Patent Publication Number: US-3880090-A

Title: Device for securing containers to carriers

Description:
{ 1 Apr. 29, I975 I United States Patent 11 1 Duclos 1 1 DEVICE FOR SECURING CONTAINERS T0 CARRIERS [76] Inventor: Jean Duclos. 740 Des Milles lle est..  
 St. Therese. Quebec, Canada [22] Filed: Feb. 20. 1973 [21] Appl. No.: 333,446  
 152] US. Cl 105/366 C: 85/1 R; 105/369 A; 248/1 19 R 51] Int. Cl 860p 7/10:B61d 45/00 [58] Field of Search 105/366 13. 366 C. 366 E. 105/368 T. 369 A; 280/179 R; 296/35 A; 248/361 R. 119 R: 85/1 R. 32 R [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1.470.324 10/1923 Hunter 296/35 A 2.656.196 10/1953 Fellabaum 296/35 A 2.867.178 1/1959 Adler 105/369 A 2.994.395 W196i Hall 248/361 R 3.003.740 10/1961 Balko 248/36] R 3.521.845 7/1970 Swcda ct al. 105/366 B Primary- ExaminerDrayton E. Hoffman Allurney. Agent. or Firm-Robert Mitchell; Alan Swabey [57] ABSTRACT The invention relates to a novel means for securing a container to the surface ofa platform of either a truck trailer. a truck. a railway car. an aircraft or a ship. The containers normally contain apertures in corner castings at the bottom corners thereof. and the platforms comprise side rails at the periphery, and spaced from. the sides thereof. The device consists of a rod memher. having a top and bottom portion at an angle to each other. The top portion consists of a locking member which locks the rod to the container through the aperture thereof. A sliding member fits over the bottom portion in sliding engagement therewith. The sliding member contains a hook means. on an outer surface thereof. which engages with the side rail of the platform. As the rod is secured to both the container. through the aperture. and the platform. by the side rail. the container is thus secured to the platform. The device is simple and inexpensive and can be used with no, or only minor. modifications to the container and platform.  
 5 Claims. 6 Drawing Figures DEVICE FOR SECURING CONTAINERS TO CARRIERS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION I. Field of the Invention This invention relates to a novel means for securing containers to platforms of truck trailers, trucks, railway cars, aircraft or ships. More specifically, this inveniton relates to such securing means which can be used with only minor, if any, modifications to the containers and- /or vehicles to which the containers are to be secured.  
 2. Description of the Prior Art The platforms above referred to are usually made without side-boards or any other vertical extensions on the periphery thereof. Thus, there is nothing to prevent any cargo carried on the platforms from falling off the edge of the platform. In addition, good safety standards require that any containers carried on such platforms be securely fastened to the platform.  
  Containers normally comprise corner castings at the lower corners thereof, including apertures which can be used to secure the containers to a platform, and the instant invention is related to such containers. It is the present practice to use chains to secure the containers to the platforms. The chains are threaded through the apertures and secured to brackets on the vehicle platform by hooks on the chain. In some cases, the chain is also placed over the container tops.  
  Such a method of securing containers to platforms is unsatisfactory as it is difficult and time consuming to pull the chains tight. In addition, there is a danger that a link of the chain will break. so that very heavy chains must be used, making the arrangement bulky.  
  Other arrangements, not using chains, are shown in, for example, US. Pat. No. 3,140,67l, issued July 14, I964, E. Kozak et al, inventors; US. Pat. No. 2,0()3,l 19, issued Mar. 10, 1936. G. L. Bennett, inventor; US. Pat. No. 3,6l8,534, issued Nov. 9, 1971, H. E. Gramse et al, inventors; Canadian Pat. No. 647,944, issued Sept. 4, 1962, K. L. DePenti et al, inventors; Canadian Pat. No. 747,266, issued Nov. 29, 1966, J. I. Anderson, inventor; and Canadian Pat. No. 468,237, issued Sept. l9, I950, R. A. Norbom, inventor. However, these arrangements require substantial modifications to the containers and/or the platforms and are, therefore, expensive to implement.  
 SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The instant disclosure teaches a device for securing a container to a vehicle platform. The container comprises an aperture in a vertical side surface at a bottom edge thereof, the vehicle platform comprising a top surface and side edges, and a side rail below said surface and spaced from said side edges, the device comprising a rod member having a first portion and a second portion, said first portion being at an angle to said second portion, means at the end of the first portion for locking the rod member to the container through the aperture thereof, a sliding member for slidingly fitting over said second portion, said sliding member comprising hook means for engaging said side rail of said platform whereby to secure said rod member to said platform, and means for retaining said sliding member on said rod member.  
 BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The invention will be better understood by an examination of the following description together with the accompanying drawings, in which:  
  FIG. 1 illustrates the components of one embodiment of the securing device;  
  FIG. 2 illustrates the components of a second embodiment of the securing device;  
  FIG. 3 shows a container mounted on the platform of a truck trailer;  
  FIG. 4 is a section through line A--A in FIG. 3 showing how the FIG. 1 embodiment is used;  
  FIG. 5 is a section through line A-A in FIG. 3 showing how the FIG. 2 embodiment is used; and  
  FIG. 6 is an expanded view of the front corner of the container platform illustrating how the FIG. 1 device is inserted in the corner aperture.  
  Although the invention is described in the following as securing a container to a truck trailer, it will be understood that this is for the purposes of illustration only. The invention is equally useful when securing containers to flatcars of trains, to platforms of trucks, in aircraft of the container carrying type, or in cargo ships.  
 Like references indicate like parts in all Figures.  
 DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring now to FIG. I, a rod member, indicated generally at 1, consists ofa first portion 3 with a locking means 5 at the end thereof. The locking means is shown in pIan view in FIG. 6 and consist of a generally rectangular plate attached, at one of its broad sides, to the top portion 3. It is, of course, understood that the shape of the means 5 can be other than rectangular. The plate 5 can be welded to the rod member, or the entire member can be cast with bendand plate.  
  The rod member further comprises a bottom portion 7 having a threaded part 9 at the end thereof remote from the first portion. The bottom portion is bent at an angle to the top portion. An angle of 45-75 is illustrated, but, as will be appreciated, other angles may be used in accordance with the invention. Preferably, an angle of 60 is used.  
  A sliding member 11 is adapted to fit over the bottom portion of the rod member as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6. The sliding member is preferably a hollow cylinder which contains a hook I3, the purpose of which will be explained below. The hook could be welded to the cylinder, or the member could be cast to include the hook. A bolt I2 threadingly engages the threaded part 9 of the rod member to retain the sliding member on the rod member, as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6. As can be seen in FIGS. I and S, the hook means is in alignment with the longitudinal axis of the cylinder 13.  
  A second embodiment is shown in FIG. 2, wherein the parts equivalent to the parts in FIG. 1 have been given the same reference numerals with an a attached to indicate a separate, but equivalent, part. The rod member is generally indicated at la and consists of a first portion 3a having a locking means 50. In this case, the locking means is merely a bent-over extension of the part 3a and has the same rod shape as the portion 3a.  
  The rod also comprises a second portion 7a which is at a angle to the first portion 3a.  
  Sliding member llu is again adapted to fit over the bottom portion of the rod member as shown in FIG. 4. This sliding member also is preferably a hollow cylinder which contains a hook 13a. in this case, the hook is preferably U-shaped. The book could be welded to the cylinder, or the member could be cast to include the book. A bolt 12a threadingly engages the threaded part 9a of the rod member to retain the sliding member on the rod member, as shown in FIG. 4. As can be seen in FIGS. 2 and 4, the hook means is in alignment with the longitudinal axis of the cylinder 13a.  
  Referring to FIG. 3, a separable truck trailer, indi cated generally at 16, comprises a platform 17 having side rails 19. The side rails are below the top surface of the platform and are spaced from the side of the platform by blocks 21, as shown in FIG. 3. Although it is not shown in FlG. 3, the platform comprises such rails on both sides.  
  The container has corner castings 23 at each of its four corners. (Only two such corner members are shown in FIG. 3 for obvious reasons.) Each corner member comprises a side aperture 25a and an end aperture 25b (see FIGS. 4 and 5). The locking means 5 lockingly engages in the side aperture 25a as will be discussed below. The height of the aperture is greater than its width in the illustrated example.  
  ln operation, the device works as follows: Considering first the FIG. 1 embodiment and referring to FIG. 6, the rod member is first positioned so that it is parallel to the side rail 19, and the locking means 5 is inserted in the aperture 250 as shown in dotted lines in the Figure. The rod is then turned in the direction shown by the arrow 26 until it is perpendicular to the rail 19 as shown in solid lines in the Figure. Because the locking means is greater in breadth than the width of the aperture, the top end of the rod is now locked into the aper ture. From the foregoing, it is clear that the breadth of the locking member must be greater than the width of the aperture in order for the device to be operable. Given that this criterion is met, the particular shape of the locking means is a matter of designers preference.  
  initially, the sliding member ll was placed on the bottom portion of the rod member. and the bolt threaded on the threaded part 9 to retain the sliding member on the bottom portion. When the rod is placed in its perpendicular position (solid lines in FIG. 6), the bolt is screwed up until the hook 13 of the sliding member engages the side rail 19, as shown in H6. 5. The bolt is then tightened.  
  it can be seen that, when the bolt is tightened, the container will be tightly and safely secured to the platform at that corner as follows: The rod is locked to the container at one end by virtue of the locking means in the container aperture. At the other end. the rod is fastened to the platform in view of the relationship of the hook 13 to the side rail 19. As both the container and the platform are secured to the same rod, the container and platform are, of coursesecured to each other.  
