Patent Publication Number: US-8979144-B2

Title: Self-aligning catch and latch

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     This application relates generally to mechanical latches, and more particularly to an over-center latch and catch assembly. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Tension latch mechanisms are commonly used to secure two or more components together in a closed configuration. Moreover, “over-center” tension latches are commonly used because a force applied to separate the two components tends to further secure the latch mechanism. One feature of conventional over-center latch mechanisms is that once the latch has rotated beyond a tipping-point of its arc, the latch “snaps” into a closed position, and the latch mechanism should not return to its open position unless a force is supplied to open the latch. Conventional latch mechanisms generally require two-handed operation and cannot be easily operated without visual inspection of the mechanism. Accordingly, conventional tension latch mechanisms are less suitable for applications where the user is engaged in certain activities, such as mountain biking, rock climbing, or hunting which require the user&#39;s uninterrupted attention and physical control. Additionally, conventional tension latch mechanisms generally require the user to properly align the mechanism in order for the tension latch mechanism to be properly secured in the closed position. 
     As such, there is a need for an over-center catch and latch assembly configured for one-handed operation, and configured for operation using tactile sensation alone. Additionally, there is a need for a over-center catch and latch assembly configured to correct minor misalignments between the catch and the latch. Moreover, there is a need for an over-center catch and latch assembly configured for quiet operation. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention is directed to an assembly configured to secure two or more components together in a locked or closed configuration. According to an embodiment of the present invention, a latch and catch assembly is provided for releasably securing a container having a first portion and a second portion. In one embodiment, the catch and latch assembly includes a catch affixed to the first portion, the catch having a lip. In a further embodiment, the assembly includes a latch having an attachment portion and a pull-tab opposite the attachment portion, the attachment portion having a recess configured to receive the lip. In one embodiment, the recess formed in the latch is crescent-shaped. In a further embodiment, a step is formed between the attachment portion and the pull-tab. In another embodiment, the assembly includes a tensile member having two ends affixed to the second portion, the tensile member having a portion connected to the latch. In a more detailed embodiment, the tensile member is attached to the latch through an opening formed in the latch, and the latch is located generally at a midpoint along the length of the tensile member. In a further embodiment, the attachment portion of the latch has an edge about which the latch pivots against the lip while moving between a latched position and an unlatched position, and the tensile member is configured to apply a predetermined amount of force on the latch toward the catch as the latch pivots against the lip. In another embodiment, the latch is configured to assume a tipping position while moving between the latched position and the unlatched position. In another embodiment, the catch has a wider proximal portion which tapers to a narrower distal portion, such that the catch has a “V”-shaped planform. In another embodiment, a ridge is formed on a distal end of the pull-tab. In yet another embodiment, the pull-tab forms a reflex angle with the attachment portion of the latch. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       These and other features and advantages of the present invention will be better understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein: 
         FIGS. 1A and 1B  are a front perspective view of an embodiment of the over-center catch and latch assembly connected to a carrying case and a lid, showing the assembly in a closed position and an open position, respectively; 
         FIG. 2A  is a front view of an embodiment of the over-center catch and latch assembly; 
         FIG. 2B  is a cross-sectional view of the embodiment shown in  FIG. 2A ; 
         FIG. 3  is side view of an embodiment of the over-center catch and latch assembly, showing the over-center feature of the latch; and 
         FIG. 4  is a side view of an embodiment of the over-center catch and latch assembly. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The present invention relates generally to mechanical latches, and more particularly to an over-center catch and latch assembly. In general, the over-center catch and latch assembly is provided to securely hold two components together in a closed or locked position, such as a lid hingedly connected to a carrying case. The over-center catch and latch assembly is self-aligning such that the assembly is configured to correct minor misalignments between the catch and the latch. Additionally, the latch assembly is configured for one-handed operation using tactile sensation alone. Moreover, the over-center catch and latch assembly is configured for quiet operation. 
