Trailer lock apparatus

Claim 2

Lock apparatus for lockingly engaging the king pin of a semitrailer to block movement of the king pin relative the fifth wheel assembly of a tractor to a road travel condition, wherein the king pin has upper and lower diametric portions and a reduced diametric portion vertically between said upper and lower portions, comprising a lock housing having an upwardly opening king pin chamber of a size to form a relatively close fit with upper and lower diametric portions of the king pin, and a second chamber opening to the king pin chamber between the top and bottom thereof, said housing including a main body portion having the chambers opening upwardly therethrough and a cover secured to said main body portion and extending over the second chamber, said cover including a cover plate closing the upward opening of said second chamber, a lock bar mounted by the housing for slidable movement between a position extending into the king pin chamber for extending vertically between said upper and lower portions when the king pin extends into the king pin chamber and an unlocked position located at least substantially out of the king pin chamber, said lock bar in the locked position extending through said second chamber, and having an upwardly opening slot, operable first means mounted by the housing for movement between a first position cooperating with the lock bar in its locked position for holding the lock bar in the locked position and a second position permitting the lock bar to be moved to its unlocked position, a key operated lock mounted by the lock bar, said lock having a cam member in the second chamber that is moved by turning a lock key in the lock for moving the first means from its first position to its second position, said first means comprising a retainer bar mounted for limited vertical movement by the housing between the first means first and second positions, said retainer bar having a portion located in said slot in the retainer bar first means first position for blocking sliding movement of the lock bar, said cover plate having a downwardly opening notch of a size to receive said retainer bar when the cam member moves the retainer bar upwardly.

Claim 3

Lock apparatus for lockingly engaging the king pin of a semitrailer to block movement of the king pin relative the fifth wheel assembly of a tractor to a road travel condition, wherein the king pin has upper and lower diametric portions anD a reduced diametric portion vertically between said upper and lower portions, comprising a lock housing having an upwardly opening king pin chamber of a size to form a relatively close fit with upper and lower diametric portions of the king pin, and a second chamber opening to the king pin chamber between the top and bottom thereof, said housing including a main body portion having the chambers opening upwardly therethrough and a cover secured to said main body portion and extending over the second chamber, a lock bar mounted by the housing for slidable movement between a position extending into the king pin chamber for extending vertically between said upper and lower portions when the king pin extends into the king pin chamber and an unlocked position located at least substantially out of the king pin chamber, said lock bar in the locked position extending through said second chamber, and having an upwardly opening slot, operable first means mounted by the housing for movement between a first position cooperating with the lock bar in its locked position for holding the lock bar in the locked position and a second position permitting the lock bar to be moved to its unlocked position, a key operated lock mounted by one of the lock bar and the housing, said lock having a cam member in the second chamber that is moved by turning a lock key in the lock for moving the first means from its first position to its second position, said first means comprising a retainer bar mounted for limited vertical movement by the housing between the first means first and second positions, said retainer bar having a portion located in said slot in the retainer bar first means first position for blocking sliding movement of the lock bar, said housing having rear portions defining an opening through which the lock bar is slidably extended, the rear portions defining the last mentioned opening including parts defining a first opening portion opening to the second chamber and second parts defining a second opening portion that is of a substantially larger cross-sectional area than the first opening portions, said second opening portion opening to the first opening portion remote from the second chamber, said lock bar having a first end portion of a size and cross section to substantially fill the second opening portion when the lock bar is in its locked position.

Claim 4

Lock apparatus for lockingly engaging the king pin of a semitrailer to block movement of the king pin relative the fifth wheel assembly of a tractor to a road travel condition, wherein the king pin has upper and lower diametric portions anD a reduced diametric portion vertically between said upper and lower portions, comprising a lock housing having an upwardly opening king pin chamber of a size to form a relatively close fit with upper and lower diametric portions of the king pin, and a second chamber opening to the king pin chamber between the top and bottom thereof, said housing including a main body portion having the chambers opening upwardly therethrough and a cover secured to said main body portion and extending over the second chamber, a lock bar mounted by the housing for slidable movement between a position extending into the king pin chamber for extending vertically between said upper and lower portions when the king pin extends into the king pin chamber and an unlocked position located at least substantially out of the king pin chamber, said lock bar in the locked position extending through said second chamber, and having an upwardly opening slot, operable first means mounted by the housing for movement between a first position cooperating with the lock bar in its locked position for holding the lock bar in the locked position and a second position permitting the lock bar to be moved to its unlocked position, a key operated lock mounted by one of the lock bar and the housing, said lock having a cam member in the second chamber that is moved by turning a lock key in the lock for moving the first means from its first position to its second position, said first means comprising a retainer bar mounted for limited vertical movement by the housing between the first means first and second positions, said retainer bar having a portion located in said slot in the retainer bar first means first position for blocking sliding movement of the lock bar, said housing having rear portions defining an opening through which the lock bar is slidably extended, the rear portions defining the last mentioned opening including parts defining a first opening portion opening to the second chamber and second parts defining a second opening portion that is of a substantially larger cross-sectional area than the first opening portions, said second opening portion opening to the first opening portion remote from the second chamber, said lock bar having a first end portion of a size and cross section to substantially fill the second opening portion when the lock bar is in its locked position.

