Abstract:
A secure latch having a lid that includes 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 partially shielded from accidental contact by the skirt.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE  
       [0001]     1. Field of the Disclosure  
         [0002]     The disclosure generally relates to a latch for a storage container and, more specifically, relates to a latch which is resistant to accidental dislodgement.  
         [0003]     2. Related Technology  
         [0004]     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.  
         [0005]     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.  
         [0006]     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.  
       SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE  
       [0007]     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.  
         [0008]     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. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0009]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a storage container and a lid.  
         [0010]      FIG. 2  is an exploded perspective view of the storage container and the lid of  FIG. 1 , including a secure latch.  
         [0011]      FIG. 3  is a bottom perspective view of the lid and latch of  FIG. 2 .  
         [0012]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view of the storage container and lid of  FIG. 2  with the lid in a closed and secured position.  
         [0013]      FIG. 5  is a side plan view of the storage container and lid of  FIG. 2  in a closed and secured position.  
         [0014]      FIG. 6  is a side plan view of the storage container and lid of  FIG. 2  in a closed, but unsecured position. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0015]     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.  
         [0016]      FIG. 1  illustrates a storage container  10  and a lid  12  constructed in accordance with the teachings of the disclosure. The container  10  is box-like in shape having a base panel  14 , and a pair of opposed side walls  16  that extend from side edges of the base panel  14 . Further, a rear wall  18  extends from a rear edge of the base panel  12  and a front wall  20  extends from a front edge of the base panel  12 . The front wall  20 , rear wall  18 , side walls  16  and base panel  14  define a storage space  22 .  
         [0017]     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 .  
         [0018]     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 .  
         [0019]     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  FIG. 1  is shown in a stored position in which the handle  46  registers with a rear portion of the buttress  42 .  
         [0020]      FIG. 2  shows an exploded perspective view of the storage container  10 , lid  12  and secure latch  48 . The handle  46  generally includes three members. Two generally “C” shaped attachment members  50  and a tubular connecting member  52 . The tubular connecting member  52  may be constructed of different lengths to create different sized handles  46  for use with different sized lids  12 . The “C” shaped attachment members  50  may be common to many different sized lids  12 , thus saving manufacturing costs.  
         [0021]     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 .  
         [0022]     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.  
         [0023]      FIG. 3  shows an underside of the lid  12 . The latch  48  is hingedly attached to the underside of the lid  12  at two receivers  74 . The underside connection of the latch  48  to the lid  12  protects the connection from environmental factors, such as impacts, that could jar or otherwise dislodge the latch  48  as in conventional securing devices. The latch  48  is attached to the lid  12  in the vicinity of the arch  44 . Thus, the handle portion  66  of the latch  48  is accessible through the arch  44 , while the first tier  38  of the skirt  36  overlaps the attachment portion  68  of the latch  48 . This configuration further protects the latch  48  from accidental dislodgement or damage due to impacts while still allowing a user access to the handle portion  66  of the latch  48  for manipulating the latch  48  between a secured position and an unsecured position.  
         [0024]      FIG. 4  illustrates the lid  12  and latch  48  in a closed and secured position on the storage container  10 . The attachment portion  68  of the latch  48  is shown in phantom. The attachment portion  68  of the latch  48  is shielded by the first tier  38  of the skirt  36  in the vicinity of the arch  44 . Thus, the receivers  74  and the posts  70  are protected by the skirt  36 . The handle portion  66  of the latch is accessible through the arch  44 , thereby reducing the probability that the latch  48  will be dislodged through accidental contact. Additionally, the front recess  30  of the bin  10  provides additional clearance for manipulating the latch  48 . The front recess  30  is optional, and the latch  48  could be configured to secure a bin  10  that lacks the front recess  30 .  
         [0025]      FIG. 5  is a side plan view of the lid  12  and latch  48  in a closed and secured position on the storage container  10 . The attachment portion  68  and posts  70  of the latch  48  are shown in phantom. The skirt  36  extends outward, beyond the handle portion  66  of the latch, to protect the latch  48  from side impacts. This side shielding further reduces the probability that the latch  48  will be accidentally dislodged. Furthermore, the curved edge  72  of the latch  48  engages a lower edge  28  of the lip  24 , thereby securing the lid  12  in the closed position.  
         [0026]      FIG. 6  is a side plan view of the lid  12  and latch  48  in a closed and unsecured position on the storage container  10 . Again, the attachment portion  68  and the posts  70  are shown in phantom. In this figure, the latch  48  is shown released and the lid  12  is in a closed, but unsecured position. The curved edge  72  of the latch is disengaged from the lower bin lip  76  allowing the lid  12  to be capable of being rotated about the opposing hinge to an open position. The latch  48  may be pivoted about the receivers  74  and posts  70  so that the handle portion  66  protrudes outward, beyond the skirt  36 .  
         [0027]     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.  
         [0028]     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.