Patent ID: 6488457
Filing Date: 2002-12-03
Classification: B64D

Abstract:
A latching mechanism for use with a pallet to secure the pallet to a rail assembly, wherein the rail assembly is fixedly secured to a portion of a vehicle and includes a plurality of spaced apart restraining pins, to enable the pallet to be quickly and easily latched to and unlatched from the rail assembly, to thereby permit the pallet to be readily secured to or detached from the rail assembly, the latching mechanism comprising:a frame; a first pawl pivotally secured to said frame, said first pawl having a manually graspable handle operably associated therewith; a second pawl pivotally secured to said frame adjacent said first pawl; and each of said pawls having surfaces adapted to engage as said first pawl is moved from an unlatched position to a latched position in engagement with a first one of said restraining pins via movement of said handle, and wherein said first pawl operates to urge said second pawl into engagement with a second one of said restraining pins as said first pawl engages said first one of said restraining pins.