US3800713A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Self-erecting cargo pallet lock
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1973-01-18
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Granted: 1974-04-02
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Expires: 1993-01-18
Abstract
Abstract A cargo pallet lock for use in vehicles such as aircraft, trucks, ships, and the like, is described. The lock is used to secure load supporting members or pallets to accommodating floor structures in the vehicles and includes a T-headed palletengaging lock post which is slidably mounted in a body member and is securable to the vehicle floor structure. The lock post is biased toward an elevated end position from a recessed end position and the device also includes latch-release means for releasably holding the lock post in its recessed position after the member has been retracted by manual operation of a retract lever. Upon being released, the lock post snaps to its elevated position where horizontal load forces incident thereon are transferred by novel structure to the body structure of the lock.
Inventors
- 👤 A Nordstrom
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 14:23
CPC Classifications
B; B60; B60P; B60P7/00; B60P7/06; B60P7/13; B64; B64D; B64D9/00; B64D9/003
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim
231 words
A self-erecting cargo pallet lock for securing a load supporting member in a vehicle having a supporting floor structure, comprising the combination of: a lock post member; a body member securable to the floor structure below the load supporting surface thereof and adjacent the load supporting member; guide means associated with said body member and said lock post member for slidably mounting said lock post member to said body member along an elongated guide path, said lock post member being movable along said guide path between an elevated end position in which said lock post member extends upwardly beyond said body member and at least partially into the plane of and lockably engagable with the load supporting member and a retracted end position in which said lock post member lies below the load supporting member; bias means mounted in said body member and engaging said lock post member for biasing the member of said lock post member along said guide path toward said elevated end position; retract means mounted in said body member and operatively coupled to said lock post member for moving said lock post member along said guide path against the bias force of said bias means to said retract end position; and latch-release means mounted in said body member and engagable with said lock post member for releasably holding said lock post member at said retract end position.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
231 words
A self-erecting cargo pallet lock for securing a load supporting member in a vehicle having a supporting floor structure, comprising the combination of: a lock post member; a body member securable to the floor structure below the load supporting surface thereof and adjacent the load supporting member; guide means associated with said body member and said lock post member for slidably mounting said lock post member to said body member along an elongated guide path, said lock post member being movable along said guide path between an elevated end position in which said lock post member extends upwardly beyond said body member and at least partially into the plane of and lockably engagable with the load supporting member and a retracted end position in which said lock post member lies below the load supporting member; bias means mounted in said body member and engaging said lock post member for biasing the member of said lock post member along said guide path toward said elevated end position; retract means mounted in said body member and operatively coupled to said lock post member for moving said lock post member along said guide path against the bias force of said bias means to said retract end position; and latch-release means mounted in said body member and engagable with said lock post member for releasably holding said lock post member at said retract end position.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
50 words
The cargo pallet lock according to claim 1, also comprising load transfer means in said body member and engageable with said lock post member for transfering horizontal load forces incident on said lock post member to said body member when said lock post member is in said elevated end position.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
76 words
The cargo pallet lock according to claim 2, wherein said body member has an elongated recess therein and at least a portion of said lock post member is at all times movably disposed in said recess, and wherein said guide means includes guide grooves in the side walls of said recess defining said guide path, said guide means also including guide follower arms extending from the sides of said lock post member into said guide grooves.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
77 words
The cargo pallet lock according to claim 3, wherein said guide paths defined by said guide grooves is configured to cause at least a head portion of said lock post member extending beyond said body member when the latter is in said elevated end position to move a pre-determined distance in a horizontal position before descending into said recess when said retract means is first actuated to retract said lock post member from said elevated end position.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
45 words
The cargo pallet lock according to claim 4, wherein said lock post member is of unitary construction with said head portion longitudinally extending from the bottom of said shank portion, said head portion having essentially a T-configuration and said shank portion carRying said follower arms.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
51 words
The cargo pallet lock according to claim 5, wherein said follower arms include a first set of two axially aligned and oppositely extending posts at a forward end of said shank portion and a second set of axially aligned and oppositely extending posts at a rear end of said shank portion.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
69 words
The cargo pallet lock according to claim 6, wherein said guide path followed by said second set of posts is essentially horizontal, and wherein said guide path followed by said first set of posts is diagonally inclined upwardly in the general direction of movement of said lock post member urged by said bias means, the diagonal inclination terminating in a horizontal path equal in length to said pre-determined distance.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
69 words
The cargo pallet lock according to claim 3, wherein said retract means includes a retract lever pivotally mounted in said body member and a linkage assembly operatively coupled to said retract lever and to said shank portion of said lock post member to pull said lock post member along said guide path against said bias force and toward said retract end position when said retract lever is manually operated.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
49 words
The cargo pallet lock according to claim 8, wherein said bias means includes a compression spring assembly anchored at one end by said body member and anchored at another end by said shank portion of said lock post member, said compression spring being disposed about a telescoping tube assembly.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
81 words
The cargo pallet lock according to claim 3, wherein said latch-release means includes a release pin slidably mounted in said body member and extending into said recess and thereat engageable with said lock post member to prevent movement thereof, said latch-release means also including a bias release lever mechanism pivotally mounted on said body member and operatively coupled to said release pin whereby manual operation of said release lever moves said release pin out of engagement with said lock post member.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
27 words
The cargo pallet lock according to claim 10, wherein said release pin is engageable with the upper surface of said head portion of said lock post member.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
27 words
The cargo pallet lock according to claim 10, wherein said release pin is engageable with a side surface of said shank portion of said lock post member.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
104 words
The cargo pallet lock according to claim 8, wherein said retract lever is pivoted at a first end thereof about a horizontal axis of rotation, said axis of rotation being disposed adjacent an end of said body member most removed from said head portion and orthogonal to the direction of movement of said lock post member as seen in a vertical plane, said retract means also including a return spring anchored in said body member and engaging said retract lever to bias said retract lever to rotate in an arc above said body member and toward said head portion of said lock post member.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
54 words
The cargo pallet lock according to claim 13, wherein said retract lever includes a transverse handle portion extending beyond both sides of and engageable with said body member, said body member including handle portion conforming transverse notches in the walls thereof on opposite aligned sides of said recess wherein said handle portion is seatable.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
96 words
The cargo pallet lock according to claim 14, wherein said load transfer means includes a vertical load transfer surface in an upper surface of said shank portion of said lock post member, said load transfer surface being juxtaposed a conforming outer extremity surface of said handle portion when said handle portion is seated in said transverse notches in said body member whereby horizontal load forces incident on said head portion of said lock post member in the direction opposite that urged by said bias means thereon are transferred through said handle portion to said body portion.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
90 words
The cargo pallet lock according to claim 3, wherein said load transfer means also includes a vertical load transfer shoulder in an end of said recess accommodating said head portion oF said lock post member, and further includes a shoulder-conforming surface at a lower end of said head portion that is juxtaposed said shoulder when said lock post member is in said elevated end position whereby horizontal load forces incident on said head portion in the direction urged by said bias means thereon are transferred directly to said body member.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-04-01 | 1977-10-01 | 1978-04-02 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-04-01 | 1981-10-01 | 1982-04-02 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-04-01 | 1985-10-01 | 1986-04-02 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |