Patent ID: 8459703

Claim:
A pawl assembly for use with a latch mechanism having a shaft to which the pawl assembly is to be mounted, the latch mechanism being adapted for mounting to a first member for use in selectively securing the first member in a closed position relative to a second member, the latch mechanism being operable to move the shaft between a latched position and an unlatched position, and the shaft having a longitudinal axis and a length, the pawl assembly comprising: a pawl having an opening through which the shaft can extend; and means for preventing relative movement between the shaft and said pawl, said means for preventing relative movement between the shaft and said pawl preventing movement of said pawl relative to the shaft along the longitudinal axis of the shaft to thereby fix said pawl to the shaft at a desired location along the length of the shaft and preventing rotation of said pawl relative to the shaft about the longitudinal axis of the shaft such that said pawl is securely fastened to the shaft and said pawl and the shaft move as one unit as the shaft is caused to move by the latch mechanism to and from the latched position of the shaft and the unlatched position of the shaft to thereby move said pawl to and from a latched position of said pawl and an unlatched position of said pawl once said means for preventing relative movement between the shaft and said pawl is installed to the shaft, said means for preventing relative movement between the shaft and said pawl comprising a clip adapted to be capable of being fastened to said pawl, wherein said clip allows said pawl to be fastened to the shaft without the use of nuts.