Single Motion Unlatch and Open Latch Mechanism

The present application relates generally to containers. More specifically, the present application provides mechanisms that facilitate opening and closing a container.

Containers typically include a base forming a cavity and a lid. The lid can be removed from the base, or moved relative to the base, to enable access to the cavity. Some containers include a mechanism, such as a latch mechanism, that maintains the lid in a position such that the cavity remains enclosed by the lid. The latch mechanism can reduce the likelihood that the contents within the cavity unintentionally escape the container's confines.

A new and innovative apparatus (e.g., container) and latch are provided. The latch can be transitioned between a latched position and an unlatched position to lock and release movement of the container's lid relative to the container's base. The latch includes a handle pivotably coupled to each of a triggering member, a latching member, and a guide member. From a latched position, depressing the triggering member unlocks the handle from the guide member and enables the handle to be pivoted away from the guide member. The latching member includes cams that are positioned within the guide member's cam paths. Pivoting the handle away from the guide member causes the cams to track through an inclined portion of the guide member's cam paths. Once the cams reach a declined portion of the cam paths, the latch is thereby locked in the unlatched position and a distal end of the latching member has clearance from a latching portion of the container's base. The lid can then be pivoted away from the base by lifting the handle. In this way, a user may unlock and pivot the handle so that the latch is in the unlatched position, and open the lid by lifting with the handle, all in one fluid motion.

To close the lid, the lid can simply be released to let the lid slam closed. The latch can then be transitioned to the latched position to lock the lid to the base by applying force to the handle to pivot the handle back towards the guide member. The force applied to the handle pulls the latching member back towards the guide member such that the cams overcome the declined portion of the cam paths and can travel back down the inclined portion of the cam paths until the latch returns to the latched position. As the latching member is pulled back towards the guide member, the distal end of the latching member contacts the latching portion of the container's base and pivots until the latch returns to the latched position. The contact between the latching member of the lid and the latching portion of the base prevents the lid from separating away from the base. The triggering member re-engages the guide member when the latch returns to the latched position. In this way, the container can be closed by simply letting the lid fall closed and pushing the latch to the latched position.

In an example, an apparatus includes a base defining a cavity; a lid coupled to the base and movable between a first position in which the cavity is enclosed and a second position in which the cavity is exposed; and a latch that can be transitioned between a latched position that maintains the lid in the first position and an unlatched position that allows the lid to be transitioned to the second position. The latch includes: a handle pivotable between the latched position and the unlatched position; a guide member pivotably coupled to the handle, the guide member including a cam path; and a latching member pivotably coupled to the handle, the latching member including a cam disposed within the cam path. The cam path is configured such that, when the latch is in the unlatched position, the cam is disposed at a position in the cam path such that the latch is maintained in the unlatched position absent a force applied to the latch.

In an example, an apparatus includes a first member; a second member pivotably coupled to the first member and movable between a first position and a second position; and a latch able to be transitioned between a latched position that maintains the second member in the first position relative to the first member and an unlatched position that allows the second member to be transitioned to the second position. The latch includes: a handle pivotable between the latched position and the unlatched position; a guide member pivotably coupled to the handle, the guide member including a first cam path opposite a second cam path; and a latching member pivotably coupled to the handle, the latching member including a first cam disposed within the first cam path and a second cam disposed within the second cam path. The first and second cam paths are each structured such that, when the latch is in the unlatched position, the first cam is disposed at a position in the first cam path, and the second cam is disposed at a position in the second cam path, such that the latch is maintained in the unlatched position absent a force applied to the latch.

In an example, a latch for securing a first component to a second component includes: a handle pivotable between a latched position and an unlatched position; a guide member pivotably coupled to the handle, the guide member including a first cam path opposite a second cam path; and a latching member pivotably coupled to the handle, the latching member including a first cam disposed within the first cam path and a second cam disposed within the second cam path. The first and second cam paths are each structured such that, when the handle is in the unlatched position, the first cam is disposed at a position in the first cam path, and the second cam is disposed at a position in the second cam path, such that the handle is maintained in the unlatched position absent a force applied to the handle.

