Patent ID: 6299396
Filing Date: 2001-10-09
Classification: B60P,B60R

Abstract:
An equipment securing apparatus for securing equipment to a vehicle, said equipment securing apparatus comprising:a support member configured for attachment to a portion of the vehicle and having a shaft retaining portion with a first passageway formed therein;an elongate shaft having a proximal end and a distal end, and a plurality of openings formed therein, said shaft being slidably mounted to said support member and extending through said first passageway of said shaft retaining portion;an equipment engagement member formed on said distal end of said shaft for securing engagement with equipment on the vehicle; anda latching assembly operatively associated with said shaft and selectively operable to retain said engagement member in a securing relationship with the equipment and to release said engagement member from said securing relationship, said latching assembly includinga stop pin selectively mountable in one of said openings in said shaft,a slide block having a pin engagement surface for engagement with said stop pin and defining a second passageway in substantial alignment with said first passageway for slidable disposition of said shaft therethrough,at least one piston assembly including a housing attached to said support member, said housing defining a chamber,a piston having first and second faces, said piston being slidably disposed within said chamber,a piston spring disposed within said chamber so that said spring is in engagement with said first face and configured to impart a biasing force to said piston, andat least one link for transferring said biasing force from said piston to said slide block whereby said pin engagement surface is biased against said pin, thereby biasing said shaft in a condition whereby said engagement member is engaged with the equipment.