Abstract:
The latch assembly includes a housing, a crank member disposed within the housing for limited rotational movement therein, a pawl, a crank pin, and an attachment pin. The latch assembly may further comprise an actuating member or system, such as a rod. The pawl is selectively movable between latched and unlatched positions in response to rotational movement of the crank member. The crank member is in operable engagement with the actuating member or system, whereby upon rotation of the actuating member, the crank member or pawl is pivoted and slid between latched and unlatched positions.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    This invention relates to the field of latching mechanisms, and more particularly to the field of latching assemblies. This latching assembly, in a particular embodiment, may be described as a remote latching assembly, as the term is used herein, is a latching assembly in which the latching action of the assembly occurs at a location remote from the latch actuator part of the assembly.  
           [0002]    Many types of remote latching mechanisms are known and used in the art. One of the most common types is the garage door mechanism located inside the garage door, wherein a centrally located latch actuator assembly, which usually consists of a handle protruding from the outside of the door and connected by an axle to the mechanism on the inside of the door, is connected in an offset fashion to one end of a pair of latching bars with each bar traversing the inside of the garage door horizontally and in opposite directions. The other end of each of the latching bars terminates just short of the inside edge of the respective sides of the garage door, where it is usually retained in a keeper, when the latching mechanism is in an open position.  
           [0003]    To latch the mechanism, the handle is rotated which causes the latching bars or rods to extend laterally into a detent or cutout provided on a frame which usually is located on the inside of the garage wall and next to each of the respective sides of the garage door.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0004]    The present invention is directed towards a latching assembly which provides a high degree of precision and security, whether used as a compression type remote latching mechanism or, alternatively, used as a non-compression type remote latching system. The remote latching assembly is particularly suited for use in securing closure members to a frame, such as cabinets or like structures.  
           [0005]    The latch assembly comprises a housing, a crank member disposed within the housing for limited rotational movement therein, a pawl, a crank pin, and an attachment pin. The latch assembly may further comprise an actuating member or system, such as a rod. The pawl is selectively movable between latched and unlatched positions in response to rotational movement of the crank member. The housing may be affixed to the inside of the door. The crank member is in operable engagement with the actuating member or system, whereby upon rotation of the actuating member, the crank member or pawl is pivoted and slid between latched and unlatched positions. The crank pin, forming the operative connection between the crank member and the pawl, helps to provide positive latching action.  
           [0006]    It is a feature of the present invention that the latch assembly is actuated through the rotation of the actuating member about its longitudinal axis.  
           [0007]    Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a latching assembly that can be used as either a compression or non-compression remote latching assembly.  
           [0008]    It is a further object of the present invention to provide a latching assembly having positive over-center latching action.  
           [0009]    It is yet another object of the invention to provide a latching assembly which is economical to manufacture and easy to install.  
           [0010]    It is a further object of this invention to provide a secure latching assembly which has an aesthetically pleasing appearance when viewed from the outside.  
           [0011]    These and other objects of the invention will become apparent to one skilled in the art upon a further reading of the specification, including the detailed description of the embodiments with reference to the drawings and the appended claims. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0012]    [0012]FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of a latch assembly in an unlatched position;  
         [0013]    [0013]FIG. 2 is a front perspective view of the latch assembly of FIG. 1, in a latched position;  
