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US 6,102,455 AGranted
Latch structure
AssigneeThe Plastic Forming Company, Inc.
InventorPeter T. Schurman
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A latch structure for a container having mating first and second portions and an improved container assembly, wherein said latch structure has improved strength characteristics. The side legs of the generally rectangular latch are canted so that the outer surface thereof falls away from the inner surface thereof.
Claims24
A container assembly, which comprises:
- mating first and second container portions;
- a one-piece, unitary latch member mounted on one of said container portions and having opposed mounting and latching bar portions and a pair of side leg portions extending between and interconnecting the mounting and latching bar portions to provide a latch member of generally rectangular configuration, wherein said bar portions form a central opening;
- means on said mounting bar for interlocking engagement with a first of said container portions;
- a locking tab extending from said latching bar for snap-fitted, releasable interlocking engagement with a second of said container portions;
- and
- wherein said side leg portions have outer surface portions spaced from said central opening and inner surface portions adjacent said central opening and defining said central opening, and wherein said side leg portions are canted so that said outer surface portions are angled away from said inner surface portions in a direction away from said central opening and towards said container when the latch is in the closed position and subtend acute angles with respect to said inner surfaces.
3 more elements
A latch member for a container having mating first and second portions, which comprises:
- a one-piece, unitary latch member having an inside face and an outside face and mounted on one of said container portions and having opposed mounting and latching bar portions and a pair of side leg portions extending between and interconnecting the mounting and latching bar portions to provide a latching member of generally rectangular configuration, wherein said bar portions form a central opening;
- means on said mounting bar for interlocking engagement with a first of said container portions;
- a locking tab extending from said latching bar for snap-fitted, releasable interlocking engagement with a second of said container portions;
- and
- wherein said side leg portions have outer surface portions spaced from said central opening and inner surface portions adjacent said central opening and defining said central opening, and wherein said side leg portions are canted so that said outer surface portions are angled away from said inner surface portions in a direction away from said central opening and towards said container when the latch is in the closed position and subtend acute angles with respect to said inner surfaces.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.