Cargo door lock

• US 7,278,663 B2
• Filed: 11/12/2004
• Issued: 10/09/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 11/12/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: B&B Lock Company, LLC
• Original Assignee: Bryan Witchey
• Inventors: Witchey, Bryan
• Primary Examiner(s): Glessner; Brian E.
• Assistant Examiner(s): WILLIAMS, MARK A
• Application Number:
  US10/986,028
• Publication Number:
  US 20050099018A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,061 Days
• Field of Search: 292/259.R, 292/258, 292/338, 292/289, 292/292, 702/08, 702/09.X, 70/14.X, 70/18, 70/19, 702/12, 702/38, 70/52, 70/55, 70/56.X, 70198-200
• US Class Current: 292/259.00R
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 67/38 Auxiliary or protective devices weather protection E05B17/002; armoured cases E05B67/04
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 83/10 Rotary bars
• CPC Class Codes: E05C 19/186 with a pair of hooks, which are movable towards each other for grasping of an element on the wing, respectively on the frame, or for grasping of an element on each of the wings forming a double door
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 292/1049 Rigid
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 292/23 Cross bars
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/40 Portable
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/498 Shields or canopies
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/5765 Rotary or swinging

Abstract

A cargo door lock for securing the rear doors of containers such as the rear doors of a tractor-trailer container, a sea-rail container, or a static container. The cargo door lock attaches to vertical rods to prevent unauthorized opening of the container rear doors. The cargo door lock includes an extendable shaft with first and second opposite ends, first and second securing hooks that are respectively attached to the first and second opposite ends, and a lock mechanism. The lock mechanism is set at a perpendicular angle with respect to the first and second securing hooks.

Claims

1. A cargo door lock for locking the rear doors of a container fitted with a pair of vertical rods used to secure the rear doors, said cargo door lock comprising:

an extendable shaft, wherein said shaft has first and second opposite ends;

a first rod securing hook and a second rod securing hook, wherein said first and second rod securing hooks are attached respectively to said first and second opposite ends of said extendable shaft, said first and second rod securing hooks are aligned in the horizontal plane;

a lock mechanism attached to said extendable shaft, wherein said lock mechanism is set in a perpendicular plane with respect to said first and second hooks, said lock mechanism reversibly locks said extendable shaft at a predetermined length, said lock mechanism further comprising;

an L-shaped bracket, said L-shaped bracket having first and second sidewalls and a base plate attached to one end of said first sidewall thereby defining a second L-bracket with respect to said first sidewall, said base plate comprising a tongue protruding from one end of said second sidewall;

a lock, said lock having a lock hook, and

a spring, wherein said spring has first and second opposite ends, wherein a gap is located between said base plate and said second sidewall, further wherein said lock hook fits through said gap, and wherein said spring sits inside said lock hook; and

a lock housing, wherein said lock mechanism is located inside said lock housing.

2. The cargo door lock of claim 1, wherein said first and second hooks are L-shaped hooks.

3. The cargo door lock of claim 1, wherein said lock is a spring-loaded combination lock.

4. The cargo door lock of claim 1, wherein said lock is a key operated banel shaped spring lock.

5. The cargo door lock of claim 1, wherein said lock is a key operated lock.

6. The cargo door lock of claim 1, wherein said lock mechanism has a lock hook and a spring, wherein said spring has first and second opposite ends, wherein a gap is located between said base plate and said second sidewall, further wherein said lock hook fits through said gap, and wherein said spring sits inside said lock hook.

7. The cargo door lock of claim 1, wherein said lock mechanism comprises a securing member, said securing member secures said lock mechanism in situ, said securing member fits through a securing hole in one side of said lock housing.

8. The cargo door lock of claim 1, wherein said lock mechanism comprises a securing member, said securing member secures said lock mechanism in situ, said securing member fits through a securing hole in one side of said lock housing, wherein a blind hole is located on the other side of the lock housing, said blind hole is used to secure said securing member.

