US-12624580-B1 - Container latching and locking assemblies

Abstract

Container latching and locking assemblies may include a latch unit configured for attachment to a container lid of a container. A latch element may be provided in the latch unit. A lock unit may be configured for attachment to a container base of the container. A latch and lock device may be provided in the lock unit. The latch and lock device may be selectively configurable in a latching position in which the latch and lock device engages the latch element to latch and lock the container lid in a closed container position on the container base and an unlatching position in which the latch and lock device disengages the latch element to unlock and unlatch the container lid for opening of the container lid to an open container position on the container base.

Inventors

• Wayne Knapp

Assignees

• Wayne Knapp

Dates

Publication Date

20260512

Application Date

20240112

Claims (20)

1. 1 . A container latching and locking assembly suitable for mounting on a container having a container base, a container handle on the container base and a container lid selectively closeable and openable on the container base, the container latching and locking assembly comprising: a latch unit comprising: a latch unit body configured for attachment to the container lid of the container; a latch cavity in the latch unit body; and a latch element in the latch cavity; and a lock unit comprising: a lock unit housing configured for attachment to the container base of the container, the lock unit housing configured to engage the container handle on the container base; a housing interior in the lock unit housing; and a hasp slot in the lock unit housing and communicating with the housing interior, the hasp slot normally disposed in registration or alignment with the latch cavity in the latch unit body of the latch unit; a latch and lock device in the housing interior, the latch and lock device comprising a lock hasp extending from the housing interior through the hasp slot and normally terminating in the latch cavity, the latch and lock device selectively configurable in a latching position wherein the lock hasp engages the latch element and an unlatching position wherein the lock hasp disengages the latch element; at least one latch unit fastener configured to attach the latch unit body of the latch unit to the container lid of the container; at least one lock unit fastener configured to attach the lock unit housing of the lock unit to the container base of the container; and wherein at least one of the at least one latch unit fastener and the at least one lock unit fastener comprises at least one bolt, at least one bracket, interfacing slide flanges, at least one rivet or any combination thereof.
2. 2 . The container latching and locking assembly of claim 1 further comprising a handle channel in the lock unit housing of the lock unit, the handle channel sized and configured to receive and accommodate the container handle.
3. 3 . The container latching and locking assembly of claim 1 wherein the latch unit body of the latch unit comprises a lower body surface adjacent to the lock unit housing of the lock unit, an upper body surface opposite the lower body surface, a front body surface configured to be oriented away from the container lid of the container and a rear body surface configured to be oriented toward the container lid of the container, and wherein the latch cavity is formed in and opens to the lower body surface and the rear body surface.
4. 4 . The container latching and locking assembly of claim 3 wherein the latch cavity comprises a front cavity surface recessed from and parallel to the rear body surface of the latch unit body, and wherein the latch element extends from the front cavity surface.
5. 5 . The container latching and locking assembly of claim 1 wherein the latch and lock device comprises: a cam lock shaft engaging the lock hasp, the cam lock shaft deployable in the latching position and the unlatching position; a lock actuator engaging the cam lock shaft, the lock actuator configured to lock the cam lock shaft in the latching position in a locked configuration and unlock the cam lock shaft in an unlocked configuration of the lock actuator; and a lock actuator interface interfacing with the lock actuator, the lock actuator interface configured to facilitate selective release of the lock actuator from the locked configuration to the unlocked configuration.
6. 6 . The container latching and locking assembly of claim 5 wherein the lock actuator comprises a lock actuator knob engaging the cam lock shaft for selective rotation of the cam lock shaft between the latching position and the unlatching position in the unlocked configuration of the lock actuator.
7. 7 . The container latching and locking assembly of claim 5 wherein the lock actuator interface comprises at least one biometric lock actuator interface.
8. 8 . The container latching and locking assembly of claim 7 wherein the at least one biometric lock actuator interface comprises at least one of the following: a facial image scan interface, a fingerprint scan interface and an iris scan interface.
9. 9 . A container latching and locking assembly suitable for mounting on a container having a container base, a container handle on the container base and a container lid selectively closeable and openable on the container base, the container latching and locking assembly comprising: a latch unit comprising: a latch unit body configured for attachment to the container lid of the container; a latch cavity in the latch unit body; and a latch element in the latch cavity; a lock unit comprising: a lock unit housing configured for attachment to the container base of the container, the lock unit housing comprising: a lower housing portion; an upper housing portion opposite the lower housing portion, the upper housing portion normally adjacent to the latch unit body of the latch unit; a rear housing portion and a front housing portion spaced-apart to each other and extending from the lower housing portion to the upper housing portion, the rear housing portion configured to be oriented toward the container base and the front housing portion configured to be oriented away from the container base of the container; a pair of spaced-apart side housing portions extending from the lower housing portion to the upper housing portion between the rear housing portion and the front housing portion; a rear housing surface on the rear housing portion; a handle channel in the rear housing surface, the handle channel sized and configured to receive and accommodate the container handle on the container base of the container; a housing interior in the lock unit housing; and a hasp slot in the upper housing portion, the hasp slot communicating with the housing interior and normally disposed in registration or alignment with the latch cavity in the latch unit body of the latch unit; a latch and lock device in the housing interior, the latch and lock device comprising a lock hasp extending from the housing interior through the hasp slot and terminating in the latch cavity, the latch and lock device selectively configurable in a latching position wherein the lock hasp engages the latch element and an unlatching position wherein the lock hasp disengages the latch element; at least one latch unit fastener configured to attach the latch unit body of the latch unit to the container lid of the container; at least one lock unit fastener configured to attach the lock unit housing of the lock unit to the container base of the container; and wherein at least one of the at least one latch unit fastener and the at least one lock unit fastener comprises at least one bolt, at least one bracket, interfacing slide flanges, at least one rivet or any combination thereof.
