Media storage container with storable latch
View Patent ↗A media storage container has a latch that is movable between latched, unlatched, and storage positions. The latch is disposed at the indented portion of the front wall of the container. A latch retaining device releasably secures the latch in the storage position. A portion of the latch retaining device is disposed inwardly of the front wall of the container.
1. A media storage container comprising:
a base having a bottom wall and a front wall; the front wall defining an indented portion;
a lid hinged to the base and movable between open and closed positions; the lid having a top wall and a front wall; the front wall defining an indented portion;
the base and lid defining an outer periphery of the container when the lid is in the closed position;
a latch connected to the base with a hinge; the latch being aligned with the indented portion of the front wall of the base;
the latch being movable between unlatched, latched, and storage positions;
in the latched position, the latch engaging the lid to prevent the lid from being moved to the open position;
in the unlatched position, the latch allowing the lid to move between the open and closed positions;
in the storage position, the latch being disposed inwardly of the outer periphery of the base and lid when the lid is closed; the lid being movable between the open and closed positions; and
a latch retainer associated with the base and the latch; the latch retainer cooperating with a releasable snap fit connection to retain the latch in the storage position.
2. The container of claim 1 , wherein the portion of the latch retainer associated with the base of the container is positioned inwardly of the front wall of the base.
3. The container of claim 2 , wherein the base includes a nest wall adapted to at least partially surround an item of recorded media carried by the base; the portion of the latch retainer associated with the base being disposed between a portion of the nest and the front wall of the base.
4. The container of claim 1 , wherein the latch retainer includes a pair of latch retaining arms projecting from the latch and a post projecting from the base; the retaining arms engaging the post in a releasable snap fit connection when the latch is moved to the storage position.
5. The container of claim 1 , wherein the base includes a hinge wall and a bottom wall;
the hinge wall being connected to the bottom wall with a first living hinge and the hinge wall is connected to the lid with a second living hinge; the first and second living hinges being parallel and spaced apart; the latch hinge being substantially parallel to the first and second living hinges.
6. The container of claim 1 , wherein the lid contacts a surface of the latch when the latch is in the storage position and the lid is in the closed position.
7. The container of claim 1 , wherein the lid and the latch include portions of a lid retainer that releasably retains the latch to the lid when the lid is in the closed position and the latch is in the latched position.
8. The container of claim 7 , wherein the lid retainer includes a latching finger extending from the latch that releasably snap fits with the lid.
9. The container of claim 1 , wherein the front wall of the base defines a gap that allows the latch to pivot through the front wall of the base from the unlatched position to the storage position while the lid is open.
10. The container of claim 1 , wherein the latch pivots between the three positions.
11. The container of claim 1 , wherein the latch may be removed from the container by tearing the latch from the container.
12. A media storage container comprising:
a base having a bottom wall and a front wall; the front wall defining an indented portion; the front wall defining a gap at the indented portion of the front wall;
a lid hinged to the base and movable between open and closed positions; the lid having a top wall and a front wall; the front wall defining an indented portion;
a latch connected to the base with a hinge; the latch being aligned with the gap defined by the front wall of the base;
the latch being movable between unlatched, latched, and storage positions;
in the latched position, the latch engaging the lid to prevent the lid from being moved to the open position;
in the unlatched position, the latch allowing the lid to move between the open and closed positions;
in the storage position, a portion of the latch being disposed across the indented portion of the front wall of the base and the lid being movable between the open and closed positions; and
a latch retainer associated with the base and the latch; the latch retainer cooperating with a releasable snap fit connection to retain the latch in the storage position.
13. The container of claim 12 , wherein the portion of the latch retainer associated with the base of the container is positioned inwardly of the front wall of the base.
14. The container of claim 13 , wherein the base includes a nest wall adapted to at least partially surround an item of recorded media carried by the base; the portion of the latch retainer associated with the base being disposed between a portion of the nest and the front wall of the base.
15. The container of claim 12 , wherein the latch retainer includes a pair of latch retaining arms projecting from the latch and a post projecting from the base; the retaining arms engaging the post in a releasable snap fit connection when the latch is moved to the storage position.
16. The container of claim 12 , wherein the base includes a hinge wall and a bottom wall; the hinge wall being connected to the bottom wall with a first living hinge and the hinge wall is connected to the lid with a second living hinge; the first and second living hinges being parallel and spaced apart; the latch hinge being substantially parallel to the first and second living hinges.
17. The container of claim 12 , wherein the lid contacts a surface of the latch when the latch is in the storage position and the lid is in the closed position.
18. The container of claim 12 , wherein the lid and the latch include portions of a lid retainer that releasably retains the latch to the lid when the lid is in the closed position and the latch is in the latched position.
19. The container of claim 18 , wherein the lid retainer includes a latching finger extending from the latch that releasably snap fits with the lid.
20. A media storage container comprising:
a base having a bottom wall and a front wall; the front wall defining an indented portion; the front wall defining a gap at the indented portion of the front wall;
a lid hinged to the base and movable between open and closed positions; the lid having a top wall and a front wall; the front wall defining an indented portion;
a latch connected to the base with a hinge; the latch being aligned with the gap defined by the front wall of the base;
the latch being movable between unlatched, latched, and storage positions;
in the latched position, the latch engaging the lid to prevent the lid from being moved to the open position;
in the unlatched position, the latch allowing the lid to move between the open and closed positions;
in the storage position, a portion of the latch being disposed across the indented portion of the front wall of the base and the lid being movable between the open and closed positions;
a latch retainer having portions associated with the base and the latch; the latch retainer portions cooperating with a releasable snap fit connection to retain the latch in the storage position;
the portion of the latch retainer associated with the base of the container is positioned inwardly of the front wall of the base; and
a lid retainer having portions associated with the lid and the latch; the lid retainer portions cooperating with a releasable snap fit connection to retain the latch in the latched position.