Freight Containers Patents (Class 220/1.5)
  • Publication number: 20100224624
    Abstract: The container interconnect has a hollow male component installed on the floor steel panel of a container. A corresponding hollow female component is installed on the roof panel. Aligned and stacked containers automatically interconnect via the container interconnect because the container interconnect has a flange, seal and quick release fastener enabling the device to be self guiding, self connecting, self sealing, self fastening, self releasing, and self contained. Moreover, the container interconnect is rust proof. The purpose of the container interconnect is to provide a common airflow through a column of interconnected shipping containers. Air interconnects from multiple columns of the shipping containers can be joined, the collective airflow being suctioned to the interconnect on the top container, which interconnect is connected to an air analyzer wherein the common air of all the containers is analyzed for contraband, explosives, and the like.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 1, 2010
    Publication date: September 9, 2010
    Inventor: Homer Gonzalez
  • Patent number: 7789256
    Abstract: A container has door openings at opposite ends for dedicated loading from the discharge of a waste compactor at a door on a vertical hinge axis and unloading by tilt dumping through a swinging panel on a horizontal axis. A removable lid encompasses a substantial portion of the top. The container has standard intermodal fittings. The container can be loaded while on a compaction-reinforcement chassis with a structure that bears against the dumping side door to resist compactor forces. The container is reinforced notwithstanding the plural doors, including at a header and sill at the loading end, a rigid upper frame at traversing between the sides at the hinge for the dumping end, and by a container base including transverse fork-truck tine receptacles. The container is not limited to the specialized reception of compactor slugs and is also useful as a general purpose bulk container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2010
    Assignee: Wastequip, Inc.
    Inventors: Anthony D. Petzitillo, Jr., Todd A. Fowler
  • Patent number: 7789258
    Abstract: A portable checkpoint system is disclosed that incorporates a configurable freight container to facilitate transport and conversion for operation. The container is disposable into closed and open configurations. The closed configuration enables the container to be transported. The open configuration enables a vehicle to drive therethrough. In the closed configuration, the container forms a quadrilateral set of walls connectable in a rectangular box. A hinge joins two adjacent walls along a pivotable edge and pivots between perpendicular and coplanar positions corresponding respectively to the closed and open configurations. A joint reversibly connects two walls opposite the adjacent walls along a separable edge, disconnecting from a lock position to an unlock position that correspond respectively to the closed and open configurations. The hinge's perpendicular position disposes the two adjacent walls to be mutually perpendicular at the pivotable edge and forms the rectangular box.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2010
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventor: Steven E. Anderson
  • Patent number: 7784631
    Abstract: The invention provides improved collapsible storage container (10) which has a first pair of folding side gates (11) and a second pair of folding end gates (12), with each gate (11, 12) being pivotally mounted with respect to a pallet base. Each gate (11) has detachably mounted along opposite vertical margins thereof approximately c-shaped posts (22) each of which has a locking flange (23). Each gate (12) has angle members (35) attached to and extending along opposite vertical frame members (30, 31) and forming therewith a flange receiving slot (40) for slidably locating a respective locking flange (23). The gates (11, 12) when in their erect positions interlock with one another along their adjacent vertical margins which enhances the stiffness and rigidity of the container (10).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2010
    Assignee: Rees Operations Pty Ltd
    Inventors: Arthur Raymond Winn, Trevor Dean Kelly
  • Patent number: 7774919
