Latch

A latch or catch (called sneck in Northern England and

Scotland) is a type of mechanical fastener that joins two (or
more) objects or surfaces while allowing for their regular
separation. A latch typically engages another piece of
hardware on the other mounting surface. Depending upon
the type and design of the latch, this engaged bit of
hardware may be known as a keeper or strike.

A latch is not the same as the locking mechanism of a door

or window, although often they are found together in the
same product.

Latches range in complexity from flexible one-piece flat

springs of metal or plastic, such as are used to keep blow
molded plastic power tool cases closed, to multi-point
cammed latches used to keep large doors closed.
Window latch

Contents
Common types
Deadbolt latch
Spring latches
Slam latch
Cam lock
Norfolk latch
Suffolk latch
Door latch
Crossbar
Cabin hook
Toggle latch
Pawl
Applications
Architecture
Weaponry
Firearms
Knives
Other
Automobiles
Bakeware
See also
References Opening a latch

Common types
Deadbolt latch

A single-throw bolt. The bolt can be engaged in its strike plate only after the door is closed.
The locking mechanism typically prevents the bolt from being retracted by force.

Spring latches
Latch bolt An extremely common latch type, typically part of a
lockset, it is a spring-loaded bolt with an angled edge.[1][2][3]
When the door is pushed closed, the angled edge of the latch
bolt engages with the lip of the strike plate; a spring allows
the bolt to retract. Once the door is fully closed, the bolt
automatically extends into the strike plate, holding the door
closed. The latch bolt is disengaged (retracted) typically when
the user turns the door handle, which via the lockset's
mechanism, manually retracts the latch bolt, allowing the door
to open.
Deadlocking latch bolt (deadlatch) is an elaboration on the
latch bolt which includes a guardbolt to prevent “shimming”
or “jimmying” of the latch bolt. When the door is closed, the
latch bolt and guardbolt are retracted together, and the door
closes normally, with the latch bolt entering the strike plate.
The strike plate, however, holds the guardbolt in its depressed
position: a mechanism within the lockset holds the latch bolt
in the projected position. This arrangement prevents the latch
bolt from being depressed through the use of a credit card or
some other tool, which would lead to unauthorized entry.
Draw Latch is a two part latch where one side has an arm that
can clasp to the other half, and as it closes the clasp pulls the
two parts together. Frequently used on tool boxes, chests,
Knob has crescent-shaped bar
crates and windows. Doesn't need to be fully closed to secure
which pulls back latch bolt when
both halves.
turned. Version on upper right has a
Spring bolt lock (or night latch): A locking mechanism used lock; version on upper left does not.
with a latch bolt Kwikset uses this shape. Other
companies have square or D-shaped
bars.
Slam latch

A slam latch uses a spring and is activated by the shutting or slamming of a door. Like all
latches, a slam latch is a mechanism to hold a door closed. The slam latch derives its name
from its ability to slam doors and drawers shut without damaging the latch. A slam latch is
rugged and ideal for industrial, agricultural and construction applications.

Cam lock

A cam lock is a type of latch consisting of a base and a cam. The base is where the key or tool
is used to rotate the cam, which is what does the latching. Cams can be straight or offset; offset
cams are reversible. Commonly found on garage cabinets, file cabinets, tool chests, and other
locations where privacy and security is needed.[4]
 The base
Offset cam
portion of a
cam lock

Norfolk latch

A Norfolk latch is a type of latch incorporating a simple thumb-actuated lever and commonly
used to hold wooden gates and doors closed. In a Norfolk latch, the handle is fitted to a
backplate independently of the thumb piece.[5] Introduced around 1800–1820, Norfolk latches,
originating in the English county of the same name, differ from the older Suffolk latch, which
lacked a back plate to which the thumbpiece is attached.

Suffolk latch

A Suffolk latch is a type of latch incorporating a simple thumb-actuated lever and commonly
used to hold wooden gates and doors closed.

The Suffolk latch originated in the English county of Suffolk in the 16th century and stayed in
common use until the 19th century. They have recently come back into favour, particularly on
garden gates and sheds. They were common from the 17th century to around 1825, and their
lack of a back plate made them different from the later, and neighbouring Norfolk latch
(introduced 1800–1820). Both the Suffolk latch and Norfolk latch are thought to have been
named by architectural draughtsman William Twopenny (1797-1873).[6] Many of these plates
found their way into America and other parts of the world.

Crossbar

A crossbar, sometimes called a bolt, is a primitive fastener

consisting simply of a post barring a door.

