Latching mechanism for clamshell type couplers

Latching mechanism 10 connect clamshell type couplers comprising a pair of arcuate coupling halves 12 joined at a hinge 14. The latching mechanism comprising a catch lever 44 rotatably mounted to a first coupling member 12 of said coupling, said catch lever 44 having a distal end and an extension 46 protruding from said distal end; a spring 48 communicating with said lever 44 for biasing said lever 44 and urging said distal end of said lever 44 toward the first coupling member 12; a latch plate 54 rotatably mounted to a second coupling member 12 of said coupling, said latch plate 54 extending across a gap between facing surfaces 15 of said first and second coupling members 12 when said coupling is placed in a closed position about said fluid conveying members 30; and said latch plate 54 further including an opening 56 formed therein for receiving said extension 46 of said catch lever 44 when said latching mechanism 10 is placed in a locked position, and said latching mechanism 10 placed in an unlocked position, when said extension 46 is removed from within said opening 56.