  With the device as illustrated in FIG. 2, it is merely necessary to insert the locking means 5a in the aperture 25a and to tighten the bolt 120 until the hook means 130 engages the rail 19, as shown in FIG. 4.  
  It will be seen that securing the container to the plat form with the inventive securing device is a simple pro cedure, and that the device is of simple design and easy to make. In addition. it uses the already existing facilities of most containers and platforms. It is noted that, when the platform does not contain side rails. it is a simple matter to mount side rails on the platform.  
  Although it has been assumed that the container will comprise castings in the bottom corners thereof, the invention is equally useful if the container has apertures in the side walls. not at the corners or in the end walls. in this regard. as is well known in the art. the apertures do not communicate with the interior of the containers. Rather, an inner wall behind the apertures is joined to the walls of the container.  
  The container can be secured. when the apertures are at the corners, at all four corners of the container, or at two diagonal corners, or at only one corner, depending on the requirements ofthe load. In some cases, it may be necessary to add an aperture midway in each side of the container so that the container can be secured at these points in addition to being secured at its four corners. The specific location of the apertures does not constitute a part of the invention and is freely variable to meet the requirements of the load.  
  Although specific embodiments have been described, this was for the purpose of illustrating, but not limiting, the invention. Various modifications, which will come readily to the mind of one skilled in the art, are within the scope of the invention, as defined in the appended claims.  
 I claim;  
  I. A device for securing a container to a vehicle platform:  
 said container comprising an aperture in a vertical side surface at a bottom edge thereof;  
 said vehicle platform comprising a top surface and side edges and a side rail below said top surface and spaced from said side edges;  
 said device comprising:  
 a rod member having a first portion and a second portion;  
 said first portion being at an angle to said second portion&#39;.  
 means at the end of said first portion remote from said second portion for locking the rod member to the container through the aperture thereof;  
 a sliding member for slidingly fitting over said second portion;  
 said sliding member comprising hook means for engaging the side rail of the platform whereby to secure the rod to the platform;  
 and means for retaining said sliding member on said rod member;  
 wherein the angle between said first and said second portion is 45 to and wherein said locking means comprises a rectangular plate connected to said first portion at a broad side of said plate.  
  2. A device as defined in claim 1, wherein the angle between said first portion and said second portion is 60.  
  3. A device as defined in claim 1, wherein said sliding member comprises a hollow cylinder with an outer surface and a longitudinal axis;  
 and wherein said hook means is mounted on said outer surface in alignment with said longitudinal axis.  
  4. A device as defined in claim 1, wherein said means for retaining said sliding member on said rod member comprises bolt means for threadingly engaging thread means on the end of said second portion remote from said first portion.  
 5. In combination, a system for securing containers to vehicle platforms said combination comprising:  
 a cubical container having corner castings at the four bottom corners thereof. each said casting comprising apertures in the side walls thereof;  
 a vehicle platform comprising a top surface and side edges and a side rail mounted on each said side edges below said top surface and spaced outwardly from said side edges;  
 said container being placed on the top surface of said platform;  
 and four devices for securing said container to said platform at the four corners of said container, each said device comprising:  
 a rod member having a first portion and a second portion;  
 said first portion being at an angle of 60 to said second portion;  
 a rectangular plate connected. at a broad side thereof. to the end of the first portion remote from the second portion, the breadth of the plate being greater than the width of the aperture;  
 a hollow cylinder, having an outer surface and a longitudinal axis, for slidingly fitting over said second portion;  
 hook means on said outer surface of said cylinder and in alignment with said longitudinal axis of said cyl inder for engaging the side rails of said platform;  
 thread means at the end of the second portion remote from the first portion;  
 and bolt means for threadingly engaging said thread means;  
 the rectangular plate of each of said securing devices being retained in a different aperture;  
 the hook means of each securing device engaging that part of the side rail adjacent the corner casting in which the device is secured;  
 each said bolt means being tightly fastened on a corresponding thread means;  
 whereby the container is secured to said platform at the four corners of the container.