Resilient detented lid latch
US4501378A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Nov 14, 1983 |
| Grant date | Feb 26, 1985 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Nov 14, 2003 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10T292/0953
- WIPO fieldHandling
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A latch unit for releasably securing a plastic lid to a tank-like container or for releasably securing another covering over the container. The container may be the tank of an electric vacuum cleaner. There are a plurality of the latch units spaced along the edge of the lid or covering and engageable with a bead around the open end of the tank. Each latch unit includes a cage at the edge of the lid or of the covering and includes a latch element molded of resilient plastic material. One end of the latch element protrudes from the cage and is hand engageable for moving the element between releasing and holding positions. The other end of the element is provided with a hook that engages a cage formation to form a pivot for the element. A normally bowed intermediate section of the element connects opposite ends of the element, and is stressed to provide a biasing force that holds the element mounted to the cage. This biasing force also provides detent forces required to maintain the latch element in the holding or releasing position to which it is operated. A detent at the intermediate section of the element engages an upstanding wall of the cage to hold the element in the releasing p…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.