Patent ID: 8562040

Claim:
A locking device for receiving a latch having a locked and unlocked position, said device comprising: (a) a housing configured for receiving said latch therein; (b) a keeper having a receiving slot for releasably engaging said latch, said keeper further including an engagement feature; (c) a releasing lever rotationally disposed about an axis, said releasing lever including an arc shaped surface that is concentric to the rotational axis of said releasing lever; and (d) an actuator coupled to the releasing lever, said actuator configured for selectively permitting rotation of said keeper to the unlocked position, wherein said engagement feature engages said arc shaped surface in the locked position, wherein engagement of said engagement feature and said arc shaped surface inhibits said keeper upon receipt of said latch in said receiving slot thereby establishing the locked position, and wherein said arc shaped surface is configured for enabling said locking device to assume the unlocked position by an activation of said actuator when a pre-release load is applied to said keeper by said latch.