Abstract: A grapple style compression latch is provided for a vehicle door. The latch includes a pair of opposing jaws to retain and release a striker on the door frame. The movement of the grapple jaws is controlled by a handle mounted on the latch housing and moveable between open and closed positions. Drive links and a plurality of jaw pins control the movement of the jaws between open and closed positions. A compression spring provides over-center action for the latch.

Abstract: A grapple style compression latch is provided for a vehicle door. The latch includes a pair of opposing jaws to retain and release a striker on the door frame. The movement of the grapple jaws is controlled by a handle mounted on the latch housing and moveable between open and closed positions. Drive links and a plurality of jaw pins control the movement of the jaws between open and closed positions. A compression spring provides over-center action for the latch.

Abstract: A kit for selectively constructing a system for releasably maintaining a movable closure element in a predetermined position relative to a frame upon which the closure element is movably mounted. The kit includes a base assembly, a first mechanism that is operably attachable to the base assembly to define a first system having a first configuration that is operable in a first manner, and a second mechanism that is operably attachable to the base assembly to define a second system having a second configuration that is operable in a second manner that is different than the first manner. The first and second mechanisms are interchangeably operably attachable to the base assembly, one in place of the other, to allow a selection to be made by an assembler as to a desired configuration and manner of operation of a system.

Abstract: A latch assembly for a movable closure element. The latch assembly has a housing with first and second rotors each movable relative thereto between a first latched position, a release position, and a second latched position. The first and second rotors in their first and second latched positions define a receptacle with an effective diameter and a center line that is angularly disposed to the line of a straight edge on the housing. With the rotors in their first latched positions, the center line of the receptacle is spaced from the first line a first distance. The center line of the receptacle is at a first location with the rotors in their first latched position and a second location with the rotors in their second latched positions. The first and second locations are spaced a second distance. The effective diameter of the receptacle, with the first and second rotors in their first latched positions, varies from each of the first and second distances by no more than ±40%.

Abstract: A kit for selectively constructing a system for releasably maintaining a movable closure element in a predetermined position relative to a frame upon which the closure element is movably mounted. The kit includes a base assembly, a first mechanism that is operably attachable to the base assembly to define a first system having a first configuration that is operable in a first manner, and a second mechanism that is operably attachable to the base assembly to define a second system having a second configuration that is operable in a second manner that is different than the first manner. The first and second mechanisms are interchangeably operably attachable to the base assembly, one in place of the other, to allow a selection to be made by an assembler as to a desired configuration and manner of operation of a system.

Abstract: A latch assembly kit including a latching subassembly, a first actuating assembly having a first configuration and normal and release states, and a second actuating assembly having a second configuration and normal and release states. The latching subassembly has a latched state, and a release state. The first actuating assembly is mountable on the first side of a movable closure element and causes the latching subassembly to change from its latched state into its release state as an incident of the first actuating assembly changing from its normal state into its release state. The second actuating assembly is mountable in place of the first actuating assembly and causes the latching subassembly to change from its latched state into its release state as an incident of the second actuating assembly changing from its normal state into its release state.

Abstract: A latch assembly for a movable closure element. The latch assembly has a housing, a first rotor movable relative to the housing selectively between a) a first latched position and b) a release position, and a second rotor movable relative to the housing selectively between a) a first latched position and b) a release position. The first rotor has a first throat to receive a strike element. The latch assembly further has an operating assembly with a latched state and an unlatched state. The operating assembly in the latched state releasably maintains the first rotor in its first latched position and the second rotor in its first latched position. The first rotor is movable substantially parallel to a reference plane as the first rotor moves between its first latched and release positions. The first rotor has a non-uniform thickness taken orthogonally to the reference plane.

Abstract: An operating mechanism to releasably engage a strike assembly to maintain a movable closure element in a predetermined position. The operating mechanism has a base with a first axis and a wall extending around the first axis and defining a passageway. A latch system has (a) a latched state in which the latch system engages a strike element and (b) a released state wherein the latch system can be disengaged from the strike element. The operating mechanism further includes an actuating system that is changeable from a first state into a second state to thereby change the state of the latch system. The actuating system has a first link which is movable within the passageway from a first position into a second position to change the state of the latch system. The actuating system further includes an actuating assembly that can be connected to the base without requiring separate fasteners.