Claim 5

The apparatus of claim 2 further characterized in that the lock bar has a second end portion opposite said lock bar first end portion, said lock bar second end portion having an arcuate recessed surface of a radius of curvature nearly the same as the radius of curvature of the king pin reduced diameter portion, and that the housing main body portion has an end wall, said housing end wall and cover plate cooperatively having wall surface portions that are of a radii of curvature only slightly larger than the king pin upper and lower portions and in part define said king pin chamber.

Claim 6

For blocking movement of a semitrailer king pin that has upper and lower diameter portions and a reduced diameter portion vertically between said upper and lower portions through the king pin guide slot of a tractor fifth wheel assembly and into the king pin receiving recess of the fifth wheel assembly, lock apparatus comprising a housing having a top wall, an interior chamber and a rear portion having a lock bar opening to the interior chamber, said top wall having a recessed opening that opens to said interior chamber and is of a radius slightly larger than the radius of each of said upper and lower portions, a lock bar having a first end portion and a second end portion defining an arcuate recess of a radius of curvature larger than the reduced portion and substantially smaller than the radius of the top wall opening, said lock bar being slidably extended through the rear portion opening and into the interior chamber for movement between a lock bar locked position extendable vertically between the upper and lower portions when the king pin is in sAid chamber and an unlocked position that the lock bar recess is closer to the rear portion than in the locked position, and having an elongated main body portion that has said second end portion and is joined to said first end portion, said rear portion defining the rear portion opening having first parts defining a first opening portion opening to the chamber that is of a size and shape to form a relatively close fit with the adjacent part of the first end portion in the first opening portion in the lock bar locked position and second parts defining a second opening portion that at least in part is of a substantially larger size than the first opening portion and opening thereto, said lock bar first end portion having a part of a size and shape to substantially fill the second opening portion, said interior chamber having a lower chamber recessed portion of a size and shape to receive the lower portion when the king pin is in the chamber and the lock bar is vertically between said upper and lower portions, operable first means in said chamber and movable between a first position cooperating with the lock bar in its locked position for blocking movement of the lock bar out of its locked position and a second position permitting the lock bar to be moved to its unlocked position, said first means comprising a retainer barmounted for limited slidable movement by the housing, said lock bar having a retainer bar receiving slot, and said retainer bar extending in the slot to block movement of the lock bar in the first means first position and located out of the slot in the first means second position to permit moving the lock bar rearwardly, and key operated lock means extending into said chamber for operating the first means between its positions.

Claim 7

For blocking movement of a semitrailer king pin that has upper and lower diameter portions and a reduced diameter portion vertically between said upper and lower portions through the king pin guide slot of a tractor fifth wheel assembly and into the king pin receiving recess of the fifth wheel assembly, lock apparatus comprising a housing having a top wall, an interior chamber and a rear portion having a lock bar opening to the interior chamber, said top wall having a recessed opening that opens to said interior chamber and is of a radius slightly larger than the radius of each of said upper and lower portions, a lock bar having a first end portion and a second end portion defining an arcuate recess of a radius of curvature larger than the reduced portion and substantially smaller than the radius of the top wall opening, said lock bar being slidably extended through the rear portion opening and into the interior chamber for movement between a lock bar locked position extendable vertically between the upper and lower portions when the king pin is in sAid chamber and an unlocked position that the lock bar recess is closer to the rear portion than in the locked position, and having an elongated main body portion that has said second end portion and is joined to said first end portion, said rear portion defining the rear portion opening having first parts defining a first opening portion opening to the chamber that is of a size and shape to form a relatively close fit with the adjacent part of the first end portion in the first opening portion in the lock bar locked position and second parts defining a second opening portion that at least in part is of a substantially larger size than the first opening portion and opening thereto, said lock bar first end portion having a part of a size and shape to substantially fill the second opening portion, said interior chamber having a lower chamber recessed portion of a size and shape to receive the lower portion when the king pin is in the chamber and the lock bar is vertically between said upper and lower portions, operable first means in said chamber and movable between a first position cooperating with the lock bar in its locked position for blocking movement of the lock bar out of its locked position and a second position permitting the lock bar to be moved to its unlocked position, said first means comprising a retainer barmounted for limited slidable movement by the housing, said lock bar having a retainer bar receiving slot, and said retainer bar extending in the slot to block movement of the lock bar in the first means first position and located out of the slot in the first means second position to permit moving the lock bar rearwardly, and key operated lock means extending into said chamber for operating the first means between its positions.

Claim 8

The apparatus of claim 4 further characterized in that the retainer bar is mounted for limited movement in the chamber between a locking position and an unlocked position and that the lock means has a key actuated cam member for moving the retainer bar between a locking position and an unlocked position.

Claim 9

The apparatus of claim 4 further characterized in that the top wall includes a cover plate having upwardly bolt receiving recesses, means in part located in said receiving recesses for securing the cover plate to the remainder of the housing, that said lock bar has an elongated notch beneath and opening toward the cover plate, and that there is provided a stop member dependingly joined to said cover plate to extend into the notch to limit the movement of the lock bar relative the housing.

Claim 10

The apparatus of claim 6 further characterized in that said housing has side walls, said side walls each having a generally rectangular notch opening to the interior chamber that is located on the opposite side of the lock bar from the other side wall, said side wall notches extending to lower elevations than the top of the lock bar and transversely to said slot when the lock bar is in a locking position, said retainer bar extending into said notches when the lock bar is in a locking position.

Claim 11

The apparatus of claim 7 further characterized in that said housing has a retainer bar receiving notch vertically above said side wall notches and opening thereto and to said slot when the lock bar is in a locking position to have the retainer bar therein when the retainer bar is in the first means second position.

Claim 12

For blocking movement of a semitrailer king pin that has upper and lower diameter portions and a reduced diameter portion vertically between said upper and lower portions through the king pin guide slot of a tractor fifth wheel assembly and into the king pin receiving recess of the fifth wheel assembly, lock apparatus comprising a housing having a top wall, an interior chamber and a rear portion having a lock bar opening to the interior chamber and opening exteriorly of the housing, said top wall having a recessed opening that opens to said interior chamber and is of a radius slightly larger than the radius of each of saiD upper and lower portions, a lock bar slidably extended through the rear portion opening and into the interior chamber for movement between a lock bar locked position extendable vertically between the upper and lower portions when the king pin is in said chamber and an unlocked position extending rearwardly of the locked position, said rear portion defining the rear portion opening having first parts defining a first opening portion opening exterior of the housing, said lock bar having an end portion of a size and shape that substantially fills the first opening portion when the lock bar is in its locked position, said interior chamber having a lower chamber recessed portion of a size and shape to receive the lower portion when the king pin is in the chamber and the lock bar is vertically between said upper and lower portions, operable first means in said chamber and movable between a first position cooperating with the lock bar in its locked position for blocking movement of the lock bar out of its locked position and a second position permitting the lock bar to be moved to its unlocked position, said first means comprising a retainer bar mounted for limited slidable movement by the housing, said lock bar having a retainer bar receiving slot, and said retainer bar extending in the slot to block movement of the lock bar in the first means first position and located out of the slot in the first means second position to permit moving the lock bar rearwardly, and key operated lock means extending into said chamber for operating the first means between its positions.

Claim 13

For blocking movement of a semitrailer king pin that has upper and lower diameter portions and a reduced diameter portion vertically between said upper and lower portions through the king pin guide slot of a tractor fifth wheel assembly and into the king pin receiving recess of the fifth wheel assembly, lock apparatus comprising a housing having a top wall, an interior chamber and a rear portion having a lock bar opening to the interior chamber and opening exteriorly of the housing, said top wall having a recessed opening that opens to said interior chamber and is of a radius slightly larger than the radius of each of saiD upper and lower portions, a lock bar slidably extended through the rear portion opening and into the interior chamber for movement between a lock bar locked position extendable vertically between the upper and lower portions when the king pin is in said chamber and an unlocked position extending rearwardly of the locked position, said rear portion defining the rear portion opening having first parts defining a first opening portion opening exterior of the housing, said lock bar having an end portion of a size and shape that substantially fills the first opening portion when the lock bar is in its locked position, said interior chamber having a lower chamber recessed portion of a size and shape to receive the lower portion when the king pin is in the chamber and the lock bar is vertically between said upper and lower portions, operable first means in said chamber and movable between a first position cooperating with the lock bar in its locked position for blocking movement of the lock bar out of its locked position and a second position permitting the lock bar to be moved to its unlocked position, said first means comprising a retainer bar mounted for limited slidable movement by the housing, said lock bar having a retainer bar receiving slot, and said retainer bar extending in the slot to block movement of the lock bar in the first means first position and located out of the slot in the first means second position to permit moving the lock bar rearwardly, and key operated lock means extending into said chamber for operating the first means between its positions.

