reference now being made to fig1 where a latch 10 according to the present invention is shown . the latch 10 has a housing 11 and actuation means , shown comprising the handle or actuation button 12 connected to the housing 11 . a double pawl member 13 is also provided , having a first pawl end 14 and a second pawl end 15 . a locking mechanism is preferably employed with the latch 10 to lock the double pawl member 13 into a secured position to prevent unauthorized opening of the latch 10 . the locking means is shown comprising a lock plug 16 , which can be any of those suitable , commercially available lock plugs , which can be disposed in a receiving bore 17 of the housing 11 . the pawl member 13 is shown , in fig2 having a body portion 18 with a neck 19 , 20 disposed on each end thereof , with a pawl engaging end 14 , 15 , respectively , disposed on each neck 19 , 20 . the double pawl member 13 is configured to flex at each pawl end thereof when the double pawl member 13 is constrained at the center . as shown in fig3 the double pawl member 13 has a connecting tab 21 extending outwardly from the back surface of the body portion 18 . the pawl body portion 18 is provided with a first aperture 22 and a second aperture 23 disposed therein . preferably , the pawl body portion 18 includes a first cutout 25 and a second cutout 26 to facilitate flexing movement of the pawl ends when an actuation force is applied . the pawl member 13 has a connecting tab 21 , which is preferably configured for mounting to the housing 11 . as shown in fig4 the housing 11 includes connecting means for connecting the double pawl member 13 thereto . the connecting means is shown comprising a pair of arms 30 , 31 , which have barbs , respectively , 32 , 33 disposed on an end thereof the housing 11 further has a retaining slot 36 , which is disposed between the arms 30 , 31 . the retaining slot 36 is provided to receive the connecting tab 21 . the slot 36 is generally defined by a pair of sidewalls 37 , 38 . referring now to fig5 the housing 11 is shown comprising a body portion 45 with mounting posts 46 disposed thereon . attachment means for attaching the handle or button 12 to the housing 11 are provided . the attachment means are shown preferably comprising a pair of pintles 49 , 50 , which are supported on flanges 51 , 52 , respectively , extending upwardly from the floor 53 of the housing 11 . the housing 11 has a sleeve 17 for accommodating a lock plug cylinder 16 ( fig6 ). as described in connection with fig4 the housing 11 includes retaining arms 30 , 31 and a tab 35 which facilitate retention of the double pawl member 13 onto the housing 11 . as best shown in fig5 and 6 , the housing 11 has a first slot 60 and a second slot 61 disposed in the housing body 45 . preferably , the first and second slots 60 , 61 , respectively , are disposed in opposing relation to each other and are configured to accommodate the neck portions 19 , 20 of the double pawl member 13 therein . the actuation means is provided comprising an actuation button or handle 12 , which as shown best in the left side view of fig7 comprises a face or actuating surface 70 with a lifting flange 71 disposed along the face 70 and extending outwardly therefrom . mounting flanges 72 , 73 are provided on the rear of the face 70 of the handle 12 and extend outwardly therefrom . preferably , each mounting flange 72 , 73 has an aperture 75 , 76 , respectively , which are preceded by tapered slot portions 77 , 78 , respectively , ( fig7 and 8 ) for facilitating attachment of the handle 12 to the pintles 50 , 49 , respectively , disposed on the housing 11 ( fig5 ). the handle 12 includes a first post member 80 and a second post member 81 connected to the rear of the face 70 of the handle 12 and extending outwardly therefrom . a plurality of ribs 82 are disposed along each post member 80 , 81 . the ribs are tapered with the larger dimension starting where the posts 80 , 81 meet the face 70 of the handle 12 , and the thinner dimension being the end of the rib 82 furthest from the handle face 70 . as shown in fig7 and 8 , the handle 12 further includes means for returning the handle to its original position after it has been depressed . the handle returning means is shown comprising living spring members 120 , 121 , disposed alongside of the mounting flange 73 . the spring elements 120 , 121 , are preferably living spring elements which are connected at one end to the rear of the face 70 of the handle 12 for movement relative thereto when compressed by an engaging stop 125 located on the housing 11 ( fig5 ). a lower stop 126 is also shown provided on the housing 11 for engagement with the lower spring element 121 . the spring elements 120 , 121 , when engaged with the stops 125 , 126 , respectively , are moved rearwardly toward the handle face 70 , and thereafter , returned to their original positions ( as shown in fig7 ) to position the handle 12 in its original position after actuation . similarly , as shown in fig8 the spring element 122 is provided adjacent the mounting flange 72 . the spring element 122 is provided to function similar to those spring elements 120 , 121 , described above . as shown in fig5 the housing includes a third stop 127 , which the spring element 122 engages when the actuation button or handle 12 is depressed . as shown in fig1 and 9 , the handle 12 includes an aperture 130 to permit access to the lock plug 16 . as shown in fig1 , the spring elements 120 , 122 ( the lower spring element 121 being hidden under the upper spring element 120 ) are shown extending rearwardly from the handle face 70 . preferably , the handle 12 can also comprise a cored out carrier to permit gripping , such as the recessed 131 , shown in fig1 . reference now being made to fig1 , wherein a locking member 90 is provided having a generally “ y ” shaped configuration formed by a first arm 91 , a second arm 92 , a leg 93 and a tab portion 94 . the tab portion 94 is provided with a slot 95 disposed therein . the first arm 91 and second arm 92 , respectively , is each provided with a circular element 97 , 98 at each end thereof . referring to fig1 , the first and second arms 91 , 92 are shown connected to a connecting member 99 , which connects the arms 91 , 92 with the leg 93 . the locking member 90 is provided for disposition on the housing 11 to align with the first and second apertures 22 , 23 , respectively of the double pawl member 13 , in order to permit actuation of the latch assembly 10 . as shown in fig1 , the lock plug 16 has a lock pin or post 101 extending rearwardly therefrom and being rotatable over a range of positions with a key ( not shown ) which can be inserted in the key slot 140 ( fig1 and 6 ). the post 101 is shown in fig1 in a position at the bottom of the slot 95 of the locking member 90 . in the position shown in fig1 , the ends 97 , 98 of the locking member 90 are positioned over the first and second apertures 22 , 23 , respectively , of the double pawl member 13 , as shown also in the front view of fig1 . with the locking member ends 97 , 98 in this ( fig1 and 14 ) position , the handle posts 80 , 81 engage the ends 97 , 98 , respectively , to force the pawl ends 14 , 15 of the double pawl 13 rearward to disengage them from corresponding keepers ( not shown ). as shown in fig1 and 16 , the latch 10 is in its locked state , with the locking member 90 , shown retracted from alignment with the pawl apertures 22 , 23 . in this position , the locking member 90 permits the handle posts 80 , 81 to pass through the first and second pawl apertures 22 , 23 , respectively , and no force is transferred to the pawl 13 , and the pawl ends 14 , 15 remain engaged with a corresponding keeper , such as , for example , the slot 160 disposed in the panel 300 , as shown in fig1 ( not shown ). fig1 is a sectional view showing the pawl member 13 installed on the housing 11 . the pawl connecting tab 21 is received in the slot 35 of the housing arm 39 , and is retained by the barbs 32 , 33 ( fig1 ). fig4 and 18 show the locking member guide 147 provided on the housing 11 to guide the locking member leg 93 , and support it thereon . these and other advantages of the present invention will be understood upon a reading of the summary of the invention , the brief description of the drawing figures and the detailed description of the preferred embodiment . other modifications may be made consistent with the spirit and scope of the invention described herein .