APPARATUS FOR ALTERNATIVELY SECURING IRREGULAR CARGO AND STANDARD SHIPPING CONTAINERS

摘要

Irregularly shaped and dimensioned cargo and standardized shipping containers are tied down to the deck of a vessel or the like by installing on deck a tie-down plate which has a first, cross-shaped cutout defined by opposing pairs of communicating cutout arms and a superimposed, substantially rectangular second cutout aligned with the first cutout. Irregular cargo is secured by placing a bulb hook in one of the cutout arms. The bulb hook has a cylindrical base of greater diameter than the width of the cutout arms, an integral shaft extending through the cutout arms and an angularly inclined arm that terminates in an eyelet to which tie-down rope, cable, chain, etc. is secured. For securing standard shipping containers a corner cone is inserted into the superimposed rectangular opening in the plate. An upwardly protruding portion of the cone engages a mating aperture in a corner fitting of the container. The corner cone can be locked to prevent vertical withdrawal of the cone while engaged with a container.