Latching and locking means for luggage

Claim 1

A LATCHING DEVICE FOR A LUGGAGE CASE OR LIKE RECEPTACLE COMPRISING A HOUSING, AN OPENING IN THE SIDE OF THE HOUSING TO ALLOW A HASP TO BE RECEIVED IN THE HOUSING, A LATCH MEMBER SLIDABLY MOUNTED IN THE HOUSING, RESILIENT MEANS POSITIONED IN THE HOUSING AND COOPERATING WITH THE LATCH MEMBER TO URGE THE LATCH MEMBER TOWARD LATCHING POSITION, SAID LATCH MEMBER HAVING A PORTION THEREOF EXTENDING EXTERIORLY OF THE HOUSING FOR MANUAL ENGAGEMENT AND RETRACTION AGAINST THE FORCE EXERTED BY SAID RESILIENT MEANS, HASP-ENGAGING MEANS PROVIDED BY THE ASSEMBLY OF SAID HOUSING AND RESILIENTLY BIASED LATCH MEMBER LOCATED AT SAID OPENING, A MOUNTING PLATE FOR ATTACHING THE LATCHING DEVICE TO A LUGGAGE CASE, MEANS HINGING ONE END OF THE MOUNTING PLATE TO THE END OF SAID ASSEMBLY OPPOSITE THE END THEREOF HAVING THE MANUALLY ENGAGEABLE PORTION OF THE LATCH MEMBER, LATCH-ENGAGING MEANS UPSTANDING FROM THE MOUNTING PLATE FOR COACTION WITH SAID LATCH MEMBER, AND RESILIENT MEANS COOPERABLE WITH SAID ASSEMBLY AND SAID MOUNTING PLATE TO URGE THE MOUNTING PLATE AND THE ASSEMBLY APART ABOUT THEIR HINGED CONNECTION.