Stacker key locking device

Claim 2

A selectively operable stacker key locking device adapted to secure a first member to a base support or to secure a first member to a second member in an adjacent stacked relation, at least one member having a web portion defining an opening therein, comprising: a. a base member; b. a neck member affixed to said base member and extending upwardly therefrom, said neck member being dimensioned and configured to enter the opening of a web portion of a first member and said neck member defining an inner open portion which extends therethrough; c. an elongated shank member extending upwardly from the base member and through the open portion of the neck member, said shank member being rotatable within the neck member and having locking means on the outer portion thereof; d. a cross-head member affixed to the upper end of the shank member, said cross-head member having at least one elongated flange dimensioned and configured to enter the opening defined by a web portion of the first member when aligned therewith in a first position and rotatable to a second locking position such that at least one dimensions of the cross-head member exceeds a corresponding dimension of the web opening to lock the cross-head member within the web; e. locking means within the opening of the neck member and positioned adjacent said locking means on said shank member to cooperate therewith to securely lock said shank member to the neck member and base member at least when the cross-head member is in a locked position thereby securely locking said shank member against movement out of the neck member; f. an elongated handle substantially rigidly connected to the shank member and having an inner end portion extending beyond the shank member within the base member, said handle further extending outwardly of the base member such that rotation of the handle from a first position to a second position results in a corresponding rotation of the cross-head from said first position to said corresponding second locking position; g. resilient means within the base member positioned and configured for resilient compressed engagement with the inner end portion of the handle during rotation of the handle from said first position to said second position, and for resiliently maintaining said handle in one or the other of said positions, said resilient means being relatively stressed in a compressed condition at least during a portion of the rotational movement of the handle between its first and second positions due to the resilient engagement between the inner end portion thereof and the resilient means; and h. means on the lOwer portion of the base member for attaching the base member to a second member or to a support means.

Claim 3

The selectively operable stacker key locking device according to claim 1 wherein the means on the lower portion of the base member for attaching the base member to a support member comprises a twist lock having a flange member dimensioned and configured to enter an opening in a web member of a cargo container in a first unlocked position and rotatable to a second locked position in which the dimensions of the flange exceed the dimensions of the opening.

Claim 4

The selectively operable stacker key locking device according to claim 2 wherein the neck member and the cross-head member have elongated configurations suitable for entrance into an elongated opening in a web of a cargo container so as to facilitate securing cargo containers in a vertical stacked arrangement.

Claim 5

The selectively operable stacker key locking device according to claim 3 wherein the elongated neck member includes two side end portions and the neck member further comprises one asymmetric lateral buttress extending sidewardly from each side end portion of the neck member in opposite directions with respect to each other, said buttresses having side surfaces which slope downwardly and laterally, said side surfaces being configured such that when the base member is inserted into the upper web portion of a lower cargo container, a web of an upper cargo container positioned on the lower container in a manner in which the neck member and cross-head member enter an elongated opening defined by a web portion of the upper cargo container, said web portion engages said buttresses in a manner which produces further locking rotation of the twist lock device with respect to the web member of the lower cargo container to increase the locking capability of the twist lock.

Claim 6

The selectively operable stacker key locking device according to claim 4 wherein the means to securely lock the shank member to the neck member and base member comprises at least one lug positioned on the outer surface portion of the shank member and at least one correspondingly configured lug is positioned on the inner portion of the neck member, said lugs being dimensioned, configured and relatively positioned such that when the cross-head member is in an unlocked position the lugs are in an unlocked relative position, but when the shank member is rotated such that the cross-head member is in a locked position, the lug on the shank member is rotated to adjacent relation beneath the lug on the neck member in a manner which prevents movement of the shank member out of the neck member due to the relative positions of the lugs.

Claim 7

The selectively operable stacker key locking device according to claim 5 wherein each of two opposed surface portions of the shank member has two arcuately configured lugs positioned thereon and each of two correspondingly positioned opposed inner surface portions of the inner open portion of the neck member has two correspondingly positioned mating arcuate lugs thereon, said lugs being dimensioned, configured and relatively positioned such that when the cross-head member is in an unlocked position the lugs are in an unlocked relative position but when the shank member is rotated such that the cross-head is in a locked position, the lugs on the shank member are rotated to an adjacent relation beneath the lugs on the inner open portion of the neck member in a manner which securely locks the shank member against movement out of the neck member and away from the base member due to the relative positions of the lugs.

