Abstract: A stop device for holding a unit load device in place on decking is described. In one example, the stop device includes a switchable magnet with an actuator to engage or disengage the stop device on decking using a switchable magnetic field of the stop device. The stop device also includes an interface bumper secured over a first surface of the switchable magnet, a foot plate secured over a second surface of the switchable magnet, and a handle rod assembly that extends from the switchable magnet for positioning the switchable magnet on the decking. The handle rod assembly includes a switch linkage, with the switch linkage extending from the actuator of the switchable magnet to a distal end of the handle rod assembly with a handle for a user. An individual can rotate a locking lever of the stop device to engage or disengage the stop device on the decking.

Abstract: An automatic lock affixed to a cargo container for interconnecting two stacked containers, and for automatically locking and unlocking without reliance upon the overcoming of a friction force to release the device.

Abstract: An improved cargo container securement device includes a housing defined by a base which forms a planar surfacing thereabout on which cargo container corner fittings rest in applied relation on the container relative to the supporting structure or platform involved. The container securement device includes a flanged end which engages a cargo container corner casting aperture opening or an appropriate aperture and utilizes the structure for retention of the securement device so the opposite side of the hold down device is allowed to automatically engage and disengage with a cargo container corner fitting as necessary to achieve proper handling and transport of cargo containers. The hold down device includes an indicator to visually signal that the automatic hold down feature of the device is engaged or disengaged with a cargo container corner fitting of cargo containers.

Abstract: A device for securing a container to a trailer has a base with at least one leg for bolting to the trailer and a twistlock coupled to the base. The twistlock, when actuated, engages an opening in a corner fitting of the container such that the container is securely attached to the trailer.

Abstract: The present invention provides an automatic bottom lock comprises a lock base, and a lock body fastened above the lock base comprising a hook provided thereon having a transverse guiding slope extending forward and downwardly from a top at a front side of the hook, a hooking slope extending backward and downwardly from a lower end of the transverse guiding slope, a transverse sliding slope extending backward and downwardly from a top at a rear side of the hook, and a locating plane at the bottom of the lock body extending backward and downwardly from the transverse sliding slope, wherein the locating plane is vertical to the horizontal plane, and extends left and right along the lock body.

Abstract: In a container lock for insertion into a locking aperture, a post is provided insertable into and extractable from the locking aperture. At least one latch arm is provided within the post and which projects laterally from a side of the post. The latch arm is pivotable about a first pivot axis during insertion and about a second pivot axis spaced from the first pivot axis during at least a beginning of extraction. A compression spring is positioned to bias the at least one latch arm.

Abstract: The present invention provides an automatic bottom lock comprises a lock base, and a lock body fastened above the lock base comprising a hook provided thereon having a transverse guiding slope extending forward and downwardly from a top at a front side of the hook, a hooking slope extending backward and downwardly from a lower end of the transverse guiding slope, a transverse sliding slope extending backward and downwardly from a top at a rear side of the hook, and a locating plane at the bottom of the lock body extending backward and downwardly from the transverse sliding slope, wherein the locating plane is vertical to the horizontal plane, and extends left and right along the lock body.

Abstract: In a system and method for stabilizing a first stack of upper and lower shipping containers with respect to a second stack of upper and lower shipping containers, inter-box connectors are provided for connecting the upper and lower containers of each stack. A container bridging stabilizer is provided which surrounds two of the adjacent inter-box connectors where the two lower containers are laterally adjacent each other to laterally link the inter-box connectors and their respective lower containers together. The container bridging stabilizer laterally stabilizes the first and second stacks with respect to each other.

Abstract: A cargo container hold down device that includes a housing defined by a base which forms a planar surfacing thereabout on which cargo container corner fittings results in the applied relation on the container relative to the supporting structure or platform involved. The hold down device includes a flanged end which engages a cargo container corner casting aperture opening or an appropriate aperture and utilizes the structure for retention of the hold down device so the opposite side of the hold down device is allowed to automatically engage and disengage with a cargo container corner fitting as necessary to achieve proper handling and transport of cargo containers.

Abstract: The object of this invention is to provide an automatic container locking apparatus for trailers. This locking apparatus is automatically operable in response to the weight of a container to lock or unlock the container on the deck of a trailer. This locking apparatus has a housing (10) vertically set in the deck (1), with a spring-biased actuator (20) movably set within the housing (10). A spring-biased locking bolt (30) having a top head (31) is movably set within the actuator (20). This locking bolt (30) has a stopper (32) and a curved guide slit (41), thus being selectively moved together with the actuator (20) while being rotated. A support shaft (50) holds the vertical position of the locking bolt (30) within the housing (10). An actuation pin (51) of the shaft (50) engages with the curved guide slit (41), thus allowing the locking bolt (30) to be rotatable when the locking bolt is vertically moved together with the actuator (20).

