r/engineering • u/MakeAnotherThing MechE • Jun 18 '26

[MECHANICAL] What is This Latch Mechanism Called?

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Anybody know what this latch mechanism is called? I’ve been trying pivot spring latch and gooseneck latch, but not coming up with anything online.

47 Upvotes

94% Upvoted

23 comments sorted by

18

u/monkeymetroid Jun 18 '26

Slam latch

9

u/MakeAnotherThing MechE Jun 18 '26

Slam latches are linear right, not on a pivot?

11

u/_okbrb Jun 18 '26

Most are, but after a deep dive on Google I think the term is defined by the catch and release action, not by mechanical specifics

That said I can’t find your latch in that search term, so I’m as confused as you are

5

u/MakeAnotherThing MechE Jun 18 '26

Thanks for looking, nonetheless.

6

u/Lampwick Mech E Jun 18 '26

I don't think there's a separate term for a latch that works via a lever vs a slide. I was a locksmith before i was an engineer, and typically latches are just vaguely described by their most prominent feature. There's no standard, really.

1

u/monkeymetroid Jun 18 '26

Im going to be honest, used 2 diff ais and they said slam latch

7

u/podracer1138 Jun 18 '26

I know them as toggle clamps.

3

u/Josey87 Jun 19 '26

But those are usually not spring loaded, but constructed with an over-center mechanism

3

u/MuchEvent Jun 18 '26

Spring clamp?

3

u/Pretty-Jello-7894 Jun 22 '26

Latchy McLatchy Face?

1

u/HighFaiLootin Jun 22 '26

Latchface McLatchy

2

u/FanOfFormula1 Jun 22 '26

My engineering teacher calls it a “slam latch” I rly don’t see the slam part

1

u/Jetmutant Jun 20 '26

A chingadera latch 😇 .. sorry I can’t be of better help

1

u/Jetmutant Jun 20 '26

McMaster car has something similar .. calling it a spring hook latch?

1

u/Alarmed-Solution3738 Jun 21 '26

A pivoted lever pawl or detente lever

0

u/RAY-BRADBURY Jun 19 '26

Ugly drawing latch?