Freight container, in particular air freight container

• US 5,242,070 A
• Filed: 09/10/1992
• Issued: 09/07/1993
• Est. Priority Date: 09/19/1991
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Alusuisse-Lonza Services Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Alusuisse-Lonza Services Ltd.
• Inventors: Hartmann, Ulf, Loble, Albrecht, Bretschneider, Gert, Kiesewetter, Dieter, Ryziuk, Eugen
• Primary Examiner(s): Shoap, Allan N.
• Assistant Examiner(s): CASTELLANO, STEPHEN J
• Application Number:
  US07/943,066
• Time in Patent Office: 362 Days
• Field of Search: 160/290.1, 160/275, 220/1.5, 220/326, 220/324, 220/305, 190/119
• US Class Current: 220/1.5
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 88/14 by air
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 90/021 Flexible side walls or doors B65D88/125 takes precedence

Abstract

The freight container, in particular air freight container, comprises a door opening bounded by lateral vertical posts which door opening is closable by a rigid or roll-up container door fixed at one end and lockable in the closed position by bolts which are arranged on a door bar or the like closure profile and which can be introduced into mating elements on the container frame. Here, the locking bolts are rigidly connected to the door bar. At least one of the locking bolts can be inserted in a corresponding latching recess in the container frame on the front side, and there is provided a locking tongue slidable on the front side over the insertion opening of the latching recess.

Claims

1. Freight container, in particular an air freight container, which comprises:

a container frame having a front side thereof and including at least one door opening bounded by lateral vertical posts, wherein the door opening is closable by a container door fixed at one end;

at least one bolt rigidly connected to a door bar operative to be introduced into mating elements on the container frame and to lock the door in the closed position;

wherein the one bolt is operative to be inserted in a corresponding latching recess in the container frame on the front side thereof and locked in the latching recess by a blocking element.

2. Freight container according to claim 1 wherein the latching recess has an insertion opening and wherein as the blocking element there is provided a locking tongue slidable on the front side over the insertion opening in the latching recess.

3. Freight container according to claim 1 wherein as the blocking element there is provided a catch with a free end pivotable over the one bolt inserted in the latching recess.

4. Freight container according to claim 2 wherein the locking tongue is arranged inside one of the vertical posts constructed as a hollow profile and automatically held in the closed position by a locking bar, wherein an actuating element which passes through a corresponding opening in the vertical post is connected to a locking element comprising the locking tongue, for sliding the locking tongue into its position.

5. Freight container according to claim 4 wherein the locking tongue is held in the closed position by spring force.

6. Freight container according to claim 4 wherein the corresponding opening is provided in an outer profile wall of the one vertical post and the actuating element is an actuating pin.

7. Freight container according to claim 4 wherein the corresponding opening is provided in a front profile wall of the one vertical post and the actuating element is a handle encompassing the one vertical post at the front thereof.

8. Freight container according to claim 4 wherein at least one of the locking element and the locking tongue are guided in sliding relationship on an inner surface of a front profile wall of the one vertical post.

9. Freight container according to claim 4 wherein the locking tongue is the free end of a rectangular bar and the locking bar is on the other end of the rectangular bar.

10. Freight container according to claim 4 wherein the locking tongue is the bottom portion of a profile piece of U-shaped cross-section with side walls thereof cut back in the region of the latching recess, wherein the locking bar is on the profile piece.

11. Freight container according to claim 4 wherein the latching recess is formed in an inner profile wall of the one vertical post by a conically tapering slot with guide edges for the one bolt.

12. Freight container according to claim 4 wherein the locking bar is surrounded by a coil spring arranged inside short arms of a bearing block of C-shaped cross-section fixed to a profile wall of the one vertical post.

13. Freight container according to claim 12 wherein the coil spring is held at one end by a locking pin passing through the locking bar.

14. Freight container according to claim 3 wherein the catch is arranged inside one of the vertical posts constructed as a hollow profile, and lies with a peripheral surface, which is approximately cylindrical in the region of its axis of rotation, opposite a concave sliding surface of a thrust bearing fixed to a profile wall of the one vertical post.

15. Freight container according to claim 14 wherein the axis of rotation of the catch is simultaneously the axis of rotation of an actuating lever passing through the outer profile wall and rigidly connected to the catch.

16. Freight container according to claim 3 wherein the catch is held in the closed position automatically by a spring.