Twist lock

Claim 2

An improved twist lock for a lifting beam comprising an elongated shank extending from said beam and having a base portion at the lower end thereof, two lug members of different lengths extending laterally outwardly in opposite directions from said base portion different distances from said shank, and locator means comprising a separate element rotatably disposed on said shank above said lugs, said locator including two opposed segments held together by an interconnecting member whereby said segments and said member may be mounted on said shank, and said segments vertically aligned with said lugs for fitting in the opening of a container corner fitting to prevent undesirable movement of the shank in the corner fitting when the twist lock is disposed therein.

Claim 3

The twist lock of claim 1 wherein the longer of said lugs points toward the lift center of the lifting beam when the twist lock is in the unengaged position and which points outward from the longitudinal axis of the lifting beam when the shank is rotated to the engaged position.

Claim 4

The twist lock of claim 1 including means for holding said locator against rotation when said twist lock is rotated for engagement in the corner fitting.

Claim 5

The twist lock of claim 4 wherein said rotation holding means comprises a shaped opening formed on said lifting beam into which said locator is slipped when the twist lock is mounted in the operative position.

Claim 6

The twist lock of claim 1 wherein said segments have a width approximately the width of said lugs.

Claim 7

The twist lock of claim 1 wherein said lug members include guide means for positioning the locator means with respect to said lug members.

Claim 8

The twist lock of claim 6 wherein said guide means includes a groove formed in the top of said lug members concentric to said shank, and said segments of said locator means include a curved flange extending from the bottom portion thereof which fits into said grooves of said lugs for coaction therewith.

Claim 9

The twist lock of claim 1 wherein each of said segments is of a different length whereby each extends laterally outward from said shank a different distance and substantially the same as the distance the lug over which it lies extends from said shank.

Claim 10

The twist lock of claim 1 including a spacer slidably mounted on said shank and extending between said locator means and a positioning stop whereby said spacer acts to hold the locator means in its operative position adjacent said lug members.

Claim 11

The twist lock of claim 1 wherein said locator means includes an annular portion having two parallel faces with a bore extending between said faces and said segments are secured to one face of said annular portion in aligned relationship whereby they do not block the bore of said annular portion and are disposed on opposite sides of said shank when said locator means is disposed in operative positions.

Claim 12

The twist lock of claim 1 wherein each of said segments of said locator means has concave, opposed inner surfaces, generally rounded peripheral faces at the lateral ends thereof, and generally planar top surfaces, said top surfaces being secured to said interconnecting member whereby said opposed inner surfaces of said segments are concentric to the bore of said annular portion to form partial extensions thereof and said rounded ends of said segments extend radially outward from the center of said annular portion approximately the same distance the corresponding lug members extend from the center of said shank.

Claim 13

The twist lock of claim 11 wherein said top portions are rectangular and said lifting beam is provided with a shaped opening having rectangular ends into which said rectangulAr top portions are held to prevent rotation of said locator.

Claim 14

The twist lock of claim 1 wherein said lugs extend from the center of said shank 2 inches and 2 3/8 inches respectively.

Claim 15

The twist lock of claim 1 wherein said lifting beam has four corners with an improved twist lock mounted in each of said corners, said twist locks mounted in laterally opposite corners being spaced apart, 89 1/2 inches, center-to-center.

Claim 16

An improved twist lock comprising an elongated shank extending from a lifting beam and having a base portion at the lower end thereof, two lug members formed on said base portion and extending laterally outward in opposite directions different distances from said shank, approximately 2 inches and 2 3/8 inches respectively, the longer of said lugs pointing toward the lift center of the lifting beam when the twist lock is in the unengaged position and pointing outward from the longitudinal axis of the lifting beam when the shank is rotated to the engaged position, said lugs including a groove formed in the top surfaces thereof concentric to said shank, a locator disposed on said shank and resting on said lugs for fitting in the opening of different kinds of container corner fittings whereby said twist lock may be held in position when said twist lock is rotated to engage said different kinds of container corner fittings, said locator being rotatably disposed on said shank above said lugs and including an annular upper portion with two opposed lower segments secured to said annular portion, each of said segments being substantially the same width as said lugs and of a different length whereby each extends laterally outward from said shank a different distance and substantially the same as the distance the lug over which it lies extends from said shank, and means holding the locator in its operative position adjacent said lug members.

