Container with locking system

Abstract

A container includes a receptacle having walls, a floor, and an open side. The container includes first and second doors. At least one first latch unit is operatively associated with the first door and is movable between a latched position and an unlatched position. At least one second latch unit is operatively associated with the second door and is movable between a latched position and an unlatched position. A locking system for moving the first and second latch units between the latched and the unlatched positions includes a locking member movable between a first position in which the locking member moves the first latch unit of the first door from the latched to the unlatched position and a second position in which the locking member moves the second latch unit of the second door from the latched to the unlatched position.

That which is claimed is: 
     
       1. A container, comprising:
 a receptacle having walls, a floor, and an open side; 
 first and second doors, each of the first and second doors being pivotally attached to a respective wall of the receptacle, each of the first and second doors being movable between an open position, in which a portion of the open side of the receptacle can be accessed, and a closed position, in which the first and second doors overlie the open side of the receptacle, 
 at least one first latch unit operatively associated with the first door that is movable between a latched position in which the first door is maintained in the closed position and an unlatched position in which the first door is movable between the open and the closed positions; 
 at least one second latch unit operatively associated with the second door that is movable between a latched position in which the second door is maintained in the closed position and an unlatched position in which the second door is movable between the open and the closed positions; and 
 a locking system coupled to the first and second latch units for moving the first and second latch units between the latched and the unlatched positions, the locking system comprising:
 a locking member movable between a first position in which the locking member moves the first latch unit of the first door from the latched to the unlatched position and a second position in which the locking member moves the second latch unit of the second door from the latched to the unlatched position. 
 
 
     
     
       2. The container of  claim 1 , wherein the second latch unit is configured to retain the second door in the latched position when the locking member is in the first position. 
     
     
       3. The container of  claim 1 , wherein the first latch unit comprises a retaining member mounted on one of the receptacle and the first door and an engagement member mounted on the other of the receptacle and the first door so that the retaining member retains the engagement member in the latched position and the retaining member releases the engagement member in the unlatched position. 
     
     
       4. The container of  claim 3 , wherein the locking member comprises an elongated member having one end that is configured to move the retaining member from the latched position to the unlatched position. 
     
     
       5. The container of  claim 4 , wherein the second latch unit comprises a first engagement member on a side of the elongated member configured to engage a second engagement member on the second door to retain the second door in the latched position. 
     
     
       6. The container of  claim 5 , wherein the second engagement member on the second door includes a slot configured to retain the first engagement member on the elongated member. 
     
     
       7. The container of  claim 6 , wherein the slot is tapered at an angle configured to bias the second door in a direction toward the container. 
     
     
       8. The container of  claim 1 , further comprising a biasing member configured to bias the locking member in a third position in which the locking member is disengaged from the first latch unit of the first door and the second latch unit is in the latched position. 
     
     
       9. The container of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a third door pivotally attached to one of the walls of the receptacle and movable between an open position, in which a portion of the open side of the receptacle can be accessed, and a closed position, in which the third door over lines the open side of the receptacle; and 
 at least one third latch unit operatively associated with the third door that is movable between a latched position in which the third door is maintained in the closed position in an unlatched position in which the third door is movable between the open and closed position; 
 wherein when the locking member is in the second position, the locking member moves the third latch unit of the third door from the latched to the unlatched position. 
 
     
     
       10. The container of  claim 1 , wherein the first door is positioned above the second door. 
     
     
       11. The container of  claim 1 , further comprising a handle member accessible from an exterior of the receptacle and configured to move the locking member between the first position and the second position. 
     
     
       12. The container of  claim 1 , further comprising a blocking member accessible from an exterior of the receptacle and configured to block movement of the locking member in a locked position and to permit movement of the locking member in an unlocked position. 
     
     
       13. The container of  claim 12 , wherein the blocking member is a padlock. 
     
     
       14. A container, comprising:
 a receptacle having walls, a floor, and an open side; 
 first, second and third doors pivotally attached a respective one of the walls of the receptacle, each of the first, second and third doors being movable between an open position, in which a portion of the open side of the receptacle can be accessed, and a closed position, in which the first, second and third doors overlie the open side of the receptacle; 
 at least one first latch unit operatively associated with the first door that is movable between a latched position in which the first door is maintained in the closed position and an unlatched position in which the first door is movable between the open and closed positions; 
 at least one second latch unit operatively associated with the second door that is movable between a latched position in which the second door is maintained in the closed position and an unlatched position in which the second door is movable between the open and closed positions; 
 at least one third latch unit operatively associated with the third door that is movable between a latched position in which the third door is maintained in the closed position and an unlatched position in which the third doors movable between the open and closed positions; 
 a locking system coupled to the first, second and third latch units for moving the first, second and third latch units between the latched and the unlatched position, the locking system comprising:
 a locking member movable between a first position in which the locking member moves the first latch unit of the first door from the latched to the unlatched position, a second position in which the locking member moves the second latch unit of the second door from the latched to the unlatched position and a third position in which the locking member moves the third latch unit from a latched to the unlatched position. 
 