10. 10 . The container latching and locking assembly of claim 9 wherein the handle channel comprises a pair of handle channel ends opening at the pair of spaced-apart side housing portions, respectively, of the lock unit housing of the lock unit.
11. 11 . The container latching and locking assembly of claim 9 wherein the latch unit body of the latch unit comprises a lower body surface normally adjacent to the lock unit housing of the lock unit, an upper body surface opposite the lower body surface, a front body surface configured to be oriented away from the container lid of the container and a rear body surface configured to be oriented toward the container lid of the container, and wherein the latch cavity is formed in and opens to the lower body surface and the rear body surface.
12. 12 . The container latching and locking assembly of claim 11 wherein the latch cavity comprises a front cavity surface recessed from and parallel to the rear body surface of the latch unit body, and wherein the latch element extends from the front cavity surface.
13. 13 . The container latching and locking assembly of claim 9 wherein the latch and lock device comprises: a cam lock shaft engaging the lock hasp, the cam lock shaft deployable in the latching position and the unlatching position; a lock actuator engaging the cam lock shaft, the lock actuator configured to lock the cam lock shaft in the latching position in a locked configuration and unlock the cam lock shaft in an unlocked configuration of the lock actuator; and a lock actuator interface interfacing with the lock actuator, the lock actuator interface configured to facilitate selective release of the lock actuator from the locked configuration to the unlocked configuration.
14. 14 . The container latching and locking assembly of claim 13 wherein the lock actuator comprises a lock actuator knob engaging the cam lock shaft for selective rotation of the cam lock shaft between the latching position and the unlatching position in the unlocked configuration of the lock actuator.
15. 15 . The container latching and locking assembly of claim 13 wherein the lock actuator interface comprises at least one biometric lock actuator interface.
16. 16 . The container latching and locking assembly of claim 15 wherein the at least one biometric lock actuator interface comprises at least one of the following: a facial image scan interface, a fingerprint scan interface and an iris scan interface.
17. 17 . A container latching and locking assembly suitable for mounting on a container having a container base, a container handle on the container base and a container lid selectively closeable and openable on the container base, the container latching and locking assembly comprising: a latch unit comprising: a latch unit body configured for attachment to the container lid of the container, the latch unit body comprising: a lower body surface; an upper body surface opposite the lower body surface; a front body surface configured to be oriented away from the container lid of the container; a rear body surface configured to be oriented toward the container lid of the container; a latch cavity formed in and opening to the lower body surface and the rear body surface; and a latch element in the latch cavity; a lock unit comprising: a lock unit housing configured for attachment to the container base of the container, the lock unit housing comprising: a lower housing portion; an upper housing portion opposite the lower housing portion, the upper housing portion normally adjacent to the latch unit body of the latch unit; a rear housing portion and a front housing portion spaced-apart and parallel to each other and extending from the lower housing portion to the upper housing portion, the rear housing portion configured to be oriented toward the container base and the front housing portion configured to be oriented away from the container base of the container; a pair of spaced-apart side housing portions extending from the lower housing portion to the upper housing portion between the rear housing portion and the front housing portion; a rear housing surface on the rear housing portion; a handle channel in the rear housing surface, the handle channel sized and configured to receive and accommodate the container handle on the container base of the container, the handle channel having a pair of handle channel ends opening at the pair of spaced-apart side housing portions, respectively, of the lock unit housing of the lock unit; a housing interior in the lock unit housing; and a hasp slot in the upper housing portion, the hasp slot communicating with the housing interior and normally disposed in registration or alignment with the latch cavity in the latch unit body of the latch unit; and a latch and lock device in the housing interior of the lock unit housing, the latch and lock device comprising: a lock hasp extending from the housing interior through the hasp slot and terminating in the latch cavity, the latch and lock device selectively configurable in a latching position wherein the lock hasp engages the latch element and an unlatching position wherein the lock hasp disengages the latch element; a cam lock shaft engaging the lock hasp, the cam lock shaft deployable in the latching position and the unlatching position; a lock actuator engaging the cam lock shaft, the lock actuator configured to lock the cam lock shaft in the latching position in a locked configuration and unlock the cam lock shaft in an unlocked configuration of the lock actuator; a biometric lock actuator interface interfacing with the lock actuator, the biometric lock actuator interface configured to facilitate selective release and unlocking of the lock actuator; and the lock actuator comprising a lock actuator knob on the front housing portion of the lock unit housing, the lock actuator knob engaging the cam lock shaft for selective rotation of the cam lock shaft between the latching position and the unlatching position in the unlocked configuration of the lock actuator, the biometric lock actuator interface comprising a fingerprint scan interface having a fingerprint sensor on the lock actuator knob; at least one latch unit fastener configured to attach the latch unit body of the latch unit to the container lid of the container; at least one lock unit fastener configured to attach the lock unit housing of the lock unit to the container base of the container; and wherein at least one of the at least one latch unit fastener and the at least one lock unit fastener comprises at least one bolt, at least one bracket, interfacing slide flanges, at least one rivet or any combination thereof.
18. 18 . The container latching and locking assembly of claim 17 wherein the latch cavity comprises a front cavity surface recessed from and parallel to the rear body surface of the latch unit body, and wherein the latch element extends from the front cavity surface.
19. 19 . The container latching and locking assembly of claim 17 wherein the at least one latch unit fastener comprises the at least one bolt, at least one bracket, interfacing slide flanges, at least one rivet or any combination thereof.
20. 20 . The container latching and locking assembly of claim 17 wherein the at least one lock unit fastener comprises the at least one bolt, at least one bracket, interfacing slide flanges, at least one rivet or any combination thereof.

