Semitrailer king pin securing device

Claim 2

A locking mechanism adapted for being releasably secured to a generally elongated member comprising a member have an opening therethrough for receiving said elongated member, a cut-out area in open communication with said opening, first and second pair of spaced notch means formed in said member and disposed above said cut-out area, a movable element slidably received by said cut-out area having spaced leg members joined by a contact member with an engagement surface, and first and second pairs of spaced slots formed intermediately on said leg members, said movable member being longitudinally movable within said member between an outward unlocked position and an inward locked position whereby, whenever in the locked position said engagement surface interlocks with said elongated member received within said opening and whenever in the unlocked position said engagement surface is out of interlocking relationship with said elongated member, a tumbler normally received within said first notch means for vertical movement relative thereto for selective interlocking engagement with said first pair of slots when said movable element is in the locked position, a gravity responsive locking detent means normally received within said second pair of slots for vertical movement relative thereto and into said second notch means whenever said locking mechanism is in an inverted position and said movable element is in the unlocked position thereby preventing said movable element from moving to the locked position, whereby an operator is automatically alerted to an improper locking mechanism position, and a locking device connected to said movable element being selectively operable for vertically raising said tumbler from said first pair of slots and out of interlocking engagement therewith, thereby permitting movement of said movable member to the unlocked position.

Claim 3

A locking mechanism as set forth in claim 1 wherein said movable member is provided with a step surface formed adjacent each of said first pair of slots and having at one end thereof a stop shoulder for engagement with said tumbler whenever said tumbler is in its raised position thereby preventing complete withdrawal of said movable element from said member.

Claim 4

A locking mechanism as set forth in claim 2 wherein said stop shoulders are spaced from said first pair of slots by a distance which will insure proper vertical alignment between said second pair of slots and said second notch means when said movable element is in the unlocked position whereby in event the locking mechanism is in an inverted condition, said locking detent will fall into said second notch means to thereby interlock said movable element to said member.

Claim 5

A locking mechanism as set forth in claim 1 wherein said member having a rearwardly extending ledge portion and said movable element has a portion which is flush with said ledge portion when said movable element is in the locked position for providing a relatively close fit there-between which is virtually inaccessible to tampering.

Claim 6

A locking mechanism adapted for being releasably locked onto a king pin or the like of a semitrailer comprising a housing member having a king pin receiving bore extending therethrough, a longitudinally extending cut-out area in open communication with said receiving bore, first and second pair of spaced notch means formed in said housing member and disposed above said cut-out area, a locking bar slidably received by said cut-out area having spaced leg members jOined by a king pin contact member with an engagement surface and first and second pairs of spaced slots intermediately formed on said leg members said locking bar being longitudinally movable within said housing member between an outward unlocked position and an inward locked position, whereby whenever in the locked position said engagement surface interlocks with said king pin received within said king pin receiving bore and whenever in the unlocked position said engagement surface is out of interlocking relationship with said king pin, a gravity responsive tumbler normally received within said first notch means for vertical movement relative thereto for selective interlocking engagement with said first pair of slots when said locking bar is in the locked position, a gravity responsive locking detent means normally received within said second pair of slots for vertical movement relative thereto and into said second notch means whenever said locking mechanism is in an inverted position and said locking bar is in the unlocked position thereby preventing said locking bar from moving to the locked position, whereby an operator is automatically alerted to an improper locking mechanism position, and a locking device connected to said locking bar being selectively operable for vertically raising said tumbler from said first pair of slots thereby permitting movement of said locking bar to the unlocked position.

Claim 7

A locking mechanism adapted for being releasably locked onto a king pin or the like of a semitrailer comprising a housing member having a king pin receiving bore extending therethrough, a longitudinally extending cut-out area in open communication with said receiving bore, first and second pair of spaced notch means formed in said housing member and disposed above said cut-out area, a locking bar slidably received by said cut-out area having spaced leg members jOined by a king pin contact member with an engagement surface and first and second pairs of spaced slots intermediately formed on said leg members said locking bar being longitudinally movable within said housing member between an outward unlocked position and an inward locked position, whereby whenever in the locked position said engagement surface interlocks with said king pin received within said king pin receiving bore and whenever in the unlocked position said engagement surface is out of interlocking relationship with said king pin, a gravity responsive tumbler normally received within said first notch means for vertical movement relative thereto for selective interlocking engagement with said first pair of slots when said locking bar is in the locked position, a gravity responsive locking detent means normally received within said second pair of slots for vertical movement relative thereto and into said second notch means whenever said locking mechanism is in an inverted position and said locking bar is in the unlocked position thereby preventing said locking bar from moving to the locked position, whereby an operator is automatically alerted to an improper locking mechanism position, and a locking device connected to said locking bar being selectively operable for vertically raising said tumbler from said first pair of slots thereby permitting movement of said locking bar to the unlocked position.

