Container auto-lock system
AssigneeBNSF Railway Company
InventorThomas P. Kelly
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A container according the present application includes a container auto-lock system. The container auto-lock system is integrated into the outboard apertures of the lower castings of a domestic sized container. The container auto-lock system includes a locking mechanism which is configured to recess when the container is lowered onto a surface lacking an acceptable receiving aperture. The locking mechanism is also configured to automatically lock when placed on top of a domestic sized container. The container auto-lock system is configured to be compatible with international sized container by allowing the inboard apertures on each lower casting to be available for attaching the domestic container on top of an international container with a conventional locking device.
Claims6
A locking system for interlocking a first container to a second container, comprising:
- the first container having a first chamber and a second chamber;
- the second container having a third chamber;
- a locking mechanism carried by the first container and configured to retractably protrude outside of the first chamber and configured to interlock with a locking aperture disposed within the second container;
- wherein the locking mechanism is configured to completely retract within the first chamber as the locking mechanism rests on a flat surface of the second container;
- and
- wherein the first chamber and the second chamber are adjacent to each other in a same corner casting.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.