Patent ID: 6113305
Filing Date: 2000-09-05
Classification: B65D,F16B,Y10T

Abstract:
A container coupling tool comprising:a tool body having a flange, a top positioning protrusion provided on a top surface of said flange, and a bottom positioning protrusion provided on a bottom surface of said flange,said tool body being formed with a bore extending from a top surface of one of said protrusions to a bottom surface of the other of said protrusions;a rotary shaft received in said bore;a top cone provided on a top end of said rotary shaft;a bottom cone provided on a bottom end of said rotary shaft;a handle inserted in a hole formed in said tool body, said hole opening at an outer periphery of said flange, and said handle being coupled to an outer periphery of said rotary shaft,wherein said top and bottom cones can be detachably engaged in openings formed in corner fittings of containers by pivoting said handle,said tool body being formed with a stopper inserting hole, which is open at the bottom surface of said flange and communicates with said bore;a stopper vertically movably inserted in said stopper inserting hole, said stopper having an inner end positioned adjacent said rotary shaft,said stopper being supported in said stopper inserting hole so as to permit said stopper to move downward in said stopper inserting hole by gravity so that said stopper partially protrudes outwardly from a bottom opening of said stopper inserting hole; anda first engaging projection formed on an outer periphery of said rotary shaft so as to oppose the inner end of said stopper in a circumferential direction of said rotary shaft when said stopper has moved down by gravity, thereby preventing said rotary shaft from rotating toward a position where said top cone can be disengaged from the corner fitting,wherein, when said stopper is completely inserted in said stopper inserting hole, the stopper does not prevent rotation of said rotary shaft.