Locking device for freight carts

Claim 2

A locking device for securing an upright member of a freight cart within a vehicle which comprises: a base member which is adaptable for attachment to the structure of the vehicle; a restraining member being provided on said base member; lock mounting means being provided on said base member; a clasp member being rotatably mounted to the base member and securing a structural member of the cart in a closure formed between the clasp member, the base member, and the restraining member when the locking device is in the locked position; and a gravity lock member which is pivotally mounted to said lock mounting means, the lock member having a projection which rests upon the clasp member when the locking device is in the unlocked position and which falls into place when the clasp member is rotated to the locked position and holds the clasp member in the locked position.

Claim 3

A locking device for securing an upright member of a cart to the side of a vehicle which comprises: a base member having a flat surface area and having first and second ends, the base member being adapted for attachment to the side rail; a base surface flange which is attached in proximity to the first end of the base member to increase the surface area of the base member; a guide member attached as a flange to the base member in near proximity to the second end; a clasp member which is rotatably mounted to the base surface flange and which secures the upright member of the cart in a closure formed between the clasp member, the base member, and the guide member when the locking device is in the locked position; lock mounting flanges which are attached in spaced relationship in near proximity to the second end of the base member; and a gravity lock member which is pivotally mounted between the spaced lock mounting flanges, which rests upon the clasp member when the locking device is in the unlocked position and which falls into place by gravity when the clasp member is rotated to the locked position and holds the clasp member in the locked position.

Claim 4

A locking device for securing an upright member of a cart to the side of a vehicle which comprises: a base member having a flat surface area and having first and second ends, the base member being adapted for attachment to the side rail; a base surface flange which is attached in proximity to the first end of the base member to increase the surface area of the base member; a guide member attached as a flange to the base member in near proximity to the second end; a clasp member which is rotatably mounted to the base surface flange and which secures the upright member of the cart in a closure formed between the clasp member, the base member, and the guide member when the locking device is in the locked position; lock mounting flanges which are attached in spaced relationship in near proximity to the second end of the base member; and a gravity lock member which is pivotally mounted between the spaced lock mounting flanges, which rests upon the clasp member when the locking device is in the unlocked position and which falls into place by gravity when the clasp member is rotated to the locked position and holds the clasp member in the locked position.

Claim 5

The locking device of claim 2, further comprising an extension which is attached as a flange to the base surface flange to define a receptacle between the extension and the base member suitable for inserting an upright member of a cart.

Claim 6

The locking device of claim 2 further comprising a rotation limitation flange which is attached to the base surface flange to limit the rotation of the clasp member in the unlocked position.

Claim 7

The locking device of claim 2 further comprising a lock disable member which is rotatably mounted on the base member and which may be used to disable the gravity lock member when the locking device is in the locked position.

Claim 8

A locking device for securing an upright member of a cart to the side of a vehicle which comprises: a base member made of angle iron having first and second ends; a guide member attached as a flange to one face of the base member in proximity to the second end; a base surface flange which is attached to the same face as the guide member in proximity to the first end of the base member to increase the surface area of the face of the base member; a hook-like clasp member which is rotatably mounted to the base surface flange and which is used to secure the upright member of the cart in a closure formed between the clasp member, the base member, and the guide member when the locking device is in the locked position; lock mounting flanges attached in spaced relationship in proximity to the second end of the base member; a gravity lock member of generally L-shape which is pivotally mounted between the spaced lock mounting flanges, the gravity lock member having a pawl which rests upon the clasp member when the locking device is in the unlocked position, and which drops from the clasp member to the base member to prevent rotation of the clasp member when the clasp member is rotated to the locked position; a rotation limitation flange which is attached to the base surface flange to limit the rotation of the clasp member in the unlocked position; a lock disable member which is rotatably mounted to the base member and which may be used to disable the gravity lock member when the locking device is in the locked position; and an extension flange which is attached to the base surface flange thereby defining a receptacle between the extension and the base member suitable for inserting an upright member of a cart.

