Locking Assembly

Abstract

A locking assembly ( 1 ) having a base ( 2 ); a pair of arms ( 4 ) extending longitudinally away from the base in opposing directions. Each arm has a proximal end engageable with the base and a distal end remote the base. The distal end of the arm has a as locking means ( 10 ) movable relative to the base and adapted to engage a recess ( 20 ) of an object ( 22 ) to lock the object to the assembly.

1 . A locking assembly having:
 a base;   a pair of arms extending longitudinally away from said base in opposing directions;   each said arm having a proximal end engageable with said base and a distal end remote said base;   said distal end of said arm having a locking means movable relative to said base and adapted to engage a recess of an object to lock said object to said assembly.   
     
     
         2 . The locking assembly of  claim 1 , wherein said base is generally rectangular in shape and defines a longitudinally extending base axis. 
     
     
         3 . The locking assembly of  claim 2 , wherein said arms define a longitudinally extending arm axis which is generally perpendicular to said base axis. 
     
     
         4 . The locking assembly of  claim 3 , wherein said locking means is rotatable about said arm axis. 
     
     
         5 . The locking assembly of  claim 3 , wherein said locking means is moveable parallel to said base axis. 
     
     
         6 . The locking assembly of  claim 1 , wherein said locking means includes a tab member to be located in use in said recess of said object to lock said object to said assembly. 
     
     
         7 . The locking assembly of  claim 6 , wherein said object is a shipping container. 
     
     
         8 . The locking assembly of  claim 7 , wherein said container includes one or more recesses located at one or more corners of said container. 
     
     
         9 . The locking assembly of  claim 8 , wherein said tab member locks into a recess located parallel to a side or end wall of said container. 
     
     
         10 . The locking assembly of  claim 8 , wherein said tab member slides along a plane approximately parallel to said base axis to engage a recess of said container. 
     
     
         11 . The locking assembly of  claim 1 , wherein said moving means is an actuator. 
     
     
         12 . The locking assembly of  claim 11 , wherein said actuator is operatively associated with said base. 
     
     
         13 . The locking assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the arms are integrally formed and movable together. 
     
     
         14 . The locking assembly of  claim 1 , wherein said locking means includes a spring to engage said locking means upon insertion into a recess of an object. 
     
     
         15 . The locking assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the arms move with the locking means relative to said base. 
     
     
         16 . The locking assembly of  claim 1 , including means adapted to lock the arms into the object so that a locking position cannot be attained unless the locking assembly is properly engaged to the object. 
     
     
         17 . The locking assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the locking assembly is adapted to connect two objects together by engagement of the locking means within corresponding recesses of said objects. 
     
     
         18 . The locking assembly of  claim 1 , including an actuator adapted to positively lock the assembly in a lock or unlock position and also provide a means by which the assembly is adapted to permit automatic attachment to and from an object. 
     
     
         19 . The locking assembly of  claim 1 , including means by which the assembly can be remotely identified.