Patent ID: 7240936

Claim:
A handling system for an intermodal container lid, comprising: a container having a top portion with an opening for receiving materials to be contained therein, the top portion further comprising at least one rotatable twistlock disposed adjacent to the opening; a lid for engaging the container and covering at least a portion of the opening, the lid having at least first and second engagement recesses, the first recess configured to receive the rotatable twistlock when the lid engages the container; a spreader for manipulating the lid; the spreader having at least one rotatable twistlock for engaging the second recess, wherein the spreader twistlock and the container twistlock are engageable with and disengageable from each other and are rotationally affixed relative to one another when the spreader engages the lid; wherein the container twistlock has unlocked and locked positions, in the unlocked position the container twistlock being receivable within the first recess, and in the locked position at least one dimension of the container twistlock being greater than a corresponding dimension of the respective first recess, so as to lock the lid to the container; wherein the spreader twistlock has unlocked and locked positions, in the unlocked position the spreader twistlock being receivable within the second recess, and in the locked position at least one dimension of the spreader twistlock being greater than a corresponding dimension of the second recess so as to lock the lid to the spreader; and, wherein rotating the spreader twistlock in a first direction configures the spreader twistlock to the locked position and configures the container twistlock to the unlocked position.