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A compression latch with a folding handle for selectively holding a door closed. The latch includes a housing with a cup portion for receiving the handle in the folded down position such that the projection of the latch handle above the exterior surface of the door is minimized in the folded-down po

A compression latch with a folding handle for selectively holding a door closed. The latch includes a housing with a cup portion for receiving the handle in the folded down position such that the projection of the latch handle above the exterior surface of the door is minimized in the folded-down position. The handle functions to move a pawl in a combination of rotational and linear translational movements as the pawl is moved between latched and unlatched positions.

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1. A latch for selectively maintaining a first member in a closed position relative to a second member, the latch comprising:a housing adapted for mounting to the first member, wherein said housing has a cup-like portion; a pivotal handle supported relative to said housing such that said handle can

1. A latch for selectively maintaining a first member in a closed position relative to a second member, the latch comprising:a housing adapted for mounting to the first member, wherein said housing has a cup-like portion; a pivotal handle supported relative to said housing such that said handle can be folded down relative to said housing, said handle being pivotally movable between an extended configuration and one of a first folded-down configuration and a second folded-down configuration; a pawl; and means for moving said pawl in a combination of rotational and linear translational movements responsive to at least some movements of said handle, wherein said pawl is movable between a latched position and an unlatched position and said handle can be folded down when said pawl is in both said latched and unlatched positions, wherein said handle is substantially received in said cup-like portion when said handle is folded down to be in said first folded-down configuration and when said handle is folded down to be in said second folded-down configuration, wherein said pawl is in said latched position when said handle is in said first folded-down configuration, and wherein said pawl linearly translates away from said housing as said handle is pivotally moved from said first folded-down configuration to said extended configuration. 2. The latch according to claim 1, wherein said handle is rotated through about 180° in said extended configuration during movement of said pawl between said latched and unlatched positions.3. The latch according to claim 1, wherein said pawl substantially remains in said unlatched position as said handle is pivotally moved from said extended configuration to said second folded-down configuration.4. The latch according to claim 1, wherein said means for moving said pawl in a combination of rotational and linear translational movements comprises:a shaft supported for rotational and linear translational movements relative to said housing, said pawl being supported at least in part by said shaft such that said shaft and said pawl move together as a unit when said latch is operated by a user to latch or unlatch the first member relative to the second member; biasing means acting on said shaft to bias said pawl in a direction away from said housing when said pawl is secured on said shaft; pivotal attachment means attaching said handle to said shaft and defining a pivot axis for said handle; a first surface portion disposed to move as a unit with said handle, said first surface portion abutting a bearing surface supported by said housing when said handle is in said extended configuration; and a second surface portion disposed to move as a unit with said handle, said second surface portion abutting said bearing surface when said handle is in said first folded-down configuration, Wherein said pivot axis is farther from said bearing surface when said handle is in said first folded-down configuration than when said handle is in said extended configuration, such that movement of said handle from said first folded-down configuration to said extended configuration allows said pawl to linearly translate away from said housing under the influence of said biasing means. 5. The latch according to claim 4, wherein said shaft has a longitudinal axis, wherein said pivot axis extends in a direction that is substantially orthogonal to said longitudinal axis of said shaft, and wherein rotation of said handle about said longitudinal axis of said shaft causes rotational movement of said pawl at least when said handle is in said extended configuration.6. The latch according to claim 5, wherein said cup-like portion of said housing interferes with rotation of said handle about said longitudinal axis of said shaft to thereby substantially prevent rotational movement of said pawl when said handle is in one of said first and second folded-down configurations.7. The latch according to claim 4, further comprising:a third surface portion disposed to move as a unit with said handle, said third surface portion abutting said bearing surface when said handle is in said second folded-down configuration, Wherein said pivot axis is substantially the same distance from said bearing surface when said handle is in said second folded-down configuration as when said handle is in said extended configuration. 8. The latch according to claim 7, further comprising:a fourth surface portion disposed to move as a unit with said handle, said fourth surface portion abutting said bearing surface at least as said handle is moved between said second folded-down configuration and said extended configuration, Wherein said pivot axis is moved farther from said bearing surface, as compared to when said handle is in one of said second folded-down configuration and said extended configuration, when said fourth surface portion abuts said bearing surface and is positioned along a line passing through said pivot axis and being parallel with said longitudinal axis of said shaft to thereby provide a detent to deter uncontrolled movement of said handle between said second folded-down configuration and said extended configuration. 