Strong hold, weak release pivoting, lifting and sliding recessed fulcrum and lever latch

Abstract

A strong-hold, weak-release container latch holds a lid on a base. A slide is movable in the base. A lever is attached to one end of the slide. A latch top is mounted on one end of the lever and overlies the lid; a fulcrum is provided on an opposite end. Moving the lever flexes and arcs the web and lifts a latching detent which holds the slide in the base. Latching the container includes closing the lid on the container base, sliding the lever, slide and lid latch inward toward the container base, and engaging the lid with the latch. Sliding the slide in the receiver in the base engages the detent. Lifting the lid latch and rotating the lever around the fulcrum flexes the slide and arcs the detent away from the holder, releasing the slide and subsequently releasing the lid.

I claim:  
     
         1 . A strong-hold, weak-release latch apparatus comprising a container having a container base and a lid hinged to the base, a slide mounted in the base and movable with respect to the base, a lever attached to the slide and a latch top connected to the lever for securing the cover.  
     
     
         2 . The latch apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the latch top is mounted on one end of the lever.  
     
     
         3 . The latch apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the latch top overlies the lid.  
     
     
         4 . The latch apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein the slide has a flexible web.  
     
     
         5 . The latch apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein the flexible web has a latching detent which holds the slide in the base.  
     
     
         6 . The latch apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein the web is attached to a middle portion of the lever.  
     
     
         7 . The latch apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein the latch apparatus is released by rotating the latch top away from the lid, rotating the lever about an end remote from the latch top, flexing the web upward, releasing the detent and allowing the slide to move outward in the base until the latch top is clear of the lid.  
     
     
         8 . The latch apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein the latch apparatus is closed by closing the lid, pressing the lever inward, positioning the latch top over the lid, and sliding the lever, latch top, web and detent inward, which flexes the web and moves the detent.  
     
     
         9 . Latch apparatus comprising a container having a base and a lid, a receiver in the base and a rib in the receiver, a slide mounted in the receiver, a detent connected to the slide for engaging and disengaging the rib, a lever connected to an end of the slide, the lever having a fulcrum end and a latch end, a latch on the latch end for engaging the lid.  
     
     
         10 . The latch apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the slide has a flexible portion and wherein the detent is mounted on the flexible portion.  
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the slide has a relatively rigid portion extending from the flexible portion in a direction opposite a direction of the lever.  
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , further comprising a ridge on the rigid portion perpendicular to the rigid portion and to the lever in latched position.  
     
     
         13 . The latch apparatus of  claim 9 , further comprising a first stop in the receiver and a complementary second stop on the slide for limiting outward movement of the slide in the receiver.  
     
     
         14 . The latch apparatus of  claim 9 , further comprising a shelf on the base for engaging the fulcrum end of the lever.  
     
     
         15 . The latch apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the base has a facial recess for receiving the lever in latched position.  
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the lid has an edge with a recess for receiving the latch end of the lever.  
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the lid is hinged to the base at a position remote from the lever.  
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 17 , wherein the lid has lateral edges and the base has side walls extending upward for receiving the lateral edges of the lid.  
     
     
         19 . A method of latching and unlatching a container comprising closing a lid on a container base, sliding a lever, slide and lid latch inward toward the container base, engaging the lid with the latch, sliding the slide in a receiver in the base and engaging a detent on the slide with a complementary holder on the base, and thereby latching the container, lifting the lid latch and rotating the lever around a fulcrum, flexing the slide and arcing the detent away from the holder, and releasing the lid and thereby unlatching the container.  
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , further comprising sliding the slide in the receiver and moving the lever and lid latch away from the container before releasing the lid.  
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 20 , further comprising engaging a first stop on the slide with a complementary second stop on the base when the lever and lid latch are moved away from the container.  
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21 , further comprising engaging a ridge on the slide with the base during the flexing, arcing and sliding of the slide.  
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 19 , further comprising engaging the fulcrum with a shelf on the base during the rotating of the lever and the flexing of the slide.  
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 19 , further comprising housing the lever in a facial recess in the base when the container is latched.  
     
     
         25 . A method of latching a lid on a container base comprising providing a strong-hold, weak-release latch, providing a container having a container base and a lid hinged to the base, providing a slide mounted in the base and movable with respect to the base, providing the slide with a flexible web and providing the flexible web with a latching detent for holding the slide in the base, providing a lever attached to the slide and providing a latch top mounted on one end of the lever for overlying the lid and securing the cover.  
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein the web is attached to a middle portion of the lever.  
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein the latch is released by rotating the latch top away from the lid, rotating the lever about an end remote from the latch top, flexing the web upward, releasing the detent and allowing the slide to move outward in the base until the latch top is clear of the lid.  
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 27 , wherein the latch is closed by closing the lid, pressing the lever inward, positioning the latch top over the lid, and sliding the lever, latch top, slide, web and detent inward, flexing the web and moving the detent.  
     
     
         29 . A method of latching a container comprising providing a container having a base and a lid, a receiver in the base and a rib in the receiver, mounting a slide in the receiver, connecting a detent to the slide for engaging and disengaging the rib, connecting a lever to an end of the slide, providing the lever with a fulcrum end and a latch end, providing a latch on the latch end for engaging the lid.  
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 29 , further comprising providing the slide with a flexible portion and wherein the mounting comprises mounting the detent on the flexible portion.  
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 30 , further comprising providing a relatively rigid portion of the slide extending from the flexible portion in a direction opposite a direction of the lever.  
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 31 , further comprising providing a ridge on the rigid portion perpendicular to the rigid portion and to the lever in latched position.  
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 29 , further comprising providing a first stop in the receiver and providing a complementary second stop on the slide for limiting outward movement of the slide in the receiver.  
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 29 , further comprising providing a shelf on the base for engaging the fulcrum end of the lever.  
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 29 , further comprising providing a facial recess in the base for receiving the lever in latched position.