Organizer latch mechanism

An organizer which includes a body formed with a cavity and ribs which divide the cavity into two or more chambers. The organizer further includes a number of partitions which are perpendicular to the ribs so as to define a number of chambers. The organizer includes a permanent divider which extends perpendicular to the ribs and which is permanently connected to, or formed with, the body the ribs of the organizer. The organizer additionally includes a cover which is hingedly engaged to the body. A latch mechanism is mounted on the cover and partially extends through the cover for reversibly connecting the cover to the body through the engagement of a portion of the latch mechanism with said permanent divider.

FIELD AND BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
The present invention relates to an organizer for storing a variety of 
small items, such as screws and bolts, for example, and, more 
particularly, to a mechanism for effectively latching an organizer to 
prevent the inadvertent opening of the organizer when not in use. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
According to the present invention there is provided an organizer, 
comprising: (a) a body member formed with a cavity; (b) at least one rib 
dividing the cavity into two or more chambers; (c) a plurality of 
partitions extending substantially perpendicular to the at least one rib 
so as to define a plurality of chambers; (d) a permanent divider extending 
perpendicular to the at least one rib, the permanent divider being 
permanently connected to, or formed with, the body or the at least one 
rib; (e) a cover member having an outside surface, the cover member being 
hingedly engaged to the body member and serving to alternately cover and 
uncover the cavity; and (f) a latch mechanism mounted on the cover member 
and partially extending through the cover member for reversibly connecting 
the cover member to the body member through the engagement of a portion of 
the latch mechanism with the permanent divider. 
According to further features in preferred embodiments of the invention 
described below, the cover member includes a cover member opening 
therethrough, wherein the permanent divider includes a permanent divider 
opening therethrough and wherein the latch mechanism includes: (i) a 
slidable element for sliding across the outside surface of the cover; (ii) 
a leg element connected to, or integrally formed with, the slidable 
element, a first portion of the leg element extending through the opening 
in the cover member and a second portion of the leg element alternately 
engaging and disengaging the permanent divider opening to alternately lock 
and unlock the cover and the body.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
The present invention is of an organizer with an innovative latch 
mechanism. 
The principles and operation of an organizer latch mechanism according to 
the present invention may be better understood with reference to the 
drawings and the accompanying description. 
Referring now to the drawings, FIGS. 1 and 2 are top views of the two major 
components of an organizer, cover member 10 and body member 12, 
respectively. Shown in FIG. 1 is the outside surface of cover member 10, 
which is preferably at least partially transparent. Cover member 10 
includes a latch mechanism 14 according to the present invention which is 
described in more detail below. Cover member 10 preferably also includes a 
handle 16 for facilitating the transporting of the organizer. Cover member 
10 preferably also includes a number of outwardly extending protrusions 16 
which serve to strengthen cover member 10 and enhance its aesthetic appeal 
of the outside surface of cover member 10. 
As can be seen in FIG. 2, an organizer according to the present invention 
includes body member 12 which is formed with a cavity. Cover member 10 is 
hingedly engaged to body member 12 and serves to alternately cover and 
uncover the cavity. Connected to, or, preferably, formed with body member 
12 are ribs 13 which divide the cavity into chambers. Further included are 
a number of partitions 24 which extend substantially perpendicular to ribs 
13 so as to define a plurality of chambers for storing various items, such 
as, for example, screws, bolts, and the like. Partitions 24 are preferably 
removable so as to allow the user to at least partially define the size 
and shape of the chambers based on the user's specific needs. 
The organizer further includes a permanent divider 30 which extends 
perpendicular to ribs 13. Permanent divider 30 is permanently connected 
to, or is formed with, body member 12 and/or one or more ribs 13. 
An organizer according to the present invention is characterized in that it 
includes a latch mechanism 14 which is mounted on cover member 10 and 
which partially extends through an opening in cover member 10. Latch 
mechanism 14 is useful in reversibly connecting cover member 10 to body 
member 12 through the engagement of a portion of latch mechanism 14 with 
permanent divider 30, as described in more detail below. 
One illustrative example of latch mechanism 14 according to the present 
invention is as shown in FIGS. 4-10 and with reference to FIG. 3. Shown in 
FIGS. 7, 8, 9 and 10 are side, top, end and bottom views of latch 
mechanism 14. 
Latch mechanism 14 includes a slidable element 20, which is preferably 
substantially rectangular, for sliding across the outside surface of cover 
member 10. Latch mechanism 14 further includes a leg element 22 connected 
to, or integrally formed with, slidable element 20. 
As can be seen in FIG. 3, cover member 10 features an opening 30 
therethrough which accommodates a portion of leg element 22 of latch 
mechanism 14 (FIG. 4). 
Latch mechanism 10 is located on cover member 10 such that when said cover 
member 10 is closed over body member 12 latch mechanism 10 is adjacent 
permanent divider 30 (FIG. 4). Permanent divider 30 features an opening 32 
therethrough (FIGS. 4 and 6) for accommodating a portion of leg element 
22. Preferably, a portion of leg element 22 is enlarged (FIGS. 6 and 9) so 
as to prevent latch mechanism 10 from disengaging from cover member 10 
once latch mechanism 10 has been inserted, as by pressing, into engagement 
with cover member 10. 
Slidable element 20 preferably features a series of protrusions 40 (FIGS. 5 
and 8) on its outward-facing side to increase friction between slidable 
element 20 and the user's finger so as to facilitate the sliding of 
slidable element 20. 
Preferably, the leading and trailing edges of slidable element 20 are 
raised (FIGS. 6 and 7) so as to prevent the user's hand from inadvertently 
sliding over slidable element 20 during sliding of slidable element 20 to 
the locked or unlocked position. 
Preferably, the outside surface of cover member 10 features an elevated 
border 42 (FIGS. 3-6) which is connected to, or permanently formed with, 
the outside surface of cover member 10. Border 42 borders slidable element 
20 and confines its sliding movement between a locked position wherein leg 
element 22 is inserted within opening 32 in permanent divider 30 (FIGS. 6) 
and an unlocked position wherein leg element 22 is withdrawn from opening 
32 in permanent divider 30. 
To help retain slidable element 20 in the locked position so as to prevent 
the inadvertent unlocking of cover member 10, slidable element 20 
preferably features one or more recessions 50 while border 42 is formed 
with one or more complementary inwardly directed protrusions 52 (FIG. 5) 
for accommodating recessions 50 when slidable element 20 is in the locked 
position so as to substantially immobilize slidable element 20 and prevent 
its inadvertent sliding in the absence of a directed force, such as that 
exerted by the user. 
While the invention has been described with respect to a limited number of 
embodiments, it will be appreciated that many variations, modifications 
and other applications of the invention may be made.