Coupling device for cargo containers

Claim 1

In combination, a pair of spaced, mutually aligned cargo containers having pairs of spaced, oppositely disposed lugs thereon, and a spindle-connected coupling mechanism including a pair of oppositely disposed interlock members which are interposed in the clearance between the container and outwardly and inwardly displaceable in relation to one another on the spindle, to couple and uncouple the containers to and from one another, respectively, the bodies of which members are elongated along a common axis extending in the direction of alignment of the containers, and complementarily truncated in the plane of said axis so as to have mutually opposing planiform surfaces thereon which extend the full length thereof and mate with one another in the relatively inwardly displaced inoperative condition of the members, to unite the members in a single geometrical form, and the corresponding end portions of which members are inserted between the lugs on the containers and equipped with oppositely disposed recesses to receive the lugs on the containers in the relatively outwardly displaced operative condition of the members, which recesses open in the directions relatively away from the plane of the surfaces, and are spaced apart from one another lengthwise of the members by relatively central portions thereof which are raised above the bottoms of the recesses in the latter directions to form abutment walls against which the lugs can bear when the containers tend to undergo movement relatively toward one another.