Patent ID: 7452010
Filing Date: 2008-11-18
Classification: E05B,E05C,Y10S,Y10T

Abstract:
1. A latch for use in connection with a boat hatch having a compression seal and a hatch jamb, the latch comprising: a housing, the housing having a well extending between opposite upper and lower ends, the well having a floor enclosing the lower end, the housing having a flange extending outward from the well upper end, the flange having a top surface and a bottom surface, the flange bottom surface being adapted for mounting against the boat hatch, the housing having a boss extending downward from a proximal end at the floor to a distal end, the boss having an outer periphery, the boss having a vertical central axis, the boss having a vertical bore aligned with the central axis and extending through the boss, the boss having a slot extending transversely through the boss and through the vertical bore; a pull shaft, the pull shaft extending between opposite upper and lower ends, the pull shaft having a longitudinal axis, the pull shaft having a first hole transversely therethrough adjacent the pull shaft upper end, the pull shaft having a second hole transversely therethrough below the first hole, the pull shaft being mounted in the vertical bore for rotational movement and sliding movement along the vertical central axis between an upper position and a lower position; stopping means for stopping the rotational movement of the pull shaft at a predetermined rotational position; a spring, the spring being mounted for downward bearing against the pull shaft and upward bearing against the housing, so as to bias the pull shaft downward with respect to the housing, the spring being disposed below the stopping means, so as to allow inspection, lubrication, and replacement of the spring without removing the pull shaft from the housing; a handle, the handle having a grasping portion, the handle having two ears extending outward from the grasping portion, the ears having collinear pivot holes transversely therethrough, the handle being pivotally mounted on the pull shaft with the ears straddling the pull shaft upper end and the pivot holes aligned with the pull shaft first hole for pivotal movement from a handle position projecting upward to a handle position lying within the well, the ears each having a cam lobe shape, so as to cause the pull shaft to slide axially in the vertical bore to the lower position as the handle is raised and to the upper position as the handle is lowered; a first pin received in the pivot holes and the pull shaft first hole, so as to pivotally mount the handle to the pull shaft upper end; a second pin received in the pull shaft second hole, the second pin projecting outward on only one side of the pull shaft; and a latch bar, the latch bar being mounted on the pull shaft lower end, the latch bar being adapted for engaging the hatch jamb; attaching means for attaching the latch bar on the pull shaft lower end; fastening means for fastening the latch to the boat hatch; a lock shaft extending between opposite upper and lower ends, the lock shaft being mounted for rotation in the housing floor with the lower end projecting below the housing floor; a hook extending between opposite proximal and distal ends, the hook proximal end being attached to the lock shaft lower end, the hook distal end having a finger projecting transversely outward therefrom, the finger being adapted for engagement with the second pin, the finger being of a predetermined thickness sufficient to maintain engagement with the second pin as the pull shaft slides between the upper position and the lower position; and a key having a handle for grasping, the key having a stem extending from the handle, the stem being configured to releasably engage the lock shaft upper end so as to transmit rotational motion from the key to the lock shaft; so that with the latch bar in an unlatched position, the handle will lie flush with the housing inside the well, and the handle will then be pivoted into an upright position, the cam lobe shaped ears and spring will cause the pull shaft to slide axially downward to the lower position, the handle will then be rotated one-half turn so that the latch bar engages the hatch jamb in a latched position, the handle will be pivoted downward so that the handle will lie flush with the housing inside the well, the cam lobes will cause the pull shaft to slide axially upward to the upper position and thereby raise the latch bar so as to increase the compression between the hatch and the seal for watertight closure; and so that, with the latch bar and pull shaft in the latched position, upon turning the key in a first direction, the lock shaft and hook will rotate in the first direction, the finger will move into juxtaposition with the second pin, enclosing the second pin between the finger and the boss slot, thereby preventing rotation of the pull shaft and unlatching of the latch bar, and upon turning the key in a second direction opposite to the first direction, the lock shaft and hook will rotate in the second direction, the finger will move away from the second pin, thereby allowing rotation of the pull shaft and unlatching of the latch bar.