Latch assembly for collapsible storage bin

Information

  • Patent Grant
  • 6305726
  • Patent Number
    6,305,726
  • Date Filed
    Monday, November 24, 1997
    27 years ago
  • Date Issued
    Tuesday, October 23, 2001
    23 years ago
Abstract
A latch assembly of the present invention is configured for latching a first wall member and a second wall member to one another. The latch assembly includes a base portion, a locking member and a spring member. One of the first and second wall members is moveable relative to the other. The base portion is fixed to the second wall portion. The locking member is movably connected to the base portion and is moveable relative to the base portion between a locked position and an unlocked position. The locking member is adapted to engage the first wall member in a manner to prevent relative movement between the first and second wall members when the locking member is in the locked position, and to permit relative movement between the first and second wall members when the locking member is in the unlocked position. The spring member is adapted for engaging the base portion and the locking member in a manner for urging the locking member toward the locked position. The spring member and one of the base portion and the locking member are of a monolithic piece.A method of the present invention for making a latch assembly comprises the steps of forming a base portion, forming a locking member, and forming a spring member. The steps of forming the base portion and forming the spring member are performed substantially simultaneously.
Description




BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION




This invention relates generally to latch assemblies and, more particularly, to latch assemblies which are configured for locking a first wall member and a second wall member to one another to prevent relative movement between the first and second wall members.




The prior art is filled with myriad latch assemblies and locking assemblies, all of which serve the basic function of locking a first wall member and a second wall member to one another to prevent relative movement between the first and second wall members. Such assemblies are commonly used in storage containers, drawers, fences and doors of all kinds.




One such prior art latch assembly, which is employed in a collapsible storage bin, includes a base plate formed of a polymeric material, a locking piece formed of a polymeric material, and a pair of metal coil springs. The bin includes a bin bottom and four side walls extending upwardly from the bin bottom to form a bin interior. One of the side walls is pivotally moveable relative to the rest of the bin between open and closed positions. The base plate is fixed to the moveable side wall. The locking piece is slidably connected to the base plate for movement between locked and unlocked positions relative to the base plate. The locking piece and the base plate together define a pair of spring chambers when connected to one another. The two metal coil springs are positioned within the chambers to urge the locking member toward the locked position.




A problem with this prior art latch assembly is that the metal coil springs may tend to oxidize or corrode over time. Another problem is that the assembly is comprised of four separate components which are of at least two different materials, and which are most likely not all available from a single manufacturing source. Still another problem is that the assembly is somewhat difficult to assemble and disassemble.




SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION




It is an object of the present invention to provide a latch assembly which is comprised of components that are less susceptible to oxidation and corrosion. Another object is to provide a latch assembly which is comprised of fewer components than prior art latch assemblies. Still another object is to provide a latch assembly having components which are all of the same material, and which are available from a single manufacturing source. Yet another object is to provide a latch assembly which is designed for easier assembly and disassembly.




In general, a latch assembly of the present invention comprises a base portion, a locking member and a spring member. The latch assembly is configured for latching a first wall member and a second wall member to one another. One of the first and second wall members is moveable relative to the other. The base portion is fixed to the second wall portion. The locking member is movably connected to the base portion and is moveable relative to the base portion between a locked position and an unlocked position. The locking member is adapted to engage the first wall member in a manner to prevent relative movement between the first and second wall members when the locking member is in the locked position, and to permit relative movement between the first and second wall members when the locking member is in the unlocked position. The spring member is adapted for engaging the base portion and the locking member in a manner for urging the locking member toward the locked position. The spring member and one of the base portion and the locking member are of a monolithic piece.




A method of the present invention for making a latch assembly comprises the steps of forming a base portion, forming a locking member, and forming a spring member. The base member is formed for fixation to the second wall portion. The locking member is formed for moveable connection to the base portion so that it can move between a first position and a second position relative to the base portion. The spring member is formed for engagement with the base portion and the locking member in a manner for urging the locking member toward the locked position. The steps of forming the base portion and forming the spring member are performed substantially simultaneously.




Other objects and features will be in part apparent and in part pointed out hereinafter.











BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS





FIG. 1

is a side elevational view of a bin employing a latch assembly of the present invention;





FIG. 2

is an enlarged, fragmented side elevational view of the bin and latch assembly of

FIG. 1

;





FIG. 3

is a fragmented, cross-sectional view taken along the plane of line


3





3


in

FIG. 2

showing the latch assembly in a locked position;





FIG. 4

is a fragmented, cross-sectional view similar to that of

FIG. 3

but showing the latch assembly in an unlocked position;





FIG. 5

is an end elevational view of the latch assembly of

FIG. 1

;





FIG. 6

is a front elevational view of a base portion of the latch assembly of

FIG. 1

, with a locking member of the latch assembly shown in phantom in a locked position;





FIG. 7

a front elevational view of the base portion, with the locking member shown in phantom in an unlocked position;





FIG. 8

is a front elevational view of the base portion, with the locking member removed to show detail;





FIG. 9

is a back elevational view of the base portion;





FIG. 10

is a bottom plan view of the base portion, with the locking member removed;





FIG. 11

is a cross-sectional view of the base portion taken along the plane of line


11





11


of

FIG. 8

;





FIG. 12

is a cross-sectional view of the base portion taken along the plane of line


12





12


of

FIG. 8

;





FIG. 13

is a front elevational view of the locking member of the latch assembly of

FIG. 1

;





FIG. 14

is a back elevational view of the locking member;





FIG. 15

is a bottom plan view of the locking member; and





FIG. 16

is a cross-sectional view of the locking member taken along the plane of line


16





16


in FIG.


13


.




Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views of the drawings.











DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS




A latch assembly of the present invention is represented in its entirety by the reference numeral


20


.

FIG. 1

is a side elevational view of a storage bin, generally indicated at


22


, which employs a plurality of the latch assemblies


20


. Preferably, the bin


22


includes a bin bottom (not shown) and a plurality of walls extending upwardly from the bottom to define a bin interior. At least one of the walls is a moveable wall member


24


and at least one other of the walls is a stationary wall member


26


. The moveable wall member


24


is pivotally moveable relative to the stationary wall member


26


about a pivot axis X between a closed position (

FIGS. 1 through 3

) and an open position (FIG.


4


). In the preferred embodiment, the bin


22


includes two moveable wall members


24


positioned opposite one another, and two stationary wall members


26


positioned opposite one another. As shown in

FIG. 1

, in the preferred embodiment, two latch assemblies


20


are used with each moveable wall member


24


.





FIG. 2

is an enlarged, fragmented side elevational view of one of the latch assemblies


20


of FIG.


1


. The latch assembly


20


is configured for latching the moveable wall member


24


and the stationary wall member


26


to one another. The latch assembly


20


comprises a base portion


30


, a locking member


32


and a spring member


34


. In the preferred embodiment, the base portion


30


, locking member


32


and spring member


34


are injection molded from suitable polymeric materials, such as acetal. However, other materials could be used so long as they are sufficiently strong and durable.




As will be explained below in greater detail, the base portion is fixed to the moveable wall member


24


and the locking member


32


is movably connected to the base portion


30


. The locking member


32


is engageable with the stationary wall member


26


in a manner to prevent relative movement between the moveable wall member


24


and stationary wall member


26


when the locking member


32


is in a locked position (FIG.


3


), and to permit relative movement between the moveable wall member


24


and stationary wall member


26


when the locking member


32


is in an unlocked position (FIG.


4


).




The base portion


30


is shown in detail in

FIGS. 6 through 12

. As best shown in

FIGS. 10 through 12

, the base portion


30


preferably has a generally flat configuration. Angled tabs


36


and flat tabs


40


are provided for fixedly mounting the base portion


30


to the moveable wall member


24


. As shown in

FIGS. 3 and 4

, the moveable wall member


24


includes an outwardly extending portion


35


which defines a recess sized to receive the flat tabs


40


. The moveable wall member is also configured to define a second recess


37


which is sized to receive the angled tabs


36


. The base portion


30


also preferably includes holes


38


sized to receive pins


42


which project outwardly from the moveable wall member


24


for preventing vertical movement of the base portion


30


relative to the moveable wall member


24


. When mounting the base portion


30


to the moveable wall member


24


, the flat tabs


40


are first inserted into recess that is defined by the outwardly extending portion


35


. Then, the holes


38


are aligned with the pins


42


and the angled tabs


36


are moved toward the recess


37


. As the angled tabs


36


are moved toward the recess


37


, they are deflected (down and to the left as shown in

FIGS. 3 and 4

) by a portion of the moveable wall member


24


adjacent the recess


37


and, finally, the angled tabs


36


are snapped into engagement with the recess


37


.




