Foot actuated ladder latching device for a tilting type ladder rack

A ladder latching mechanism for a tilting type ladder rack comprising, in combination:

• a) a first elongate extrusion adapted to be fixedly attached to a load support member of a tilting type ladder rack at a rearward end of the load support member;
• b) a second elongate extrusion mounted on the first extrusion for sliding movement there along;
• c) an L-shaped stop having a first leg clamped to and projecting out from the second elongate extrusion and a second leg spaced from and aligned with the second elongate extrusion, said L-shaped stop adapted to engage a lower rung of a ladder carried on the load support member;
• d) a treadle member clamped to the second elongate extrusion;
• e) a toothed gear rack affixed to and disposed within the first elongate extrusion;
• and
• f) a spring-biased lever pivotally joined to the second elongate extrusion, the lever carrying a tooth at a first end thereof adapted to cooperate with teeth of the gear rack for latching the second elongate extrusion to the first elongate extrusion with the L-shaped stop at a desired location, the spring-biased lever having a lever arm separate from, but adjacent to, the treadle member which when depressed with a predetermined force will overcome a spring of the spring-biased lever to disengage the tooth carried by the spring-biased lever from teeth of the gear rack to permit the second elongate extrusion to slide along the first elongate extrusion.