Latch for storage case

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9341003-B2
Application number	US-201414199054-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 6, 2014
Priority date	Mar 8, 2013
Publication date	May 17, 2016
Grant date	May 17, 2016

Abstract

Illustrative embodiment of latches for storage cases are disclosed. In one illustrative embodiment, a latch may comprise a first component coupled to a first tab extending from a case, where the first component includes a plurality of first engagement sections and each of the plurality of first engagement sections has a first aperture formed therein, a second component including a plurality of second engagement sections, where each of the plurality of second engagement sections has a second aperture formed therein and each of the plurality of first engagement sections is engaged with one of the plurality of second engagement sections such that the first and second apertures are aligned along a common axis, and a hinge pin positioned through the first and second apertures, such that the second component is pivotable about the common axis.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A latch on a case, the latch comprising:
a first component coupled to a first tab extending from the case, the first component having a U-shape including a plurality of first engagement sections located at ends of the U-shape, each of the plurality of first engagement sections having a first aperture formed therein;
a second component configured to releasably couple to a second tab extending from the case, the second component having a U-shape including a plurality of second engagement sections located at ends of the U-shape, each of the plurality of second engagement sections having a second aperture formed therein, each of the plurality of first engagement sections being engaged with one of the plurality of second engagement sections such that the first and second apertures are aligned along a common axis; and
a hinge pin positioned through the first and second apertures, such that the second component is pivotable about the common axis,
wherein the first and second components cooperate to surround the first tab and the second tab when the first and second components are coplanar.

2. The latch of claim 1 , wherein the second component is configured to have an interference fit with the second tab when releasably coupled to the second tab.

3. The latch of claim 1 , wherein the second component comprises a cam surface configured to engage the second tab to cause the second component to pivot about the common axis.

4. The latch of claim 1 , wherein an interlocking feature couples the first component to the first tab.

5. The latch of claim 4 , wherein the interlocking feature comprises a protrusion formed on an interior surface of the first component that is received in a recess formed in an exterior surface of the first tab.

6. The latch of claim 1 , wherein the hinge pin is positioned in a groove formed in an exterior surface of the first tab.

7. The latch of claim 1 , wherein the hinge pin is formed of metal.

8. A case comprising:
a body at least partially defining an interior compartment, the body including a body tab extending therefrom;
a lid pivotably coupled to the body and movable between an open position permitting access to the interior compartment and a closed position preventing access to the interior compartment, the lid including a lid tab extending therefrom, the lid tab being positioned adjacent the body tab when the lid is in the closed position; and
a latch including (i) an upper component coupled to the lid tab, the upper component having a U-shape with a pair of upper engagement sections located at ends of the U-shape, (ii) a lower component configured to releasably couple to the body tab when the lid is in the closed position, the lower component having a U-shape with a pair of lower engagement sections located at ends of the U-shape, each of the pair of lower engagement sections engaging one of the pair of upper engagement sections, and (iii) a hinge pin pivotably coupling the lower component to the upper component.

9. The case of claim 8 , wherein the lower component comprises a cam surface configured to engage the body tab as the lid is moved from the open position to the closed position to pivot the lower component.

10. The case of claim 8 , wherein:
each of the pair of upper engagement sections has an upper aperture formed therein; and
each of the pair of lower engagement sections has a lower aperture formed therein, the hinge pin being positioned through the upper and lower apertures.

11. The case of claim 8 , wherein the lower component is configured to have an interference fit with the body tab when releasably coupled to the body tab.

12. The case of claim 8 , wherein the upper and lower components cooperate to surround the lid tab and the body tab when the lid is in the closed position and the lower component is releasably coupled to the body tab.

13. The case of claim 8 , wherein an interlocking feature couples the upper component to the lid tab.

14. The case of claim 13 , wherein the interlocking feature comprises a protrusion formed on the upper component that is received in a recess formed in the lid tab.

15. The case of claim 8 , wherein the hinge pin is positioned in a groove formed in the lid tab.

16. A latch on a case, the latch comprising:
a first component coupled to a first tab extending from the case, the first component including a plurality of first engagement sections, each of the plurality of first engagement sections having a first aperture formed therein;
a second component including a plurality of second engagement sections, each of the plurality of second engagement sections having a second aperture formed therein, each of the plurality of first engagement sections being engaged with one of the plurality of second engagement sections such that the first and second apertures are aligned along a common axis; and
a hinge pin positioned through the first and second apertures such that the second component is pivotable about the common axis,
wherein (i) the case includes a body that defines an interior compartment and a lid pivotably coupled to the body to move between an open position permitting access to the interior compartment and a closed position preventing access to the interior compartment and (ii) the hinge pin is received in a groove formed in an exterior surface of the first tab both when the lid is in the open position and when the lid is in the closed position.

17. The latch of claim 16 , wherein the second component is configured to releasably couple to a second tab extending from the case.

18. The latch of claim 17 , wherein the second component comprises a cam surface configured to engage the second tab to cause the second component to pivot about the common axis.

19. The latch of claim 16 , wherein the first component includes a protrusion formed on an interior surface thereof, the protrusion being received in a recess formed in the exterior surface of the first tab.

Assignees

• Ingersoll Rand Co

Inventors

• Ely Sean C
• Yaschur Jefferey C

Classifications

• Y10T292/20

  Clamps · CPC title

• E05B65/50

  for briefcases {or the like} · CPC title

• E05B65/5276 Primary

  parallel to the wing edge · CPC title