The locking member


32


is shown in detail in

FIGS. 13 through 16

. The locking member


32


includes at least one, and preferably two projections


44


which are adapted to engage a locking surface


46


of the stationary wall member


26


in a manner to prevent relative movement between the stationary wall member


26


and the moveable wall member


24


when the locking member


32


is in its locked position, and to permit relative movement between the moveable wall member


24


and stationary wall member


26


when the locking member


32


is in its unlocked position. Preferably, the locking surface


46


defines a portion of a notch


48


in the stationary wall member


26


. The notch


48


is sized to receive the projections


44


of the locking member


32


when the locking member is in its locked position. As shown in

FIGS. 3 and 4

, each projection


44


includes a camming surface


50


configured for camming engagement with at least an outer edge of the stationary wall member


26


. Engagement of the camming surface


50


with the outer edge of the stationary wall member


26


causes the locking member to move inwardly toward its unlocked position as the moveable wall member


24


is moved from its open position to its closed position. As the moveable wall member


24


continues to move to its closed position and the projections


44


are brought into register with the notch


48


of the stationary wall member


26


, the spring member


34


urges the locking member


32


back into its locked position.




As shown in

FIGS. 2

,


13


and


14


, the locking portion


32


includes a handle portion


52


shaped for direct engagement by the fingers of a user for moving the locking portion


32


between its locked and unlocked positions. Preferably, the moveable wall member


24


includes a thumb engageable surface


54


(see

FIG. 2

) which, together with the handle portion


52


, permits the user to operate the latch assembly


20


by gripping it between the fingers and thumb.




The latch assembly


20


is adapted to permit the locking member


32


to move linearly relative to the base portion


30


along an axis Y between its locked position (

FIG. 6

) and unlocked position (FIG.


7


). Preferably, the base portion


30


and the locking member


32


are connected to one another in a manner so that movement of the locking member


32


relative to the base portion


30


is substantially limited to linear movement. As best shown in

FIGS. 13 and 15

, the locking member


32


includes a pair of parallel flanges


60


and


62


at opposite side edges of the locking member. As best shown in

FIG. 11

, the base portion


30


includes upstanding portions


64


and


66


which define a pair of parallel channels


68


and


70


sized to receive the flanges


60


and


62


in a manner to permit sliding movement of the locking member


32


relative to the base portion


30


. Therefore, the manner in which the base portion


30


and the locking member


32


are connected to one another limits the moveability of the locking member


32


relative to the base portion


30


substantially to one degree of freedom.




The spring member


34


is adapted for engaging both the base portion


30


and the locking member


32


in a manner for urging the locking member


32


toward its locked position. The spring member


34


comprises a resilient portion


72


and an engaging portion


74


. The resilient portion


72


preferably extends from a proximal end


76


of the spring member


34


to a distal end


78


. The engaging portion


74


of the spring member


34


is at the distal end


78


. As best shown in

FIGS. 6

,


8


and


9


, in the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the resilient portion


72


of the spring member


34


is an elongate member, and is connected to the engaging portion


74


at one end of the engaging portion


74


so that the resilient portion


72


extends generally obliquely (diagonally) relative to the axis Y. In other words, at least a part of the resilient portion


72


is not parallel to the axis Y. However, the resilient portion


72


is preferably contained in a plane generally parallel to the plane of the moveable wall member


24


and flexes only within that plane. Although the resilient portion


72


is shown as having a straight shape, it is to be understood that it could have other shapes without departing from the scope of the present invention.




The spring member


34


is substantially enclosed by the locking member


32


and base portion


30


. Therefore, the construction of the latch assembly


20


is such that the user's hand is shielded from the spring member


34


throughout the entire range of movement of the locking member


32


between its locked and unlocked positions, and is protected from possible injury which might result if, for example, the spring member


34


were to fracture during use.




The proximal end


76


of the spring member


34


is connected to the base portion


30


. In the preferred embodiment of the present invention and, as best shown in

FIGS. 6 through 9

, the spring member


34


and the base portion


30


are of a monolithic piece. In other words, they constitute a single piece.




The engaging portion


74


of the spring member


34


is moveable between a first position (

FIG. 6

) and a second position (

FIG. 7

) relative to the proximal end


76


. As best shown in

FIGS. 14 and 16

, the locking member


32


includes an engaging surface


80


adapted for engagement with the engaging portion


74


of the spring member


34


in a manner so that movement of the locking member


32


from its locked position toward its unlocked position effectuates movement of the engaging portion


74


of the spring member


34


from the first position toward the second position. The engaging portion


74


of the spring member


34


is generally planar and remains substantially flush against the engaging surface


80


of the locking member


32


as the locking member


32


moves between its locked and unlocked positions.




It should be understood that, although the preferred embodiment has been described with the spring member


34


and the base portion


30


being of a monolithic piece, it is to be understood that the spring member


34


and the locking member could instead be of a monolithic construction without departing from the scope of the present invention as hereinafter claimed. It should also be understood that, although the preferred embodiment has been described with the base portion


30


being an separate component which is mounted to the moveable wall member


24


, the same function could be accomplished with the base portion


30


and the moveable wall member


24


being of a monolithic piece. Additionally, it should be understood that the base portion


30


could be fixed to the stationary wall member


26


, rather than to the moveable wall member


24


, without departing from the scope of the present invention.




As shown in

FIGS. 6

,


7


,


8


and


12


, the base portion


30


includes a stop


82


and, as shown in

FIGS. 14 and 16

, the locking member


32


includes an abutting portion


84


. The abutting portion


84


is engageable with the stop


82


in a manner for preventing the locking member


32


from being urged by the spring member


34


beyond its locked position (i.e., to the left as viewed in FIG.


6


). The base portion


30


also includes a ramped surface


86


generally adjacent the stop


82


. The ramped surface


86


is adapted to engage the abutting portion


84


of the locking member


32


in a manner to cause relative deflection between the base portion


30


and the locking member


32


to permit the abutting portion


84


to pass over the stop


82


as the locking member


32


is connected to the base portion


30


.




A method of the present invention for making a latch assembly comprises the steps of forming a base portion


30


, forming a locking member


32


, and forming a spring member


34


. Preferably, the base portion


30


, locking member


32


and spring member


34


are injection molded from acetal or some other suitable polymeric materials. The steps of forming the base portion


30


and forming the spring member


34


are performed substantially simultaneously. Preferably, the base portion


30


and the spring member


34


are formed together of a single monolithic piece.




For convenience and consistency, the phrase “wall member” has been used throughout the specification and claims in describing the function of the present invention. However, it should be understood that the phrase “wall member” refers to any structure serving to divide, support, protect, separate or enclose an area or field, such as a side or surface of a container. And although the latch assembly of the present invention is shown and described as being used with a collapsible storage bin, the latch assembly


20


could also be used in other types of storage containers, or in drawers, fences, doors, or any other environment where it is necessary to lock a first wall member and a second wall member to one another to prevent relative movement therebetween.




As various changes could be made without departing from the scope of the invention, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.