Additional features and advantages of the disclosed method and apparatus are described in, and will be apparent from, the following Detailed Description and the Figures. The features and advantages described herein are not all-inclusive and, in particular, many additional features and advantages will be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art in view of the figures and description. Moreover, it should be noted that the language used in the specification has been principally selected for readability and instructional purposes, and not to limit the scope of the inventive subject matter.

Like reference numbers and designations in the various drawings indicate like elements.

The detailed description set forth below, in connection with the appended drawings, is intended as a description of various configurations and is not intended to limit the scope of the disclosure. Rather, the detailed description includes specific details for the purpose of providing a thorough understanding of the inventive subject matter. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that these specific details are not required in every case.

A new and innovative apparatus (e.g., container) and latch are provided. The latch can be transitioned between a latched position and an unlatched position to lock and release movement of the container's lid relative to the container's base. The latch includes a handle pivotably coupled to each of a triggering member, a latching member, and a guide member. From a latched position, depressing the triggering member unlocks the handle and enables the handle to be pivoted away from the guide member. The latching member includes cams that are positioned within the guide member's cam paths. Pivoting the handle away from the guide member forces the latching member away from the guide member and thereby forces the cams to track through an inclined portion of the guide member's cam paths. Once the cams reach a declined portion of the cam paths, the latch is thereby locked in the unlatched position and a distal end of the latching member has clearance from a latching portion of the container's base. The lid can then be pivoted away from the base by lifting the handle. In this way, a user may unlock and pivot the handle so that the latch is in the unlatched position, and open the lid by lifting with the handle, all in one fluid motion.

To close the lid, the lid can simply be released to let the lid slam closed. The latch can then be transitioned to the latched position to lock the lid to the base by applying force to the handle to pivot the handle back towards the guide member. The force applied to the handle pulls the latching member back towards the guide member such that the cams overcome the declined portion of the cam paths and can travel back down the inclined portion of the cam paths until the latch returns to the latched position. As the latching member is pulled back towards the guide member, the distal end of the latching member contacts the latching portion of the container's base and pivots until the latch returns to the latched position. The contact between the latching member of the lid and the latching portion of the base prevents the lid from separating away from the base. In this way, the container can be closed by simply letting the lid fall closed and pushing the latch to the latched position.

show various view of an example container. Containerincludes a basedefining a cavity(). A lidis coupled (e.g., pivotably) to baseand movable between a closed position (e.g., first position, see) in which cavityis enclosed by lidand an open position (e.g., second position, see) in which cavityis exposed. In the illustrated aspect, lidis coupled to baseby way of hingesA,B,C. In other aspects, lidmay be coupled to basein other suitable manners. Containerincludes a handlepivotably coupled to lid. Handlemay be used to carry container. In some aspects, handlemay be disposed on another suitable location of container, such as the opposite side of containerincluding hingesA,B,C. In some aspects, handlemay be omitted.

Containerincludes latchesA,B that can be transitioned between a latched position shown inand an unlatched position shown in. In this way, latchesA,B can prevent or allow movement of lidrelative to basedepending on a state of latchesA,B. For instance, latchesA,B in the latched position shown inmay maintain cavityenclosed by lidwhereas latchesA,B in the unlatched position shown inmay allow movement of lidrelative to base. As shown in, baseincludes latching portionsA,B. When lidis in the closed position and latchesA,B are in the latched position, as shown in, the latching portionsA,B of baseprevent lidfrom opening by contacting latchesA,B. While the illustrated aspect is shown having two latchesA,B, in other aspects, containermay include a single latch or more than two latches.