    Abstract: A collapsible cargo container (10) is configurable into an erected condition and a collapsed condition. The container (10) comprises a base (12), a pair of opposed side walls (14) hinged to the base (12), a top (16) hinged to the side walls (14), a front wall (18) hinged to the base (12), a back wall (20) hinged to the base (12), flaps (22, 24, 26, 28, 30 and 32) hinged to the side walls (14) and top (16), and a door (34) formed in one of the walls. Fasteners (36) secure the flaps (22, 24, 26, 28, 30 and 32) to the front and back walls (18, 20) when the container (10) is in the erected condition. The front and back walls (18, 20) are collapsible upon the base (12) and the side walls (14) and top (16) are collapsible upon the front and back walls (18, 20) when the container (10) is in the collapsed condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2010
    Assignee: Bradford Company
    Inventors: Timothy A. Bublitz, Brian T. Dobrinski
  • Patent number: 7766179
    Abstract: An assembly comprises a container having a base, one or more sidewalls extending upward from the base to a frame-shaped member that forms an upper rim, and one or more access hatches supported by the frame-shaped member and forming a lid. One or more table leaves are attached to the frame-shaped member, each of the one or more table leaves operative to rotate into a respective closed position and into a respective open position. Each of the one or more table leaves is disposed above at least a portion of the container when in its closed position, and each of the one or more table leaves is at least partially disposed above a region to a side of the container when in its open position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2010
    Inventors: David M. George, Scott P. Woodrick
  • Publication number: 20100191615
    Abstract: The new system of components involves improved efficiency of business operations for railroad, semi-tractor trailer, and shipping and storage containers. The new divided compartment multiple subunit rolling or knob door climate controlled shipping and storage cars, break down containers, and light weight aluminum containers and cars interconnect manufacturer's facilities with staging warehouses with storage, and transportation yards and retail/wholesale manufacturers and service related businesses. Stacked interchangeable components allow quick erection for immediate demand unit usage and quick conversion from railroad to highway mode without unloading of standardized cubicle containers and cars to improve operating efficiency. The new usages and locations of hook holes for lifting components allows car and frame usage in locations with crane or forklift availability. The new storage units allow for small or larger load transportation at lower cost.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 29, 2010
    Publication date: July 29, 2010
    Inventor: Michael Robert Thomas
  • Patent number: 7762417
    Abstract: A shipping crate for shipping objects such as all-terrain vehicles and personal water-crafts. The shipping crate includes a top frame structure and a bottom frame structure. The crate may include an extension removably connectable to the bottom frame structure. The crate may include at least one pivotally mounted leg.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2010
    Assignee: Gatewood Products, LLC
    Inventor: W. Craig Arnold
  • Patent number: 7762416
    Abstract: A shipping crate for shipping objects such as all-terrain vehicles (ATVs) and personal water-crafts (PWCs). The shipping crate is completely recyclable and includes a top frame structure and a bottom frame structure. The top and bottom frame structures are operable to telescopically engage each another when the crate is empty. Also, leg portions can be placed between the top and bottom frame structures and the leg portions can telescopically engage the top and bottom frame structures at opposite ends thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 2, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2010
    Assignee: Gatewood Products, LLC
    Inventor: W. Craig Arnold
  • Publication number: 20100176124
    Abstract: A transport device such as an ISO container that is adapted to be transported by air or surface transportation. The transport device includes a base, a plurality of movable ISO corner blocks movably coupled to the base, and a plurality of adjustment mechanisms. Each adjustment mechanism is adapted to couple a respective corner block to the base and to selectively move the corner block with respect to the base between an air transport position, wherein the bottom surface of the corner block does not extend beyond the bottom surface of the base, and a surface transport position wherein the bottom surface of the corner block is located below the bottom surface of the base. The base includes a plurality of roller plates that form the bottom surface of the base and that are adapted to engage rollers of an aircraft cargo handling system. The transport device also includes detent rails that are removably attached to the base.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 26, 2010
    Publication date: July 15, 2010
    Applicant: AAR CORP.
