Latch wtih environmentally protected portion

摘要

A latch mechanism includes a latch plate and a latching element attached to the latch plate, a pawl engages the latching and an enclosure protects a portion of the latching mechanism from contaminants in the environment. A particular embodiment comprises: a bifurcate latch 120 pivotally attached to a latch plate 110 at 124; toggle link 130 pivotally attached at 134 to latch plate 110; a first pawl 140 capable of retaining the bifurcate latch 120 and pivotally attached at 144 to toggle link 130; a second pawl 160 pivotally attached to latch plate 110 and capable of engaging the toggle link 130 via arm 1130 which rotates with the toggle link 130; and enclosure 1110. Toggle link 130 and arm 1130 are connecting by a shaft (not shown) which can be sealed by a gasket where it passes through the enclosure. The contaminant free interface of the first pawl 140 and bifurcate latch 120 reduces the release force of the latch. A further embodiment shown in figure 12 provides a sealed environment for the interface between the second pawl and the toggle link. An independent claim is included for a method of controlling the release force of a latch mechanism.