In various aspects, containeris adapted such that containercan be stacked on top of another container or another container can be stacked on top of container. For example, lidmay include a pattern, indented into the exterior surface of lid, that interfaces with a patternprotruding from an exterior surface of baseopposite the exterior surface of lid. As shown in, a width of patternand a width of patternare both equal to a width W. Similarly, a length of patternand a length of patternare both equal to a length L. In this way, when containeris stacked on top of another container, patternof containerinterfacing with patternof the other container reduces the chance of containersliding off of the other container. As best seen in, latchesA,B are at the same level as the indented pattern. In some aspects, latchesA,B may be indented more than the indented patternrelative to lid. In this way, latchesA,B do not interfere with another container being stacked on top of container. In some aspects, the stacking features of baseand lidmay be omitted from container.

In various aspects, baseand lidare each structured such that hingesA,B,C are raised relative to where lidmeets baseat the side of containerthat includes latchesA,B. As shown in, lidincludes a lipthat forms the edge of the base-facing side of lid. Lipincludes a proximal endon a proximal side of containerthat includes latchesA,B. Lidmay further include a hinge portionat a distal end of lip. Baseincludes a lipthat forms the edge of the lid-facing side of base. Lipincludes a proximal endon a proximal side of containerthat includes latchesA,B. Basemay further include a hinge portionat a distal end of lip. A planeextends through hinge portionof lidthat is parallel to and spaced apart from a planethat extends through distal endof lip. The planeis higher than, or raised relative to, plane. A planeextends through hinge portionof basethat is parallel to and spaced apart from a planethat extends through distal endof lip. The planeis higher than, or raised relative to, plane.

The raised hingesA,B,C contribute to the ease with which lidmay be opened relative to basewhen hingesA,B,C are positioned adjacent a wall or other vertical surface. Only a small portion of lidprotrudes above hinge portion, and thus when lidis rotated openabout hingesA,B,C, relative to lidshown in, only a small portion of lidprotrudes to the left of hingesA,B,C where the wall or other vertical surface would be. In this way, containercan be positioned near the wall or other vertical surface and still be opened.

In an example, the raised hingesA,B,C can, additionally or alternatively, be beneficial for an interaction between containerand a drawer within which containeris disposed.depicts containerdisposed within an example drawer.depicts a cross-sectional slice of the containerand the draweralong the plane A-A of. Drawerincludes a drawer bottomand sidewallsA,B. The drawer bottommay include raised portionsA,B. With containerpositioned in drawer, a surfaceof basecontacts raised portionsA,B such that a bottom surfaceof containeris raised relative to a surfaceof drawer bottom. Stated differently, the bottom surfaceof containerdoes not contact the surfaceof drawer bottomin this example. A planeextends through hingesA,B,C. A planeincludes the surfaceand is parallel to the plane. A height H measured between planes,is substantially equal to a height of sidewallA measured between a drawer topand a point where sidewallA meets surface. This arrangement of hingesA,B,C relative to drawer topcontributes to the ease with which lidmay be opened relative to basewhen containeris positioned in drawer.

illustrate latchA in isolation in the latched position. The following description of latchA may apply similarly to latchB. LatchA includes a handlepivotably coupled to a latching member. For example, handlemay be pivotably coupled to latching membervia a pivot pinA. It will be appreciated that any suitable pivoting mechanism other than pivot pins and through holes may be utilized, for any components of latchA that pivot relative to one another, that will achieve the same functions of latchA. Latching memberincludes a first componenthaving a distal endthat is structured so as to be the component of latchA that contacts latching portionA of base. Latching memberfurther includes a second component() that includes a camA. LatchA includes a guide memberpivotably coupled to handle. For example, handlemay be pivotably coupled to guide membervia a pivot pinB. In various aspects, guide membermay be fixedly attached to lidwhen latchA is included with lid. Guide memberincludes a sidewallA that includes a cam pathA. CamA may be positioned within cam pathA such that camtracks along cam pathA during transitioning of latchA, of which more detailed description will follow. LatchA may include a triggering memberpivotably coupled to handle. For example, triggering membermay be pivotably coupled to handlevia a pivot pinC.

illustrates an exploded view of latchA showing each of the components of latchA, which include handle, latching member, guide member, triggering member, pivot pinsA,B,C, and a resilient member.

