Patent ID: 9260890
Filing Date: 2016-02-16
CPC Classification: E05B,E05C,Y10T

Claim Text:
1. A latch mechanism, comprising: a latch rail formed with a first opening, a second opening and a cavity located in between said first and second openings, said latch rail being adapted to mount to a front wall of a truck box; a latch plate pivotally mounted to said latch rail, said latch plate being movable between a latched position and an unlatched position, said latch plate being adapted to engage a striker pin when in said latched position; a pawl lever pivotally mounted to said latch rail, said pawl lever being movable to a first position in which said pawl lever engages and retains said latch plate in said latched position, said pawl lever being movable to a second position in which said pawl lever releases said latch plate so that said latch plate can move from said latched position to said unlatched position; a first carriage located within said first opening of said latch rail and a second carriage located within said second opening of said latch rail; a first slide block and a second slide block each located within said cavity of said latch rail, said first slide block mounting a first actuator arm in position to engage said pawl lever, said second slide block mounting a second actuator arm in position to engage said pawl lever; a first actuator rod, said first actuator rod being fixed to said first carriage and fixed to said first slide block; a second actuator rod, said second actuator rod being fixed to said second carriage and fixed to said second slide block; said first carriage being movable in a first direction causing said first actuator rod to move said first slide block therewith, said first actuator arm mounted to said first slide block moving said pawl lever to said second position in response to movement of said first slide block in said first direction thus allowing said latch plate to move to said unlatched position; said second carriage being movable in a second direction, opposite to said first direction, causing said second actuator rod to move said second slide block therewith, said second actuator arm mounted to said second slide block moving said pawl lever to said second position in response to movement of said second slide block in said second direction thus allowing said latch plate to move to said unlatched position.