US Patent 7021680 Latch mechanism for hooded litter pan

A latch operable between a locked position and an unlocked position for securing a hood to a litter pan includes a rim adapted to be disposed on the hood. The hood rim includes a top wall and a sidewall. The top wall includes an aperture and the sidewall includes a rib. A rim is disposed on the pan and includes a top wall and a sidewall. The top wall includes a rib for insertion into the hood rim top wall aperture. When the latch secures the hood and pan in the locked position, the hood rim is disposed adjacent the pan rim such that the pan rim rib is disposed in the hood rim aperture and the hood rim rib engages the pan rim sidewall to prevent separation of the hood and pan.