A latching mechanism for a carrying case includes a latch body pivotally attached to a top cover of the case, a trigger pivotally attached to the latch body, and an actuator that pivots about the same axis as the trigger. The trigger is pivotable between a latching position for keeping the latch bod
A latching mechanism for a carrying case includes a latch body pivotally attached to a top cover of the case, a trigger pivotally attached to the latch body, and an actuator that pivots about the same axis as the trigger. The trigger is pivotable between a latching position for keeping the latch body closed, and a release position to allow the case to be opened. The actuator is pivotable toward and away from a nominal actuator position in which a panel of the actuator assumes a predetermined alignment with the latch body. A torsion spring biases the trigger toward the latching position, and through trigger/actuator contact biases the actuator into the nominal position. The trigger can move toward the release position while the actuator is held in the nominal position, to maintain the selected alignment for a more natural, intuitive latching mechanism closure.
대표청구항▼
What is claimed is: 1. A container latch assembly, including: a latch body having an outside surface and adapted to be pivotally mounted through a latch body pivot axis to a first container section of a container for movement between an open position and a closed position; a trigger mounted to the
What is claimed is: 1. A container latch assembly, including: a latch body having an outside surface and adapted to be pivotally mounted through a latch body pivot axis to a first container section of a container for movement between an open position and a closed position; a trigger mounted to the latch body at a location spaced apart from the latch body pivot axis for arcuate travel about the latch body pivot axis as the latch body pivots, the trigger further being mounted for movement relative to the latch body between a latching position and a release position, the trigger having a coupling element adapted to form a releasable engagement with a coupling feature integral with a second container section responsive to movement of the latch body toward the closed position, to retain the latch body in the closed position to maintain container closure; a biasing component adapted to urge the trigger toward the latching position to maintain said releasable engagement when the latch body is in the closed position; and an actuator mounted to the latch body for movement toward and away from a nominal actuator position in which an outside surface of the actuator is selectively aligned with the outside surface of the latch body, said actuator having a trigger-contact feature positioned for contact with the trigger whereby the actuator is operable, when moved away from the nominal actuator position during said contact, to move the trigger from the latching position toward the release position against the force of the biasing component; wherein the biasing component is operable through the trigger during said contact, to urge the actuator toward the nominal actuator position; and wherein the trigger-contact feature further is adapted to allow movement of the trigger away from the latching position and toward the release position while the actuator is maintained in the nominal actuator position. 2. The latch assembly of claim 1 wherein: the latch body has a container contact feature adapted to engage the coupling feature to maintain container closure when so mounted to the first container section. 3. The latch assembly of claim 2 wherein: the container contact feature is selectively inclined to tighten the container closure as the latch body is moved into the closed position. 4. The latch assembly of claim 1 wherein: the trigger is pivotally mounted to the latch body about a trigger pivot axis parallel to and spaced apart from the latch body pivot axis. 5. The latch assembly of claim 4 wherein: the trigger pivot axis is disposed proximate to the coupling feature when the latch body is so mounted and in the closed position. 6. The latch assembly of claim 5 wherein: the trigger includes a stop positioned to engage the latch body and thereby prevent rotation of the trigger, in the direction away from the release position, beyond the latching position. 7. The latch assembly of claim 1 wherein: the coupling element is positioned to enter a gap between the second container section and the coupling feature, and to bear against the coupling feature to maintain the latch body in the closed position. 8. The latch assembly of claim 7 wherein: the coupling element has an inclined surface positioned for a surface engagement with the coupling feature as the latch body when so mounted is pivoted toward the closed position, with further closure of the latch body after said surface engagement moving the trigger toward the release position against the force of the biasing component. 