Adjustable latching apparatus and method of latchably pressing and holding together

A releasable positive latching combination for adjustably pressing and holding together two members in an abutting or controlled gap relationship, comprising:

• a first and second member, each having a front surface and a back surface and each having a mounting hole coaxially aligned with respect to each other when said members are held together, said first member having a counterbore adjacent said first member front surface;
• a fixed separator interposed between said first member back surface and said second member front surface to create a gap between said members;
• a handle having a near end and a bifurcated opposite end having a pair of facing planar parts substantially parallel to each other, said pair having edges in the shape of cam surfaces having holes therein coaxially aligned to each other to define a cam axis of rotation perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of said handle;
• a thrust washer having a washer portion adjoining a neck portion, said washer portion interposed between said handle cam surface and said front surface beyond said counterbore and said neck portion fitting freely within said counterbore, whereby said washer accepts and dispersely transfers to said front surface beyond said counterbore the force of said handle cam surface slidably rotating and pushing against said washer;
• a shaft supported in said first member mounting hole having proximal and distal ends, said proximal and distal ends projecting beyond said front and back surfaces of said first member, respectively;
• means pivotally attaching said opposite end of said handle to said proximal end of said shaft;
• a cross member affixed to said shaft in the proximity of said distal end of said shaft protruding outwardly of and substantially perpendicular to the axis of said shaft;
• means for flexibly retaining said shaft with said handle attached in said mounting hole of said first member to maintain said handle cam surface in frictional contact with said front surface of said first member;
• and
• receptacle means adjustably retained in said mounting hole of said second member having a central bore with diametrically opposing key slots of dimensions to freely pass said cross member affixed to said shaft for conditionally receiving said shaft cross member to engaging depth on condition said cross member is aligned to said bore key slot corresponding to an unlocked and relaxed condition, and thereupon, with the aid of said handle oriented at a right angle to said shaft, said shaft being rotated a predetermined amount and direction about the shaft longitudinal axis to engage said cross member with said receiving means in interlocking relation corresponding to an interlocked and relaxed condition, to further enable said first and second members to be compressed and held together in a correspondingly locked and compressed condition by cam-action of said handle cam surface slidably rotating and pushing against said front surface of said first member surrounding said mounting hole of said first member by pivoting said handle substantially a half-turn about said cam axis thereby pulling on the shaft anchored at its distal end by said cross member interlocked with said receiving means.