Patent ID: 9566838
Date: 2017-02-14
CPC Classifications: B60D,B60Y

Claim:
1. A fail-safe latch for use with an industrial cart, said fail-safe latch comprising: a housing, and said housing including a back plate configured to be connected to the industrial cart; a latch mechanism including a shaft and first and second spring positioning plates, said first and second spring positioning plates being attached to said back plate in a spaced arrangement, and further including first and second hitch hook side plates, said first and second hitch hook side plates being attached to said back plate between said first and said second spring positioning plates and configured to form a hitch hook channel, and each of said first and said second spring positioning plates including a spring plate positioning hole, and each of said first and said second hitch hook plates including a hitch hook plate hole, and said spring positioning plate holes being aligned with said hitch hook plate holes to support said shaft disposed there through; a hitch hook having a hole for receiving said shaft, and said hitch hook being pivotally mounted on said shaft and in said hitch hook channel, and including a hook end configured to engage a latch ring, and a pivot end; said latch mechanism further including a foot plate, and said foot plate being connected to said hitch hook, and said foot plate including first and second spring retainer; said latch mechanism further including first and second springs, and said first spring positioning plate including a first spring tab, and said second spring positioning plate including a second spring tab, said first spring being mounted on a section of said shaft between said first spring positioning plate and said first hitch side plate and having one end secured by said first spring tab, and said second spring being mounted on a section of said shaft between said second spring positioning plate and said second hitch side plate and having one end secured by said second spring tab, and said first spring having another end secured by said first spring retainer on said foot plate and said first spring being mounted on said shaft under tension to bias said foot plate and said hitch hook into a latch closed position, and said second spring having another end secured by said second spring retainer on said foot plate and said second spring being mounted on said shaft under tension to bias said foot plate and said hitch hook into said latch closed position; and a counter weight, and said counter weight being attached to the pivot end of said hitch hook, and configured to generate a force to bias said hitch hook and said foot plate into said latch closed position.