Abstract: An integrated interbox connector to permit vertical stacking of cargo carriers includes a plate movably connected to the carrier and positionable between in a stored position situated within a wall of the carrier and a connecting position situated on top of the roof of the carrier, the plate carrying a lug for engaging interlocking apertures provided on the bottom of a vertically adjacent cargo carrier. The lug can be secured to the interlocking aperture by a pin engaging a hole in a fixed lug or by a tab causing rotation of a rotatable lug.

Abstract: A chassis attachable to a fifth wheel of a tractor for hauling a freight container has a variable height gooseneck assembly for accommodating either a standard or a reduced tunnel depth freight container seatable on the chassis. The variable height gooseneck assembly includes a longitudinally extending gooseneck beam and a plate movable to a first position above the longitudinally extending gooseneck beam to support a standard tunnel depth freight container. A plate support element is movably connected to the plate and the longitudinally extending gooseneck beam, the plate support element being configured to move the plate to a second position that allows supported positioning on the gooseneck assembly of a reduced tunnel depth container.

Abstract: A chassis attachable to a fifth wheel of a tractor for hauling a freight container has a variable height gooseneck assembly for accommodating either a standard or a reduced tunnel depth freight container seatable on the chassis. The variable height gooseneck assembly includes a longitudinally extending gooseneck beam and a plate movable to a first position above the longitudinally extending gooseneck beam to support a standard tunnel depth freight container. A plate support element is movably connected to the plate and the longitudinally extending gooseneck beam, the plate support element being configured to move the plate to a second position that allows supported positioning on the gooseneck assembly of a reduced tunnel depth container.

Abstract: A cargo carrier liftable by, a lift element of a vertical mover includes a floor, a roof, a pair of parallel side walls, and first and second end walls, at least one of the side walls and end walls including a opening to permit the entry and exit of cargo. A plurality of low profile floor supports extend between the side walls to increase container capacity without increasing exterior dimensions of the container. A plurality of lift pockets are fixed to the side walls adjacent the roof, each lift pocket including a back plate and a guide plate attached to lie in parallel contiguous relationship to the side wall and in spaced apart parallel relationship to the back plate to define a cavity therebetween.

Abstract: Apparatus for engaging interlocking apertures provided on the bottom of intermodal cargo containers to permit vertical stacking of the containers. The apparatus is in the form of integrated interbox connectors movably connected to the containers and positionable between in a stored position situated within the walls of the container and a connecting position situated on top of the roof of the container to engage the interlocking apertures of a vertically adjacent container. A pin is provided for securing the interbox connectors situated in the connecting position to said interlocking apertures provided on the bottom of said vertically adjacent container.

Abstract: A thin gooseneck assembly is provided for use in the chassis of a semi-trailer intended for hauling freight containers. The gooseneck assembly is formed by a fabricated tube extending longitudinally to define substantially the entire length of the gooseneck. The fabricated tube includes a lower plate having a pair of upstanding side defining flanges. A rearward portion of the lower plate includes a pair of longitudinal slots for receiving in fixed relation the web of a longitudinal beam which extends from the gooseneck to the rearward end of the semi-trailer. The top flange of each longitudinal beam is fixed to an upper surface of the lower plate so that a lower surface of each top flange is in surface-to-surface contact with the lower plate upper surface. An upper plate is positioned parallel to the lower plate and fixed to upper portions of the side-defining flanges. A kingpin for coupling the chassis to a tractor fifth wheel projects downward through the lower plate of the fabricated tube.

Abstract: A cargo container generally includes a floor, a roof, a pair of parallel side walls, and first and second end walls, at least one of the side walls and end walls including an opening to permit the entry and exit of cargo from the enclosed space. The floor is formed to include a a plurality of low profile support elements extending transversely between the side walls. The plurality of support elements are uniformly distributed thoughout the entire length of floor, with each support element consisting essentially of a pair of uniformily spaced apart vertical members having upper and lower ends, a horizontal member joining the lower ends of the vertical members to form in cross section a U-shape, a reinforcing strap contiguously welded to the horizontal member, and outwardly extending flanges from the tops of each of the vertical members. The floor surface is coupled to the support element flanges.