 
     
     
       15. The container of  claim 14 , wherein the second and third latch units are configured to retain the second and third doors in the latched position when the locking member is in the first position. 
     
     
       16. The container of  claim 14 , wherein the first latch unit comprises a retaining member mounted on one of the receptacle and the first door and an engagement member mounted on the other of the receptacle and the first door so that the retaining member retains the engagement member in the latched position and the retaining member releases the engagement member in the unlatched position. 
     
     
       17. The container of  claim 16 , wherein the locking member comprises an elongated member having one end that is configured to move the retaining member from the latched position to the unlatched position. 
     
     
       18. The container of  claim 15 , wherein the locking member comprises an elongated member and the second latch unit comprises a first engagement member on a side of the elongate member, and the third latch unit comprises a second engagement member on the side of the elongate member, the first engagement member configured to engage a third engagement member on the second door to retain the second door in the latched position, and the second engagement member configured to engage a fourth engagement member on the third door to retain the third door in the latched position. 
     
     
       19. The container of  claim 18 , wherein the locking member is configured to retain the second latch unit in the latched position when the locking member is in the third position, in which the locking member moves the third latch unit from the latched to the unlatched position, and to retain the third latch unit in the latched position when the locking member is in the second position, in which the locking member moves the second latch unit from the latched to the unlatched position. 
     
     
       20. The container of  claim 18 , wherein the elongated member is configured to rotate between the second and third positions. 
     
     
       21. The container of  claim 20 , wherein the elongated member is configured to translate vertically to the first position. 
     
     
       22. The container of  claim 15 , further comprising a biasing member configured to bias the locking member in a fourth position in which the locking member is disengaged from the first latch unit of the first door and the second and third latch units are in the latched position. 
     
     
       23. The container of  claim 14 , further comprising a handle member accessible from an exterior of the receptacle and configured to move the locking member between the first position, the second position and the third position. 
     
     
       24. The container of  claim 14 , further comprising a blocking member accessible from an exterior of the receptacle and configured to block movement of the locking member in a locked position and to permit movement of the locking member in an unlocked position. 
     
     
       25. A container, comprising:
 a receptacle having walls, a floor, a ceiling and an open side; 
 a first door pivotally attached to the ceiling and second and third doors pivotally attached a respective one of the walls of the receptacle, each of the first, second and third doors being movable between an open position, in which a portion of the open side of the receptacle can be accessed, and a closed position in which the first, second and third doors overlie the open side of the receptacle; 
 at least one first latch unit operatively associated with the first door that is movable between a latched position in which the first door is maintained in the closed position and an unlatched position in which the first door is movable between the open and closed positions; 
 at least one second latch unit operatively associated with the second door that is movable between a latched position in which the second door is maintained in the closed position and an unlatched position in which the second door is movable between the open and closed positions; 
 at least one third latch unit operatively associated with the third door that is movable between a latched position in which the third door is maintained in the closed position and an unlatched position in which the third doors movable between the open and closed positions; 
 a locking system coupled to the first, second and third latch units for moving the first, second and third latch units between the latched and the unlatched position, the locking system comprising:
 a locking member movable between a first position in which the locking member moves the first latch unit of the first door from the latched to the unlatched position, a second position in which the locking member moves the second latch unit of the second door from the latched to the unlatched position and a third position in which the locking member moves the third latch unit from a latched to the unlatched position. 
 
 
     
     
       26. A container, comprising:
 a receptacle having walls, a floor, and a ceiling defining an interior, and at least one opening through which the interior is accessible;   first and second doors, each of the first and second doors being attached to a respective one of the walls, the floor and the ceiling of the receptacle, each of the first and second doors being movable between an open position, in which a portion of the interior of the receptacle can be accessed, and a closed position, in which the first and second doors overlie the at least one opening of the receptacle,   at least one first latch unit operatively associated with the first door that is movable between a latched position in which the first door is maintained in the closed position and an unlatched position in which the first door is movable between the open and the closed positions;   at least one second latch unit operatively associated with the second door that is movable between a latched position in which the second door is maintained in the closed position and an unlatched position in which the second door is movable between the open and the closed positions; and   a locking system coupled to the first and second latch units for moving the first and second latch units between the latched and the unlatched positions, the locking system comprising:
 a locking member movable between a first position in which the locking member moves the first latch unit of the first door from the latched to the unlatched position and a second position in which the locking member moves the second latch unit of the second door from the latched to the unlatched position. 
   