     In an embodiment of the present invention shown in  FIGS. 1A and 1B , an over-center catch and latch assembly  10  comprises a catch  13  and a tensile member  11  connected to a latch  12 . In general, the catch  13  is attached to a first component and the tensile member  11  is attached to a second component. The latch  12  is configured to engage the catch  13  and thereby secure the two or more components in a closed configuration. The tensile member  11  is configured to supply a tensile force biasing the latch  12  to engage with the catch  13 . In one embodiment, the catch  13  may be secured to a body of a carrying case  14  and the tensile member  11  may be attached to a lid  15  hingedly connected to the carrying case  14 , such that the over-center catch and latch assembly  10  is configured to interlock the lid  15  to the carrying case  14  in a closed position, as shown in  FIG. 1A . In one embodiment, the over-center catch and latch assembly  10  may be attached to a carrying case  14  which is mountable to the user&#39;s belt or strap by means of a clip or strap. Releasing the latch  12  from the catch  13  allows the user to lift and rotate the lid  15  back into the open position, as shown in  FIG. 1B . In one embodiment, the tensile member  11  may be formed from any suitably elastic material, such as natural rubber or polychloroprene for example, in the form of a bungee cord. In an alternative embodiment, the tensile member  11  may be formed from a coil spring. A first and second end  45  of the tensile member  11  may be connected and fixed to the second component (e.g., a lid  15  hingedly connected a carrying case  14 ) by any suitable means, such as adhering, bonding, or fastening. Similarly, the catch  13  may be secured to the first component (e.g., a carrying case  14 ) by any suitable means, such as bonding, adhering, or fastening. In the illustrated embodiment, the ends  45  of the tensile member  11  are affixed to an outer edge  46  of the lid  15  and spaced apart from each other by a predetermined distance. In the illustrated embodiment, the distance between the ends  45  of the tensile member is greater than a width of the catch  13 . As described in detail below, spacing the ends  45  of the tensile member  11  apart from each other advantageously tends to encourage and bias the latch  12  to self-align with the catch  13 . In an alternate embodiment, the first end  45  of the tensile member  11  may be attached to a second component and the second end  45  of the tensile member  11  may be attached to a third component, such that the assembly  10  is configured to secure three components together in a closed configuration. 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 2A and 2B , in the illustrated embodiment the catch  13  comprises a somewhat elongated body  16  having an inner surface  17  and an outer surface  18  that is raised and protrudes from an outer surface  50  of the carrying case  14 . The outer surface  18  of the catch  13  has a wider proximal portion  47  adjacent to the edge  46  of the lid  15 . The wider proximal portion  47  tapers to a narrower distal portion  48  distal to the edge  46  of the lid  15 , such that the catch  13  has tapered edges  21  forming a “V”-shaped or triangular planform, as shown in  FIG. 2A . The distal portion  48  of the catch  13  comprises a lip  19 , with an undercut or notch  20  having a lesser thickness than that of the thicker proximal portion  47  of the catch  13 . In one embodiment, the notch  20  formed under the lip  19  has a concave arcuate profile, as shown in  FIG. 2B . The lip  19  and the notch  20  are configured to receive the latch  12  and thereby secure the over-center catch and latch assembly  10  in the closed position. As described in detail below, the lip  19  formed in the catch  13  is configured to overhang a portion of the latch  12  and thereby supply a force which resists the latch  12  from inadvertently disengaging the catch  13 . 
     The catch  13  may be formed from any suitably strong and durable material, such as acetal plastic, thermoplastic polyurethane, aluminum alloy, or carbon fiber reinforced plastic. The catch  13  may be formed from any suitable process, such as liquid injection molding, milling, composite layering, or rapid prototyping using additive manufacturing. 
     With continued reference to  FIGS. 2A and 2B , the latch  12  of the assembly  10  has an elongated body with a longitudinal axis defined by a proximal attachment portion  25  and a distal pull-tab portion  26  extending from the attachment portion  25 . The attachment portion  25  of the latch  12  includes a transverse opening  27 , such as a through hole extending generally perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis, configured to receive a mid-section of the tensile member  11 . In one embodiment, the opening  27  in the latch  12  is curvilinear. In the disclosed embodiment, the opening  27  is located on a distal end of the attachment portion  25  such that the portion of the tensile member  11  attached to the latch  12  is generally distal to the lip  19  of the catch  13  when the assembly  10  is in the closed position. The mid-section of the tensile member  11  extends through the opening  27  in the attachment portion  25  of the latch  12  and may be fixedly attached to the latch  12  by any suitable means, such as adhering, bonding, fastening, or with an interference fit, in order to prevent the latch  12  from sliding along the length of the tensile member  11 , which may make it difficult or cumbersome for the user to secure the latch  12  to the catch  13 . With the latch  12  located at or near a midpoint along the length of the tensile member  11 , a first segment  22  and a second segment  23  of the tensile member  11  have a substantially equal length, as shown in  FIG. 2A . Fixing the latch  12  at or near the midpoint of the tensile member  11  ensures that the tension in the first segment  22  and the second segment  23  of the tensile member  11  are substantially equal when the over-center catch and latch assembly  10  is in the closed position ( FIG. 2A ). Otherwise, a difference in the tension between the two segments  22 ,  23  of the tensile member  11  may tend to cause the latch  12  to rotate (arrows  43 ) about the catch  13  in the direction of the greater tensile force and thereby disengage the catch  13 . 