    Inventor: William J. Gerding
  • Publication number: 20100147728
    Abstract: An energy-absorbing bulkhead apparatus includes high-strength roll formed tubular bars, and a bar-supporting sheet to distribute stress from product shifting in large shipping containers during transport. Parts are re-useable and can be quickly installed into the shipping container at selected locations such as near the container's doors. The bars can be swept and/or have deformed/configured ends shaped to engage channel features in side walls of the large shipping container. The bars may define spaced tubes and a tie rod for added strength. For example, the bars can be steel having 120 KSI to 220 KSI tensile strength, and have a cross-section 2-3 inches in depth and 4-6 inches in height, a length of 94 long, and a longitudinal sweep of 6 inches curvature. A flexitank can be positioned in the shipping container and supported by a combination of the bulkhead.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 15, 2009
    Publication date: June 17, 2010
    Inventors: Melvin Guiles, Todd Armstrong, Richard D. Heinz, James H. Dodd, Kenneth E. McKeller, David Michael Sims, Michael Shane Sims, Donald Patrick Reilly
  • Publication number: 20100147837
    Abstract: An insulated shipping container system for transferring a temperature sensitive product comprising a substantially hollow insulated body having inner walls and outer walls defining a payload cavity to receive a payload and supports to space the payload from the insulated body thereby defining an internal air filled space to facilitate heat transfer. The insulated shipping container system further comprises a heat transfer element cavity configured to receive a heat transfer element and supports to space the heat transfer element from the insulated body thereby defining an internal air filled space to facilitate heat transfer. Also provided are methods for shipping temperature sensitive products and goods comprised of packing and assembling the insulated shipping container system disclosed herein.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 1, 2010
    Publication date: June 17, 2010
    Inventor: Alton Williams
  • Publication number: 20100147836
    Abstract: The invention relates to an abrasion resistant load bin for use to transport abrasive materials. The load bin includes a wear layer manufactured from polymeric material, which provide a wear surface, in use; and a second, backing layer manufactured from a non-deformable fibre reinforced polymeric material. The invention also describes methods to manufacture the load bin.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 20, 2008
    Publication date: June 17, 2010
    Inventor: George Fechter Hoffmann
  • Publication number: 20100147842
    Abstract: A transportable freight container assembly comprising: an outer freight container having side walls, a base, at least one door to allow access to an interior of the container and lock means to releasably lock the at least one door in a closed position; a plurality of inner freight containers having side walls, a base, a roof and at least one door to allow access to the interior of the container and lock means to releasably lock the at least one door; wherein each of the plurality of inner freight containers are configured to be housed at the interior of the outer freight container so as to be removably storable within the outer freight container.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 16, 2008
    Publication date: June 17, 2010
    Inventors: Kenneth Reynard, Norman Kendall
  • Patent number: 7731046
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a composite panel includes manufacturing a composite panel having a first skin, a second skin, a core, and a plurality of distinct groupings of Z-axis fibers that extend through the core from the first skin to the second skin, wherein the Z-axis fibers include opposite ends respectively terminating at and integrated into the first skin and the second skin; and creating structural stringers in the composite panel by removing the second skin and substantially all of the core and the Z-axis fibers down to or adjacent to the first skin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2010
    Assignee: Ebert Composites Corporation
    Inventor: David W. Johnson
  • Patent number: 7731459
    Abstract: A transportation container includes an upper section having a plurality of sidewalls defining a space dimensioned to receive oversized cargo for transport and a base section adapted to mate with a standardized interface of a transportation vehicle for supporting the upper section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2010
    Assignee: BNSF Railway Company
    Inventor: Warren J. Bell
  • Publication number: 20100133264
    Abstract: A foldable transport container is provided which substantially folds horizontally against a side wall (SSI) and in which the process of folding can be facilitated using external automatic apparatus.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 11, 2007
    Publication date: June 3, 2010
    Applicants: INDIAN INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY, DELHI, SIMPRI INVESTMENTS LIMITED
    Inventors: Anoop Chawla, Sudipto Mukherjee
  • Publication number: 20100133215
    Abstract: A display system is provided having a base and a plurality of trays supported by posts. The base includes a pallet having a plurality of wheels extending from a lower surface. The base supports a first tray formed from a corrugated material. A plurality of posts extending from an upper surface of the pallet support a second tray formed from a corrugated material. Subsequent trays can be supported by additional posts. The trays support a plurality of goods for sale. Corrugated spacer pieces can be positioned in the trays as necessary depending on the size and shape of the goods supported in the tray.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 18, 2009
    Publication date: June 3, 2010
    Applicant: Menasha Corporation
    Inventor: Christopher Norman
  • Patent number: 7722101
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for lifting and collapsing a collapsible cargo container includes a frame, and vertical guides for aligning the spreader with the cargo container. First and second pusher assemblies engage the end walls of the container to pivot the end walls against the ceiling of the container, where uplocks retain the end walls in a stowed away position. Foldable side walls are then buckled by the weight of the ceiling with assistance from the spreader, until the side walls occupy a predominantly horizontal position between the ceiling/end wall combination and a floor of the cargo container, resulting in a compact configuration. The spreader unfolds the container using steps discussed above in a reverse order.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2010
    Assignee: Alex R. Bellehumeur, Trustee of the Alex Bellehumeur Family Trust
    Inventors: Alexander R. Bellehumeur, James Woods, John Wells
  • Patent number: 7717290
    Abstract: A transport device such as an ISO container that is adapted to be transported by air or surface transportation. The transport device includes a base, a plurality of movable ISO corner blocks movably coupled to the base, and a plurality of adjustment mechanisms. Each adjustment mechanism is adapted to couple a respective corner block to the base and to selectively move the corner block with respect to the base between an air transport position, wherein the bottom surface of the corner block does not extend beyond the bottom surface of the base, and a surface transport position wherein the bottom surface of the corner block is located below the bottom surface of the base. The base includes a plurality of roller plates that form the bottom surface of the base and that are adapted to engage rollers of an aircraft cargo handling system. The transport device also includes detent rails that are removably attached to the base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2010
    Assignee: AAR Corp.
