Lever latch construction for a split clamping ring

Claim 1

IN A SPLIT CLAMPING RING HAVING SPACED ENDS, A SWINGABLE LEVER HINGEDLY CONNECTED TO SAID RING ADJACENT ONE END THEREOF AND HAVING A FREE END, AND A LINK CONNECTING SAID LEVER WITH THE OTHER END OF SAID RING FOR EXPANDING AND CONTRACTING THE LATTER, THE IMPROVEMENT WHICH COMPRISES A LATCH CONSTRUCTION FOR HOLDING SAID LEVER IN A RINGCONTRACTED POSITION WITH AT LEAST THE FREE END THEREOF ENGAGING SAID RING, SAID LATCH CONSTRUCTION COMPRISING AN UPRAISED HOUSING ON SAID LEVER ADJACENT THE FREE END THEREOF AND HAVING AN OPENING THEREIN AND AN OUTER WALL, AND A SWINGABLE LATCH ARM MOUNTED ON SAID RING AND HAVING A PORTION ENGAGEABLE WITH THE OUTSIDE OF SAID LEVER FOR RETAINING THE LATTER IN A RING-CONTRACTED POSITION, SAID LATCH ARM INCLUDING A LATERALLY EXTENDING LATCHING TONGUE MOVABLE INTO SAID OPENING AND INTO LATCHING ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID HOUSING UPON MOVEMENT OF SAID LATCH ARM INTO ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID LEVER, SAID TONGUE BEING SPACED FROM SAID OUTER WALL WHEN IN SAID LATCHING ENGAGEMENT, AND SAID LEVER HAVING SPACED PORTIONS AT OPPOSITE SIDES OF SAID HOUSING ADAPTED TO BE DISPOSED IN SUBSTANTIAL ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID RING WHEN SAID LEVER IS IN RING-CONTRACTING POSITION AND SAID LATCH ARM IS IN LATCHING ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID LEVER, WHEREBY SAID HOUSING PROTECTS SAID TONGUE WHEN THE LATTER IS DISPOSED IN SAID OPENING AND WHEREBY IMPACT APPLIED TO SAID HOUSING IS TRANSMITTED TO SAID RING AND NOT TO SAID LATCH ARM.