Pressure relief latch mechanism

A method of releasably latching a first member to a second member, the method comprising:

• providing a latch mechanism including a mounting bracket adapted to be coupled to the first member;
• providing a handle having a first end and a second end pivotally coupled to the mounting bracket, the handle being pivotal from a retracted position toward an extended position,
• providing a trigger for selectively locking the handle in the retracted position,
• providing a bolt having an outer surface that conforms generally to the arc of a circle, the arc extending continuously along at least about 110° of the circle, the bolt being pivotally coupled to the mounting bracket for pivotal movement with respect to the handle and with respect to the mounting bracket from a retracted position toward an extended position, the bolt including an engagement member adapted to engage the second member, and
• providing a spherical detent mechanism and a spring, the spring biasing the spherical detent mechanism into a recess in the outer surface of the bolt for releasably coupling the bolt to the handle such that when the trigger is in an unlocked state the bolt and the handle may conjointly pivot with respect to the mounting bracket, and when the trigger is in a locked state and when less than an excess force is applied to the engagement member of the bolt, the bolt and handle are conjointly retained by the trigger in the retracted position,
• releasing the detent mechanism from the bolt to pivot the bolt independently of the handle when the excess force is applied to the engagement member of the bolt;
• and
• pivoting the handle and the bolt conjointly with one another from their retracted positions toward their extended positions to release the bolt from the second member when an excessive less than the excess force is applied and when the trigger is in the unlocked state.