Patent US3604363A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3604363A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Container securing means for transport carrier with automatic latch to accommodate various clearances with bottom container fittings
Assignee: Illinois Railway Equipment Co
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Filing: 1970-06-01
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Granted: 1971-09-14
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Expires: 1990-06-01
Abstract
Abstract The spring-biased latches on a transport carrier for automatically engaging and disengaging bottom corner container fittings are bodily movable to maintain the same latching engagement within limits for various clearances between the container fittings and the housings secured to the transport carrier on which the latches are mounted.
Inventors
- 👤 Edward Payson Smith
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 08:50
CPC Classifications
B; B60; B60P; B60P7/00; B60P7/06; B60P7/13; B61; B61D; B61D45/00; B61D45/001
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
128 words
Container securing means for a transport carrier arranged to secure thereto one or more containers each having at least one bottom container fitting with a latch receiving opening in a wall thereof, said bottom container fitting being likely to have substantial clearance between said wall and said container securing means, said container securing means comprising: housing means for attachment to said transport carrier for underlying each bottom container fitting, follower means movably mounted on said housing means, means positioned between said housing means and said follower means to bias said follower means toward engagement with said wall of said bottom container fitting, latch means movably mounted on said follower means and means biasing said latch means into latching engagement with said bottom container fitting at said opening therein.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
128 words
Container securing means for a transport carrier arranged to secure thereto one or more containers each having at least one bottom container fitting with a latch receiving opening in a wall thereof, said bottom container fitting being likely to have substantial clearance between said wall and said container securing means, said container securing means comprising: housing means for attachment to said transport carrier for underlying each bottom container fitting, follower means movably mounted on said housing means, means positioned between said housing means and said follower means to bias said follower means toward engagement with said wall of said bottom container fitting, latch means movably mounted on said follower means and means biasing said latch means into latching engagement with said bottom container fitting at said opening therein.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
32 words
Container means according to claim 1 wherein: means on said housing means limits said movement of said follower means, and means on said follower means limits said movement of said latch means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
65 words
Container means according to claim 1 wherein: follower spring means reacts between said housing means and said follower means and biases said follower means for translatory movement relative to said housing means, and latch spring means reacts between said housing means and said latch means and biases said latch means for relative pivotal movement with respect to said follower means and to said housing means.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
133 words
Container means according to claim 1 wherein: said housing means has a wall for juxtaposition to said wall of said bottom container fitting, means translatory mount said follower means on said housing means, said follower means has a nose portion movable relative to said wall on said housing means to engage said wall of said bottom container fitting, means pivotally mount said latch means on said follower means, said latch means has a nose portion movable relative to said wall on said housing means for entering said latch receiving opening in said bottom container fitting, stop means on said housing means limits movement of said follower means relative to said housing means, and stop means of said follower means limits pivotal movement of said latch means relative thereto and to said housing means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
90 words
Container means according to claim 4 wherein: said nose portion on said follower means has an inclined striker surface for engagement by said bottom container fitting to displace said follower means when said bottom container fitting is lowered onto said housing means along said wall thereof within the limits of said clearance, and said nose portion on said latch means has an inclined striker surface for engagement by said bottom container fitting to displace said latch means when said bottom container fitting is lowered onto said housing means as aforesaid.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
73 words
Container means according to claim 4 wherein: said means slidably mounting said follower means on said housing means includes pin and slot means respectively on said follower means and said housing means, and said means pivotally mounting said latch means on said follower means includes said pin means on said follower means and slot means on said latch means and shoulder means on said follower means and trunnion means on said latch means.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
60 words
Container means according to claim 4 wherein: follower spring means reacts between said housing means and said follower means and biases said follower means for movement relative to said housing, and latch spring means reacts between said housing means and said latch means and biases said latch means for movement relative to said follower means and to said housing means.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
88 words
Container means according to claim 4 wherein: said follower means is bifurcated and has: a pin extending between its furcations with the ends of the pin extending into slots in said housing means, and latch trunnion fulcrum shoulders at the distal ends of said furcations, and said latch means has: its mose portion overlying said nose portion of said follower means, a body portion between said furcations of said follower means, a slot intermediate its end through which said pin extends, and trunnions for engaging said fulcrum shoulders.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
79 words
Container means according to claim 4 wherein: a pair of coil compression springs react between said follower means and said housing means and bias said nose portion of said follower means toward said wall of said bottom container fitting, and a coil tension spring reacts between an arm of said latch means extending from said trunnions and said housing means and biases said nose portion of said latch means into said latch receiving opening in said bottom container fitting.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
48 words
Container means according to claim 1 wherein, within the limits of said clearance, the extent of latching engagement of said latch means in said latch receiving opening in said bottom container fitting is the same for all operative positions of said bottom container fitting on said housing means.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-09-13 | 1975-03-15 | 1975-09-14 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-09-13 | 1979-03-15 | 1979-09-14 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-09-13 | 1983-03-15 | 1983-09-14 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |