Patent US4394101A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4394101A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Height adjustable cargo container locking mechanism
Assignee: Hughes Missile Systems Co
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Filing: 1981-01-19
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Granted: 1983-07-19
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Expires: 2001-01-19
Abstract
Abstract An apparatus for securing a cargo container having standard corner fittingsncludes a housing in which is mounted an elevator assembly for vertically positioning a platform with respect to the housing. The platform is adapted to engage a corner fitting when raised. The apparatus further includes a rotatable locking element carried on the platform which is rotated to lock to the fitting once the fitting is engaged. The platform together with the locking element can be further elevated when the fitting is engaged to raise a corner of the container or retracted within the housing to disengage and allow the container corner to clear the top of the housing.
Inventors
- 👤 John E. Richer
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 17:41
CPC Classifications
B; B60; B60P; B60P7/00; B60P7/06; B60P7/13; B60P7/132; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S24/00; Y10S24/30; Y10S24/51; Y10S24/53; Y10S24/54; Y10S24/56; Y10T; Y10T403/00; Y10T403/70; Y10T403/7005
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim
190 words
A locking mechanism for securing a cargo container having standard fittings, comprising: a housing fixedly disposed beneath the container and adjacent to a fitting; an elevator mounted within the housing; a platform slidably contained within the housing and mounted on the elevator for being raised out of and lowered into the housing, the surface area of the platform being of a size to permit one end of said platform to engage the bottom of the fitting when raised to an upward position and further adapted at the same end to support and raise the container when the fitting is engaged; an elongated rotatable clamping mechanism mounted on the platform and the elevator and having a locking element on its upper end which is carried on the platform, the locking element being rotated with the clamping mechanism to lock to the fitting when the fitting is engaged, the lower end of the clamping mechanism being disposed below the elevator; and a latching mechanism mounted on the clamping mechanism and adapted to cooperate with the elevator to secure the clamping mechanism against rotation when the locking element is locked to the fitting.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
190 words
A locking mechanism for securing a cargo container having standard fittings, comprising: a housing fixedly disposed beneath the container and adjacent to a fitting; an elevator mounted within the housing; a platform slidably contained within the housing and mounted on the elevator for being raised out of and lowered into the housing, the surface area of the platform being of a size to permit one end of said platform to engage the bottom of the fitting when raised to an upward position and further adapted at the same end to support and raise the container when the fitting is engaged; an elongated rotatable clamping mechanism mounted on the platform and the elevator and having a locking element on its upper end which is carried on the platform, the locking element being rotated with the clamping mechanism to lock to the fitting when the fitting is engaged, the lower end of the clamping mechanism being disposed below the elevator; and a latching mechanism mounted on the clamping mechanism and adapted to cooperate with the elevator to secure the clamping mechanism against rotation when the locking element is locked to the fitting.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
46 words
A locking mechanism as in claim 1 wherein the housing structure comprises: a cylindrical casing; and a stopper apparatus affixed to the interior surface of the casing, the stopper having a plurality of recesses radially spaced along its periphery and further having a threaded central bore.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
98 words
A locking mechanism as in claim 2 wherein the platform comprises: a plurality of segments adapted to be slidably disposed within the stopper recesses; and an upper plate connecting the segments for contacting the container when the platform is raised and for resting on the stopper when the platform is lowered, the plate having a raised shear block portion adapted to be disposed within the fitting when the platform is raised, the shear block portion having a central bore which is coaxial with the central bore of the stopper when the platform is contained within the housing structure.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
51 words
A locking mechanism as in claim 3 wherein the elevator comprises a threaded screw engaged in the threaded central bore of the stopper, the screw itself having a central bore which is coaxial with the central bore of the platform shear block when the screw is engaged in the stopper bore.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
43 words
A locking mechanism as in claim 4 wherein the clamping mechanism comprises an elongated shank slidably disposed within the central bores of the screw and shear block, the shank being threaded at its lower portion with the threaded portion disposed below the screw.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
22 words
A locking mechanism as in claim 5 wherein the locking element comprises a flange extending laterally from the top of the shank.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
40 words
A locking mechanism as in claim 6 wherein the latching mechanism comprises a threaded nut disposed on the threaded portion of the shank, the but being advanced to contact the bottom of the screw to secure the shank against rotation.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
23 words
A locking mechanism as in claim 7 further including a threaded locknut disposed on the threaded portion of the shank beneath the nut.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
15 words
A locking mechanism as in claim 8 further including a handle for rotating the shank.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
143 words
A locking mechanism for securing a cargo container having standard bottom located receptacle type fittings, comprising: a housing which is adapted to be disposed beneath a fitting of the container, the housing having a bottom and an open top; a platform slidably contained within the housing and adapted to be raised upwardly out of and lowered into the housing, the surface area of the platform being of a size to permit said platform to bear against the bottom of a respective fitting when in the upward position out of the housing; elevator means for raising and lowering the platform; a locking element mounted on top of the platform and adapted to be received within the container fitting; means connected to the locking element and extending downwardly through the platform and downwardly through the housing for rotating the locking element within the fitting container.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
143 words
A locking mechanism for securing a cargo container having standard bottom located receptacle type fittings, comprising: a housing which is adapted to be disposed beneath a fitting of the container, the housing having a bottom and an open top; a platform slidably contained within the housing and adapted to be raised upwardly out of and lowered into the housing, the surface area of the platform being of a size to permit said platform to bear against the bottom of a respective fitting when in the upward position out of the housing; elevator means for raising and lowering the platform; a locking element mounted on top of the platform and adapted to be received within the container fitting; means connected to the locking element and extending downwardly through the platform and downwardly through the housing for rotating the locking element within the fitting container.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
73 words
A locking mechanism as claimed in claim 10 wherein the elevator means includes: a screw which is threaded through the bottom of the housing and which has a top end which engages the bottom of the platform; and the screw having a lower end which is located below the bottom of the housing so that the screw can be selectively rotated in one direction or the other to raise and lower the platform.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
50 words
A locking mechanism as claimed in claim 11 including: the screw being tubular; and the locking element rotating means including an elongated shank rotatably extending through the tubular screw and having a bottom portion which extends below the bottom portion of the tubular screw for selectively rotating the locking element.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
52 words
A locking mechanism as claimed in claim 12 including: a nut threaded on the shank between the bottom portion of the shank and the bottom portion of the threaded screw for bearing against the bottom portion of the screw and thereby securing the position of the locking element relative to the screw.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
44 words
A locking mechanism as claimed in claims 10, 11, 12, or 13 including: means fixedly mounted on top of the platform for receiving and securely positioning the locking element in one of two positions, the two positions being 90° with respect to one another.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
39 words
A locking mechanism as claimed in claims 10, 11, 12, or 13 including: the bottom of the housing having openings; and the platform having downwardly extending segments which are received by the housing openings and which are reciprocable therein.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1986-07-18 | 1987-01-17 | 1987-07-19 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1990-07-18 | 1991-01-17 | 1991-07-19 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1994-07-18 | 1995-01-17 | 1995-07-19 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |