Patent ID: 6572197
Filing Date: 2003-06-03
Classification: B60P

Abstract:
A latching assembly for a vehicle having a cargo bed pivotally mounted on a frame for carrying cargo, the cargo bed being pivotal between a horizontal transporting condition and an inverted dumping condition, the cargo bed having a bottom wall, a back wall and a pair of side walls, a gate being pivotally coupled to and extending between each of the side walls for containing the cargo when the cargo bed is in the horizontal transporting condition, said assembly comprising:a latch for keeping the gate of the vehicle closed when the cargo bed is in the horizontal transporting condition, said latch comprising a hook portion having a bar formed thereon, said latch being positionable between a hook position and an unhooked position; an actuator assembly being mountable to the vehicle and operationally coupled to said latch for moving said latch between said hooked position and said unhooked position; wherein said actuator assembly includes a lever pivotally mountable on a side surface of the bottom wall of the cargo bed, said lever being operationally coupled to said latch; and additionally including a wheel being rotatably mounted on a second end of said lever.