Patent ID: 7766397

Claim:
A latch ( 200 ) adapted for securing a closure member ( 300 ) in a predetermined position, the closure member being provided with a striker ( 308 ), the latch comprising: a latch housing ( 202 ); a pawl ( 204 ); a trigger ( 206 ); and an electrically operated actuator assembly ( 208 ) capable of selectively moving said trigger ( 206 ) out of engagement with said pawl ( 204 ) and retracting said pawl inward relative to said housing ( 202 ), wherein the latch ( 200 ) is adapted for attachment to a second member such that the latch can be engaged by the striker ( 308 ) for securing the closure member ( 300 ) in the predetermined position relative to the second member, wherein said housing ( 202 ) has an opening that allows at least a portion of the striker ( 308 ) to enter said housing ( 202 ) for engagement by said pawl ( 204 ), and wherein the latch further comprises a support plate ( 215 ) supported for rectilinear movement relative to said housing ( 202 ), said opening is in the form of a slot ( 212 ) that passes through a first portion ( 211 ) of said housing ( 202 ), such that said slot ( 212 ) allows an unobstructed path for the striker ( 308 ) to engage said pawl ( 204 ) when said pawl is in an open configuration relative to said support plate ( 215 ), and said slot ( 212 ) is sized such that said housing ( 202 ) will not interfere with movement of the striker ( 308 ) relative to said housing ( 202 ) as said pawl ( 204 ) is moved from an open configuration to a closed configuration relative to said support plate ( 215 ) by contact with the striker ( 308 ) and as said pawl ( 204 ) is retracted inward relative to said housing ( 202 ) by said electrically operated actuator assembly ( 208 ).