Patent ID: 9574590
Date: 2017-02-21
CPC Classifications: B60Q,E04H,F16B,F21V,H01Q,Y10T

Claim:
1. A latch assembly for a telescoping mast having a plurality of telescoping tube sections, the latch assembly comprising: a latch body mountable to a first associated tube section; a latch mechanism supported by the latch body; a toggle mechanism operatively connected to the latch mechanism; and a latch plate mountable to a second associated tube section; a trigger post mountable to a third associated tube section; wherein the latch mechanism includes a pawl member pivotable between an engaged position for interlocking with a corresponding recess in the latch plate to thereby restrict axial movement between the first and second tube sections, and a disengaged position allowing relative axial movement between the first and second tube sections; wherein the toggle mechanism is movable between an over-center locked configuration corresponding to the engaged position of the latch mechanism and an unlocked configuration corresponding to the disengaged position of the latch mechanism; wherein the toggle mechanism further includes a cam plate rotatably supported by the latch body, and a connecting arm pivotally connected to the cam plate at a pivot joint and operatively connected to the pawl member, the pivot joint configured to rotate over center with respect to a point of attachment of the pawl member to the latch body, the cam plate configured to interlock with the trigger post when the first associated tube section is fully nested within the third associated tube section and the toggle mechanism is in the unlocked configuration, the trigger post operative to rotate the cam plate in a first direction to toggle the toggle mechanism from the locked configuration corresponding to the engaged position of the latch mechanism to the unlocked configuration corresponding to a disengaged position of the latch mechanism during nesting of the first associated tube section within the third associated tube section, and to rotate the cam plate in a second direction to toggle the toggle mechanism from the unlocked configuration to the locked configuration during extension of the first associated tube section from the third associated tube section; whereby the latch assembly is configured to lock together stowed adjacent associated tube sections and is configured to lock together extended adjacent associated tube sections.