Roto cam latch

Claim 1

A locking latch for a container having an interior, an exterior, a first part and a second part, said first part formed by a wall having an interior, an exterior and a catch mounted on the interior of said wall, and said second part formed by a container wall having an interior and an exterior, said locking latch mounted generally on the interior of said wall of said second part in a position to engage and draw the catch towards the locking latch when said first part and said second part of said container are joined, said locking latch comprising: a threaded shaft having a first end and a second end, and a longitudinal axis passing through said first end and said second end of the threaded shaft, said first end being supported by the wall of said second part of said container; a means for supporting said threaded shaft at the second end thereof; a means for rotating said threaded shaft movable from the exterior of said container; a threaded receiver mounted on said threaded shaft and adapted to travel on said threaded shaft toward said first end of said threaded shaft when said means for rotating is rotated in one direction, and toward said second end of said threaded shaft when said means for rotating is rotated in an opposite direction; a slidable bracket having a first end, a second end and a generally planar top surface, said first end of said slidable bracket attached to said threaded receiver, and said slidable bracket adapted to slidably move parallel to the longitudinal axis of said threaded shaft; a movable latch member attached to said second end of said slidable bracket, said movable latch member having a first and a second end, and a top surface and bottom surface, said first end of said movable latch member being formed to engage said catch such that said bottom surface of said first end contacts the catch, and said second end of said movable latch member being attached to said second end of said slidable bracket such that said first end of said movable latch member may be moved in the same direction as the slidable bracket and rotated up out of or down towards the planar top surface of said slidable bracket; a means for moving said movable latch member up out of the planar top surface of said slidable bracket; and, means mounted over said planar top surface of said slidable bracket between said first and second ends of said slidable bracket for guiding said bracket for movement parallel to the longitudinal axis of the threaded shaft and contacting said top surface of said movable latch member to force said movable latch member down into the planar top surface of said slidable bracket when said first end of said slidable bracket moves away from said barrier means.