Patent US3866970A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3866970A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Twist lock container support
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1972-06-19
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Granted: 1975-02-18
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Expires: 1992-06-19
Abstract
Abstract The improved twist lock container support is constructed so as to permit facile attachment, as a unit, to a trailer utilized for transporting freight containers. The improved container support may be mounted as by welding, to the trailer such as on its front and rear bolsters. Alternatively, the improved container support may be mounted on the side rail of a flat bed trailer or on the bolsters of a container chassis so that the container support may be selectively moved between a first position wherein it is disposed so as to be able to secure a conventional corner fitting of a freight container to the trailer and a second position wherein it is stowed below a horizontal plane defined by the cottom surfaces or bases of the containers so as to permit a single trailer to perform the dual-purpose role of handling containers as well as any other type of general freight. Also the improved container support may be mounted on the side rail of a flat bed trailer so that it may be selectively slid along the side rail of the trailer so as to permit the trailer to accommodate freight containers of various lengths.
Inventors
- 👤 Phillip D Schwiebert
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 18:52
CPC Classifications
B; B60; B60P; B60P7/00; B60P7/06; B60P7/13; B60P7/132
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 18
Claim 1
Independent Claim
503 words
An improved twist lock container support which is adapted to be attached to a trailer for transporting freight containers and which is adapted to secure a conventional, twist lock corner fitting of a freight container to the trailer during transport, the improved container support comprising: a platform including a first aperture therein having a generally vertical axis and including first detent means on the lower surface thereof, with the first detent means being spaced from and about said vertical axis of the first aperture; means for mounting the platform to a structural member of the trailer, adjacent to the periphery of the trailer, and for positioning the platform in a first position wherein the platform is disposed in a generally horizontal plane defined by the bottom surface of the freight containers transported on the trailer; a locking cone which is carried by the plaTform and which includes a head portion that projects upwardly above the upper surface of the platform and a shaft portion that is connected at one end to the head portion and that extends through the first aperture in the platform such that its other end is below the lower surface of the platform, the head portion of the locking cone being adapted to be rotatably moved, about said vertical axis and with respect to the platform, between a first position wherein the head portion can be received within the aperture of the corner fitting of a freight container positioned on the trailer such that the corner fitting rests on the upper surface of the platform and a second position wherein the head portion secures the corner fitting and the container support; an operating handle, disposed below the plane of the platform, having its one end projecting from said vertical axis toward the periphery of the trailer so that the one end can be grasped by a person actuating the container support and having its other end projecting inwardly beyond said vertical axis; means for connecting the operating handle, intermediate its ends, with the othehr end of the shaft portion of the cone so that rotational movement of the operating handle, about said vertical axis and in a plane substantially parallel to said horizontal plane, results in a corresponding rotational movement of the head portion of the cone, with the connection means also permitting limited vertical pivotal movement of the handle with respect to the shaft portion of the cone; second detent means carried by the operating handle between the connection means and the one end of the operating handle, such that the second detent means may selectively cooperate with the first detent means; and means for resiliently biasing the operating handle so that the second detent means is normally biased upwardly against the lower surface of the platform, the biasing means including a spring disposed between the other end of the operating handle ad the lower surface of the platform and normally biasing the other end of the operating handle downwardly away from the lower surface of the platform.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
503 words
An improved twist lock container support which is adapted to be attached to a trailer for transporting freight containers and which is adapted to secure a conventional, twist lock corner fitting of a freight container to the trailer during transport, the improved container support comprising: a platform including a first aperture therein having a generally vertical axis and including first detent means on the lower surface thereof, with the first detent means being spaced from and about said vertical axis of the first aperture; means for mounting the platform to a structural member of the trailer, adjacent to the periphery of the trailer, and for positioning the platform in a first position wherein the platform is disposed in a generally horizontal plane defined by the bottom surface of the freight containers transported on the trailer; a locking cone which is carried by the plaTform and which includes a head portion that projects upwardly above the upper surface of the platform and a shaft portion that is connected at one end to the head portion and that extends through the first aperture in the platform such that its other end is below the lower surface of the platform, the head portion of the locking cone being adapted to be rotatably moved, about said vertical axis and with respect to the platform, between a first position wherein the head portion can be received within the aperture of the corner fitting of a freight container positioned on the trailer such that the corner fitting rests on the upper surface of the platform and a second position wherein the head portion secures the corner fitting and the container support; an operating handle, disposed below the plane of the platform, having its one end projecting from said vertical axis toward the periphery of the trailer so that the one end can be grasped by a person actuating the container support and having its other end projecting inwardly