Patent ID: 7044513

Claim:
A weather resistant latch handle assembly for installation in a compartment door for actuating a latch mechanism, said latch handle assembly comprising: a pan having a perimeter flange, at least one sidewall, said at least one sidewall having an opening from an interior side of said pan to an exterior side of said pan, a pan floor, and a recessed area defined by said at least one sidewall and said pan floor; a bushing carried in said opening having an inner surface for receiving an actuator which extends from said exterior side of said pan to said interior side, and an outer surface for engaging said sidewall; a first annular groove included in said inner surface of said bushing; a second annular groove included in said outer surface of said bushing; a first o-ring carried by said first annular groove for engaging said actuator to form a seal between the inner surface of the bushing and the actuator; at least one spacing member disposed between said inner surface of said bushing and said actuator for limiting compression of said first o-ring by said actuator to prevent damage to said first o-ring; a second o-ring carried in said second annular groove for engaging said exterior side of said sidewall to form a seal between the bushing and the sidewall; and, a handle affixed to said actuator for rotating said actuator to operate said latch mechanism.