Abstract: A rotatable clamping device (10) which can clamp a corner fitting of a freight container to an underlying support includes: a main housing (11) which defines an upright cylindrical passage (12) in which an actuator shaft (13) is rotatably mounted; a clamping head (14) secured to an upper end of the actuator shaft (13) and rotatable with the shaft between a release position and a clamping position with respect to a corresponding corner fitting; an actuator (15) coupled with the shaft (13) and operative to rotate the clamping head (14) at least from the clamping position to the release position; and a detent arrangement (16) acting between the outer surface of the shaft (13) and the inner wall surface of the cylindrical passage and operative to define a detent position and permit location of the shaft in at least one predetermined angular setting relative to the passage which corresponds to at least one of the release and clamping positions of the head: in which the detent arrangement comprises at least one rec

Abstract: The danger of a page punt error in a color image printing device and the memory requirements of the printing device can be simultaneously minimized by a system in which image data is downloaded to the printing device one color plane at a time. The image data is then provided from the printer's formatter to the print engine, and the printing of any particular color plane is not commenced, only when all the data for that particular color plane is received and buffered in the formatter. In this way, the printer need not wait until all the data for the entire image, i.e., all four color planes, are received and buffered before commencing printing. Moreover, the printer need not include sufficient memory to store all the data for the entire color image at once. Rather, memory need only be provided sufficient to store or buffer a single color plane of the image at any given time.

Abstract: A stowage component (10) that enables release of containers coupled together both by manual actuation of the stowage component (10) and also by automatic uncoupling of the stowage component (10) from the relevant container, so as to allow uniform identical stowage components (10) to be used in general, and also used in the area of narrow joints between 20-foot containers, thus helping to eliminate confusion, such as is possible in the case of the previously necessary different stowage components (10).

Abstract: A method for release of containers coupled to a lower support area both by manual actuation of a stowage component (10) and by automatic uncoupling of the stowage component (10) from the support area, so as to allow the use of uniform identical stowage components (10) and to allow operation in the area of narrow joints between containers.

Abstract: A movable container lock slides into and out of position laterally and is held in a secure position by the combination of longitudinal and lateral stop blocks coacting with a gravity lock and is further tethered to be moved from one selected position of a vehicle to another so that the need for multiple locks can be minimized and flexibility in selection of containers sizes for lading can be maximized.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device for locking containers on vehicles. The device has a twist lock which is moveably retained in a lock housing and a drive mechanism for moving the twist lock between the release and locking positions. The twist lock (10) is mounted in the lock housing in such a way that the twist lock is axially moveable (14) and can rotate about its axis (13).

Abstract: The invention relates to a lock for containers on a vehicle chassis, in particular on a gooseneck chassis, with a housing (21), a displaceable bolt lock (35) mounted in the housing and a pivotable twist lock (28) mounted in the housing. Usually, such locks with two locking members also have a plurality of actuating members. These require additional openings and bores in the housing. The operating personnel must also know exactly how the latching mechanism operates. In the lock according to the invention, the bolt lock (35) and the twist lock (28) are connected to each other by means of a geared coupling in such a way that when the twist lock is actuated the bolt lock is also displaced and/or the twist lock is turned when the bolt lock is actuated.

Abstract: A freight container twistlock device for engaging a carrier to a freight container. The device having a housing, a shear block engaged on a top of the housing, a stem engaged to a twistlock head, and passing through both the housing and the shear block, a handle engaged to an end of the stem opposite to the twistlock head to rotate the twistlock head into a locked or unlocked position relative to the freight container, a roll pin fixed to the stem within the housing, and an adjustable handle positioner selectively engaged in the housing to limit turning of the handle when engaged by the roller pin from an open position of the handle to a closed position of the handle from either a left side of the open position or a right side of the open position.

Abstract: In a device for locking a container to a vehicle chassis, having a housing (1), which on the housing side toward the container is provided with a protruding guide block (2); and having a rotary knob (3), which is supported in the housing (1) and which has a shaft (4), guided in the guide block (2), a hammerhead-shaped locking portion (5) protruding past the guide block (2), and an actuation portion (6) disposed on the opposite direction from the locking portion (5), the locking being effected by rotation of the rotary knob (3) about an actuation angle of approximately 90.degree.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a front bolster pinlock device for attachment to either end of a front bolster beam of a chassis for engaging and transporting a freight container. To accomplish this the pinlock device has a housing adapted to be fixed to said front bolster beam. A first side wall having a slot which extends away from the front bolster beam and the locking pin is slidably engaged in the housing. A handle is fixed to the locking pin slidable in the first slot. A latch having a second slot is rotatably engaged to said side wall and the handle extends through the second slot. When the locking pin is engaged to the freight container the gravity latch maintains the handle in a locked position when the device is fixed at either end of said front bolster beam, in spite the fact that the devices are rotated 180 degrees in relation to each other to their operational position with the handles pointing towards each other.

