Patent ID: 8870245

Claim:
A latch receiver for receiving a hook of a hook latch and for mating with a latch enclosure comprising the hook of the hook latch, said latch receiver comprising: a metal C-shaped guard cover having parallel sides, a planar back panel and an open end, wherein at least one of the parallel sides extends a first distance from the planar back panel, said open end having an inner width configured to mate with the latch enclosure, wherein the inner width is wider than an outer width of the latch enclosure; and a metal latch plate attached to said C-shaped guard cover, said latch plate comprising: (1) upper and lower attachment portions for attachment to said planar back panel; (2) a central portion for receiving said hook latch, said central portion spaced a second distance from said planar back panel; (3) upper and lower end panels for spacing the central portion the second distance from the planar back panel; and (4) upper and lower contact surfaces corresponding to the upper and lower end panels, said upper and lower contact surfaces for contacting an outer surface of said latch enclosure, wherein each of said upper and lower contact surfaces is spaced from said planar back panel a third distance, wherein the third distance is greater than said second distance that said central portion is spaced from said planar back panel, wherein each of said upper and lower contact surfaces is separated from the central portion a fourth distance, wherein each of said upper and lower contact surfaces is configured to reduce play between said hook latch and said latch receiver.