in the exemplary embodiment of the invention as disclosed in the drawing , an improved latching structure generally designated 10 is shown for use in latching a door in a closed position across an opening of a cabinet . in the illustrated embodiment , the cabinet comprises the cabinet 11 of an appliance 12 , illustratively comprising a dishwasher apparatus . a bottom hinged door 13 is provided for selectively closing the front opening 14 of the cabinet for providing controlled access to a dishwashing space 15 therein . the cabinet includes a top wall 17 which , at its forward end , defines the upper portion of the front opening 14 , as illustrated in fig2 . the appliance may be provided with electrically powered apparatus , such as electrical apparatus 16 of the dishwasher . latching structure 10 further includes switch means generally designated 18 which is arranged to permit operation of electrical apparatus 16 only when the door is latched closed across opening 14 . more specifically , the latching structure includes a strike 19 secured to the cabinet wall 17 to project forwardly through opening 14 for engagement with a bolt generally designated 20 . bolt 20 is mounted on a support plate 21 within the outer housing generally designated 22 of the door and more specifically , within a console portion 23 of the housing . the bolt defines a beveled , or inclined , upper end surface 24 adapted to be engaged by the outer , or distal , edge 25 of the strike as the door is swung to the closed position . the engagement of strike portion 25 with bolt surface 24 urges the bolt downwardly against the biasing action of a coil spring 26 compressed between a spring retainer 27 on support plate 21 , and a spring retainer portion 28 on the lower portion of bolt 20 . upward movement of the bolt is limited by the engagement of a shoulder 29 thereof with a shoulder portion 30 of the support defining an upper edge of a vertical slot 31 in the support plate . as seen in fig6 as the door is brought more fully to the closed position , the bolt moves along strike edge 25 so as to cause the upper end of the bolt to move along a lower surface or actuating portion 32 rearwardly of the strike end 25 , the bolt being maintained in the depressed position of fig6 until the door is swung sufficiently in a counterclockwise direction , as seen in fig6 to bring the bolt in alignment with an aperture 33 in the strike whereupon spring 26 urges the bolt upwardly into the aperture to effect a latching of the door in the closed position of fig2 . as shown in fig2 the transverse dimension of the latch aperture is larger than that of the corresponding dimension of the portion of the bolt extending therethrough so as to permit free reception of the bolt therein under the action of spring 26 to effectively positively latch the door in the closed position with the bolt rear surface portion captured behind shoulder portion 33a of the strike . at the same time that the bolt is brought upwardly into aperture 33 , switch means 18 is caused to be actuated . more specifically , as seen in fig2 switch means 18 includes a switch 34 provided with an actuator button 35 projecting upwardly therefrom so as to be engaged by the actuating portion 32 of strike 19 when the bolt moves upwardly to the latched position . as shown in fig6 as long as the bolt remains depressed by the actuating portion 32 , the actuator button 35 of switch 34 remains extended , maintaining electrical apparatus 16 de - energized and preventing undesirable operation of the appliance . actuator 35 may be spring biased upwardly and the invention comprehends the preselection of the spring constant of spring 26 to provide a greater biasing force than that of the actuator so as to permit the desired actuation of switch 34 by the upward movement of the bolt to the position of fig2 . as can be seen in fig5 as the door is swung to the closed position , the strike end 25 moves into the door through an access opening 36 which provides only limited access to the bolt means . switch 34 is mounted to the rear surface 37 of the bolt ( i . e ., the surface facing away from the opening 36 ) so as to be effectively mounted behind the bolt and , thus , is inaccessible through the opening 36 as by conventional tools , such as screwdrivers , and the like . one attempting to defeat the safety arrangement of the structure by inserting a screwdriver , or the like , through the access opening , can only depress the bolt carrying downwardly with it the switch so as to be effectively prevented from operating the switch by such conventional tools . when it is desired to open the door from the latched arrangement of fig2 the operator need merely manipulate a handle 38 extending downwardly through a lower portion 39 of the console 23 . handle 38 is connected to a lever 40 which is pivotally mounted to the support 21 by a first pivot means 41 adjacent the bolt 20 . guide means are provided for limiting movement of the handle 38 to linear travel at an angle to the lever , and the handle 38 may be pivotally connected to the lever by a second pivot means 42 and the lever may be movably connected to the bolt by a jaw 43 engaging a tongue 44 of the bolt , as illustrated in fig2 . referring now to fig6 when handle 38 is urged upwardly into console 23 , lever 40 is swung about pivot means 41 to move jaw 43 downwardly , thereby urging the bolt 20 downwardly and removing the strike from aperture 33 . the lever 40 may be formed of molded plastic and the pivot means 41 and 42 may comprise pivot pins , each of which may be provided with an annular recess 45 in its mid - portion ( see fig4 ). the lever may include an integral key structure 46 defining a first deflectable key 47 received within the groove of the first pivot means 41 and a second deflectable key 48 received within the groove of the second pivot means 42 for locking the pins against axial movement . as shown in fig9 support 21 may include a pair of spaced side walls 49 carrying the opposite ends 50 of the pins . thus , the invention comprehends an improved latching structure for releasably latching the door of an appliance or the like in a closed position and permitting operation of electrical apparatus associated with the appliance only when the door is closed in the latched position . the strike and bolt define cooperating abutment means for effecting movement of the bolt against the action of a biasing spring , and the strike further defines an actuating means for actuating the control switch when the bolt moves into latched relationship with the strike . the switch is effectively hidden by the bolt to prevent unauthorized operation thereof as when the door is in the open position . the means for releasing the bolt comprises improved facilitated pivotal connecting means for connecting a handle to the bolt . the foregoing disclosure of specific embodiments is illustrative of the broad inventive concepts comprehended by the invention .