Patent ID: 8870243

Claim:
A latch apparatus for releasably securing a pivotable divider in a closed position within a livestock trailer having at least one wall, comprising: an axle securable to a pivotable divider and rotatable about a first axis; wherein said axle has a hole through the axle a latchbolt, having a first end and a second end, slidable within a channel in the pivotable divider between a withdrawn position and a deployed position; whereby in said deployed position said latchbolt engages said wall and prevents said pivotable divider from pivoting, a tensile member having a first end extending through said axle hole and directly coupled to a portion of the rotatable axle, and a second end coupled to the first end of the latchbolt; a spring biasing the latchbolt towards the deployed position and a handle coupled to the axle to provide a mechanical advantage for axle rotation; wherein pulling the handle coupled to the axle rotates the axle on its axis to wrap at least a portion of the first end of the tensile member about at least a portion of the axle to move the latchbolt from the deployed position towards the withdrawn position to release the divider to allow the divider to pivot to an open position.