This application is based on a Provisional Application, Serial No. 60/140,540, filed on June 23,1999.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of Invention The present invention relates to the field of latching devices for securing a first member to the second member, particularly where the first member is a closure panel and the second member is a corresponding frame or enclosure cabinet, and more particularly where the latch is a compression latch.

2. Description of the Prior Art Latch devices for opening, closing and securing one or more panels together have been known and used for manv years. Throughout the years latches have developed in a number of types to suit particular needs of an environment in which they are used. For example, there are latches in which a pivotally mounted and spring biased arm is rotatablv mounted on a housing that is installed by insertion into an opening formed in a panel in a hinged door. In such latch devices. the arm is held in a closed position by means of a latch attached to the housing and engaging a keeper integral with one end of the arm. On disengagement of such a latch with a keeper the arm is tree to pivot to an open position in response to a spring bias and becomes a handle for use in opening and closing the door panel. In this type of prior art latch. the latch remains rotatablv fixed to the housing and does not form a part of the handle nor does it move with the handle to the open position or to the closed position. The arm is relatched when it is returned to the fully closed position with the keeper at the end of the arm once again engaging the latch.

An improvement of a lever latch, shown in US patent 4,693,503 issued on September 15,1997 to Robert H. Bisbing and assigned to Southco, Inc, provides a handle and latch assembly mounted in a flanged housing which is constructed for mounting in an opening formed in a hinged door. The door can be attached to a cabinet of the like with the outer contiguous surfaces of the handle latch being substantially flush with the outer surface of the housing when the latch and a handle are in a fully closed and latched position. A "Link and Lever Operated Toggle Latch Mechanism"is disclosed in US patent 4,230,351 issued on October 28,1982, to Robert H. Bisbing and assigned to Southco, Inc. The'351 latch mechanism is furnished to secure a door to a fixed frame member. A keeper is installed on a frame and the lever portion of the latch is mounted on a door panel. The lever is interconnected with a pawl through a link bar secured by pivot pins. The lever, when lifted, imposes a force on the link which draws the pawl out of engagement with the keeper.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention provides a novel compression latch which includes a housing with mounting elements for mounting to a first panel which is to be selectively secured and released relative to an adjacent frame or second panel. A handle member is disposed in the housing and, preferably, is pivotable over a range of positions to engage with a pawl member which is connected to the housing, and which pawl member is preferably connected via a living spring hinge element. Detent elements are provided on the handle and the housing to facilitate positioning of the handle at one or more locations over its pivot range relative to the housing.

The detent elements permit the handle to stay raised and out of the way of the second panel or a corresponding keeper member when the latch is unlatched and also permit the handle to remain flush with the top of the housing, when the latch is secured.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a compression latch with a handle which transfers direct force to a pawl to release and secure the pawl from and to, respectively, a keeper member or an adjacent enclosure frame.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a handle which can be detained in one or more positions relative to a housing over one or more positions of the handle swing arc.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a compression latch which can easily be mounted by snap-fit engagement into a panel cutout or aperture.

Another object of the present invention is to provide integrated mounting elements on a housing and provide a pawl which can be pivotally mounted on the housing to pivot into and out of engagement with a keeper member of a corresponding adjacent panel or member.

A further object of the above invention is to accomplish the above objects when the compression latch is mounted to a floor panel of a vehicle wherein the latch secures the floor panel to an adjacent frame or panel.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a detaining feature which is incorporated and integral with the housing and latching member.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a pawl member which is integrally connected with the housing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Fig. 1 is a left side perspective view of a compression latch according to the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a rear elevation view of the compression latch of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a top plan view of the compression latch of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a left side elevation view of the compression latch of Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a bottom plan view of the handle member of the latch shown in Figs. 1-4.

Fig. 6 is a left side perspective view, showing the latch in the open or unlatched position.

Fig. 6A is a left side cross-section view, showing the latch in the open or unlatch position.

Fig. 7 is a parallel perspective view of the handle of the compression latch of Figs. l- 6, shown in separate view.

Fig. 8 is a rear elevation view of the handle of Fig. 7.

Fig. 9 is a top plan view of the handle of Fig. 7.

