Patent ID: 7350873

Claim:
A latching assembly for use to close a tailgate of a dump body having a frame, said latching assembly comprising: a latch catch having a contact surface, said latch catch being fixed to the tailgate with its contact surface extending at a given distance away from said tailgate; a hook pivotably mounted on a first pivot fixed to the frame of the dump body, said hook having a projection positioned and shaped to abut against the contact surface of the latch catch; an actuator fixed to the frame of the dump body; and means for transmitting movement from the actuator to the hook, wherein in use, said actuator transmits a rotational movement to the hook which is then turned between a first position in which the hook projection abuts against the contact surface of the latch catch, thereby preventing opening of the tailgate, and a second position wherein the hook projection is freed from any displacement trajectory from the latch catch, thereby enabling the tailgate to open, and wherein the latch catch comprises adjustment means for adjusting the distance between the contact surface and the tailgate.