PATENT ABSTRACT
A latching apparatus for lifting and lowering loads. The apparatus comprises a prong and a receiving receptacle configured to receive the prong. The receiving receptacle comprises a body having a central passage, a plurality of jaws arranged about the central passage, and a spring for biasing the jaws to extend into the central passage. The latching apparatus may further comprise an activation disc for disengaging the jaws from the prong. The jaws have a pin extending therefrom; and wherein the activation disc contains a plurality of cam surfaces that engage the pin of the jaws. A method of latching onto a container is also disclosed.

PATENT DESCRIPTION
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     This application relates to a latching mechanism. More specifically, but not by way of limitation, this invention relates to a latching mechanism for lifting and lowering containers.  
         [0002]     In industrial applications, operators find it necessary to lift containers. Many times, the containers are located in remote areas. For instance, in the offshore energy industry, boats ferry equipment to platforms located many miles from shore. As those of ordinary skill in the art will recognize, the seas can get quite rough. Generally, the containers will be positioned on the aft deck of the boat. In order to offload the equipment, a platform crane is used to lift the containers from the boat deck onto the platform.  
         [0003]     Prior art devices requires the use of a ball hook, which is attached to the cable. A deck hand is required to attached the ball hook onto the containers. Sometimes, the ball hook is attached to a set of slings. As those of ordinary skill in the art will recognize, attaching the ball hook onto the slings is a dangerous endeavor since the boat may be rocking due to wind and/or waves. For instance, in 10 foot seas, the boat may be traveling vertically as much as 20 feet since the boat will ride the crest of the wave to the trough of the wave. However, the ball hook is not moving in unison with the boat since the crane is mounted on the platform. Additionally, in some applications, the crane may be mounted on floating platform. Therefore, the potential for injury to the deck hand is high due to the logistics of rigging up and rigging down the ball hook to the container.  
         [0004]     Therefore, there is a need to have an apparatus and mechanism that allows quick and safe latching and unlatching onto containers. There is also a need that will allow for the lifting containers. There is also a need for a device and method that allows for containers on vessels to be safely loaded and/or offloaded. These needs, and many others, will be met by a reading of the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0005]     A latching apparatus for lifting and lowering loads is disclosed. In the preferred embodiment, the apparatus comprises a prong having a protuberance at a first end and a receiving receptacle configured to receive the first end of the prong. In one preferred embodiment, the receiving receptacle comprises a body having a central passage, a plurality of jaws arranged about the central passage, and biasing means for biasing the jaws to extend into the central passage and engaging the protuberance. The biasing means may comprise a spring having a first end engaging the jaws and a second end engaging an internal portion of the body so that the jaws are biased toward the central passage.  
         [0006]     The latching apparatus may further comprise an activation disc for disengaging the jaws from the protuberance. In one preferred embodiment, the jaws have a pin extending therefrom; and wherein the activation disc contains a plurality of cam surfaces that engage the pin of the jaws. Additionally, the body may comprise a first section that is attached to a second section, and wherein the second section contains the jaws and the activation disc, and wherein the first section is configured to abut and align the plurality of jaws.  
         [0007]     The latching apparatus may further comprise a handle mounted through the body so that the handle has an exterior portion and an internal portion, and wherein the handle has a projection that engages the activation disc so that movement of handle creates movement of the activation disc. The latching apparatus may further comprise an alignment skirt attached to the body, and wherein the alignment skirt has a conical shape, and wherein the alignment skirt is configured to direct the prong into the central passage.  
         [0008]     In one embodiment, the spring is disposed about an indicator pin, and the indicator pin extends through an aperture in the body when the jaw inserts are disengaged from the protuberance. Also, the latching mechanism may further comprise a jaw insertion device for engaging the jaw inserts from the aperture within the body.  
         [0009]     A method of latching onto a container is also disclosed. The method includes providing a prong having a protuberance at a first end, and wherein the prong is attached to the container, and wherein the protuberance has a neck portion formed thereon. The method further comprises providing a receiving receptacle configured to receive the first end of the prong, the receiving receptacle comprising: a body having a central passage; a plurality of jaws arranged about the central passage; and, a spring having a first end engaging the jaws and a second end engaging an internal portion of the body so that the jaws are biased into the central passage. The method further includes lowering the receiving receptacle so that the protuberance enters the central passage, engaging the protuberance with the jaws, and compressing the spring. The method further includes opening the jaws while continuing to lower the receiving receptacle, allowing the jaws to close about the neck portion, and latching the protuberance with the jaws.  