Claim 8

The selectively operable stacker key locking device according to claim 6 further comprising: a. an elongated handle rigidly connected to the rotatable shank member for rotating the shank member and cross-head member, said handle having an inner end portion defining a substantially configured apex; and b. a detent spring positioned in engagin relation with the apex end portion of said hAndle for biasing the rotational movements of said handle in either a first position corresponding to an unlocked cross-head member, or a second position corresponding to a locked cross-head member.

Claim 9

The selectively operable stacker key locking device according to claim 1 wherein the means for attaching the base member to a support means comprises a fusion-weld extending from the lower side surface portion of the base member to the support means along at least a portion of the periphery of the base member.

Claim 10

The selectively operable stacker key locking device according to claim 1 wherein the means for attaching the base member to a support means comprises a key retainer having members defining an opening configured to accept the base member of the locking device, said members haivng inwardly sloped dovetail surfaces which face the opening and which slope dpwnwardly away therefrom, and the base member has mating side surfaces sloped downwardly and away from the base member, said base member further being configured to be slidingly received within the key retainer with the mating sloped surfaces of the base member in engaging relation within the dovetail surfaces of the key retainer thereby securing the base member with the key retainer.

Claim 11

The selectively operable stacker key locking device according to claim 9 wherein an elongated pin is positioned within a first opening defined by said key retainer and a correspondingly positioned opening defined by said base member to firmly secure the stacker key locking device in position witin the key retainer.

Claim 14

The system for securing at least one container to a support base according to claim 11 wherein the means for securely attaching each base member to the support base comprises a key retainer having side members which define an opening which is corresponding configured to accept the base member of the stacker key locking device, said side members further having surface portions which slope downwardly and inwardly away from the opening thereby forming a dovetail configuration to secure the base member of the locking device.

Claim 15

The system according to claim 12 wherein each base member of each locking device is further secured within its respective key retainer by an elongated member positioned within an opening defined by a side member of the key retainer extending through and a correspondingly positioned opening defined by the base member.

Claim 16

A selectively operble stacker key locking device adapted to secure a first member to a lower base support or to secure a first upper member to a second lower member in an adjacent stacked relation, at least one member having a web portion defining an opening therein, comprising: a. a base member; b. twist locking means on the lower portion of the base member having a flange member dimensioned and configured to enter an opening defined by a web member of said second lower member or base support for attaching the base member to said second lower member or base support by insertion into said opening in a first unlocked position and being rotatable to a second locked positon in which the dimensions of the flange exceed the dimensions of the openings to lock the base member against movement out of the second lower member or base support; c. an elongated neck member affixed to said base member and extending upwardly therefrom, said neck member being dimensioned and configured to enter the opening of a web portion of a first member and said neck member defining an inner open portion which extends therethrough, said neck member including two side end portions and further comprising one asymmetric lateral buttress extending sidewardly from each said end portion of the neck member in opposite directions with respect to each other, said buttresses having side surface which slope downwardly and laterally away from the neck member, said side surfaces being configured such that when the twist locking means is inserted into an elongated opening in an upper web portion of a base support or a second lower member such as a cargo container, and a first upper member such as a cargo container having a web which defines an elongated opening configured to receive said neck member is positioned thereover so as to permit the neck member to enter the opening of the web of the first upper member, portions of the web defining said elongated opening engage said buttresses in a manner whiCh produces further locking rotation of the twist locking means with respect to the base support or second lower member to thereby increase the locked engagement of the base member to the base support or lower member; d. an elongated shank member extending upwardly from the base member and through the open portion of the neck member, said shank member being rotatable within the neck member; e. an elongated cross-head member affixed to the upper end of the upper end of the shank member, said cross-head member having at least one flange member dimensioned and configured to enter an opening defined by a web portion of the first upper member when aligned therewith over the lower member or base support and the cross-head member is rotatable to a second locking position such that at least one dimension of the crosshead member exceeds a corresponding dimension of the web opening to lock the cross-head member within the web; and f. means to securely lock said shank member to the neck member and base member when the cross-head member is in a locked position thereby securely locking said shank member against movement out of the neck member.