beyond said vertical axis; means for connecting the operating handle, intermediate its ends, with the othehr end of the shaft portion of the cone so that rotational movement of the operating handle, about said vertical axis and in a plane substantially parallel to said horizontal plane, results in a corresponding rotational movement of the head portion of the cone, with the connection means also permitting limited vertical pivotal movement of the handle with respect to the shaft portion of the cone; second detent means carried by the operating handle between the connection means and the one end of the operating handle, such that the second detent means may selectively cooperate with the first detent means; and means for resiliently biasing the operating handle so that the second detent means is normally biased upwardly against the lower surface of the platform, the biasing means including a spring disposed between the other end of the operating handle ad the lower surface of the platform and normally biasing the other end of the operating handle downwardly away from the lower surface of the platform.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
69 words
The improved container support described in claim 1 wherein an annular plate is disposed about and secured to the shaft portion of the cone between the lower surface of the platform and the connection means so that the plate rotates about said vertical axis with the shaft portion of the cone; and wherein the resilient means is disposed between the other end of the operating handle and the plate.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
52 words
The improved container support described in claim 1 wherein the mounting means includes means for connecting the platform with the trailer so that the platform may be pivotally moved about a generally horizontal axis between its first position and a second position wherein the container support is disposed below said horizontal plane.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
56 words
The improved container support described in claim 3 wherein the trailer has a deck and a side rail which includes an upward, inwardly directed flange and which extends along and defines the sides of the deck of the trailer; and wherein the platform is mounted on the upper flange of the side rail of the trailer.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
56 words
The improved container support described in claim 1 wherein the trailer has a deck and a side rail which includes an upward, inwardly directed flange and which extends along and defines the sides of the deck of the trailer; and wherein the platform is mounted on the upper flange of the side rail of the trailer.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
40 words
The improved container support described in claim 5 which includes a second plate; means for mounting the second plate on the upper flange of the side rail of the trailer; and wherein the platform is mounted on the second plate.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
90 words
The improved container support described in claim 6 wherein a member is formed on the platform and depends from the lower surface of the platform such that the lower end of the depending member is below said horizontal plane; and Wherein the mounting means includes means for connecting the lower end of the depending member with the second plate so that the platform may be pivotally moved about a generally horizontal axis between its first position and a second position wherein the container support is disposed below said horizontal plane.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
54 words
The improved container support described in claim 6 wherein the means for mounting the second plate on the upper flange of the side rail includes means for permitting the second plate to be selectively moved along and relative to the side rail, in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis of the side rail.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
160 words
The improved container support described in claim 8 wherein the upper flange of the side rail has a plurality of notches therein at predetermined intervals along its length, said intervals being spaced along the side rail in accordance with the different lengths of the freight containers to be transported on the trailer; wherein the platform has at least one depending lug formed thereon which extends downwardly from the lower surface of the platform and which is adapted to extend within an aligned notch when the platform is in its first position; and wherein the mounting means includes means for permitting the platform to be rotated, about a generally horizontal axis and with respect to the side rail, from its first position to another position where the lug is withdrawn from within the aligned notch and where the platform can be moved along and relative to the side rail, in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis of the side rail.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
89 words
The improved container support described in claim 9 wherein a member is formed on the platform and depends from the lower surface of the platform such that the lower end of the depending member is below said horizontal plane; and wherein the mounting means includes means for connecting the lower end of the depending member with the second plate so that the platform may be pivotally moved about said horizontal axis between its first position and a second position wherein the container support is disposed below said horizontal plane.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
69 words
The improved container support described in claim 10 wherein an annular plate is disposed about and secured to the shaft portion of the cone between the lower surface of the platform and the connection means so that the plate rotates about said vertical axis with the shaft portion of the cone; and wherein the resilient means is disposed between the other end of the operating handle and the plate.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
459 words