Claims
  • 1. A latch having a base member and a sliding locking member, comprising:said base member having a pair of parallel channels and said locking member having a pair of flanges to be correspondingly received in said pair of channels for guiding sliding movement of said locking member relative to said base member back and forth along a sliding direction into and out of a locking position; said base member having a spring member projecting from said base member between said channels including an engaging portion and a resilient portion extending between said engaging portion and said base, said base member and said spring member being of one monolithic piece; and said locking member having an engaging surface for engaging said engagement portion of said spring member to resiliently urge projections of said locking member to extend outwardly from said base into said locking position, wherein said engaging portion of said spring member is substantially perpendicular to the sliding direction of said locking member during the sliding movement of said locking member and said resilient portion extends at an angle between said engaging portion and said base member.
  • 2. A latch according to claim 1, further including said locking member having an abutting portion and said base member having a stop that that engages said abutting portion to limit the extent of sliding movement of said locking member in the direction extending outwardly from said base.
  • 3. A latch according to claim 2, wherein said base has a ramped surface adjacent said stop that engages said abutting portion of said locking member during assembly of the latch when said locking member is engaged in the guided sliding movement relative to said base opposite to the direction extending outwardly from said base.
  • 4. A latch according to claim 3, wherein said pair of channels, said spring member and said base are all of one monolithic piece.
  • 5. The latch of claim 1, mounted on a wall member, and further comprising said base member having first and second mounting tabs on opposite ends of said base in combination with mounting holes that secure said base to a wall member.
  • 6. A latch according to claim 1, wherein said locking member includes a handle portion.
  • 7. A latch according to claim 6, wherein said pair of flanges, said abutting portion said engaging surface and said handle portion of said locking member are all parts of one monolithic piece.
  • 8. A latch mounted on wall members of a container for latching the wall members having a base member and a sliding locking member that are movable relative to one another, comprising:said base member being secured to one of said wall members and having a pair of parallel channels; said locking member having a pair of flanges that are correspondingly received in said pair of channels for guiding sliding movement of said locking member relative to said base member back and forth along a sliding direction into and out of a locking position in which said wall members are secured to one another; said base member having a spring member projecting from said base member between said channels including an engaging portion and a resilient portion extending between said engaging portion and said base, said base member and said spring member being of one monolithic piece; and said locking member having projections that are received in a recess of the other of said wall members and said locking member having an engaging surface for engaging said engagement portion of said spring member to resiliently urge said projections to extend outwardly from said base into said recess in said locking position to latch said wall members to one another, wherein said engaging portion of said spring member is substantially perpendicular to the sliding direction of said locking member during the sliding movement of said locking member and said resilient portion extends at an angle between said engaging portion and said base member.
  • 9. A latch for latching wall members of a container according to claim 8, further including said locking member having an abutting portion and said base member having a stop that that engages said abutting portion to limit the extent of sliding movement of said locking member in the direction extending outwardly from said base.
  • 10. A latch for latching wall members of a container according to claim 9, wherein said pair of channels and said spring member of said base are all of one monolithic piece.
  • 11. A latch for latching wall members of a container according to claim 8, wherein said pair of flanges, said abutting portion and said engaging surface of said locking member are all parts of one monolithic piece.
  • 12. A latch for latching wall members of a container according to claim 8, further comprising said base member having first and second mounting tabs on opposite ends of said base that are received in corresponding recesses in said one wall member and mounting holes that receive pins that project from said one wall member that secure said base to said one wall member.
  • 13. A latch having a base member and a sliding locking member, comprising:one of said base member and said locking member having a pair of parallel channels and the other one of said base member and said locking member having a pair of flanges to be correspondingly received in said pair of channels for guiding sliding movement of said locking member relative to said base member back and forth along a sliding direction into and out of a locking position; and one of said base member and said locking member having a spring member projecting from said one of said base member and said locking member between said channels and flanges, said spring member including an engaging portion and a resilient portion extending between said engaging portion and said base member, said base member and said spring member being of one monolithic piece; and the other one of said base member and said locking member having an engaging surface for engaging said engagement portion of said spring member to resiliently urge said locking member to extend outwardly from said base into said locking position, wherein said engaging portion of said spring member is substantially perpendicular to the sliding direction of said locking member during the sliding movement of said locking member and said resilient portion extends at an angle between said engaging portion and said base member.
  • 14. A latch according to claim 13, further including said other one of said base member and said locking member having an abutting portion and one of said base member and said locking member having a stop that that engages said abutting portion to limit the extent of sliding movement of said locking member in the direction extending outwardly from said base.
  • 15. A latch according to claim 14, wherein one of said base member and said locking member has a ramped surface adjacent said stop that engages said abutting portion of said other one of said base member and said locking member during assembly of the latch in a direction opposite to the direction extending outwardly from said base.
  • 16. The latch of claim 13, mounted on a wall member, and further comprising said base member having first and second mounting tabs on opposite ends of said base in combination with mounting holes that secure said base to a wall member.
  • 17. A latch according to claim 13, wherein said other one of said base member and said locking member includes a handle portion.
US Referenced Citations (10)
Number Name Date Kind
3125366 Cetrone Mar 1964
3671065 Bingham Jun 1972
3825289 Armstrong Jul 1974
4061369 Palmer Dec 1977
4641506 Boucher Feb 1987
4837975 Simpson Jun 1989
5145221 Pennebaker Sep 1992
5193707 Mizumura Mar 1993
5823583 Sandhu Oct 1998
5897147 Alyanakian Apr 1999
Non-Patent Literature Citations (2)
Entry
Exhibit A—Latch Assembly for bin known as “Ultimate Bin”; First manufactured and sold by Allibert-Contico, LLC in or around 1991.
Exhibit B—Latch, Component for bin; to Applicant's knowledge first manufactured and sold by Xytec in or around 1995.