Safety release latch

Abstract

A latch assembly (12) is adapted for use with a container having a base portion (11) and a cover (10) affixable thereto by the latch assembly (12). The base portion (11) has projections (17) extending from its sidewall and the cover (10) has lugs (14) extending therefrom. A latch plate (19) has laterally spaced ribs (25) between which an upper lever bar (28) is pivotally connected to define an upper pivot point. Ribs (45) on the upper lever bar (28) are adapted to snap over the lugs (14) to attach the latch assembly (12) to the cover (10). The lower end of a lower lever bar (30) is also pivotally connected between the ribs (25) to define a lower pivot point. The upper edge of the lower lever bar (30) is hinge connected (33, 34) to the lower edge of the upper lever bar (28) with the centerline of the hinge (33, 34) being laterally offset from a plane defining both the upper and lower pivot points. The bottom of the latch plate (19) is adapted to releasably engage the projections (17) extending from the base portion (11) to latch the cover (10) thereto. As the latch plate (19) is swung to and from the latched and unlatched position, the hinge (33, 34) swings over center with respect to the plane of the upper and lower pivot points.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.