Patent ID: 7946632

Claim:
An apparatus for removably attaching an accessory to an object comprising: a pair of spaced apart docking members in fixed relation to the object; the first docking member of said pair having a mounting bushing, said mounting bushing having a mating diameter; the second docking member of said pair having a mounting bushing, said mounting bushing having a mating diameter; a mounting plate connected to said accessory, said mounting plate defining a first slot, the first slot having an open end portion and a semi-circular closed end portion having a diameter complimentary to the mating diameter of the mounting bushing of the first docking member, and a second slot, the second slot being defined in part by a finger portion of the mounting bracket and having an open end portion and a semi-circular closed end portion having a diameter complimentary to the mating diameter of the mounting bushing of the second docking member; said first and second slot being defined in the mounting plate such that the closed end portion of the first slot and the closed end portion of the second slot respectively and simultaneously engage the mounting bushing of the first docking member and the mounting bushing of the second docking member; a latch mechanism, said latch mechanism being pivotally attached to said mounting plate and said latch mechanism having an open position wherein it does not occlude the opening of the second slot and a closed position wherein the latch mechanism at least partially occludes the opening of the second slot said latching mechanism further comprising a sliding latching member, said latching member having a first end portion, an opposing second end portion, and a hook portion sized to receive the end portion of the finger portion of the mounting bracket, the hook portion being located toward a first end portion of the latching member and said latching member defining an elongated aperture running from the first end portion of the latching member to the second end portion of the latching member; a first housing portion having an interior side and a boss projecting from the interior side of the first housing portion; a second housing member having an interior side; and a spring; wherein the latching member is located adjacent to the interior side of the first housing portion such that the boss extends through the elongated aperture defined in the latching member; the spring is located within the elongated slot defined in the latching member and is compressed between the end of the elongated slot toward the second end portion of the latching member and the boss extending through the elongated slot; and the interior side of the second housing portion is adjacent to both the latching member and the boss extending from the interior side of the first housing portion such that the latching member can be slidably moved within the housing portions.