Abstract:
A utility box with a primary latch and secondary latch for preventing accidental upset of a utility box is disclosed. The secondary latch may be a flexible type latch that automatically catches when the lid is closed. The secondary latch requires that a person disengage on the latch before opening the lid.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to hinged lid utility boxes for carrying and/or storing articles and more particularly to article storage containers, such as tool boxes and tackle boxes. 
     BACKGROUND INFORMATION 
     People use utility boxes for a variety of reasons, for example storing tools, fishing tackle, ammunition or other articles. These boxes often have a hinged lid, a handle and one or more latches to secure the lid to the base of the box. These latches are typically a draw down type of latch. Draw down latches do a good job of securing the lid to the base of the box, however they require some user action in order to engage the latch. This can lead to a situation where the utility box is accidentally lifted without first being latched resulting in the box being upset and its contents being unintentionally emptied. The upset may cause personal injury or loss of property. 
     The present invention has been developed in view of the foregoing. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention provides a utility box with a primary latch and secondary latch for preventing accidental upset of a utility box. The secondary latch may a flexible type latch that automatically catches when the lid is closed. The secondary latch requires that a person manually disengage the latch before lifting the lid. 
     An aspect of the present invention provides a utility box comprising a base, a lid hinged on the base, a primary latch for holding the lid in a closed position, and a secondary latch located on the base or the lid which automatically engages a catch located on the base or lid opposite the secondary latch. 
     Another aspect of the present invention provides an automatic secondary latch for a utility box having a hinged lid, the latch comprising a resilient member structured and arranged for mounting on either the base or the lid of the utility box, a catch structured and arranged for mounting on either the base or the lid of the utility box, wherein the resilient member and the catch are mountable on different ones of the base and lid for automatically latching the base and the lid when the lid is in a closed position. 
     Yet another aspect of the present invention provides a method of automatically latching a utility box having a base, a hinged lid, and at least one primary latch, the method comprising automatically latching a secondary latch when the lid is in a closed position with respect to the base, whereby the lid is maintained in the closed position if the utility box is lifted by the lid and the at least one primary latch is unlatched. 
     These and other aspects will become more apparent from the following description. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a utility box including primary latches and an automatically engaging secondary latch in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of a utility box including a primary latch and an automatically engaging secondary latch in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention, showing the effectiveness of the secondary latch. 
         FIG. 3  is a detailed perspective view of an automatically engaging secondary latch according to one embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 4  is a detailed view of a primary latch and an automatically engaging secondary latch according to one embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 5  is a side view of an automatically engaging secondary latch and cross section of a base and hinged lid according to one embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIGS. 6 a  and 6 b    is a perspective view of a secondary latch according to one embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 7  is a utility box with two upwardly opening lids according to one embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 8  is a utility box with a central base and opposed lids according to another embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Referring now to  FIG. 1 , a utility box  1  according to one embodiment of the present invention is shown. As used herein, a utility box refers to a container with a top or side mounted hinged lid capable of storing and/or carrying articles. In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 1 , the utility box  1  has a base  2  with a hinged lid  4  mounted thereon. Hinges (not shown) attach the hinged lid  4  to the base  2  along the rear face (not shown) of the utility box  1 . The utility box  1  may have a front face opposite the rear face and sides  8 . A handle  10  is affixed to the hinged lid  4 . Primary latches  12  hold the hinged lid  4  in a closed position. Primary latches  12  may be, for example draw type latches, tension latches, loop catches, spring latches or other suitable latches or clasps. The secondary latch  14  is a resilient type latch, which engages automatically upon closing the hinged lid  4 . 
     Referring now to  FIG. 2 , a utility box  101  is shown according to one embodiment of the present invention. A primary latch  12  is shown in an unengaged position. When a person lifts the utility box  1  by handle  10  the secondary latch  14  is engaged and prevents the box from upsetting and spilling its contents. The secondary latch  14  is intended to be a safety feature, which prevents the accidental upset from happening. 
