Flexible draw latch

A latch adapted for use in securing together a first closure member and a second closure member, the latch comprising:

• a keeper adapted for being affixed to the first closure member,
• the keeper including a bottom wall and a generally elongated catch member extending from said bottom wall, said catch member including a camming surface and a locking surface thereon;
• and
• a latch assembly, the latch assembly comprising:
• a base adapted for being affixed to the second closure member;
• a substantially elastic latch body pivotally connected to the base;
• a lever pivotally connected to the latch body adapted to engage the keeper, the lever including a top wall, a pair of substantially opposing side walls connecting with said top wall and a generally elongate connecting wall extending between and connected with said side walls for being substantially parallel with said catch member of said keeper, wherein the lever is adapted to pivot from an open to a closed position when engaging the keeper for latching together the first and second closure members;
• wherein as said lever is pivoted to said closed position, the connecting wall of said lever comes into contact with said catch member of said keeper, with said camming surface of said catch member providing displacement of said lever relative to said catch member through its engagement with said connecting wall, wherein as said lever is moved into its closed position, said connecting wall is moved past said camming surface, with said locking surface of said catch member being positioned proximate said connecting wall.

A latch adapted for use in securing together a first closure member and a second closure member, the latch comprising:

• a keeper adapted for being affixed to the first closure member;
• and
• a latch assembly, the latch assembly comprising:
• a base adapted for being affixed to the second closure member;
• a substantially elastic latch body pivotally connected to the base, the latch body including a middle portion generally elongated along a horizontal axis and a pair of opposing end portions, said latch body having sufficient elasticity to permit an amount of elongation along its longitudinal axis;
• a lever pivotally connected to the latch body adapted for engaging the keeper, the lever being adapted to pivot from an open to a closed position when engaging the keeper for latching together the first and second closure members, wherein the latch body undergoes elongation as the lever is pivoted from the open to the closed position;
• a pair of generally elongated attachment members for pivotally connecting the base and the lever with the substantially elastic latch body;
• and
• wherein the base or lever further includes a front wall having an inner wall surface and at least a part of said end portion of said latch body is adapted to bear upon said inner wall surface of said front wall when said latch body undergoes elongation as the lever member is pivoted from the open to the closed position.

A latch adapted for use in securing together a first closure member and a second closure member, the latch comprising:

• a keeper adapted for being affixed to the first closure member;
• and
• a latch assembly,the latch assembly comprising:
• a base adapted for being affixed to the second closure member;
• a substantially elastic latch body pivotally connected to the base, the latch body having sufficient elasticity to permit an amount of elongation along its longitudinal axis;
• a lever pivotally connected to the latch body adapted for engaging the keeper, the lever being adapted to pivot from an open to a closed position when engaging the keeper for latching together the first and second closure members, wherein the latch body undergoes elongation as the lever is pivoted from the open to the closed position;
• a pair of generally elongated attachment members pivotally attaching the substantially elastic latch body to the base and the lever;
• and
• wherein at least one of said pair of generally elongated attachment members comprise a one-piece pin-means for pivotally connecting the substantially elastic latch body, wherein the pin means extends through and is positioned within said latch body, said pin means defining opposing end portions and first and second areas proximate said end portions, wherein said pin means comprises a one-piece pin member and is of a length greater than the width of the latch body,
• and said latch body includes an aperture extending therethrough for receiving said pin member, wherein said pin member further includes a third area between said first and second areas, with said first and second areas having specified diameters and a diameter of said third area is less than that of the first and second areas, said first and second areas of said pin member being positioned outside of the aperture in the latch body and adjacent opposing sides of the latch body;
• said base and/or said lever including pivot means onto which substantially the first and second areas of the pin means seat for pivotal movement of the latch body relative to the base and/or the lever, wherein the first and second areas of the pin means are rotatable relative to the pivot means of the base and/or the lever.