Patent ID: 8182000

Claim:
A latch mechanism for securing a storage compartment door within a vehicle, the storage compartment door having an aperture extending therethrough for mounting the latch mechanism, the latch mechanism comprising: a mounting bracket configured to be secured to the storage compartment door; a handle pivotably coupled to the mounting bracket, the handle pivoting between a latched position and an unlatched position, an undivided, one piece latching member that includes a main body portion, a first pliable leg portion, a second pliable leg portion, a first post portion, and a second post portion, the latching member configured to be retained on the storage compartment door, the latching member being in a relaxed position to engage strikers disposed within an interior panel of the vehicle when the handle is in the latched position and a flexed position allowing the opening of the storage compartment door when the handle is in the unlatched position, the first and second post members being in extended post positions when the latching member is in the relaxed position, and the first and second post members being in retracted post positions when the latching member is in the flexed position; wherein the handle includes at least one abutment member for displacing the main body portion of the latching member as the handle is pivoted from the latched position to the unlatched position, wherein the displacement of the main body portion causes the first pliable leg portion and the second pliable leg portion to resiliently retract, and wherein the retraction of the first pliable leg portion and the second pliable leg portion retracts the first post member and the second post member from the extended post positions to the retracted post positions.