Patent ID: 7178840

Claim:
A dome clamp for retaining the dome lid of a tanker truck in a closed position comprising: an upper tube having right, left, and center portions; right and left clamp members, said right and left clamp members having downwardly extending right and left legs, respectively, right and left claw members extending inwardly from a lower portion of said right and left legs, respectively, and right and left arms extending inwardly from an upper portion of said right and left legs, respectively; said right and left arms being positioned within the right and left portions of said upper tube, respectively; spring means for urging said right and left arms towards each other in an unloaded condition so that each of said arms is substantially wholly positioned within said upper tube, but allowing said right and/or left arms to be moved away from each other to form a loaded condition; and a double acting plunger lock having a plunger rod that is vertically adjustable from an unextended position out of contact with the dome lid to an extended position in contact with the dome lid, said double acting plunger lock including a handle pivotally attached to a plunger guide via a pivot arm and pivotally attached to the upper end of said plunger rod, said plunger guide being attached to the top wall of said upper tube, said plunger rod extending through said plunger guide and adapted to move vertically upward and downwards within said guide in response to said handle being moved upwardly or downwardly, said plunger rod having a foot attached to its lower end and adapted to come into contact with the dome lid upon being extended downwards.