Patent ID: 7942282

Claim:
A retainer for securing together upper and lower shipping containers, each of the upper and lower shipping containers being provided with a corner piece that has a hole, said retainer comprising: a hollow lower retaining member adapted to be inserted into the hole in the corner piece of the lower shipping container and having a bottom end; an upper retaining member connected to said lower retaining member and adapted to be inserted into the hole in the corner piece of the upper shipping container, said upper retaining member having a top end aligned with said bottom end along an axial line of said retainer; and at least one swing member disposed inside said lower retaining member at one side of said axial line, and including a lower pivot portion connected pivotally to said lower retaining member, and an upper engaging portion extending upwardly from said lower pivot portion, said upper engaging portion being in a non-engaging position when said axial line of said retainer is substantially vertical, and being in an engaging position when said axial line of said retainer is inclined and non-vertical, said upper engaging portion being proximate to said axial line when said upper engaging portion is in said non-engaging position, and moving away from said axial line when said upper engaging portion is in said engaging position.