Patent attributes
A gravity-actuated latch mechanism is provided. The gravity-actuated latch mechanism may include a strike attached to a lid of a container and a latch body attached to an inside wall of the container. The latch body includes a housing and a catch accessible from outside of the housing, wherein the catch engages and disengages with the strike. The latch body includes a lever having a lever arm moveable between an engaged and disengaged position. The engaged position is engaged with the catch and the disengaged position is disengaged with the catch. The latch body also includes a latch actuation ball housed in an elongated passage within the housing. The lever arm of the lever extends into the elongate passage, allowing the latch actuation ball to apply force to the lever arm to move the lever from the engaged to the disengaged position in response to tipping the container for dumping.
