Self-adjusting preload for memory alloy wire

A lidded container comprising:

• a body and a lid, the lid having a closed position configured to resist access to a compartment within the body, and an open position;
• and
• a latch release mechanism comprising a latch lever, a preload mechanism, and an actuator, the preload mechanism comprising a pin positioned within a slot of the latch lever, wherein the actuator is coupled to the preload mechanism to move the preload mechanism and the pin in a first direction such that a latching portion of the latch lever is moved in the first direction away from the lid when the actuator is activated, and a biasing element acts against the preload mechanism such that the biasing element causes the preload mechanism and the pin to move in a second direction that is different than the first direction such that the latching portion of the latch lever can engage against the lid when the lid is in the closed position when the actuator is not activated;
• wherein, when the actuator is activated, the latching portion of the latch lever permits the lid to move to the open position, and when the actuator is not activated and the lid is moved from the open position to the closed position, the lid engages against the latching portion of the latch lever to move the latch lever away from the pin, in the first direction.

A lidded container comprising:

• a body and a lid, the lid having a closed position configured to resist access to a compartment within the body, and an open position;
• and
• a latch release mechanism comprising a latch lever, a preload mechanism, and an actuator, the preload mechanism engaged against the latch lever to direct a force to the latch lever in a first direction when the actuator is activated, wherein the preload mechanism is biased against the actuator, by a biasing element, in a second direction that is different than the first direction when the actuator is not activated;
• wherein, when the actuator is activated, the force in the first direction is configured to move a latching portion of the latch lever in the first direction away from the lid to permit the lid to move to the open position, and when the actuator is not activated and the lid is moved from the open position to the closed position, the lid engages against the latch lever to move the latching portion of the latch lever away from the preload mechanism, in the first direction.