Abstract: A folding flatrack freight carrier has folding walls (111) comprising slender corner posts (112) of a width similar to the conventional lashing gap (L). The posts (112) are synergetically supported by the wall structure (111) which may be transversely corrugated (113) or may have transverse or other stiffeners (127) secured to it. The slender corner posts (112) may comprise solid bars, rolled or pressed angle sections (129) or channel sections (138,139). The wall structure (113) may be extended angularly at (140) to form a hollow box section (141) with the slender corner post (112). The flatrack based platform may be made of an extended width (E) compared with the basic width (B) of a conventional flatrack, whilst still accommodating the corner posts (112) alongside the side rails (118) in the folded condition.

Abstract: A platform based cargo carrier has a base (1) and posts (2) at each comer of one end. The posts are interconnected by a wall member which, with the posts, forms an end wall (4) of the carrier. Each post is pivotally mounted on the base (1) such that the wall (4) can be pivoted inwardly onto the base for stacking of carriers and outwardly away from the base to form a ramp leading onto the base. Each post can be locked into an upright position and a resilient counterbalance (11, 57) is provided to resist pivoting of each post away from its upright position.

Abstract: A collapsible flatrack assembly has a counterbalancing system whereby a normally upright post, pivotable relative to a horizontal base, is movable relative to the base under the action of a biasing force towards the upright position. The counterbalance includes a bar spring and a coacting follower which engages with the spring during movement of the post to deflect the spring.

Abstract: A flatrack freight container is provided with cargo securing members within the platform area (1). The securing members optionally include stanchion sockets (18), pivoted stanchions (15'), abutments (19, 22, 38) for straps (24, 12, 31) or hooks (34, 35), or rings (29). The securing members lie below the platform surface (1) in recesses (27) or openings (18) [which may be longitudinal (36) or transverse (18)], conventionally provided to house demountable end wall structures (2) in the demounted condition.

Abstract: A freight container of the flatrack type is designed to have an end wall structure 22 plus inboard from the end wall structure a gate 23 which is pivotally or collapsibly mounted thereon. The gate 23 includes a load bearing post having a freight container-securing fitment 26 of conventional type, these fitments 26 being positioned at the standard positions for such fitments in a standard freight container but the platform 21 being extended beyond these positions to carry additional load. Diagonal bracing 29 and diagonal top links 37 triangulate and rigidify the gate structure against longitudinal, lateral and vertical forces in both tension and compression.

Abstract: A collapsable flat comprising a corner post (6) pivotally mounted to a stub post (23) provided at the corner of a loading platform (1) of the flat so that the corner post is pivotable out of an upright operational position into a collapsed stowed position and vice versa, interengaging latching means (28,51,52) provided by the stub post and the corner post remote from the pivotal connection (13) therebetween for holding the corner post relative to the platform in its upright operational position, resilient biasing means (35) interconnecting the corner post and the stub post partially to counterbalance the mass of the corner post during the pivotal movement and locking means (27) housed by the stub post for locking the collapsed flat to a similar flat said locking means being extendible from the stub post into an operative position, when the corner post is pivoted into its stowed position.

Abstract: A cuboid container comprising elongate frame members (3 to 7 and 16) defining the edges of the container, panels (14, 15), doors, floors or the like defining the faces of the container, and a respective corner member (20 in FIG. 3) at each corner of the container, substantially all of each end of each frame member (e.g. 4 in FIG. 3) being within the periphery of and abutting a respective face of a corner member (20).Many different configurations of corner members in accordance with the invention are disclosed.

Abstract: A cargo carrier has a frame on which a hollow portion is provided, the hollow portion having a surface with an aperture therein. A locating device, such as a twistlock or location cone, is provided. The locating device can move between a raised position in which a first portion of the device projects through the aperture, and a lowered position in which the first portion is below the apertured surface. In this position a second portion of the locating device defines one end of the aperture in the surface and is effective to guide handling equipment into engagement with the cargo carrier through the aperture. The surface of the second portion of the device is preferably complimentary to the peripheral edge of the opposite end of the aperture.

Abstract: A collapsible container of the open-platform type for containing goods comprises a generally rectangular platform base having a stub corner post at each corner of the platform base. At its upper end, each corner post has means for coupling it to a bottom corner portion of a superimposed container. A corner post is pivotally connected to each stub corner post about an axis substantially parallel to the longer side of the base for movement from a folded-down position in which it lies below the level of the tops of the stub corner posts, through a vertical position into a position slightly beyond the vertical to enable bracing means to be swung upwards and coupled between the two corner posts at each of the two ends of the frame to hold them in their vertical positions.

Abstract: A collapsible goods-shipping container of the type used for loading on ships, trailer, trucks or railroad cars has a base, side walls hinged at their lower edges to sides of the base for folding inwards one over the other onto the base, end walls incorporating corner posts by which they are pivoted to stub corner posts of the base for folding over the side walls in the collapsed condition and a roof or lid somewhat shorter than the overall length of the container and adapted to rest on the upper edges of the side and end walls, the roof being somewhat shorter than the base to enable the roof to be stowed under the folded end walls, the remainder of the roof being formed by top portions of the end walls. Sealing means are provided on the various components so as to exclude water when the container is in its erected condition.