Handleincludes a body. In the example pivoting mechanism including pivot pins, bodymay include a plurality of through holes for coupling to other components of latchA. For example, bodymay include legsA,B that each include a through holeA,B. A through holemay extend through body. And bodymay include a through holeA and an opposing through holeB.

Latching memberincludes the first componentand the second componentwhich extends from the first component. In the example pivoting mechanism including pivot pins, the first componentincludes through holesA,B. Pivot pinA may be positioned to extend through the through holes,A, andB so as to pivotably couple handleand latching member. The second componentof latching membermay include armsA,B. CamsA,B may be coupled to armsA,B. For example, armA may include a threaded opening(e.g., female threading) that accepts threading (e.g., male threading) of camA. In other aspects, camsA,B may be integral with armsA,B.

Guide memberincludes a base. SidewallsA,B may each extend from base. Each of sidewallsA,B may include cam pathsA,B. As shown, each of cam pathsA,B includes an inclined portion and a declined portion. CamA of latching membermay be positioned within cam pathA and camB of latching membermay be positioned within cam pathB so as to couple latching memberand guide number. Guide membermay include an extensionthat extends from body. Extensionmay include a through hole. Pivot pinB may be positioned to extend through the through holesA,B, andso as to pivotably couple handleand guide member. In various aspects, guide memberincludes a protrusion. Protrusionmay extend from body.

Triggering memberincludes a body. A protrusionmay extend from body. Protrusionmay interact with protrusionas part of a locking mechanism of latchA, which will be described in greater detail below. Triggering membermay include a trigger handleextending from body. In the example pivoting mechanism including pivot pins, triggering memberincludes a through hole. Pivot pinC be positioned to extend through the through holesA,B, andso as to pivotably couple handleand triggering member.

Resilient membermay be disposed between triggering memberand handleso as to bias trigger handleaway from handle. Resilient memberis depicted as a helical compression spring. In other aspects, resilient membermay be a machined spring, molded spring, flat spring, other suitable springs, or other suitable resilient, elastic components that can store and release mechanical energy.

shows a side view of guide memberalongside a perspective view of camA. In at least some aspects, cam pathsA,B include first portionsA,B and second portionsA,B. Each of first portionsA,B has a width Q and each of second portionsA,B has a width W. The width Q is greater than the width W. Additionally, camA, as well as camB, has a transverse dimension Z. Both width Q of first portionsA,B and width W of second portionsA,B are greater than transverse dimension Z of camsA,B such that camsA,B fit within both first portionsA,B and second portionsA,B of cam pathsA,B. Width W of second portionsA,B, however, may be only slightly greater than transverse dimension Z such that camsA,B strictly move along second portionsA,B of cam pathsA,B whereas width Q of first portionsA,B is greater than transverse dimension Z to the extent that space is left between camsA,B and sidewallsA,B while camsA,B are within first portionsA,B of cam pathsA,B, which provides camsA,B with more room to move within first portionsA,B of cam pathsA,B. The added freedom for the camsA,B in first portionsA,B of cam pathsA,B allows distal endof latching membersto pivot while in contact with latching portionA of base, and also enables handleand guide memberto pivot about pivot pinB. Without this widening of cam pathsA,B in first portionsA,B, latchA would be over constrained and bind.

shows latching membercoupled to guide member. As shown, latching memberis structured such that armsA,B leave space for protrusionof guide memberwhile camsA,B are positioned within cam pathsA,B.

shows triggering memberin space relative to latching memberand guide member. It will be appreciated that triggering memberas depicted is not coupled to any other component, but is depicted as if trigger memberis coupled to handleand in a relaxed state of triggering member. Handleis omitted so that the interaction of protrusionof guide memberand protrusionof triggering membercan be observed. As shown, with triggering memberin the relaxed state, protrusioncontacts protrusion. This contact prevents handleand triggering memberfrom being pivoted away from guide member. Also shown inis resilient memberdisposed relative to triggering member.

