Patent ID: 7681752

Claim:
An animal-resistant system for securing a lid of a container having a base, wherein the base defines an opening that receives the lid and wherein a lip is positioned on an outer surface of the base adjacent the opening so as to extend outward and then downward from the opening, the system comprising: at least one latch mechanism that interconnects the lid and the base of the container, wherein the at least one latch mechanism has a first orientation wherein the lid and the base are secured together and a second orientation wherein the lid can be removed from the base wherein the at least one latch mechanism is concealed from view and wherein the at least one latch member remains in the first orientation regardless of the orientation of the latch member with respect to gravity; at least one actuation member coupled to the at least one latch mechanism wherein a user can manipulate the actuation member to thereby manipulate the at least one latch from the first to the second orientation; a cover that covers the actuation member, wherein the cover defines an opening that is spaced from the actuation member a distance and direction selected to permit user manipulation of the actuation member by a human finger but to inhibit manipulation by an animal claw; and at least one shroud member mounted to the base of the container adjacent the interface between the base and the lid of the container, to thereby inhibit an animal from accessing an edge of the lid of the container, wherein the at least one shroud member is shaped so as to extend outward from the opening and then downward over the lip and then inward towards the base and then upward so as to extend between the lip and the base and wherein the shroud is coupled to the base via a plurality of fasteners that extend at least through two points in the shroud and through the lip interposed between the two points of the shroud and into the base so that the shroud has sufficient strength to inhibit a bear from deforming the base of the container adjacent the lid to thereby deform the opening to gain access to the opening to dislodge the lid.