Freight container coupler

• US 3,872,555 A
• Filed: 05/12/1972
• Issued: 03/25/1975
• Est. Priority Date: 05/12/1972
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: David Bartholomew Smith, Robert O. Link
• Original Assignee: David Bartholomew Smith, Robert O. Link
• Inventors: Link, Robert O., Smith, David W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Werner, Frank E.
• Application Number:
  US05/252,668
• Time in Patent Office: 1,047 Days
• Field of Search: 294/67R,67DA,67DB,81R 24/221R,221K 214/1.5R,38CA 296/35A 220/1.5,6,7,23.4,23.6,97R,97B 248/361R 105/366B,366C
• US Class Current: 24/590.1
• CPC Class Codes: B60P 7/132 twist-locks for containers or frames
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 88/522 all side walls hingedly connected to each other or to another component of the container
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 90/0013 Twist lock
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 24/55 And operator therefor
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 24/4522 Sliding or rotating element

Abstract

A freight container having hollow corner fittings with openings therein is provided with a horizontal coupler positioned within the container adjacent to a corner fitting. The coupler has a housing mounted adjacent an opening in the corner fitting and a bolt lock assembly is axially displaceable within the housing. A bolt lock on one end of the assembly is pivotable between locking and unlocking positions. A portion of the bolt lock assembly is threaded and has a ratchet drive mounted thereon for extending and retracting the assembly to project the bolt lock through the fitting openings outwardly of the container to enable the bolt lock to engage with a similarly shaped opening in an adjacent container. The bolt lock is fixed on a rod mounted rotatably in an axial bore of the assembly and a lever is provided on the other end of the rod for pivoting the bolt lock between locking and unlocking positions. A vertical coupler is also disclosed which has a similarly shaped bolt lock positioned in an assembly which is extendable and retractable with respect to the container face by means of an operating handle. Pivoting of the operating handle also moves the bolt lock between locking and unlocking positions.

Claims

1. A freight container coupler for coupling to an adjacent container comprising a housing adapted to be mounted in the corner of a freight container, a bolt lock assembly axially displaceable within said housing, a bolt lock on the end of said bolt lock assembly and pivotable between locking and unlocking positions, means on said housing for extending said bolt lock assembly with respect to said housing to project the bolt lock outwardly of the container so that the bolt lock is engageable in an opening in an adjacent container and for retracting said bolt lock assembly, means on said bolt lock assembly for pivoting said bolt lock between said locking and unlocking positions to lock an adjacent container, at least a portion of said bolt lock assembly projecting outwardly of said housing and the projecting portion being threaded, means drivingly engaging said threaded portion of the bolt lock assembly for extending and retracting said assembly, said bolt lock assembly having an axial bore therethrough, a bolt lock rod rotatably positioned within said bore, said bolt lock being on the end of the bolt lock rod within said housing, the other end of said bolt lock rod extending outwardly of the threaded portion of said bolt lock assembly and having a bolt lock lever thereon.

2. A freight container coupler as claimed in claim 1 wherein said bolt lock lever comprises telescoping members so as to be retractable within the outline of the container in which the coupler is mounted.