초록 ▼

A latch assembly is provided that includes a housing, a release mechanism and a latch mechanism. The release mechanism includes a handle. Movement of the handle from a retracted position towards an extended position relative to the housing is operable to cause the latch mechanism to change from a la

A latch assembly is provided that includes a housing, a release mechanism and a latch mechanism. The release mechanism includes a handle. Movement of the handle from a retracted position towards an extended position relative to the housing is operable to cause the latch mechanism to change from a latched condition to an unlatched condition. When the latch mechanism changes from an unlatched condition to the latched condition, the latch mechanism is operable to cause the release mechanism to cause the handle to move to the retracted position. When the latch mechanism is in the unlatched condition, the latch mechanism maintains the release mechanism in a configuration that maintains the handle away from the retracted position and provides a visual indication that the latch mechanism is in the unlatched condition.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A latch apparatus comprising: a housing, wherein the housing includes a front side and an opposed rear side,wherein the housing includes a receptacle on the front side of the housing,a release mechanism, wherein the release mechanism includes a handle,wherein at least a portion of the handle exte

1. A latch apparatus comprising: a housing, wherein the housing includes a front side and an opposed rear side,wherein the housing includes a receptacle on the front side of the housing,a release mechanism, wherein the release mechanism includes a handle,wherein at least a portion of the handle extends in the receptacle, wherein the handle is operative to move between a retracted position and an extended position with respect to the receptacle,a spring that is operable to urge the handle to move from the retracted position toward the extended position,a latch mechanism operatively attached to the rear side of the housing,wherein the latch mechanism is operative to change between a latched condition and an unlatched condition,wherein movement of the handle from the retracted position towards the extended position is operable to cause the release mechanism to cause the latch mechanism to change from the latched condition to the unlatched condition,wherein when the latch mechanism is in the unlatched condition, the release mechanism is configured to enable the spring to maintain the handle in an intermediate position intermediate of the retracted position and the extended position,wherein when the latch mechanism is changed from the unlatched condition to the latched condition, the latch mechanism is operable to enable the release mechanism to cause the handle to move to the retracted position, andthe release mechanism is operable to prevent the spring from maintaining the handle in the intermediate position. 2. The latch apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the release mechanism includes at least one lever that is operative to pivot with respect to the housing,wherein the receptacle includes an aperture between the front and rear sides of the housing,wherein the release mechanism includes a trigger in operative connection with the handle, and at least a portion of the trigger extends through the aperture,wherein movement of the handle from the retracted position towards the extended position causes the trigger to cause the at least one lever to rotate, which rotation causes the latch mechanism to change from the latched condition to the unlatched condition,wherein when the latch mechanism is in the unlatched condition, the latch mechanism is operative to prevent the at least one lever from rotating to a position that causes the trigger to move the handle to the retracted position. 3. The latch apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the latch mechanism includes a rotary pawl and a rotary latch, wherein the rotary pawl and rotary latch are respectively operable to rotate between respective first positions and second positions,wherein the rotary pawl includes first and second arms that bound opposed sides of a pawl notch in the rotary pawl,wherein the at least one lever includes a projection that extends in the pawl notch between the first and second arms,wherein the rotary latch includes a latch notch that is configured to receive a striker, wherein when the latch mechanism is in the latched condition: the rotary latch is in the first position of the latch in which an opening to the latch notch is adjacent to a wall of the latch mechanism such that the striker is prevented from moving out of the latch notch through the opening,the rotary pawl is in the first position of the pawl and is operative to prevent the rotary latch from rotating to the second position of the latch; wherein responsive to the movement of handle from the retracted position towards the extended position, the projection of the at least one lever moves in engagement with the first arm bounding the pawl notch and causes the rotary pawl to move from the first position to the second position of the pawl, which enables the rotary latch to rotate to the second position of the latch to place the latch mechanism in the unlatched condition; wherein when the latch mechanism is in the unlatched condition: the rotary latch is in the second position of the latch in which the opening to the latch notch is not adjacent the wall of the latch mechanism and is operative to permit the striker to enter and exit the latch notch through the opening,the second arm bounding the pawl notch is operative to prevent the projection of the at least one lever from rotating to a position that causes the trigger to move the handle to the retracted position. 4. The latch apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the at least one lever includes an actuator lever and a disconnect lever in pivoting connection with the housing,wherein the latch assembly further includes a lock mechanism that is operative to change from an unlocked condition to a locked condition,wherein the actuator lever includes the projection,wherein the disconnect lever is operable to contact the trigger,wherein the disconnect lever includes a flange that is operable to contact an edge of the actuator lever,wherein when the lock mechanism in is an unlocked condition, the lock mechanism is operative to cause the actuator lever to rotate responsive to movement of the disconnect lever, such that movement of the trigger causes the projection on the actuator lever to urge the rotary pawl to rotate from the first position to the second position of the pawl, and thereby cause the latch mechanism to change from the latch condition to the unlatched condition. 5. The latch apparatus according to claim 4, wherein when the lock mechanism is in the locked condition while the latch mechanism is in the latched condition:the handle is operative to move from the retracted position toward the extended position and cause the trigger to cause the disconnect lever to rotate; andthe lock mechanism is operative to configure the release mechanism to prevent the actuator lever from rotating responsive to rotation of the disconnect lever. 6. The latch apparatus according to claim 5, wherein when the lock mechanism is in the locked condition while the latch mechanism is in the unlatched condition, the flange of the disconnect lever is operable to prevent the disconnect lever from rotating to a position that causes the trigger to move the handle in the retracted position. 