    Inventor: William J. Gerding
  • Publication number: 20100101262
    Abstract: A system (10) for cooling freight goods on board an aircraft comprises a refrigerating apparatus and a cooling station (14) to which cooling energy generated by said refrigerating apparatus is fed by means of a refrigerating medium and which is connected to an air infeed line (29) of an air-conditioning installation of the aircraft, wherein an air outlet aperture (16) of the cooling station (14) is connectable to a freight compartment (24) of the aircraft in order to discharge into said freight compartment (24) air which has been cooled down to a desired temperature.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 25, 2008
    Publication date: April 29, 2010
    Inventors: Ozan Uluc, Andreas Frey, Sven Reisbach, Frank Bliemeister
  • Patent number: 7703632
    Abstract: Structures, methods, and systems associated with a stackable and collapsible container are provided. One structure includes a stackable and collapsible container having at least four non-collapsible, load bearing vertical support members attached to vertical walls of the container and capable of supporting the weight of other containers. A top surface is included having a number of sections which include a pivotal connection to one another and which are collapsible about the pivotal connection to an interior of the container. A bottom surface is included having a number of sections which include a pivotal connection to one another and which are collapsible about the pivotal connection to an interior of the container. The top and the bottom surfaces of the container can be fixedly positioned in a number of collapsed states.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2010
    Inventor: George E. Kochanowski
  • Publication number: 20100089911
    Abstract: A temporary, disposable bulkhead disposed within a refrigerated structure such as a refrigerated cargo trailer for separating frozen product from non-frozen product and maintaining the integrity of both types of product includes a pair of pivotally attached insulation members with each insulation member including a cavity containing a flexible, inflatable air bag and a measuring device for measuring the interior dimensions of the cargo trailer so that the bulkhead can be cut to fit the interior dimensions whereupon the air bags are inflated for sealing against the cargo trailers' sidewalls and a foam insulation strip extending along the upper side of both insulation members seals against the cargo trailer ceiling thereby creating two separate compartments within the cargo trailer that are airtight sealed from each other for maintaining the integrity and quality of the frozen and non-frozen product throughout the transport and shipping process.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 10, 2008
    Publication date: April 15, 2010
    Inventors: Daniel Anthony Haddad, Joyce Christine Frieze
  • Patent number: 7690522
    Abstract: A cargo bin formed of a medial cargo module having opposing open ends formed to securely engage an extension member to extend the length of the bin, or an end wall, for use when a non-extended bin is required. A unique engagement mechanism is provided for securely affixing the extension member or end wall to the medial cargo module, wherein there is provided a cradle formed to receive an engagement rod, the engagement mechanism formed to securely guide the components together so as to align engagement apertures associated with the side edges of the units, which engagement apertures, when aligned, are secured via retention pins or the like.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2010
    Inventor: Charles H. Rood
  • Publication number: 20100078429
    Abstract: A method for stowage of cargo items (7, 18, 100). In a cargo container (12, 20, 103) wherein spaces around the cargo items and within the cargo container are at least partly filled with spacer elements (1, 19, 104-106, 109-112) so as to substantially prevent movement of the cargo items in the cargo container, characterized in that dynamic forces on the cargo items associated with motion of the cargo container and/or weight forces on the cargo items are transmitted to the container structure through the spacer elements, and wherein at least one spacer element transmitting such forces comprises a shaped block of expanded plastics foam material, preferably polystyrene. The invention is applicable to comparatively heavy loads such as those transported in shipping containers and in such land vehicles as rail cars and road transport vehicles.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 27, 2006
    Publication date: April 1, 2010
    Applicant: Strang LPP Nominees PTY LTD
    Inventors: Robert Andrew Scott Strang, Robert William Alistair Strang
  • Publication number: 20100074723
    Abstract: Embodiments described herein comprise a system and method for collapsing a cargo container. The system may include a top container portion and a bottom container portion. One container portion is configured to fit into the other container portion thereby allowing the container to move between an expanded and a collapsed position. The container moves from an expanded position capable of being loaded with freight for shipping to a collapsed position for shipping when empty or when less freight is needed to ship.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 21, 2009
