Latch for a Boat Storage Compartment Cover

Abstract

A latch assembly includes a housing assembly having a thru-bore, a handle assembly selectively pivotally engaged with the thru-bore of the housing assembly, wherein the handle assembly includes a handle and a base portion; and a catch assembly selectively engaged with the handle assembly, wherein the handle assembly selectively rotates about the catch assembly to latch and unlatch the latch assembly when the latch assembly is in a closed position.

1 . A latch assembly comprising
 a housing assembly having a thru-bore;   a handle assembly selectively pivotally engaged with the thru-bore of the housing assembly, wherein the handle assembly includes a handle and a base portion; and   a catch assembly selectively engaged with the handle assembly, wherein the handle assembly selectively rotates about the catch assembly to latch and unlatch the latch assembly when the latch assembly is in a closed position.   
     
     
         2 . A latch assembly as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the catch assembly includes a latch stud and a first and second nut-washer. 
     
     
         3 . A latch assembly as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein the latch stud includes a latch surface. 
     
     
         4 . A latch assembly as claimed in  claim 3 , wherein the base portion of the handle assembly includes a latch pin that is selectively engaged with the latch surface of the catch assembly. 
     
     
         5 . A latch assembly as claimed in  claim 3 , wherein the latch stud includes an engaging surface that is angled toward the latch surface. 
     
     
         6 . A latch assembly as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein the base portion defines an internal cavity having an open end. 
     
     
         7 . A latch assembly as claimed in  claim 6 , wherein an end of the latch stud is disposed within the internal cavity of the base portion when the latch assembly is in a closed position. 
     
     
         8 . A latch assembly as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the handle includes a bifurcated end portion. 
     
     
         9 . A latch assembly as claimed in  claim 8 , wherein the base portion includes an axial end portion adapted for engagement with the bifurcated end portion of the handle. 
     
     
         10 . A latch assembly as claimed in  claim 9 , wherein the handle of the handle assembly selectively pivots relative to the base portion. 
     
     
         11 . A latch assembly as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the housing assembly includes a lock assembly having a crook pivotally mounted to the housing assembly. 
     
     
         12 . A latch assembly as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein an outer surface of the housing assembly includes a plurality of ribs. 
     
     
         13 . A boat storage compartment latch assembly comprising
 a housing assembly having a thru-bore;   a handle assembly pivotally engaged with the thru-bore of the housing assembly having a handle, a base portion, and a latch pin; and   a catch assembly selectively engaged with the latch pin of the handle assembly, wherein the latch pin of the handle assembly selectively rotates about the catch assembly to latch and unlatch the latch assembly when the latch assembly is in a closed position.   
     
     
         14 . A boat storage compartment latch assembly as claimed in  claim 13 , wherein the catch assembly includes a latch stud and a first and second nut-washer. 
     
     
         15 . A boat storage compartment latch assembly as claimed in  claim 14 , wherein the latch stud includes a latch surface. 
     
     
         16 . A boat storage compartment latch assembly as claimed in  claim 15 , wherein the latch pin of the base portion is selectively engaged with the latch surface of the catch assembly. 
     
     
         17 . A boat storage compartment latch assembly as claimed in  claim 15 , wherein the latch stud includes an engaging surface that is angled toward the latch surface. 
     
     
         18 . A boat storage compartment latch assembly as claimed in  claim 14 , wherein the base portion defines an internal cavity having an open end. 
     
     
         19 . A boat storage compartment latch assembly as claimed in  claim 18 , wherein the latch pin is disposed in the internal cavity of the base portion. 
     
     
         20 . A boat storage compartment latch assembly as claimed in  claim 19 , wherein an end of the latch stud is disposed within the internal cavity of the base portion when the latch assembly is in a closed position. 
     
     
         21 . A boat storage compartment latch assembly as claimed in  claim 13 , wherein the handle includes a bifurcated end portion. 
     
     
         22 . A boat storage compartment latch assembly as claimed in  claim 21 , wherein the base portion includes an axial end portion adapted for engagement with the bifurcated end portion of the handle. 
     
     
         23 . A boat storage compartment latch assembly as claimed in  claim 22 , wherein the handle of the handle assembly selectively pivots relative to the base portion. 
     
     
         24 . A boat storage compartment latch assembly as claimed in  claim 13 , wherein the housing assembly includes a lock assembly having a crook pivotally mounted to the housing assembly. 
     
     
         25 . A boat storage compartment latch assembly as claimed in  claim 13 , wherein an outer surface of the housing assembly includes a plurality of ribs. 
     
     
         26 . A boat storage compartment assembly comprising
 a boat deck defining a boat storage compartment and a water channel disposed around the boat storage compartment;   a cover for selectively covering the boat storage compartment, wherein the cover includes an opening and is hingedly connected to the boat storage compartment;   a latch assembly for selectively securing the cover to the boat storage compartment, wherein the latch assembly includes:
 a housing assembly mounted in the opening of the cover, wherein the housing assembly includes a thru-bore; 
 a handle assembly pivotally engaged with the thru-bore of the housing assembly; and 
 a catch assembly mounted to the water channel and being selectively engaged with the handle assembly, wherein the handle assembly selectively rotates about the catch assembly to latch and unlatch the latch assembly when the latch assembly is in a closed position. 
   
     
     
         27 . A boat storage compartment assembly as claimed in  claim 26 , wherein the catch assembly includes a latch stud and a first and second nut-washer. 
     
     
         28 . A boat storage compartment assembly as claimed in  claim 27 , wherein the latch stud includes a latch surface. 
     
     
         29 . A boat storage compartment assembly as claimed in  claim 28 , wherein the base portion of the handle assembly includes a latch pin that is selectively engaged with the latch surface of the catch assembly. 
     
     
         30 . A boat storage compartment assembly as claimed in  claim 28 , wherein the latch stud includes an engaging surface that is angled toward the latch surface. 
     
     
         31 . A boat storage compartment assembly as claimed in  claim 27 , wherein the base portion defines an internal cavity having an open end. 
     
     
         32 . A boat storage compartment assembly as claimed in  claim 31 , wherein an end of the latch stud is disposed within the internal cavity of the base portion when the latch assembly is in a closed position. 
     
     
         33 . A boat storage compartment assembly as claimed in  claim 26 , wherein the handle includes a bifurcated end portion. 
     
     
         34 . A boat storage compartment assembly as claimed in  claim 33 , wherein the base portion includes an axial end portion adapted for engagement with the bifurcated end portion of the handle. 
     
     
         35 . A boat storage compartment assembly as claimed in  claim 34 , wherein the handle of the handle assembly selectively pivots relative to the base portion. 
     
     
         36 . A boat storage compartment assembly as claimed in  claim 26 , wherein the housing assembly includes a lock assembly having a crook pivotally mounted to the housing assembly. 
     
     
         37 . A boat storage compartment assembly as claimed in  claim 26 , wherein an outer surface of the housing assembly includes a plurality of ribs. 
     
     
         38 . A boat storage compartment assembly as claimed in  claim 25 , wherein the cover includes a plurality of notches, each of which are engaged with one of the plurality of ribs of the housing assembly. 
     
     
         39 . A boat storage compartment assembly as claimed in  claim 26 , further comprising a seal that surround the boat storage compartment, wherein the cover engages the seal when the cover is closed. 
     
     
         40 . A boat storage compartment assembly as claimed in  claim 39 , wherein the latch assembly is disposed over the water channel and outside of an area enclosed by the seal when the cover is closed.