Patent ID: 7134699
Filing Date: 2006-11-14
Classification: E05B,Y10T

Abstract:
1. A rotary latch assembly comprising: a. a housing with a spindle opening; b. a handle with a spindle engagement means and a lock tab engaging means, the handle being rotatably mounted to the housing with the spindle engagement means aligned with the housing spindle opening; c. a bolt rotatably mounted to the handle for movement between an extended position and a retracted position; d. a lock plate including a lock tab and a spindle opening defining a spindle locking feature and a spindle release feature, the lock plate being mounted to the housing for movement between a locked position with the locking feature aligned with the housing spindle opening, and an unlocked position with the release feature aligned with the housing spindle opening; and e. bias means for engaging engagement edges of the lock plate, thereby securing the lock plate in its locked or unlocked position, wherein the bias means includes at least one ball guide supporting a ball spring and ball, positioned such that the ball engages the engagement edges of the lock plate to fix the position of the lock plate when in its locked or unlocked positions.