A system for securing a tailgate to a vehicle body includes a housing secured to one of the tailgate and the vehicle body, the housing including a passageway. A projection is secured to the other of the tailgate and the vehicle body and is rotatably received by the housing in an attached state to rotatably attach the tailgate to the vehicle body and is separated from the housing in a detached state to permit removal of the tailgate from the vehicle body. The system also includes a locking mechanism operable in a locked state to block the passageway and prevent movement of the projection from the attached state to the detached state and an unlocked state opening the passageway to permit movement of the projection from the attached state to the detached state.

A locking mechanism comprises a base comprising a pair of arms projecting therefrom and defining an open mouthed recess for receiving a member to be selectively retained in the recess. The mechanism further comprises a pair of locking elements mounted between said pair of arms for rotational movement between a retracted position in which they permit access to the recess and an extended position in which they extend at least partially across the mouth of the recess. The arms comprise respective guides to guide the movement of said locking elements between said retracted and extended positions. The mechanism further comprises a drive for simultaneously moving the locking elements in opposite rotational directions. The drive may comprise a drive shaft having left handed and right handed threaded portions.

A lockout system includes a hasp assembly and a plurality of tags. The hasp assembly has a back plate defining slots each sized and shaped to receive a tag. The back plate and tags each have openings that align when a tag is received in a slot. A first hasp portion has a first loop portion and a second hasp portion has a second loop portion. The first and second hasp portions are rotatable with respect to one another such that moving the lockout system has both an unlocked position and a locked position associated with an open position and a closed position. In the closed position, the first and second hasp portions complete and define a closed loop, where one or more tags can be installed in slots preventing further movement from the closed position.

A connecting device is provided including one or more connecting elements arranged on at least one connectable part. At least one connecting element includes non-self-cutting retaining projections having a curved supporting surface in the form of an arc of a circle in longitudinal section. A groove is provided in one of the connectable parts, the groove having a curved undercut surface in the form of an arc of a circle in longitudinal section and including a base section and two undercut sections which extend away from the base section in a thickness direction. The retaining projections are engageable with the undercut sections of the groove. One or more connecting elements include or are in the form of one or more screw elements, and one or more connecting elements include one or more moveable retaining elements by means of which the parts can be drawn towards and/or pressed against each other.

A lockout system includes a hasp assembly and a plurality of tags. The hasp assembly has a back plate defining slots each sized and shaped to receive a tag. The back plate and tags each have openings that align when a tag is received in a slot. A first hasp portion has a first loop portion and a second hasp portion has a second loop portion. The first and second hasp portions are rotatable with respect to one another such that moving the lockout system has both an unlocked position and a locked position associated with an open position and a closed position. In the closed position, the first and second hasp portions complete and define a closed loop, where one or more tags can be installed in slots preventing further movement from the closed position.

A locking mechanism comprises a base comprising a pair of arms projecting therefrom and defining an open mouthed recess for receiving a member to be selectively retained in the recess. The mechanism further comprises a pair of locking elements mounted between said pair of arms for rotational movement between a retracted position in which they permit access to the recess and an extended position in which they extend at least partially across the mouth of the recess. The arms comprise respective guides to guide the movement of said locking elements between said retracted and extended positions. The mechanism further comprises a drive for simultaneously moving the locking elements in opposite rotational directions. The drive may comprise a drive shaft having left handed and right handed threaded portions.

A lockout system includes a hasp assembly and a plurality of tags. The hasp assembly has a back plate defining slots each sized and shaped to receive a tag. The back plate and tags each have openings that align when a tag is received in a slot. A first hasp portion on the back plate defines part of a closed loop. A longitudinal locking bar is slidable along the back plate and has notches shaped to receive ends of the tags. Moving the locking bar between an unlocked position and a locked position operates the second hasp portion between an open position and a closed position. In the closed position, the first and second hasp portions complete and define the closed loop, where one or more tags can be installed in slots with the first end of the tag engaging a notch to lock closed the hasp portion.

A connecting device is provided including one or more connecting elements arranged on at least one connectable part. At least one connecting element includes non-self-cutting retaining projections having a curved supporting surface in the form of an arc of a circle in longitudinal section. A groove is provided in one of the connectable parts, the groove having a curved undercut surface in the form of an arc of a circle in longitudinal section and including a base section and two undercut sections which extend away from the base section in a thickness direction. The retaining projections are engageable with the undercut sections of the groove. One or more connecting elements include or are in the form of one or more screw elements, and one or more connecting elements include one or more moveable retaining elements by means of which the parts can be drawn towards and/or pressed against each other.

A latch assembly (100, 300) is configured to removably secure a load floor (14) within a cargo area (12) of a vehicle (10). The latch assembly (100, 300) may include a housing (102, 306) defining an opening (130, 318). The housing (102, 306) is configured to secure to the load floor (14). A latch (104, 302) is rotatably secured to the housing. The latch (104, 302) may include a central hub and opposed latching rims (114, 350) extending radially outward from the central hub. The latch (104, 302) is configured to be rotated in relation to the housing (102, 306) in both a clockwise direction and counterclockwise direction to move either of the latching rims (114, 350) out of the housing (102, 306) into an engagement position. The latch assembly (100, 300) is configured to secure to a portion of the vehicle (10) when either of the latching rims (114, 350) is in the engagement position.

A connecting device is provided including one or more connecting elements arranged on at least one connectable part. At least one connecting element includes non-self-cutting retaining projections having a curved supporting surface in the form of an arc of a circle in longitudinal section. A groove is provided in one of the connectable parts, the groove having a curved undercut surface in the form of an arc of a circle in longitudinal section and including a base section and two undercut sections which extend away from the base section in a thickness direction. The retaining projections are engageable with the undercut sections of the groove. One or more connecting elements include or are in the form of one or more screw elements, and one or more connecting elements include one or more moveable retaining elements by means of which the parts can be drawn towards and/or pressed against each other.