SELF-ALIGNING MODULAR LATCH

• US 20160102481A1
• Filed: 12/17/2015
• Published: 04/14/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 01/24/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Carefusion 303 Incorporated (Becton, Dickinson & Co)
• Original Assignee: Carefusion 303 Incorporated (Becton, Dickinson & Co)
• Inventors: WEBER, Frank Dean, POTAKOWSKYJ, Christoph, POLLHAMMER, Johannes
• Granted Patent: US 10,435,918 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 15/022 movable, resilient or yieldable adjustable into different discrete positions E05B15/024; yieldable striker for emergency opening E05B65/1026
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 47/0009 with thermo-electric actuators, e.g. heated bimetals
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 65/006 for covers or panels for manholes E02D29/1427; for holes enabling access to installations in buildings E04F19/08; for pressure vessels F16J13/00
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 65/0811 the bolts pivoting about an axis perpendicular to the wings
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 65/46 for drawers
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 83/30 for glove compartments
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 83/32 for console boxes, e.g. between passenger seats
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 85/02 Lock casings
• CPC Class Codes: E05C 19/009 Latches with floating bolts, e.g. rings, balls
• CPC Class Codes: E05C 3/24 in the form of a bifurcated member automatic catches with a bifurcated latch E05C19/024; locks with a bifurcated bolt E05B65/0046, E05B85/243
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/0092 for assembling and dispensing of pharmaceutical articles medical dispensers for private use, A61J7/00
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 292/51 Bolt guides
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 292/55 Bolt and keeper aligners
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 292/60 Adjustment provisions
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 292/08 Bolts
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 292/0908 Emergency operating means
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 292/0926 Spring projected
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 292/0928 Operating means
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 292/0934 Rigid
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 292/0951 Rigid
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 292/096 : Sliding
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 292/0969 : Spring projected
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 292/1014 : Operating means
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 292/1022 : Rigid
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 292/1043 : Swinging
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 292/1051 : Spring projected
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 292/1052 : Operating means
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 292/1053 : Lever and push or pull rod
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 292/1061 : Rigid
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 292/1075 : Operating means
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 292/1078 : Closure
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 292/1082 : Motor
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 292/696 : With movable dog, catch or striker
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 292/699 : Motor controlled
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 292/702 : Pivoted or swinging

Abstract

A container is disclosed that has a housing and a lid. The lid has a planar portion and a latch that is freely movable parallel to the planar portion of the lid. The latch has a retention feature and a first reference surface that is perpendicular to the planar portion of the lid. There is a latch mechanism coupled to the housing that has an engagement element configured to engage the retention feature of the latch and a first alignment feature having a first alignment surface. The first alignment feature is configured to laterally displace the latch in a first direction such that the first reference surface aligns with the first alignment surface when the lid is brought together with the housing with the fastener laterally displaced away from the engagement element in a second direction that is opposite to the first direction.

Claims

1. A mechanism for securing a lid to a housing, the mechanism comprising:

a latch being moveable relative to the lid, the latch extending from the lid and comprising a retention feature having a first reference surface; and

a latch mechanism coupled to the housing, the latch mechanism comprising;

an engagement element, freely movable between a first position and a second position, configured to engage the retention feature in the first position to prevent vertical movement of the lid, and disengage from the retention feature in the second position to permit vertical movement of the lid; and

a first alignment feature having a first alignment surface, the first alignment feature configured to laterally displace the latch in a first direction when the lid is moved toward the housing with the latch laterally displaced away from the engagement element in a second direction that is opposite to the first direction, such that the first reference surface aligns with the first alignment surface.

2. The mechanism of claim 1, wherein the retention feature displaces the engagement element in the first direction toward the second position as the retention feature passes between the first alignment feature and the engagement element.

3. The mechanism of claim 1, wherein the first alignment feature is formed as a portion of the housing.

4. The mechanism of claim 1, wherein the latch mechanism comprises a second alignment feature configured to laterally displace the latch in the second direction when the lid is moved toward the housing with the latch laterally displaced in the first direction.

5. The mechanism of claim 4, wherein the second alignment feature is formed as a portion of the housing.

6. The mechanism of claim 1, wherein the latch comprises a second reference surface perpendicular to the first reference surface.

7. The mechanism of claim 5, wherein the latch mechanism comprises a third alignment feature having a second alignment surface, the third alignment feature configured to laterally displace the latch in a third direction being perpendicular to the first direction, when the lid is moved toward the housing with the latch laterally displaced in a fourth direction away from the engagement element that is opposite to the third direction, such that the second reference surface aligns with the second alignment surface.

8. The mechanism of claim 7, wherein the third alignment feature is formed as a portion of the housing.

9. The mechanism of claim 7, wherein the latch mechanism comprises a fourth alignment feature configured to laterally displace the latch in the fourth direction when the lid is moved toward the housing with the latch laterally displaced in the third direction.

10. The mechanism of claim 1, wherein the latch mechanism further comprises a biasing element configured to direct the engagement element in the second direction toward the first position.

11. The mechanism of claim 1, wherein the engagement element is rotatably coupled to the housing.

12. The mechanism of claim 1, wherein a memory alloy wire actuator is coupled between the engagement element and the housing, the memory alloy configured to direct the engagement element in the first direction toward the second position.

13. A method of securing a lid to a housing, the method comprising:

moving the lid comprising a latch extending from the lid and being moveable relative to the lid, toward the housing, the latch comprising a retention feature having a first reference surface, and the housing comprising a latch mechanism comprising a first alignment feature and an engagement element freely movable between a first position and a second position;

engaging the latch against the first alignment to laterally displace the latch in a first direction when the lid is moved toward the housing with the latch laterally displaced away from the engagement element in a second direction that is opposite to the first direction, such that the first reference surface aligns with a first alignment surface of the first alignment feature;

directing the engagement element to the first position such that the engagement element interlocks with the retention feature to prevent vertical movement of the lid.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising directing the engagement element in the first direction to the second position to permit vertical movement of the lid.

15. The method of claim 13, further comprising displacing the engagement element in the first direction toward the second position as the retention feature passes between the first alignment feature and the engagement element.

16. The method of claim 13, further comprising laterally displacing the latch in the second direction when the lid is brought together with the housing with the latch laterally displaced in the first direction.

17. The method of claim 13, further comprising laterally displacing the latch in a third direction when the lid is moved toward the housing when the lid is brought together with the housing with the latch laterally displaced in a fourth direction away from the engagement element that is opposite to the third direction, such that a second reference surface of the latch, perpendicular to the first reference surface, is aligned with the second alignment surface.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising laterally displacing the latch in the fourth direction when the lid is brought together with the housing with the latch laterally displaced in the third direction.

19. The method of claim 13, further comprising directing the engagement element, using a biasing element, in the second direction toward the first position.

20. A mechanism for securing a lid to a housing, the mechanism comprising:

a latch being moveable relative to the lid, the latch extending from the lid and comprising a retention feature having a first reference surface; and

a latch mechanism coupled to the housing, the latch mechanism comprising;

an engagement element, freely movable between a first position and a second position, configured to engage the retention feature in the first position to prevent vertical movement of the lid, and disengage from the retention feature in the second position to permit vertical movement of the lid;

a first alignment configured to laterally displace the latch in a first direction when the lid is moved toward the housing with the latch laterally displaced away from the engagement element in a second direction that is opposite to the first direction; and

a second alignment feature configured to laterally displace the latch in a third direction being perpendicular to the first direction, when the lid is moved toward the housing with the latch laterally displaced in a fourth direction away from the engagement element that is opposite to the third direction.