Patent ID: 7874598

Claim:
A latch for engaging a strike, the latch comprising: a base; a fixed plate mounted to the base, the fixed plate comprising a central body defining: a first passage accessible from at least one end of the central body; first and second slots on lateral sides of the central body, the first and the second slots being opened to the first passage; and first and second notches formed over the first and the second slots, respectively; an integral latch head for engaging the strike, the latch head comprising first and second halves defining a second passage centrally located in the latch head, the first half comprising a first hook, the second half comprising a second hook; first and second springs that symmetrically spring load the first and the second halves of the latch head, respectively; a plunger having a first end slidably received in the first passage and a second end slidably received in the second passage, the plunger comprising first and second shoulders received in the first and the second slots, respectively; a third spring that spring loads the plunger; wherein the latch head is locked in a retracted position when the latch head slides toward the fixed plate and the first and the second hooks engage the first and the second notches, respectively; and wherein the latch head is released in an extended position when the plunger slides toward the fixed plate and the first and the second shoulders push against the first and the second hooks, respectively, to disengage them from the notches.