Two stage draw latch for stackable storage box with removable cover

• US 9,187,210 B2
• Filed: 07/16/2013
• Issued: 11/17/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 07/16/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Imicrodata Corporation
• Original Assignee: Microdata LLC (Comtech Telecommunications Corporation)
• Inventors: Zhu, Shengbo, Huang, Su Shiong
• Primary Examiner(s): Castellano, Stephen
• Application Number:
  US13/987,352
• Publication Number:
  US 20150021328A1
• Time in Patent Office: 854 Days
• Field of Search: 220/324
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 21/0217 Containers with a closure presenting stacking elements B65D21/064 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 21/0223 the closure and the bottom presenting local co-operating elements, e.g. projections and recesses B65D21/0222 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 45/02 for applying axial pressure to engage closure with sealing surface
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 65/52 Other locks for chests, boxes, trunks, baskets, travelling bags, or the like
• CPC Class Codes: E05C 19/14 with toggle action
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 292/0917 Lever

Abstract

A dual function two stage draw latch has a first stage loop member pivotally attached at one end to a latch lever pivotally mounted to a base member secured to a wall of a first container. A second stage loop member is pivotally attached to the other end of the first stage loop member. The free end of the second stage loop member is able to engage a catch mounted on a wall of a second container stacked on top of the first container to provide a holding force for the two containers. This free end is also able to engage a catch element mounted on a container lid to hold the lid in place. Electrically conductive strips interconnect the latch and catch to provide electrical interconnection between the containers.

Claims

1. A storage container having a latch/catch mechanism for providing a holding force between two stacked containers and a force for securing a lid to said storage container, said storage container comprising:

a base wall;

a plurality of upstanding wall members connected to said base wall, said wall members each having an upper margin and a lower margin, said base wall and said wall members defining an interior of said container;

an electrically conductive member positioned in said interior for furnishing externally supplied object address signals to objects in said interior of said container;

a two stage draw latch secured to one of said wall members adjacent the upper margin thereof, said latch including a base member, a latch lever pivotally mounted to said base member;

a first stage loop member having a first end pivotally secured to said latch lever and a second end; and

a second stage loop member having a first end pivotally secured to said second end of said first stage loop member and a free end engageable with an associated catch means; and

a catch member secured to said one of said wall members adjacent the lower margin thereof, said catch member having a base member with a lip releasably engageable with a latch loop, said latch base member and said catch base member being fabricated from an ohmic electrically conductive material; and

an ohmic electrically conductive element extending between said latch base member and said catch base member and electrically connected therebetween, said electrically conductive member positioned in said interior of said container being electrically coupled to said latch base member.

2. The invention of claim 1 further including a container lid having a catch element located at a position in which said free end of said second stage loop member is releasably engageable therewith so as to provide a force for securing said container lid to said upper margin.

3. The invention of claim 2 wherein said catch element is formed in said container lid.

4. The invention of claim 1 wherein said latch and said catch member are secured to said one of said wall members in substantially vertical alignment.

5. The invention of claim 1 further including:

an additional electrically conductive member positioned in said interior;

an additional two stage draw latch secured to a different one of said wall members adjacent the upper margin thereof, said additional latch including a base member, a latch lever pivotally mounted to said base member of said additional latch;

a first stage loop member having a first end pivotally secured to said latch lever of said additional latch and a second end; and

a second stage loop member having a first end pivotally secured to said second end of said first stage loop member of said additional latch and a free end engageable with an associated additional catch means;

an additional catch member secured to said different one of said wall members adjacent the lower margin thereof, said additional catch member having a base member with a lip releasably engageable with a latch loop, said additional latch base member and said additional catch base member being fabricated from an ohmic electrically conductive material; and

an additional ohmic electrically conductive element extending between said additional latch base member and said additional catch base member and electrically connected therebetween, said additional electrically conductive member positioned in said interior of said container being electrically coupled to said additional latch base member.

6. The invention of claim 5 further including a container lid having a first catch element located at a position in which said free end of said second stage loop member of said latch is releasably engageable therewith and a second catch element located at a position in which said free end of said second stage loop member of said additional latch is releasably engageable therewith so as to provide a force for securing said container lid to said upper margin of said one wall member and said different one of said wall members.

