Patent ID: 7784714

Claim:
A method of locking a boom assembly in an inoperative position in a cradle structure mounted on a mobile machine, the steps comprising: providing a boom cradle structure which includes a crossmember in support of a first cradle support and a second cradle support; wherein a first end of the crossmember includes a first platform to receive said first cradle support; a second end of the crossmember includes a second platform to receive said second cradle support; said first and second platforms each include a planar surface with mounting holes to receive and mount said first and second cradle supports respectively; said first and second cradle supports having a base plate mount configured to receive said first and second platform respectively; said first platform is mounted to a post member which extends vertically; a cradle arm mounted on an opposite end of said post member from said base plate mount; engaging a lock element with the boom such that the lock element retracts into the cradle structure; resting the boom on the cradle structure; biasing the lock element with a spring into a locked position where the lock element holds the boom assembly in the cradle structure; and moving the lock element with an actuator assembly from the locked position toward an unlocked position such that the boom is released to be moved from the cradle structure, wherein the lock element moves toward the locked position without energizing the actuator assembly.