Crossbars were historically common, simple fasteners

consisting simply of a plank or beam mounted to one side of
a door by a set of cleats. The board could be slid past the
frame to block the door. Alternatively, the bar can be a
separate piece that is placed into open cleats or hooks,
extending across the frame on both sides. The effect of this
device is essentially the opposite of the crash bar in that its A crossbar on a door
operation is to permit the door to be opened inward rather
than outward. On a set of double doors, the same principle
works, but needn't extend past the frame. The bar simply extends into another set of cleats on
the other door such as to interfere with the door opening.

Cabin hook
[7][8]
A cabin hook is a hooked bar that engages into a staple.[7][8] The bar
is usually attached permanently to a ring or staple that is fixed with
screws or nails to woodwork or a wall at the same level as the eye
screw. The eye screw is usually screwed into the adjacent wall or onto
the door itself. Used to hold a cupboard, door or gate open or shut.[9]

A cabin hook is used in many situations to hold a door open, like on

ships to prevent doors from swinging and banging against other
woodwork as the ship moves due to wave action. This usage spread
also to other domains, where a door was required to be held open or a
self-closing device is used to close the door.

Many buildings are built with fire-resistant doors to separate different

parts of buildings and to allow people to be protected from fire and A cabin hook latch
smoke. When using a cabin hook in such a situation, one should keep
in mind that a fire-resistant door is an expensive and heavy item, and
it only works as a fire door if it is always closed. To hold an often heavy fire door open simply,
(magnetic) door holders are used that release when a building's fire alarm system is activated.
As cabin hooks must be activated manually, they are impractical for fire doors.

Toggle latch

Also named draw latch or draw catch. It has a claw or a loop that catches the strike plate
(named catch plate in this case) when reaching a certain position.[10][11]

Pawl

A pawl is a latch that will allow movement in one direction, but prevents return motion.
Commonly used in combination with a ratchet wheel.

Applications

Architecture

A latch of some type is typically fitted to a door or window.[12]

Weaponry

Many types of weaponry incorporate latches with designs unique to the weapon.

Firearms

Firearms require specialized latches used during loading and firing of the weapon.

A break-action firearm is one whose barrels are hinged and a latch is operated to release the
two parts of the weapon to expose the breech and allow loading and unloading of
ammunition. It is then closed and re-latched prior to firing. A separate operation may be
required for the cocking and latching-open of a hammer to fire the new round. Break open
actions are universal in double-barrelled shotguns, double-barrelled rifles and combination
guns, and are also common in single shot rifles, pistols, and shotguns, and can also be found in
flare guns, grenade launchers, air guns and some older revolver designs.
Several latch designs have been used for loading revolvers. In a top-break revolver, the frame
is hinged at the bottom front of the cylinder. The frame is in two parts, held together by a latch
on the top rear of the cylinder. For a swing out cylinder, the cylinder is mounted on a pivot
that is coaxial with the chambers, and the cylinder swings out and down. Some designs, such
as the Ruger Super Redhawk or the Taurus Raging Bull, use a latches at the front and rear of
the cylinder to provide a secure bond between cylinder and frame.

To fire a revolver, generally the hammer is first manually cocked and latched into place. The
trigger, when pulled, releases the hammer, which fires the round in the chamber.

Knives

Various types of knives with folding or retractable blades rely on latches for their function. A
switchblade uses an internal spring to produce the blade which is held in place by a button-
activated latch. Likewise a ballistic knife uses a strong latch to restrain a powerful spring
from firing the blade as a projectile until triggered by opening the latch. A gravity knife relies
on a latch to hold the folding blade in an open position once released. A balisong uses a single
latch to hold the folding blade both open and closed, depending on the position of the handles;
by rotating 180 degrees the same latch can be used in either configuration. Balisong latches
have numerous variations, including magnetic variants and some which can be opened via a
spring when the handles are squeezed together.

Utility knives also often use a latch to hold a folding knife both open and closed. This allows it
to be locked in orientation to the handle when in use, but also safely stowed otherwise. To
open a knife of this type may require significantly more force than the weapons variety as an
added safety feature.[13]

Other

Crossbows incorporate a type of latch to hold the drawn bowstring prior to firing.

Automobiles

Automobiles incorporate numerous special-purpose latches as components of the doors,

hood/bonnet, trunk/boot door, seat belts, etc.

On passenger cars, a hood may be held down by a concealed latch. On race cars or cars with
aftermarket hoods (that do not use the factory latch system) the hood may be held down by
hood pins.

The term Nader bolt is a nickname for the bolt on vehicles that allows a hinged door to remain
safely latched and closed. It is named after consumer rights advocate and politician Ralph
Nader, who in 1965 released the book Unsafe at Any Speed which claimed that American cars
were fundamentally flawed with respect to operator safety.

