Patent ID: 7921685

Claim:
A latch assembly for releasably securing a closure element having a striker element in a closed position where the latch assembly includes a housing, a release lever having a normal position and a release position, first and second latch elements, said first latch element having a hooked end portion for engaging the striker element for maintaining the closure element in its closed position, said first latch element being movable relative to the housing between a latched position in which it maintains the closure element in its closed position by capturing the striker element and a release position in which the closure element can be moved out of its closed position by releasing the striker element, there being cooperation between the release lever and first and second latch elements to move the second latch element relative to the housing and, in response thereto, causing the first latch element to move from its latched position to its release position, the latch assembly further comprising: a guard plate having a lower portion, a spacer portion, and an upper portion, the lower portion defining a first plane and being fixedly mounted to the housing of the latch assembly, the lower portion further comprising a projecting arm extending to a cam on the first latch element, the spacer portion defining a second plane extending transversely with the first plane and extending away from the housing, and the upper portion defining a single plate with a base that is wider than a top edge, the single plate having a first and second lateral edges each having a vertical portion and an inwardly inclined portion leading to a horizontal top edge, wherein a first lateral edge cooperates with the first latch element to enclose the striker element when the first latch element is in the latched position.