The Knapheide Mfg. Co.

Daniel G Fuchs

Larry R Rudd

A latching device to connect two adjacent members (e.g. sections of a stake type truck body) is provided. The latching device is comprised of two basic members, a latching assembly and a receiving member, each attached to one of the adjacent members. The latching assembly includes a latch rod which is slidably and rotatably attached to one of the members and a spring. The spring biases the latch rod away from the receiving member. The receiving member is connected to the second member and may have a slot therein. The latch rod has an engaging end which is received within the slot and has two engaging surfaces. These two engaging surfaces firmly engage two receiving surfaces of the receiving member when the latching device is latched. One of the engaging surfaces is an approximately flat surface designed and arranged such that it forms an acute angle with a line perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the latch rod and connecting the axis of rotation of the latch rod with the center point of the engaging surface. This engaging surface abuts a similar flat surface of the receiving member when the latching device is engaged. The spring bias acts to bring these two surfaces into abutment and holds the surfaces in abutment when the latching device is latched. The engaging end also has a leading edge which is beveled starting at the longitudinal edges rising to a center ridge. This invention reduces the relative movement between the two members and, thus, reduces the vibratory noises generated by the members.

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Quincy, IL, United States of America

Daniel G Fuchs