Single action latch

Abstract

A single-action latch operates to hold a lid in assembled relationship to the receptacle of a medical case or other container. The latch includes an engaging member connected to the receptacle for pivoting movement between a latched position in which a hook portion of the engaging member extends up and over the top of the lid to hold the container in the closed condition, and an open position in which the hook portion is spaced from the lid so that the lid may be removed from the receptacle. An actuator assembled between the receptacle and the engaging member is mounted for pivoting movement between a first position in which the actuator locks the engaging member in the latched position, and a release position in which the actuator releases the engaging member for movement to the open position. The actuator is safely positioned behind the engaging member so as to prevent accidental or inadvertent release of the engaging member, but is readily accessible through the engaging member for actuation by a user.

1 . A latch for use on a container having a tray and a lid for covering the tray, said latch comprising 
 a base attached to the tray;    an engaging member pivotably attached to said base and operable between a latched position for securing the lid to the tray and an open position in which the lid is separable from the tray; and    an actuator pivotably attached to said base and operable between a locked position for locking said engaging member in said latched position, and a release position for releasing said engaging member for movement to said open position;    said engaging member having an abutment surface arranged to travel in a movement path on movement of said engaging member between said latched position and said open position, and said actuator having a projecting member which lies in said movement path in said locked position to prevent movement of said engaging member from said latched position to said open position, and which lies outside of said movement path in said release position to release said engaging member for movement from said latched position to said open position.    
     
     
         2 . The latch as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said actuator is positioned between said engaging member and the tray, said engaging member including an opening providing access for operation of said actuator.  
     
     
         3 . The latch as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said engaging member has a first pivot axis, and said actuator has a second pivot axis parallel to said first pivot axis.  
     
     
         4 . The latch as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising a handle pivotably mounted to said base.  
     
     
         5 . The latch as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said engaging member includes an opening, and said actuator includes an operating member accessible through said opening.  
     
     
         6 . The latch as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising a resilient member operable to exert a force on said engaging member for moving said engaging member from said latched position to said open position upon movement of said actuator from said locked position to said release position.  
     
     
         7 . The latch as claimed in  claim 6 , wherein said resilient member is further operable to move said actuator from said release position to a rest position.  
     
     
         8 . The latch as claimed in  claim 7 , wherein said rest position is the same as said locked position.  
     
     
         9 . The latch as claimed in  claim 6 , wherein said resilient member comprises at least one coil spring.  
     
     
         10 . The latch as claimed in  claim 9 , wherein said coil spring includes a first leg exerting a force against said engaging member and away from said actuator and a second leg exerting a force against said actuator and away from said engaging member.  
     
     
         11 . The latch as claimed in  claim 9 , wherein said engaging member has a pivot axis and said coil spring is coiled about said pivot axis.  
     
     
         12 . The latch as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said base has a first stop surface and said engaging member has a second stop surface, said second stop surface abutting said first stop surface in said open position.  
     
     
         13 . The latch as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said actuator is further pivotable from said release position to a stop position, said actuator having a pushing surface operable to contact said engaging member at about said release position of said actuator and to push said engaging member toward said open position upon movement of said actuator from said release position toward said stop position.  
     
     
         14 . A latch for use on a container having a tray and a lid for covering the tray, said latch comprising 
 a base attached to the tray;    an engaging member pivotably attached to said base and operable between a latched position for securing the lid to the tray and an open position in which the lid is separable from the tray; and    an actuator pivotably attached to said base and operable between a locked position for locking said engaging member in said latched position, and a release position for releasing said engaging member for movement to said open position;    said engaging member including an opening, and said actuator including an operating member accessible through said opening;    said engaging member having an abutment surface arranged to travel in a movement path on movement of said engaging member between said latched position and said open position, and said actuator having a projecting member which lies in said movement path in said locked position to prevent movement of said engaging member from said latched position to said open position, and which lies outside of said movement path in said release position to release said engaging member for movement from said latched position to said open position.    
     
     
         15 . A storage case, comprising 
 a tray having a bottom, side walls and an open top;    a lid for enclosing said open top of said tray; and    at least one latch, including    a base attached to said tray;    an engaging member pivotably attached to said base and operable between a latched position for securing said lid to said tray and an open position in which said lid is separable from said tray; and    an actuator pivotably attached to said base and operable between a locked position for locking said engaging member in said latched position, and a release position for releasing said engaging member for movement to said open position;    said engaging member having an abutment surface arranged to travel in a movement path on movement of said engaging member between said latched position and said open position, and said actuator having a projecting member which lies in said movement path in said locked position to prevent movement of said engaging member from said latched position to said open position, and which lies outside of said movement path in said release position to release said engaging member for movement from said latched position to said open position.    
     
     
         16 . The storage container as claimed in  claim 15 , wherein said actuator is positioned between said engaging member and said tray, said engaging member including an opening providing access for operation of said actuator.  
     
     
         17 . The storage container as claimed in  claim 15 , wherein said engaging member has a first pivot axis, and said actuator has a second pivot axis parallel to said first pivot axis.  
     
