Key operated latch with combined rotational and translational latching action

A key operated latch includes a housing which supports a lock plug, a motion control sleeve, and a sleeve-like cam therein. The cam rotates with the lock plug, while the motion control sleeve is stationary. The cam has at least one cam slot, and the motion control sleeve has at least one motion control slot. A shaft extends outward from the housing and has at least one projection which is engaged with both the cam slot and the motion control slot. The cam slot and the motion control slot are configured such that rotation of the lock plug imparts a sequence of rotational and axial movements to the shaft. A latching member attached to the shaft, moves between a latched position and an unlatched position in a sequence of axial and rotational motions in order to selectively secure a door, panel, or the like in the closed position. Also disclosed are additional embodiments that incorporate a wing knob or that have a lock plug sleeve and a motion control sleeve that are combined into a single part of one-piece construction. In one of the embodiments having a wing knob the wing knob freewheels without opening the latch when the lock plug is in the locked configuration.