Patent ID: 7192229

Claim:
An apparatus for releasably securing a load to a fixed structure, said fixed structure defining a three dimensional coordinate system with axes x, y, z, said apparatus comprising a load support ( 2 ) mountable to said fixed structure, said load support ( 2 ) having two ends ( 3 ) between which said load ( 5 ) is held, two first interlocking devices (ID 1 ) one of which is secured to each end ( 3 ) of said load support ( 2 ), two second interlocking devices (ID 2 ) one of which is secured to each of two opposite ends of said load ( 5 ) for cooperation with a respective first interlocking device (ID 1 ), each locking device of said two first interlocking devices (ID 1 ) comprising a shaft mounting bracket ( 3 A) connected to a respective end ( 3 ) of said load support ( 2 ), and a locking shaft ( 1 ) having a length axis (x) operatively mounted in said shaft mounting bracket ( 3 A), each locking device of said two second interlocking devices (ID 2 ) comprising a claw mounting bracket ( 4 ), a claw ( 4 A) secured to said claw mounting bracket ( 4 ), a groove in said claw ( 4 A), a fork ( 6 ) operatively mounted in said claw ( 4 A), adjustment means for adjusting the position of said locking shaft ( 1 ) and said fork ( 6 ) relative to each other for providing play between said shaft ( 1 ) and said fork ( 6 ) for facilitating inserting said locking shaft ( 1 ) into said fork ( 6 ) and for a removal of said locking shaft ( 1 ) from said fork ( 6 ), said adjustment means permitting eliminating said play for releasably interlocking said first and second interlocking devices (ID 1 , ID 2 ) with each other.