Patent ID: 8807604

Claim:
A pin latch, comprising: a guide block having a first end, a second end opposite the first end, a tubular portion extending between the first and second ends, the tubular portion including a top wall having a first slot extending axially intermediate the first and second ends, and a bottom wall opposite the top wall and having a slot extending axially intermediate the first and second ends, and a stop pin having one end positioned slidably within the first slot of the top wall of the tubular portion of the guide block, and an opposite end positioned slidably within the slot of the bottom wall of the tubular portion of the guide block; a guide block spring positioned within the tubular portion of the guide block and intermediate the second end of the guide block and the stop pin; a handle connected pivotally to the guide block, the handle including a trigger; a shear pin housed slidably within the guide block and connected to the handle; and a bracket connected to the shear pin and connected pivotally and slidably to the guide block, the bracket including at least one catch-pin, wherein the handle is moveable between a closed position, in which the handle is retained releasably to the guide block, the shear pin is extended from the guide block, and the trigger is engaged with the at least one catch-pin of the bracket, and an open position, in which the handle is retracted from the guide block, the trigger is disengaged from the catch-pin, and the shear pin is retracted within the guide block, wherein the handle is further moveable to an intermediate position, in which the handle is retained releasably in a position between its closed position and its open position such that when the handle is moved from its closed position to its intermediate position, the trigger is disengaged from the at least one catch-pin of the bracket and the shear pin engages the stop pin and the guide block spring acts on the stop pin in order to retain releasably the handle in its intermediate position.