7. A latch apparatus comprising: a housing, wherein the housing includes a front side and an opposed rear side,wherein the housing includes a receptacle on the front side of the housing,a release mechanism, wherein the release mechanism includes a handle, wherein the handle includes a front surface that faces outwardly of the receptacle and at least one adhesive label disposed away from the front surface that includes at least one indicator surface portion that is a different color than the front surface of the handle,wherein at least a portion of the handle extends in the receptacle, wherein the handle is operative to move between a retracted position and an extended position with respect to the receptacle,a latch mechanism operatively attached to the rear side of the housing,wherein the latch mechanism is operative to change between a latched condition and an unlatched condition,wherein movement of the handle from the retracted position towards the extended position is operable to cause the release mechanism to cause the latch mechanism to change from the latched condition to the unlatched condition,wherein when the latch mechanism is in the unlatched condition, the latch mechanism is operable to maintain the release mechanism in a configuration that is operable to maintain the handle disposed away from the retracted position such that the at least one indicator surface portion extends out of the receptacle,wherein when the latch mechanism changes from an unlatched condition to the latched condition, the latch mechanism is operable to enable the release mechanism to cause the handle to move to the retracted position wherein the at least one indicator surface portion is located in the receptacle. 8. The latch apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the handle includes two opposed side ends on opposite sides of the front surface,wherein each of the two opposed sides includes an adhesive label thereon including a respective indicator surface portion, wherein the front surface does not include an adhesive label thereon, wherein the front surface includes a metallic finish. 9. A latch apparatus comprising: a housing,a handle movably mounted in operative connection with the housing, wherein the handle is movable between a first position and a second position,a latch member movably mounted in operative connection with the housing, wherein the latch member is configured to releasably engage a striker,a pawl movably mounted in operative connection with the housing, wherein the pawl is movable between an engaged position in which the pawl is enabled to operatively hold the latch member in a latched position in which the latch member is enabled to hold the striker in engagement therewith, and a release position in which the pawl enables the latch member to move to an unlatched position in which the striker and the latch member may disengage,wherein the pawl is configured such that when the latch member is in the unlatched position, the pawl is unable to move from the release position to the engaged position,at least one lever movably mounted in operative connection with the housing, wherein the at least one lever is in operative connection with the handle,an interengaging projection and recess, wherein the at least one lever is in operative connection with one of the projection or recess and the pawl is in operative connection with the other of the projection or recess,at least one spring, wherein the at least one spring is in operative connection with the handle and is operative to bias the handle toward the second position,wherein in the latched position of the latch member and the pawl in the engaged position, movement of the handle from the first position to the second position is operative to cause the at least one lever to cause pawl movement to the release position such that the latch member is enabled to move to the unlatched position,and wherein with the latch member in the unlatched position the pawl is prevented from being moved from the release position to the engaged position and the handle is prevented from being held through operation of the latch in the first position. 10. The apparatus according to claim 9wherein the at least one spring comprises a first spring and a second spring,wherein the first spring is in operative connection with the at least one lever and the handle, and is operative to bias the handle toward the first position,wherein the second spring is in operative connection with the handle, and the second spring is operative to bias the handle toward the second position,wherein with the pawl held in the release position the at least one lever is prevented from moving to cause the handle to be moved by operation of the first spring to the first position, andthe second spring causes the handle to be moved away from the first position. 11. The apparatus according to claim 9wherein the recess comprises a pawl notch bounded by two disposed arm portions,wherein the projection extends on the at least one lever and between the two disposed arm portions,wherein one of the arm portions is moved in engagement with the projection as the at least one lever moves from an initial position to an actuating position and the pawl is moved from the engaged position to the release position,and wherein the other of the arm portions prevents the at least one lever from returning to the initial position when the pawl is in the release position and the latch member is in the unlatched position. 12. The apparatus according to claim 9wherein the handle is in operative connection with at least one visible indicator, wherein the at least one visible indicator is not visible externally of the housing when the handle is in the first position. 13. The apparatus according to claim 12wherein the housing includes a recess, and wherein in the first position of the handle the at least one visible indicator is within the recess. 14. The apparatus according to claim 11wherein the handle is in operative connection with the at least one lever during movement of the handle from the first position to the second position and the at least one lever is moved from the initial position to the actuating position,and wherein when the at least one lever is prevented from returning to the initial position through operation of the pawl, the handle is movable independent of the at least one lever. 15. The apparatus according to claim 9wherein the at least one lever is configured to move generally within a plane,wherein the at least one lever is in operative connection with one of a guide projection or a guide slot and the housing is in operative connection with the other of the guide projection or the guide slot,wherein the guide projection is configured to move in engaged relation with the guide slot and to prevent the at least one lever from moving transversely to the plane. 16. The apparatus according to claim 9wherein the at least one lever comprises a first lever and a second lever, wherein the first lever and the second lever are relatively movable with respect to one another,a movable member, wherein the movable member is selectively movable relative to both the first lever and the second lever,wherein movement of the movable member is operative to selectively engage and disengage the first and second levers, wherein when the first and second levers are engaged, the first and second levers are constrained to move together, and wherein when the first a second levers are disengaged, the first and second levers are independently movable,and wherein when the movable member causes the first and second members to be disengaged, movement of the handle does not cause the latch member to move from the latched position to the unlatched position. 17. The apparatus according to claim 16wherein one of the first lever and the second lever include a flange, wherein the flange is operable to engagingly bias the other of the first and second levers in a first direction independent of the movable member, but not in an opposed direction. 18. The apparatus according to claim 9wherein the housing comprises a recess, and wherein the handle is rotatably mounted in operative connection with the housing,and wherein in the first position, at least one portion of the handle extends within the recess and in the second position of the handle, the at least one portion of the handle extends outside the recess, andwherein the at least one portion of the handle includes a distinctive visual indicator that is visible with the handle positioned in other than the first position.