Convertible, transport, cargo box system

Abstract

A box-like, metal, industrial, transport, cargo container (10/110/210), three embodiments illustrated in FIGS. 1-4D, FIGS. 5-10 & FIG. 11), each including rigid, structural framework having front door(s), floor, sides, rear and raisable top cover rotatable up at one of its edges to a generally vertical disposition to then be slid down along one of its walls for “out-of-the-way” storage, opening up the box top for over-head, free access to the interior for unloading cargo by crane on, e.g., an offshore structure. In 2nd embodiment the front, top structural bar is absent, allowing even greater access in and out of box interior, while angled support plates (126) allow top to be slid down even when crane operator over-shoots the vertical alignment of the top cover. In the 3rd embodiment the top cover (215) is raised and rotated about its side edge and slid down along side a side wall.

Description

REFERENCE TO RELATED PATENT

[0001] The innovative capabilities of the inventors hereof in the industrial shipping container art have been previously recognized and established by the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office in the issuance of their U.S. Pat. No. 6,289,684 on Sep. 18, 2001, entitled “Transportable, Self-Contained, Refrigeration System.”

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0002] The present invention relates to an enclosed, transport, cargo box system of the industrial, heavy-duty type designed to solve problems of loading and unloading all types of equipment and cargo, particularly in locations where, for example, fork lifts are not available and in which the top cover is a rigid, solid cover. More particularly, the present invention is directed to such a cargo box container in which the top cover can be raised off of the top of the side walls of the box.

BACKGROUND ART

[0003] As noted above, the present invention relates to a cargo box system designed to solve problems of loading and unloading all types of equipment or other heavy cargo in locations where, for example, a fork lift truck is not available, but only, for example, a cargo crane, such as typically exists on offshore structures such as an oil platforms or drilling rigs. The problem has gotten particularly severe due to all of the new regulations coming out from the oil companies concerning the desire, if not requirement, for the transportation of cargo only in sealed containers. It is fairly easy to load such a sealed box container with a forklift in most places, but very difficult to unload once the cargo gets offshore where only over-head cargo cranes are available.

[0004] There typically is no forklift on, for example, oil platforms. Instead, in the currently practiced art, those in the field have to slide the cargo out, including heavy equipment and other heavy cargo, out because the available crane, the end of which is at a much higher location than is the closed-off cargo box, cannot easily and safely access the interior of the cargo box. This creates a safety hazard.

[0005] The present invention is directed to over-coming these problems by providing a sealed, transport cargo box container which can be easily opened up even in very tight quarters so that the typically heavy cargo in the box can be quickly and easily unloaded by, for example, an over-head crane.

[0006] Of course, large, industrial size, metal containers have been around for many years and have been long used in transporting goods, an example being those used on container vessels or trailer trucks. Some have completely sealed or closed, rigid tops, while other have “always open” tops closed off, temporarily by a tarpaulin-type or other flexible sheet material “tops.” There also may be other cargo boxes that have removable rigid tops but none, it is believed, like the present invention that would be suitable, practical and safe for the intended use of the present invention, namely, for offshore use on, for example, an oil platform or a drilling rig, for the safe and easy unloading of heavy cargo from the box container by an over-head cargo crane.

[0007] The convertible, transport, cargo box, industrial container and system of the present invention solve these long-standing, great-need, problems of the prior art.

GENERAL SUMMARY DISCUSSION OF INVENTION

[0008] As noted above, the present invention is directed to a convertible, transport, rigid, cargo box system of industrial grade which includes, in its preferred embodiments, a convertible, rigid top that can be easily and safely moved up and off the walls of the box and placed in an “out-of-the-way” storage disposition, opening the top of the cargo box for easy access to the box interior by, for example, an over-head cargo crane, such as those that exist on, for example, an offshore platform or a drilling rig.

[0009] In the exemplary embodiments of the convertible cargo box of the present invention, the rigid, roof or top cover is initially opened to at least a generally “vertical” position and then, in the preferred embodiments, lowered down along a track along one of the walls of the box, where it is secured during the cargo unloading operation by, for example, an over-head cargo crane.

[0010] The doors open, as on most containers, to allow, for example, forklift loading or personnel entry to hook crane slings to the equipment or other heavy cargo so that it can be lifted out by the cargo crane.

[0011] The preferred embodiments of the invention are designed to allow preferably either through-the-door side or through-the-top loading and unloading.

