초록

A latch mechanism is provided for securing the lid of a container in a closed position having actuator components that facilitate latching and unlatching of a latch plate of the latch mechanism.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A latch mechanism, comprising: a latch rail formed with a first opening, a second opening and a cavity located in between said first and second openings, said latch rail being adapted to mount to a front wall of a truck box;a latch plate pivotally mounted to said latch rail, said latch plate bein

1. A latch mechanism, comprising: a latch rail formed with a first opening, a second opening and a cavity located in between said first and second openings, said latch rail being adapted to mount to a front wall of a truck box;a latch plate pivotally mounted to said latch rail, said latch plate being movable between a latched position and an unlatched position, said latch plate being adapted to engage a striker pin when in said latched position;a pawl lever pivotally mounted to said latch rail, said pawl lever being movable to a first position in which said pawl lever engages and retains said latch plate in said latched position, said pawl lever being movable to a second position in which said pawl lever releases said latch plate so that said latch plate can move from said latched position to said unlatched position;a first carriage located within said first opening of said latch rail and a second carriage located within said second opening of said latch rail;a first slide block and a second slide block each located within said cavity of said latch rail, said first slide block mounting a first actuator arm in position to engage said pawl lever, said second slide block mounting a second actuator arm in position to engage said pawl lever;a first actuator rod, said first actuator rod being fixed to said first carriage and fixed to said first slide block;a second actuator rod, said second actuator rod being fixed to said second carriage and fixed to said second slide block;said first carriage being movable in a first direction causing said first actuator rod to move said first slide block therewith, said first actuator arm mounted to said first slide block moving said pawl lever to said second position in response to movement of said first slide block in said first direction thus allowing said latch plate to move to said unlatched position;said second carriage being movable in a second direction, opposite to said first direction, causing said second actuator rod to move said second slide block therewith, said second actuator arm mounted to said second slide block moving said pawl lever to said second position in response to movement of said second slide block in said second direction thus allowing said latch plate to move to said unlatched position. 2. The latch mechanism of claim 1 in which said pawl lever mounts an actuator pin, each of said first and second actuator arms being mounted in position to engage said actuator pin, said first actuator arm when moving in said first direction with said first slide block being effective to cause said actuator pin to move said pawl lever out of engagement with said latch plate, said second actuator arm when moving in said second direction with said second slide block being effective to cause said actuator pin to move said pawl lever out of engagement with said latch plate. 3. The latch mechanism of claim 1 in which movement of said first slide block in said first direction and movement of said second slide block in said second direction causes said pawl lever to pivot. 4. The latch mechanism of claim 1 in which said first carriage mounts a key cylinder having an inner end extending into said first opening, a locking cap being mounted to said inner end of said key cylinder, said key cylinder being movable between a locked position wherein said locking cap prevents movement of said first carriage in said first direction and an unlocked position wherein said locking cap permits movement of said first carriage in said first direction. 5. The latch mechanism of claim 1 in which said second carriage mounts a key cylinder having an inner end extending into said second opening, a locking cap being mounted to said inner end of said key cylinder, said key cylinder being movable between a locked position wherein said locking cap prevents movement of said second carriage in said second direction and an unlocked position wherein said locking cap permits movement of said second carriage in said second direction. 6. The latch mechanism of claim 1 in which each of said first and second carriages mounts a finger tab which may be grasped by a user to move said first carriage in said first direction or said second carriage in said second direction. 7. A truck box, comprising: a front wall, a back wall, a bottom wall and opposed end walls interconnected to form a hollow interior, a lid movable between an open position and a closed position relative to said hollow interior, said lid mounting a striker pin;a latch mechanism, comprising: (i) a latch rail formed with a first opening, a second opening and a cavity located in between said first and second openings, said latch rail being mounted to said front wall of a truck box and extending substantially between said opposed end walls;(ii) a latch plate pivotally mounted to said latch rail, said latch plate being movable between a latched position and an unlatched position, said latch plate being effective to engage said striker pin when in said latched position;(iii) a pawl lever pivotally mounted to said latch rail, said pawl lever being movable to a first position in which said pawl lever engages and retains said latch plate in said latched position, said pawl lever being movable to a second position in which said pawl lever releases said latch plate so that said latch plate can move from said latched position to said unlatched position;(iv) a first carriage located within said first opening of said latch rail and a second carriage located within said second opening of said latch rail;(v) a first slide block and a second slide block each located within said cavity of said latch rail, said first slide block mounting a first actuator arm in position to engage said pawl lever, said second slide block mounting a second actuator arm in position to engage said pawl lever;(vi) a first actuator rod, said first actuator rod being fixed to said first carriage and fixed to said first slide block;(vii) a second actuator rod, said second actuator rod being fixed to said second carriage and fixed to said second slide block;(viii) said first carriage being movable in a first direction causing said first actuator rod to move said first slide block therewith, said first actuator arm mounted to said first slide block moving said pawl lever to said second position in response to movement of said first slide block in said first direction thus allowing said latch plate to move to said unlatched position;(ix) said second carriage being movable in a second direction, opposite to said first direction, causing said second actuator rod to move said second slide block therewith, said second actuator arm mounted to said second slide block moving said pawl lever to said second position in response to movement of said second slide block in said second direction thus allowing said latch plate to move to said unlatched position. 8. The latch mechanism of claim 7 in which movement of said first slide block in said first direction and movement of said second slide block in said second direction causes said pawl lever to pivot. 9. The latch mechanism of claim 7 in which said first carriage mounts a key cylinder having an inner end extending into said first opening, a locking cap being mounted to said inner end of said key cylinder, said key cylinder being movable between a locked position wherein said locking cap prevents movement of said first carriage in said first direction and an unlocked position wherein said locking cap permits movement of said first carriage in said first direction. 10. The latch mechanism of claim 7 in which said second carriage mounts a key cylinder having an inner end extending into said second opening, a locking cap being mounted to said inner end of said key cylinder, said key cylinder being movable between a locked position wherein said locking cap prevents movement of said second carriage in said second direction and an unlocked position wherein said locking cap permits movement of said second carriage in said second direction. 11. The latch mechanism of claim 7 in which each of said first and second carriages mounts a finger tab which may be grasped by a user to move said first carriage in said first direction or said second carriage in said second direction.