US Patent 11780553 Latch assembly and aircraft having same

A latch assembly for a decompression panel in an aircraft includes a base and a swing arm hinged to the base and pivotable relative to the base about a hinge axis between a latched position and an unlatched position. A load pin fixed to the swing arm has a pin axis a fixed distance from the hinge axis. A spring secured to the base is positioned to exert a spring force against the swing arm when the swing arm pivots from the latched position to the unlatched position. A bracket securable to the decompression panel defines a slot retaining the load pin when the swing arm is in the latched position. The load pin is movable in the slot under relative motion of the bracket and the base with the swing arm in the latched position, and exits the slot when the swing arm pivots to the unlatched position.