Claims
- 1. A latch for releasably securing a closure member in a closed position, the latch comprising:
a housing adapted for being received in an aperture formed in the closure member; a handle pivotally attached to said housing and movable between an open and a closed position; a pawl slideably supported by said housing so as to be movable between a latched and an unlatched position, said pawl being biased toward said latched position; and an actuator slideably supported by said housing and being engageable to said pawl and said handle, whereby pivotal movement of said handle to said open position causes said pawl to retract to said unlatched position.
- 2. The latch of claim 1, wherein said housing has a wall portion encircling a first side of a floor portion, wherein said wall has a front portion having an wall aperture there through, wherein said floor portion has a pair of cavities on either side of a plurality slots, said cavities and said slots abut said front portion of said wall.
- 3. The latch of claim 2, wherein said housing further comprises a receptacle abutting said wall aperture, wherein said receptacle is defined by said slots of said housing floor as a top boundary and a closed end as a bottom boundary said bottom end attached to said second side of said floor, wherein said pawl is slideably attached thereto.
- 4. The latch of claim 3, wherein said wall is surrounded by a flange on a top surface which contacts a closure panel in the installed position, wherein a pair of cylindrical sleeves extend downward from said flange for securing a closure panel to said housing, wherein said flange and said handle are flush in the closed position.
- 5. The latch of claim 4, wherein said handle has a pair of actuating arms which traverse said cavities in said housing floor,
- 6. The latch of claim 5, wherein said actuator has a pair of lateral legs which traverse said pair of said cavities in said housing floor and abut said actuating arms when installed wherein a plurality of fins are centrally located between said lateral legs.
- 7. The latch of claim 6, wherein at least one of said fins of said lateral legs comprise ridges for snap attachment to said pawl.
- 8. The latch of claim 7, wherein said pawl member has a plurality of slots centrally located which are traversed by said fins of said actuator, wherein at least one of said slots has a relief cut which corresponds the ridges on said fins for snap fit attachment of said actuator and said paw.
- 9. The latch of claim 8, wherein said pawl further comprises a spring guide attached to a rear end, wherein a first end of a biasing mean is impaled thereon, wherein a second end of said biasing means contacts a rear portion of said housing wall, whereby the pawl is biased during actuation of the latch.
- 10. The latch of claim 9, wherein said actuator arms of said handle drive rearward said lateral legs of said actuator means during actuation of the latch thereby retracting said pawl member disengaging a said latch from a frame.
- 11. The latch of claim 10, wherein said pawl can slide while engaged with said actuator means and said handle without disturbing said actuator means or said handle.
- 12. The latch of claim 11, wherein said pawl member has a front end having a flat top surface and a beveled bottom surface, wherein said beveled surface engage a frame and cam said pawl member to the retracted position thereby allowing slam-action engagement to a frame.
- 13. A latch for releasably securing a closure member in a closed position, the latch comprising:
a housing adapted for being received in an aperture formed in the closure member; a handle pivotally attached to said housing and movable between an open and a closed position; a pawl slideably supported by said housing so as to be movable between a latched and an unlatched position, said pawl being biased toward said latched position; and whereby pivotal movement of said handle to said open position causes said pawl to retract to said unlatched position.
- 14. The latch of claim 13, wherein said housing has a wall portion encircling a first side of a floor portion, wherein said wall has a front portion having an wall aperture there through, wherein said floor portion has a pair of cavities forming a plurality slots, said slots abut said front portion of said wall.
- 15. The latch of claim 14, wherein said housing further comprises a receptacle abutting said wall aperture, wherein said receptacle is defined by said slots of said housing floor as a top boundary and a closed end as a bottom boundary said bottom end attached to said second side of said floor, wherein said pawl is slideably attached thereto.
- 16. The latch of claim 15, wherein said wall is surrounded by a flange on a top surface which contacts a closure panel in the installed position, wherein a pair of cylindrical sleeves extend downward from said flange for securing a closure panel to said housing, wherein said flange and said handle are flush in the closed position.
- 17. The latch of claim 16, wherein said handle has a pair of actuating arms which traverse said cavities in said housing floor,
- 18. The latch of claim 17, wherein said pawl member has a plurality of slots centrally located which are traversed by said actuator arms of said handle.
- 19. The latch of claim 18, wherein said pawl further comprises a spring guide attached to a rear end, wherein a first end of a biasing mean is impaled thereon, wherein a second end of said biasing means contacts a rear portion of said housing wall, whereby the pawl is biased during actuation of the latch.
- 20. The latch of claim 19, wherein said actuator arms of said handle drive rearward during actuation of the latch thereby retracting said pawl member disengaging a said latch from a frame.
- 21. The latch of claim 20, wherein said pawl can slide while engaged with said said handle without disturbing said said handle.
- 22. The latch of claim 21, wherein said pawl member has a front end having a flat top surface and a beveled bottom surface, wherein said beveled surface engage a frame and cam said pawl member to the retracted position thereby allowing slam-action engagement to a frame.
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/251,021 filed Dec. 3, 2000 and U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/254,602 filed Dec. 9, 2000.
Provisional Applications (2)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
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60251021 |
Dec 2000 |
US |
|
60254602 |
Dec 2000 |
US |