         [0014]    [0014]FIG. 3 is a rear environmental view of the latch assembly of FIG. 1, as applied to a first panel or the like, in the unlatched position;  
         [0015]    [0015]FIG. 4 is a rear environmental view of the latch assembly of FIG. 1, as applied to a first panel or the like, in the latched position;  
         [0016]    [0016]FIG. 5 is a front perspective view of a housing of the latch assembly of FIG. 1;  
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 6 is a side view of the housing of FIG. 5;  
         [0018]    [0018]FIG. 7 is a bottom view of the housing of FIG. 5;  
         [0019]    [0019]FIG. 8 is a rear view of the housing of FIG. 5;  
         [0020]    [0020]FIG. 9 is a top perspective view of a crank member of the latch assembly of FIG. 1;  
         [0021]    [0021]FIG. 10 is a side view of the crank member of FIG. 9;  
         [0022]    [0022]FIG. 11 is a bottom view of the crank member of FIG. 9;  
         [0023]    [0023]FIG. 12 is a rear view of the crank member of FIG. 9;  
         [0024]    [0024]FIG. 13 is a perspective view of a pawl of the latch assembly of FIG. 1;  
         [0025]    [0025]FIG. 14 is a side view of the pawl of FIG. 13;  
         [0026]    [0026]FIG. 15 is a bottom view of the pawl of FIG. 13;  
         [0027]    [0027]FIG. 16 is a rear view of the pawl of FIG. 13;  
         [0028]    [0028]FIG. 17 is a perspective view of a crank pin of the latch assembly of FIG. 1;  
         [0029]    [0029]FIG. 18 is a side view of the crank pin of FIG. 17;  
         [0030]    [0030]FIG. 19 is a rear view of the crank pin of FIG. 17;  
         [0031]    [0031]FIG. 20 is a bottom view of the crank pin of FIG. 17;  
         [0032]    [0032]FIG. 21 is a perspective view of a pawl pivot pin of the latch assembly of FIG. 1;  
         [0033]    [0033]FIG. 22 is a right side view of the pawl pivot pin of FIG. 21;  
         [0034]    [0034]FIG. 23 is a top view of the pawl pivot pin of FIG. 21;  
         [0035]    [0035]FIG. 24 is a left side view of the pawl pivot pin of FIG. 21;  
         [0036]    [0036]FIG. 25 is a front perspective view of a latch assembly of an alternate embodiment in an unlatched position;  
         [0037]    [0037]FIG. 26 is a front perspective view of the latch assembly of FIG. 25, in a latched position;  
         [0038]    [0038]FIG. 27 is a rear environmental view of the latch assembly of FIG. 25, as applied to a first panel or the like, in the unlatched position;  
         [0039]    [0039]FIG. 28 is a rear environmental view of the latch assembly of FIG. 25, as applied to a first panel or the like, in the latched position;  
         [0040]    [0040]FIG. 29 is a front perspective view of a housing of the latch assembly of FIG. 25;  
         [0041]    [0041]FIG. 30 is a side view of the housing of FIG. 29;  
         [0042]    [0042]FIG. 31 is a bottom view of the housing of FIG. 29;  
         [0043]    [0043]FIG. 32 is a rear view of the housing of FIG. 29;  
         [0044]    [0044]FIG. 33 is a top perspective view of a crank member of the latch assembly of FIG. 25;  
         [0045]    [0045]FIG. 34 is a side view of the crank member of FIG. 33;  
         [0046]    [0046]FIG. 35 is a bottom view of the crank member of FIG. 33;  
         [0047]    [0047]FIG. 36 is a rear view of the crank member of FIG. 33;  
         [0048]    [0048]FIG. 37 is a perspective view of a pawl of the latch assembly of FIG. 25;  
         [0049]    [0049]FIG. 38 is a side view of the pawl of FIG. 37;  
         [0050]    [0050]FIG. 39 is a bottom view of the pawl of FIG. 37;  
         [0051]    [0051]FIG. 40 is a rear view of the pawl of FIG. 37;  
         [0052]    [0052]FIG. 41 is a perspective view of a crank pin of the latch assembly of FIG. 25;  
         [0053]    [0053]FIG. 42 is a side view of the crank pin of FIG. 41;  
         [0054]    [0054]FIG. 43 is a front or rear view of the crank pin of FIG. 41;  
         [0055]    [0055]FIG. 44 is a top or bottom view of the crank pin of FIG. 41;  
         [0056]    [0056]FIG. 45 is a perspective view of a rivot of the latch assembly of FIG. 25;  
         [0057]    [0057]FIG. 46 is a right side view of the rivot of FIG. 45;  
         [0058]    [0058]FIG. 47 is a top view of the rivot of FIG. 45; and  
         [0059]    [0059]FIG. 48 is a left side view of the rivot of FIG. 45. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0060]    The present invention is a latch assembly  10  wherein latching and unlatching are controlled by rotational movement of a crank member  50  of the latch assembly  10 . Referring to FIGS.  1 - 24 , the latch assembly  10  comprises a housing  20 , the crank member  50 , a pawl  70 , a crank pin  90 , and a pawl pivot pin  100 . The latch assembly  10  may further comprise a means for actuating the crank member.  
