Patent ID: 7320488
Filing Date: 2008-01-22
Classification: E05B,Y10S,Y10T

Abstract:
1. A latch assembly comprising: a housing; and a catch assembly on the housing and having first and second states, the catch assembly comprising a rotor that is movable selectively relative to the housing between first and second positions, the rotor having a mounting portion and a receiving portion and a thickness bounded by and between first and second substantially parallel reference planes, the receiving portion having a U-shaped opening between spaced first and second legs, the U-shaped opening configured to receive a strike element; and a strike plate having a strike surface with a portion that projects across the U-shaped opening in a space between the first and second reference planes in a manner so as to directly engage and thereby block a strike element in the U-shaped opening with the rotor in the first position and the catch assembly in the first state, the U-shaped opening bounded by an edge with a portion of the edge defined by the first leg against which a strike element within the U-shaped opening bears under a force tending to separate the latch assembly from the strike element, the portion of the edge having a first substantially straight length that extends to adjacent the strike surface portion with the rotor in the first position, the rotor in the second position with the catch assembly in the second state to allow a strike element in the U-shaped opening with the latch assembly in the first state to be separated from the latch assembly.