Preloaded latch mechanism

1. A latch mechanism for releasably latching or holding a first member with respect to a second member, the latch mechanism comprising:

a bracket adapted to be attached to the first member;

a bolt pivotally coupled to the bracket by a first pivot, the bolt being pivotal with respect to the bracket between a first position wherein the bolt is adapted to engage the second member and a second position wherein the bolt is adapted to be disengaged from the second member;

a handle pivotally coupled to the bracket by the first pivot, the handle being pivotal with respect to the bracket between a third position and a fourth position, the handle operatively pivoting the bolt from the first position toward the second position as the handle pivots from the third position toward the fourth position, the handle operatively pivoting the bolt from the second position toward the first position as the handle pivots from the fourth position toward the third position;

a trigger pivotally coupled to the handle, the trigger including a coupler adapted to couple a tool to the trigger, the trigger being pivotal with respect to the handle between a fifth position and a sixth position;

a locking member coupled to the trigger, the locking member adapted to releasably couple the trigger to the bracket when the trigger is in the fifth position whereby the locking member prevents pivotal movement of the handle from the third position toward the fourth position;

whereby the trigger is selectively pivotal by the tool from the fifth position toward the sixth position to thereby uncouple the locking member from the bracket and such that the handle is thereby selectively pivotal by the tool from the third position toward the fourth position; and

an over-center linkage assembly coupling the handle to the bracket and to the bolt wherein the linkage assembly includes a first link having a first end pivotally coupled to the bolt and a second end, a second link having a first end pivotally coupled to the second end of the first link and a second end pivotally coupled to the bracket, and a third link having a first end pivotally coupled to the second end of the first link and the first end of the second link and a second end pivotally coupled to the handle, the linkage assembly being moveable between a latched position wherein the first link and second link are adapted to bias the bolt into engagement with the second member with a preload force and an unlatched position, the linkage assembly being movable to the unlatched position by movement of the handle from the third position toward the fourth position.

2. The latch mechanism of claim 1 wherein the coupler of the trigger comprises a recess formed in the trigger.

3. The latch mechanism of claim 2 wherein the recess includes an opening in a top surface of the trigger.

4. The latch mechanism of claim 2 wherein the recess is generally wedge shaped.

5. The latch mechanism of claim 1 wherein the locking member comprises a hook.

6. The latch mechanism of claim 1 wherein the locking member is pivotally coupled to the trigger such that the locking member is adapted to pivot between a seventh position wherein the locking member is adapted to couple the trigger to the bracket, and an eighth position wherein the locking member is disengaged from the bracket.

7. A latch mechanism for releasably latching or holding a first member with respect to a second member, the latch mechanism comprising:

a bracket adapted to be attached to the first member;

a bolt pivotally coupled to the bracket, the bolt being pivotal with respect to the bracket between a first position wherein the bolt is adapted to engage the second member and a second position wherein the bolt is adapted to be disengaged from the second member;

a handle pivotally coupled to the bracket and operatively associated with the bolt, the handle being pivotal with respect to the bracket between a third position and a fourth position, the handle operatively pivoting the bolt from the first position toward the second position as the handle pivots from the third position toward the fourth position, the handle operatively pivoting the bolt from the second position toward the first position as the handle pivots from the fourth position toward the third position;

a trigger pivotally coupled to the handle, the trigger including a coupler adapted to couple a tool to the trigger, the trigger being pivotal with respect to the handle between a fifth position and a sixth position; and

a locking member coupled to the trigger, the locking member adapted to releasably couple the trigger to the bracket when the trigger is in the fifth position whereby the locking member prevents pivotal movement of the handle from the third position toward the fourth position

whereby the trigger is selectively pivotal by the tool from the fifth position toward the sixth position to thereby uncouple the locking member from the bracket and such that the handle is thereby selectively pivotal by the tool from the third position toward the fourth position;

wherein the locking member is pivotally coupled to the trigger such that the locking member is adapted to pivot between a seventh position wherein the locking member is adapted to couple the trigger to the bracket, and an eighth position wherein the locking member is disengaged from the bracket; and

wherein the locking member includes a finger adapted to engage the trigger when the locking member is in the seventh position, the finger adapted to prevent pivotal movement of the locking member with respect to the trigger beyond the seventh position in a direction away from the eighth position.

8. The latch mechanism of claim 7 wherein the trigger includes a stop member adapted to engage the finger of the locking member when the locking member is in the seventh position.

9. The latch mechanism of claim 6 including a biasing member adapted to resiliently bias the locking member toward the seventh position.

10. The latch mechanism of claim 1 including a trigger biasing member adapted to resiliently bias the trigger toward the fifth position.

11. The latch mechanism of claim 1 including a handle biasing member adapted to resiliently bias the handle toward the fourth position.