         [0010]     In one preferred embodiment, the receiving receptacle has attached a cable, and the method further comprises pulling on the cable to lift the container. Also, in one preferred embodiment, the receiving receptacle further comprises an activation disc for disengaging the jaws from the protuberance, and wherein the method further comprises turning a handle which rotates a projection on the handle and engaging the projection with the activation disc so that rotation of the projection causes rotation of the activation disc. Next, the activation disc is rotated and the pin on the jaws is engaged with a cam surface on the activation disc via the rotation of the activation disc. Next, the spring is compressed, and the jaws are expanded and released from the protuberance, thereby unlatching the receiving receptacle from the prong.  
         [0011]     Additionally, in one preferred embodiment, the prong has a cylindrical body and the first end of the jaws is curved, and wherein the step of latching the protuberance with the jaws includes engaging the curved end of the jaws about the cylindrical body of the prong. Also, a funnel may extend from the body, and wherein the step of lowering the receiving receptacle includes guiding the jaws onto the prong with the funnel.  
         [0012]     An advantage of the present invention is the ability to connect and disconnect quickly and safely. Another advantage is that the present apparatus can offload equipment from floating vessels. Still yet another advantage is that the receptacle can be latched onto the prong without the need to have a person directly operating the latch. In other words, the apparatus can be lowered from a platform on a cable, and the prong can be attached to a container on a boat deck, and due to the design, the receptacle can be latched onto the prong by having the crane operator lower the skirt onto the prong without having an individual on the deck of the boat. Still yet another advantage is the ability to remotely control the handle means in order to turn the handle  
         [0013]     A feature of the present invention is a fishing neck type of prong that is configured to engage with the jaw mechanism. A feature of the jaw mechanism is the multiple inserts that are used to engage with the prong. Another feature is the jaw mechanism is a spring loaded latch mechanism which allows entry of the prong, and thereafter, captures the prong. Yet another feature is the disc activation device that is used to unlatch the apparatus from the prong. Still yet another feature is the skirt that serves to funnel the prong into the jaw mechanism. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0014]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the latching mechanism as the receiving receptacle is being lowered.  
         [0015]      FIG. 2  is an exploded view of the most preferred embodiment latching mechanism that includes the receiving receptacle and the prong.  
         [0016]      FIG. 3  is a partial cross-sectional view of the jaws and activation disc of the most preferred embodiment.  
         [0017]      FIG. 4  is a partial cross-sectional view of the activation disc seen in  FIG. 3 .  
         [0018]      FIG. 5  is an expanded view of the cam surface of the activation disc seen in  FIG. 4 .  
         [0019]      FIG. 6  is a cross-sectional view of the latching mechanism taken along line  7 - 7  of  FIG. 7 .  
         [0020]      FIG. 7  is a partial cut-away view of the handle means of the latching mechanism corresponding to the jaws being in the contracted position.  
         [0021]      FIG. 8  is a sequential partial cross-sectional view of the jaws and activation disc with the jaws being in the expanded, open position.  
         [0022]      FIG. 9  is a partial cross-sectional view of the actiavation disc seen in  FIG. 8 .  
         [0023]      FIG. 10  is an enlarged view of a cam surface seen in  FIG. 9 .  
         [0024]      FIG. 11  is a cross-sectional view of the latching mechanism seen in  FIG. 6  with the jaws in the expanded, open position.  
         [0025]      FIG. 12  is a partial cross-sectional view of the handle means of the latching mechanism corresponding to the jaws being in the expanded position.  
         [0026]      FIG. 13  is a partial cross-sectional view of the jaws and activation disc, with the jaws about the prong, and depicting the jaw insertion device.  
         [0027]      FIG. 14  is a perspective view of the latching mechanism and the receiving receptacle latched together. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0028]      FIG. 1  illustrates a perspective view of the most preferred embodiment of the latching mechanism  2  that includes the receiving receptacle  4  and the prong  6 .  FIG. 1  further illustrates the support members  8 ,  10 ,  12  that will be connected to a container  15 . The receiving receptacle  4  is being lowered via cable  14  that is connected to a shackle.  
         [0029]     Referring now to  FIG. 2 , an exploded view of the most preferred embodiment of the latching mechanism  2  will now be described.  FIG. 2  depicts the body  16 , wherein the body includes a flange end  18  that extends to a cylindrical body  20  that in turn extends to the conically shaped outer surface  21  which in turn terminates at the radial end  22 . Extending radially inward is the conically shaped inner surface  24 , and wherein the conically shaped inner surface  24  may be referred to as the funnel  24 . The funnel  24  extends to the central bore passage  26 .  
