Patent ID: 7243974

Claim:
A locking device, comprising: a striker attached to one of two members to be interconnected, and a locking mechanism attached to the other of the two members, the locking mechanism comprising: a base plate having a slot that can receive the striker; a latch rotatably attached to the base plate, the latch being arranged and constructed to clamp the striker within the base plate slot so that the locking mechanism is in a locking condition; a pawl rotatably attached to the base plate, the pawl being arranged and constructed to engage the latch so that the locking mechanism is retained in the locking condition; and a cam member rotatably attached to the base plate, the cam member being arranged and constructed to urge the latch to a locking position by a spring force when the locking mechanism is in the locking condition, wherein the locking mechanism includes a force transmitting path for transmitting a force that urges the locking mechanism in the locking condition to be disengaged from the striker, the force transmitting path passes through the cam member and includes a force interrupting portion positioned therein, the force interrupting portion is arranged and constructed to interrupt the force transmitting path when the force exceeds a predetermined value.