     Still referring to  FIGS. 2A and 2B , in the illustrated embodiment the attachment portion  25  of the latch  12  includes a recess  28  (see also  FIG. 1B ) configured to fittingly engage the lip  19  formed on the narrower, thinner distal portion  48  of the catch  13 . When the over-center catch and latch assembly  10  is in the closed position, the lip  19  formed on the catch  13  is nested in the recess  28  formed in the latch  12 . In the disclosed embodiment, the recess  28  is formed in an outer surface  39  of the attachment portion  25  of the latch  12 . Moreover, the recess  28  is oriented such that the widest portion of the recess  28  is located on a proximate end of the latch  12  and the narrowest portion of the recess  28  is located on a more distal portion of the latch  12  so that it substantially matches the shape of the lip  19 . Best seen in  FIG. 1B , the recess  28  is defined by two convergent walls  29 ,  30  and a base portion  31 , where the recess  28  is substantially crescent-shaped. The two convergent walls  29 ,  30  extend outwardly from the base  31  to form the recess  28 . 
     When the catch and latch assembly  10  is in the closed position, the tapered edges  21  of the lip  19  rest substantially flush against the two convergent walls  29 ,  30  of the recess  28  and an inner surface  32  of the notch  20  rests substantially flush on the base portion  31  of the recess  28 . In the disclosed embodiment, the depth of the recess  28  in the latch  12  is substantially equal to the thickness of the lip  19  formed on the catch  13  so that the outer surface  18  of the catch  13  is substantially flush with an outer surface of the latch  12  (best seen in  FIG. 2B ). In an alternative embodiment, the depth of the recess  28  formed in the latch  12  may be substantially greater or lesser than the thickness of the lip  19  formed on the catch  13 . Additionally, although a specific shape of the recess  28  is described, it will be appreciated that the recess  28  may have other shapes that are consistent with the scope and spirit of the invention, provided the recess can receive the notch  20  for releasably locking the latch  12  to the catch  13 . In an alternate embodiment, the attachment portion  25  of the latch  12  may include a slot (not shown) configured to receive the lip  19  formed on the catch  13 . 
     In the embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 2B , a proximal end of the attachment portion  25  of the latch  12  has a curved profile  33  (see also  FIG. 1B ) configured to abut the notch  20  formed in the catch  13  when the catch and latch assembly  10  is in the closed position. That is, the proximal end of the attachment portion  25  has a convex profile  33  configured to rest substantially flush against the concave notch  20  formed in the distal end of the catch  13 . 
     With reference now to  FIG. 2A , the tapered convex shape of the lip  19  formed on the distal portion  48  of the catch  13  and the matching (e.g., tapered concave) recess  28  formed in the latch  12  are configured to self-align the latch  12  with the catch  13 . That is, the tapered convex shape of the lip  19  formed on the catch  13  and the matching concave shape of the recess  28  formed in the latch  12  are configured to correct minor misalignments between the catch  13  and the latch  12 . The tapered configuration of the lip  19  formed in the catch  13  and the recess  28  formed in the latch  12  tend to encourage and bias a misaligned latch  12  to rotate (arrows  43 ) about the catch  13  and into the properly aligned position. Additionally, when the latch  12  is misaligned with the catch  13 , the two segments  22 ,  23  of the tensile member  11  provide different tensile forces, and this tensile difference also tends to cause the latch  12  to rotate (arrows  43 ) into the properly aligned position (i.e., the latch  12  tends to rotate (arrows  43 ) in the direction of the greater tensile force). Specifically, if a user slightly misaligns the latch  12  with the catch  13 , the differential force supplied by the two segments  22 ,  23  of the tensile member  11  tends to cause the latch  12  to rotate (arrows  43 ) about the catch  13  such that the lip  19  formed in the distal portion of the catch  13  slides along the convergent walls  29 ,  30  of the recess  28  until the tapered edges  21  of the lip  19  are properly aligned (i.e., flush) with the two convergent walls  29 ,  30  of the recess  28  and the latch  12  lies generally along a longitudinal axis of the assembly  10 . 