Abstract: This invention relates to a container support pedestal for use in an all purpose intermodal flat rail car. More particularly, the invention relates to a container support pedestal which, between operative and stored positions, rotates approximately 45.degree. outwardly about a longitudinal axis of the rail car. The invention also relates to a support housing for the pedestal. In both the operative and stored positions, the pedestal substantially covers the slot in the platform of the rail car. In both positions, the pedestal is secured against longitudinal and transverse rotation. The invention also relates to a rail car with such a pedestal and housing.

Abstract: A locking system for a container-carrying trailer vehicle (10) having a loading platform (13) on which container (14) can be mounted, in which the locking system comprises a forward pair of locking devices (16) and a rearward pair of locking devices (17) mounted at forward and rear ends of the loading platform, and which co-operate with respective corner fittings (15) of the container (14) in order to clamp the container to the loading platform, in which each locking device (17) of the forward pair comprises: a housing (18), a bolt (20) mounted in the housing (18) to move linearly between an extended locking position and a withdrawn unlocking position; an actuator (21) coupled with the bolt (20) and operable to move the bolt to the unlocking position when the container is to be unloaded; a latch (24) mounted in the housing (18) to engage the bolt (20) and latch the bolt in the unlocking position; a torsion spring (22) biasing the bolt (20) to the locking position; a cam arrangement (26) mounted in the housing

Abstract: A system of modular attachments for a railcar or truck trailer to convert the trailer to various uses is disclosed. A system of compressed air driven locking pins allows the various modules to be readily secured to or removed from the trailer chassis. Air suspension shock absorbers permit the load to be weighed on the car or trailer.

Abstract: An improved shelving assembly for transporting and displaying goods on a carrier incorporates a cylindrical shoe with a rounded top and a lower flange that compliments the shape of a series of posts set into the bed of the carrier. The posts set into the bed of the carrier are preferably arranged so that the shelving units tilt inward toward the center of the truck bed, thereby reducing the shifting and spillage of items placed on the units while at the same time shifting the weight of the load toward the center of the carrier bed.

Abstract: A container lock pin system for automatically connecting a container to a vehicle. During loading of a container onto the transport vehicle, a lever is actuated to cause a lock pin to engage the container. The lock pin extends into a bore in the container. A biasing mechanism causes the lock pin to disengage from the container when the container is hoisted from the vehicle.

Abstract: A cargo container hold down device that includes a shear block defining a base and housing therefore that is shaped so that the base forms a planar surfacing thereabout on which the cargo container corner fitting rests in the applied relation of the container relative to the supporting platform involved; the shear block housing pivotally mounts a latch device comprising a latch member that includes a nose portion having an upper cam surfacing for engagement by a correspondingly located container mounted corner fitting, and an under cam surfacing disposed for engagement by such correspondingly located container mounted corner fitting on removal of such container therefrom, the latch member being biased outwardly of the shear block housing to dispose the nose thereof over the container corner fitting supporting surface of the shear block housing, and including an element for withdrawing such latch member within the shear block housing about one pivot axis when the container is applied to the device, and an elem

Abstract: In association with a vehicle designed to carry a heavy load module, an ioved means for accurately guiding the module onto the vehicle bed surface as the module is being lowered into position. The improved guide comprises a plural number of specially formed nuts carried on the studs that are used to fasten the module to the bed surface. Each specially formed nut has a conical external surface that acts to center the module fastener holes relative to the axis of each associated stud. The improved guide provides a low cost mechanism for facilitating the quick alignment of a heavy cumbersome load module during the process of lowering the module onto a vehicle bed surface.

Abstract: Medium-size containers with corner fittings (21) that are not in accordance with ISO specifications may be locked to ISO locking elements (25) of the type provided on loading areas of container transport vehicles by means of locking plates (10) movably disposed inside the hollow frame elements (11) of the containers, provided the container frame has a corresponding width. The locking plate (10) has an overall width that corresponds to the clear diagonal dimension of the frame element (11) and is provided on its outer longitudinal edge with cut-outs (12, 13) in the region of which the remaining width of the locking plate corresponds to the clear width of the frame element (11). For locking the container, the locking plate (10) is adapted to be moved so that one (16) of the webs defined by the cut-outs (12, 13) extends outwards through an edge hole (22) that may be formed in the frame element (11) and a further web (18) extends outwards through a corner opening (28) of the corner fitting (21).

Abstract: An all purpose railroad car for transporting trailers and containers, having an elongated frame adapted to be supported by wheel trucks, combined hitch and container bolster means adjacent one end of the car frame for selectively receiving and releasably retaining a trailer king pin and one end of a container, and means spaced from the combined hitch and container bolster means for selectively receiving and supporting the wheels of a trailer and the other end of a container. The car may be a light-weight skeletal frame including an elongated center sill, wheel trucks at opposite ends of the center sill supporting said center sill, each wheel truck including a single axle. Cushioning means may be provided between the combined hitch and container bolster means and the frame operable to oppose longitudinal movement of the lading relative to the frame.

