Patent ID: 7399009

Claim:
A latch for releasably securing a first closure member to a second closure member in a latched position, the latch comprising: a housing adapted for being received in an aperture formed in the first closure member, said housing having a front surface, a top surface, and a bottom surface, wherein said front surface extends from said bottom surface towards said top surface; a handle pivotally attached to said housing and being moveable between an open and a closed position, said handle having an actuator; a pawl slidably supported by said housing so as to be movable from a latched position projecting from said front surface to an unlatched position upon pivoting of said handle to the open position by engagement of said actuator with said pawl; pawl biasing means for biasing said pawl toward the latched position; a locking arm pivotally supported by said housing, said locking arm maintaining said pawl in a retracted position in which said pawl is prevented from moving when said locking arm is engaging said pawl, said locking arm having a portion that forms a projection, said locking arm being pivotally movable between a position in which said locking arm is engaging said pawl and a position in which said locking arm is disengaged from said pawl, said projection projecting outward from said bottom surface of said housing when said locking arm is engaging said pawl such that said locking arm is disengaged from said pawl upon contact of said projection with the second closure member to thereby permit sliding movement of said pawl to the latched position; and locking arm biasing means for biasing said locking arm toward the position in which said locking arm is engaging said pawl.