US Patent 7296830 Rotary pawl latch

Latches including a housing, a rotary pawl, catch means for releasably holding the pawl in a closed configuration, and means for operating the catch means are disclosed. The pawl is pivotally attached to the housing and is rotationally movable between a closed or engaged configuration and an open or disengaged configuration. The pawl is provided with a torsion spring member that biases the pawl toward the open or disengaged configuration. In some embodiments the catch means includes a locking member. In other embodiments the catch means includes a pivotally movable trigger. The means for operating the catch means may be electrically powered.