초록 ▼

A corner block adjustment mechanism for an ISO container. The adjustment mechanism includes a selectively rotatable cam for moving a corner block between an extended position and a retracted position. The adjustment mechanism also includes a locking mechanism for selectively locking the corner block

A corner block adjustment mechanism for an ISO container. The adjustment mechanism includes a selectively rotatable cam for moving a corner block between an extended position and a retracted position. The adjustment mechanism also includes a locking mechanism for selectively locking the corner block in the extended position and the retracted position.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A corner block adjustment mechanism for use with a container, said corner block adjustment mechanism comprising: a base adapted to be coupled to the container, said base including a central axis, a chamber, and a distal end having an opening in communication with said chamber;a stem having a prox

1. A corner block adjustment mechanism for use with a container, said corner block adjustment mechanism comprising: a base adapted to be coupled to the container, said base including a central axis, a chamber, and a distal end having an opening in communication with said chamber;a stem having a proximal end and a distal end, said stem extending through said opening in said base and into said chamber of said base;a corner block coupled to said distal end of said stem; anda cam rotationally coupled to said base and to said stem, said cam being selectively rotatable about a first axis of said cam with respect to said base and said stem, said cam being selectively rotable between a first position wherein said corner block is located in an extended position with respect to said base and a second position wherein said corner block is located in a retracted position with respect to said base, said cam coupling said corner block to said base when said corner block is in said extended position and when said corner block is in said retracted position, said cam adapted to move said corner block from said extended position of said corner block toward said retracted position of said corner block generally parallel to said central axis of said base as said cam is moved from said first position of said cam toward said second position of said cam, said cam adapted to move said corner block from said retracted position of said corner block toward said extended position of said corner block generally parallel to said central axis of said base as said cam is moved from said second position of said cam toward said first position of said cam. 2. The corner block adjustment mechanism of claim 1 wherein said corner block includes a bottom surface, said bottom surface of said corner block adapted to be located outwardly from a bottom surface of the container when the corner block is in the extended position and adapted to be located generally coplanar with or inwardly from the bottom surface of the container when the corner block is in the retracted position. 3. The corner block adjustment mechanism of claim 2 wherein said corner block is an ISO corner block including a plurality of apertures. 4. The corner block adjustment mechanism of claim 1 wherein said cam includes a first hub rotationally coupled to said base, a second hub rotationally coupled to said base, and a camming member located between said first hub and said second hub. 5. The corner block adjustment mechanism of claim 4 wherein said camming member of said cam includes a first surface portion located a first distance from said first axis of said cam and a second surface portion located a second distance from said first axis of said cam, said first distance being longer than said second distance. 6. The corner block adjustment mechanism of claim 4 wherein said camming member is generally cylindrical, said camming member having a central axis that is generally parallel to and offset from said first axis of said cam, said camming member including a generally cylindrical camming surface. 7. The corner block adjustment mechanism of claim 4 including a first locking lug extending outwardly from said camming member and a second locking lug extending outwardly from said camming member, said first and second locking lugs extending from said camming member generally coaxially with respect to one another and generally transversely with respect to said first axis of said cam. 8. A corner block adjustment mechanism for use with a container, said corner block adjustment mechanism comprising: a base adapted to be coupled to the container, said base including a central axis, a chamber and a distal end having an opening in communication with said chamber;a stem having a proximal end and a distal end, said stem extending through said opening in said base and into said chamber of said base;a corner block coupled to said distal end of said stem, said stem and said corner block being slidable along said central axis of said base with respect to said base between an extended position and a retracted position of said corner block;a cam rotationally coupled to said base for selective rotation about a first axis of said cam, said cam including a camming member rotationally coupled to said stem, said cam including a first locking lug extending outwardly from said camming member and a second locking lug extending outwardly from said camming member, said cam being selectively rotatable between a first position wherein said corner block is in said extended position and a second position wherein said corner block is in said retracted position; anda locking mechanism including a locking member slidably coupled to said base by a guide member, said locking member being selectively slidable along said guide member between a locked position and an unlocked position, a release member coupled to said locking member, said release member adapted to selectively move said locking member from said locked position toward said unlocked position, and a biasing member adapted to resiliently bias said locking member toward said locked position;whereby when said locking member is in said locked position and said cam is in said first position said locking member is adapted to engage said locking lugs of said cam and prevent rotation of said cam thereby locking said corner block in said extended position, and whereby when said locking member is in the locked position and said cam is in said second position said locking member is adapted to engage said locking lugs of said cam and prevent rotation of said cam thereby locking said corner block in said extended position, said locking member allowing selective rotation of said cam between said first position and said second position of said cam when said locking member is in said unlocked position. 