Disappearing twist lock assembly

Claim 2

In a disappearing twist lock assembly for securing a box-like shipping container with lock receptacles to the flat bed of a vehicle, the improvemEnt comprising, in combination: a support member secured to the vehicle, a rockable member, aligned bearing openings on one member receiving oppositely projecting hollow trunnions on the other member whereby the rockable member may turn about a first axis, a twist lock member mounted on said rockable member to turn about a second axis intersecting said first axis at right angles, said twist lock member having a portion extending from said rockable member and provided with a laterally extending head, the rockable member and twist lock member being movable as a unit about said first axis to swing said head into operative position above the flat bed of the vehicle for subsequent reception into a lock receptacle of the container, a lever secured to the twist lock member and projecting through at least one of said hollow trunnions for turning said twist lock member about said second axis and thereby turn said head within the receptacle.

Claim 3

The combination set forth in claim 1 in which the aligned bearing openings are provided on the stationary member and the hollow trunnions are mounted on the rockable member.

Claim 4

The combination set forth in claim 1 in which the rockable member comprises a housing within which the twist lock member is mounted to turn.

Claim 5

The combination set forth in claim 1 in which overcenter means including resilient means are operatively positioned between said rockable member and said lever to hold said twist lock member in either of two positions relative to the rockable member.

Claim 6

In a disappearing twist lock assembly for securing a box-like shipping container with lock receptacles to the flat bed of a vehicle, the improvement comprising, in combination: parallel stationary walls on the vehicle provided with aligned bearing openings, a housing between said walls and having oppositely projecting hollow trunnions mounted to turn in said bearing openings about a first axis, a twist lock member mounted in said housing to turn about a second axis intersecting said first axis at right angles, said twist lock member having a portion extending from said housing and provided with an enlarged head, the housing and twist lock member being movable as a unit about said first axis to swing said head between an inoperative position below the flat bed of the vehicle and an operative position above the flat bed for subsequent reception into a lock receptacle of the container, a lever secured to the twist lock member and projecting through at least one of said hollow trunnions for turning said twist lock member about said second axis and thereby turn said head within the receptacle.

Claim 7

In a disappearing twist lock assembly for securing a box-like shipping container with lock receptacles to the flat bed of a vehicle, the improvement comprising, in combination: parallel stationary walls on the vehicle provided with aligned bearing openings, a housing between said walls and having oppositely projecting hollow trunnions mounted to turn in said bearing openings about a first axis, a twist lock member mounted in said housing to turn about a second axis intersecting said first axis at right angles, said twist lock member having a portion extending from said housing and provided with an enlarged head, the housing and twist lock member being movable as a unit about said first axis to swing said head between an inoperative position below the flat bed of the vehicle and an operative position above the flat bed for subsequent reception into a lock receptacle of the container, a lever secured to the twist lock member and projecting through at least one of said hollow trunnions for turning said twist lock member about said second axis and thereby turn said head within the receptacle.

Claim 8

The combination set forth in claim 5 in which overcenter means including resilient means are operatively positioned between said housing and said lever to hold said twist lock member in either of two positions relative to said housing.

Claim 9

The combination set forth in claim 5 in which said lever projects through both of said hollow trunnions, and overcenter means including a spring pivotally attached to a projecting end of the lever and to the remote trunnion to hold said twist lock member in either of two positions relative to the housing member.

Claim 10

The combination set forth in claim 5 in which a plate is hinged to the parallel stationary walls to cover said head and a portion of the housing in inoperative position, and also to act as a stop to hold the housing in operative position.

Claim 11

In a disappearing twist lock assembly of the type described, the improvement comprising, in combination: a body adapted to be secured to the vehicle, the body having parallel stationary walls provided with aligned bearing openings, a housing between said walls and having oppositely projecting hollow trunnions mounted to turn in said bearing openings about a first axis, a twist lock member mounted in said housing to turn about a second axis intersecting said first axis at right angles, said twist lock member having a portion extending from said housing and provided with an enlarged head, The housing and twist lock member being movable about said first axis to swing said head about one-quarter turn, a lever secured to the twist lock member and projecting through at least one of said hollow trunnions for turning said twist lock member relative to said housing about said second axis.

Claim 12

In a disappearing twist lock assembly of the type described, the improvement comprising, in combination: a body adapted to be secured to the vehicle, the body having parallel stationary walls provided with aligned bearing openings, a housing between said walls and having oppositely projecting hollow trunnions mounted to turn in said bearing openings about a first axis, a twist lock member mounted in said housing to turn about a second axis intersecting said first axis at right angles, said twist lock member having a portion extending from said housing and provided with an enlarged head, The housing and twist lock member being movable about said first axis to swing said head about one-quarter turn, a lever secured to the twist lock member and projecting through at least one of said hollow trunnions for turning said twist lock member relative to said housing about said second axis.

Claim 13

The combination set forth in claim 9 in which said lever projects through both of said hollow trunnions, and overcenter means including a spring pivotally attached to a projecting end of the lever and to the remote trunnion to hold said twist lock member in either of two positions relative to the housing member.

Claim 14

As a subcombination: a housing having oppositely projecting hollow trunnions for turnably supporting the housing for movement about the axis of the trunnions, a twist lock member mounted in said housing to turn about a second axis intersecting the trunnion axis at right angles, said twist lock member having a portion projecting from said housing and provided with a laterally extending head, a lever secured to the twist lock member and projecting through both of said hollow trunnions for turning the twist lock member relative to the housing about said second axis, and a spring connected between an extending end of said lever and the remote trunnion for holding said twist lock member in either of two positions with respect to said housing.

Claim 15

As a subcombination: a housing having oppositely projecting hollow trunnions for turnably supporting the housing for movement about the axis of the trunnions, a twist lock member mounted in said housing to turn about a second axis intersecting the trunnion axis at right angles, said twist lock member having a portion projecting from said housing and provided with a laterally extending head, a lever secured to the twist lock member and projecting through both of said hollow trunnions for turning the twist lock member relative to the housing about said second axis, and a spring connected between an extending end of said lever and the remote trunnion for holding said twist lock member in either of two positions with respect to said housing.