Abstract: A cargo container generally includes a floor, a roof, a pair of parallel side walls, and first and second end walls, at least one of the side walls and end walls including an opening to permit the entry and exit of cargo from the enclosed space. The floor is formed to include a a plurality of low profile support elements extending transversely between the side walls. The plurality of support elements are uniformly distributed thoughout the entire length of floor, with each support element consisting essentially of a pair of uniformily spaced apart vertical members having upper and lower ends, a horizontal member joining the lower ends of the vertical members to form in cross section a U-shape, a reinforcing strap contiguously welded to the horizontal member, and outwardly extending flanges from the tops of each of the vertical members. The floor surface is coupled to the support element flanges.

Abstract: Joining member for joining an adjacent pair of plates on a side of a cargo carrier are formed by a rectilinear strip having an inner surface including a pair of flanges positioned between two rows of aperatures straddling a channel of uniform depth. A sealing strip fixed in said channel having a width about equal to the distance between said pair of flanges, a length equal to the rectilinear strip length, and a thickness greater than the channel depth seals the line of adjacency between the pair of plates. Alternatively, an inner strip including openings alligned with said channel for receiving logistics fittings is employed where the plates are spaced apart to permit the channel defining flanges to project between the plates.

Abstract: Joining member for joining an adjacent pair of plates on a side of a cargo carrier are formed by a rectilinear strip having an inner surface including a pair of flanges positioned between two rows of aperatures straddling a channel of uniform depth. A sealing strip fixed in the channel having a width about equal to the distance between said pair of flanges, a length equal to the rectilinear strip length, and a thickness greater than the channel depth seals the line of adjacency between the pair of plates. Alternatively, an inner strip including openings aligned with the channel for receiving logistics fittings is employed where the plates are spaced apart to permit the channel defining flanges to project between the plates.

Abstract: A container for intermodal transportation of goods is disclosed which has a floor, a roof, and includes side walls having a plurality of vertically oriented stacking frame posts joining a floor-level lower stacking engagement fitting and a roof-level upper stacking engagement fitting. At least one post in each side wall has an inner post member and an outer post member fixed to each other to form a generally box-shaped structure. A reinforcement plate is situated adjacent the floor-level lower stacking engagement fitting and fixed within the box-shaped structure to the inner post member. A notch in each inner post member adjacent the lower stacking engagement fitting exposes an inner surface of the reinforcement plate to permit the insertion of a weld joining the reinforcement plate inner surface to the engagement fitting. An angle member is received within the notch and extends onto the engagement fitting.

Abstract: An adapter (50) is provided for adapting a wide-body container (10) including coupling members (20) to be supported upon a set of container supports (40) spaced at a pre-established standard width narrower than the width of the container. The adapter (50) includes a generally rectangular casting (52) having a plurality of apertures (54,56). A plurality of brackets (58,59,60) moveably mount the adapter (50) to a wide-body container coupling member (20) so as to permit deployment of the adapter below the container. When the adapter is not in use, the adapter is retained below the container adjacent to coupling member by a finger (88) engaging detent (86) on bracket (59). The finger (88) on the end of arm (90) can be released by removing retainer (98) and pulling on handle (102). A shaft (68) mounted to pivot within the adapter enclosure and a hook (80) fixed to the shaft for movement therewith is moved to a position engaging a container coupling member.

Abstract: A wide-body shipping container is adapted for engagement with standard width container supports mounted on various types of carriers by providing a plurality of adapters movably mounted with respect to supporting points on the bottom of the wide-body containers. Each adapter is movable to a position below the container supporting point and engageable therewith in such a manner as to define a new supporting structure spaced laterally inward from the outer most surface of the wide body shipping container so as to permit coupling of the container to a standard width container support.