Load engaging and supporting mechanism

Abstract

A load engaging and supporting mechanism for use with load handling equipment, in which a beam is movable to a position over a container, and a pair of carriages are adjustable along the beam and have arms extending downwardly along each side for lifting and moving the container. A load engaging mechanism is disposed in each of said arms and contains a pin adapted to extend into openings in fixtures in the upper side corners of the container as the two arms of each carriage are moved toward one another. A positioning structure is preferably provided with each fitting to assist in locating the fitting in the fixture. The present fitting may be included in the equipment along with other types of load engaging and lifting mechanisms, and is preferably retractable to prevent it from interfering with the operation of the alternative mechanism.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.