An improved twist lock, container support which is adapted to be attached to a trailer for transporting freight containers and which is adapted to secure a corner fitting of a freight container to the trailer during transport, the improved container support comprising: a platform including a first aperture therein having a generally vertical axis and including at least one lug formed thereon, with the lug depending from the lower surface of the platform; means for mounting the platform on a portion of a structural member of the trailer, adjacent to the periphery of the trailer, and for positioning the platform in a first position wherein the plaform is disposed in a generally horizontal plane defined by the bottom surfaces of the freight containers transported on the trailer, the mounting means including means for connecting the platform to the trailer so that the platform may be pivotally moved about a generally horizontal axis between its first position and a second position wherein the container support is disposed below said horizontal plane; at least one notch formed in the portion of the structural member, with the notch being positioned, with respect to the platform, so that the lug is adapted to extend therein when the platform is in its first position and with the lug being withdrawn from within the notch when the platform is moved from its first position; a locking cone which is carried by the platform and which includes a head portion and a shaFt portion that is connected at one end to the head portion that projects upwardly above the upper surface of the platform and that extends through the first aperture in the platform such that its other end is below the upper surface of the platform, the head portion of the locking cone being adapted to be rotatably moved, about said vertical axis and with respect to the platform, between a first position wherein the head portion can be received within the aperture of the corner fitting of a freight container positioned on the trailer such that the corner fitting rests on the upper surface platform and a second position wherein the head portion secures the corner fitting and the container support; an operating handle, disposed below the plane of the platform, having its one end projecting from said vertical axis toward the periphery of the trailer so that the one end can be grasped by a person actuating the container support; and means for connecting the operating handle with the other end of the shaft portion of the cone so that rotational movement of the operating handle, about said vertical axis and in a plane substantially parallel to said horizontal plane results in a corresponding rotational movement of the head portion of the cone.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
459 words
An improved twist lock, container support which is adapted to be attached to a trailer for transporting freight containers and which is adapted to secure a corner fitting of a freight container to the trailer during transport, the improved container support comprising: a platform including a first aperture therein having a generally vertical axis and including at least one lug formed thereon, with the lug depending from the lower surface of the platform; means for mounting the platform on a portion of a structural member of the trailer, adjacent to the periphery of the trailer, and for positioning the platform in a first position wherein the plaform is disposed in a generally horizontal plane defined by the bottom surfaces of the freight containers transported on the trailer, the mounting means including means for connecting the platform to the trailer so that the platform may be pivotally moved about a generally horizontal axis between its first position and a second position wherein the container support is disposed below said horizontal plane; at least one notch formed in the portion of the structural member, with the notch being positioned, with respect to the platform, so that the lug is adapted to extend therein when the platform is in its first position and with the lug being withdrawn from within the notch when the platform is moved from its first position; a locking cone which is carried by the platform and which includes a head portion and a shaFt portion that is connected at one end to the head portion that projects upwardly above the upper surface of the platform and that extends through the first aperture in the platform such that its other end is below the upper surface of the platform, the head portion of the locking cone being adapted to be rotatably moved, about said vertical axis and with respect to the platform, between a first position wherein the head portion can be received within the aperture of the corner fitting of a freight container positioned on the trailer such that the corner fitting rests on the upper surface platform and a second position wherein the head portion secures the corner fitting and the container support; an operating handle, disposed below the plane of the platform, having its one end projecting from said vertical axis toward the periphery of the trailer so that the one end can be grasped by a person actuating the container support; and means for connecting the operating handle with the other end of the shaft portion of the cone so that rotational movement of the operating handle, about said vertical axis and in a plane substantially parallel to said horizontal plane results in a corresponding rotational movement of the head portion of the cone.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
79 words
The improved container support described in claim 12 wherein a member is formed on the platform and depends from the lower surface of the platform such that the lower end of the depending member is below said horizontal plane; and wherein the mounting means includes means for connecting the lower end of the depending member with the trailer so that the platform may be pivotally moved about the generally horizontal axis between its first position and its second position.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
58 words
The improved container support described in claim 13 wherein the trailer has a deck and a side rail which includes an upward, inwardly directed flange and which extends along and defines the sides of the deck of the trailer; and wherein the portion of the structural member is the upper flange of the side rail of the trailer.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
43 words
The improved container support described in claim 14 which includes a second plate; second means for mounting the second plate on the upper flange of the side rail of the trailer; and wherein the mounting means mounts the platform on the second plate.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
52 words
The improved container support described in claim 15 wherein the second means for mounting the second plate on the upper flange of the side rail includes means for permitting the second plate to be moved relative to the side rail along a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis of the side rail.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-02-17 | 1978-08-19 | 1979-02-18 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-02-17 | 1982-08-19 | 1983-02-18 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-02-17 | 1986-08-19 | 1987-02-18 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |