 
     
     
         25 . The package of  claim 1 , wherein the first segment is a first sheet of material and the second segment is a second sheet of material. 
     
     
         26 . The package of  claim 25 , wherein the first sheet of material and the second sheet of material oppose each other, and the second sheet of material flexes away from the first sheet of material due to a spring force provided by the elbow. 
     
     
         27 . The package of  claim 1 , wherein the primary lid is configured to be moved to an open position from the closed position in response to a second force applied to the at least one contact structure in a second direction when the locking mechanism is in the second position, the second direction being perpendicular to the first direction. 
     
     
         28 . The package of  claim 1 , wherein the front surface of the at least one contact structure is flush with an outer surface of the first wall of the base when the primary lid is in the closed position. 
     
     
         29 . The package of  claim 1 , wherein a top surface of the at least one contact structure is flush with an upper surface of the primary lid when the primary lid is in the closed position. 
     
     
         30 . The package of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a secondary lid connected to a lower portion of the base via a second hinge, the secondary lid and the base collectively defining a secondary storage area when the secondary lid is closed.