Auxiliary door locking mechanism for a trailer
OwnerRodney P. Ehrlichinventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A locking mechanism for a door of a storage container includes a bearing plate configured to be coupled to the door. The bearing plate includes (i) a body defining a longitudinally-extending channel and (ii) a first pair of horizontally-aligned apertures formed through the body. The locking mechanism also includes a lockrod configured to be received within the channel of the bearing plate for rotational movement relative to the bearing plate. The lockrod includes a second pair of horizontally-aligned apertures formed therethrough. The locking mechanism also includes a fastener configured to be received through the first and second pairs of apertures in order to prevent rotational movement of the lockrod relative to the bearing plate.
Claims15
A locking mechanism for use with a swing door of a storage container, the storage container defining a door frame, the door movably mounted to the door frame, the locking mechanism comprising:
- a bearing plate configured to be coupled to the door, wherein the bearing plate includes (i) a body defining a longitudinally-extending channel and (ii) a first pair of horizontally-aligned apertures formed through the body;
- a lockrod configured to be received within the channel of the bearing plate for rotational movement relative to the bearing plate, the lockrod including a second pair of horizontally-aligned apertures formed therethrough;
- and
- a fastener configured to prevent rotational movement of the lockrod relative to the bearing plate,
- wherein the first pair of apertures of the bearing plate configured to be aligned with the second pair of apertures of the lockrod, and wherein the fastener is received through the first and second pair of aligned apertures to prevent rotational movement of the lockrod relative to the bearing plate.
A locking mechanism for use with a swing door of a storage container, the storage container defining a door frame, the door movably mounted to the door frame, the locking mechanism comprising:
- a main door locking mechanism coupled to the door;
- and
- an auxiliary door locking mechanism coupled to the door, wherein the auxiliary door locking mechanism is configured to maintain the door in a closed position when the main door locking mechanism is in an unlocked position.
A method of adding an auxiliary locking mechanism to a main locking mechanism for use with a swing door of a storage container, the storage container defining a door frame, the door movably mounted to the door frame, the method including:
- providing a main locking mechanism including a bearing plate coupled to the door of the storage container, a lockrod received through a vertically-extending channel of the bearing plate, a locking cam coupled to a lower end of the lockrod, and a lockrod keeper coupled to the door frame and configured to receive the locking cam therein when the main locking mechanism is in a locked position;
- forming a first pair of horizontally-aligned apertures through the bearing plate;
- forming a second pair of horizontally-aligned apertures through the lockrod at a location aligned with the first pair of horizontally-aligned apertures of the bearing plate when the main locking mechanism is in its locked position;
- and
- inserting a fastener through the first and second pair of apertures in order to prevent rotational movement of the lockrod relative to the bearing plate when the main locking mechanism is in its locked and unlocked position.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.