         [0030]     As seen in  FIG. 2 , the flanged end  18  extends radially inward to a groove section  28 . The groove section  28  is configured to have a cylindrical inner wall  30 , and wherein three radial grooves are formed therein (only radial grooves  32 ,  34  are shown in  FIG. 2 ). An activation disc  36  is shown, and wherein the activation disc  36  contains the cam surfaces  38 ,  40 ,  42 . The activation disc  36  is configured to be positioned within the groove section  28 .  FIG. 2  further depicts the jaw inserts  44 ,  46 ,  48 , wherein the jaws  44 ,  46 ,  48  are configured to be positioned within the radial grooves (i.e. radial grooves  32 ,  34 ). The jaws  44 ,  46 ,  48  have a first end that has a curved portion such as seen at  50 . The jaws  44 ,  46 ,  48  also contain a pin on the underside, such as pins  52 ,  54 , and wherein the pins will engage the cam surfaces  36 ,  38 ,  40  of the activation disc  36  as will be more fully described.  
         [0031]      FIG. 2  also depicts the cover plate  56  to cooperate and engage with the body  16 , and more specifically, the flange end  18 . As seen in  FIG. 2 , nuts and bolts (such as nut  58  and bolt  60 ) are used to attach the cover plate  56  to the body  16 . It should be noted that the cover plate  56  is configured to abut and align the top side of the plurality of jaws and activation disc.  FIG. 2  also shows the eyelet plate  62  that can be used to attach to a cable via a shackle, as well understood by those of ordinary skill in the art.  FIG. 2  also depicts the handle  64  that is disposed through the body  16 . The handle  64  has a radially extending arm  66 , and wherein a projection  68  extends perpendicularly from the arm  66 . The projection  68  will fit through the opening  70  that is disposed through the activation disc  36 . Hence, the lateral movement of the projection  68  (by virtue of the handle  64  being turned) will in turn cause the activation disc  36  to rotate, as will be more fully explained later in the application.  
         [0032]     The prong  6  is also shown in  FIG. 2 . More specifically, the prong  6  is generally a cylindrical member that contains a protuberance  72  that extends to a neck portion  74 , and wherein the neck portion  74  is a reduced diameter groove about the stem  76 . The protuberance  72  contains the chamfered surface  78 . The jaws  44 ,  46 ,  48  will cooperate and engage with the neck portion  74  in order to latch the receiving receptacle with the prong  6 .  FIG. 2  depicts the spring  82  that will be disposed about indicator pin  84 ; spring  88  that will be disposed about indicator pin  90 ; and, spring  94  that will be disposed about an indicator pin (not shown in this view), as will be more fully set out below.  
         [0033]     This embodiment also depicts the jaw insertion device  104 . In the event that the jaws  44 ,  46 ,  48  become stuck, it is within the teachings of this invention that the indicator pins  84 ,  90 ,  96 , operatively associated with each jaw, be removed. In order to remove the indicator pins  84 ,  90 ,  96 , the operator could simply unscrew the indicator pins from the jaws. After the indicator pins  84 ,  90 ,  96  are removed, the jaw insertion device  104  is threaded into the respective jaw. In the most preferred embodiment, the jaw insertion device  104  has an external threaded end that will engage an internal thread means within the jaw. Hence, after engaging the jaw insertion device  104 , the operator can exert a pull force on the device  104  which would in turn move the jaw  44  thereby unsticking and/or dislodging the jaw.  
         [0034]     Referring now to  FIG. 3 , a partial cross-sectional view of the jaws  44 ,  46 ,  48  and activation disc  36  of the most preferred embodiment will now be described. In the view of  FIG. 3 , the cover plate  56  has been removed.  FIG. 3  depicts the spring  82  that is disposed about the indicator pin  84 , and wherein indicator pin  84  has a first end within the aperture  86  and a second end threadedly engaged within the jaw  44 . As shown in  FIG. 3 , the spring  82  biases the jaw  44  toward the axial center i.e. against the neck portion  74  of the prong  6 .  
         [0035]      FIG. 3  also depicts the spring  88  that is disposed about the indicator pin  90 , and wherein pin  90  has a first end disposed within the aperture  92  and a second end threadedly engaged within the jaw  46 , wherein the spring  88  biases the jaw  46  toward the axial center i.e. against the neck portion  74  of the prong  6 . The spring  94  that is disposed about the indicator pin  96 , and wherein indicator pin  96  has a first end within the aperture  98  and a second end threadedly engaged within the jaw  48 , and the spring  94  biases the jaw  48  toward the axial center i.e. against the neck portion  74  of the prong  6 .  
         [0036]     In order to disengage the jaws  44 ,  46 ,  48  from the neck portion of prong  6 , the activation disc  36  will have to be rotated via the projection  68 . Referring now to  FIG. 4 , a partial cross-sectional view of the activation disc  36  seen in  FIG. 2  will now be described. More specifically,  FIG. 4  shows the top view of the activation disc  36  without the jaws  44 ,  46 ,  48 .  FIG. 4  shows the position of the pin  52  for jaw  44 , pin  54  for jaw  48  and pin  100  for jaw  46 . Hence, pin  52  is abutting cam surface  42 , pin  100  is abutting cam surface  38  and pin  54  is abutting cam surface  40 . As seen, the cam surface  38 ,  40 ,  42  are curved notches within disc  36 .  FIG. 5  is an expanded view of the cam surface  42  of the activation disc  36  seen in  FIG. 4 . As will be more fully set out in the application, as the activation disc  36  is rotated, the sloping cam surface  42  will cause the pin  52  (and in turn the jaw  44 ) to be drawn towards the inner wall  101   a  thereby opening the jaws. A stop pin  101   b  is shown which stops movement of the activation disc  36  beyond a predetermined point.  
