Patent ID: 7104744

Claim:
A latch assembly adapted for use with a vehicle tire carrier having a lock bracket with an aperture and a flexible member disposed in the aperture, the latch assembly comprising, in combination: a lock housing connected to the flexible member; a flexible member guide member adjacent to the lock housing; a lock arm adjacent to the flexible member guide member, the lock arm having one end, an other end, and a cam surface, the one end pivotally connected to the flexible member guide member, the lock arm being movable from an unlocked position to a locked position, wherein when the another end is moved toward the lock bracket, the cam surface engages the lock bracket to pivot the lock arm from an unlocked position to a locked position so that when the flexible member breaks, the lock arm engages the lock bracket, the lock arm further having a lower cam surface at the one end; and a stop member engaging the lower cam surface to bias the another end to an unlocked position.