Patent ID: 6116660
Filing Date: 2000-09-12
Classification: E05B,E05C,Y10T

Abstract:
A latch comprising:a housing generally elongate along a longitudinal axis defining an upper end, an outer surface, a lower end, and an opening at least within said lower end extending in a direction of said longitudinal axis of said housing in a direction of said upper end;a shaft substantially elongate and disposed within said opening of said housing, said shaft having a terminating end positioned outside of said opening of said housing;actuating means operatively associated with said shaft for rotation along an axis coincident with said longitudinal axis of said housing to move said shaft at least in a substantially axial direction relative to said longitudinal axis of said housing, said actuating means comprising means for translating rotation of said actuating means to substantial axial translation of said shaft;fastening means including a pawl attached with said terminating end of said shaft for movement at least in an axial direction between latched and unlatched positions corresponding with movement of said shaft, wherein said fastening means is at spaced separation from said lower end of said housing and said fastening means is closer to the lower end of the housing in the latched position than the unlatched position; andmeans for sealing said opening of said housing comprising a sealing member substantially of an elastomeric material and having an opening therethrough positioned on said terminating end of said shaft between said lower end of said housing and said fastening means, and with said sealing member being of a defined height and with said defined height being greater than said spaced separation between said fastening means and said lower end of said housing in said latched position, and said defined height of said sealing member being smaller than said spaced separation between said fastening means and said lower end of said housing in said unlatched position, wherein said sealing member is compressed by contact with the lower end of the housing and the fastening means when the pawl is in its latched position, said sealing member being uncompressed when the pawl is in its unlatched position.