Load actuated lock

Abstract

A bracket assembly includes an angle bracket having a horizontal leg, a diagonal leg and a vertical leg. A lower bracket arm and a lock are coupled to the angle bracket and cooperate to mount the angle bracket onto an upright. The lock includes a pair of side members pivotally coupled to the angle bracket by a fulcrum bar. The pair of side members include a first pair of openings for an outer jaw and a second pair of openings, the second pair of openings being disposed, in the case of a load activated lock, beneath the plane defined by the fulcrum bar and the first pair of openings. The lock further includes an outer jaw disposed through the first pair of openings in the side members. The outer jaw is shaped in lateral cross-section to include an abutment surface and an engagement surface. In use, for an upright of standard thickness, the lock rotates so that the abutment surface of the inner or outer jaw frictionally contacts the upright to prevent downward movement of the bracket assembly. For an upright of limited thickness, the lock rotates so that the engagement surface of the inner or outer jaw digs into the upright to prevent downward movement of the bracket assembly. It should be noted that the use of abutment and engagement surfaces on the jaws, even when they are in a common plane with the fulcrum, will also contribute to the safety of the lock.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.