Latching arrangements for a padlock

A latch assembly for a padlock, the latch assembly comprising:

• a rocker including a central through bore and a tongue extending from an outer periphery of the rocker;
• a latch member slidably disposed in a cavity in the rocker;
• and
• a torsion spring assembled to a spring retaining surface of the rocker and including first and second legs extending from a center coil portion positioned around the through bore, the first leg extending beyond the outer periphery of the rocker, the second leg terminating inward of the outer periphery of the rocker and engaging a portion of the rocker to apply a biasing force against the rocker when the first leg is in a spring-loaded condition;
• wherein the rocker comprises at least one spring fastening member securing the torsion spring to the spring retaining surface of the rocker;
• and
• wherein the torsion spring is assembled to the spring retaining surface in an unloaded condition.

A method of manufacturing a padlock latch assembly as a self-contained subassembly, the method comprising:

• assembling a latch member into a cavity of a rocker to extend from an outer periphery of the rocker, such that the latch member is slideable between an extended position and a retracted position;
• placing a torsion spring on a spring retaining surface of the rocker such that a central coil portion of the torsion spring is positioned around a through bore in the rocker, a first leg extending from the central coil portion extends outward of the outer periphery of the rocker, and a second leg extending from the central coil portion opposite the first leg is positioned adjacent a projection extending from the spring retaining surface of the rocker;
• and
• after placing the torsion spring on the spring retaining surface of the rocker, deforming the projection to secure the torsion spring to the spring retaining surface of the rocker.