Connecting piece for stacking containers

Abstract

A connector for stacking containers is adapted to be mounted on a base corner piece and includes a first latch, a second latch, and a pull cord. The first latch includes a first latch portion. The second latch is provided in the mounting space of the first latch so as to be movable in the vertical direction. The second latch comprises an elastic piece and is further provided with a second latch part. And the pull rope can be pulled to generate acting force, so that the pull rope can drive the second latch to move between a locking position and a separation position relative to the first latch. At the locking position, the second latch part is close to the first latch part, and the second latch part and the first latch part are matched together to be fixedly connected with the bottom corner piece in a clamping manner. And when the connecting piece is at the separation position, the second latch part is far away from the first latch part, the elastic piece is extruded, and the connecting piece for stacking the containers can be detached from the bottom corner piece.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The invention relates to a container connecting device, in particular to a connecting piece for stacking containers. Background Art

[0002] The container has eight corner fittings installed on the top and bottom sides. In the process of shipping containers, in order to prevent the stacked containers from moving, the four corner fittings on the bottom side of the container are first hung with connectors. Then each container is sent to the ship and placed on top of another container in a hanging manner. The connector of each container will be locked into the four corner fittings on the top side of the lower container due to its special shape and tilt design, thereby achieving the locking effect of fixing the upper and lower containers.

[0003] Chinese invention patent publication number CN101027233B has disclosed a connector for connecting two containers stacked one above the other, comprising a first connecting protrusion and a second connecting protrusion arranged opposite to each other, and a fastening device. The first connecting protrusion is used to engage with the container above it, and the second connecting protrusion is used to engage with the container below it. The fastening device has a block that can be movably arranged on the first connecting protrusion, and a compression spring for supporting the block. Through the design of the fastening device, the connector hanging on the container can be prevented from accidentally falling off during the process of the container being transported to the ship.

[0004] See also Figures 1 to 3 , is a commercially available connector 100 similar to CN101027233B, comprising a first connector protrusion 11 for engaging with a container 101 above it, a second connector protrusion 12 opposite to the first connector protrusion 11, and a fastening device 13. The fastening device 13 has a block 131 and a compression spring 132. To remove the connector 100 from the container 101, an operator extends one hand from the bottom of the container 101 into the connector 100 and pulls the block 131 to a release position (such as a release position) with the thumb. Figure 3 ), and the other hand holds the connecting piece 100, and then rotates the connecting piece 100 to remove it from the container 101. Therefore, the operator must be quite close to the container 101 to put his hand into the connecting piece 100, which is inconvenient and unsafe in operation. Summary of the invention

[0005] The object of the present invention is to provide a connector for stacking containers with high operational safety.

[0006] The connecting piece for stacking containers of the present invention is suitable for being installed on a bottom corner piece. The connecting piece for stacking containers comprises a first latch, a second latch and a pull rope.

[0007] The first latch comprises a first body, a protrusion connected to the bottom side of the first body in the up-down direction, and a first latch connected to the top side of the first body in the up-down direction. The first body has two side walls spaced apart in a lateral direction perpendicular to the up-down direction. The top side of the side wall is connected to the first latch, and an installation space is formed between the side walls. One of the side walls has a threading hole for connecting the installation space with the outside. The second latch can be movably arranged in the installation space in the up-down direction. The second latch comprises a second body accommodated between the side walls, and an elastic member that can be compressibly arranged on the second body and the first latch. The second body has a second latch. One end of the pull cord is fixed to the second latch, and the other end is exposed from the threading hole. The pull cord can be pulled to generate a force at an angle to the up-down direction, so that the pull cord can drive the second latch to move between a locking position and a disengaged position relative to the first latch. In the locking position, the second latch is close to the first latch and the two are used to clamp and connect the bottom corner piece. In the disengaged position, the second latch portion is away from the first latch portion and the elastic member is squeezed and accumulates an elastic restoring force that constantly pushes the second latch portion toward the first latch portion. At this time, the connecting member for stacking containers can be detached from the bottom corner member.