are a series of illustrations depicting latchA transitioning from a latched position to an unlatched position. LatchA is shown in isolation so that the interaction of components of latchA may be observed, though the transition will be described as if latchA were coupled to or integrated with container. Where not mentioned, it can also be assumed that any change to latchA during the described transition has occurred for latchB as well.shows a fully constructed latchA in the latched position with triggering memberin the relaxed state. In this initial state, protrusionof guide memberblocks movement of protrusionof triggering memberand resilient memberbiases trigger handleaway from handle. Handleis therefore locked and prevented from being able to pivot away from guide member. Additionally, distal endof latching memberis positioned so that latching portionA of baseprevents lidfrom pivoting open relative to baseby blocking motion of distal end.

shows triggering membertransitioned to a depressed state. In the depressed state, trigger handleis depressed towards handlesuch that resilient memberis compressed. Depressing trigger handlepivots triggering memberabout pivot pinC such that protrusionis moved away from protrusion. Protrusionthereby has clearance to move past protrusion. Handleis therefore unlocked and free to pivot away from guide member.

show two snapshots of handlebeing pivoted away from guide memberabout pivot pinB as latchA transitions to the unlatched position. Once protrusionof triggering memberhas cleared protrusion, triggering membercan be held in the depressed state or can be released into the relaxed state. As seen in, pivoting handleabout pivot pinB forces latching memberaway from guide member. Latching memberfurther pivots about pivot pinA as handleis pivoted away from guide member. As latching membermoves, camsA,B track through cam pathsA,B.

shows latchA in the unlatched position. Once camsA,B reach the declined portion of cam pathsA,B, gravity can no longer force camsA,B back the other direction through cam pathsA,B. LatchA is therefore locked in the unlatched position. Additionally, with latchA in the unlatched position, distal endof latching memberhas enough clearance to move past latching portionA of baseso that lidcan be pivoted open relative to base. In this way, a user may unlock and pivot handleso that latchA is in the unlatched position, and open lidby lifting with handle, all in one fluid motion.

To close lid, the user can simply release lidto let lidslam closed and transition latchA to the latched position. Latching portionA of basedoes not interfere with distal endof latchA when lidslams closed as latchA remains locked in the unlatched position such that distal endhas clearance to pass by latching portionA. After lidis slammed closed, the user can transition latchA to the latched position by applying force to handleto pivot handleabout pivot pinB back towards guide member. The force applied to handlepulls latching memberback towards guide member, while latching memberalso pivots about pivot pinA, so that camsA,B overcome the declined portion of cam pathsA,B and can travel back down the inclined portion of cam pathsA,B. Once protrusionof triggering membermoves past protrusionof guide member(e.g., with an audible “click” sound), latchis returned to the latched position. In this way, a user may close containerby simply letting lidfall closed and pushing latchA to the latched position.

When considering containerwith both latchA and latchB, the user can use two hands to unlatch and lift latchesA,B. When lidis pivoted to the open position, latchesA andB can remain locked in the unlatched position as shown in. The user can also let lidclose and push both latchesA,B at the same time to the latched position in order to close container.

In one or more aspects, the present container and latch may include additional aspects, such as any single aspect or any combination of aspects described below or in connection with one or more other processes or devices described elsewhere herein. In a first aspect, an apparatus includes a base defining a cavity; a lid coupled to the base and movable between a first position in which the cavity is enclosed and a second position in which the cavity is exposed; and a latch that can be transitioned between a latched position that maintains the lid in the first position and an unlatched position that allows the lid to be transitioned to the second position. The latch includes: a handle pivotable between the latched position and the unlatched position; a guide member pivotably coupled to the handle, the guide member including a cam path; and a latching member pivotably coupled to the handle, the latching member including a cam disposed within the cam path. The cam path is configured such that, when the latch is in the unlatched position, the cam is disposed at a position in the cam path such that the latch is maintained in the unlatched position absent a force applied to the latch.

In a second aspect, in combination with the first aspect, the handle and the latching member are configured such that pivoting the handle from the latched position to the unlatched position forces the cam to move through the cam path.

