Lock, in particular, for suitcases or the like

A locking device, particularly for suitcases, comprising

• a closure base plate, a link, and a pivot pin by which the link is pivoted to the base plate;
• a bearing shaft disposed parallel to an axis of the pivot pin, a latch which has two actuating portions located on opposite sides of the bearing shaft, the link bearing the latch via the bearing shaft;
• a lock, a latch slide having an actuating handle, and a closing part having an opening which mates with the latch, wherein a first of the latch actuating portions serves for a swinging displacement of the latch in a direction towards the mating closing part opening, and a second of the latch actuating portions produces, by application of actuation pressure and via a displacement of the link, a lengthwise pull on the latch into a locking position of the latch allowing the latch to be caught by the latch slide;
• wherein the actuating handle is displaceable against spring action into a position of release and is closable against displacement into the position of release by the lock;
• the actuating handle is disposed on an end of the latch slide which extends beyond the latch, the link between restrained from swinging beyond its dead center position and resting in locking position approximately parallel to a plane of displacement of the latch slide, the latch slide being movable under the lock by action of a part of the base place in an end region of the latch slide.