12. The latch mechanism of claim 1 wherein the trigger includes a tab adapted to engage the handle when the trigger is in the fifth position thereby preventing pivotal movement of the trigger beyond the fifth position in a direction away from the sixth position.

13. The latch mechanism of claim 1 wherein the bolt includes an arm and an engagement member coupled to the arm.

14. The latch mechanism of claim 13 wherein the engagement member is selectively positionable with respect to the arm.

15. The latch mechanism of claim 1 wherein the linkage assembly releasably locks the bolt in the first position when the linkage assembly is in the latched position.

16. A latch mechanism for releasably latching or holding a first member with respect to a second member, the latch mechanism comprising:

a bracket adapted to be attached to the first member;

a bolt pivotally coupled to the bracket by a first pivot, the bolt being pivotal with respect to the bracket between a first position wherein the bolt is adapted to engage the second member and a second position wherein the bolt is adapted to be disengaged from the second member;

a handle pivotally coupled to the bracket by the first pivot and operatively associated with the bolt, the handle being pivotal with respect to the bracket between a third position and a fourth position, the handle operatively pivoting the bolt from the first position toward the second position as the handle pivots from the third position toward the fourth position, the handle operatively pivoting the bolt from the second position toward the first position as the handle pivots from the fourth position toward the third position;

a trigger pivotally coupled to the handle, the trigger being pivotal with respect to the handle between a fifth position and a sixth position; and

a locking member pivotally coupled to the trigger, the locking member adapted to releasably couple the handle to the bracket when the trigger is in the fifth position such that the handle is releasably locked in the third position, whereby when the trigger is pivoted toward the sixth position the locking member is uncoupled from the bracket thereby allowing selective pivotal movement of the handle from the third position toward the fourth position; and

a linkage assembly, the linkage assembly including a first link having a first end pivotally coupled to the bolt and a second end, a second link having a first end pivotally coupled to the second end of the first link and a second end pivotally coupled to the bracket, and a third link having a first end pivotally coupled to the second end of the first link and the first end of the second link and a second end pivotally coupled to the handle, the linkage assembly being moveable between a latched position wherein the first link and second link are adapted to bias the bolt into engagement with the second member with a preload force and an unlatched position, the linkage assembly being movable to the unlatched position by movement of the handle from the third position toward the fourth position.

17. The latch mechanism of claim 16 wherein the bracket includes a locking pin, the locking pin adapted to pivot the locking member with respect to the trigger from the fifth position toward the sixth position as the handle pivots toward the third position.

18. A method for latching comprising:

providing a latch mechanism including a bracket adapted to be attached to a first member, a bolt pivotably coupled to the bracket at a first pivot and adapted to releasably engage a second member, a handle pivotally coupled at the first pivot and operatively coupled to the bracket, a trigger operatively coupled to the handle, a locking member operatively coupled to the trigger and wherein the latch mechanism includes a first link operatively coupled to the bolt, a second link operatively coupled to the bracket and to the first link, and a third link operatively coupled to the handle and to the first and second links;

applying a force to the trigger whereby the trigger, handle and bolt pivot with respect to the bracket from an unlatched position to a latched position; and

pivoting the locking member with respect to the trigger to a locked position wherein the locking member releasably couples the trigger to the bracket and thereby releasably locks the trigger, handle and bolt in the latched position;

applying a force to the third link so that the first and second links move into an over-center position with respect to the bolt and the bracket as the handle and bolt are pivoted from the unlatched position to the latched position such that the first and second links releasably lock the bolt in the latched position.

19. The method of claim 18 including the step of coupling a tool to the trigger, whereby the force applied to the trigger is provided by the tool.

20. A method for unlatching comprising:

providing a latch mechanism including a bracket adapted to be attached to a first member, a bolt pivotably coupled to the bracket at a first pivot and adapted to releasably engage a second member, a handle pivotally coupled at the first pivot and operatively coupled to the bracket, a trigger operatively coupled to the handle, and a locking member operatively coupled to the trigger and adapted to be selectively coupled to the bracket to thereby prevent pivotal movement of the handle from a latched position to an unlatched position and wherein the latch mechanism includes a linkage assembly having a first link operatively coupled to the bolt, a second link operatively coupled to the bracket and to the first link, and a third link operatively coupled to the handle and to the first and second links;

applying a force to the trigger whereby the trigger and locking member pivot with respect to the bracket to thereby uncouple the locking member from the bracket;

applying a further force to the trigger whereby the trigger, handle and bolt pivot with respect to the bracket toward the unlatched position and

moving the first and second links to an over-center position with respect to the bolt and the bracket to releasably lock the bolt in the latched position when the handle is in the latched position, and moving the first and second links from the over-center position with the aid of the third link as the handle is pivoted from the latched position toward the unlatched position.

21. The method of claim 20 including coupling a tool to the trigger, whereby the force applied to the trigger is provided by the tool.