Claim 17

A selectively operble stacker key locking device adapted to secure a first member to a lower base support or to secure a first upper member to a second lower member in an adjacent stacked relation, at least one member having a web portion defining an opening therein, comprising: a. a base member; b. twist locking means on the lower portion of the base member having a flange member dimensioned and configured to enter an opening defined by a web member of said second lower member or base support for attaching the base member to said second lower member or base support by insertion into said opening in a first unlocked position and being rotatable to a second locked positon in which the dimensions of the flange exceed the dimensions of the openings to lock the base member against movement out of the second lower member or base support; c. an elongated neck member affixed to said base member and extending upwardly therefrom, said neck member being dimensioned and configured to enter the opening of a web portion of a first member and said neck member defining an inner open portion which extends therethrough, said neck member including two side end portions and further comprising one asymmetric lateral buttress extending sidewardly from each said end portion of the neck member in opposite directions with respect to each other, said buttresses having side surface which slope downwardly and laterally away from the neck member, said side surfaces being configured such that when the twist locking means is inserted into an elongated opening in an upper web portion of a base support or a second lower member such as a cargo container, and a first upper member such as a cargo container having a web which defines an elongated opening configured to receive said neck member is positioned thereover so as to permit the neck member to enter the opening of the web of the first upper member, portions of the web defining said elongated opening engage said buttresses in a manner whiCh produces further locking rotation of the twist locking means with respect to the base support or second lower member to thereby increase the locked engagement of the base member to the base support or lower member; d. an elongated shank member extending upwardly from the base member and through the open portion of the neck member, said shank member being rotatable within the neck member; e. an elongated cross-head member affixed to the upper end of the upper end of the shank member, said cross-head member having at least one flange member dimensioned and configured to enter an opening defined by a web portion of the first upper member when aligned therewith over the lower member or base support and the cross-head member is rotatable to a second locking position such that at least one dimension of the crosshead member exceeds a corresponding dimension of the web opening to lock the cross-head member within the web; and f. means to securely lock said shank member to the neck member and base member when the cross-head member is in a locked position thereby securely locking said shank member against movement out of the neck member.

Claim 18

The selectively operable stacker key locking device according to claim 14 wherein the means to securely lock the shank member to the neck member and base member comprises at least one lug positioned on the outer surface portion of the shank member and at least one correspondingly configured lug is positioned on the inner portion of the neck member, said lugs being dimensioned, configured and relatively positioned such that when the cross-head member is in an unlocked position the lugs are in an unlocked relative position, but when the shank member is rotated such that the cross-head member is in a locked position, the lug on the shank member is rotated to adjacent relation beneath the lug on the neck member in a manner which prevents movement of the shank member out of the neck member due to the relative positions of the lugs.

Claim 19

The selectively operable stacker key locking device according to claim 15 wherein each of two opposed surface portions of the shank member has two arcuately configured lugs positioned thereon and each of two correspondingly positioned opposed inner surface portions of the inner open portion of the neck member has two correspondingly positioned mating arcuate lugs thereon, said lugs being dimensioned, configured and relatively positioned such that when the cross-head member is in an unlocked position the lugs are in an unlocked relative position but when the shank member is rotated such that the cross-head is in a locked position, the lugs on the shank member are rotated to an adjacent relation beneath the lugs on the inner open portion of the neck member in a manner which securely locks the shank member against movement out of the neck member and away from the base member due to the relative positions of the lugs.

Claim 20

The selectively operable stacker key locking device according to claim 16 further comprising: a. an elongated handle rigidly connected to the rotatable shank member for rotating the shank member and cross-head member, said handle having an inner end portion defining a substantially configured apex; and b. a detent spring positioned in engaging relation with the apex end portion of said handle for biasing the rotational movements of said handle in either a first position corresponding to an unlocked cross-head member, or a second position corresponding to a locked cross-head member.

