A locking device for a trunk in a vehicle. The locking device includes a latch configured to change a state of the trunk between locked and unlocked, and a lever configured to drive the latch to an open position. The locking device further includes a lock knob configured to be disposed outward of a vehicle body to visually determine from an outside of the vehicle whether the trunk is in the locked state or the unlocked state. The lock knob is further configured to be selectively placed in a locked position. In the locked position, the trunk is configured to be brought into the locked state by prohibiting the latch from being driven to an open position. The lock knob is further configured to be selectively placed in an unlocked position. In the unlocked position, the trunk is configured to be brought into the unlocked state by enabling the latch to be driven to the open position. The locking device further includes an actuator for enabling the lock knob to be selectively placed in one of the locked position or the unlocked position. The locking device is configured to authenticate a portable key, when the lever is operated with the trunk in the locked state. When the portable key is authenticated, the lock knob is configured to be driven into the unlocked position.

A latch assembly includes a chassis, a latch bolt moveably mounted on the chassis and having a closed position for retaining a striker and an open position for releasing the striker, a pawl having an engaged position at which the pawl is engaged with the latch bolt to hold the latch bolt in the closed position and a disengaged position at which the pawl is disengaged from the latch bolt, thereby allowing the latch bolt to move to the open position, an eccentric arrangement defining an eccentric axis and a pawl axis remote from the eccentric axis. The eccentric arrangement is rotatable about the eccentric axis, and the pawl is rotatable about the pawl axis. When the pawl moves from the engaged position to the disengaged position, the eccentric arrangement rotates in one of a clockwise and a counter-clockwise direction about the eccentric axis. With the pawl in the engaged position, a force applied to the pawl by the latch bolt creates a turning moment on the eccentric arrangement in the one of the clockwise and counter-clockwise direction, and the eccentric arrangement is prevented from rotating in said one of the clockwise and counter-clockwise direction by a moveable abutment.

A latch assembly includes a chassis, a latch bolt moveably mounted on the chassis and having a closed position for retaining a striker and an open position for releasing the striker, a pawl having an engaged position at which the pawl is engaged with the latch bolt to hold the latch bolt in the closed position and a disengaged position at which the pawl is disengaged from the latch bolt, thereby allowing the latch bolt to move to the open position, an eccentric arrangement defining an eccentric axis and a pawl axis remote from the eccentric axis. The eccentric arrangement is rotatable about the eccentric axis, and the pawl is rotatable about the pawl axis. When the pawl moves from the engaged position to the disengaged position, the eccentric arrangement rotates in one of a clockwise and a counter-clockwise direction about the eccentric axis. With the pawl in the engaged position, a force applied to the pawl by the latch bolt creates a turning moment on the eccentric arrangement in the one of the clockwise and counter-clockwise direction, and the eccentric arrangement is prevented from rotating in said one of the clockwise and counter-clockwise direction by a moveable abutment.