AU2015207865B2

AU2015207865B2 - Twist lock

Info

Publication number: AU2015207865B2
Application number: AU2015207865A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Mark Hardie
Original assignee: M&s Hardie Pty Ltd
Current assignee: M&s Hardie Pty Ltd
Priority date: 2014-11-18
Filing date: 2015-07-29
Publication date: 2020-07-23
Anticipated expiration: 2035-07-29
Also published as: AU2015207865A1; AU2019100579B4; AU2019100579A4

Abstract

TWIST LOCK ABSTRACT A device (10) (twist lock) that is to secure a shipping container (11) to a supporting concrete pad (12). The pad (12) has an upper surface (13) that is generally horizontal upon which the shipping container (11) rests. The device (10) is operated by being rotated through 900 about an axis (28) so that a flange (27) is moved into abutting contact with the surface (13).

Description

TWIST LOCK FIELD

[0001] The present invention relates to devices to secure objects to a supporting surface and more particularly but not exclusively to secure shipping containers to a support surface.

BACKGROUND

[0002] Shipping containers are secured in position by means of twist locks. The twist locks are attached to a supporting surface and extend upwardly therefrom. The containers have downwardly facing apertures through which the twist locks project to securely engage the shipping containers.

[0003] The disadvantage of the above described twist locks is that their positions are fixed with respect to a supporting surface thereby providing little flexibility in securing the containers in position.

OBJECT

[0004] It is the object of the present invention to overcome or substantially ameliorate the above disadvantage.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

[0005] There is disclosed herein a device to attach an object to a supporting surface upon which the object is to rest, the object having an aperture that is generally horizontally facing, the aperture having a transverse width and a longitudinal length greater than the width, the device including: a mounting flange to abut the surface, the flange having a hole through which a fastener may pass to secure the device to the surface; a coupling flange extending from the mounting flange so that when attached to the surface the coupling flange extends upwardly; and a coupling projection fixed to the coupling flange and extending generally horizontally therefrom, the projection having a neck extending from the coupling flange, and a head fixed to the neck so as to be spaced from the coupling flange, said head having a longitudinal length extending generally parallel to the coupling flange, and a transverse width also extending generally parallel to the coupling flange and being less than the longitudinal length of the head, with the head being configured to pass through the object aperture and moved angularly so that the head longitudinal length extends generally transverse of the aperture longitudinal length to fix the device to the object.

[0006] Preferably, the mounting flange extends generally perpendicular to the coupling flange.

[0007] Preferably, at least one brace flange extends between the coupling flange and the mounting flange to secure them together.

[0008] Preferably, said neck has a longitudinal axis that is generally perpendicular to the coupling flange and generally parallel to the mounting flange.

Brief Description of Drawings

[0009] Preferred forms of the present invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein:

[0010] Figure 1 is a schematic isometric view of a device to secure a shipping container to a supporting surface such as the surface of a concrete pad;

[0011] Figure 2 is a schematic top plan view of the device of Figure 1;

[0012] Figure 3 is a schematic side elevation of the device of Figure 1, secured to a concrete pad and engaging a shipping container; and

[0013] Figure 4 is a schematic end elevation of the device of Figure 1.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

[0014] In the accompanying drawings there is schematically depicted a device 10 (twist lock) that is to secure a shipping container 11 to a supporting concrete pad 12 having an upper surface 13 that is generally horizontal and upon which the shipping container 11 rests.

[0015] The shipping container 11 has a corner with a wall portion 14 having a horizontally facing aperture 15.

[0016] The aperture 15 has a transverse width 16 that is generally vertical, and a longitudinal length that is generally horizontal. The longitudinal length is greater than the width 16.

[0017] The device 10 includes a mounting flange 17 that is to abut the surface 13 so as to be also generally horizontally oriented. The mounting flange 17 has a generally central opening 18 through which a threaded fastener 19 may pass to secure the device 10 to the concrete pad 12.

[0018] The threaded fastener 19 includes a head (nut) 20 and a threaded shaft 21 that threadably engages a ferrule 22 embedded in the concrete pad 12.

[0019] Fixed to and extending upwardly from the mounting flange 17 is a coupling flange 23. Preferably the coupling flange 23 extends upwardly from the mounting flange 17 so as to be generally perpendicular thereto, accordingly the flange 23 is generally vertically oriented and extends upwardly away from the surface 13.

[0020] Extending between the flanges 17 and 23 are brace flanges 24.

[0021] Fixed to and extending horizontally from the flange 23 is a coupling projection 25.

[0022] The projection 25 includes a neck 26 and a head 27, with the neck 26 spacing the head 27 from the flange 23.

[0023] Preferably the neck 26 is circular in transverse cross-section and has a longitudinal axis 28 that is generally parallel to the flange 17, and therefore when fixed to the pad 12 is generally horizontally extending.

[0024] Preferably the head 27 tapers in transverse area away from the neck 26.

[0025] The head 27 has a longitudinal length 29 and a transverse width 30. The length 29 is greater than the width 30, with the length 27 being generally horizontally extending when the device 10 is fixed to the pad 12.

[0026] The length 29 is less than the length 16 so that the head 27 can pass through the aperture 15 when the device 10 is not fixed to the pad 12, and is oriented so that both the flanges 17 and 23 are generally vertically oriented.

[0027] The length 29 is greater than the transverse horizontal width of the opening 15.

[0028] In use of the above described device 10, when the shipping container 11 is resting on the surface 13, the device 10 is oriented so that the flanges 17 and 23 are both vertically oriented. The projection 25 is inserted through the aperture 15 with the length 29 extending generally vertically. Thereafter the device 10 is rotated through 900about the axis 28 so that the flange 27 is moved into abutting contact with the surface 13. Accordingly in this orientation the length 29 extends transverse of the length 16 so that the head 27 can no longer pass through the opening 15.

[0029] Once in position, the device 10 is fixed to the concrete pad 12 and therefore surface 13 by inserting the threaded fastener 19 in the ferrule 22 and tensioning the threaded fastener 19.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A device to attach a shipping container to a supporting surface upon which the shipping container is to rest, the shipping container having an aperture in a side wall of the shipping container, the aperture being generally horizontally facing, the aperture having a transverse width and a longitudinal length greater than the width, the device including: a mounting flange to abut the surface, the flange having a hole through which a fastener may pass to secure the device to the surface; a coupling flange extending from the mounting flange so that when attached to the surface the coupling flange extends upwardly; and a coupling projection fixed to the coupling flange and extending generally horizontally therefrom, the projection having a neck extending from the coupling flange, and a head fixed to the neck so as to be spaced from the coupling flange, said head having a longitudinal length extending generally parallel to the coupling flange, and a transverse width also extending generally parallel to the coupling flange and being less than the longitudinal length of the head, with the head being configured to pass through the object aperture and moved angularly so that the head longitudinal length extends generally transverse of the aperture longitudinal length to fix the device to the object.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the mounting flange extends generally perpendicular to the coupling flange.

3. The device of claim 1 or 2, wherein at least one brace flange extends between the coupling flange and the mounting flange to secure them together.

4. The device of claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein said neck has a longitudinal axis that is generally perpendicular to the coupling flange and generally parallel to the mounting flange.

M&S Hardie Pty Ltd Patent Attorneys for the Applicant/Nominated Person SPRUSON&FERGUSON