In a third aspect, in combination with the second aspect, the handle and the latching member are configured such that pivoting the handle from the latched position to the unlatched position forces at least a portion of the latching member away from the base.

In a fourth aspect, in combination with one or more of the first aspect through the third aspect, the latch further includes a triggering member and a resilient member. In the fourth aspect, the triggering member is pivotably coupled to the handle and the resilient member is disposed between the triggering member and the handle.

In a fifth aspect, in combination with the fourth aspect, the triggering member includes a first protrusion, the guide member includes a second protrusion, and the triggering member and the guide member are configured such that, when the latch is in the latched position, the lid is maintained in the first position based on the first protrusion contacting the second protrusion.

In a sixth aspect, in combination with the fifth aspect, the handle and the trigger member are configured such that applying a force to the triggering member towards the handle causes the first protrusion to move away from the second protrusion.

In a seventh aspect, in combination with one or more of the first aspect through the sixth aspect, the guide member includes a second cam path, and the latching member includes a second cam disposed within the second cam path.

In an eighth aspect, in combination with one or more of the first aspect through the seventh aspect, the lid includes the latch.

In a ninth aspect, in combination with one or more of the first aspect through the eighth aspect, the latch is a first latch and the apparatus further includes a second latch. The second latch includes: a second handle pivotable between the latched position and the unlatched position; a second guide member pivotably coupled to the second handle, the second guide member including a second cam path; and a second latching member pivotably coupled to the second handle, the second latching member including a second cam disposed within the second cam path. The second cam path is configured such that, when the second latch is in the unlatched position, the second cam is disposed at a position in the second cam path such that the second latch is maintained in the unlatched position absent a force applied to the second latch.

In a tenth aspect, in combination with one or more of the first aspect through the ninth aspect, the base includes a hinge portion and is structured such that a surface of the base arranged to contact the lid is disposed in a first plane and the hinge portion is disposed in a second plane that is parallel to and spaced apart from the first plane.

In an eleventh aspect, in combination with one or more of the first aspect through the tenth aspect, the lid includes a hinge portion and is structured such that a surface of the lid arranged to contact the base is disposed in a first plane and the hinge portion is disposed in a second plane that is parallel to and spaced apart from the first plane.

In a twelfth aspect, an apparatus includes a first member; a second member pivotably coupled to the first member and movable between a first position and a second position; and a latch able to be transitioned between a latched position that maintains the second member in the first position relative to the first member and an unlatched position that allows the second member to be transitioned to the second position. The latch includes: a handle pivotable between the latched position and the unlatched position; a guide member pivotably coupled to the handle, the guide member including a first cam path opposite a second cam path; and a latching member pivotably coupled to the handle, the latching member including a first cam disposed within the first cam path and a second cam disposed within the second cam path. The first and second cam paths are each structured such that, when the latch is in the unlatched position, the first cam is disposed at a position in the first cam path, and the second cam is disposed at a position in the second cam path, such that the latch is maintained in the unlatched position absent a force applied to the latch.

In a thirteenth aspect, in combination with the twelfth aspect, the latching member includes a first component and a second component extending from the first component, and the first cam and the second cam each extend from the second component.

In a fourteenth aspect, in combination with the thirteenth aspect, the first component includes a distal end configured to engage the second member when the latch is in the latched position.

In a fifteenth aspect, in combination with one or more of the first aspect through the fourteenth aspect, the latching member is structured such that, when the latch is in the latched position, the second member is maintained in the first position based on the latching member contacting the first member.

In a sixteenth aspect, a latch for securing a first component to a second component includes: a handle pivotable between a latched position and an unlatched position; a guide member pivotably coupled to the handle, the guide member including a first cam path opposite a second cam path; and a latching member pivotably coupled to the handle, the latching member including a first cam disposed within the first cam path and a second cam disposed within the second cam path. The first and second cam paths are each structured such that, when the handle is in the unlatched position, the first cam is disposed at a position in the first cam path, and the second cam is disposed at a position in the second cam path, such that the handle is maintained in the unlatched position absent a force applied to the handle.