Patent ID: 7431109

Claim:
A power supply for a vehicle, the vehicle having a main structural frame for mounting one or more electrical components, the power supply assembly comprising: at least one pair of power supply units disposed in combination with the main structural frame, each unit having a housing structure, a segment of one power supply unit overlapping a segment of another power supply unit, and another segment of one power supply unit overlapping a portion of said main structural frame; electrical connectors disposed in combination with the overlapping housing segments for electrically coupling the power supply units; a retention subassembly comprising a base support for accepting at least one of the power supply units and having retention wall structures for in-plane retention of the power supply unit, said housing structure of at least one power supply unit comprising an aperture; and a latching mechanism engaging said aperture for vertically retaining the power supply unit in the base support; the latching mechanism comprising a cylindrical sleeve mounted to the main structural support and having a central bore extending the length of the cylindrical sleeve, the central bore having internal grooves defining first and second detent positions; a pin disposed within the central bore, said pin having an outboard end, a tapered inboard end aligned with said aperture, and a ball catch disposed therebetween; and a handle pivotally connected to and displacing the pin into and out of engagement with the housing aperture; said ball catch aligning with and engaging said internal grooves in response to a displacement of said pin, said first detent position corresponding to a disengaged position of said latching mechanism and said second detent position corresponding to an engaged position of said latching mechanism.