         [0061]    The housing  20 , as illustrated in FIGS.  1 - 8 , has spaced-apart side walls  22 ,  23 , a front wall  24  extending between the side walls  22 ,  23 , an open rear end  26 , an open top  28 , and an open bottom  30 . Each side wall  22 ,  23 , preferably substantially parallel and opposite to one another, has a first aperture  32 ,  33  located about the upper portion of the front end  34  and adapted for receiving the pawl pivot pin  100 , and a second aperture  36 ,  37  located about the lower portion of the rear end  26  and adapted for receiving the means for actuating the crank member. The first aperture  32 ,  33  of each side wall  22 ,  23  serves as the pivot point for the pawl  70 . It is preferred that the front wall  24  is positioned about the lower and middle portions of the front end  34  of the housing  20  and that the top  28  is open so that a sufficient clearance is provided for the front end  76  of the pawl  70  to unobstructively pivot and rotate between the unlatched and latched positions. The front wall  24  provides increased structural integrity to the housing  20 . It is obvious to one in the art that any combination of the rear end  26 , top  28 , and bottom  30  of the housing  20 , can be partially or completely closed. The lower edges  38 ,  39  of the side walls  22 ,  23  turn outwardly to form mounting flanges  40 ,  41  whereby each mounting flange  40 ,  41  has a mounting aperture  42 ,  43  for facilitating mounting of the housing  20  to the inside surface  14  of the first panel, frame, or door  12  by screws or any other fastening means (not shown) known in the art. It is obvious to one in the art that the mounting apertures  42 ,  43  and fastening means can be reversibly positioned on the first panel, frame, or door  12  and mounting flanges  40 ,  41 , respectively, and that the mounting apertures  42 ,  43  and fastening means can be of any number and shape.  
         [0062]    The crank member  50 , as illustrated in FIGS.  9 - 12 , has spaced-apart bars  52 ,  53 , a cross-piece  54  extending between the bars  52 ,  53  at the bottom  56 , an open front end  58 , an open rear end  60 , and an open top  62 . Each bar  52 ,  53 , preferably substantially parallel and opposite to one another, of the crank member  50  has a first aperture  64 ,  65  located about the front portion of the bar  52 ,  53  and adapted for receiving the crank pin  90 , and a second aperture  66 ,  67  located about the rear portion of the bar  52 ,  53  and adapted for receiving the means for actuating the crank member. It is preferred that the second apertures  66 ,  67  of the bars  52 ,  53  of the crank member  50  are of hexagonal shape, but it is obvious to one in the art that the second apertures  66 ,  67  can be of any desired shaped. The cross-piece  54  provides increased structural integrity to the crank member  50 , and is preferably positioned about the middle portion of the bottom  56  of the crank member  50 . It is obvious to one in the art that any combination of the bottom  50 , front end  58 , rear end  60 , and top  62  of the crank member  50  can be partially or completely closed.  
         [0063]    The pawl  70 , as illustrated in FIGS.  1 - 4  and  13 - 16 , has spaced-apart bars  72 ,  73 , a front extension  74  extending between the bars  72 ,  73  at the front end  76 , an open rear end  78 , an open top  80 , and an open bottom  82 . Each bar  72 ,  73 , preferably substantially parallel and opposite to one another, of the pawl  70  has a first aperture  84 ,  85  located about the front portion and adapted for receiving the pawl pivot pin  100 , and a slotted aperture  86 ,  87  adapted for receiving a corresponding end of the crank pin  90 . Each slotted aperture  86 ,  87  extends from about the middle portion of the bar  72 ,  73  toward the rear portion of the bar  72 ,  73 , and allows the corresponding end of the crank pin  90  to move and slide translationally within the slotted aperture  86 ,  87  when the means for actuating the crank member actuates and rotates the crank member  50 . The front extension  74  provides increased structural integrity to the pawl  70 , and has a catch  88  extending downwardly from the bottom edge  75  of the front extension  74  such that the catch  88  helps to bring or grab the second panel, frame, or door  16  toward the first panel, frame, or door  12  when the pawl  70  is pivoted and rotated from the unlatched position to the latched position. The pawl  70  is self-locking, or over center. A result of this self-locking and security feature is that the latch assembly  10  remains in the latched position when an additional force, such as the force generated by a person trying to pry the first and second panels, frames, or doors  12 ,  16  apart, is applied to the pawl  70  via the second panel, frame, or door  16 . The latch assembly  10  cannot be placed in the unlatched position from the latched position without the crank member  50  being actuated by the means for actuating the crank member. It is preferred that each of the rear end  78 , top  80 , and bottom  82  of the pawl  70  is mostly or completely open so that a sufficient clearance is provided for the rear end  78  of the pawl  70  and front end  58  of the crank member  50  to unobstructively rotate between the unlatched and latched positions.  
         [0064]    The crank pin  90  has a first end  92 , a second end  94 , and a longitudinal body  96  extending between the first and second ends  92 ,  94 . The crank pin  90  is adapted for being secured to the crank member  50  such that the first end  92  of the crank pin  90  extends a predetermined distance perpendicularly away from the first aperture  64 ,  65  of one of the bars  52 ,  53  of the crank member  50 , the second end  94  of the crank pin  90  extends a predetermined distance perpendicularly away from the first aperture  64 ,  65  of the other bar  52 ,  53  of the crank member  50 , and the longitudinal body  96  of the crank pin  90  is positioned generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the crank member  50  and between the bars  52 ,  53  of the crank member  50 .  
         [0065]    The pawl pivot pin  100  has a head  102 , a free end  104 , and a longitudinal body  106  extending between the head  102  and free end  104 . The pawl pivot pin  100  is adapted for pivotally securing the pawl  70  with the housing  20  such that the head  102  is positioned proximate the first aperture  32 ,  33  of one of the side walls  22 ,  23 , the free end  104  of the pawl pivot pin  100  is positioned proximate the first aperture  32 ,  33  of the other side wall  22 ,  23 , and the longitudinal body  106  of the pawl pivot pin  100  is positioned generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the pawl  70  and between the bars  72 ,  73  of the pawl  70 . It is preferred that the diameter of the head  102  is greater than the diameter of the corresponding first aperture  32 ,  33  of one of the side walls  22 ,  23  so that the head  102  will pivotally secure the pawl  70  with the housing  20  at one of the two ends. The pawl  70  and housing  20  can be pivotally secured to one another by any means known in the art, such as spreading the free end  104  of the pawl pivot pin  100  in making the diameter of the spread free end  104  greater than the diameter of the corresponding first aperture  32 ,  33  of the other side wall  22 ,  23  so that the spread free end  104  will pivotally secure the pawl  70  with the housing  20  at the other end.  
         [0066]    The means for actuating the crank member, such as a rod  110 , is rotatably moveable about a longitudinal axis thereof. Some examples of the means for actuating the crank member are a rod  110 , a knob member, a rod connected to an actuating system having a handle adapted for rotatably moving the rod  110 , and any other actuating means known in the art. The means for actuating the crank member, such as a rod  110 , is adapted for being positioned through the second apertures  36 ,  37  of the side walls  22 ,  23  of the housing  20  and the corresponding second apertures  66 ,  67  of the bars  52 ,  53  of the crank member  50 . Since the second apertures  66 ,  67  of the bars  52 ,  53  of the crank member  50  are preferably of hexagonal shape, it is preferred that the rod  110 , knob member, and the like are also of hexagonal shape, but it is obvious to one in the art that the rod  110 , knob member, and the like can be of any desired shaped.  
         [0067]    It is preferred that each of the housing  20 , crank member  50 , pawl  70 , crank pin  90 , and pawl pivot pin  100  is made of one-piece construction and a material such as metal, metal alloy, or stainless steel.  
         [0068]    When assembled, as illustrated in FIGS.  1 - 4 , most of the elements or parts of the latch assembly  10  are positioned within or proximate the housing  20 . In the assembled unlatched position as shown in FIG. 3, the crank pin  90  is secured to the crank member  50  such that the first and second ends  92 ,  94  of the crank pin  90  are positioned within the corresponding slotted apertures  86 ,  87  of the bars  72 ,  73  of the pawl  70  about the rear end  78  of the pawl  70 . Also, the pawl  70  is pivotally secured to the side walls  22 ,  23  of the housing  20  by the pawl pivot pin  100  such that the pawl pivot pin  100  passes through the first apertures  84 ,  85  of the bars  72 ,  73  of the pawl  70  and the corresponding first apertures  32 ,  33  of the side walls  22 ,  23  of the housing  20 . Additionally, the crank member  50  and pawl  70  are in a generally perpendicular position to one another. Further, the rod  110  is positioned through the second apertures  36 ,  37  of the side walls  22 ,  23  of the housing  20  and the corresponding second apertures  66 ,  67  of the bars  52 ,  53  of the crank member  50 . After assembly, the latch assembly  10  can be mounted to the inside surface  14  of the first panel, frame, or door  12  via the mounting apertures  42 ,  43  of the mounting flanges  40 ,  41  of the housing  20  by screws or any other fastening means (not shown) known in the art.  