9. The latch assembly of claim 4 wherein: the actuator is mounted to pivot relative to the latch body about an actuator pivot axis parallel to and spaced apart from the latch body pivot axis. 10. The latch assembly of claim 9 wherein: the actuator, when in the nominal actuator position and with the latch body so mounted and in the closed position, includes a radially outward region extending in cantilever fashion from a location proximate the second container section to a radially outward end of the latch body. 11. The latch assembly of claim 9 wherein: the actuator pivot axis coincides with the trigger pivot axis. 12. The latch assembly of claim 9 wherein: the actuator has an actuator panel disposed radially outward from the actuator pivot axis, and said outside surface of the actuator comprises a panel surface of the actuator panel; and the panel surface is substantially flush with said outside surface of the latch body when the actuator is in the nominal actuator position. 13. The latch assembly of claim 12 wherein: the actuator includes a stop structure positioned to encounter the latch body and thereby prevent further pivoting of the actuator beyond the nominal position in response to the force of the biasing component. 14. The latch assembly of claim 12 wherein: the panel cooperates with the latch body to provide a rounded relief including outside surfaces of the panel and latch body. 15. The latch assembly of claim 4 further including: a pin positionable along the trigger pivot axis for supporting the trigger, wherein the biasing component comprises a torsion spring including a coil surrounding the pin, a first arm extending from the coil in contact with the trigger, and a second arm extending from the coil in contact with the latch body. 16. The combination of the latch assembly of claim 1 and a container comprising first and second container sections movable relative to one another between open and closed positions; wherein the second container section is pivotally mounted to the first container section. 17. A container including: first and second container sections adapted to be coupled to one another in a container closure configuration, and a coupling feature integral with the second container section; a latch body pivotally coupled to the first container section for movement about a latch body pivot axis between an open position for allowing entry into the container and a closed position adjacent the second container section for maintaining the first and second container sections in the closure configuration; a trigger mounted to the latch body at a location spaced apart from the latch body pivot axis for arcuate travel about the latch body pivot axis as the latch body pivots the trigger further being mounted for movement relative to the latch body between a latching position and a release position, wherein the trigger includes a coupling element adapted to form a releasable engagement with the coupling feature responsive to movement of the latch body into the closed position, thereby to retain the latch body in the closed position; a biasing component adapted to urge the trigger toward the latching position to maintain said releasable engagement when the latch body is in the closed position; and an actuator mounted to the latch body for movement toward and away from a nominal actuator position relative to the latch body, said actuator having a trigger-contact feature positioned for contact with the trigger whereby the actuator is operable, when moved away from the nominal actuator position during said contact, to move the trigger from the latching position toward the release position against the force of the biasing component; wherein the biasing component is adapted to urge the trigger into contact with the trigger-contact feature of the actuator, and to act through the trigger during said contact to urge the actuator toward the nominal actuator position. 18. The container of claim 17 wherein: the trigger-contact feature further is adapted to allow movement of the trigger away from the latching position and toward the release position while the actuator is maintained in the nominal actuator position. 19. The container of claim 17 wherein: the latch body has a container contact feature adapted to engage the coupling feature to maintain the first and second container sections in the closure configuration. 20. The container of claim 17 wherein: the trigger is pivotally mounted to the latch body about a trigger pivot axis parallel to and spaced apart from the latch body pivot axis. 21. The container of claim 20 wherein: the actuator is mounted to pivot relative to the latch body about an actuator pivot axis that coincides with the trigger pivot axis. 22. The container of claim 17 wherein: the coupling element is positioned to enter a gap between the second container section and the coupling feature to bear against the coupling feature and thereby maintain the latch body in the closed position. 23. The container of claim 22 wherein: the coupling element has an inclined surface positioned for a surface engagement with the coupling feature as the latch body is pivoted toward the closed position, with further closure of the latch body after said surface engagement moving the trigger toward the release position against the force of the biasing component. 24. The container of claim 17 wherein: the actuator includes an actuator panel disposed radially outward from the actuator pivot axis, and the actuator panel has an outside surface substantially flush with an outside surface of the latch body when the actuator is in the nominal actuator position. 