Systems and methods for securing cargo containers
AssigneeThe Boeing Company
InventorsRobert E. Grip, John Joseph Brown, Michael S. Karapetian
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A securing lock for a cargo support apparatus includes one or more first locking interfaces. The one or more first locking interfaces include a tooth assembly including one or more teeth, and a jaws assembly including one or more jaws. The one or more teeth are configured to be engaged by one or more other jaws of a second locking interface of at least one other container to secure the container to the at least one other container. The one or more jaws are configured to engage one or more other teeth of the second locking interface of the at least one other container to secure the container to the at least one other container.
Claims20
A securing lock for a cargo support apparatus, the securing lock comprising:
- one or more first locking interfaces, wherein the one or more first locking interfaces comprise:
- a first tooth assembly including one or more first teeth;
- and
- a first jaws assembly including one or more first jaws,
- wherein the one or more first teeth are configured to be engaged by one or more second jaws of a second locking interface of at least one other cargo support apparatus to secure the cargo support apparatus to the at least one other cargo support apparatus, and
- wherein the one or more first jaws are configured to engage one or more second teeth of the second locking interface of the at least one other cargo support apparatus to secure the cargo support apparatus to the at least one other cargo support apparatus.
A method for securing a cargo support apparatus to at least one other cargo support apparatus, the method comprising:
- engaging one or more first teeth of a first tooth assembly of one or more first locking interfaces of the cargo support apparatus by one or more second jaws of a second locking interface of at least one other cargo support apparatus to secure the cargo support apparatus to the at least one other cargo support apparatus;
- and
- engaging one or more second teeth of the second locking interface by one or more first jaws of a first jaws assembly of the one or more first locking interface to secure the cargo support apparatus to the at least one other cargo support apparatus.
A cargo support apparatus comprising:
- a securing lock including one or more first locking interfaces, wherein the one or more first locking interfaces comprise:
- a first tooth assembly including one or more first teeth, wherein the one or more first teeth include first serrations;
- a first jaws assembly including one or more first jaws, wherein the one or more first jaws include second serrations, wherein the one or more first teeth are configured to be engaged by one or more second jaws of a second locking interface of at least one other cargo support apparatus to secure the container to the at least one other cargo support apparatus, and wherein the one or more first jaws are configured to engage one or more second teeth of the second locking interface of the at least one other cargo support apparatus to secure the cargo support apparatus to the at least one other cargo support apparatus;
- one or more first protrusions and one or more first recesses, wherein the one or more first protrusions and the one or more first recesses are configured to cooperate with one or more second recesses and one or more second protrusions, respectively, of the second locking interface, and wherein the first tooth assembly and the first jaws assembly are inside an outer perimeter defined by the one or more first protrusions and the one or more first recesses;
- and
- a rotational spring rotationally coupled to the one or more first jaws,
- wherein one or more fluid sources are configured to deliver fluid to move the first tooth assembly and the first jaws assembly.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.