         [0069]    In use, the assembled and mounted latch assembly  10  can be placed in the unlatched and latched positions by the means for actuating the crank member. To place the assembled and mounted latch assembly  10  in the latched position from the unlatched position (as shown in FIG. 3), the rod  110  is actuated to rotate in the direction away from the front end  34  and toward the rear end  26  of the housing  20  so that the crank member  50  is caused to rotate in the same general direction as the direction of rotation of the rod  110 . The rotation of the crank member  50  causes the first and second ends  92 ,  94  of the crank pin  90  to move and slide upwardly within the slotted apertures  86 ,  87  of the bars  72 ,  73  of the pawl  70 . The upward moving and sliding of the ends  92 ,  94  of the crank pin  90  within the slotted apertures  86 ,  87  causes the front portion of the pawl  70  to pivot and rotate downwardly about the pivot point toward the first panel, frame, or door  12  when the ends  92 ,  94  of the crank pin  90  approach the front portion and make contact with the upper, inside edges of the slotted apertures  86 ,  87 . From that point, the latch assembly  10  can then be placed in the fully latched position (as shown in FIG. 4) by continuing the rotation of the rod  110  till the ends  92 ,  94  of the crank pin  90  reach the rear portion of the slotted apertures  86 ,  87  such that the longitudinal axis of the pawl  70  is generally parallel to the longitudinal axis of the first panel, frame, or door  12  and generally perpendicular to the axis of the crank member  50 .  
         [0070]    To place the assembled and mounted latch assembly  10  in the unlatched position from the latched position (as shown in FIG. 4), the rod  110  is actuated to rotate in the direction toward the front end  34  and away from the rear end  26  of the housing  20  so that the crank member  50  is caused to rotate in the same general direction as the direction of rotation of the rod  110 . The rotation of the crank member  50  causes the first and second ends  92 ,  94  of the crank pin  90  to move and slide, initially toward the front portion of the slotted apertures  86 ,  87  of the bars  72 ,  73  of the pawl  70  and then downwardly, within the slotted apertures  86 ,  87 . The downward moving and sliding of the ends  92 ,  94  of the crank pin  90  within the slotted apertures  86 ,  87  causes the front portion of the pawl  70  to pivot and rotate upwardly about the pivot point away from the first panel, frame, or door  12  when the ends  92 ,  94  of the crank pin  90  approach the front portion and make contact with the lower, inside edges of the slotted apertures  86 ,  87 . From that point, the latch assembly  10  can then be placed in the fully unlatched position (as shown in FIG. 3) by continuing the rotation of the rod  110  till the ends  92 ,  94  of the crank pin  90  reach the rear portion of the slotted apertures  86 ,  87  such that the longitudinal axis of the pawl  70  is generally perpendicular to both the longitudinal axes of the crank member  50  and first panel, frame, or door  12 . With the latch assembly  10  in the unlatched position and the pawl  70  in the fully open or unlatched position, the pawl  70  will be out of the way of the second panel, frame, or door  16  so that one of the panels, frames, or doors  12 ,  16  can be opened relative to the other panel, frame, or door  12 , 16 .  
         [0071]    Referring to FIGS.  25 - 48 , the second embodiment of the latch assembly  210  comprises a housing  220 , the crank member  250 , a pawl  270 , a crank pin  290 , and a rivet  300 . The latch assembly  210  may further comprise a means for actuating the crank member.  
