Patent ID: 8136850

Claim:
A paddle latch comprising: a housing defining a first side and a second side; a drive shaft extending through the housing defining a first shaft portion on the first side and a second shaft portion on the second side; a paddle for actuation by a latch user on the first side; and a releasable latch member comprising a latch arm and a latch head, the latch head provided for co-operation with an associated striker to latch the paddle latch on the second side; wherein the paddle is connected to the first shaft portion and the latch arm of the latch member includes an orifice that receives the second shaft portion such that torque may be transferred from the paddle to the latch member to release the latch head from the striker in use, in which there is a lost motion feature between the paddle and the latch member such that torque is directly transferred between the drive shaft and the latch member in a first relative rotational direction, but not in a second relative rotational direction and in which the drive shaft comprises a flat section that abuts a corresponding surface of the latch member so as to rotate the latch member when torque is applied to the paddle, and wherein rotation of the latch member through its normal range of motion does not cause a corresponding rotation of the drive shaft and the paddle.