Claim 17

An improved twist lock comprising an elongated shank extending from a lifting beam and having a base portion at the lower end thereof, two lug members formed on said base portion and extending laterally outward in opposite directions different distances from said shank, approximately 2 inches and 2 3/8 inches respectively, the longer of said lugs pointing toward the lift center of the lifting beam when the twist lock is in the unengaged position and pointing outward from the longitudinal axis of the lifting beam when the shank is rotated to the engaged position, said lugs including a groove formed in the top surfaces thereof concentric to said shank, a locator disposed on said shank and resting on said lugs for fitting in the opening of different kinds of container corner fittings whereby said twist lock may be held in position when said twist lock is rotated to engage said different kinds of container corner fittings, said locator being rotatably disposed on said shank above said lugs and including an annular upper portion with two opposed lower segments secured to said annular portion, each of said segments being substantially the same width as said lugs and of a different length whereby each extends laterally outward from said shank a different distance and substantially the same as the distance the lug over which it lies extends from said shank, and means holding the locator in its operative position adjacent said lug members.

Claim 18

A locator for a twist lock having a shank and a base portion at the lower end thereof with lug members extending in opposite directions from the center of said shank, said locator comprising an interconnecting member for mounting on said shank of the twist lock above the base portion of said lock, and means , including a pair of opposed segments disposed on opposite sides of said shank when said locator is mounted on a twist lock, secured to said interconnecting member for fitting in the opening of a container corner fitting to prevent said shank from moving horizontally in a cargo container corner fitting, said segments being formed to align with the lugs of said twist lock and including guide means mounted on the lower surfaces of said segments for engaging cooperating guide means formed in the tops of said lugs to position said locator means with respect to said lugs.

Claim 19

A locator for a twist lock having a shank and a base portion at the lower end thereof with lug members extending in opposite directions from the center of said shank, said locator comprising an interconnecting member for mounting on said shank of the twist lock above the base portion of said lock, and means , including a pair of opposed segments disposed on opposite sides of said shank when said locator is mounted on a twist lock, secured to said interconnecting member for fitting in the opening of a container corner fitting to prevent said shank from moving horizontally in a cargo container corner fitting, said segments being formed to align with the lugs of said twist lock and including guide means mounted on the lower surfaces of said segments for engaging cooperating guide means formed in the tops of said lugs to position said locator means with respect to said lugs.

Claim 20

A top lift cargo container lifting beam with four corners having an improved twist lock attached to each of said corners, each of said twist locks comprising an elongated shank portion depending from said bean and having a base portion at the lower end thereof, said base portion including two lug members extending laterally outwardly in opposite directions from the center of said shank for different distances, and locator means removably mounted on said shank above said lugs and vertically aligned therewith for fitting in the opening of a container corner fitting to prevent undesirable movement of the shank in the corner fitting when the twist lock is disposed therein whereby said beam may be utilized to handle cargo containers having different dimensions and corner fittings.

Claim 21

A top lift cargo container lifting beam with four corners having an improved twist lock attached to each of said corners, each of said twist locks comprising an elongated shank portion depending from said bean and having a base portion at the lower end thereof, said base portion including two lug members extending laterally outwardly in opposite directions from the center of said shank for different distances, and locator means removably mounted on said shank above said lugs and vertically aligned therewith for fitting in the opening of a container corner fitting to prevent undesirable movement of the shank in the corner fitting when the twist lock is disposed therein whereby said beam may be utilized to handle cargo containers having different dimensions and corner fittings.