Patent Application
20070235460
1. Field of the Disclosure
The disclosure generally relates to a latch for a storage container and, more specifically, relates to a latch which is resistant to accidental dislodgement.
2. Related Technology
Storage containers often include a lid that is attached to the storage container via a hinge along one side. This traditional arrangement allows the lid to be opened exposing a storage space of the container. Often, latches or other securing devices are placed on the lid to secure the lid to the storage device when the lid is closed. By their nature, these securing devices are attached to the outside of the lid and storage container so that a user may manipulate the securing device as required. These securing devices are exposed to the environment and, because they are attached to the outside of the lid and storage container, may be easily bumped or jarred loose.
Attempts have been made to design a securing device that is not susceptible to being inadvertently dislodged. Often, these securing devices require extensive manipulation by a user, in the form of multiple movements, in order to unlock. For example, a traditional latch may include a lever and a loop of wire attached to the lever disposed on the storage container. Additionally, a pedestal may be disposed on the lid for engagement with the wire loop. After the wire loop is engaged with the pedestal, the lever is used to provide tension on the loop and eventually locks the loop in an over-center locking arrangement. Thus, this type of latch is complicated and relatively expensive to manufacture. Additionally, because this type of latch projects from the surface of the storage container it is easily damaged and is usually the first point of impact when the storage container is being moved.
Other types of improved securing devices include living hinges and locking pins. The living hinge-type securing devices are also generally disposed on the outer surfaces of the storage container, and are thus often damaged by impacts. Locking pin-type securing devices are also disposed on the outside surfaces of the storage container and can be damaged by impacts. Further, the locking pins are separate pieces that must be precisely aligned to secure the lid to the storage container, and because they are not attached to the storage container, such locking pins are easily lost.
A secure latch is disclosed, including a lid having a panel and a plurality of walls extending from the edges of the panel forming a skirt, the skirt having a cut out portion. A latch handle is pivotably mounted to an underside of the lid proximate the cut out portion. The latch handle is at least partially shielded from accidental contact by the skirt. The latch handle is accessible through the cut out portion and the skirt partially surrounds the latch handle, the latch handle being recessed from a plane of the skirt.
Further details of the file holder of the present disclosure may be appreciated with reference to the several views of the drawings, as well as the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments.
The lid and latch described herein minimize accidental dislodgement when the lid is in a closed and secured position on a storage container. Pivot points of the latch are attached to an inner surface of the lid, thus protecting the pivot points from unwanted impacts which may disengage the latch, causing the lid to open. Furthermore, the latch is recessed from a plane of a skirt projecting from the lid, thus protecting the latch from side impacts as well. This feature is especially useful for storage containers that are frequently transported and/or often exposed to impacts, for example storage containers for hunting or fishing supplies, home organization, tools and art supplies, among others.
The storage container 10 may include a lip 24 that extends outward from the exposed edges of the front, back and side walls 20, 18, 16. The lip 24 provides a contact surface for the lid 12 along an upper edge 26 of the lip 24. The lip 24 further serves to strengthen the exposed edges of the front, back and side walls 20, 18, 16. Additionally, a lower edge 28 of the lip 24 provides a latch grasping surface, which will be discussed further hereinafter. The front wall 20 may include an optional recessed portion 30. Similarly, the rear wall 18 may include an optional recessed portion 32.
Additionally, the front and rear walls 20, 18 may optionally diverge slightly away from one another as the front and rear walls 20, 18 extend from the base panel 14. Likewise, the side walls 16 may optionally diverge slightly away from one another as the side walls 16 extend from the base panel 14. The divergence between the front and rear walls 20, 18, and the divergence between the side walls 16, may provide a nesting capability for the storage containers 10. Nesting storage containers 10 may be particularly useful in shipping, stocking, and display of the storage containers 10.
The lid 12 includes a lid panel 34 optionally having one or more openings therein. A skirt 36 extends from a perimeter of the lid panel 34. The skirt 36 may include a first tier 38 and a second tier 40 separated by a buttress 42. The buttress 42 abuts the upper lip edge 26 of the storage container 10 when the lid 12 is mounted on the storage container 10 and in a closed position. The first tier 38 includes an arch 44 along one side that is sized and shaped to partially receive a latch, which will be further discussed hereinafter. The lid 12 also includes a handle 46 hingedly connected to the lid 12. The handle 46 in
The lid 12 includes a tray 54 and an aperture 56. The tray 54 and aperture 56 are secured by a dual action two panel cover 58. The cover 58 includes first and second panels 60, 62 that are hingedly connected to a center support 64 of the lid 12. The first and second panels 60, 62 may be moved independently of one another. The first panel 62 covers the aperture 56, and the second panel 62 covers the tray 54. Furthermore, both the first and second panels 60, 62 may be opened while the lid 12 is in a closed and secured position, thus allowing a user to access the storage space 22 of the tray 54 while the lid 12 and storage container 10 are supported by the handle 46.
The latch 48 includes a handle portion 66 and an attachment portion 68. The attachment portion includes two posts 70 extending laterally therefrom for attaching the latch 48 to the underside of the lid 12. The handle portion 66 may terminate in a generally curved edge 72. The curved edge 72 engages the lower lip edge 28 when the lid 12 is in the closed and secured position. Further, the latch 48 pivots outward, away from the lower lip edge 28 when the latch 28 is released, so that the lid 12 can be opened.
While the disclosed embodiments are generally manufactured from molded plastic, the storage container can alternately be constructed from virtually any suitable material. For example, the storage container may be constructed from polystyrene, polypropylene, polycarbonate, engineering grade plastic, ABS, TPE, thermoplastics, metal, wood, organic materials, leather, glass, and/or any combination thereof.
Although certain securable storage containers have been described herein in accordance with the teachings of the present disclosure, the scope of the appended claims is not limited thereto. On the contrary, the claims cover all embodiments of the teachings of this disclosure that fairly fall within the scope of permissible equivalents.