Claim 21

A selectively operable stacker key locking device adapted to secure a first cargo container to a second cargo container or to a lower base support in adjacent stacked relation, the containers having corner supports with web portions defining elongated opeings therein, comprising: a. a base member defining a horizontal slot; b. a first neck member affixed to said base member and extending upwardly therefrom, said neck member being dimensioned and configured to enter the opening of a web portion of a first lower container, said neck member further defining an inner open portion which extends therethrough; c. an elongated shank member extending upwardly from the base member and through the open portion of the neck member, said shank member being rotatable within the neck member and having a plurality of lugs positioned on the surface thereof; d. a cross-head member affixed to the upper end of the shank member, said cross-head member having at least one elongated flange dimensioned and configured to enter the opening defined by the web portion of the first member when aligned therewith in a first position and rotatable to second locking position such that at least one dimension of the cross-head member exceeds a correspopnding dimension of the web opening to lock the cross-head member within the web; e. a plurality of internal lugs positioned within the neck member and configured to securely lock said shank member to the neck member and base member when the shank member and cross-head member is rotated to a position whereby the lugs of the shank member are engagedly received beneath the internal lugs of the neck member to thereby securely lock said shank member against movement out of the neck member; f. an elongated handle rigidly connected to the shank member and having an inner end portion extending beyond the shank member within the base member, said handle further extending outwardly of the base member through the slot thereof such that portion of the handle from a first position to a second position results in a corresponding rotation of the cross-head from said first position to said corresponding second locking position; g. resilient means within the base member positioned and configured for resilient compressed engagement with the inner end portion of the handle during rotation of the handle from said first position to said second position, and for resiliently maintaining said handle in one or the other rof said positions, said resilient means being relatively stressed in a compressed condition at least during a portion of the rotational movement of the handle between its first and second positions due to the resilient engagement between the inner end portion thereof and the resilient means; and h. means on the lower portion of the base member for attaching the base member to a lower cargo container or to a base support including a second neck member extending downwardly away from the base member and angularly offset from the first neck member, said neck member having at its lowest end portion at least two laterally extending flange portions configured to enter into an elongated opening of a web member of a cargo container or said base support in a first position and rotated to a second position whereby the flange members are in interfering relation with the web member such that they prevent the locking device for movement out of the web member or base support and a second cargo container having a correspondingly positioned lower web member defining a correspondingly configured and positioned elongated web opening may be locked to the lower cargo container or base support by positioning said second container over said lower container and permitting the first neck member and cross-head member to enter said elongated opening of the lower web member of the second container and rotation of said handle rotates said cross-head member to the locked position in interfering relation with the web member of the upper container.

Claim 22

A selectively operable stacker key locking device adapted to secure a first cargo container to a second cargo container or to a lower base support in adjacent stacked relation, the containers having corner supports with web portions defining elongated opeings therein, comprising: a. a base member defining a horizontal slot; b. a first neck member affixed to said base member and extending upwardly therefrom, said neck member being dimensioned and configured to enter the opening of a web portion of a first lower container, said neck member further defining an inner open portion which extends therethrough; c. an elongated shank member extending upwardly from the base member and through the open portion of the neck member, said shank member being rotatable within the neck member and having a plurality of lugs positioned on the surface thereof; d. a cross-head member affixed to the upper end of the shank member, said cross-head member having at least one elongated flange dimensioned and configured to enter the opening defined by the web portion of the first member when aligned therewith in a first position and rotatable to second locking position such that at least one dimension of the cross-head member exceeds a correspopnding dimension of the web opening to lock the cross-head member within the web; e. a plurality of internal lugs positioned within the neck member and configured to securely lock said shank member to the neck member and base member when the shank member and cross-head member is rotated to a position whereby the lugs of the shank member are engagedly received beneath the internal lugs of the neck member to thereby securely lock said shank member against movement out of the neck member; f. an elongated handle rigidly connected to the shank member and having an inner end portion extending beyond the shank member within the base member, said handle further extending outwardly of the base member through the slot thereof such that portion of the handle from a first position to a second position results in a corresponding rotation of the cross-head from said first position to said corresponding second locking position; g. resilient means within the base member positioned and configured for resilient compressed engagement with the inner end portion of the handle during rotation of the handle from said first position to said second position, and for resiliently maintaining said handle in one or the other rof said positions, said resilient means being relatively stressed in a compressed condition at least during a portion of the rotational movement of the handle between its first and second positions due to the resilient engagement between the inner end portion thereof and the resilient means; and h. means on the lower portion of the base member for attaching the base member to a lower cargo container or to a base support including a second neck member extending downwardly away from the base member and angularly offset from the first neck member, said neck member having at its lowest end portion at least two laterally extending flange portions configured to enter into an elongated opening of a web member of a cargo container or said base support in a first position and rotated to a second position whereby the flange members are in interfering relation with the web member such that they prevent the locking device for movement out of the web member or base support and a second cargo container having a correspondingly positioned lower web member defining a correspondingly configured and positioned elongated web opening may be locked to the lower cargo container or base support by positioning said second container over said lower container and permitting the first neck member and cross-head member to enter said elongated opening of the lower web member of the second container and rotation of said handle rotates said cross-head member to the locked position in interfering relation with the web member of the upper container.