A latch mechanism for releasably securing a first member to a second member, the latch mechanism comprising a housing adapted for attachment to the first member, a handle, and a shaft wherein said shaft is moved rectilinearly and rotationally between latched and unlatched positions by the handle, said shaft having a portion with a non-circular cross section, the latch mechanism being characterized by further comprising: a rod actuator positioned on said shaft, said rod actuator moving rotationally in response to rotational movement of said shaft about said longitudinal axis of said shaft, said shaft being capable of being moved rectilinearly in the direction of said longitudinal axis of said shaft relative to said rod actuator, said rod actuator having a first hole to allow said shaft to extend through said rod actuator, said rod actuator having second and third holes (444, 446) positioned on either side of said shaft; an actuator hub; and an actuator hub housing provided at a fixed location relative to said housing, said actuator hub fitting inside said actuator hub housing and being rotationally supported therein, said actuator hub housing having openings on both sides such that said shaft extends through said actuator hub housing without interference from said actuator hub housing, said actuator hub having a center hole that registers with said first hole of said rod actuator and allows said shaft to extend through said actuator hub, said shaft being capable of being moved rectilinearly in the direction of its longitudinal axis relative to said actuator hub without interference from said actuator hub, said actuator hub engaging said rod actuator such that said actuator hub and said rod actuator rotate as a unit, wherein one or both of said center hole of said actuator hub and said first hole of said rod actuator is shaped to correspond to said non-circular cross section of said portion of said shaft such that said actuator hub and said rod actuator rotate with and in response to rotation of said shaft about said longitudinal axis of said shaft, while said shaft remains capable of being moved rectilinearly in said direction coincident with said longitudinal axis of said shaft relative to said actuator hub and said rod actuator without interference from either said actuator hub or said rod actuator. a rod actuator positioned on said shaft, said rod actuator moving rotationally in response to rotational movement of said shaft about said longitudinal axis of said shaft, said shaft being capable of being moved rectilinearly in the direction of said longitudinal axis of said shaft relative to said rod actuator, said rod actuator having a first hole to allow said shaft to extend through said rod actuator, said rod actuator having second and third holes (444, 446) positioned on either side of said shaft; an actuator hub; and an actuator hub housing provided at a fixed location relative to said housing, said actuator hub fitting inside said actuator hub housing and being rotationally supported therein, said actuator hub housing having openings on both sides such that said shaft extends through said actuator hub housing without interference from said actuator hub housing, said actuator hub having a center hole that registers with said first hole of said rod actuator and allows said shaft to extend through said actuator hub, said shaft being capable of being moved rectilinearly in the direction of its longitudinal axis relative to said actuator hub without interference from said actuator hub, said actuator hub engaging said rod actuator such that said actuator hub and said rod actuator rotate as a unit, wherein one or both of said center hole of said actuator hub and said first hole of said rod actuator is shaped to correspond to said non-circular cross section of said portion of said shaft such that said actuator hub and said rod actuator rotate with and in response to rotation of said shaft about said longitudinal axis of said shaft, while said shaft remains capable of being moved rectilinearly in said direction coincident with said longitudinal axis of said shaft relative to said actuator hub and said rod actuator without interference from either said actuator hub or said rod actuator.