Description

FIELD Illustrative embodiments of the disclosure generally relate to coolers and other containers having a container base and a container lid on the container base. More particularly, illustrative embodiments of the disclosure relate to container latching and locking assemblies which can be fitted onto a cooler or other container to latch and lock the container lid on the container base of the container. SUMMARY Illustrative embodiments of the disclosure are generally directed to container latching and locking assemblies suitable for mounting on a container having a container base, a container handle on the container base and a container lid selectively closeable and openable on the container base. An illustrative embodiment of the container latching and locking assemblies may include a latch unit. The latch unit may include a latch unit body configured for attachment to the container lid of the container. A latch cavity may be provided in the latch unit body. A latch element may be provided in the latch cavity. A lock unit may include a lock unit housing configured for attachment to the container base of the container. The lock unit housing of the lock unit may be configured to engage the container handle on the container base. The lock unit housing may have a housing interior. A hasp slot in the lock unit housing may communicate with the housing interior. The hasp slot may normally be disposed in registration or alignment with the latch cavity in the latch unit body of the latch unit. A latch and lock device may be provided in the housing interior. The latch and lock device may include a lock hasp extending from the housing interior through the hasp slot and normally terminating in the latch cavity in the latch unit body of the latch unit. The latch and lock device may be selectively configurable in a latching position in which the lock hasp engages the latch element to latch and lock the container lid in a closed container position on the container base and an unlatching position in which the lock hasp disengages the latch element to unlock and unlatch the container lid for opening of the container lid to an open container position on the container base. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Illustrative embodiments of the disclosure will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of an illustrative embodiment of the container latching and locking assemblies, deployed in place on a container and latching and locking a container lid in a closed container position on a container base of the container in typical application of the assemblies; FIG. 2 is a front view of the illustrative container latching and locking assembly deployed on the container illustrated in FIG. 1; FIG. 3 is a left side view of the illustrative latching and locking assembly on the container; FIG. 4 is an enlarged sectioned bottom view of a front portion of a container lid rim on the container lid of the container, with a typical latch unit of the container latching and locking assemblies shown in bottom view and mounted on the container lid rim; FIG. 5 is a top view of a front portion of a container base rim on the container base of the container, with a typical lock unit of the container latching and locking assemblies shown in top view and mounted on the container lid rim; FIG. 6 is an enlarged front view of the lock unit and the latch unit of the illustrative assembly mounted to the container base and the container lid, respectively, of the container, with the container lid in the closed container position on the container base and the latch unit latched and locked to the lock unit; FIG. 7 is a sectional view, taken along section lines 7-7 in FIG. 3, of the latch unit latched and locked to the lock unit of the illustrative container latching and locking assembly; FIG. 8 is an enlarged front view of the latch unit unlocked and unlatched from the lock unit of the assembly and the container lid slightly opened on the container base of the container, with the lock knob and the lock hasp of the latch and lock device rotated to a latching position; FIG. 9 is an enlarged front view of the latch unit and the lock unit as illustrated in FIG. 8, with the lock knob and the lock hasp of the latch and lock device rotated to an unlatching position; FIG. 10 is a sectional view, taken along section lines 10-10 in FIG. 6, with the container lid closed on the container base of the container and the latch unit latched and locked to the lock unit of the container latching and locking assembly; FIG. 11 is a sectional view, taken along section lines 11-11 in FIG. 8, with the latch unit unlocked and unlatched from the lock unit and the container lid opened on the container base of the container; FIG. 12 is an exploded view of the sectional view of the container latching and locking assembly taken along section lines 10-10 in FIG. 6, more particularly illustrating a typical f