[0008] The connector for stacking containers of the present invention, the second body also has a main wall, and two partition walls spaced apart on one side of the main wall, a receiving groove is formed on the partition wall, the elastic member is installed in the receiving groove, and the second latch is formed on the other side of the main wall opposite to the partition wall.

[0009] The connector for stacking containers of the present invention comprises: each of the side walls having a mounting hole, each of the partition walls having a long slot extending in the up-down direction, the first latch further comprising a mounting rod fixed to the mounting hole and passing through the long slot of the second latch, the two opposite ends of the elastic member respectively abutting against the mounting rod and the second body, and the long slot moves up and down relative to the mounting rod while the second latch moves between the locking position and the disengaged position.

[0010] The connector for stacking containers of the present invention comprises: the second body having a receiving groove for installing the elastic member, and a fixing seat spaced apart from the receiving groove in the horizontal direction; the pull rope having a fixing head fixed to the fixing seat, and a rope extending from the fixing head and passing through the threading hole.

[0011] The connector for stacking containers of the present invention, the first body also has a wire groove formed between the side walls, the wire groove is for the pull rope to pass through and has a straight groove section extending along the up and down direction, and a curved groove section extending from the straight groove section to the threading hole.

[0012] The connector for stacking containers of the present invention comprises the first body further comprising a base wall for setting the side wall, and a boss formed on the base wall and located in the installation space, wherein the boss has a top surface, and the second body further comprising a hook wall facing the first latch portion and higher than the top surface, wherein the hook wall abuts against the top surface of the boss when the second body moves to the disengagement position.

[0013] The connector for stacking containers of the present invention comprises: the second body having a fixing seat located below the hook wall; the pull rope having a fixing head fixed to the fixing seat, and a rope extending from the fixing head and passing through the threading hole; and the hook wall having a through hole shaped and configured so that the fixing head can pass through.

[0014] The connecting piece for stacking containers of the present invention, the rope is a steel cable.

[0015] In the connector for stacking containers of the present invention, the fixing seat has a notch for the rope to pass through, and the size of the fixing head is larger than the size of the notch.

[0016] The connector for stacking containers of the present invention, the first body also has a connecting wall connected to the side wall along the horizontal direction, the two opposite ends of the connecting wall in the horizontal direction respectively exceed the side wall, and the position of the connecting wall in the up and down direction is aligned with the threading hole.

[0017] The beneficial effect of the present invention is that: since one end of the pull rope is exposed from the threading hole, the operator can keep a safe distance from the container, and can directly pull the connecting piece away from the bottom corner piece by pulling the pull rope with one hand. The operator can remove the present invention with one hand, which is convenient to use, and can also keep a safe distance from the container to avoid the risk of being hit by the container, so the operation safety is high. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0018] Other features and effects of the present invention will be clearly presented in the embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0019] Figure 1 is a cross-sectional view of an existing connector;

[0020] Figure 2 is a schematic diagram of the use of the existing connecting piece connected to a container;

[0021] Figure 3is a schematic diagram of the use of the existing connecting piece being removed from the container;

[0022] Figure 4 is a three-dimensional schematic diagram of an embodiment of a connector for stacking containers of the present invention installed on a bottom corner piece;

[0023] Figure 5 is a cross-sectional schematic diagram of the embodiment installed on the bottom corner fitting and joined to a top corner fitting;

[0024] Figure 6 is a top view of the embodiment;

[0025] Figure 7 It is along Figure 6 A sectional view taken along line VII-VII in FIG. 1 , with a second latch in a locked position relative to a first latch;

[0026] Figure 8 is a front view of the second latch in the locked position relative to the first latch;

[0027] Fig. 9 is a fragmentary rear view of the second latch in combination with a mounting bar;

[0028] Fig.10 is similar to Figure 8 , illustrating that the second latch is in a disengaged position relative to the first latch;

[0029] Fig.11 is a cross-sectional schematic diagram of the second latch in the locked position relative to the first latch;

[0030] Fig.12 is similar to Figure 7 sectional view of the invention, illustrating the second latch in the disengaged position relative to the first latch; and

