NZ272956A - Twist lock assembly comprising a base plate having a planar portion secured to a spacer, a rotatable locking pin and a handle rigidly connected through the spacer to the locking pin, the handle and planar portion being coplanar - Google Patents

Description

272956 Patents Form No. 5 \ 50 *996 ' ••V.- A o a «J Patent No: 272956 '4' Dated: 8 September 1995 Patents Act 1953 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION IMPROVED TWIST LOCK ASSEMBLY We, STEEL BROS (NZ) LTD LIMITED, of 1-31 Treffers Road, Sockburn, Christchurch, New Zealand, a New Zealand company, hereby declare the invention for which we pray that a patent may be granted to us, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement: l 272956 Technical Field The present invention relates to a twist lock assembly for securing a container to a base. The assembly can be secured to or form a part of a base which can be a part of a truck unit, semi-trailer, boat deck, rail flat deck or form any part of these structures. Background Art Twist lock assemblies are known. As shown in Fig. 1 of the attached drawings such assemblies include a base plate 3, a spacing sleeve 4, a locking pin 5 and operating handle 6. The handle 6 and associated shaft extend partly through the base plate 3 and into a collar of the locking pin 5. As can be seen from this description a space under the twist lock assembly mu3t be left clear for placement and operation of the handle 6.

Other examples of know assemblies can be seen in the following:- US 4626155 discloses a semi-automatic twist lock. However the base plate is not of a solid construction. The handle is in the plane of the base but cannot be used to both lock and unlock the assembly. AU 25530/71 discloses a twist-lock but one which requires a space under the assembly for placement and operation of a handle. NZ 155274 discloses a retractable twist lock with a handle secured through the assembly housing and adjacent the base.

An object of the present invention is the provision of a twist lock assembly that needs no space under the assembly for a handle which can both open and close the assembly, and which provides a useful additional alternative !o the range of twist lock assemblies presently available.

Disclosure of the Invention The present invention provides a twist lock assembly comprising: a base plate with a planar portion to which is secured a shaped spacer; a rotatable locking pin shaped to be received through shaped lug holes of a container; and a handle for rotating said locking pin between an open and a closed position (and vice versa), said handle being rigidly 2 272956 connected through said spacer to said locking pin; wherein said handle and said planar portion of said base plate are coplanar.

Preferably the whole of said base plate is coplanar with said handle. Said handle is preferably in two portions one portion at an angle to the second portion with the angle being approximately 135°. Preferably also said locking pin is releasably lockable in the closed position by a detent ball, spring and grub screw of known type.

Brief Description of the Invention By way of example only, a preferred embodiment of the present invention is described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which; Fig. 1 is a side view of a known twist lock assembly; Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the assembly of the present invention in an open position; Fig. 3 is a plan view from above of the assembly of the present invention in a locked position; and Fig. 4 is a side view of the assembly of Fig. 3.

Mode for Carrying Out the Invention Referring to Fig.s 2-4 a twist lock assembly 7 of the present invention is thereshown. The assembly 7 includes a thick base plate 8, a shaped spacer 9, a rotatable locking pin 10, and a handle 11.

The base plate 8 is generally rectangular in outline with a cutaway portion with sloping sides 12,13. The cutaway portion also includes a portion 14 that may be arcuate. The sloping sides 12,13 of the cutaway portion are at an angle a one to the other, which angle is in the range 90° to 135°, but is preferably less than 100°. The base plate 8 is of the order of 10 millimetres thick. The base plate 8 also is substantially and uniformly rectangular in cross-section, or includes a portion that is rectangular in cross-section.

The base plate 8 of each assembly 2 may be welded, bolted, glued or otherwise 3 272956 secured to a truck or trailer chassis, or other load carrier, at appropriate points for the securement of a container to the load carrier. Alternatively, the base plate 8 may be releasably securable to a load carrier, for example by bolts; or be releasably slidable in e specially designed slot on the load carrier, or may from an integral part of said load carrier.

The spacer 9 is rigidly secured to the base plate 8, or Integrally formed therewith, as is desired. The spacer 9 is of a height sufficient for the locking pin 10 to be located within a shaped lug hole on a container (not shown) and to be rotatable in that position. The shaped lug hole on a container is of a standard shape, to which the shape of the spacer 9 is complementary. The spacer 9 is shaped so that when the locking pin 10 is aligned with the spacer 9 the profile of the two elements is similar, that is two sides of the spacer 9 are parallel and the portions between the parallel sides are arcuate.

