Article with a latching mechanism

摘要

An envelope has a latching mechanism that is activated by a key to releasably secure a flap of the envelope in a closed position. The latching mechanism is located on the envelope's flap. The tip of the key fits into an aperture in the middle of the latching mechanism. Rotation of the key rotates ears on the back of the latching mechanism from a first position to a second position. In the first position, the ears align with a correspondingly-shaped opening in the front panel of the envelope, and the ears pass through the opening. Rotation to the second position rotates the ears behind the front panel such that the ears of the latching mechanism are now behind the front panel, thereby securing the opening of the envelope flap.

主权项

1. An envelope having a latching mechanism, the envelope comprising:
a front panel having a receiving aperture; a back panel connected with the front panel along a first common edge, wherein the back panel is in parallel with the front panel when the envelope is in an as-constructed arrangement, and wherein the back panel and the front panel define a receptacle for receiving an item; a closure flap connected with the back panel along a second common edge; and a latching member rotatably coupled to the closure flap and positioned on the closure flap to align with the receiving aperture when the envelope is in an as-constructed arrangement, wherein the latching member:
has a centrally-situated aperture configured to receive an object,in a first position aligns with the receiving aperture and can be inserted therein and in a second position is rotated to maintain the latching member within the receiving aperture, andis rotatable from the first position to the second position upon insertion of the object in the centrally-situated aperture.