         [0072]    The housing  220 , as illustrated in FIGS.  25 - 32 , has spaced-apart side walls  222 ,  223 , an open front end  224 , a rear wall  226  extending between the side walls  222 ,  223 , a top  228  having a cutout  229 , and an open bottom  230 . The cutout  229  provides clearance for the pawl  270  to unobstructively move between the unlatched and latched positions. Each side wall  222 ,  223 , preferably substantially parallel and opposite to one another, has a first aperture  232 ,  233  located about the upper portion of the front end  224  and adapted for receiving the rivet  300 , and a second aperture  236 ,  237  located about the lower portion of the front end  224  and adapted for receiving the means for actuating the crank member. It is preferred that the front end  224  is open so that a sufficient clearance is provided for the front end  276  of the pawl  270  to unobstructively move between the unlatched and latched positions. The rear wall  226  provides increased structural integrity to the housing  220 . It is obvious to one in the art that any combination of the rear end  226  and bottom  230  of the housing  220 , can be partially or completely closed. The lower edges  238 ,  239  of the side walls  222 ,  223  turn outwardly to form mounting flanges  240 ,  241  whereby each mounting flange  240 ,  241  has a mounting aperture  242 ,  243  for facilitating mounting of the housing  220  to the inside surface  14  of the first panel, frame, or door  12  by screws or any other fastening means (not shown) known in the art. It is obvious to one in the art that the mounting apertures  242 ,  243  and fastening means can be reversibly positioned on the first panel, frame, or door  12  and mounting flanges  240 ,  241 , respectively, and that the mounting apertures  242 ,  243  and fastening means can be of any number and shape.  
         [0073]    The crank member  250 , as illustrated in FIGS.  33 - 36 , has a pair of side walls  252 ,  253 , and a cutout  254  positioned between the side walls  252 ,  253  for engaging with the pawl  270  and crank pin  290  during assembly. Each side wall  252 ,  253 , preferably substantially parallel and opposite to one another, of the crank member  250  has a first aperture  264 ,  265  adapted for receiving the crank pin  290 , and a second aperture  266 ,  267  adapted for receiving the means for actuating the crank member. The first aperture  264 ,  265  of each side wall  252 ,  253  serves as the pivot point for the pawl  270 . It is preferred that the second apertures  266 ,  267  of the side walls  252 ,  253  of the crank member  250  are of hexagonal shape, but it is obvious to one in the art that the second apertures  266 ,  267  can be of any desired shaped.  
         [0074]    The pawl  270 , as illustrated in FIGS.  25 - 28  and  37 - 40 , has an elongated body  272 , a front end  276 , a cutout  277  at the front end  276  for engaging with the crank member  250  during assembly, a rear end  278 , a top  280 , a bottom  282 , a first aperture  284  located about the front, bottom portion of the pawl  270  and adapted for receiving the crank pin  290 , and a slotted aperture  286  extending from about the middle portion of the pawl  270  toward the top portion of the pawl  270  and adapted for receiving the rivet  300 . The slotted aperture  286  allows the pawl  270  to move and slide translationally when the means for actuating the crank member actuates and rotates the crank member  250 . The catch  288  extends forwardly from the front end  276  at the top portion of the pawl  270 , and helps to bring or grab the second panel, frame, or door  16  toward the first panel, frame, or door  12  when the pawl  270  is pivoted from the unlatched position to the latched position. The pawl  270  is self-locking, or over center. A result of this self-locking and security feature is that the latch assembly  210  remains in the latched position when an additional force, such as the force generated by a person trying to pry the first and second panels, frames, or doors  12 ,  16  apart, is applied to the pawl  270  via the second panel, frame, or door  16 . The latch assembly  210  cannot be placed in the unlatched position from the latched position without the crank member  250  being actuated by the means for actuating the crank member.  
         [0075]    The crank pin  290  has a first end  292 , a second end  294 , and a longitudinal body  296  extending between the first and second ends  292 ,  294 . The crank pin  290  is adapted for pivotally securing the pawl  270  to the crank member  250 .  
         [0076]    The rivet  300  has a head  302 , a free end  304 , and a longitudinal body  306  extending between the head  302  and free end  304 . The rivet  300  is adapted for securing the pawl  270  with the housing  220  such that the head  302  is positioned proximate the first aperture  232 ,  233  of one of the side walls  222 ,  223 , the free end  304  of the rivet  300  is positioned proximate the first aperture  232 ,  233  of the other side wall  222 ,  223 , and the longitudinal body  306  of the rivet  300  is positioned generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the pawl  270 . It is preferred that the diameter of the head  302  is greater than the diameter of the corresponding first aperture  232 ,  233  of one of the side walls  222 ,  223  so that the head  302  will secure the pawl  270  with the housing  220  at one of the two ends. The pawl  270  and housing  220  can be secured to one another by any means known in the art, such as spreading the free end  304  of the rivet  300  in making the diameter of the spread free end  304  greater than the diameter of the corresponding first aperture  232 ,  233  of the other side wall  222 ,  223  so that the spread free end  304  will secure the pawl  270  with the housing  220  at the other end. The rivet  300  is also adapted for allowing the pawl  270  to move and slide upwardly and downwardly, and forwardly and rearwardly, via the slotted aperture  286  of the pawl  270  when the crank member  250  is actuated.  
