Latch Assembly for Torque Management

Abstract

A latch assembly having a first portion configured to couple with a second portion. The first portion has a housing, a body, and handle, and the second portion has a respective housing, body, and handle. In a closed position, a feature or surface of the first portion body is engaged to a respective feature or surface of the second portion handle.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A latch assembly comprising:
 a first portion comprising:
 a first body configured with a first body hook; 
 a first handle movably associated with the first body; and 
   a second portion movably coupled with the first portion, the second portion comprising:
 a second body; and 
 a second handle movably associated with the second body, the second handle configured with a second handle hook and a second handle hook slot, 
   wherein when the latch assembly is in a first position, the first body hook is engaged with the second handle hook slot.   
     
     
         2 . The latch assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the first body comprises a first body hook slot, wherein the second handle hook is configured to engage and disengage with the first body hook slot. 
     
     
         3 . The latch assembly of  claim 2 , wherein the second body is configured with a second body hook, and wherein the first handle is configured with a first handle hook slot. 
     
     
         4 . The latch assembly of  claim 3 , wherein in the first position the second body hook is engaged with the first handle hook slot. 
     
     
         5 . The latch assembly of  claim 4 , wherein when the latch assembly is in a second position, the first body hook is disengaged from the second handle hook slot, and the second body hook is disengaged from the first handle hook slot. 
     
     
         6 . The latch assembly of  claim 5 , wherein when the latch assembly is in the first position, the first handle hook is engaged with the second body hook slot, and the second handle hook is engaged with the first body hook slot. 
     
     
         7 . The latch assembly of  claim 5 , wherein the latch assembly is movable from the second position to the first position regardless of interaction with the first handle and the second handle. 
     
     
         8 . The latch assembly of  claim 7 , wherein the latch assembly is movable from the first position to the second position only when at least one of the first handle and the second handle is moved to a respective handle open position. 
     
     
         9 . The latch assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the first portion is identical to the second portion, and wherein the first portion is oriented 180 degrees around a reference point as compared to the second portion. 
     
     
         10 . The latch assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the first portion further comprises a first housing configured with an at least one roller operably disposed therein, wherein the second portion further comprises a second housing configured with a respective portion roller operably disposed therein. 
     
     
         11 . The latch assembly of  claim 10 , wherein while in the first position, a cable is disposed through the latch assembly, and is in contact with the at least one roller. 
     
     
         12 . The latch assembly of  claim 11 , wherein a power swivel is coupled with the latch assembly. 
     
     
         13 . The latch assembly of  claim 12 , wherein a torque arm housing is configured with a telescoping rod, and the telescoping rod is configured with a telescoping rod end coupled with the latch assembly. 
     
     
         14 . The latch assembly of  claim 13 , wherein the latch assembly further comprises a frame coupled with the first portion and the second portion, and wherein a hinge member is disposed through each of the first portion, the second portion, the telescoping rod end, and the frame. 
     
     
         15 . A torque management system comprising:
 a rig having a top end and a bottom end;   a pliable member having a first member end connected to the top end and a second member end connected to the bottom end; and   a latch assembly configured to have the pliable member engaged and disengaged therefrom, and further comprising:
 a first portion having a first body configured with a first body hook; and 
 a second portion movably coupled with the first portion, and having a second handle configured with a second handle hook slot; 
   wherein when the latch assembly is in a first position, the first body hook is engaged with the second handle hook slot in a manner whereby the pliable member is maintained therein, and   wherein when the latch assembly is in a second position, the first body hook and the second handle hook slot are decoupled in a manner whereby the pliable member is able to be removed from the latch assembly.   
     
     
         16 . The torque management system of  claim 15 , wherein the first portion further comprises:
 a first housing configured with an at least one roller operable to movingly engage the pliable member, the first housing proximate or associated with the first body;   a first mount;   a first handle coupled with the first body, the first handle configured with a first handle hook and a first handle hook slot.   
     
     
         17 . The torque management system of  claim 16 , wherein the second portion further comprises:
 a second housing configured with another roller operable to movingly engage the pliable member;   a second mount;   a second body proximate or associated with the second housing, the second body having a second body hook and a second body hook slot; and   a second handle movably coupled with the second body, the second handle configured with the second handle hook and the second handle hook slot.   
     
     
         18 . The torque management system of  claim 15 , the system further comprising a power swivel,
 wherein the power swivel further comprises a torque arm housing configured with a telescoping rod, and the telescoping rod is configured with a telescoping rod end coupled with the latch assembly.   
     
     
         19 . A latch assembly comprising:
 a first subassembly comprising a first contact surface;   a second subassembly movingly coupled with the first subassembly, the second subassembly comprising a second contact surface,   wherein the first subassembly is identical to the second subassembly,   wherein the second subassembly is movingly coupled with the first subassembly in a 180 degree opposite orientation with respect to a reference point,   wherein the first contact surface is engaged with the second contact surface when the latch assembly is in a closed position.   
     
     
         20 . The latch assembly of  claim 17 , wherein in an open position, the first subassembly and the second assembly remain movingly engaged, but the first contact surface is disengaged from the second contact surface, and wherein a frame is coupled with each of the first subassembly and the second subassembly.