[0031] Fig.13 is similar to Fig.11 A cross-sectional schematic diagram illustrates that the second latch is in the disengaged position relative to the first latch and can be detached from the bottom corner piece. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0032] See also Figures 4 to 6The embodiment of the connector for stacking containers of the present invention is suitable for installation on a bottom corner piece 91 and used to connect a top corner piece 92, and the bottom corner piece 91 and the top corner piece 92 are respectively fixed to the bottom side of the upper container (not shown) and the top side of the lower container. The structure and use of the bottom corner piece 91 and the top corner piece 92 are the existing technology of transport containers. Those skilled in the art can infer the expanded details based on the above description, so no further description is given. The connector for stacking containers includes a first latch 2, a second latch 3, and a pull rope 4.

[0033] The first latch 2 includes a first body 21, a first latch portion 22 connected to the top side of the first body 21 along the up-down direction Z, a protrusion 23 connected to the bottom side of the first body 21 along the up-down direction Z, and a mounting rod 24 fixed to the first body 21.

[0034] The first body 21 has a base wall 25 extending along the up-down direction Z, two side walls 26 spaced apart in a transverse direction X perpendicular to the up-down direction Z, a boss 27 formed on the base wall 25, and a connecting wall 28 spanning the side walls 26 along the transverse direction X. The transverse direction X in this embodiment is the left-right direction. An installation space 200 facing the front is formed between the side walls 26, and each of the side walls 26 has a mounting hole 261 that spatially connects the installation space 200. One of the side walls 26 also has a threading hole 262 that spatially connects the installation space 200 with the outside world. The threading hole 262 in this embodiment is parallel to the transverse direction X, but in other variations, the threading hole 262 can also be inclined to the transverse direction X and the up-down direction Z.

[0035] See also Figure 5 and Figure 7 The boss 27 is located in the installation space 200 and is formed between the side walls 26. The boss 27 has a top surface 271 formed on the top side, and a wire groove 272 formed on the front side. The wire groove 272 has a straight groove section 273 extending along the up-down direction Z, and a curved groove section 274 extending from the straight groove section 273 to the threading hole 262.

[0036] See also Figures 4 to 6 The connecting wall 28 is U-shaped and its two opposite ends in the horizontal direction X respectively exceed the side wall 26. The position of the connecting wall 28 in the vertical direction Z is aligned with the threading hole 262. When this embodiment is installed on the bottom corner piece 91 and the top corner piece 92, the connecting wall 28 can allow the bottom corner piece 91 and the top corner piece 92 to abut against each other from the upper and lower sides.

[0037] The first latch portion 22 is connected to the top side of the side wall 26 and is used to be installed on the bottom corner piece 91. The protrusion 23 is arranged opposite to the side wall 26 and is used to automatically insert the top corner piece 92. The mounting rod 24 is fixed to the mounting hole 261 along the horizontal direction X.

[0038] See also Figure 5 , Figure 8 and Fig. 9 The second latch 3 is movably disposed in the installation space 200 along the up-down direction Z. The second latch 3 includes a second body 31 accommodated between the side walls 26 and an elastic member 32 compressibly disposed between the second body 31 and the installation rod 24 of the first latch 2 .

[0039] The second body 31 has a main wall 33, two partition walls 34 spaced apart on one side (i.e., the rear side) of the main wall 33 facing the base wall 25, a hook wall 35 located on the top side of the main wall 33, a second latch portion 36 formed on the main wall 33 and opposite to the partition wall 34, and a hook ring portion 37 connected to the bottom side of the main wall 33. The top ends of the partition walls 34 are connected and formed with a receiving groove 30. Each of the partition walls 34 has a long groove 341 extending along the up-down direction Z. The long groove 341 is for the mounting rod 24 to pass through. One of the partition walls 34 also has a fixing seat 342 spaced apart from the receiving groove 30 in the horizontal direction X. The fixing seat 342 has a recess 343 connected to the mounting space 200. The hook wall 35 is located above the fixing seat 342 and has a through hole 351 aligned with the notch 343. The hook wall 35 is higher than the top surface 271 of the boss 27 and protrudes toward the first latch portion 22. The hook ring portion 37 protrudes toward the protrusion 23 and cooperates with the hook wall 35 to form a recessed chamber 38 for accommodating the boss 27.