[0012] The reasons the rigid roof was designed to slide down one of the walls, for example, the rear wall or one of the side walls, of the box container is at least two fold:

[0013] 1. Space is valuable on oil rigs, ships and docks; with the design of the present invention no extra room is needed to accommodate the “out-of-the-way” storage of the rigid roof, as compared to a rigid roof which is merely hinged back to move to either a vertical or a horizontal disposition or an angle in between, which would expose the rigid top to inadvertent impact during the cargo unloading operation or to a need for an open or unobstructed adjacent area; and

[0014] 2. Additionally, merely hinging of the rigid roof requires additional, adjacent unobstructed area for the movement of the top about its hinge axis and would become a safety hazard if, for example, the sling broke or the crane brake slipped while hinging over the roof to its various vertical or horizontal or an angle in between positions.

[0015] In contrast the most preferred embodiments of the present invention preferably each includes at least two, sidewardly directed, laterally extending, pinion rods or pins fixed to the rotating end of the top cover riding in vertical tracks extending down along side one of the walls of the cargo box, with those pins also serving as the rotational axis of the rigid, top cover as the top cover is pulled up by the cargo crane hooked to the other end of top cover to an at least generally “vertical” position, with the pins then sliding down the preferably vertical guide track in a controlled, limited movement manner into an “out-of-the-way” storage disposition, with the top cover safely out of the way.

[0016] In another, independent aspect of the present invention, the top cover is designed to have a relatively smaller width, that is a width less then the separation distance between the vertical, opposed guides, with there being further included near the tops of the vertical guide members a spaced pair of angled support, guide plates which allow, for example, the crane operator to over-shoot the vertical placement of the top cover, for example, preferably about fifteen to about twenty (˜15°-20°) degrees from the vertical and still allow the top cover to be slid down the vertical guides. As the pins slid down the opposed guide tracks to their bottom most position, the angled guide plates also support the top cover preventing the top cover from falling back away from the cargo box wall.

[0017] Also, preferably, when such support plate approach is used, a “roof” sealing sub-system is included in association with the tops of the side walls and, also, if so desired, the ends of the top cover and the ends of the cargo box. Such a sealing system can include, for example, longitudinally extended, sealing, elastic (e.g. rubber or other suitable material) strips located along the sides and/or the ends to be sealed interfacing with, for example, supine “L” shaped strips supported at the tops of the walls to provide the desired seal(s).

[0018] In contrast to prior art offshore transport, cargo box containers which typically have a box defining series of twelve basic structural members, another independent aspect of the present invention is the absence or non-inclusion of a front/top structural member at the entry or door end of the box container, which allows even greater open access to the interior of the cargo box from either the front and/or the top, when the top cover had been raised up and stored and the door(s) opened.

[0019] In the typical construction of transport, cargo boxes in the prior art, generally sections of flat, metal, sheet material having a series of longitudinally, typically vertically, extended crimps, typically “V” shaped, for enhanced structural strength are used to form the wall surfaces of the box, with the extending crimps all directed to the exterior of the box, providing a smooth surface to the interior of the box. In contrast and in still another independent aspect of the present invention the wall (e.g. the rear wall) along which the top cover is stored has its crimps extending toward the interior with the smooth side on the exterior side, while the other walls have the crimps extended out on the exterior sides.

[0020] These and other independent or interrelated aspects of the present invention will become clearer in connection with the following detailed description and accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0021] For a further understanding of the nature and objects of the present invention, reference should be had to the following description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

[0022] FIG. 1 is a front/side perspective view of a first, exemplary embodiment of the convertible, cargo box container of the system of the present invention, with its front doors open and its top cover or “roof” nearly fully elevated up off the box, being raised by, for example, a crane (not shown), as it is about ready to be slid down along side the rear wall of the box in opening up the box container; while

[0023] FIG. 2 is a rear/side perspective view of the embodiment of FIG. 1 but with the top or cover almost completely slid down in completely opening up the box container for either loading or unloading the box container.

[0024] FIGS. 3A-3D are—

[0025] a front elevation (with the front doors closed),

[0026] a second, front elevation view (with the front doors open),

[0027] a side, profile view (with the other side being basically a “mirror” image thereof), and

[0028] a rear elevation view (with the top cover not shown), respectively, of the embodiment of FIG. 1.

[0029] FIG. 4 is a plan view of the embodiment of FIG. 1 but with the top cover being completely slid down along side the rear wall, completely opening the top of the box container; while

[0030] FIG. 4A is a detail view of the embodiment of FIG. 1 as shown in FIG. 4 of the detail “A” showing the interaction of one of the top cover's side slide rod or pin with the rear wall's “U” shaped, slide guide, with the other side's rod/pin/guide being substantively identical but “mirrored.”

[0031] FIG. 4B is a detail view of the embodiment of FIG. 1 as shown in FIG. 4 of the detail “A” showing the interaction of one of the top cover's side slide rod or pin with the rear wall's “U” shaped, slide guide, with the other side's rod/pin/guide being substantively identical but “mirrored.”

