LATCH AND RETURN SPRING

1346399 Latches SPERRY RAND CORP 7 April 1972 [20 May 1971] 16177/72 Heading E2A [Also in Divisions A5 and F2] Apparatus for separably connecting a pair of tubular mating casings comprises an L-shaped latch 30 one leg 32 of which is mounted in a passageway 50 in one of the housings and the other leg 35 of which overlaps a portion of the other housing when the two housings are connected, a leaf spring 40 to resiliently load the latch in the passageway and to limit its travel connected to the one housing and a keeper cavity 55 in the other housing to receive the other leg of the latch when the housings are connected. The leaf spring 40 has a body portion 41, which is a shallow channel in transverse cross-section, and an S-shaped arm portion. The body portion is held in a pocket 60 in one housing. When the latch is moved upwards to its furthest extent an inclined face 34 of the latch contacts an underside portion 46 of the arm portion of the spring. To ensure correct orientation of the housings when connected, keys (81, Fig. 6 not shown) provided on one of the housings mate with channels (80) on the other housing.