     As seen in  FIG. 3 , a secondary latch  14  may consist of a resilient member  16  affixed to the hinged lid  4  at a fixed end  18  of the resilient member  16 . Fixed end  18  may be attached to the hinged lid  4  by fasteners  26 . The fasteners may be rivets or other mechanical fasteners. Alternatively, the fixed end may be molded into a plastic utility box or welded into a metallic box. The resilient member  16  also has a nose  20  opposite the fixed end  18 . The nose  20  has a projection  22  which engages a catch  24 . The catch  24  is affixed to the front  6  of the base  2  as can be seen from  FIG. 3 . The projection  22  and catch  24  are inclined relative to each other, each having an inclined surface  21 ,  25 , so that when the hinged lid  4  is closed the resilient member  16  flexes outwardly so the nose  20  passes over the catch and returns to an inward position after passing the catch  24 . In this position an upward force on the hinged lid  4  causes a projection locking face  23  to engage a catch locking face  27  to prevent the hinged lid  4  from opening. In order for the lid to be opened a person needs to pull outwardly on the nose  20  of the resilient member  16  so that protrusion  22  may pass over catch  24 . 
     Another embodiment of the secondary latch of the present invention is shown in  FIG. 4 . In this embodiment, the resilient member is a U-shaped piece having two legs  19  and a cross-member  17 . The resilient member may be affixed to the hinged lid  4  as an integrally molded piece of the hinged lid  4  as seen in  FIG. 4  or may been affixed to the hinged lid  4  in another suitable manner, for example by mechanical fasteners. The secondary latch  114  in this embodiment is substantially flat. The catch  24  in the embodiment shown in  FIG. 4  may be structured similarly to the catch shown in  FIG. 3 . Accordingly, as the hinged lid  4  is closed the cross member  17  engages the inclined surface  25  of the catch  24 . Upon reaching the closed position, the cross member  17  is below the catch  24  and the resilient nature of the secondary latch  114  draws the cross member  17  towards the base  2 . From this position, upward force of on the secondary latch  114  engages the cross member  17  with the catch locking face. As described above, the secondary latch  114  will need to be manually disengaged from the catch  24  to open the hinged lid  4 . 
     Referring now to  FIG. 5 , another embodiment of the secondary latch  14  is shown. In this embodiment a spring  28  is incorporated into the resilient member  16  of the secondary latch  214 . One end of the wire of the spring  28  extends into the fixed end  18  and the other end extends toward the nose into the resilient member  16 . The spring  28  is configured to draw the nose toward the base  2 . As the hinged lid  4  is closed the projection  22  passes over the catch  24 . Once the nose  22  clears the catch  24 , the spring  28  ensures the resilient member  16  flexes the nose  22  toward the base  2 . From this position the hinged lid  4  cannot be opened until the nose is pulled away from the base  2 . The spring may be any wire form spring, for example a torsion spring or double torsion spring. 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 6 a  and 6 b   , another embodiment of the secondary latch is shown. In this embodiment an aperture  30 , best shown in  FIG. 6 b   , is incorporated adjacent the nose  22  of the resilient member  16  of the secondary latch. The catch  24  has an extension  32 , which securely interlocks with the aperture  30  when the lid is in the closed position as shown in  FIG. 6   a.    
       FIGS. 7 and 8  show other non-limiting examples of utility boxes according to the present invention.  FIG. 7  shows a utility box  201  with multiple hinged lids  4 . In this embodiment, a first primary latch  12  and first secondary latch  14  secure the first hinged lid  14  to the base  2  and a second primary latch  12  and a second secondary latch  14  secure the second hinged lid  14  to the first hinged lid  14 . Referring now to  FIG. 8 , satchel style utility boxes  301  have a central base  2  with one or more hinged lids  4  mounted on opposite sides of the base  2 . Each hinged lid  14  may have a primary latch  12  and a secondary latch  14 . As shown in  FIG. 8 , secondary latches  14  in combination with primary latches are similarly useful for preventing accidental spills of satchel style utility boxes  301 . 
     Whereas particular embodiments of this invention have been described above for purposes of illustration, it will be evident to those skilled in the art that numerous variations of the details of the present invention may be made without departing from the invention as defined in the appended claims.