Claim 8

A locking mechanism as set forth in claim 5 wherein each of said leg members is provided with step surfaces located adjacent said first pair of slots and having at one end thereof a stop shoulder for engagement with said first tumbler whenever said first tumbler is raised from said first pair of slots thereby preventing complete withdrawal of said locking bar from said housing member.

Claim 9

A locking mechanism as set forth in claim 6 wherein said stop shoulders are spaced from said first pair of slots by a distance which will insure proper vertical alignment between said second pair of slots and said second notch means when said locking bar is in the unlocked position, whereby in event said locking mechanism is in an inverted position, said locking detent will fall into said second notch means to thereby interlock said locking bar to said housing member.

Claim 10

A locking mechanism as set forth in claim 5 wherein said housing member having a rearwardly extending leg portion and said locking bar has a flange portion which is flush with said ledge portion when said locking bar is in the locked position for providing a relatively close fit there-between which is virtually inaccessible to tampering.

Claim 11

A locking mechanism adapted for being releasably locked on king pin or the like of a semitrailer comprising a housing member having a king pin receiving bore extending therethrough, a longitudinally extending cut-out area in open communication with said receiving bore, first and second pair of spaced notch means formed in said housing member disposed above said cut-out area, a locking bar slidably received by said cut-out area having spaced leg members joined by a king pin contact member with an engagement surface and first and second pairs of spaced slots intermediately formed on said leg members said locking bar longitudinally movable within said housing member between an outward unlocked position and an inward locked position, whereby whenever in the locked position said engagement surface interlocks with said king pin received within said king pin receiving bore and whenever in the unlocked position said engagement surface is out of locking relationship with said king pin, a gravity responsive tumbler normally received within said first notch means for vertical movement relative thereto for selective interlocking engagement with said first pair of slots when said locking bar is in the locked position, a gravity responsive locking detent means normally received within said second pair of slots for vertical movement relative thereto and into said second notch means whenever saiD locking mechanism is in inverted position and said locking bar is in the unlocked position thereby preventing said locking bar from moving to the locked position whereby an operator is automatically alerted to an improper locking mechanism position, and a locking device connected to said locking bar being selectively operable for vertically raising said tumbler from said first pair of slots thereby permitting movement of said locking bar to the unlocked position, wherein each of said leg members is provided with a step surface located adjacent said first pair of slots and having at one end thereof a stop shoulder for engagement with said first tumbler whenever said first tumbler is raised from said first pair of slots thereby preventing complete withdrawal of said locking bar from said housing member, said stop shoulders being spaced from said first pair of slots by a distance which will insure proper vertical alignment between said second pair of slots and said second notch means when said locking bar is in the unlocked position whereby in event said locking mechanism is in an inverted position, said locking detent will fall into said second notch means to thereby interlock said locking bar to said housing member, said housing member having a rearwardly extending ledge portion and said locking bar has a flange portion which is flush with said ledge portion when said locking bar is in the locked position for providing a relatively close fit wherebetween which is virtually inaccessible to tampering.

Claim 12

A locking mechanism adapted for being releasably locked on king pin or the like of a semitrailer comprising a housing member having a king pin receiving bore extending therethrough, a longitudinally extending cut-out area in open communication with said receiving bore, first and second pair of spaced notch means formed in said housing member disposed above said cut-out area, a locking bar slidably received by said cut-out area having spaced leg members joined by a king pin contact member with an engagement surface and first and second pairs of spaced slots intermediately formed on said leg members said locking bar longitudinally movable within said housing member between an outward unlocked position and an inward locked position, whereby whenever in the locked position said engagement surface interlocks with said king pin received within said king pin receiving bore and whenever in the unlocked position said engagement surface is out of locking relationship with said king pin, a gravity responsive tumbler normally received within said first notch means for vertical movement relative thereto for selective interlocking engagement with said first pair of slots when said locking bar is in the locked position, a gravity responsive locking detent means normally received within said second pair of slots for vertical movement relative thereto and into said second notch means whenever saiD locking mechanism is in inverted position and said locking bar is in the unlocked position thereby preventing said locking bar from moving to the locked position whereby an operator is automatically alerted to an improper locking mechanism position, and a locking device connected to said locking bar being selectively operable for vertically raising said tumbler from said first pair of slots thereby permitting movement of said locking bar to the unlocked position, wherein each of said leg members is provided with a step surface located adjacent said first pair of slots and having at one end thereof a stop shoulder for engagement with said first tumbler whenever said first tumbler is raised from said first pair of slots thereby preventing complete withdrawal of said locking bar from said housing member, said stop shoulders being spaced from said first pair of slots by a distance which will insure proper vertical alignment between said second pair of slots and said second notch means when said locking bar is in the unlocked position whereby in event said locking mechanism is in an inverted position, said locking detent will fall into said second notch means to thereby interlock said locking bar to said housing member, said housing member having a rearwardly extending ledge portion and said locking bar has a flange portion which is flush with said ledge portion when said locking bar is in the locked position for providing a relatively close fit wherebetween which is virtually inaccessible to tampering.