Locking means for suspension member in suspendible load spacer

Claim 2

In a load spacer for holding apart a pair of adjacent laterally spaced loads, where the spacer includes a spacing structure which is removably placeable between such loads, and an elongated suspension member pivoted intermediate its ends to the top of the spacing structure for swinging about a generally upright axis between a stored position where its extremities are disposed inwardly of the opposite sides of the spacing structure, and a suspending position where such extremities extend laterally beyond said opposite sides, whereby such extremities may rest on the tops of such loads thus to suspend the spacing structure between the loads, the improvement comprising means for automatically and releasably locking said suspension member in said suspending position with swinging of the member to such position from said stored position, said means including a resilient latch mounted on said suspension member for swinging therewith, capable of elastic bending away from the suspension member in a direction substantially normal to the plane in which the member can swing, and a catch fastened to the top of said spacing structure adjacent said suspension member, operable releasably to catch said latch with movement of said suspension member to said suspending position, thus releasably to lock the suspension member in said suspending position, movement of said suspension member toward its said suspending position causing engagement of said latch and catch, with resultant bending and climbing of the former over the latter to become caught by the latter.

Claim 3

The spacer of claim 1, wherein the latch includes a notch, and the catch is shaped to be releasably caught within said notch with said suspension member in said suspending position.

Claim 4

The spacer of claim 2, wherein the latch further includes a cam on at least one side of said notch for facilitating bending and climbing of the latch over said catch during movement of the suspension member toward said suspending position.

Claim 5

The spacer of claim 2, wherein the latch further includes a pair of cams disposed on opposite sides of said notch for facilitating bending and climbing of the latch over said catch during movement in either direction of the suspension member toward said suspending position.

Claim 6

The spacer of claim 4 which further includes another suspension member and a locking means therefor similar, respectively, to the first-mentioned suspension member and locking means.

Claim 7

In a load spacer for holding apart a pair of adjacent laterally spaced loads, where the spacer includes an expandable-collapsible spacing structure which is removably placeable between such loads, an elongated rib joined to and extending along the top of said spacing structure, an elongated suspension member pivoted between its ends to the top of said rib for swinging about a generally upright axis between a stored position where its extremities are disposed inwardly of the opposite sides of the spacing structure, and a suspending position where such extremities extend laterally beyond said opposite sides, whereby such extremities may rest on the tops of such loads, thus to suspend the spacing structure between the loads, and a locking device for releasably locking said suspension member in said suspending position, said device comprising a springy plate Fastened to said suspension member for swinging therewith and including a downturned portion disposed laterally outwardly of one side of said suspension member, springiness in said plate urging said downturned portion toward the top of said spacing structure and allowing elastic bending of the plate away from the suspension member, said downturned portion including a notch shaped releasably to receive and catch said rib with said suspension member in said suspending position, and on opposite sides of said notch a pair of cams enabling climbing of said downturned portion, with resultant bending in said plate, over said rib during movement in either direction of said suspension member toward said suspending position.

Claim 8

In a load spacer for holding apart a pair of adjacent laterally spaced loads, where the spacer includes an expandable-collapsible spacing structure which is removably placeable between such loads, an elongated rib joined to and extending along the top of said spacing structure, an elongated suspension member pivoted between its ends to the top of said rib for swinging about a generally upright axis between a stored position where its extremities are disposed inwardly of the opposite sides of the spacing structure, and a suspending position where such extremities extend laterally beyond said opposite sides, whereby such extremities may rest on the tops of such loads, thus to suspend the spacing structure between the loads, and a locking device for releasably locking said suspension member in said suspending position, said device comprising a springy plate Fastened to said suspension member for swinging therewith and including a downturned portion disposed laterally outwardly of one side of said suspension member, springiness in said plate urging said downturned portion toward the top of said spacing structure and allowing elastic bending of the plate away from the suspension member, said downturned portion including a notch shaped releasably to receive and catch said rib with said suspension member in said suspending position, and on opposite sides of said notch a pair of cams enabling climbing of said downturned portion, with resultant bending in said plate, over said rib during movement in either direction of said suspension member toward said suspending position.

Claim 9

The spacer of claim 6 which further includes another suspension member and locking device similar, respectively, to said first-mentioned suspension member and locking device.