    Publication date: March 25, 2010
    Inventor: Donnie M. Lancon
  • Publication number: 20100044369
    Abstract: A container module for military and/or humanitarian field operations has a floor, a roof cover and side walls which, at least in the transport state, form a substantially closed, preferably cuboid container housing. A number of technical devices are permanently installed in the container housing and determine the functional scope of the container module. The container housing is permanently mounted on a load-bearing transport plate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 20, 2009
    Publication date: February 25, 2010
    Inventors: Hans-Joachim Toepfer, Markus Kostron
  • Publication number: 20100025397
    Abstract: A foldable portable container provided with an integral mechanical mechanism for folding or unfolding the container is described. The integral mechanical drive mechanism is utilized to simultaneously angularly displace the opposing container end walls and the container roof attached thereto to fold or unfold the portable container.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 30, 2008
    Publication date: February 4, 2010
    Inventor: Christopher G. Krohn
  • Patent number: 7654390
    Abstract: A unitary palletized packaging assembly for securing a packaged article to a wooden shipping pallet is provided. The article is assembled on a paperboard base and then after assembly enclosed in an open bottomed carton and placed on a shipping pallet. The transport base and carton each have bottom flaps that are folded downward and stapled to the sides of the shipping pallet in overlapping fashion to prevent lateral movement of the transport base and packaged article with respect to the shipping pallet. The transport base includes cushioning elements to cushion and support the article.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2010
    Assignee: Sonoco Development Inc.
    Inventors: James R Baechle, Matthew Marrow, Edward L Lake
  • Publication number: 20100018964
    Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed including one or more security structures. The one or more security structures includes: a weldable frame; a plurality of composite panels, each panel securable to the weldable frame, each composite panel configured to form at least one joint with at least one adjoining composite panel; and a respective security element embedded within each of the composite panels. The security element is configured to detect a breach in the composite panel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 22, 2009
    Publication date: January 28, 2010
    Inventor: Fred Hewitt SMITH
  • Publication number: 20100012653
    Abstract: There is provided a container for transporting objects. The container has an interior to hold at least one object. An exemplary container comprises an inner box and an outer box. The exemplary container also comprises at least one sensor for detecting measured data relating to the object, the at least one sensor being located between the inner box and the outer box. The exemplary container additionally comprises at least one transponder connected to the at least one sensor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 3, 2007
    Publication date: January 21, 2010
    Inventors: Keith Ulrich, Stefan Wilms
  • Publication number: 20100008726
    Abstract: A gabion deployment system comprising: a container (30) for retaining a gabion (22) and a gabion (22) of the folding type comprising hingedly attached, connected side walls (16 & 18) and cross-members (12) such that it can be folded for storage and deployed for use; a retaining means (50) associated with the container (30) for retaining the gabion (20) in the container; and at least one releasable attaching, connecting or retentive engaging means (66) for attaching, connecting or retentively engaging at least one part of the gabion (22) to the retaining means (50); wherein the at least one releasable attaching, connecting or retentively engaging means (66) is adapted to attach, connect or retentively engage a part of the gabion (22) to the retaining means (50) when the gabion (22) is folded but to release the gabion (22) from the retaining means (50) when the gabion (22) is deployed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 17, 2007
    Publication date: January 14, 2010
    Inventor: James Heselden
  • Patent number: 7644831
    Abstract: A lightweight horizontal dispensing container comprising a pallet base, a pallet cover and opposed side walls of plastic material extending between the pallet base and the pallet cover may be stacked on top of similar pallet covers or below similar pallet bases. Opposed rectangular frames are secured to the sleeve and define openings on opposed sides of the horizontal dispensing container. Dunnage provides horizontal access to parts inside the container. This container enables a horizontal dispensing container to be stacked above or below conventional pallet load.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2010
    Assignee: Bradford Company
    Inventor: William J. Vroon
  • Patent number: 7644830
    Abstract: A lightweight horizontal dispensing container comprises a pallet base, a pallet cover and a three sided sleeve extending between the pallet base and the pallet cover. The container may be stacked on top of similar pallet covers or below similar pallet bases. A rectangular frame is secured to opposed walls and defines an opening on a fourth side of the container. Dunnage is located inside the container to provide horizontal access to parts inside the container. This container enables a horizontal dispensing container to be stacked above or below conventional pallet loads.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2010
    Assignee: Bradford Company
    Inventor: William J. Vroon
  • Publication number: 20090305626
    Abstract: The invention is directed to a ready-to-use modular cleanroom and facility, in particular for the production of drugs and biological substances, which is equipped with pre-approved manufacturing equipment cores. The modular cleanroom is implemented in the interior space of a container, such as a standard shipping container, and includes at least one bioreactor station. The modular facility can be installed on-site from pre-approved cleanroom modules without further regulatory approval. The cleanroom and facility comply with FDA-approved good manufacturing practices (GMP) and good laboratory practices (GLP).
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 5, 2006
    Publication date: December 10, 2009
    Inventor: Ernest G. Hope
  • Patent number: 7624885
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a container arrangement having a frame (4) supporting a tank (2) and an equipment compartment (3), whereby the equipment compartment (3) is accessible by means of a closeable aperture (9) arranged in an exterior wall (5) of the equipment compartment and whereby the exterior wall (5) is connected with the container frame (12?, 12?, 13) in a demountable fashion. The frame (4) may be composed of frame modules (4?, 4?, 4??), which are solidly interconnected by means of detachable coupling elements (41).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2009
    Assignee: WEW Westerwälder Eisenwerk GmbH
    Inventor: Dieter Pfau
  • Patent number: 7621414
    Abstract: A coupling piece for joining two containers (35, 36) that are stacked one atop the other, particularly onboard ships is provided. Such a coupling is provided at corner fittings (43, 44) and each include a stop plate (21) and a coupling projection (22, 23) on each side of the stop plate (21). A first coupling projection (22) can be placed on the corner fitting of one container (36) and the other coupling projection (23) is provided with a locking catch (28, 46, 54) for locking inside a corner fitting of the other container (35). The drawback that front-side openings in upper corner fittings (43, 44) of a container (36) are obstructed by a locking catch of the coupling piece, hindering the use of lashing means is overcome with the coupling piece locking catch (28, 46, 54), when viewed in the longitudinal direction of the containers (35, 36), being arranged laterally on the other coupling projection (23).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2009
    Assignee: Sec Ship's Equipment Centre Bremen GmbH
    Inventor: Christian Bederke
  • Publication number: 20090272738
    Abstract: Embodiments provide a cargo basket including a frame, the frame including a base, the base including a pair of elongated first and second lower side members, the base including a pair of elongated first and second lower end members, the frame including a floor supported by the base, the frame including four corner posts extending from the base at respective of the four base corners, the frame including an elongated primary side wall supported by the base, the frame including a spaced pair of first and second end walls supported by the base, the frame including a spaced pair of first and second terminal side walls supported by the base, an access portal defined between the pair of terminal side posts, and a pair of gates supported for pivotal movement relative to respective of the terminal side posts.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 3, 2008
    Publication date: November 5, 2009
    Inventor: Eric P. Marcel
  • Patent number: 7604141
    Abstract: A modular housing unit is fabricated from an intermodal cargo container. The rectangular box comprising the cargo container is cut into three sections. A right triangular section is fabricated from a center portion. The remaining portion is folded to form a “L”-shaped structure. The triangular section is reinserted into the vertex of the “L” to form a substantially triangular housing unit. A door is cut therein to provide means for entering the building. Intermodal cargo containers ranging from 20-53 feet in length can thus be employed to provide up to 424 square feet of living space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2009
    Inventor: John C Taylor
  • Patent number: 7594361
    Abstract: The modular building system consists of building modules (1) in high resistance, reinforced concrete, to be stacked vertically and placed side-by-side in the construction of preferably residential buildings. Each module (1) forms a monolithic structure or consists of a steel frame (103) and panels (102), with walls, ceiling and floor. These modules (1) include positioning devices (2 and 3) for stacking purposes; side connection elements (5 and 6) between the modules (1); and/or horizontal and vertical tightening bands (104 and 105). These modules are leveled by using leveling sheets and/or non-retraction mortar and/or a method with jacks (108) and tubular sections (109) filled with non-retraction mortar (193) until it sets and the jacks (108) are removed. Each building module (1) includes all the accessories and finishing elements of a home, such as facades, windows, utilities, furniture and interior equipment considered useful.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2009
    Assignee: Compact — Habit S.L.
    Inventor: José Tragant Ruano
  • Patent number: 7591386
    Abstract: A multi-use intermodal container for transporting cargo comprises compartments, each having both a hopper for discharging particulate material from the bottom of the compartments and a floor above the hopper for supporting standard freight thereon. The floor is arranged to allow passage of particulate material therethrough so that the compartments can be used either for bulk material transport or standard cargo/freight. A door in the side wall provides access to store cargo on the floor of the compartment and a roof hatch provides access to store bulk materials in the compartment for subsequent removal through the hopper.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2009
    Inventor: Robert C. Hooper
  • Publication number: 20090223038
    Abstract: A collapsible cargo container (10) is configurable into an erected condition and a collapsed condition. The container (10) comprises a base (12), a pair of opposed side walls (14) hinged to the base (12), a top (16) hinged to the side walls (14), a front wall (18) hinged to the base (12), a back wall (20) hinged to the base (12), flaps (22, 24, 26, 28, 30 and 32) hinged to the side walls (14) and top (16), and a door (34) formed in one of the walls. Fasteners (36) secure the flaps (22, 24, 26, 28, 30 and 32) to the front and back walls (18, 20) when the container (10) is in the erected condition. The front and back walls (18, 20) are collapsible upon the base (12) and the side walls (14) and top (16) are collapsible upon the front and back walls (18, 20) when the container (10) is in the collapsed condition.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 20, 2009
    Publication date: September 10, 2009
    Applicant: BRADFORD COMPANY
    Inventors: Timothy A. Bublitz, Brian T. Dobrinski
  • Patent number: 7584863
    Abstract: A container according to ISO standards as a mobile workspace in civilian and military use comprising a cuboid metal frame of ISO corners and edge profiles connecting these ISO corners as well as thermally insulated side walls, ceiling and floor. The edge profiles are designed in two parts and the two partial profiles of an edge profile run parallel to one another and the intermediate space between the two profiles is filled completely by a thermally insulating material, with the side walls, ceiling and floor having a vacuum insulation layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2009
    Assignee: EADS Deutschland GmbH
    Inventors: Hubert Bucher, Roland Krause, Andreas Serden, Albert Fritzsche
  • Publication number: 20090212047
    Abstract: A cargo container includes a cargo box affixed atop a hollow base, with the base including forklift tunnels extending therethrough with elongate bays disposed parallel thereto. Each bay includes a removable tray for receiving electrical batteries. And, a temperature control system is disposed on a sidewall adjoining the base.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 23, 2009
    Publication date: August 27, 2009
    Inventors: Donald Edward Harman, Kyle Mathias Taylor
  • Patent number: 7571828
    Abstract: Barrier units and articles made therefrom, particularly constraining bands of high strength and low weight for containing articles, especially in blast resistant container assemblies, are disclosed. The barrier unit comprises a surface having a regular polygonal perimeter with a plurality of substantially parallel sides, each of which terminates in at least one loop integral with the surface. The surface comprises at least one network of high strength fiber with at least about 50 weight percent of the fiber comprising substantially contianuous lengths of fiber aligned in the hoop direction of the loops. The barrier units have utility as constraining bands for loads of articles like logs, and as doors/closures for access openings to the interior of aircraft blast resistant cargo containers. They are also useful as fences and window protectors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2009
    Assignee: DSM IP Assets B.V.
