Automatic binding device for a container

Abstract

An automatic binding device for coupling at least two containers includes a latch being twisted during insertion/disengagement into/from a coupling hole of corner castings; a pair of housings for covering a circumferential surface of a rotating shaft of the latch; and a torsion spring for re-rotating the latch substantially to its original condition before rotating, the torsion spring being installed at the circumferential surface of the rotating shaft. Furthermore, the automatic binding device for a container is provided with the indicator capable of allowing a user to see the present state of the binding device with the naked eye.

1 . An automatic binding device for a container in which an upper fitting member and a lower fitting member thereof are inserted into or detachable from coupling holes formed through walls of corner castings and in which the corner castings are positioned at upper and lower corners of at least two of the containers the automatic binding device comprising:
 a latch for twisting during insertion of the latch into or disengagement of the latch from the respective coupling holes of the corner castings;   a pair of housings for covering a circumferential surface of a rotating shaft of the latch; and   a torsion spring for re-rotating the latch substantially to its original condition before rotating, the torsion spring being installed at a circumferential surface of the rotating shaft;   wherein the rotating shaft is provided with a spring hanger formed at a one side of the circumferential surface of the rotating shaft, wherein the latch has a fitting member body formed at a lower portion thereof and tapered downwards from a lower portion of the rotating shaft, wherein rounding wings are formed at both sides of the fitting member body and tapered downwards at a slanting angle of 45±2 degrees, and the rounding wings have a wing slanted surface formed at an uppermost surface thereof and tapered downwards in a clockwise direction, wherein an upper fitting member is formed at an upper portion of the rotating shaft and extends at a predetermined distance in the horizontal direction, wherein a projection having a substantially triangular cross section upwardly protrudes from an upper surface of the upper fitting member and has a through hole formed therethrough, wherein an operating space is provided in halves of the housing respectively, wherein a spring support portion for locking and supporting a one end of the torsion spring is formed in the housing at a position adjacent to the operating space, and wherein a fixing protrusion edge protrudes from the center of an outer surface of the housing and it is brought into contact with and supported by a slanted guide surface of the coupling hole.   
   
   
       2 . The automatic binding device for a container as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein a fitting groove is formed at a corner of a lower portion of the upper fitting member, in which a friction resistance member having an internal screw thread is engaged with the upper fitting member within the fitting groove by means of a screw screwed into the internal screw thread and driven into the upper fitting member so that the friction resistance member is brought into contact with an inner bottom surface of the corner castings and wherein the friction resistance member comprises a material selected from the group consisting of a rubber, a polyurethane and a soft synthetic resin. 
   
   
       3 . The automatic binding device for a container as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein at least one groove for communicating the operating space with an exterior of the housing is formed at a one inner surface of the housing, wherein an indicator is consisted of a wire main body made of a wire rope, a hanging ring-shaped portion formed at a one end thereof and a marker formed at the other end thereof, and wherein at least one washer is disposed at a middle portion of the wire main body and a coiled spring is disposed between the washer and the marker. 
   
   
       4 . The automatic binding device for a container as claimed in  claim 3 , wherein the at least one groove comprises a first groove, a second groove and a third groove which are in integral communication with each other, in which a dimension of the first groove is smaller than that of the second groove and continuously the dimension of the second groove is smaller than that of the third groove, wherein when the latch and the housing are combined with each other, then the indicator is received in the three grooves and the operating space, and thereby permitting relative motion of the indicator with respect to the housing, wherein the hanging ring-shaped portion of the indicator is locked at the spring hanger of the rotating shaft, wherein when the indicator is positioned within the interior of the housing, the marker is received in the third groove, and the washer is locked at a fitting shoulder portion formed at a border between the first groove and the second groove. 
   
   
       5 . The automatic binding device for a container as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein at least one groove for communicating the operating space with an exterior of the housing is formed at a one inner surface of the housing, wherein an indicator comprises a wire main body made of a wire rope, a hanging ring-shaped portion formed at a one end thereof and a marker formed at the other end thereof, and wherein at least one washer is disposed at a middle portion of the wire main body and a coiled spring is disposed between the washer and the marker. 
   
   
       6 . The automatic binding device for a container as claimed in  claim 5 , wherein the at least one groove comprises a first groove, a second groove and a third groove which are in integral communication with each other, in which a dimension of the first groove is smaller than that of the second groove and continuously the dimension of the second groove is smaller than that of the third groove, wherein when the latch and the housing are combined with each other, then the indicator is received in the three grooves and the operating space, and thereby permitting relative motion of the indicator with respect to the housing, wherein the hanging ring-shaped portion of the indicator is locked at the spring hanger of the rotating shaft, wherein when the indicator is positioned within the interior of the housing, the marker is received in the third groove, and the washer is locked at a fitting shoulder portion formed at a border between the first groove and the second groove.