Chest safety lock

An improved latch assembly which includes a safety catch feature comprising, in combination:

• a housing having a base side, a top opening opposed to the base side, and positioned for receipt of a separate strike member, and a side opening for a pushbutton;
• a strike member including a latch tongue for positioning in the latch housing top opening;
• a latch plate pivotally mounted in the housing and extending from the base side toward the top opening, said plate pivotal about an axis permitting movement of the plate between opposite sides of the top opening of the housing;
• biasing means in the housing for driving the plate toward the side of the housing having the pushbutton opening and out of position for the strike to engage the plate upon insertion of the strike into the top opening;
• a pushbutton mounted in the housing side opening for movement generally transverse to the plate and for engaging the biased latch plate and pivoting said latch plate against the biasing force to position the plate on the opposite side of the housing, one of said plate and said strike latch tongue including an opening and the other including a transverse lug cooperative to engage the strike member and plate when the force on the pushbutton is released permitting the plate to move away from the opposite side of the housing and engage the strike member only when the strike member inserted into the top opening after the pushbutton is actuated to pivot the plate to the appropriate side of the housing.