Patent ID: 8267210

Claim:
A vehicle of the type having at least one front wheel disposed in combination with a steering column, a pair of aft wheels, means for driving at least one of the wheels, a main structural frame having a forward frame portion for mounting the front wheel and the steering column, an aft frame portion for mounting the aft wheels, and a central support for structurally interconnecting the forward and aft frame portions, a seat-support mounted to the frame, and a system for distributing power to the driving means, the vehicle comprising: a power supply assembly for delivering power to said power distribution system, the power supply assembly including a battery and a housing structure surrounding the battery, the power supply assembly removeably supported on the frame; and a combined lifting and latching assembly comprising a lifting handle pivotally mounted on the housing, the handle having a first position flush with the housing and a raised lifting position, the handle pivoting outboard from the housing from the first position to the raised lifting position; an actuator operatively connected to the handle, the actuator movable between a locking position corresponding to the first position of the handle and a release position corresponding to the raised lifting position of the handle, the actuator operatively connected to an elongated pin, the pin slidingly disposed for linear movement within the housing, the pin engaged by the actuator for movement between the locking position, wherein the pin fixedly engages the frame, and the release position, wherein the pin disengages from the frame and permits the power supply assembly to be removed from the frame by a lifting motion operatively supplied to the handle in the raised lifting position, wherein the actuator comprises a cam surface formed as part of the handle and positioned in contact with the pin, the pivoting of the handle moving the cam surface and displacing the pin into and out of engagement with the frame.