[0040] The elastic member 32 is a compression spring and is installed in the receiving groove 30 , and two opposite ends thereof abut against the installation rod 24 and the second body 31 respectively.

[0041] See also Figure 4 and Figure 8 In this embodiment, the second latch portion 36 has two retaining walls 361 spaced apart in the transverse direction X, and each retaining wall 361 is trapezoidal.

[0042] See also Figure 7 and Fig. 9, the inner end of the pull rope 4 is fixed to the second latch 3, and the outer end is exposed from the threading hole 262 of the first latch 2. The pull rope 4 of this embodiment has a fixed head 41 fixed to the fixing seat 342, a rope 42 extending from the fixed head 41, and a force-applying portion 43 installed at the outer end of the rope 42. Since the through hole 351 of the second latch 3 is configured to allow the fixed head 41 to pass through, and the size of the fixed head 41 is larger than the size of the notch 343, the fixed head 41 can pass through the through hole 351 and be fixed to the fixing seat 342. The rope 42 is a steel cable and passes through the threading hole 262 to the outside after passing through the wire groove 272. In detail, after the rope 42 passes through the notch 343 and extends downward along the straight groove section 273, it is bent along the curved groove section 274, and finally passes through the threading hole 262 and ends at the force-applying portion 43. The force applying portion 43 of this embodiment is a gourd-shaped round button.

[0043] See also Figure 5 Since the bottom corner piece 91 and the top corner piece 92 are respectively against the upper and lower sides of the connecting wall 28, the rope 42 and the force-applying portion 43 can be exposed between the bottom corner piece 91 and the top corner piece 92, so the structure of this embodiment will not be affected when stacking containers.

[0044] See also Figure 8 and Fig.10 , the pull rope 4 can be pulled to generate a force at an angle to the up-down direction Z to drive the second latch 3 to a locked position (such as Figure 8 ) and a disengaged position (such as Fig.10 ) moves up and down. The acting force of this embodiment is a lateral force.

[0045] See also Figure 7 , Figure 8 and Fig.11 When the second latch 3 is in the locking position, the second latch portion 36 is close to the first latch portion 22 and the two are used to be fixedly connected to the bottom corner piece 91. The lower end of the long slot 341 abuts against the mounting rod 24.

[0046] See also Fig.10 , Fig.12 and Fig.13When the second latch 3 is in the disengaged position, the second latch portion 36 is away from the first latch portion 22 and the hook wall 35 abuts against the top surface 271 of the boss 27, and the elastic member 32 is squeezed and accumulates an elastic restoring force that constantly pushes the second latch portion 36 to move toward the first latch portion 22. The upper end of the long slot 341 abuts against the mounting rod 24. At this time, the connector for stacking containers can be detached from the bottom corner member 91.

[0047] During the movement of the second latch 3 between the locking position and the disengaging position, the long slot 341 moves up and down relative to the mounting rod 24. The movable stroke of the second latch 3 can be limited by the long slot 341.

[0048] Therefore, the fixed head 41 of the pull rope 4 is fixed to the second latch 3. Therefore, the operator only needs to hook the force-applying part 43 of the pull rope 4 with one hand and pull it in the direction away from the bottom corner piece 91. The pull rope 4 can drive the second latch 3 to quickly descend along the up-down direction Z to the disengagement position. The present embodiment will automatically disengage from the bottom corner piece 91 and fall downward. Since the operator's hand is still hooked on the force-applying part 43 of the pull rope 4 and can be directly lifted away from the present embodiment, the operator can maintain a safe distance from the container to operate the present embodiment, which is safer.

[0049] In summary, the present invention exposes one end of the pull rope 4 from the threading hole 262, so the operator can keep a safe distance from the container, and hook the force-applying portion 43 with one hand and pull it in a direction away from the bottom corner piece 91, so that the connector for stacking containers can automatically detach from the bottom corner piece 91. Therefore, the present invention can be operated with one hand, which is more convenient to use, and can also keep a safe distance from the container to avoid the risk of being hit by the container, so the operation safety is higher, and the purpose of the present invention can be achieved.

