<p>The first response that popped into my alleged mind was a <a href="https://rads.stackoverflow.com/amzn/click/com/B07DNJNDGV" rel="nofollow noreferrer" rel="nofollow noreferrer">push-to-open latch</a>. The link points to a Home Depot product, but there are many sources. Consider the concept of the lowly retractable ball-point pen. One push extends, the next, retracts.</p>
<p><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/m3tnq.png" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/m3tnq.png" alt="push to open latch" /></a>
image courtesy of linked site</p>
<p>The image shows a magnetic attractor to mate with a metal plate on the moving part. If your project has sufficient depth, a single latch could be placed in the center of the inner box or be integrated into the moving portion.</p>
<p>There are other designs of push-to-open latches and some may have a lower profile.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-04-06T09:31:49.610Z
2021-04-06T09:31:49.610Z
fred_dot_u
<p>Imagine an open topped rectangle box: it has a bottom and four walls. An interior box fits or nests inside that, and, when seated, is flush with the top.<br />
I want to find a latch/device so that I can push down on the top to disengage it and allow the nested box to rise up and reveal a compartment. Pushing it back down will of course relatch it.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-04-06T07:45:18.873Z
Hi Patrick, what have you tried so far? We can help with specific problems that you have a  hard time figuring out on your own, but this is very broad, and basically asking for a complete tutorial. Can you narrow your question down?
Joachim
<woodworking>
Push-to-open lid for box using a special latch?
Patrick 
# Push-to-open lid for box using a special latch?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2021-04-06)

Imagine an open topped rectangle box: it has a bottom and four walls. An interior box fits or nests inside that, and, when seated, is flush with the top.  
I want to find a latch/device so that I can push down on the top to disengage it and allow the nested box to rise up and reveal a compartment. Pushing it back down will of course relatch it.

**Tags:** woodworking

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: Hi username_0, what have you tried so far? We can help with specific problems that you have a  hard time figuring out on your own, but this is very broad, and basically asking for a complete tutorial. Can you narrow your question down?  

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## 1 answers

### Answer by username_2 on 2021-04-06. Score: 4

The first response that popped into my alleged mind was a [push-to-open latch](https://rads.stackoverflow.com/amzn/click/com/B07DNJNDGV). The link points to a Home Depot product, but there are many sources. Consider the concept of the lowly retractable ball-point pen. One push extends, the next, retracts.

[![push to open latch](https://i.sstatic.net/m3tnq.png)](https://i.sstatic.net/m3tnq.png)
image courtesy of linked site

The image shows a magnetic attractor to mate with a metal plate on the moving part. If your project has sufficient depth, a single latch could be placed in the center of the inner box or be integrated into the moving portion.

There are other designs of push-to-open latches and some may have a lower profile.


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