Latch assembly

A latch assembly comprising:

• a housing;
• and
• a catch assembly on the housing and having first and second states, the catch assembly comprising a rotor that is movable selectively relative to the housing between first and second positions,
• the rotor having a mounting portion and a receiving portion,
• the receiving portion having a U-shaped opening between spaced first and second legs,
• the U-shaped opening configured to receive a strike element;
• and
• a strike plate having a strike surface which projects across the U-shaped opening to block a strike element in the U-shaped opening with the rotor in the first position and the catch assembly in the first state,
• the U-shaped opening bounded by an edge with a portion of the edge defined by the first leg against which a strike element within the U-shaped opening bears under a force tending to separate the latch assembly from the strike element,
• the first leg having a confronting edge at or adjacent to the strike surface with the rotor in the first position,
• the portion of the edge and the confronting edge meet at a corner having a convex shape approximated by an arc of a circle having a radius that is substantially less than 0.125 inch,
• the rotor in the second position with the catch assembly in the second state to allow a strike element in the U-shaped opening with the latch assembly in the first state to be separated from the latch assembly.

A rotor for use in a latch assembly having a housing and a strike plate with a strike surface, the rotor movable between first and second position to respectively hold a strike element and allow separation of a strike element from the rotor, the rotor comprising:

• a body with a mounting portion and a receiving portion,
• the receiving portion having first and second legs between which an opening is defined that is bounded by a U-shaped edge,
• the U-shaped edge defined by an edge portion of the first leg,
• the first leg having a confronting edge which is positionable at or adjacent to a strike surface with the rotor in the first position,
• the portion of the edge and the confronting edge meet at a corner having a curved shape approximated by a radius that is substantially less than 0.125 inch.