Latch needle for loop-forming textile machines

A latch needle for loop-forming textile machines includes a needle shank having an upper side, a back and a sawslot extending into the needle shank from the upper side and oriented parallel to the shank. A hook is provided at an end of the needle shank. A spring element is disposed in the sawslot and has at least one end supported by the needle shank. A needle latch is supported in the sawslot for pivotal motion about an axis between a closed position in which the needle latch engages, with a frontal end thereof, the hook and a rearward position. The needle latch has a latch shank which includes an upper side and a lower side. In the rearward position the needle latch lies, with the upper side of the latch shank, on the upper side of the needle shank or is situated in the vicinity of the upper side of the needle shank. The latch shank further has an end part formed as a cam engaged by the spring element. The cam includes a component formed of a flat portion and/or a kink edge at the upper side of the latch shank. The component, cooperating with the spring element, determines and maintains the rearward position of the needle latch. The cam has an arcuate cam face adjoining the component and having, from the pivot axis of the needle latch, a radial distance which gradually decreases from the upper side of the latch shank towards its lower side.