Panel latching mechanism

Claim 1

A latch assembly mounted in one of a pair of adjoining panels for latching engagement with a strike in the other adjoining panel for retaining the panels in abutting relation, comprising a housing secured in the edge of the panel having spaced sides with aligned bushings therein, and a latch bolt assembly rotatably mounted within said housing and including a latch bolt having a body with a central circular opening therein, an offset arm extending from said body and terminating in a hooked end to engage the strike for latching adjoining panels together, a circular cam conformably received in said opening having a hub with a polygonal passage therethrough integral with but offset from the center of the cam and projecting from the opposite sides thereof, the opposite ends of said hub being conformably received within said bushings to rotatably mount the cam within said housing, an integral outwardly projecting tab on one surface of said cam projecting beyond the cam to overlap the surface of the body, a substantially continuous peripheral flange formed on the cam as an extension of the surface opposite the cam surface provided with said tab, said flange overlapping and engaging the surface of the bolt body adjacent the opening, said cam having a slot therethrough generally opposite said tab, resilient retaining means secured to the cam and frictionally engaging said bolt body comprising a generally J-shaped flat leaf spring with the curled end of the J extending through said slot and crimped onto said cam, the opposite end of the spring being inwardly bent to overlap and resiliently engage the surface of said bolt opposite said peripheral flange, said flange, said tab and said spring positioning and retaining said cam in the opening in said bolt, and a pair of spaced projections formed on said bolt body and cooperating with said tab to limit the arc of movement of said cam relative to said latch bolt.