     In the disclosed embodiment of  FIG. 2B , the attachment portion  25  of the latch  12  is thicker than the pull-tab portion  26  of the latch  12 . Additionally, in the disclosed embodiment the latch  12  includes a step  34  between the thicker attachment portion  25  and the relatively thinner pull-tab portion  26  of the latch  12 . By occupying all or nearly all of the space between the lip  19  and the component (e.g., carrying case  14 ) to which the catch  13  is attached, the thicker attachment portion  25  ensures that the latch  12  is snug against the catch  13  when the assembly is in the closed position. The thicker attachment portion  25  is also configured to compensate for the reduction in thickness due to the recess  28  formed in the attachment portion  25  of the latch  12 . 
     In the disclosed embodiment an inner surface  35  of the attachment portion  25  of the latch  12  is configured to rest flush against the outer surface  50  of the component (e.g., a carrying case  14 ) to which the catch  13  is secured. In contrast, the pull-tab portion  26  of the latch  12  is configured to be spaced apart from the component to which the catch  13  is secured, thereby forming a gap  36  between an inner surface  24  of the pull-tab portion  26  and the outer surface  50  of the component. The gap  36  between the pull-tab portion  26  and the component is configured to enable the user to easily and conveniently grasp the pull-tab  26  when the assembly  10  is in the closed configuration ( FIG. 1A ). In an alternate embodiment, the pull-tab portion  26  of the latch  12  could extend below a lower portion  51  ( FIGS. 2A and 3 ) of the component to which the catch  13  is connected in order to enable the user to easily and conveniently grasp the pull-tab  26  of the latch  12  when the assembly  10  is in the closed position (e.g., the pull-tab portion  26  of the latch  12  could be significantly elongated so the pull-tab  26  extends over the lower portion  51  of the carrying case  14 , and/or the catch  13  could be located nearer the lower portion  51  of the carrying case  14  so that the pull-tab portion  26  of the latch  12  extends over the lower portion  51  of the carrying case  14 ). 
     With continued reference to  FIG. 2B , in one embodiment a reflex angle θ is formed between the attachment portion  25  and the pull-tab portion  26  of the latch  12 . The reflex angle θ may be greater than about 180°, preferably between about 190° and 225°, and more preferably about 200°. In the disclosed embodiment, the reflex angle θ formed between the outer surface  39  of the attachment portion  25  and an outer surface  44  of the pull-tab portion  26  of the latch  12  is about 200° such that the pull-tab portion  26  of the latch  12  is substantially parallel with the outer surface  18  of the catch  13 . The reflex angle θ enables the recess  28  formed in the latch  12  to mate with the lip  19  and the arcuate notch  20  formed in the catch  13  while allowing the pull-tab portion  26  of the latch  12  to be substantially parallel to the component (e.g., a carrying case  14 ) which advantageously minimizes, or at least reduces, the overall profile thickness of the assembly  10 . A narrow profile advantageously reduces the risk that a foreign object will snag on the pull tab  26  and thereby disengage the latch  12  from the catch  13 . Additionally, it will be appreciated that although the attachment portion  25  and the pull-tab portion  26  of the latch  12  have been described as forming a reflex angle θ, the pull-tab portion  26  could alternatively form any suitable angle with the attachment portion  25  of the latch  12 . For instance, in the embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 4 , the pull-tab portion  26  of the latch  12 ′ may an angle θ (e.g., ranging between about 80° and 110°) with the attachment portion  25  of the latch  12 ′ such that the pull-tab portion  26  extends perpendicularly away from the component (e.g., a carrying case  14 ) to which the catch  13  is connected when the assembly  10  is in the closed position. In one embodiment, having the pull-tab portion  26  of the latch  12 ′ extend perpendicularly away from the carrying case  14  enables the user to easily locate the pull-tab  26  through tactile sensation alone. 
     As described above, the latch  12  includes a relatively thin and elongated pull-tab portion  26  which extends away from the catch  13  when the assembly  10  is in the closed position. The pull-tab  26  is configured to permit the user to easily grasp the latch  12  with one hand and thereby move the over-center catch and latch assembly  10  between the open position ( FIG. 1B ) and the closed position ( FIG. 1A ). In one embodiment, a distal end of the pull-tab  26  includes an enlarged portion  38 . In the embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 2B , the enlarged portion  38  is formed as a ridge to prevent the user&#39;s grasp from inadvertently slipping off the distal end of the pull-tab  26  when the user is moving the assembly  10  between the open position and the closed position. In an alternate embodiment, the distal end of the pull-tab  26  may include a return flange configured to prevent the user&#39;s grasp from inadvertently slipping off the lower end of the pull-tab  26 . The pull-tab  26  may also include other friction-inducing surface features, such as a knurled surface, etching, striations, or a coating. 
