Shears with improved latch for handles

摘要

A releasable latch is provided upon the handles of a pair of relatively pivotable operating members which are normally biased apart by spring means. The latch comprises opposed arm members on the handles which in part overlie each other with one of the arm members having a latch aperture and the other having a latch post extending into the latch aperture. One arm member is provided with an integral hinge portion, and the latch post has a shoulder thereon which engages with a cooperating shoulder surface on the other arm member about the latch aperture therein. The spring means biases the handles apart so as to maintain the cooperating shoulders in engagement in the closed position. One or both of the latch post and latch aperture is desirably provided with a cam surface to move the latch post within the latch aperture into a position wherein the cooperating shoulder surfaces will engage. Conveniently, these camming surfaces are provided by an inclined buttress portion on the latch post forming a generally key-shaped cross section therefor and a cooperating inclined surface on the wall defining the latch aperture so that the cross section thereof is of generally keyhole configuration.