US 7,540,393 B2
Litter bin with pivotal lid and automatic latching mechanism
Michael P. Wong, Phoenix, Ariz. (US)
Assigned to Rehrig Pacific Company, Los Angeles, Calif. (US)
Filed on Sep. 27, 2004, as Appl. No. 10/952,157.
Prior Publication US 2006/0065657 A1, Mar. 30, 2006
Int. Cl. B65D 45/16 (2006.01); E05C 3/12 (2006.01)
U.S. Cl. 220—324  [220/908; 292/230; 292/304; 292/DIG. 4] 3 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A container and lid assembly comprising:
a container having a wall defining an upper opening to an interior of the container, the container including a first column portion extending upwardly from an upper edge of the wall;
a lid for selectively covering the upper opening, the lid including a second column portion extending downwardly toward the first column portion of the container;
a latch selectively connecting the lid to the container over the opening, the latch including a latch member and a latch receiver, the latch member being pivotably mounted in one of the first column portion and the second column portion, the latch receiver being mounted in the other of the first column portion and the second column portion, the latch member having a center of gravity spaced away from a pivot point of the latch member, the latch member having a catch portion movable between a first position and a second position upon pivoting of the latch member, the catch portion impeding movement of the lid away from the container when the catch portion is in the first position and permitting movement of the lid away from the container when the catch portion in the second position, wherein the latch is concealed in the first column portion and the second column portion.