Door lock for a semi-trailer

A door lock mechanism configured for use with a trailer having a door, the door defining a plane, said door lock mechanism comprising:

• a lockrod mounted on the door;
• and
• a handle assembly connected to said lockrod, said handle assembly having a first structure thereon configured to engage corresponding structure on the trailer, thereby locking the door in place, said handle assembly configured for actuation to rotate said lockrod, thereby selectively locking and unlocking the door,
• said handle assembly including a handle and a second structure provided on said handle and configured to engage a corresponding structure on the trailer, thereby locking said handle in place, said second structure including a dog provided on said handle to engage a corresponding opening on the trailer, a member provided on said handle and configured for engagement with the corresponding opening on the trailer, said member being inclined relative to a plane which is perpendicular to the plane defined by the door at an angle between zero and ninety degrees such that said member can be moved into engagement with said corresponding opening primarily by gravity.

A door lock mechanism configured for use with a trailer having a door, the door having an upper end and a lower end, said door lock mechanism comprising:

• a continuous sleeve mounted on the door of the trailer, said sleeve having an upper end and a lower end, said sleeve extending along the door such that said upper end of said sleeve is proximate the upper end of the door and said lower end of said sleeve is proximate said lower end of the door;
• a lockrod disposed generally in said sleeve, said lockrod being sandwiched between said sleeve and the door;
• a handle assembly connected to said lockrod and external to said sleeve, said handle assembly hanging below the door;
• said handle assembly having structure thereon configured to engage corresponding structure on the trailer, thereby locking the door in place, said handle assembly configured for actuation to rotate said lockrod, thereby selectively locking and unlocking the door, said handle assembly having structure thereon configured to engage corresponding structure on the trailer, thereby locking the door in an open position.

A door lock mechanism configured for use with a trailer having a door, said door lock mechanism comprising:

• a lockrod mounted on the door;
• and
• a handle assembly connected to said lockrod,
• said handle assembly having a first structure thereon configured to engage corresponding structure on the trailer, thereby locking the door in place, said handle assembly configured for actuation to rotate said lockrod, thereby selectively locking and unlocking the door,
• said handle assembly including a handle and a second structure provided on said handle and configured to engage corresponding structure on the trailer, thereby locking said handle in place, said second structure including a dog provided on said handle configured to engage an opening on the trailer, a member provided on said handle and configured to engage the opening on the trailer such that said member is adjacent said dog within said opening, said member preventing the removal of said dog from the opening on the trailer.

A door lock mechanism configured for use with a trailer having a door, said door lock mechanism comprising:

• a sleeve mounted on the door of the trailer;
• an end cap disposed at an end of said sleeve;
• a lockrod disposed in said sleeve and extending through an opening in said end cap;
• a lock provided at an end of said lockrod for preventing rotational movement of said lockrod when said lock is engaged with corresponding structure on the trailer;
• a handle assembly connected to said lockrod and configured for actuation to rotate said lockrod;
• and
• a thrust bearing disposed between said end cap and said lock, said thrust bearing being in direct contact with said end cap and with said lock, said thrust bearing being rotatable relative to said end cap and relative to said lock.

A door lock mechanism configured for use with a trailer having a door, said door lock mechanism comprising:

• a lockrod mounted on the door;
• a handle assembly connected to said lockrod, said handle assembly having a first structure thereon configured to engage corresponding structure on the trailer, thereby locking the door in place, said handle assembly configured for actuation to rotate said lockrod, thereby selectively locking and unlocking the door,
• said handle assembly including a handle and a second structure provided on said handle and configured to engage corresponding structure on the trailer, thereby locking said handle in place, said second structure including a dog provided on said handle to engage a corresponding opening on the trailer, a member provided on said handle and configured for engagement with the corresponding opening on the trailer, said member being inclined relative to the horizontal at an angle between zero and ninety degrees such that said member can be moved into engagement with said corresponding opening primarily by gravity;
• and
• a securing member provided on a side of the trailer, and the door being capable of being moved to an open position such that the door is opened and swung proximate to the side wail of the trailer, and wherein when the door is in the open position, said first structure is engaged with said securing member.

A trailer comprising:

• a floor;
• a rear frame having an opening therethrough and structure on a bottom portion thereof;
• a door mounted in said rear frame;
• a lockrod mounted to said door;
• a handle assembly connected to said lockrod, said handle assembly having a first structure thereon configured to engage said structure on said bottom portion of said rear frame, thereby locking said door in place, said handle assembly configured for actuation to rotate said lockrod, thereby selectively locking and unlocking said door, said handle assembly including a handle and a second structure provided on said handle and configured to engage into said opening in said rear frame, thereby locking said handle in place and preventing further substantial movement of said handle relative to said door;
• and
• a side wall and base rail connecting said side wall to said floor, a securing member provided on said base rail, and said door being capable of being moved to an open position such that said door is opened and swung proximate to said side wall, and wherein when said door is in the open position, said first structure is engaged with said securing member.

A door lock mechanism configured for use with a trailer having a door, said door lock mechanism comprising:

• a lockrod mounted on the door;
• and
• a handle assembly connected to said lockrod,
• said handle assembly having a first structure thereon configured to engage first corresponding structure on the trailer, thereby locking the door in place, said handle assembly configured for actuation to rotate said lockrod, thereby selectively locking and unlocking the door,
• said handle assembly including a handle and a second structure provided on said handle and configured to engage second corresponding structure on the trailer, thereby locking said handle in place and preventing further substantial movement of said handle relative to the door, said second structure provided on said handle assembly including a handle, a dog provided on said handle configured to engage an opening on the trailer, a member provided on said handle configured for engagement with said opening, said member being moved into engagement with said opening primarily by gravity, said member including a gripping portion and a tongue portion, said tongue portion configured to move into engagement with said opening.

A door lock mechanism configured for use with a trailer having a door, said door lock mechanism comprising:

• a lockrod mounted on the door;
• and
• a handle assembly connected to said lockrod, said handle assembly having a first structure thereon configured to engage corresponding structure on the trailer, thereby locking the door in place, said handle assembly configured for actuation to rotate said lockrod, thereby selectively locking and unlocking the door,
• said handle assembly including a handle and a second structure provided on said handle and configured to engage corresponding structure on the trailer, thereby locking said handle in place, said second structure including a dog provided on said handle to engage a corresponding opening on the trailer, a member provided on said handle and configured for engagement with the corresponding opening on the trailer, said member being moved into engagement with said corresponding opening primarily by gravity, said second structure further includes a base portion having a protuberance thereon, wherein said member includes an aperture therethrough such that when said member is in engagement with the corresponding opening in the trailer, said aperture is in engagement with said protuberance on said base portion.

A door lock mechanism configured for use with a trailer having a door, said door lock mechanism comprising:

• a lockrod mounted on the door;
• and
• a handle assembly connected to said lockrod, said handle assembly having a first structure thereon configured to engage corresponding structure on the trailer, thereby locking the door in place, said handle assembly configured for actuation to rotate said lockrod, thereby selectively locking and unlocking the door,
• said handle assembly including a handle and a second structure provided on said handle and configured to engage corresponding structure on the trailer, thereby locking said handle in place, said second structure including a dog provided on said handle to engage a corresponding opening on the trailer, a member provided on said handle and configured for engagement with the corresponding opening on the trailer, said member including a gripping portion and a tongue portion, said tongue portion configured to move into engagement with the corresponding opening on the trailer, said member being inclined relative to the horizontal at an angle between zero and ninety degrees such that said member can be moved into engagement with said corresponding opening primarily by gravity.