[0032] FIG. 4C is a detail view of the embodiment of FIG. 1 as shown in FIGS. 3 & 4 of an exemplary section of the sheet material used to form the side walls and the rear wall of the box container, showing one of the vertically extended, “V” shaped crimps, with the side walls having the crimps extending out toward the exterior of the box, while the rear wall has its crimps reversed, extending inwardly into the interior of the box.

[0033] FIG. 5 is a frontal/side perspective view of a second, exemplary, currently more preferred embodiment of the convertible, cargo box container of the system of the present invention, which is very similar to the embodiment of FIG. 1 but with, for example, the front, top structural post or beam not being included (note FIGS. 6 & 10), allowing un-fettered access to the interior of the box compartment, and with a pair of angled top cover or “roof” guides or supports (note FIGS. 8 & 8A) or the rear “U” shaped, extended guide members which allow a crane operator to, for example, “over-shoot” the vertical alignment of the top cover right before it is allowed to drop down behind and along side the rear wall of the box container.

[0034] FIG. 6 is a frontal, isometric view of the box container embodiment of FIG. 5 with the front doors open, showing the non-existence of any top structural framing member extending across the top of the front box opening and the rubber sealing strips extending along the sides of the top cover or “roof.”

[0035] FIGS. 7A & 7B are side views of the box container embodiment of FIG. 5 with the front doors and top cover “roof” open, showing the ease in loading and unloading of cargo, such as, for example, a heavy motor in FIG. 7A through the front of the cargo box, and a load of typical cargo in FIG. 7B through the top of the cargo box, with the resulting ease of access and movement allowed by the top being open and the front not having a top framing member extending across the front top of the box, the latter allowing the crane cable to pass right into and out of the “completely open” front/top of the cargo box as the crane head moves from front to rear or from side to side in and out of the front of the cargo box.

[0036] FIG. 8 is a rear view of the box container embodiment of FIG. 5 with the top cover or “roof” being completely raised up in at least a somewhat “vertical” disposition by, for example, a crane, preliminarily to allowing it to slide down along side the rear wall of the box container; while

[0037] FIG. 8A is a detail, close-up, exploded view showing how the pinion rods or pins ride in the side guide members.

[0038] FIG. 9 is a rear, perspective view of the box container embodiment of FIG. 5 with the top cover or “roof” (shown in phantom line) being completely raised up in at least a somewhat “vertical” disposition by, for example, a crane, but with some over-shoot, preliminarily to allowing the top cover to slide down along side the rear wall of the box container; while

[0039] FIG. 9A is a detail, close-up view showing the angular placement or mounting of the side roof supports which allow, for example, the crane operator to over-shoot the “vertical” disposition of the top cover as it is raised and ready to be slid down with its pinion rods inserted into the extended, “U” shaped, side guides built into the side, vertical structural members of the cargo box.

[0040] FIG. 10 is a top or plan view of the box container embodiment of FIG. 5 with the top cover or “roof” retracted back along side the rear wall of the cargo box exposing, for example, the “roof” sealing lip members and the absence of a top front structural member.

[0041] FIG. 11 is a side, simplified view of a third, exemplary embodiment of the convertible, cargo box container of the system of the present invention, in which the box is extended to a depth of, for example, twenty feet, wherein the top cover or “roof” is opened or removed by raising it up and sliding it down along side one of the side walls of the cargo box, rather than the rear wall, as in the embodiments of FIGS. 1 and 5, with there being optionally both front and rear doors, the other side wall being removed to expose the interior of the cargo box, allowing the cargo to be loaded and unloaded not only through the box's open top but also out of either the front and/or the rear of the extended cargo box.

EXEMPLARY MODES FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

Listing of Reference Numbers

[0042] FIGS. 1-4C—

[0043] cargo box container 10

[0044] two side walls 11A & 11B

[0045] rear wall 12

[0046] front doors 13A & 13B

[0047] floor 14

[0048] raisable top cover or roof 15

[0049] rear end 15A

[0050] front end 15B

[0051] top cover side edges 15C & D

[0052] structural frame work 16/17/18

[0053] four, structural corner posts 16A-D

[0054] four horizontally disposed, front-to-back structural members 17A-D

[0055] four, horizontally disposed, side-to-side structural members 18A-D

[0056] flat metal sheet material 19

[0057] extended, typically “V” crimps 19A (note also FIG. 4C)

[0058] cargo box interior 20

[0059] cargo box rear exterior 21

[0060] fork lift slots 22 (FIG. 3C)

