Patent ID: 7083205

Claim:
A latch for releasably securing a closure member in a frame to a keeper and for opening a predetermined portion of the closure member, the latch comprising: a housing adapted for being received in an aperture formed in the closure member; a main pawl slideable in the housing between an open position and a closed position in which the main pawl is engageable with the keeper; a handle for moving the main pawl from an open position to a closed position, said handle being pivotally attached to said housing and said handle having a handle actuator which engages the main pawl upon pivoting of the handle between a closed position and an open position, a main pawl biasing device for biasing the main pawl such that said main pawl biasing device biases the main pawl to the closed position; a secondary pawl slideable in the housing between an open position and a closed position; a detent device which moves the secondary pawl between an open position and a closed position in which the secondary pawl is engageable with the frame when the detent device is in the closed position, said detent device being pivotally attached to said housing; whereby pivoting of the detent device to an open position moves the secondary pawl to the open position away from the frame thereby permitting opening of a portion of the closure member when the main pawl is engaged with the keeper or with the frame.