Patent ID: 7186048

Claim:
A latching mechanism adapted for coupling two nestable shanks in a selected extension therebetween, each shank having at least one aperture along a longitudinal extent thereof said latching mechanism comprising: a housing; an aperture in said housing; a locking pin for extension through said aperture, said pin having first and second ends; a pivot arm within said housing having first and second ends, said pivot arm first end being pivotable about an axis within said housing with said pivot arm second end attached to said locking pin; first means for biasing said pivot arm to urge said locking pin second end towards a position within said housing; a lever arm for bearing against said first end of said locking pin; second means for biasing said lever arm to a first position bearing against said first end of said locking pin to urge said second end of said locking pin in extension outside said housing, said lever arm presenting a first end for user manipulation, a manipulation of said first end urging said lever arm away from said first position to allow said first bias means to urge said locking pin second end within said housing: said latching mechanism adapted for placement along one of the shanks with an aperture of the respective nested shanks aligned therebetween, wherein said latching mechanism joins the shanks upon said movement of said locking pin second end in extension outside said housing and through the aligned apertures of the shanks, the nested shanks releasable upon movement of the locking pin second end towards said position within said housing and outside the aligned shank apertures.