9. A cargo door lock for locking the rear doors of a tractor-trailer or ship-rail container by securing a pair of vertical rods used to secure the rear doors, said cargo door lock comprising:

an extendable shaft having a first shaft member and a second shaft member, wherein said first and second shaft members each have proximal and distal opposite ends, said proximal and distal ends of said first and second shaft members respectively define first and second middle portions and first and second bottom walls, wherein said proximal end of said second shaft member fits telescopically inside said proximal end of said first shaft member, wherein said bottom wall of said first shaft member has a first hole, further wherein said bottom wall of said second shaft member has a plurality of holes arranged in a row such that when said second shaft member is moved telescopically inside said first shaft member said first hole aligns in turn with each hole in said row of holes in said bottom wall of said second shaft member;

a first securing hook and a second securing hook, wherein said first and second hooks are respectively attached to the distal ends of said first and second shaft members, wherein said first and second hooks are aligned in the horizontal plane;

a lock mechanism for locking said extendable shaft at a desired length, wherein said lock mechanism is attached to said bottom side of said first shaft member such that said lock is in a perpendicular plane respect to said first and second securing hooks, wherein said lock comprises a tongue such that said tongue can reversibly penetrate said first hole and an aligned hole selected from said plurality of holes in said second shaft to lock said extendable shaft at a desired length, said lock mechanism further comprising;

an L-shaped bracket, said L-shaped bracket having first and second sidewalls and a base plate attached to one end of said first sidewall thereby defining a second L-bracket with respect to said first sidewall, said base plate comprising a tongue protruding from one end of said second sidewall;

a lock, said lock having a lock hook, and a spring, wherein said spring has first and second opposite ends, wherein a gap is located between said base plate and said second sidewall, further wherein said lock hook fits through said gap, and wherein said spring sits inside said lock hook; and

a lock housing, wherein said lock mechanism is located inside said lock housing,

whereby an operator can lock the rear doors of a tractor-trailer or ship container by securing said hooks around a pair of vertical rods used to secure the rear doors.

10. The cargo door lock of claim 9, wherein said lock mechanism is a spring loaded locking mechanism.

11. The cargo door lock of claim 9, wherein said lock is a key operated baffel shaped spring lock.

12. The cargo door lock of claim 9, wherein said lock is a key operated lock.

13. The cargo door lock of claim 9, wherein said first and second hooks are L-shaped brackets, said L-shaped brackets face inward with respect to said middle portions of said extendable shaft.

14. The cargo door lock of claim 9, wherein said lock mechanism has a lock hook and a spring, wherein said spring has first and second opposite ends, wherein a gap is located between said base plate and said second sidewall, further wherein said lock hook fits through said gap, and wherein said spring sits inside said lock hook.

15. A lock mechanism comprising:

an L-shaped bracket, said L-shaped bracket having first and second sidewalls and a base plate attached to one end of said first sidewall thereby defining a second L-bracket with respect to said first sidewall, wherein a tongue protrudes from one end of said second sidewall, and wherein said base plate includes a base plate hole;

a lock, said lock having a lock hook; and

a spring, wherein said spring has first and second opposite ends, wherein a gap is located between said base plate and said second sidewall, further wherein said lock hook fits through said gap, wherein said spring sits inside said lock hook,

wherein said lock hook also fits through said base plate hole,

wherein said lock mechanism is housed inside a housing and secured in said housing by a securing member, and

wherein one end of said spring abuts against said base-plate and the other end of said spring abuts against said securing member.

16. The lock mechanism of claim 15, wherein said lock is selected from the group consisting of a combination lock and a key operated lock.

17. The lock mechanism of claim 15, wherein said lock mechanism is housed in a lock housing.

18. The lock mechanism of claim 15, wherein said lock hook includes a curve end, and said securing member is located between said spring and said curve end of said lock hook.

19. A spring-loaded combination lock mechanism comprising:

an L-shaped bracket, said L-shaped bracket having first and second sidewalls and a base plate attached to one end of said first sidewall thereby defining a second L-bracket with respect to first sidewall, wherein a tongue protrudes from one end of said second sidewall, and wherein said base plate includes a base plate hole;

a spring having opposite ends; and

a combination lock, said combination lock having a lock hook and a combination lock housing, wherein a gap is located between said base plate and said second sidewall, further wherein said lock hook fits through said gap, and wherein said spring sits inside said lock hook,

whereby said combination lock is housed inside a housing and secured in said housing by a securing member,

wherein one end of said spring abuts against said base-plate and the other end of said spring abuts against said securing member, and

wherein said lock hook also fits through said base plate hole.

20. The spring-loaded combination lock mechanism of claim 19, wherein said lock hook includes a curve end, and said securing member is located between said spring and said curve end of said lock hook.

21. The spring-loaded combination lock mechanism of claim 19, wherein instead of said spring sitting inside said lock hook at least part of said lock hook fits through said spring.