Abstract: A latch assembly for a movable closure element of the type having first and second sides. The latch assembly has a housing, a first rotor movable relative to the housing selectively between a) a latched position and b) a release position, and an operating assembly which is operable to change the first rotor from the latched position into the release position. A first rotor is engageable with a strike element relative to which the movable closure element can be moved to thereby releasably maintain the movable closure element in a desired position. The first rotor is biased towards the release position. The operating assembly includes a catch block assembly that is movable selectively between a) an engaged position wherein the first rotor is maintained in the latched position and b) a disengaged position wherein the first rotor is permitted to move from the latched position into the release position.

Abstract: A latch assembly is provided for a movable closure element. The latch assembly has a housing and a first rotor that is movable relative to the housing selectively between a) a first latched position and b) a release position. The first rotor is biased towards the release position and has a first throat to receive a strike element. The latch assembly further consists of an operating assembly having a latched state and an unlatched state The operating assembly in the latched state releasably maintains the first rotor in the first latched position. The operating assembly has a catch arm that is movable relative to the housing from a first position into a second position to thereby change the operating assembly from the latched state into the unlatched state.

Abstract: A latch assembly for a movable closure element. The latch assembly has a housing with a peripheral edge defined in part by a substantially straight edge portion extending along a first line. A first rotor is movable relative to the housing selectively between a) a first latched position, b) a release position, and c) a second latched position between the first latched position and the release position. A second rotor is movable relative to the housing selectively between a) a first latched position, b) a release position, and c) a second latched position between the first latched and release positions for the second rotor. An operating assembly has a latched state and an unlatched state. The operating assembly in the latched state releasably maintains the first rotor in its first and second latched positions and the second rotor in its first and second latched positions.

Abstract: A latch assembly for a movable closure element of the type having first and second sides. The latch assembly has a housing, a first rotor movable relative to the housing selectively between a) a latched position and b) a release position, and an operating assembly which is operable to change the first rotor from the latched position into the release position. A first rotor is engageable with a strike element relative to which the movable closure element can be moved to thereby releasably maintain the movable closure element in a desired position. The first rotor is biased towards the release position. The operating assembly includes a catch block assembly that is movable selectively between a) an engaged position wherein the first rotor is maintained in the latched position and b) a disengaged position wherein the first rotor is permitted to move from the latched position into the release position.

Abstract: A latch assembly for a movable closure element. The latch assembly has a housing, a first rotor movable relative to the housing selectively between a) a first latched position and b) a release position, and a second rotor movable relative to the housing selectively between a) a first latched position and b) a release position. The first rotor has a first throat to receive a strike element. The latch assembly further has an operating assembly with a latched state and an unlatched state. The operating assembly in the latched state releasably maintains the first rotor in its first latched position and the second rotor in its first latched position. The first rotor is movable substantially parallel to a reference plane as the first rotor moves between its first latched and release positions. The first rotor has a non-uniform thickness taken orthogonally to the reference plane.

Abstract: A latch assembly is provided for a movable closure element. The latch assembly has a housing and a first rotor that is movable relative to the housing selectively between a) a first latched position and b) a release position. The first rotor is biased towards the release position and has a first throat to receive a strike element. The latch assembly further consists of an operating assembly having a latched state and an unlatched state The operating assembly in the latched state releasably maintains the first rotor in the first latched position. The operating assembly has a catch arm that is movable relative to the housing from a first position into a second position to thereby change the operating assembly from the latched state into the unlatched state.

Abstract: A latch assembly kit including a latching subassembly for mounting upon a movable closure element, a first actuating assembly having a first configuration and normal and release states, and a second actuating assembly having a second configuration that is different than the first configuration and normal and release states. The latching subassembly has a latched state, wherein the latching subassembly releasably engages a strike element to maintain the movable closure element in a desired position relative to a support to which the movable closure element is attached, and a release state. The first actuating assembly is mountable on the first side of the movable closure element and causes the latching subassembly to change from its latched state into its release state as an incident of the first actuating assembly changing from its normal state into its release state. The second actuating assembly is mountable to the first side of the movable closure element in place of the first actuating assembly.