Patent ID: 8328248

Claim:
A latch assembly for a tailgate on a truck, the tailgate including a shaft extending perpendicular from a top of the tailgate, the latch assembly comprising: a striker plate including a striker plate notch at a first end configured to receive the shaft of the tailgate to partially surround it, a base plate extending from a second end of the striker plate, and a guide plate extending from the striker plate, parallel to the base plate and defining a guide notch; a clasp including a clasp notch at a first end configured to receive the shaft of the tailgate to partially surround it, and a pivot point at a second end, the clasp further comprises a U-shaped bracket including first and second arms extending from a flat center portion attached to the clasp first end; a handle including a free end and an anchored end, the second anchored end being attached to the U-shaped bracket and defining a handle pivot point between the handle and the arms of the bracket; a fastening mechanism attached to the striker plate, between the base plate and the guide plate; wherein, in use, when the shaft is received into the striker plate notch, the clasp is pivoted toward the shaft to have the shaft surrounded by the clasp notch; when the shaft is securely positioned between the clasp notch and the striker plate notch, the handle can be pivoted in a first direction, moving the free end of the handle toward the striker plate, the free end being received in the guide notch and being latched by the fastening mechanism.