9. A corner block adjustment mechanism for use with a container, said corner block adjustment mechanism comprising: a base adapted to be coupled to the container, said base including a central axis, a chamber, and a distal end having an opening in communication with said chamber;a stem having a proximal end and a distal end, said stem extending through said opening in said base and into said chamber of said base;a corner block coupled to said distal end of said stem;a cam rotationally coupled to said base and to said stem, said cam being selectively rotable about a first axis of said cam with respect to said base and said stem, said cam being selectively rotable between a first position wherein said corner block is located in an extended position with respect to said base and a second position wherein said corner block is located in a retracted position with respect to said base, said cam adapted to move said corner block generally parallel to said central axis of said base between said extended position and said retracted position of said corner block as said cam is moved between said first position and said second position of said cam;a locking mechanism adapted to releasably lock said cam in said first position and to releasably lock said cam in said second position, said locking mechanism including a locking member adapted to releasably engage said cam, said locking member being selectively movable between a locked position wherein said locking mechanism is adapted to prevent rotation of said cam about said first axis and an unlocked position wherein said locking member allows rotation of said cam about said first axis; anda release member slidably coupled to said base and coupled to said locking member, said release member being selectively movable from a locked position toward an unlocked position, said release member conjointly movable with said locking member from said locked position of said locking member toward said unlocked position of said locking member as said release member is moved from said locked position of said release member toward said unlocked position of said release member. 10. The corner block adjustment mechanism of claim 9 including a guide member coupled to said base, said locking member being slidably coupled to said guide member, whereby said locking member is slidable along said guide member as said locking member moves between said locked position of said locking member and said unlocked position of said locking member. 11. The corner block adjustment mechanism of claim 10 including a first biasing member adapted to resiliently bias said locking member from said unlocked position of said locking member toward said locked position of said locking member. 12. The corner block adjustment mechanism of claim 11 including a second biasing member adapted to resiliently bias said locking member from said locked position of said locking member toward said unlocked position of said locking member, said first and second biasing members extending along said guide member and located on opposite sides of said locking member. 13. The corner block adjustment mechanism of claim 10 wherein said release member comprises a release pin having a second axis, and said guide member comprises a guide pin having a third axis, said first axis, said second axis and said third axis being generally parallel to one another and generally transverse to said central axis of said base. 14. The corner block of claim 13 wherein said stem includes one or more first slots adapted to receive said cam, and one or more second slots adapted to receive said release member. 15. A corner block adjustment mechanism for use with a container, said corner block adjustment mechanism comprising: a base adapted to be coupled to the container, said base including a central axis, a chamber, and a distal end having an opening in communication with said chamber;a stem having a proximal end and a distal end, said stem extending through said opening in said base and into said chamber of said base;a corner block coupled to said distal end of said stem;a cam rotationally coupled to said base and to said stem, said cam being selectively rotable about a first axis of said cam with respect to said base and said stem, said cam being selectively rotable between a first position wherein said corner block is located in an extended position with respect to said base and a second position wherein said corner block is located in a retracted position with respect to said base, said cam adapted to move said corner block generally parallel to said central axis of said base between said extended position and said retracted position of said corner block as said cam is moved between said first position and said second position of said cam;a locking mechanism adapted to releasably lock said cam in said first position and to releasably lock said cam in said second position, said locking mechanism including a locking member adapted to releasably engage said cam, said locking member being selectively movable between a locked position wherein said locking mechanism is adapted to prevent rotation of said cam about said first axis and an unlocked position wherein said locking member allows rotation of said cam about said first axis, said locking member including a first arm having a first end and a second arm having a second end, said first arm being spaced apart from said second arm, said camming member being located between said first arm and said second arm, said first end of said first arm adapted to engage said cam and prevent rotation of said cam in a first rotational direction about said first axis when said locking member is in said locked position, and said second end of said second arm adapted to engage said cam and prevent rotation of said cam in a second rotational direction about said first axis when said locking member is in said locked position. 16. The corner block adjustment mechanism of claim 15 wherein said cam includes an outwardly extending first locking lug and an outwardly extending second locking lug, said first arm of said locking member adapted to engage said first locking lug when said locking member is in said locked position and said second arm of said locking member adapted to engage said second locking lug when said locking member is in said locked position. 17. The corner block adjustment mechanism of claim 16 wherein said first locking lug includes a rotatable first roller and said second locking lug includes a rotatable second roller, said first roller adapted to roll along an engagement surface of said first arm and said second arm of said locking member when said locking member is in said unlocked position and said cam member is rotated in a first rotational direction from said first position toward said second position, said second roller adapted to roll along an engagement surface of said second arm and said first arm of said locking member when said locking member is in said unlocked position and said cam is rotated in a second rotational direction from said first position toward said second position. 18. A corner block adjustment mechanism for use with a container having a corner post and a bottom surface, said corner block adjustment mechanism comprising: a base adapted to be coupled to the corner post of the container, said base including a central axis, a chamber, and a distal end having an opening in communication with said chamber;a stem having a proximal end and a distal end, said stem extending through said opening in said base and into said chamber of said base;a corner block coupled to said distal end of said stem, said corner block having a bottom surface;a cam rotationally coupled to said base and to said stem, said cam being selectively rotable about a first axis of said cam with respect to said base and said stem, said cam being selectively rotable between a first position wherein said corner block is located in an extended position with respect to said base and to the bottom surface of the container and a second position wherein said corner block is located in a retracted position with respect to said base and to the bottom surface of the container, said cam adapted to move said corner block generally parallel to said central axis of said base between said extended position and said retracted position of said corner block as said cam is moved between said first position and said second position of said cam, said bottom surface of said corner block adapted to be located outwardly from the bottom surface of the container when said corner block is in the extended position and said bottom surface of said corner block adapted to be located generally coplanar with or inwardly from the bottom surface of the container when said corner block is in the retracted position.