     In the illustrated embodiment of  FIGS. 2A and 2B , the profile thickness of the pull-tab  26  tapers from the thickest portion near the attachment portion  25  to the thinnest portion near the distal end of the pull-tab  26 . The tapered thickness of the pull-tab  26  is configured to enable the user to determine through tactile sensation the distal end of the pull-tab  26 . For instance, the user may slide his/her fingers along the pull-tab  26  and thereby determine the distal end of the pull-tab  26  by sensing the direction in which the thickness of the pull-tab  26  tapers. Similarly, in the illustrated embodiment, the planform of the pull-tab  26  tapers from the widest portion near the attachment portion  25  to the narrowest portion near the distal end of the pull-tab  26 . Accordingly, the tapered width and tapered thickness of the pull-tab  26  advantageously permit the user to determine through tactile sensation the distal end of the latch  12  and thereby the direction in which to pull the pull-tab  26  in order to secure and release the latch  12  from the catch  13  (e.g., in the illustrated embodiment, the direction of the force required to open and close the assembly  10  corresponds to the direction in which the width and thickness of the pull-tab  26  taper). The latch  12  may be formed from any suitably strong and durable material, such as acetal plastic, thermoplastic polyurethane, aluminum alloy, or carbon fiber reinforced plastic. The latch  12  may be formed from any suitable process, such as liquid injection molding, milling, composite layering, or rapid prototyping using additive manufacturing. In one embodiment, the materials of the latch  12  and catch  13  are selected to minimize the noise generated by opening and closing the over-center catch and latch assembly  10 . 
     In use, the user secures together two or more components in a locked or closed configuration using the catch and latch assembly  10 . In the illustrated embodiment, the catch and latch assembly  10  is configured to secure a lid  15  hingedly connected to a carrying case  14 , wherein the tensile member  11  is connected to the lid  15  at its two ends  34  and the catch  13  is connected to the carrying case  14 . The user first rotates the lid  15  to change between the open position ( FIG. 1B ) into the closed position ( FIG. 1A ). The user may rotate the lid  15  into the closed position by pulling (arrow  40 ) the latch  12  toward the catch  13 . When the latch  12  is at or near the catch  13 , the user pulls distally (arrow  40 ) on the pull-tab portion  26  of the latch  12  thereby causing the tensile  11  member to elongate. The user then continues to pull distally on the latch  12  until the latch  12  extends below the lip  19  of the catch  13 . 
     The user then causes the latch  12  to rotate through an arc (arrow  41 ) (e.g., ranging between 45° and 90°) around the lip  19  of the catch  13 , as shown in  FIG. 3 . Said another way, the latch  12  is configured to engage the catch  13  by pivoting (arrow  41 ) through an arc from an open position (shown in solid lines in  FIG. 3 ) to a closed position (shown in phantom lines in  FIG. 3 ). As the latch  12  pivots around the lip  19 , the tensile member  11  further elongates. Once the latch  12  has rotated (arrow  41 ) beyond a tipping-point  42  of its arc, the latch  12  should not return to its open position unless a force is supplied to open the latch  12 . Moreover, once the latch  12  has rotated (arrow  41 ) beyond the tipping-point  42 , the latch  12  “snaps” into the closed position (shown in phantom lines in  FIG. 3 ). The tipping-point  42  of the arc is a function of the position of the opening  27  through which the tensile member  11  is attached to the latch  12 . In general, the more distal the opening  27  is formed in the latch  12 , the smaller the tipping-point  42  of the arc (i.e., the more distal the tensile member  11  is connected to the latch  12 , the farther the user must rotate the latch  12  along its arc until the latch  12  snaps into the closed position). The over-center latch design is advantageous, for instance, because a force applied to open the lid  15  increases the tensile force in the tensile member  11  which further secures the latch  12  to the catch  13 . 
     The user then releases the latch  12  and the tensile force supplied by the elongated tensile member  11  then causes the tensile member  11  to contract around the catch  13  (i.e., the restorative force supplied by the elastically deformed tensile member  11  causes the tensile member  11  to contract around the catch  13  when the user releases the pull-tab  26  of the latch  12 ). Alternatively, the user may release the latch  12  after it has pivoted (arrow  41 ) past the tipping-point  42  of its arc rather than releasing the latch  12  after it has pivoted (arrow  41 ) through its entire arc. In the closed position, the lip  19  nests in the recess  28  formed in the latch  12  and the curved profile  33  of the latch  12  abuts the arcuate notch  20  of the catch  13 , as shown in  FIG. 2B . 