The spacer 9 has a central hole therethrough for receiving therein a collar 15 of the locking pin 10 (Fig. 4). The collar 15 is formed integrally with the locking pin 10. The free end of the collar 15 engages with one end of the handle 11, and the handle 11 may be secured to the collar 15 by a nut (not shown) or other means (e.g. welding, screws, etc). The nut or securement means may be flush with the underside of the handle 11 or may protrude slightly underneath the handle 11, as is desired.

The collar 15 is of a length such that the free end of the collar 15 does not protrude below the bottom of the base plate 8 when the locking pin 10 is in position. The free end of the collar 15 may be stepped so that the handle 11 can fit entirely over the free end of the collar 15 such that the bottom surface of the handle 11 does not protrude below the bottom of the base plate 8.

The free end of the collar 15 and fitted end of the handle 11 are contained within the cut away portion 14 of the base plate 8 (Fig. 3).

The locking pin 10 and spacer 9 include a detent ball, spring and grub screw therebetween of know type, (not shown), allowing the handle 11 to be releasably locked 4 272956 into a closed (or locked) position, in known manna:. The handle 11 is movable between an open and the closed (or locked) position (Fig.s 2 and 3, respectively) which positions are approximately 90° apart. This rotates the locking pin 10 between its open and closed (or locked) positions. The handle 11 moves within and between the sloping sides 12, 13 of the cutaway portion of the base plate 8.

The handle 11 may be straight or include an angle part way along so that handle 11 is dog-iegged. The two portions of the handle 11 are at an angle p one to the other. The angle p is in the range 90° to 180°. A dog-legged handle 11 may be used, if so desired, in order to streamline the appearance of the assembly 7 when the handle 11 is in the closed position. Alternatively, if so desired, the handle 11 may be very short but capable of receiving thereon an extension in known manner that can be used to operate the assembly 7. The portable extension portion of the handle 11 may be used on any number of different handles 11 on a load bearer.

The handle 11 is of a thickness that is slightly less than the thickness of the base plate 8, so that the handle 11 can be easily rotated when a container (not shown) is in position and the locking pin 11 is to be rotated.

As can be seen from the above described assembly 7, no clearance under the base plate 8 is required unless this is desired. For example clearance may be considered desirable for a protruding bolt (connecting the handle 11 to the collar 15 of the locking pin 11) if one is used. However such use is by choice and is not essential.

Tfv? elements of the assembly 7 (apart from the detent ball and spring) may be constructed of any appropriate material, most preferably of a high tensile steel. The handle 11 may be similarly constructed but may include a rubber or synthetic cover for ease of gripping.

Claims (11)

272956 WHAT WE CLAIM 1S:-

1. A twist lock assembly for securement of a transportation container to a base comprising: a base plate with a planar portion to which is secured, a shaped spacer; a rotatable locking pin shaped to be received through shaped lug holes of a container; and a handle for rotating said locking pin between an open and a closed position (and vice versa), said handle being rip'dly connected through said spacer to said locking pin; wherein said handle and said planar portion of said base piate are coplanar.

2. A twist lock assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the whole of said base-plate is coplanar with said handle.

3. A twist lock assembly as claimed in either claim 1 or claim 2 wherein said base place includes a cutaway portion with sloping sides and an arcuate portion therebetween, the sloping aides being at an angle a one to the other, said handle being positioned within said cutaway portion,

4. A twist lock assembly as claimed in claim 3 wherein said angle a is in the range 90° to 135°.

5. A twist lock assembly as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein said 3pacer and locking pin, in cross-section, are of a shape complementary to that of a lug-hole on a transportation container.

6. A twist lock assembly as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein said spacer is formed integrally with the base plate. 6 « 4 » 27 2 9 5 6

7. A twist lock assembly as claimed in any one of claims 3 to 6 wherein said spacer includes a central hole therethrough capable of receiving therein a collar of the locking pin, a free end of the collar being engageable with one end of the handle, said free end and one end of the handle being contained within the arcuate portion of the base plate.

8. A twist lock assembly as claimed in any preceding claims wherein said handle is in two portions that are at an angle one to the other, the range of the angle being between 90° to 180°.

9. A twist lock assembly as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein said handle has a thickness less than that of the base plate.

10. A twist lock assembly as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein said assembly is releasably securable to said base.

11. A twist lock assembly substantially as hereinbefore described and with reference to any one of Fig.s 2 - 4 of the accompanying drawings. STEEL BROS. (NZ) LTD oy their authorised agents LEWIS & ASSOCIATES per: \ o ■i ^ END OF CLAIMS