         [0037]     Referring now to  FIG. 6 , a cross-sectional view of the latching mechanism  2  taken along line  6 - 6  of  FIG. 7  will now be described. This view depicts the jaws engaging the neck portion, and in particular the jaw  46  engaging neck portion  74 , and wherein the spring  88  has biased the jaw  46  into engagement. Hence, the prong  6  is engaged. The handle  64  and the radially connected arm  66  is shown, and wherein the projection  68  is shown disposed through the activation disc  36 . Note that the indicator pin  90  is not visible in the position shown in  FIG. 6  which indicates the jaws engaged position.  
         [0038]     A partial cut-away view of the handle  64  of the latching mechanism  2  corresponding to the jaws being in the contracted position is shown in  FIG. 7 . The partial cut-away within the cylindrical body  20  depicts the projection  68  disposed through the activation disc  36 .  FIG. 7  further shows the line  3 - 3  for the partial cross-sectional view of  FIG. 3  and line  4 - 4  for the partial cross-sectional view of  FIG. 4 .  
         [0039]     Referring now to  FIG. 8 , a sequential partial cross-sectional view of the jaws  44 ,  46 ,  48  and activation disc  36  with the jaws being in the expanded open position will now be described. More specifically, the handle  64  has been rotated which in turn causes the projection  68  to rotate the activation disc  36 . The pins  52 ,  54 ,  100  (not seen in this view) follow the cam surfaces  38 ,  40 ,  42  which in turn cause the jaws  44 ,  46 ,  48  to expand (open). As seen in  FIG. 8 , the springs  82 ,  88 , and  94  are compressed do to this movement.  
         [0040]      FIG. 8  additionally depicts the feature of the indicator pins  84 ,  90 ,  96  disposed through the apertures. As seen in  FIG. 8 , the indicator pins  84 ,  90 ,  96  serve as indicator means for indicating the position of the jaws. In other words, the visible ends of indicator pins  84 ,  90 ,  96  indicate that the jaws are in the open position. In this way, an operator can visually determine the position of the jaws and whether the prong is latched or unlatched. Hence, when the operator sees the indicator pin, the operator can determine that the jaw is not latched with the prong.  
         [0041]      FIG. 9  is a partial cross-sectional view of the activation disc  36  seen in  FIG. 8 .  FIG. 9  depicts the pins  52 ,  54 ,  100  in relation to the cam surfaces  42 ,  40 ,  38 .  FIG. 10  is an enlarged view of a cam surface  42  seen in  FIG. 9  engaging the pin  52 . As seen in  FIG. 10 , the movement of the cam surface  42  has caused the pin  52  (and in turn jaw  44 ) to move towards inner wall  101   a.    
         [0042]     Referring now to  FIG. 11 , a cross-sectional view of the latching mechanism  2  seen in  FIG. 6  with the jaws in the expanded (open) position. Hence, the projection  68  has caused the rotation of the activation disc  36 , which in turn caused the jaw to expand thereby contracting the spring  88 . As seen in  FIG. 11 , jaw  46  is no longer engaging the neck portion  74 . Also, the indicator pin  90  is extending outward from the body  20  indicating an open jaw.  
         [0043]      FIG. 12  is a partial cut-away view of the handle  64  of the latching mechanism  2  corresponding to the jaws being in the expanded position. The projection  68  is shown disposed through the activation disc  36 . It should also be noted that the handle may be manually, hydraulically and/or pneumatically controlled. Also, it is within the teachings of this invention that actuation of the handle  64  can be done remotely i.e. remote control of the handle in order to turn the handle.  FIG. 12  also shows the line  8 - 8  for the partial cross-sectional view of  FIG. 8 , the line  9 - 9  for the partial cross-sectional view of  FIG. 9 , and the line  11 - 11  for the partial cross-sectional view of  FIG. 11 .  
         [0044]      FIG. 13  depicts a partial cross-sectional view of the jaws  44 ,  46 ,  48  and activation disc  36 , with the jaws about the prong, and depicting the jaw insertion device.  FIG. 14  is a perspective view of the latching mechanism and the receiving receptacle latched together.  
         [0045]     Although the present invention has been described in terms of specific embodiments, it is anticipated that alterations and modifications thereof will no doubt become apparent to those skilled in the art. It is therefore intended that the following claims be interpreted as covering all such alterations and modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention.