# US 8,783,075 B2 · Latch assembly > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 8,783,075 B2 - Document ID: US8783075B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 13/443,334 - Filed: 2012-04-10 - Published: 2012-10-18 - Granted: 2014-07-22 - Earliest claimed: 2011-04-12 - Assignees: Matre Group, LLC. - Applicants: Daniel A. Matre - Inventors: Daniel A. Matre - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8783075B2 ## CPC - E05B 85/14: Handles pivoted about an axis parallel to the wing - E05B 85/26: Cooperation between bolts and detents - E05B 13/005: {Disconnecting the handle (E05B13/101, E05B47/0676, E05B55/06 take precedence)} - E05B 85/243: {with a bifurcated bolt} - E05B 2015/0486: {A single spring working on more than one element} - Y10T 70/5155: Door - Y10T 70/5761: Retractable or flush handle - Y10T 292/1047: Closure - Y10T 292/1076: Link and lever - Y10T 292/1077: Cam - Y10T 292/108: Lever - Y10T 292/62: Bolt casings - E05B: LOCKS; ACCESSORIES THEREFOR; HANDCUFFS - Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION ## Abstract The present disclosure is directed to a latch assembly that includes a pawl assembly, a lever assembly and a lock assembly. The pawl assembly is actuated from an open position to a closed assembly by the lever assembly. The lever assembly includes a drive lever having a slot and a driven lever having a slot that is open on one end. The lock assembly has an engagement member that moves along the slot of the drive lever between an engaged position and a disengaged position. When in the engaged position, the engagement member is received within the slot of the driven lever. When in the disengaged position, the engagement member is outside of the slot of the driven lever. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A latch assembly comprising: a pawl assembly having an open position and a closed position; a lever assembly that actuates the pawl assembly from the closed position to the open position, the lever assembly comprising: a drive lever having a slot; and a driven lever having a slot that is open on one end; a lock assembly having an engagement member that moves along the slot of the drive lever between an engaged position where the engagement member is received within the slot of the driven lever and a disengaged position where the engagement member is outside of the slot of the driven lever; a cam lever that actuates the drive lever; and a biasing element that biases the drive lever toward the cam lever, wherein the biasing element is aligned with an axis that is substantially parallel to a plane through which the cam lever moves. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The latch assembly of claim 1, wherein the open end of the slot in the driven lever is wider than a closed end of the slot in the driven lever. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The latch assembly of claim 2, wherein the slot in the driven lever has a pair of beveled edges at the open end of the slot. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The latch assembly of claim 1, wherein the lock assembly further comprises a linkage and a lock actuator, and wherein the engagement member is moved between the engaged position and the disengaged position by rotating the lock actuator. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The latch assembly of claim 4, wherein the lock actuator is a cylinder that receives a key. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The latch assembly of claim 1, further comprising: a housing that supports the pawl assembly, the lever assembly and the lock assembly; a cam lever that actuates the drive lever, wherein the cam lever is positioned on one side of the housing and does not extend through the housing; and a biasing element that biases the drive lever toward the cam lever. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The latch assembly of claim 1, wherein the biasing element is aligned with an axis that is substantially parallel to a plane through which the cam lever moves. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The latch assembly of claim 1, wherein the slot of the drive lever is nonplanar. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The latch assembly of claim 1, wherein a first part of the slot of the drive lever lies in a first plane and a second part of the slot of the drive lever lies in a second plane that is substantially perpendicular to the first plane. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The latch assembly of claim 1, wherein the lock assembly is removable from the latch assembly without disassembly of the lever assembly. ### Claim 11 A latch assembly comprising: a housing; and a lever assembly supported by the housing, the lever assembly comprising a drive lever having a slot; a driven lever having a slot, wherein the drive lever drives the driven lever when an engagement member is positioned within the slot of the driven lever; and a cam lever that actuates the drive lever, wherein the cam lever is positioned on one side of the housing and does not extend through the housing. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The latch assembly of claim 11, wherein the drive lever is biased toward the cam lever by a biasing element that is aligned along an axis that is substantially parallel to a plane through which the cam lever moves. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The latch assembly of claim 11, wherein the slot of the driven lever is open on one end. ### Claim 14 (depends on 11) The latch assembly of claim 11, wherein the engagement member is movable between a first position where the engagement member is received within the slot of the driven lever and a second position where the engagement member is outside the slot of the driven lever. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The latch assembly of claim 14, wherein a lock assembly causes the engagement member to move between the first position and the second position. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The latch assembly of claim 15, wherein the lock assembly is removable from the latch assembly without disassembly of the lever assembly. ### Claim 17 (depends on 11) The latch assembly of claim 11, wherein an end of the slot in the drive lever is angled with respect to the remainder of the drive lever. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The latch assembly of claim 17, wherein the engagement member may be removed from the slot of the drive lever without disassembly of the lever assembly. ### Claim 19 A latch assembly comprising: a housing; a handle that is rotatably attached to the housing by an axle; a pawl assembly supported by the housing, the pawl assembly having an open position and a closed position; a lever assembly that actuates the pawl assembly from the closed position to the open position, the lever assembly being supported by the housing and comprising: a drive lever having a slot; a driven lever having a slot that is open on one end; and a cam lever that actuates the drive lever, the cam lever being secured to the axle so that rotation of the axle causes the cam lever to rotate; wherein the cam lever is positioned on one side of the housing and does not extend through the housing; a lock assembly having an engagement member that moves along the slot of the drive lever between an engaged position where the engagement member is received within the slot of the driven lever and a disengaged position where the engagement member is outside of the slot of the driven lever; wherein the drive lever drives the driven lever only when the engagement member is in the engaged position.