[0050] The above are merely embodiments of the present invention and should not be used to limit the scope of the present invention. That is, any simple equivalent changes and modifications made according to the claims and description of the present invention still fall within the scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A connector for stacking containers, suitable for installation on bottom corner pieces, characterized in that: The connector for stacking containers comprises: A first latch, comprising a first body, a protrusion connected to the bottom side of the first body in the up-down direction, and a first latch portion connected to the top side of the first body in the up-down direction, the first body having two side walls spaced apart in a lateral direction perpendicular to the up-down direction, the top side of the side wall being connected to the first latch portion, and an installation space being formed between the side walls, one of the side walls having a threading hole for connecting the installation space with the outside; A second latch is movably disposed in the installation space along the up-down direction, the second latch comprises a second body accommodated between the side walls, and an elastic member compressibly disposed between the second body and the first latch, the second body having a second latch portion; and A pull rope, one end of which is fixed to the second latch and the other end is exposed from the threading hole. The pull rope can be pulled to generate a force at an angle to the up and down directions, so that the pull rope can drive the second latch to move between a locked position and a disengaged position relative to the first latch. In the locked position, the second latch portion is close to the first latch portion and the two are used to securely connect the bottom corner piece. In the disengaged position, the second latch portion is away from the first latch portion and the elastic member is squeezed and accumulates an elastic restoring force that constantly pushes the second latch portion toward the first latch portion. At this time, the connector for stacking containers can be detached from the bottom corner piece.

2. The connector for stacking containers according to claim 1, characterized in that: The second body also has a main wall and two partition walls spaced apart on one side of the main wall, wherein a receiving groove is formed on the partition wall, and the elastic member is installed in the receiving groove, and the second latch is formed on the other side of the main wall opposite to the partition wall.

3. The connector for stacking containers according to claim 2, characterized in that: Each of the side walls has a mounting hole, and each of the partition walls has a long slot extending in the up-down direction. The first latch also includes a mounting rod fixed to the mounting hole and passing through the long slot of the second latch. The two opposite ends of the elastic member respectively abut against the mounting rod and the second body. When the second latch moves between the locking position and the disengaged position, the long slot moves up and down relative to the mounting rod.

4. The connector for stacking containers according to claim 1, characterized in that: The second body has a receiving groove for installing the elastic member, and a fixing seat spaced apart from the receiving groove in the horizontal direction. The pull rope has a fixing head fixed to the fixing seat, and a rope extending from the fixing head and passing through the threading hole.

5. The connector for stacking containers according to claim 1, characterized in that: The first body further comprises a wire groove formed between the side walls, wherein the wire groove is for the pull rope to pass through and comprises a straight groove section extending along the up-down direction and a curved groove section extending from the straight groove section to the threading hole.

6. The connector for stacking containers according to claim 1, characterized in that: The first body also has a base wall for setting the side wall, and a boss formed on the base wall and located in the installation space, the boss has a top surface, and the second body also has a hook wall facing the first latch part and higher than the top surface, when the second body moves to the disengagement position, the hook wall abuts against the top surface of the boss.

7. The connector for stacking containers according to claim 6, characterized in that: The second body has a fixing seat located below the hook wall, the pull rope has a fixing head fixed to the fixing seat, and a rope extending from the fixing head and passing through the threading hole, and the hook wall has a through hole shaped and configured so that the fixing head can pass through.

8. The connector for stacking containers according to claim 7, characterized in that: The rope is a steel cable.

9. The connector for stacking containers according to claim 7, characterized in that: The fixing seat has a notch for the rope to pass through, and the size of the fixing head is larger than the size of the notch.

10. The connector for stacking containers according to claim 1, characterized in that: The first body further comprises a connecting wall connected to the side wall along the transverse direction, two opposite ends of the connecting wall in the transverse direction respectively exceed the side wall, and the position of the connecting wall in the up-down direction is aligned with the threading hole.

Images