7. The invention of claim 6 wherein said first and second catch elements are formed in said container lid.

8. The invention of claim 5 wherein said latch and said catch member are secured to said one of said wall members in substantially vertical alignment;

and wherein said additional latch and said additional catch member are secured to said different one of said wall members in substantially vertical alignment.

9. The invention of claim 5 wherein said one of said wall members and said different one of said wall members comprises oppositely facing wall members.

10. A storage container having a plurality of latch/catch mechanisms for providing a holding force between two stacked containers and a force for securing a lid to said storage container, said storage container comprising:

a base wall;

a plurality of upstanding wall members connected to said base wall, said wall members each having an upper margin and a lower margin, said base wall and said wall members defining an interior of said container;

a first electrically conductive member positioned in said interior for furnishing externally supplied object address signals to objects in said interior of said container;

a second electrically conductive member positioned in said interior;

a first latch secured to one of said wall members adjacent the upper margin thereof, said first latch including a base member, a latch lever pivotally mounted to said base member;

a first stage loop member having a first end pivotally secured to said latch lever and a second end; and

a second stage loop member having a first end pivotally secured to said second end of said first stage loop member and a free end engageable with an associated catch means;

a first catch member secured to said one of said wall members adjacent the lower margin thereof, said catch member having a base member with a lip releasably engageable with a latch loop, said first latch base member and said first catch base member being fabricated from an ohmic electrically conductive material;

a first ohmic electrically conductive element extending between said first latch base member and said first catch base member and electrically connected therebetween, said first electrically conductive member positioned in said interior of said container being electrically coupled to said first latch base member;

a second latch secured to a different one of said wall members adjacent the upper margin thereof, said second latch including a base member, a latch lever pivotally mounted to said base member of said second latch;

a first stage loop member having a first end pivotally secured to said latch lever of said second latch and a second end; and

a second stage loop member having a first end pivotally secured to said second end of said first stage loop member of said second latch and a free end engageable with an associated second catch means;

a second catch member secured to said different one of said wall members adjacent the lower margin thereof, said second catch member having a base member with a lip releasably engageable with a latch loop, said second latch base member and said second catch base member being fabricated from an ohmic electrically conductive material;

a second ohmic electrically conductive element extending between said second latch base member and said second catch base member and electrically connected therebetween, said second electrically conductive member positioned in said interior of said container being electrically coupled to said second latch base member;

a third latch secured to said different one of said wall members adjacent the upper margin thereof, said third latch including a base member, a latch lever pivotally mounted to said base member of said third latch;

a first stage loop member having a first end pivotally secured to said latch lever of said third latch and a second end; and

a second stage loop member having a first end pivotally secured to said second end of said first stage loop member of said third latch and a free end engageable with an associated third catch means;

a third catch member secured to said different one of said wall members adjacent the lower margin thereof, said third catch member having a base member with a lip releasably engageable with a latch loop, said third latch base member and said third catch base member being fabricated from an ohmic electrically conductive material; and

a third ohmic electrically conductive element extending between said third latch base member and said third catch base member and electrically connected therebetween, said second electrically conductive member positioned in said interior of said container being electrically coupled to said third latch base member;

said second latch and said second catch member being secured to said different one of said wall members in substantially vertical alignment and said third latch and said third catch member being secured to said different one of said wall members in substantially vertical alignment and laterally spaced from said second latch and said second catch member.

11. The invention of claim 10 wherein said different one of said wall members has a central vertical axis;

and wherein said second latch and said second catch member and said third latch and said third catch member are symmetrically spaced about said central vertical axis.

12. The invention of claim 10 further including a container lid having a first catch element located at a position in which said free end of said second stage loop member of said first latch is releasably engageable therewith, a second catch element located at a position in which said free end of said second stage loop member of said second latch is releasably engageable therewith, and a third catch element located at a position in which said free end of said second stage loop member of said third latch is releasably engageable therewith so as to provide a force for securing said container lid to said upper margin of said one of said wall members and said different one of said wall members.

13. The invention of claim 12 wherein said first, second, and third catch elements are formed in said container lid.

14. The invention of claim 10 wherein said one of said wall members and said different one of said wall members comprises oppositely facing wall members.