Title: Link and lever operated toggle latch mechanism

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Abstract: A latching mechanism is provided for latching a door to a fixed frame member. A keeper is secured to the frame member. A support structure is secured to the door for pivotally mounting a pawl and a pawl-actuating lever for pivotal movement about first and second fixed axes, respectively. The pawl and lever are interconnected by a link bar, secured by first and second pivot pins, respectively. When the lever is in a latched position, forces applied to the door in a door-opening direction impose a compressional load on the interconnecting link bar. When the lever is moved between latched and unlatched positions, an extension of the line drawn between the first and second pivot pins of the link bar will pass across the fixed axis about which the lever is pivotal. Thus, the link bar functions as a over-center toggle element which is placed under a compressional load when forces are applied to the door in a door-opening direction. The lever functions as a first class lever in which the lever fulcrum is located between the link pivot pin which couples the link bar to the lever and the manually operated end of the lever.


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