Slam latch for horse trailer
AssigneeFeatherlite Mfg., Inc.
InventorDonald J. Fenske
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A slam latch is provided which includes a housing which receives a planar slide which is movable between an extended position and a retracted position. A spring biases the slide toward the extended position. The housing forms a part of a divider which is hingedly mounted to a trailer body to form compartments in the trailer. Preferably, the housing is made of metal, and the slide is made of plastic. The housing has a hole in each side of the housing allowing access to the slide. Preferably, the slide includes a hole therethrough defining a hand slot. The trailer body includes a receiver post which receives the end of the slide in the extended position to latch the divider in place. Preferably, the receiver post has a continuous cross-section from floor to ceiling and is flush with the wall of the trailer body.
Claims17
A slam latch comprising:
- a housing with a front and a back defining an interior therebetween, the front and the back each having an access hole which allows access to the interior;
- a planar slide received in the interior of the housing, the slide movable between an extended position and a retracted position, the planar slide defining a hole through the slide which forms a handle, the handle accessible through both of the access holes of the housing;
- and
- a spring engaged with the housing and the slide to bias the slide toward the extended position.
A divider for a horse trailer comprising:
- a generally planar metal panel defining a front surface, an opposite facing back surface, a hinged end and an opposed free end, the free end defining an inner chamber having a rectangular cross-section between the front and back surfaces, and a hole through the panel from the front surface to the back surface allowing access to the chamber from both the front surface and the back surface;
- a slam latch located at the free end, the slam latch including a planar plastic slide having one end received in the chamber and an opposite end extending from the chamber, the slide having a rectangular cross-section, the slide defining a hole through the slide positioned in the access hole, the slide movable between an extended position and a retracted position;
- a spring positioned in the chamber to bias the slide toward the extended position;
- and
- a safety lock having two positions, a first position locking the slide in the extended position, and a second position permitting movement of the slide from the extended position toward the retracted position.
A horse trailer comprising:
- a trailer body defining first and second opposed side walls, the trailer body including a floor and a ceiling connected to the first and second side walls;
- a divider hingedly mounted to the first side wall between open and closed positions, the divider including a lower edge;
- a slam latch positioned on the divider to mount the divider to the second side wall, the slam latch including a slidable member slidably received within the divider between an extended position and a retracted position, the slam latch including a spring biasing the slidable member toward the extended position, the slidable member including an end projecting from the divider when the slidable member is in the extended position;
- a receiver post mounted to the second side wall and having a continuous cross-section from the floor to the ceiling, the receiver post positioned flush relative to the second side wall, the receiver post defining a ramp surface and a recessed region for receiving the end of the slidable member;
- and
- a support surface mounted to the receiver post and supporting the lower edge of the divider in the closed position.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.