Latches in seatbelts typically fasten the belt which constrains the occupant to the body of the
car. Particularly in rear seats slightly different latches may be used for each seat in order to
prevent adjacent seatbelts from being attached to the wrong point. Inertial seatbelt release is
a potential circumstance where, in a collision, the seatbelt latch can unintentionally come
loose leading to potential injury of the passenger. An additional risk of seatbelt latches is that
in some cases the occupant may believe the latch is secure (e.g., by hearing a characteristic
click) when in fact it is not.
A parking pawl is a device that latches the transmission on automatic vehicles when put in
park.

Bakeware

A spring latch (in this case an over-center-latch) is used to

hold the walls of a springform pan in place.

See also
Door chain
Electric strike
Single-point locking
Close-up of springform pan
Snib

References
1. "Basic Technical Fundamentals of Builders Hardware Mortise, Bored and Auxiliary Locks" (https://
web.archive.org/web/20120907100345/http://sargentlock.com/file_broker.php?document_id=66
41). Sargent Manufacturing Company, an ASSA ABLOY Group company. Archived from the original
(http://www.sargentlock.com/file_broker.php?document_id=6641) on 2012-09-07. Retrieved
2014-09-26.
2. Note 'Latch bolt' label on Lockset diagram (http://www.hometips.com/how-it-works/cylindrical-m
ortise-locksets.html) Archived (https://web.archive.org/web/20110531130040/http://www.hometi
ps.com/how-it-works/cylindrical-mortise-locksets.html) 2011-05-31 at the Wayback Machine
3. Latch bolt definition at Answers.com (http://www.answers.com/topic/latch-bolt) Archived (http
s://web.archive.org/web/20110628190918/http://www.answers.com/topic/latch-bolt) 2011-06-
28 at the Wayback Machine
4. "Cam latch" (http://www.mcmaster.com/nav/framework.asp?ReqTyp=CATALOG&CtlgPgNbr=2898
&term=About%2bCam%2bLocks). McMaster-Carr. Retrieved 2008-10-17.
5. "Suffolk Latches" (https://web.archive.org/web/20120219133950/http://www.handforged.co.uk/a
rticles/suffolk-latches/). Hand Forged Traditional Ironmongery. 17 June 2007. Archived from the
original (http://www.handforged.co.uk/articles/suffolk-latches/) on 19 February 2012.
. Article on Suffolk Latches (http://www.priorsrec.co.uk/blog/index.php/suffolk-latches-241)
Archived (https://web.archive.org/web/20150120081829/http://www.priorsrec.co.uk/blog/index.
php/suffolk-latches-241) 2015-01-20 at the Wayback Machine
7. Porter, Brian; Christopher Tooke (2007). Carpentry and Joinery 3. Butterworth-Heinemann. p. 200.
ISBN 978-0-7506-6505-6.
. interiordezine.com (http://www.interiordezine.com/index.cfm/Glossary/glossary_c) Archived (htt
ps://web.archive.org/web/20081015045429/http://www.interiordezine.com/index.cfm/Glossary/
glossary_c) 2008-10-15 at the Wayback Machine
9. Beazley, Elisabeth (1990). Beazley's Design and Detail of the Space Between Buildings. Taylor &
Francis. p. 230. ISBN 978-0-419-13620-0.
10. catch-plate (https://www.wordnik.com/words/catch-plate) Archived (https://web.archive.org/we
b/20171008232026/https://www.wordnik.com/words/catch-plate) 2017-10-08 at the Wayback
Machine, wordnik.com
11. What is the proper term for a latch that uses a loop and lever to draw things together? (https://diy.
stackexchange.com/questions/71797/what-is-the-proper-term-for-a-latch-that-uses-a-loop-and-le
ver-to-draw-things-to) Archived (https://web.archive.org/web/20171009041439/https://diy.stacke
xchange.com/questions/71797/what-is-the-proper-term-for-a-latch-that-uses-a-loop-and-lever-to-
draw-things-to) 2017-10-09 at the Wayback Machine, diy.stackexchange.com
12. Blanc, Alan (2014-10-29). Internal Components (https://books.google.com/books?id=miIiBQAAQB
AJ&pg=SA7-PA44&dq=latch+fitted+to+a+door+or+window.&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwiDtJfZ3fP
XAhXpzIMKHRj9CE0Q6AEIMDAC#v=onepage&q=latch%20fitted%20to%20a%20door%20or%20wi
ndow.&f=false). Routledge. ISBN 9781317893950.
13. For example, this bicycle multi-tool contains a knife with a safety latch: "Archived copy" (http://ww
w.topeak.com/products/Tools/ALiEN_DX). Archived (https://web.archive.org/web/200812220357
51/http://www.topeak.com/products/Tools/ALiEN_DX) from the original on 2008-12-22. Retrieved
2009-01-01. (viewed 1 January 2009)

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