Hood latch

A latch assembly for releasably securing together one body portion, such as a hood, to another body portion, such as a cowl, of a semi-tractor or the like;

• comprising securing means adapted to be mounted on one of the portions, and hook means adapted to be carried on the other body portion and a latch of onepiece molded construction comprising an elongate elastomeric member having a relatively stiff handle at one end, an opening therein adjacent the handle and a relatively stiff tongue in the opening extending from the handle toward the other end, the handle and tongue being integral with the elongate member and having a stiffness substantially greater than that of the balance of the latch, the free end of the tongue being adapted for engaging said hook means, and connecting means on the other end of the elongate member for connection to said securing means, the free end of the tongue being spaced from said connecting means a distance less than the distance said hook means is spaced from said securing means when the first and second body portions are adjacent one another and the elongate member is untensioned, the tongue of the elongate member being adapted to be brought overcenter with respect to the plane of the elongate member when the handle is pushed toward the body portion on which the hook means is mounted while the tongue is engaging said hook means thereby tensioning the elongate member and securing together the two body portions.