text: the preferred embodiment herein described is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise form disclosed . it is chosen and described to explain the principles of the invention and its application and practical use to enable other skilled in the art to utilize the invention . referring now to the drawings , reference numeral 10 designates generally the latch mechanism of this invention . latch mechanism 10 is shown in use on a closure member 50 of a pick up truck 12 ( fig5 ) but may be used to secure many different types of closures , such as hoods , vehicle roofs , suit cases , trunks , boat doors and coverings , cabinets , tool boxes and other types of compartments which have a latched closure member . as shown in fig1 - 2 , latch mechanism 10 includes one or more latch rods 14 ( two shown ) which have a latch hook 16 attached to the terminal end thereof . in the embodiment shown in the drawings , two latch rods 14 are shown but it is understood that a single latch rod having a similar shape as the combined rods may be used with equivalent results . each latch rod 14 is of the general elongated shape shown with a bent portion 18 . each latch rod 14 is operatively secured to closure member frame 20 through a plurality of mounting brackets 22 and 24 ( two shown for each rod 14 ). each mounting bracket 24 may include a projection pin 26 as shown . positioned between each bracket 24 and rod bent end position 18 are springs 28 , 30 . each spring 28 is a helical spring which includes a terminal projecting end part 32 and a terminal projecting end 34 as shown in fig2 . each spring 30 has a terminal l - shaped end 36 and a terminal hook part 38 as also shown in fig2 . latch mechanism 10 also includes a handle 40 of the general shape shown in fig2 . handle 40 is of one piece construction and has a base plate 42 and a return bent lifting flange portion 44 . a pair of ears 46 each including a bore 48 project from opposite sides of base plate 42 . in operation , each rod bend end 18 is fitted through an ear bore 48 and springs 28 , 30 positioned between ear 46 and the rod bent end . the terminal ends 32 , 36 of the respective springs 28 , 30 and rod bent end 18 abuts against handle base plate 42 with the terminal projecting end 34 of each spring 28 fitted about bracket pins 26 to urge the rod bent end against the handle base plate , to hold handle 40 in a normally closed position as seen in fig1 and 3 . fig1 and 3 illustrate the latch mechanism 10 in a closed or latched position . to open closure member 50 of truck cap 13 , a user grasps handle lifting flange 46 ( which is fitted in a restrictive channel part 56 of closure frame 20 and extends outwardly of the closure member ) and lifts upwardly . this lifting action causes base plate 42 to rotate and through rod bent ends 18 effects corresponding rotation of rods 14 and latch hooks 16 until the hooks clear their respective latch pins 52 ( fig4 ) allowing the closure member 50 to be opened ( fig6 ). one or more air cylinders 54 may be employed to provide smooth motion of closure member 50 during opening and closing and such cylinders are well known in the art . a locking device ( not shown ) may be used to inhibit rotation of handle 40 to lock closure member 50 in the closed position of fig5 . it is to be understood that the above description does not limit the invention to the above given details , and that it may be modified within the scope of the following claims .