Latch system

1. A system, comprising:

a latch frame including a front latch frame member, a rear latch frame member, a first latch side rail, and a second latch side rail;

a latch rod rotatably engaged with, and at least partially extending between the front latch frame member and the rear latch frame member, and including a latch paddle at a first end;

a notch frame including a front notch frame member, a rear notch frame member, a first notch side rail, and a second notch side rail, the first and second latch side rails configured to slidably engage with the first and second notch side rails, respectively, such that the latch frame slides with respect to the notch frame; and

a notched bar extending at least partially between the front notch frame member and the rear notch frame member, and including a first end, a second end, a length extending between the first and second ends, and a plurality of notches disposed along the length of the notched bar, the plurality of notches configured to removably receive the latch paddle,

wherein the latch paddle is gravitationally biased into removable engagement with the plurality of notches as the latch frame slides along the notch frame.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of notches are disposed in evenly-spaced distances along the length of the notched bar.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of notches include at least a first notch proximate the first end of the notched bar and a second notch proximate the second end of the notched bar.

4. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a cargo deck disposed on the latch frame.

5. The system of claim 1 , wherein:

the latch frame further comprises a stop bracket on the front latch frame member;

the notch frame further comprises a catch bracket on the rear latch frame member; and

the stop bracket and catch bracket contact one another as the latch frame slides along the notch frame.

6. The system of claim 1 , further comprising an extension frame including a front extension frame member, a rear extension frame member, a first extension side rail, and a second extension side rail,

wherein the first and second extension side rails are configured to slidably engage with the first and second notch side rails, and

wherein the first and second latch side rails are configured to slidably engage with the first and second extension side rails.

7. The system of claim 6 , wherein:

the latch frame further comprises a stop bracket on the front latch frame member;

the extension frame further comprises a stop bracket on the front extension frame member and a catch bracket on the rear extension frame member; and

the notch frame further comprises a catch bracket on the rear notch frame member,

wherein the stop bracket of the front latch frame member and the catch bracket on the rear extension frame member contact one another as the latch frame slides along the extension frame and the stop bracket of the extension frame and the catch bracket on the notch frame contact one another as the extension frame slides along the notch frame.

8. The system of claim 1 , wherein the latch rod further comprising washers to restrict the latch rod to rotational movement within the latch frame.

9. A method, comprising the steps of:

providing a slidable conveying assembly comprising:

a latch frame configured to slidably engage with a notch frame, and including a cargo deck disposed thereon,

a latch rod rotatably engaged with the latch frame and including a latch paddle at a first end and a latch handle at a second end;

a notched bar extending at least partially through the notch frame, and including a first end, a second end, a length extending between the first and second ends, and a plurality of notches disposed along the length of the notched bar, the plurality of notches configured to removably receive the latch paddle; and

a biasing mechanism operably coupled to the latch frame and the latch rod and configured to bias the latch paddle into the plurality of notches such that the latch paddle is biased into removable engagement with the plurality of notches as the latch frame slides along the notch frame;

applying a rotational force to the latch handle to release the latch paddle from its engagement with one of the plurality of notches;

extending or retracting the latch frame from a cargo bed to a desired distance; and

releasing the rotational force to allow the biasing mechanism to bias the latch paddle into another of the plurality of notches.

10. The method of claim 9 , wherein the releasing the rotational force is performed after the desired distance of the latch frame from the cargo bed is reached.

11. The method of claim 9 , wherein the releasing the rotational force is performed while extending or retracting the latch frame from the cargo bed to the desired distance.

12. The method of claim 9 , wherein the rotational force is a clockwise rotational force.

13. The method of claim 9 , wherein the rotational force is a counterclockwise rotational force.