Self-protecting latch

Claim 1

A self-protecting latch for use on an ammunition shipping container having a cover positioned on a body portion with a resilient gasket therebetween, said latch comprising, in combination, a pivotable lever element and a channel member attached to the body portion of the container, said lever element including a socket in the forward end thereof for receiving a removable lever handle, means for pivoting said lever element relative to said channel member, a king pin positioned laterally in the central portion of said lever element, said channel member having elongated parallel side walls, said king pin extending outwardly beyond the sides of said lever arm for engaging the upper edge of the side walls of said channel member, a rod having one end pivotally attached to said lever arm and extending rearwardly therefrom, the other end of said rod being attachable to the cover of the container, and an integral pivot eye on the inward end of said rod, said pivot eye being positioned to receive said king pin and be rotatable therearound, whereby the rotation of said pivotable lever element relative to said channel member causes said rod to be drawn inward with said pivot eye rotating on said king pin until the outward projections thereon contact the walls of said channel member thereby closing the cover and sealing the container by causing the resilient gasket to be suitably deformed.