Spreader bar and overheight attachment with automatic latching mechanism

A cargo loading system comprising:

• a spreader bar assembly comprising a rectangular frame with a downwardly depending first twistlock at each corner thereof;
• a detachably engageable overheight attachment comprising a frame having a leg depending downwardly from each corner thereof with a second twistlock at the bottom of said leg and the top of said leg adapted for engagement by said spreader bar assembly, said downwardly extending legs each including twistlock actuation means therein whereby each of said second twistlocks can be actuated by a corresponding one of said first twistlocks;
• latching means operatively connected to said legs of said overheight attachment and adapted to be actuated by said first twistlocks of said spreader bar assembly for coupling of said spreader bar assembly and said overheight attachment, said latching means comprising:
• a latch member pivotably mounted adjacent the top end of each of said legs of said overheight attachment and adapted to engage said spreader bar assembly when pivotably urged to an operative position;
• biasing means operatively connected to said latch member for urging said latch member towards said operative position;
• and
• latch member locking means operatively connected to each of said twistlock actuation means for locking a corresponding latch member in the inoperative and operative positions;
• and
• an overheight attachment storage frame comprising a rectangular base defining first and second storage positions and having an arm extending upwardly from each corner thereof, said arms each having biasing means provided adjacent the upper end thereof for maintaining said latching means in an inoperative position when said overheight attachment is stored in said first storage position and in an operative position when said overheight attachment is stored in said second storage position.

A cargo loading system for use with a spreader bar assembly of the type comprising a rectangular frame with a downwardly depending first twistlock at each corner thereof, said cargo loading system comprising:

• a detachably engageable overheight attachment comprising a frame having a leg depending downwardly from each corner thereof with a second twistlock at the bottom of said leg and the top of said leg adapted for engagement by said spreader bar assembly, said downwardly extending legs each including twistlock actuation means therein whereby each of said second twistlocks can be actuated by a corresponding one of said first twistlocks;
• latching means operatively connected to said legs of said overheight attachment and adapted to be actuated by said first twistlocks of said spreader bar assembly for coupling of said spreader bar assembly and said overheight attachment;
• and
• an overheight attachment storage frame comprising a rectangular base defining first and second storage positions and having an arm extending upwardly from each corner thereof, said arms each having biasing means provided adjacent the upper end thereof maintaining said latching means in an inoperative position when said overheight attachment is stored in said first storage position and in an operative position when said overheight attachment is stored in said second storage position.

A cargo loading system for use with a spreader bar assembly of the type comprising a rectangular frame with a downwardly depending first twistlock at each corner thereof, said cargo loading system comprising:

• a detachably engageable overheight attachment comprising a frame having a leg depending downwardly from each corner thereof with a second twistlock at the bottom of said leg and the top of said leg adapted for engagement by said spreader bar assembly, said downwardly extending legs each including twistlock actuation means therein whereby each of said second twistlocks can be actuated by a corresponding one of said first twistlocks;
• latching means operatively connected to said legs of said overheight attachment and adapted to be actuated by said first twistlocks of said spreader bar assembly for coupling of said spreader bar assembly and said overheight attachment, said latching means comprising:
• a latch member pivotably mounted adjacent the top end of each of said legs of said overheight attachment and adapted to engage said spreader bar assembly when pivotably urged to an operative position;
• biasing means operatively connected to said latch member for urging said latch member towards said operative position;
• and
• latch member locking means operatively connected to each of said twistlock actuation means for locking a corresponding latch member in the inoperative and operative positions;
• and
• an overheight attachment storage frame comprising a rectangular base defining first and second storage positions and having an arm extending upwardly from each corner thereof, said arms each having biasing means provided adjacent the upper end thereof for maintaining said latching means in an inoperative position when said overheight attachment is stored in said first storage position and in an operative position when said overheight attachment is stored in said second storage position.