Universal latch and sensor system

A universal latch and sensor system configured for use with an enclosure having a panel and a frame and for latching the panel relative to the frame, the system comprising:

• a latch having a body configured to be mounted to the panel or to the frame of the enclosure, the latch also having a pawl movable relative to the body throughout a range of motion including an engaging position and a disengaging position;
• and
• a sensor housing configured to be mounted to the other of the panel or the frame of the enclosure, and a sensor positioned within the sensor housing and having a sensing range throughout which it is capable of sensing the pawl of the latch, and wherein a body of the sensor has a facing surface, wherein the pawl of the latch in the engaging position is spaced laterally from the facing surface of the body of the sensor;
• wherein the sensor and the latch are configured to be mounted in any of a plurality of orientations in which the range of motion of the pawl of the latch at least partially overlaps with the sensing range of the sensor;
• and
• wherein the sensor is configured to sense the presence or absence of the pawl of the latch when the sensor and the latch are mounted in any of the orientations and when the pawl of the latch is moved in the range of motion of the pawl to any location within the sensing range of the sensor while maintaining a gap or a space between the sensor housing and the pawl of the latch;
• and
• wherein the pawl of the latch in the engaging position is spaced laterally from the facing surface of the body of the sensor, such that the space or the gap is maintained between the body of the sensor and the pawl of the latch when the pawl is in the engaging position.