     
         18 . The storage container as claimed in  claim 15 , further comprising a handle pivotably mounted to said tray.  
     
     
         19 . The storage container as claimed in  claim 15 , wherein said engaging member includes an opening, and said actuator includes an operating member accessible through said opening.  
     
     
         20 . The storage container as claimed in  claim 15 , further comprising a resilient member operable to exert a force on said engaging member for moving said engaging member from said latched position to said open position upon movement of said actuator from said locked position to said release position.  
     
     
         21 . The storage container as claimed in  claim 20 , wherein said resilient member is further operable to move said actuator from said release position to a rest position.  
     
     
         22 . The storage container as claimed in  claim 21 , wherein said rest position is the same as said locked position.  
     
     
         23 . The storage container as claimed in  claim 20 , wherein said resilient member comprises at least one coil spring.  
     
     
         24 . The storage container as claimed in  claim 23 , wherein said coil spring includes a first leg exerting a force against engaging member and away from said actuator and a second leg exerting a force against said actuator and away from said engaging member.  
     
     
         25 . The storage container as claimed in  claim 23 , wherein said engaging member has a pivot axis and said coil spring is coiled about said pivot axis.  
     
     
         26 . The storage container as claimed in  claim 15 , wherein said base has a first stop surface and said engaging member has a second stop surface, said second stop surface abutting said first stop surface in said open position.  
     
     
         27 . The storage container as claimed in  claim 15 , wherein said actuator is further pivotable from said release position to a stop position, said actuator having a pushing surface operable to contact said engaging member at about said release position of said actuator and to push said engaging member toward said open position upon movement of said actuator from said release position toward said stop position.  
     
     
         28 . A storage container, comprising 
 a tray having a bottom, side walls and an open top;    a lid for enclosing said open top of said tray; and    at least one latch, including    a base attached to said tray;    an engaging member pivotably attached to said base and operable between a latched position for securing said lid to said tray and an open position in which said lid is separable from said tray; and    an actuator pivotably attached to said base and operable between a locked position for locking said engaging member in said latched position, and a release position for releasing said engaging member for movement to said open position;    said engaging member including an opening, and said actuator including an operating member accessible through said opening;    said engaging member having an abutment surface arranged to travel in a movement path on movement of said engaging member between said latched position and said open position, and said actuator having a projecting member which lies in said movement path in said locked position to prevent movement of said engaging member from said latched position to said open position, and which lies outside of said movement path in said release position to release said engaging member for movement from said latched position to said open position.    
     
     
         29 . A latch for holding a cover to a structure defining an opening, said latch comprising 
 a base attached to the structure;    an engaging member pivotably attached to said base and operable between a latched position for securing the cover to the structure and an open position in which the cover is separable from the structure; and    an actuator pivotably attached to said base and operable between a locked position for locking said engaging member in said latched position, and a release position for releasing said engaging member for movement to said open position;    said engaging member having an abutment surface arranged to travel in a movement path on movement of said engaging member between said latched position and said open position, and said actuator having a projecting member which lies in said movement path in said locked position to prevent movement of said engaging member from said latched position to said open position, and which lies outside of said movement path in said release position to release said engaging member for movement from said latched position to said open position.    
     
     
         30 . A latch for holding a cover to a structure defining an opening, said latch comprising 
 a base attached to the structure;    an engaging member pivotably attached to said base and operable between a latched position for securing the cover to the structure and an open position in which the cover is separable from the structure; and    an actuator pivotably attached to said base and operable between a locked position for locking said engaging member in said latched position and a release position for releasing said engaging member for movement to said open position;    said engaging member including an opening, and said actuator including an operating member accessible through said opening;    said engaging member having an abutment surface arranged to travel in a movement path on movement of said engaging member between said latched position and said open position, and said actuator having a projecting member which lies in said movement path in said locked position to prevent movement of said engaging member from said latched position to said open position, and which lies outside of said movement path in said release position to release said engaging member for movement from said latched position to said open position.    
     
     
         31 . In a container having a tray and a lid for covering the tray, a method for holding the lid in assembled relationship to the tray and for releasing the lid for separation from the tray, the method comprising 
 providing a latch having an engaging member operable between a latched position for holding the lid to the tray and an open position in which the lid is separable from the tray, and an actuator operable between a locked position for locking the engaging member in the latched position and a release position for releasing the engaging member for movement to the open position;    moving the engaging member from the open position to the latched position, the movement causing the actuator to move to the locked position, the actuator in the locked position being located between the tray and the engaging member.    
     
     
         32 . The method as claimed in  claim 31 , further comprising 
 moving the actuator from the locked position to the release position, the movement causing the engaging member to move from the latched position to the open position.    
     
     
         33 . The method as claimed in  claim 32 , further comprising 
 releasing the actuator, whereupon the actuator moves from the release position to a rest position.    
     
     
         34 . The method as claimed in  claim 33 , wherein the rest position is the same as the locked position.