Latch for Securing a Storage Container

A latch for securing a storage container, comprising:

• a closure member having opposite, inside and outside facing surfaces, and which is further moveably mounted on a storage container that has an internal cavity, and which further defines an aperture which allows access into the internal cavity, and wherein the closure member is moveable relative to the storage container between a first position, where the closure member occludes the aperture, and prevents access to the internal cavity, and a second, spaced position, which allows access to the internal cavity, and wherein the storage container has a frame member which defines, at least in part, the aperture, and wherein a latch aperture is formed in, and passes through the inside and outside facing surfaces of the closure member;
• a latch housing mounted on the inside facing surface of the closure member, and wherein the latch housing is defined by a sidewall which has a first aperture which is substantially coaxially aligned with the latch aperture formed in the closure member, and a second aperture, and wherein the latch housing further defines an internal cavity which further encloses a guidance channel which is aligned, at least in part, with the latch aperture, and a locking member passageway which is substantially aligned with the second aperture which is defined by the latch housing;
• an elongated spindle having a main body which extends through the latch aperture, and which further has a first end, which is located in spaced relation relative to the outside facing surface of the closure member, and a second end, which is located in spaced relation relative to the inside facing surface thereof, and within the internal cavity of the latch housing;
• a biasing member which acts upon the elongated spindle, and which further is located within the latch housing, and wherein the biasing member urges the spindle to move longitudinally, inwardly toward the internal cavity of the latch housing;
• a pinion mounted on the second end of the elongated spindle, and which is further located within the locking member passageway, and wherein the pinion is co-rotatable with the spindle, and is further slidably moveable along the spindle between the first and second ends thereof;
• a locking member having an elongated main body with opposite first and second ends, and a top and bottom surface, and wherein the elongated main body is received within the locking member passageway, and is reciprocally moveable along a path of travel between a first, extended position, where the second end of the locking member extends outwardly through the second aperture as defined by the latch housing, and which engages the frame member of the storage container, and thereby secures the closure member in the first occluding position relative to the aperture which is defined by the storage container, and a second, retracted position, and wherein in the second, retracted position, the second end of the locking member is moved to a location where the second end does not engage the frame member, and the closure member is able to be moved to the second position which allows access to the internal cavity of the storage container, and wherein a rack is formed in the top surface of the locking member and is meshingly engaged by the pinion, and wherein rotatable motion of the pinion in a given direction is operable to impart reciprocal motion to the locking member to move the locking member between the first and second positions thereof;
• and
• a latch control collar mounted on the spindle, and which is co-rotatable, and simultaneously, longitudinally moveable with the spindle, and wherein the latch control member has as an engagement member which is slidably received within, and cooperates with the guidance channel, and wherein the engagement member when received within the guidance channel, substantially prevents rotation of the spindle, and any corresponding movement of the locking member, and wherein the longitudinal movement of the spindle, and latch control member along the guidance channel, and to a location where the engagement member is no longer in the guidance channel allows the spindle to be subsequently, selectively rotated in a given direction so as to effect the reciprocal motion of the locking member into, and out of engagement with the frame member which defines the aperture of the storage container.