Container connecting metal fixture

Abstract

A container coupling metal joint of the invention comprises a joint main body 2 having an upper fitting portion 22 and a lower fitting portion 23 capable of respectively fitting into engaging apertures of container corner fittings of the container, a shaft 3 pivoted ratatably to the joint main body 2 , an upper metal fitting 4 and a lower metal fitting 5 capable of respectively engaging with the engaging apertures of the corner fittings of the container, and an operation member 7 for rotating the shaft. The joint main body 2 is provided with a rotation mechanism 6 for rotating the shaft 3 by receiving the action of the load of the container. The shaft 3 is provided with spring means 34 for urging and rotating the upper metal fitting 4 to the position at which it overlaps the upper fitting portion 22 . The upper metal fitting 4 includes cutouts 4 x formed at diagonally opposite corner portions of the lower face on the side in engagement with the engaging apertures of the corner fittings of the container.

1 . A container coupling metal joint comprising: 
 a joint main body having an upper fitting portion and a lower fitting portion capable of fitting into engaging apertures of corner fittings of containers;    a shaft pivoted rotatably to the joint main body;    an upper metal fitting and a lower metal fitting connected integrally respectively to the upper end and the lower end of the shaft and capable of engaging with the engaging apertures of the corner fittings of the containers; and    an operation member for rotating the shaft, the joint main body being provided with a rotation mechanism for rotating the shaft by receiving the action of load of the container, the shaft being provided with a spring means for urging the upper metal fitting such that the upper metal fitting rotates to the position at which it overlaps the upper fitting portion, the upper metal fitting having cutouts diagonally oppositely formed at corner portions of its lower face on the side in engagement with the engaging apertures of the corner fittings of the containers, wherein    when, through the operation member, the upper metal fitting is at the position at which it comes into engagement with the engaging aperture of the corner fitting of the container, against the biasing force of the spring means, the lower metal fitting is at the position at which it overlaps the lower fitting portion, wherein    when the corner fitting of the container presses the rotation mechanism, the shaft is rotated against the biasing force of the spring means, causing the lower metal fitting to rotate to the position at which it comes into engagement with the engaging aperture of the corner fitting of the container, and wherein    when the corner fitting of the container is raised along the cutout of the upper metal fitting and is released from the rotation mechanism, the shaft is rotated by the biasing force of the spring means, causing the lower metal fitting to rotate to the position at which it overlaps the lower fitting portion.    
   
   
       2 . The container coupling metal joint according to  claim 1 , wherein the rotation mechanism is a pressing piece in the shape of substantially a right triangle fitted in slidably along a guide aperture and a guide groove formed on the joint main body, and wherein the shaft is rotated by sliding of the pressing piece pressed by the corner fitting of the container.  
   
   
       3 . The container coupling metal joint according to  claim 1 , wherein the rotation mechanism includes an ascending/descending member capable of freely ascending and descending and an articulated link mechanism abutted by the ascending/descending member and urged always in such a direction that it is articulated, and wherein the shaft is rotated by stretching of the articulated link mechanism through the ascending/descending member pressed by the corner fitting of the container.  
   
   
       4 . The container coupling metal joint according to  claim 1 , wherein the rotation mechanism is a sliding member slidable along a guide path formed on the joint main body, and wherein the shaft is rotated by sliding along the guide path of the sliding member pressed by the corner fitting of the container.  
   
   
       5 . The container coupling metal joint according to  claim 1 , wherein the rotation mechanism includes an ascending/descending member capable of freely ascending and descending along the outer peripheral surface of the shaft and having an inwardly protruding pin, a spiral groove formed on the shaft and into which is fitted the pin of the ascending/descending member, and a spring urging the ascending/descending member to its raised position, and wherein the shaft is rotated by descending of the ascending/descending member pressed by the corner fitting of the container.  
   
   
       6 . The container coupling metal joint according to  claim 1 , wherein the rotation mechanism includes an ascending/descending member capable of freely ascending and descending along the outer peripheral surface of the shaft and having a spiral groove formed on its inner peripheral surface, a pin disposed on the shaft and fitted into the spiral groove of the ascending/descending member, and a spring urging the ascending/descending member to its upper position, and wherein the shaft is rotated by descending of the ascending/descending member pressed by the corner fitting of the container.  
   
   
       7 . The container coupling metal joint according to  claim 1 , wherein the operation member includes an operation lever and a connector with its one end connected to the operation lever and with the other end connected to the shaft, and wherein the joint main body is formed with a locking portion capable of locking the operation lever and a housing portion capable of housing the operation lever.  
   
   
       8 . The container coupling metal joint according to  claim 1 , wherein the upper fitting portion of the joint main body is provided at its one corner portion a stopper urged in such a direction that it protrudes from the upper face thereof and capable of freely protruding and retreating, the upper metal fitting being abutted against the stopper so that the upper metal fitting is held at a position at which it is engaged with the engaging aperture of the corner fitting of the container.  
   
   
       9 . The container coupling metal joint according to any one of  claims 1  to  8 , wherein the joint main body is provided with a safety mechanism for preventing the rotation of the shaft by the biasing force of the spring means when the container coupling metal joint is tilted by a predetermined angle relative to the horizontal plane.  
   
   
       10 . The container coupling metal joint according to  claim 9 , wherein the safety mechanism includes a receptacle main body formed in the joint main body, a lid body covering the upper opening of the receptacle main body, a moving element provided capable of freely moving back and forth with respect to the receptacle main body, the moving element being penetrated by the connector and abutted by the operation lever, and a rolling element capable of freely rolling and arranged on an outward declined slope formed on the receptacle main body, and wherein when the safety mechanism is tilted by an angle exceeding a predetermined angle, movement of the moving element is prevented by the rolling element.  
   
   
       11 . The container coupling metal joint according to  claim 9 , wherein the safety mechanism includes an inclined path declining outward formed on the joint main body, a rolling element capable of freely rolling and arranged on the inclined path, and a fitted recess formed on the shaft, and wherein when the shaft is at the position at which it is rotatable by the articulated mechanism stretched, the inclined path of the joint main body and the fitted recess of the shaft communicate with each other and, under this status, in the case where the safety mechanism is tilted by an angle exceeding a predetermined angle, rotation of the shaft being prevented by fitting of the rolling element into the fitted recess.  
   
   
       12 . The container coupling metal joint according to  claim 9 , wherein the safety mechanism includes an inclined path climbing outward formed on the shaft, a rolling element capable of freely rolling arranged on the inclined path, and a fitted recess formed on the joint main body, and wherein when the shaft is at the position at which it is rotatable by the sliding member slid, the inclined path of the shaft and the fitted recess of the joint main body communicate with each other and, under this status, in the case where the safety mechanism is tilted by an angle exceeding a predetermined angle, rotation of the shaft being prevented by fitting of the rolling element into the fitted recess.  
   
   
       13 . A container coupling metal joint according to  claim 9 , wherein the safety mechanism includes an inclined path declining outward formed on the joint main body, a rolling element capable of rolling and arranged on the inclined path, and a fitted recess formed on the ascending/descending member, and wherein when the ascending/descending member is at its lowered position, the inclined path of the joint main body and the fitted recess of the ascending/descending member communicate with each other and, under this status, in the case where the safety mechanism is tilted by an angle exceeding a predetermined angle, ascending of the ascending/descending member being prevented by fitting of the rolling element into the fitted recess.