Buckles – buttons – clasps – etc. – Freight container to freight container fastener
Reexamination Certificate
2000-09-25
2002-12-10
Sandy, Robert J. (Department: 3677)
Buckles, buttons, clasps, etc.
Freight container to freight container fastener
C410S083000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06490766
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a container coupling device and, more particularly, to a container coupling device including a fully automatic latching lock providing consistent and repeatable release force characteristics.
As will be recognized by those skilled in the art, freight containers are commonly used for transporting cargo by ship and/or rail. These freight containers are generally rectangular and are dimensioned within standardized ranges used throughout the shipping industry. The containers generally include rigid corner castings of standardized size which allow the containers to be vertically and/or horizontally stacked, and thereafter locked to one another. More particularly, the corner castings include elongated or circular openings dimensioned and configured to accept locking devices, e.g., manually operated coupling devices, which allow adjacent corner castings of adjacent containers to be positively locked to one another.
Manually operated coupling devices are well known in the art. Certain known manually operated devices are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,212,251, 4,082,052, and 3,894,493. As will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, these coupling devices are operable between a first position wherein the device is oriented to allow coupling of adjacent corner castings, and a second position wherein the device is oriented to positively lock the adjacent corner castings to one another. In many such devices, the device includes a manually operated lever which is used to move the locking element of the coupling device between a first unlocked position and a second locked position.
In certain applications, it is not convenient and/or desirable to use manually operated coupling devices. For example, when transporting freight containers by rail, the industry often utilizes coupling devices having at least one fully automatic latching lock. Typically, the coupling devices are secured to the corner castings on the underside of a container prior to the container being moved onto the rail car. The coupling devices are oriented such that the automatic latching lock of each device is outwardly directed and thus ready to be coupled to a previously-loaded container. The automatic latching lock thus allows the container to be stacked and secured to an underlying container simply by landing the upper container onto the lower container. Similarly, the automatic latching lock allows the upper container to be uncoupled from the lower container simply through lifting of the upper container.
One common drawback associated with prior art coupling devices having automatic latching locks is repeatability of release loading. More specifically, the vertical force necessary to actuate the automatic latching lock and thus release the upper freight container from the lower freight container must be within an accepted range, and should be repeatable over time and with respect to various containers. As will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, coupling devices themselves are subjected to severe wear through handling and/or exposure to environmental factors. Corner castings of freight containers may also experience wear and/or damage. Together, these factors have made it difficult in the past to provide automatic latching locks, particularly for use in the rail industry, which consistently provide adequate securing forces.
Another potential concern when utilizing coupling devices having automatic latching locks on stacked containers concerns toppling loads, i.e., moments which cause the container to tend to topple from its stacked relationship commonly referred to as “rolling moments.” This can be caused by the rolling action of a ship, through the application of wind forces, or by the derailment of a rail car. Under such conditions, the rolling moment experienced by the stacked cargo container could exceed the normal release force of the automatic latching lock of the coupling device thus allowing the stacked container to decouple from the underlying container and/or structure.
There is therefore a need in the art for a coupling device including at least one automatic latching lock which allows stacking of and securement of cargo containers without manual intervention. The coupling device preferably exhibits consistent and repeatable release force characteristics. Finally, the coupling device preferably resists rolling moments at onset, while still utilizing a fully automatic latching lock.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention, which addresses the needs of the prior art, relates to a coupling device for cooperation with a corner casting of a freight container. The corner casting includes an interior latch-engaging surface. The coupling device includes a body having a base with first and second surfaces. The coupling device further includes an automatic latching lock extending from the first surface of the base and being sized and located for securement to the corner casting of the freight container. The automatic latching lock includes a first support shoulder and a latch assembly. The latch assembly is movably coupled to the support shoulder to allow coupling to and decoupling from the corner casting and is biased to an engagement position. The latch assembly includes a latch having a spring-receiving cavity. Finally, the coupling device includes a spring positioned within the cavity having first and second ends. The first end is supported by the latch, while the second end is surrounded by the cavity and positionally fixed with respect to the base.
The present invention further relates to a coupling device for cooperation with a corner casting of a freight container. The coupling device includes a body having a base with first and second surfaces. The coupling device further includes an automatic latching lock extending from the first surface of the base and being sized and located for securement to the corner casting of the freight container. The automatic latching lock includes a first support shoulder and a latch assembly. The latch assembly is movably coupled to the support shoulder to allow coupling to and decoupling from the corner casting and is biased to an engagement position. The latch assembly is movable in a first direction to allow coupling of the automatic latching lock to the corner casting and is movable in a second direction to allow decoupling of the automatic latching lock from the corner casting, the first direction being different from the second direction.
The present invention further relates to a coupling device for cooperation with a corner casting of a freight container. The coupling device includes a body having a base with first and second surfaces. The coupling device further includes an automatic latching lock extending from the first surface of the base and being sized and located for securement to the corner casting of the freight container. The automatic latching lock includes a latch assembly. The latch assembly is movably coupled to the base to allow coupling to and decoupling from the corner casting and is biased to an engagement position. The latch assembly includes a latch having a tail. The tail includes an upper contact surface located substantially flush with the first surface of the base when the latch is in the engagement position whereby the corner casting presses against both the first surface of the base and the contact surface of the tail when the automatic latching lock is coupled to the corner casting thus urging the latch to the engagement position.
The present invention further relates to a coupling device for coupling a corner casting of a first freight container to a corner casting of a second freight container. The coupling device includes a body having a base. The base has a first surface and a second surface. The coupling device further includes an automatic latching lock for coupling with the corner casting of the first freight container. The automatic latching lock is provided on the first surface of the base. The coupling device further includes a manual twisting lock for coup
Hoffmann & Baron , LLP
Peck & Hale LLC
Sandy Robert J.
LandOfFree
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