Importance

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Abstract

A latch mechanism includes a latch chassis, a latch bolt having a closed position and an open position, a pawl having an engaged position at which the pawl holds the latch bolt in the closed position and a disengaged position at which the pawl allows the latch bolt to move to the open position, and a first release handle operably connected to the pawl via a transmission path to selectively move the pawl from the engaged position to the disengaged position. The transmission path includes a toggle linkage having a first link pivotable about a first axis and a second link pivotable about a second axis, the first link and the second link being pivotable relative to each other about a common axis. The latch mechanism includes a stop to limit rotation of the second link in a first direction relative to the first link. The toggle linkage has a first toggle linkage position where the common axis is positioned on a first side of a line joining the first axis and the second axis, and the stop is engaged to operably couple the first release handle with the pawl. The toggle linkage has a second toggle linkage position where the common axis is positioned on a second side of the line joining the first axis and the second axis to operably decouple the first release handle from the pawl.

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First Claim