Latch Assembly

A method of providing a water seal system in a latch assembly that comprises

• a housing,
• wherein the housing includes a front side and an opposed rear side,
• wherein the housing includes a receptacle on the front side of the housing,
• wherein the receptacle includes an aperture,
• a handle,
• wherein at least a portion of the handle extends in the receptacle, wherein the handle is operative to move between a retracted position and an extended position with respect to the receptacle,
• a latching mechanism mounted to the rear side of the housing,
• a trigger,
• wherein the trigger is in operative connection with the handle on the front side of the housing,
• wherein the method comprises:
• a) sliding a backing plate on a trigger, such that an end portion of the trigger extends through a slot in the backing plate;
• b) sliding a gasket on the trigger, such that the end portion of the trigger extends through a slot in the gasket;
• c) extending the end portion of the trigger through the aperture and into operative engagement with the latch mechanism on the rear side of the housing, such that the trigger is operative to cause the latch mechanism to operate, responsive at least in part to movement of the handle, wherein the backing plate abuts a stop surface in operative connection with at least one of the trigger or handle, or any combination thereof, wherein the stop surface extends across more than half of a width of the backing plate, wherein movement of the handle from the extended position to the retracted position is operative to cause the stop surface to urge the backing plate to compress the gasket adjacent at least some portions of the receptacle that extend around the aperture.

A method of using a water seal system in latch assembly that comprises

• a housing,
• wherein the housing includes a front side and an opposed rear side,
• wherein the housing include a receptacle on the front side of the housing,
• wherein the receptacle includes an aperture,
• a handle,
• wherein at least a portion of the handle extends in the receptacle, wherein the handle is operative to move between a retracted position and an extended position with respect to the receptacle,
• a latching mechanism mounted to the rear side of the housing,
• a trigger extending through the aperture,
• wherein the trigger is in operative connection with the handle on the front side of the housing and with the latching mechanism on the rear side of the housing,
• wherein the trigger is operative to cause the latching mechanism to operate, responsive at least in part to movement of the handle,
• a water seal system including:
• a backing plate,
• wherein the backing plate includes a slot therethrough;
• a gasket mounted to the backing plate,
• wherein the gasket includes a slot therethrough;
• and
• a stop surface in operative connection with at least one of the trigger or handle, or any combination thereof,
• wherein the backing plate and gasket are mounted to the trigger on a front side of the housing such that the trigger extends through the slots of the backing plate and the gasket in an orientation in which an end of the backing plate abuts the stop surface and the stop surface extends across more than half of a width of the backing plate,
• wherein the method comprises:
• moving the handle from the extended position to the retracted position, which causes the stop surface to urge the backing plate to compress the gasket adjacent at least some portions of the receptacle that extend around the aperture.