25. The container of claim 17 wherein: the coupling feature comprises a lip running along a perimeter of the second container section. 26. The container of claim 17 further including: a hinge arrangement for pivotally coupling the first and second container sections relative to each other, wherein the latch body is coupled to the first container section along a side thereof opposite the hinge. 27. A container latching mechanism, including: a latch body adapted to be pivotally mounted through a latch body pivot axis to a first container section of a container for movement between an open position and a closed position; a trigger mounted to the latch body at a location spaced apart from the latch body pivot axis for arcuate travel about the latch body pivot axis as the latch body pivots, the trigger further being mounted for movement relative to the latch body between a latching position and a release position, the trigger having a coupling element adapted to form a releasable engagement with a coupling feature integral with a second container section responsive to movement of the latch body toward the closed position, to retain the latch body in the closed position to maintain container closure; a biasing component adapted to urge the trigger toward the latching position to maintain said releasable engagement when the latch body is in the closed position; an actuating component mounted for movement relative to the latch body toward and away from a nominal position, operable when moved away from the nominal position to move the trigger from the latching position toward the release position against the force of the biasing component; wherein the actuating component includes a panel supported at a free end thereof and positioned for a predetermined alignment with the latch body when the actuating component is in the nominal position, in which the respective outside surfaces of the latch body and the panel are substantially adjacent and aligned; and wherein the actuating component further includes a panel support region extending in cantilever fashion to the panel from a location proximate a the second container section, when in the nominal position with the latch body in the closed position. 28. The mechanism of claim 27 wherein: the actuating component is movable relative to the latch body independently of the trigger, includes a trigger-contact feature positioned for contact with the trigger, and is so operable to move the trigger during said contact. 29. The mechanism of claim 28 wherein: the trigger-contact feature is adapted to allow movement of the trigger away from the latching position and toward the release position while the actuating component is maintained in the nominal position. 30. A container including: first and second container sections adapted to be removably coupled to one another in a container closure configuration, and a coupling feature integral with the second container section; a latch body pivotally coupled to the first container section for movement about a latch body pivot axis between an open position for allowing entry into the container and a closed position adjacent the second container section for maintaining the first and second container sections in the closure configuration; a trigger pivotally mounted to the latch body about a trigger pivot axis parallel to and spaced apart from the latch body pivot axis, for movement relative to the latch body between a latching position and a release position, wherein the trigger includes a coupling element adapted to form a releasable engagement with the coupling feature responsive to movement of the latch body into the closed position, thereby to retain the latch body in the closed position; a biasing component adapted to urge the trigger toward the latching position to maintain said releasable engagement when the latch body is in the closed position; and an actuator mounted to pivot relative to the latch body about an actuator axis that coincides with the trigger pivot axis, for movement toward and away from a nominal actuator position relative to the latch body, said actuator having a trigger-contact feature positioned for contact with the trigger whereby the actuator is operable, when moved away from the nominal actuator position during said contact, to move the trigger from the latching position toward the release position against the force of the biasing component; wherein the biasing component is adapted to urge the trigger into contact with the trigger-contact feature of the actuator, and to act through the trigger during said contact to urge the actuator toward the nominal actuator position.
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이 특허에 인용된 특허 (22)
Swanson Gunnar E. (Middletown CT), Catch with anti-release latch.
Tedesco Albert D. (Anaheim CA) Stammreich John C. (Rancho Palos Verdes CA) Harmon Raymond E. (Orange CA) Rourne ; Jr. William R. (Redondo Beach CA), Low profile latch.
Roach, Zebrick; Powers, Daniel J.; Fischer, Kurt Vincent; Griesser, Hans Patrick; Eerden, Jacco; Richard, Christian James, Carrying case for defibrillator with improved latch.
Martinez, Mark R.; Allen, Joel; Miller, Brandon; Moks, Whitney M.; Hoppe, Christopher S.; Hyma, Steven W.; Steele, Michael S.; Melnyk, Steven G.; Burch, Wade F.; Naiva, Matthew W.; Mackey, Eric, Tool storage devices.
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