Life preserver storage container

Claim 1

A storage container for life preservers, comprising: a. a body portion having a bottom portion, a rear wall, at least two side walls and a front wall, said rear wall, front wall and side walls extending upwardly from said bottom portion, providing said body portion with an open top and defining a storage chamber interior of said walls; b. a top portion hingedly connected along the upper edge of said rear wall for closing said opening and movable between a first opened position and a second closed position; c. means connected to said rear wall and said top portion for normally urging said top portion to said first position, said means further comprising: i. a lifting spring assembly rigidly attached to said rear wall; and ii. a lifting arm attached to said top portion and in engagement with said lifting spring assembly, said lifting arm normally urging said top portion to said first position in response to pressure from said lifting spring assembly; d. means for latching said top portion in said second position, said means further comprising: i. a latch member positioned adjacent said front wall and movable between a first latching position and a second releasing position; ii. a closing latch positioned on said top portion and adapted to releasably receive said latch member and retain said top portion in said second position when said latch member is in said first position; iii. a spring in engagement with said latch member and said front wall normally urging said latch member toward said first position; e. means operable by hand and foot for disengaging said latching means and allowing said top portion to move to said opened first position, said means comprising: i. a foot operable actuator attached to the lower portion of said latch member and extending exterior of said body portion, said actuator causing said latch member to move to said second position and disengage from said closing latch in response to pressure upon said actuator, allowing movement of said top portion from said second position to said first position; and ii. a hand operable actuator attached near the upper portion of said latch member and extending exterior of said body portion, said actuator causing said latch member to move to said second position in response to pressure upon said actuator in opposition to said spring. f. light means activated when said top portion moves to said first position for illumination of said storage chamber.