Claim 9

A locking device for securing an upright member of a cart to the side of a vehicle which comprises: a base member made of angle iron having first and second ends; a guide member attached as a flange to one face of the base member in proximity to the second end; a base surface flange which is attached to the same face as the guide member in proximity to the first end of the base member to increase the surface area of the face of the base member; a hook-like clasp member which is rotatably mounted to the base surface flange and which is used to secure the upright member of the cart in a closure formed between the clasp member, the base member, and the guide member when the locking device is in the locked position; lock mounting flanges attached in spaced relationship in proximity to the second end of the base member; a gravity lock member of generally L-shape which is pivotally mounted between the spaced lock mounting flanges, the gravity lock member having a pawl which rests upon the clasp member when the locking device is in the unlocked position, and which drops from the clasp member to the base member to prevent rotation of the clasp member when the clasp member is rotated to the locked position; a rotation limitation flange which is attached to the base surface flange to limit the rotation of the clasp member in the unlocked position; a lock disable member which is rotatably mounted to the base member and which may be used to disable the gravity lock member when the locking device is in the locked position; and an extension flange which is attached to the base surface flange thereby defining a receptacle between the extension and the base member suitable for inserting an upright member of a cart.

Claim 10

Means for immobilizing freight carts within a vehicle defining support walls, said freight carts being defined at least in part by a structural framework, said immobilizing means comprising: elongated structural support means being secured to said support walls of said vehicle; means defining a receptacle being generally fixed in relation to said structural framework, said receptacle being adapted to receive a first part of said structural framework therein; clasp means being disposed in pivotal relation to said elongated structural support means and being pivotally movable between locked and unlocked positions, said clasp means, in the unlocked position thereof, defining a receiver for a second part of said structural framework and being pivoted to the locked position thereof by a second part of said structural framework upon movement of said cart to the immobilized position thereof in said vehicle, said clasp means, upon reaching said locked position thereof, establishing interlocking relation with said second part of said structural framework; lock means being supported in movable relation to said receptacle defining means and being movable between locking and unlocking relation with said clasp means, said lock means being moved to said locked position thereof by said freight cart upon movement of said cart to said immobilized position and being manually moved to the unlocked position thereof to allow movement of said cart from said immobilized position.

Claim 11

Means for immobilizing freight carts within a vehicle defining support walls, said freight carts being defined at least in part by a structural framework, said immobilizing means comprising: elongated structural support means being secured to said support walls of said vehicle; means defining a receptacle being generally fixed in relation to said structural framework, said receptacle being adapted to receive a first part of said structural framework therein; clasp means being disposed in pivotal relation to said elongated structural support means and being pivotally movable between locked and unlocked positions, said clasp means, in the unlocked position thereof, defining a receiver for a second part of said structural framework and being pivoted to the locked position thereof by a second part of said structural framework upon movement of said cart to the immobilized position thereof in said vehicle, said clasp means, upon reaching said locked position thereof, establishing interlocking relation with said second part of said structural framework; lock means being supported in movable relation to said receptacle defining means and being movable between locking and unlocking relation with said clasp means, said lock means being moved to said locked position thereof by said freight cart upon movement of said cart to said immobilized position and being manually moved to the unlocked position thereof to allow movement of said cart from said immobilized position.

Claim 12

Means for immobilizing freight carts as recited in claim 7, wherein said means defining a receptacle comprises; a hook-like element being disposed in generally fixed relation to said elongated structural support means and cooperating with said elongated structural support means to define a receptacle for receiving and retaining a part of said structural framework of said cart, said hook-like element being disposed in spaced relation to said clasp means.

Claim 13

Means for immobilizing freight carts as recited in claim 7, wherein said elongated structural support means includes: retainer means extending from said structural support means and cooperating with said clasp means in the locked position of said clasp means to define a latching receptacle within which is received said second part of said structural framework of said cart.

Claim 14

Means for immobilizing freight carts as recited in claim 7, wherein said elongated structural support means includes: a pair of lock supports flanges extending from said elongated structural support means, said lock means being pivotally secured between said lock support flanges.

Claim 15

Means for immobilizing freight carts as recited in claim 7, wherein: said lock means is a gravity lock element and is moved from the unlocked position thereof to the locked position under the influence of gravity after said clasp has moved to the locked position thereof.

Claim 16

Means for immobilizing freight carts as recited in claim 7, wherein: urging means is disposed in engagement with said lock means and urges said lock means toward the locked position thereof.