    Inventors: Igor Palley, Gary Allan Harpell, Max Wilhelm Gerlach
  • Publication number: 20090184114
    Abstract: A framework for support of a tank within the framework includes four corner posts joined by four top rails and four bottom rails together defining a rectangular prism. At least one of the rails includes a forkpocket assembly. The forkpocket assembly includes at least one forkpocket protection plate. The forkpocket protection plate defines a pair of forkpocket tubes configured to receive tines of a forklift. The forkpocket tubes are situated at a vertical forkpocket height selected to be removed from the tank vertical profile of a framework profile. A vertical protection plate extends vertically over a portion of the tank vertical profile of a framework profile.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 21, 2009
    Publication date: July 23, 2009
    Inventor: Terrance R. Thomas, II
  • Publication number: 20090184126
    Abstract: The idea of the present invention is that an airfreight container according to the invention, which is designed especially for an unpressurized cargo hold of an aircraft, comprises an airtight and pressure-tight container housing with a container interior space for accommodating airfreight goods. This airfreight container furthermore comprises an internal compressed air generating device which is designed. for independently generating compressed air for supplying the container interior space with compressed air. The concept according to the invention of an at least partly autonomous airfreight container, which is created as a result, provides that the airfreight container according to the invention, in addition to the pure bundling of goods, now provides, moreover, different supply systems, such as the device for compressed air generation and compressed air provision, corresponding to the specific requirements.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2008
    Publication date: July 23, 2009
    Applicant: AIRBUS Deutschland GmbH
    Inventors: Daniel Glaser, Oliver Thomaschewski, Peter Theis, Alexander Wieser, Andrew Muin, Markus Schumacher
  • Publication number: 20090184112
    Abstract: Shipping containers that are wider than standard 8-foot (2.44 m) wide shipping containers and methods of shipping such extended width shipping containers are disclosed. The extended width shipping containers include: a roof; a base; a front end; a back end; two side panels; at least one door rotatable about a door rotation axis substantially perpendicular to the roof and the base; two pairs of end rails substantially perpendicular to the roof and the base; and two pairs of corner posts substantially perpendicular to the two side panels and the door rotation axis; wherein the corner posts are configured to support a greater compressive load than the end rails. Methods of shipping an extended width shipping container include: loading the shipping container with cargo; rotating the shipping container to a shipping orientation; placing the shipping container in an 8-foot (2.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 17, 2008
    Publication date: July 23, 2009
    Inventor: Ole Henrik Nielsen
  • Publication number: 20090184113
    Abstract: A packing crate having a first, expanded configuration and a second, compact configuration is disclosed. In the first configuration, the crate is formed by a floor assembly and a seal that are interconnected by an upright assembly. In the second configuration, the floor assembly and seal are directly connected to form a chamber for housing the disassembled upright assembly. Structurally, the floor assembly includes a rectangular floor panel with four side edges and four floor braces. Further, the upright assembly includes four rectangular upright panels and four corner braces for bracing each interface between the upright panels in the first configuration. Also, the seal includes a rectangular seal panel and four seal braces.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 23, 2008
    Publication date: July 23, 2009
    Inventor: Richard Freeman Smith, III
  • Patent number: 7556170
    Abstract: A lightweight horizontal dispensing container comprising a pallet base, a pallet cover and a three sided sleeve of plastic material extending between the pallet base and the pallet cover may be stacked on top of similar pallet covers or below similar pallet bases. A rectangular frame is secured to the sleeve and defines an opening on a fourth side of the horizontal dispensing container. Dunnage provides horizontal access to parts inside the container. This container enables a horizontal dispensing container to be stacked above or below conventional pallet loads.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2009
    Assignee: Bradford Company
    Inventor: William J. Vroon