Abstract: The present invention is a hooking mechanism for fastening a shipping container ot a support platform. A hook for penetrating the aperture of a corner casting along either axis of the aperture is provided. The hook is mounted on a pivot which is movable relative to the support platform in a direction parallel to the face of the casting being penetrated. The pivot can be moved to allow the hook to enter the aperture when the casting is not precisely aligned. The movable pivot also allows the point of penetration to be varied to match either the major or minor axis of the aperture. The movable pivot allows the hook to penetrate the aperture in the corner casting while moving along an arcuate path, thereby permitting entry into the aperture at a constant angle of attack without the hook hitting the far wall of the inside of the corner casting. A pin or a bar is used to lock the hook in the engaged position.

Abstract: A foot actuated latch for use in an aircraft cargo bay to provide vertical and longitudinal restraint of a cargo container. The latch having a lineal engaging and disengaging action which resists lineal forces parallel to latch movement tending to disengage that latch pawl from the container. The actuation of the latch for engagement and disengagement accomplished by a downward movement of the latch levers.

Abstract: Latch for locking a container to a pedestal on the flat deck of a flat car and particularly containers containing flammable materials. The container is supported on a pedestal at each corner thereof and the pedestals are adjustably mounted in guideways for movement along the deck of the flat car in accordance with the length of the container, to support containers at selected intervals along the car. A spring biased latch is provided to lock the container to the pedestal and a lock is provided for the latch is provided which reacts against the pedestal and includes a biasing spring for the lock to positively hold the latch in a locked position even though the car should be derailed.

Abstract: An apparatus for securing a cargo container having standard corner fittings ncludes a housing in which is mounted an elevator assembly for vertically positioning a platform with respect to the housing. The platform is adapted to engage a corner fitting when raised. The apparatus further includes a rotatable locking element carried on the platform which is rotated to lock to the fitting once the fitting is engaged. The platform together with the locking element can be further elevated when the fitting is engaged to raise a corner of the container or retracted within the housing to disengage and allow the container corner to clear the top of the housing.

Abstract: An apparatus for locating a camper on a pick-up truck bed comprises a pair of members securable to the truck bed and the camper. A first member has an opening for receiving a portion of a second member as the camper is lowered towards the bed. The opening is substantially larger than the portion of the second member so that the second member is readily locatable within the opening. The members have a tapering fit therebetween and fit closely together when the camper is lowered onto the truck bed so the camper is properly located thereon.

Abstract: A pin construction for locking the front corner castings of a standard container to a conventional gooseneck chassis in which the pin is provided with a gear rack, a spur gear quadrant is mounted for rotation to and in the front bolster of the chassis which engages the gear rack, a handle to rotate the spur gear and a latch mechanism associated with the handle whereby in-line thrust of the pin is obtained to obviate binding, the mechanism being relatively simple, maintenance-free and encased in the bolster to preclude damage to the pin and handle.

Abstract: A removable frame is detachably connected to a supporting frame by a connection having a plurality of spaced apart vertically extending sleeve-like members mounted on the removable frame. Upwardly projecting members are mounted at the periphery of the supporting frame and telescope into each of the sleeve-like members. A horizontal tubular housing attached to each sleeve-like member carries a locking element which cooperates with its upwardly projecting member to form a positively locked connection between the removable and supporting frame.

Abstract: A system for safely, efficiently and effectively spacing and holding a removable container of a truck above its chassis to readily facilitate servicing and repair of the container. The system features a plurality of container repair spacer assemblies which separate the container from its chassis. Each container repair spacer assembly has a base with an opening that engagably receives one of chassis' twist locks and a collar which abuts against and supports the container frame. Upright walls connect the base and collar and provide the desired amount of spacing between the container and its chassis. A locking member, such as a twist lock, extends above the collar to interlockingly engage an opening in the frame of the container to detachably secure the container frame to the container repair spacer assembly. Controls, such as a handle operatively connected an upright shaft, are provided to selectively pivot the twist lock from an insertion or removal position to a locking position.

Abstract: A lashing rod for lashing vertically stacked containers. The containers have hollow corner castings and the lashing rod has a head comprising a stud adapted for passage through a side access opening of the casting. The locking head is securable to the casting by rotating the head about a pivotal axis so that the stud engages an inner wall of the casting. A fitting, having a locking pin receiving bore, partially extends into a corner casting and is adapted for interconnecting two abutting stacked containers. The locking head has a locking pin adapted for insertion into the bore upon passage of the stud into the side access opening so that the locking head is rotatable for securing the locking head to the casting while the pin is inserted in the bore.