Claim 14

The apparatus of claim 9 further characterized in that the lock bar slot extends transverse to the direction of movement of the lock bar between its locked and unlocked positions and opens to the housing on opposite sides of the lock bar, and that the retainer bar is of a length to extend transversely through the slot and outwardly beyond each side of the lock bar.

Claim 15

The apparatus of claim 10 further characterized in that the housing has side walls that in part define the rear portion opening and have notches for slidably retaining the retainer bar for movement between a position in the lock bar slot and a position clear of the slot, and that the depth of the slot is less than the corresponding height of the retaining bar.

Claim 16

For blocking movement of a semitrailer king pin that has upper and lower diameter portions and a reduced diameter portion vertically between said upper and lower portions through the king pin guide slot of a tractor fifth wheel assembly and into the king pin receiving recess of the fifth wheel assembly, lock apparatus comprising a housing having a top wall, an interior chamber and a rear portion having a lock bar opening to the interior chamber, said top wall having a recessed opening that opens to said interior chamber and is of a radius slightly larger than the radius of each of said upper and lower portions, a lock bar slidably extended through the rear portion opening and into the interior chamber for movement between a lock bar locked position extendable vertically between the upper and lower portions when the king pin is in said chamber and an unlocked position extending rearwardly of the locked position, said interior chamber having a lower chamber recessed portion of a size and shape to receive the lower portion when the king pin is in the chamber and the lock bar is vertically between said upper and lower portions, operable first means in said chamber and movable between a first position cooperating with the lock bar in its locked position for blocking movement of the lock bar out of its locked position and a second position permitting the lock bar to be moved to its unlocked position, said first means comprising a retainer bar mounted for limited slidable movement by the housing, said lock bar having a retainer bar receiving slot, and said retainer bar extending in the slot to block movement of the lock bar in the first means first position and located out of the slot in the first means second position to permit moving the lock bar rearwardly, and key operated lock means extending into said chamber for operating the first means including the retainer bar between its positions, said housing having side walls, said side walls each having a generally rectangular notch opening to the interior chamber that is located on the opposite side of the lock bar from the other side wall, said side wall notches extending to lower elevations than the top of the lock bar and transversely to said slot when the lock bar is in a locking position, said retainer bar extending into said notches when the lock bar is in a locking position.

Claim 17

For blocking movement of a semitrailer king pin that has upper and lower diameter portions and a reduced diameter portion vertically between said upper and lower portions through the king pin guide slot of a tractor fifth wheel assembly and into the king pin receiving recess of the fifth wheel assembly, lock apparatus comprising a housing having a top wall, an interior chamber and a rear portion having a lock bar opening to the interior chamber, said top wall having a recessed opening that opens to said interior chamber and is of a radius slightly larger than the radius of each of said upper and lower portions, a lock bar slidably extended through the rear portion opening and into the interior chamber for movement between a lock bar locked position extendable vertically between the upper and lower portions when the king pin is in said chamber and an unlocked position extending rearwardly of the locked position, said interior chamber having a lower chamber recessed portion of a size and shape to receive the lower portion when the king pin is in the chamber and the lock bar is vertically between said upper and lower portions, operable first means in said chamber and movable between a first position cooperating with the lock bar in its locked position for blocking movement of the lock bar out of its locked position and a second position permitting the lock bar to be moved to its unlocked position, said first means comprising a retainer bar mounted for limited slidable movement by the housing, said lock bar having a retainer bar receiving slot, and said retainer bar extending in the slot to block movement of the lock bar in the first means first position and located out of the slot in the first means second position to permit moving the lock bar rearwardly, and key operated lock means extending into said chamber for operating the first means including the retainer bar between its positions, said housing having side walls, said side walls each having a generally rectangular notch opening to the interior chamber that is located on the opposite side of the lock bar from the other side wall, said side wall notches extending to lower elevations than the top of the lock bar and transversely to said slot when the lock bar is in a locking position, said retainer bar extending into said notches when the lock bar is in a locking position.

Claim 18

The apparatus of claim 12 further characterized in that said housing top wall has a retainer bar receiving notch vertically above said side wall notches and opening thereto and to said slot when the lock bar is in a locking position to have the retainer bar therein when the retainer bar is in the first means second position.