9. The latch according to claim 8, wherein said first, second, third, and fourth surface portions are integral with said handle.10. The latch according to claim 4, wherein said housing has a pair of notches, the latch further comprising a first pin passing through said shaft with at least one end of said first pin projecting from said shaft, said one end of said first pin moving into said notches as said handle is moved from said extended configuration to said first folded-down configuration.11. The latch according to claim 4, wherein said biasing means is a coil spring, the latch further comprising a first pin passing through said shaft, said coil spring being captured intermediate said first pin and at least a portion of said housing.12. The latch according to claim 11, wherein said housing further includes a sleeve portion attached to the bottom of said cup-like portion, said sleeve portion has a bore, a top opening, and a bottom opening, said top opening has a smaller diameter than at least a portion of said bore, said coil spring is captured intermediate said first pin and said top opening of said sleeve portion, and said shaft extends through said top opening such that a portion of said shaft is positioned in said cup-like portion.13. The latch according to claim 12, wherein said handle is generally D-shaped and is provided with a pair of extensions, an end of said shaft located in said cup-like portion is received between said pair of extensions, and a second pin passes through said pair of extensions and said end of said shaft located in said cup-like portion to pivotally connect said handle to said shaft.14. The latch according to claim 13, wherein said housing further includes a flange surrounding the open top of said cup-like portion and at least one threaded hole, the latch further comprising a bracket and a fastener for securing said bracket to said housing,Wherein a portion of the first member is captured intermediate said flange and said bracket to secure the latch to the first member. 15. The latch according to claim 14, wherein said shaft has a portion that has threads that are interrupted by at least one flat side, said pawl has a correspondingly shaped hole through which said portion of said shaft having interrupted threads passes, and said pawl is secured in place along said portion of said shaft having interrupted threads by a pair of nuts engaging said portion of said shaft having interrupted threads on either side of said pawl, whereby said pawl is adjustably positioned along said portion of said shaft having interrupted threads.16. The latch according to claim 4, wherein said cup-like portion of said housing is sized and shaped such that said handle can only be folded down to be substantially received in said cup-like portion when said pawl is in a rotational position corresponding to said latched position and in a rotational position corresponding to said unlatched position.17. The latch according to claim 6, further comprising:a third surface portion disposed to move as a unit with said handle, said third surface portion abutting said bearing surface when said handle is in said second folded-down configuration, Wherein said pivot axis is substantially the same distance from said bearing surface when said handle is in said second folded-down configuration as when said handle is in said extended configuration. 18. The latch according to claim 17, further comprising:a fourth surface portion disposed to move as a unit with said handle, said fourth surface portion abutting said bearing surface at least as said handle is moved between said second folded-down configuration and said extended configuration, Wherein said pivot axis is moved farther from said bearing surface, as compared to when said handle is in one of said second folded-down configuration and said extended configuration, when said fourth surface portion abuts said bearing surface and is positioned along a line passing through said pivot axis and being parallel with said longitudinal axis of said shaft to thereby provide a detent to deter uncontrolled movement of said handle between said second folded-down configuration and said extended configuration. 19. The latch according to claim 18, wherein said first, second, third, and fourth surface portions are integral with said handle.20. The latch according to claim 19, wherein said housing has a pair of notches, the latch further comprising a first pin passing through said shaft with at least one end of said first pin projecting from said shaft, said one end of said first pin moving into said notches as said handle is moved from said extended configuration to said first folded-down configuration.21. The latch according to claim 20, wherein said biasing means is a coil spring, the latch further comprising a first pin passing through said shaft, said coil spring being captured intermediate said first pin and at least a portion of said housing.22. The latch according to claim 21, wherein said housing further includes a sleeve portion attached to the bottom of said cup-like portion, said sleeve portion has a bore, a top opening, and a bottom opening, said top opening has a smaller diameter than at least a portion of said bore, said coil spring is captured intermediate said first pin and said top opening of said sleeve portion, and said shaft extends through said top opening such that a portion of said shaft is positioned in said cup-like portion.23. The latch according to claim 22, wherein said handle is generally D-shaped and is provided with a pair of extensions, an end of said shaft located in said cup-like portion is received between said pair of extensions, and a second pin passes through said pair of extensions and said end of said shaft located in said cup-like portion to pivotally connect said handle to said shaft.24. The latch according to claim 23, wherein said housing further includes a flange surrounding the open top of said cup-like portion and at least one threaded hole, the latch further comprising a bracket and a fastener for securing said bracket to said housing,Wherein a portion of the first member is captured intermediate said flange and said bracket to secure the latch to the first member. 25. The latch according to claim 24, wherein said shaft has a portion that has threads that are interrupted by at least one flat side, said pawl has a correspondingly shaped hole through which said portion of said shaft having interrupted threads passes, and said pawl is secured in place along said portion of said shaft having interrupted threads by a pair of nuts engaging said portion of said shaft having interrupted threads on either side of said pawl, whereby said pawl is adjustably positioned along said portion of said shaft having interrupted threads.26. The latch according to claim 25, wherein said cup-like portion of said housing is sized and shaped such that said handle can only be folded down to be substantially received in said cup-like portion when said pawl is in a rotational position corresponding to said latched position and in a rotational position corresponding to said unlatched position.27. The latch according to claim 1, wherein said cup-like portion of said housing is sized and shaped such that said handle can only be folded down to be substantially received in said cup-like portion when said pawl is in a rotational position corresponding to said latched position and in a rotational position corresponding to said unlatched position.28. The latch according to claim 27, wherein said pawl is rotated through about 180° as said pawl moves between said rotational position corresponding to said latched position and said rotational position corresponding to said unlatched position.