     To open the over-center catch and latch assembly  10 , the user performs the aforementioned steps in reverse. Specifically, to release the latch  12  from the catch  13 , a sufficient force must be supplied to elongate the tensile member  11  such that the latch  12  passes over and around the lip  19  formed in the narrower lower end of the catch  13 . In this regard, when the over-center latch and catch  10  is in the closed configuration, the tensile member  11  is in a “potential energy well” because sufficient energy must be supplied to the tensile member  11  to extend the tensile member  11  around the lip  19  and thereby return the assembly  10  to its open configuration ( FIG. 1A ) and the tensile member  11  to its state of lowest potential energy. 
     With continued reference to  FIGS. 2A and 2B , the asymmetry of the catch  13  between the wider, thicker proximal portion  47  and the narrower, thinner distal portion  48  advantageously permits the user to determine the orientation of the catch  13  through tactile sensation alone (i.e., the V-shaped planform of the catch  13  permits the user to determine the orientation of the catch  13  without visual inspection of the assembly  10 ). Accordingly, the V-shaped planform of the catch  13  permits the user to adjust the catch and latch assembly  10  between the open position ( FIG. 1B ) and the closed position ( FIG. 1A ) without looking at the assembly  10 . Said another way, the tapered configuration of the catch  13  enables the user to determine through tactile sensation alone the distal portion  48  of the catch  13 , which thereby enables the user to open and close the over-center catch and latch assembly  10  without looking at the assembly  10  because the distal portion  48  of the catch  13  includes the lip  19  which engages the latch  12  in the closed position. Operating the latch and catch assembly  10  through tactile sensation alone is advantageous, for instance, when visual inspection might be dangerous because the user is engaged in an activity that requires the full attention of the user, such as mountain biking, rock climbing, or hunting. Additionally, the tapered shape of the catch  13  advantageously enables the user to locate the lip  19  formed on the catch  13  irrespective of the orientation of the latch and catch assembly  10  relative to the user&#39;s body. For example, in one embodiment, the latch and catch assembly  10  may be attached to a carrying case  14  having a hinged lid portion  15 , wherein the carrying case  14  is mountable to the user&#39;s belt or strap in either a vertical or horizontal configuration. An example of a carrying case  14  mountable to a user&#39;s belt in either a vertical or horizontal configuration is shown and described in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/340,505, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. In this disclosed embodiment, the tapered shape of the catch  13  enables the user to locate the lip  19  formed on the catch  13  through tactile sensation alone when the carrying case  14  is in mounted in either the horizontal or vertical configuration, or any configuration therebetween. Although the catch  13  has been described with reference to a V-shaped configuration, the catch  13  may alternatively be formed from a different shape, such as an ovaloid or a trapezoidal protrusion, where there is asymmetry between the proximal and distal portions  48 ,  47  of the catch  13 , respectively, without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. 
     In accordance with a feature of the present invention, the user can “toggle” the latch  12  from its tipping point  42  to either a latched or unlatched position. This feature further facilitates the user to operate the assembly solely through tactile sensation. Moreover, tension applied by the tensile member  11  on the latch  12  toward the catch  13  and the corresponding shapes of the lip  19  and the recess  28  render the assembly  10  self-aligning along the longitudinal axis of the assembly  10  in the closed position. 
     While this invention has been described in detail with particular references to exemplary embodiments thereof, the exemplary embodiments described herein are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the scope of the invention to the exact forms disclosed. Persons skilled in the art and technology to which this invention pertains will appreciate that alterations and changes in the described structures and methods of assembly and operation can be practiced without meaningfully departing from the principles, spirit, and scope of this invention, as set forth in the following claims. Although relative terms such as “outer,” “inner,” “upper,” “lower,” “below,” “above,” “distal, “proximal” and similar terms have been used herein to describe a spatial relationship of one element to another, it is understood that these terms are intended to encompass different orientations of the various elements and components of the device in addition to the orientation depicted in the figures. For instance, although the preceding description referred to a lid portion connected to a carrying case, the carrying case may alternatively be attached to bottom portion. Moreover, the figures contained in this application are not necessarily drawn to scale.