         [0077]    The means for actuating the crank member, such as a rod  110 , is rotatably moveable about a longitudinal axis thereof. Some examples of the means for actuating the crank member are a rod  110 , a knob member, a rod connected to an actuating system having a handle adapted for rotatably moving the rod  110 , and any other actuating means known in the art. The means for actuating the crank member, such as a rod  110 , is adapted for being positioned through the second apertures  236 ,  237  of the side walls  222 ,  223  of the housing  220  and the corresponding second apertures  266 ,  267  of the side walls  252 ,  253  of the crank member  250 . Since the second apertures  236 ,  237  of the side walls  222 ,  223  of the housing  220  are preferably of hexagonal shape, it is preferred that the rod  110 , knob member, and the like are also of hexagonal shape, but it is obvious to one in the art that the rod  110 , knob member, and the like can be of any desired shaped.  
         [0078]    It is preferred that each of the housing  220 , crank member  250 , pawl  270 , crank pin  290 , and rivet  300  is made of one-piece construction and a material such as metal, metal alloy, or stainless steel.  
         [0079]    When assembled, as illustrated in FIGS.  25 - 29 , most of the elements or parts of the latch assembly  210  are positioned within or proximate the housing  220 . In the assembled unlatched position as shown in FIG. 27, the crank pin  290  pivotally secures the pawl  270  to the crank member  250  such that the crank pin  290  are positioned within the first aperture of the pawl  270  and the corresponding apertures of the crank member  250 . The pawl  270  is secured to the side walls  222 ,  223  of the housing  220  by the rivet  300  such that the rivet  300  passes through the slotted aperture  286  of the pawl  270  and the corresponding first apertures  232 ,  233  of the side walls  222 ,  223  of the housing  220 . Further, the rod  110  is positioned through the second apertures  236 ,  237  of the side walls  222 ,  223  of the housing  220  and the corresponding second apertures  266 ,  267  of the side walls  252 ,  253  of the crank member  250 . After assembly, the latch assembly  210  can be mounted to the inside surface  14  of the first panel, frame, or door  12  via the mounting apertures  242 ,  243  of the mounting flanges  240 ,  241  of the housing  220  by screws or any other fastening means (not shown) known in the art.  
         [0080]    In use, the assembled and mounted latch assembly  210  can be placed in the unlatched and latched positions by the means for actuating the crank member. To place the assembled and mounted latch assembly  210  in the unlatched position from the latched position (as shown in FIG. 28), the rod  110  is actuated to rotate in the direction toward the front end  224  and away from the rear end  226  of the housing  220  so that the crank member  250  is caused to rotate in the same general direction as the direction of rotation of the rod  110 . The rotation of the crank member  250  then causes the pawl  270  to move and slide rearwardly and upwardly from the front end  224  and toward the rear wall  226  of the housing  220 . From that point, the latch assembly  210  can then be placed in the fully unlatched position (as shown in FIG. 27) by continuing the rotation of the rod  110  till the most bottom portion of the slotted aperture  286  makes contact with the rivet  300 . With the latch assembly  210  in the unlatched position and the pawl  270  in the fully open or unlatched position, the pawl  270  will be out of the way of the second panel, frame, or door  16  so that one of the panels, frames, or doors  12 , 16  can be opened relative to the other panel, frame, or door  12 , 16 .  
         [0081]    The above description and the views depicted in the FIGS. are for purposes of illustration only and are not intended to be, and should not be construed as, limitations on the invention. In particular and without limitation, terms such as front, rear, top, bottom, inside, etc. and derivatives thereof have been used for purposes of clarity in describing the invention only and it is to be understood that particular orientations will depend upon the use of the invention in a particular circumstance. Moreover, certain modifications or alternatives may suggest themselves to those skilled in the art upon reading of this specification, all of which are intended to be within the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined in the appended claims.