Fig. 10 is a left side elevation view of the handle of Fig. 7.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF TAE PREFERED EMBODIMENTS Referring to Fig. 1, a compression latch 10 is shown having a housing 11, a handle 12, and a pawl member 13. The handle 12 includes a first engaging portion, such as, for example, the tab 14. Mounting means are provided on the housing 11 to facilitate mounting of the compression latch 10 in a panel aperture or cut-out (not shown). Preferably, the mounting means can comprise snap legs 20,21,22,23 disposed on the housing 11, as shown best in Figs. 1,2,4 and 5. The snap legs 20,21,22 and 23 preferably are configured on the manner such that they have an upper surface 25 (shown in relation to the snap leg 21) which facilitates retention of the latch 10 onto a panel by engaging a panel edge (not shown) between said upper surface 25 of the snap leg 21 and the underside 26 of the top flange 27 of the housing 11. The additional snap legs 20,22 and 23 are provided to function in the same manner as the snap leg 25. Preferably, as shown best in Fig. 4, the snap leg 21 extends from a housing wall 28 and has grooves 30 and 31 on opposite sides of the snap leg 21. This configuration facilitates deflection of the snap leg 21 when it engages a panel and the snap leg further includes a tapered wall portion 29 which facilitates insertion of the latch 10 into a mounting aperture of a panel (not shown).

The handle 12 is shown in separate views in Figs. 7 through 10. The handle 12 is pivotally connected to the housing 11 through connecting means. The connecting means preferably comprise a pair of pivot bosses 40,41 extending outwardly on opposite sides of the handle (Fig. 9). The pivot bosses 40,41 are preferably received in corresponding pivot recesses 42,43, respectively, disposed on a first side wall 44 and a second side wall 45, respectively, of the housing 11. The handle 12 is provided to be pivotally rotated by the user relative to the housing 11 with the pivot bosses 40,41 providing the access of rotation.

The handle 12 further has a second lifting portion 50, as best shown in Fig. 6.

The pawl 13 is preferably connected to the housing 11 and also connects with the handle 12 so that the pawl 13 is moved by the pivotal movement of the handle 12. As shown in Figs. 1 through 4, the latch 10 is in a latched position with pawl 13 in a position to engage with a keeper member or adjacent panel. Preferably, the latch 10 can be installed on a closure panel, such as, for example, a vehicle compartment panel, and a corresponding keeper or adjacent panel frame can be provided to engage the pawl to secure the closure panel with the adjacent panel or frame. As shown in Fig. 1, a connecting portion 51 connects the pawl body 52 with the housing 11. The connecting portion 51 preferably comprises a living spring which is hinged in relation to the underside 26 of the housing top flange 27. As shown in Fig. 6, the connecting portion 51 is flexed when the handle 12 is pivoted from its Fig. 1 position in the direction of arrow"a"to its vertical position (Fig. 6).

Referring to Figs. 7 and 10, the handle 12 includes a cam slot 60 extending therethrough and providing a camming surface 61 for facilitating retraction of the pawl 13 from its secured position (Fig. 1). The pawl 13 is provided with pawl cam elements 57 for disposition in the cam slot 60. The pawl cam elements 57, for example, can comprise pins or bosses which can be disposed inwardly from the rear flange 56 of the pawl 13 (Figs. 1 and 4). The cam slot 60 permits the pawl 13 to remain in the secured latching position (the Fig. 1 position) when the handle 12 is first moved upwardly to reveal the second gripping portion 50. The further movement of the handle 12 in the direction of arrow"a" (Fig. 6) causes the upper portion of the cam slot to engage with the pawl cam element 57 to thereby retract the pawl 13 against the bias of the spring connecting portion 51 to its position shown in Fig. 6 and Fig. 6A.

Detent means is provided to facilitate positioning of the handle in one or more positions over the handle pivot range. Preferably, the detent means secures the handle at a first stop position such as that shown in Fig. 1 where the handle 12 is flush in relation to the upper flange 27 of the housing 11, and a second position, shown in Fig. 6, where the handle is positioned vertically to maintain the pawl 13 in an unlatched position. The handle 12 further includes a shoulder 63 at the rear edge thereof facilitates alignment of the handle 12 in a position relative to the top flange 27 of the housing 11 through engagement with a supporting post 64 provided on the inside of the rear wall 65 of the housing 11. The detent means is shown best in Figs. 6,7 and 4, wherein the detent means is shown comprising a detent pin 70 disposed on the handle body 71. Corresponding detent holes 72,73 are provided on the sidewall 44 of the housing 11. The detent holes 72,73 are positioned to engage with the detent pin 70, respectively, to maintain the handle 12 in a flat position (latched) and a vertical position (unlatched).

To facilitate installation of the handle 12 to the housing 11, it is shown that the pivot bosses 40,41 may have a sloped surface 80,81 for facilitating sliding into the respective pivot recesses 42,43 provided on the housing 11. While not shown, it is understood that the housing may have an area which facilitates receipt of the tapered portion so that installation of the handle 12 is facilitated.

These and other advantages of the present invention will be understood by reading the summary of the invention, the brief description of the drawing figures, and the detailed description of the preferred embodiments. The invention is to be construed broadly in connection with the embodiments disclosed herein.