Help how do i make an old 'pirates chest' safe?

[yumyummymummy]

I bought on e-bay a really old lovely chest that will be a fantastic help with my mission to make the living room toy free (ie out of sight) but the original thingys on each side which stopp the lid from shutting quickly have gone. It is therefore really dangerous as its a bit like a guillotine. This is quite difficult to describe but if you are with me so far can you think of how i can make it secure i am thinking something like nailing in a piece of thick elastic but i as with DH am not too hot on the DIY improvisation front.

You can buy things to stop lids shutting quickly in DIY stores - like a slow release hinge-thing. I used to wedge a V-shaped piece of foam in the toy box - so it couldn't drop on anyone's fingers - you can take it out at night when you want to shut the box.