The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Apr. 03, 2001
Filed:
Sep. 14, 1998
Gregory E. Rinehart, Weatherford, TX (US);
SmartFleet, L.P., Dallas, TX (US);
Abstract
For use in securing a pallet to a supporting floor of a service vehicle, a retaining latch, a method of operating the same to secure the pallet in place and a service vehicle having a latched pallet. In one embodiment, the retaining latch includes: (1) a first member having an aperture therein that allows the first member to be secured to the floor, (2) a second member, coupled to the first member for rotation relative thereto, (3) a spring, coupled to the first and second members, that resiliently urges the second member from an open position toward a closed position with respect to the first member and (4) a pin, extending from the second member toward the first member, adapted to engage and positively secure the pallet against lateral translation when the second member is urged toward the closed position.