Latch apparatus

Apparatus comprising:

• an actuator configured to operate a latch, wherein the latch is configured to be in a closed condition wherein the latch engages an item, and a open condition wherein the latch disengages the item, wherein the latch includes a movable catch jaw, wherein in the closed condition the catch jaw is in a first position, is immovable and is operative in the first position to hold in fixed engagement with the latch a member operatively connected to the item, and wherein in the open condition the catch jaw is movable from the first position to the second position, wherein in the second position the catch jaw enables the member to disengage from the catch jaw,
• wherein the actuator includes a housing, wherein a drive is housed within the housing, wherein the drive is in operative connection with a movable release member, wherein the release member extends within and outside the housing, wherein a portion of the release member is operative to linearly move along a straight line in a first direction outside the housing in response to operation of the drive, wherein the linear movement of the release member in the first direction causes the portion to move from a position in which the portion is not operatively engaged with the catch jaw to a further position in which the portion is operatively engaged with the catch jaw, wherein movement of the portion in the first direction from the further position causes the catch jaw to be movable from the first position to the second position.

Apparatus comprising:

• a latch,
• wherein the latch is changeable between
• a closed condition in which the latch holds an item in engaged relation,
• and
• an open condition in which the item is disengageable from the latch,
• the latch including
• a movable catch jaw,
• wherein the catch jaw is movable relative to the latch between
• a first jaw position in which the catch jaw holds the item in engagement with the latch,
• a second jaw position in which the item is disengageable from the latch jaw,
• a movable release pawl,
• wherein the release pawl is movable relative to the latch between a first pawl position and a second pawl position,
• wherein in the first pawl position the release pawl engages the catch jaw and holds the catch jaw fixed in the first jaw position,
• wherein in the second pawl position the release pawl enables the catch jaw to be movable from the first jaw position to the second jaw position,
• wherein the release pawl includes a release projection,
• at least one spring, wherein the at least one spring biases the catch jaw toward the second jaw position and the release pawl toward the first pawl position,
• a latch actuator,
• wherein the latch actuator is in fixed operative connection with the latch,
• wherein the latch actuator includes
• a drive, and
• a release member,
• wherein the release member is selectively movable along a straight linear direction responsive to the drive,
• wherein linear movement of the release member is operative to engage the release projection and move the pawl against the force of the at least one spring from the first pawl position to the second pawl position,
• wherein with the release pawl in the second pawl position the catch jaw moves responsive to the force of the at least one spring from the first jaw position to the second jaw position, whereby the item is disengageable from the catch jaw and the latch is changed from the closed condition to the open condition.

Apparatus comprising:

• an actuator configured to change a latch from a closed condition in which an item is latched and generally held immovable relative to the latch, to an open condition in which the item is unlatched and movable relative to the latch, and wherein the latch includes a movable catch jaw, wherein the catch jaw in a first position is operative to engage a member operatively connected with the item when the latch is in the closed condition, wherein the catch jaw in the second position is operative to enable the member to disengage from the catch jaw when the latch is in the open condition,
• the actuator comprising:
• a housing, wherein the housing is engageable in fixed operative connection with the latch,
• a drive and a gear system within the housing, wherein the gear system is in operative connection with the drive,
• wherein the gear system is in operative connection with a movable release member, wherein the release member is movable in a linearly straight first direction in response to operation of the drive, wherein the release member is configured to be in operative connection with the catch jaw such that movement of the release member in the first direction enables the catch jaw to be movable to the second position,
• a switch, wherein the switch includes
• a switch body
• a plunger, wherein the plunger is movable relative to the switch body,
• wherein the switch body is housed within the housing and the plunger extends outside the housing,
• wherein the catch jaw is operatively engageable with the plunger and is operative to cause the plunger to move relative to the switch body responsive to movement of the catch jaw,
• wherein the switch is operative to detect that the catch jaw is in at least one of the first position and the second position.

Apparatus comprising

• an actuator configured to change a latch assembly from a closed condition in which an item is latched and generally held immovable relative to the latch assembly, to an open condition in which the item is unlatched and movable relative to the latch assembly, and wherein the latch assembly includes a movable catch jaw, wherein the catch jaw in a first position is operative to engage a member operatively connected with the item when the latch assembly is in the closed condition, wherein the catch jaw in the second position is operative to enable the member to disengage from the catch jaw when the latch assembly is in the open condition,
• the actuator comprising:
• a housing, wherein the housing is engageable in fixed operative connection with the latch assembly,
• a drive and a gear system with the housing, wherein the gear system is in operative connection with the drive,
• wherein the gear system is in operative connection with a movable release member that includes a finger that extends outside the housing, wherein the finger is movable linearly straight along a first direction outside the housing in response to operation of the drive, wherein the finger is configured to move to be in operative connection with the catch jaw such that movement of the finger in the first direction enables the catch jaw to be movable from the first position to the second position,
• a switch, wherein the switch extends in the housing, and wherein the switch includes a switch body and a plunger, wherein the switch body is housed within the housing and wherein the plunger extends outside the housing,
• wherein the switch is configured such that the catch jaw is operatively engageable with the plunger and is operative to cause the plunger to move relative to the switch body responsive at least in part to movement of the catch jaw from the second position to the first position, wherein the switch is operative to detect that the catch jaw is in at least one of the first position and the second position.