Retractable locking device

Claim 2

In a road or rail vehicle, one or more locking devices for securing a freight container to the vehicle, each locking device comprising: guide means connected to the vehicle defining a first axial position and a second axial position; a locking member which is movable through said guide means along the axis between the first and the second axial positions and which is rotatable about said axis between a first and a second rotary position; a means for connecting said guide means to the vehicle which is arranged so that, in the second axial position, the locking member lies under the surface of the vehicle on which the freight container is supported, whereby in the first position said locking member extends above said surface and can be twisted about said axis from the first to the second rotary position so that it engages over a fitting on the container and thereby locks the container to the vehicle; a handle connected to the locking member for the purpose of moving the locking member between the first and second axial and rotary positions; a casing surrounding the locking member, said casing having a slot with a portion extending parallel to said axis and a portion extending circumferentially of said axis; and a locking lever pivotally connected to the locking member, said locking member being pivotally movable into the portion of the slot extending parallel to said axis to prevent the locking member from moving unnoticed from the second rotary position.

Claim 3

In a road or rail vehicle, one or more locking devices for securing a freight container to the vehicle, each locking device comprising: guide means connected to the vehicle defining a first axial position and a second axial position; a locking member which is movable through said guide means along the axis between the first and the second axial positions and which is rotatable about said axis between a first and a second rotary position; a means for connecting said guide means to the vehicle which is arranged so that, in the second axial position, the locking member lies under the surface of the vehicle on which the freight container is supported, whereby in the first position said locking member extends above said surface and can be twisted about the axis from the first to the second rotary position so that it engages over a fitting on the container and thereby locks the container to the vehicle; said guide means including a plate with an aperture therein through which the locking member extends, means defining keyway slots opening to said aperture, a collar with keys on said locking member so that the locking member can be moved between the first and second axial positions when the collar and aperture are in a particular angular relationship; said locking member comprising a spindle with its axis along said axis and a cross piece at one end thereof which is for engaging over a fitting on a container; and said guide means further including a guide collar surrounding said locking spindle which collar is movable axially but not rotationally of said axis and is made up of a plate with upstanding diametrically opposite arms of a width equal to the width of the cross piece so that in the first rotary position the cross piece lies over the arms so that the cross piece and arms can extend into an appropriately shaped aperture in the fitting and in the second rotary position the cross piece in axial direction lies between the arms.

Claim 4

In a road or rail vehicle, one or more locking devices for securing a freight container to the vehicle, each locking device comprising: guide means connected to the vehicle defining a first axial position and a second axial position; a locking member which is movable through said guide means along the axis between the first and the second axial positions and which is rotatable about said axis between a first and a second rotary position; a means for connecting said guide means to the vehicle which is arranged so that, in the second axial position, the locking member lies under the surface of the vehicle on which the freight container is supported, whereby in the first position said locking member extends above said surface and can be twisted about the axis from the first to the second rotary position so that it engages over a fitting on the container and thereby locks the container to the vehicle; said guide means including a plate with an aperture therein through which the locking member extends, means defining keyway slots opening to said aperture, a collar with keys on said locking member so that the locking member can be moved between the first and second axial positions when the collar and aperture are in a particular angular relationship; said locking member comprising a spindle with its axis along said axis and a cross piece at one end thereof which is for engaging over a fitting on a container; and said guide means further including a guide collar surrounding said locking spindle which collar is movable axially but not rotationally of said axis and is made up of a plate with upstanding diametrically opposite arms of a width equal to the width of the cross piece so that in the first rotary position the cross piece lies over the arms so that the cross piece and arms can extend into an appropriately shaped aperture in the fitting and in the second rotary position the cross piece in axial direction lies between the arms.