     
     
       27. The container of claim 26, wherein the at least one opening further comprises a first opening and a second opening and the first door overlies the first opening in the closed position and the second door overlies the second opening in the closed position. 
     
     
       28. The container of claim 26, wherein the first and second doors are pivotably attached to the receptacle. 
     
     
       29. The container of claim 28, wherein the first and second doors are attached to a first and a second of the walls of the receptacle. 
     
     
       30. The container of claim 27, further comprising a support bracket disposed between the first and second openings, wherein the locking system is mounted on the support bracket. 
     
     
       31. The container of claim 27, wherein the first door is attached to the ceiling and the second door is attached to a respective one of the walls. 
     
     
       32. The container of claim 1, wherein the second latch unit is configured to retain the second door in the latched position when the locking member is in the first position. 
     
     
       33. The container of claim 26, wherein the first latch unit comprises a retaining member mounted on one of the receptacle and the first door and an engagement member mounted on the other of the receptacle and the first door so that the retaining member retains the engagement member in the latched position and the retaining member releases the engagement member in the unlatched position. 
     
     
       34. The container of claim 33, wherein the locking member comprises an elongated member having one end that is configured to move the retaining member from the latched position to the unlatched position. 
     
     
       35. The container of claim 26, further comprising:
 a third door pivotally attached to one of the walls, the floor and the ceiling of the receptacle and movable between an open position, in which a portion of the interior of the receptacle can be accessed, and a closed position, in which the third door overlies the at least one opening of the receptacle; and   at least one third latch unit operatively associated with the third door that is movable between a latched position in which the third door is maintained in the closed position and an unlatched position in which the third door is movable between the open and closed position.   
     
     
       36. A container, comprising:
 a receptacle having walls, a floor, a ceiling and an open side;   first and second doors, each being attached to a respective one of the walls of the receptacle, each of the first and second doors being movable between an open position, in which a portion of the open side of the receptacle can be accessed, and a closed position, in which the first and second doors overlie the open side of the receptacle;   at least one first latch unit operatively associated with the first door that is movable between a latched position in which the first door is maintained in the closed position and an unlatched position in which the first door is movable between the open and closed positions;   at least one second latch unit operatively associated with the second door that is movable between a latched position in which the second door is maintained in the closed position and an unlatched position in which the second door is movable between the open and closed positions;   a locking system coupled to the first and second latch units for moving the first and second latch units between the latched and the unlatched position, the locking system comprising:
 a locking member movable between a first position in which the locking member moves the first latch unit of the first door from the latched to the unlatched position, and a second position in which the locking member moves the second latch unit of the second door from the latched to the unlatched position. 
   
     
     
       37. The container of claim 36, further comprising:
 a third door attached to a respective one of the walls and the ceiling of the receptacle; and   at least one third latch unit operatively associated with the third door that is movable between a latched position in which the third door is maintained in the closed position and an unlatched position in which the third doors movable between the open and closed positions;   wherein the locking member is movable to a third position in which the locking member moves the third latch unit from a latched to the unlatched position.   
     
     
       38. The container of claim 37, wherein the second and third latch units are configured to retain the second and third doors in the latched position when the locking member is in the first position. 
     
     
       39. The container of claim 36, wherein the open side further comprises a first opening and a second opening, and the first door overlies the first opening in the closed position and the second door overlies the second opening in the closed position. 
     
     
       40. The container of claim 39, wherein the first and second doors are pivotably attached to the receptacle. 
     
     
       41. The container of claim 39, further comprising a support bracket disposed between the first and the second openings, wherein the locking system is mounted on the support bracket. 
     
     
       42. The container of claim 37, wherein the open side further comprises a first, a second and a third opening, and the first door overlies the first opening in the closed position, the second door overlies the second opening in the closed position and the third door overlies the third opening in the closed position. 
     
     
       43. The container of claim 42, wherein the first, second and third openings are disposed on a single side of the receptacle and the first opening is disposed above the second and third openings.