Hold down latch assembly for hatch covers

Claim 1

A hatch cover latch assembly comprising: a handle pivotably mounted about a mounting pin; said handle including an elongated latch slot; a locking member including an extension which in one position is located over and holds in place a hatch cover; a latch pin extending from said locking member into said elongated latch slot in the handle; a mounting pin slot provided in said locking member which receives said mounting pin; said mounting pin supported by a flange located adjacent to said latch which includes a flange surface which guides said locking member during vertical movement between open and closed positions; said locking member including a latch surface which engages said flange surface as the locking member is lifted by said handle and said latch pin from the closed position toward open position and prevents rotation of the locking member during such vertical movement, whereby when said handle pivot pin bottoms out in the bottom of said locking member mounting pin slot, said locking member rotates with said handle to a position which no longer obstructs the cover, whereby said cover may be opened; and whereby said locking member may be returned to a closed, engaged position by rotation of said handle in the opposite direction whereby said locking member moves with said handle until said latch surface engages said flange surface whereby said locking member descends vertically to a closed, engaged position with said cover.