[0061] “U” shaped, rear, beam guides 23

[0062] outwardly extending pinion pins 24

[0063] top cover, lifting pad eye 25

[0064] side pad eyes 27

[0065] side pad eye cables 28

[0066] crane hook ring 29

[0067] FIGS. 5-10—

[0068] cargo box container 110

[0069] two side walls 111A & 111B

[0070] rear wall 112

[0071] front doors 113A & 113B

[0072] floor 114

[0073] raisable top cover or roof 115

[0074] rear end 115A

[0075] front end 115B

[0076] top cover side edges 115C & D

[0077] structural frame work 116/117/118

[0078] four, structural corner posts 116A-D

[0079] four horizontally disposed, front-to-back structural members 117A-D

[0080] four, horizontally disposed, side-to-side structural members 118B-D

[0081] flat metal sheet material 119

[0082] extended, typically “V” crimps 119A (analogous to 19A of FIG. 4C)

[0083] cargo box interior 120

[0084] cargo box rear exterior 121

[0085] fork lift slots 122 (analogous to 22 of FIG. 3C)

[0086] “U” shaped, rear, beam guides 123

[0087] outwardly extending pinion pins 124

[0088] top cover, lifting pad eye 125

[0089] rear, side, angled, support plates 126

[0090] side pad eyes 127

[0091] side pad eye cables 128

[0092] crane hook ring 129

[0093] front-to-back rubber seals 130

[0094] upwardly extended, “L” shaped lip131

[0095] crane 300

[0096] crane line or cable 301

[0097] crane line hook 302

[0098] FIG. 11—

[0099] extended cargo box 210

[0100] side wall 211A

[0101] doors 213A & B

[0102] floor 214

[0103] raisable top cover 215

[0104] box interior 220

[0105] top cover pad eyes 225

1st Embodiment (FIGS. 1-4D)

[0106] As can be seen in FIGS. 1-4A, the first embodiment of an initial, exemplary embodiment of the industrial, convertible, transport cargo box container of the present invention includes a strong, rigid, industrial size & built, box container 10 forming a square or rectangular, extended, box-like structure for securely and sealable or totally enclosed, transporting heavy equipment and other cargo, particularly from a land base, such as a marine dock, out to an offshore, marine structure, such as, for example, an oil rig or platform which has no fork lift truck capability on it but instead uses a cargo crane or other like over-head device for, for example, unloading and moving cargo around on the offshore structure. Such a container typically has a minimum size of about eight (8′) feet deep and wide and a height of about eight (8′) feet to a maximum size of depth of about twenty (20′+) or more feet.

[0107] As can be seen, the cargo box container 10 has two side walls 11A & 11B, a rear wall 12 and one or more hinged, front doors 13A & 13B, along with a floor 14 and a top cover or roof 15. As can be seen in FIGS. 1 & 2, as well as in other figures, the walls 11A/B & 12 and the doors 13A/B are fixedly carried by a structural frame work 16/17/18 including—

[0108] four, vertically disposed, structural, corner posts 16A-D,

[0109] four horizontally disposed, front-to-back structural members 17A-D, including a top (17A & B) and a bottom (17C & D) pair of side posts, and

[0110] four, horizontally disposed, side-to-side structural members 18A-D,

[0111] all together forming an integral, rigid, protective frame work for the cargo box 10, which can safely operate and exist in the tough environment of industrial sites such as dock areas and offshore structures and transported between such sites, while protecting its contained cargo.

[0112] The structural frame work 16/17/18 can be made of, for example, girder or box beams or structural tubes or other suitable rigid, structural members welded or otherwise rigidly fastened together at their respective intersections, making a very strong structural skeleton.

[0113] As can be further seen in FIGS. 1 & 2, the top cover or “roof” 15 can be raised up about one (rear) end 15A with respect to its other (front) end 15B (note curved direction arrow in FIG. 1) extending above the structural box 10 to then be slid down along the back-rear side wall 12 (note vertical direction arrow in FIG. 2) of the box into a vertical, temporary, storage disposition, opening up the top of the box for easy access to the interior of the box, where the cargo is placed, by, for example, a crane operating from above the box.

[0114] As can best be seen in FIG. 3C, the bottom pair of front-to-back structural members 17C & D have fork-lift openings or slots 22 in them to allow them to be lifted up and moved about by a fork-lift truck, when, for example, the box container 10 is located at, for example, a dock-side or other location where fork-lift truck(s) are available.

[0115] The four sides 11, 12 & 13, top 15, floor 14 and the door(s) 13A/B in combination are located surroundingly around the interior 20 in all three dimensions, protectively enclosing the interior, protecting the cargo when the cargo box container 10 is being transported.

[0116] As can be seen, for example, in FIGS. 3A-3D & 4, the four sides 11, 12 & 13 and its associated structural framework are attached at right angles to one another, forming a rectangular shape, forming either a square or an extended rectangular shape when viewed in a horizontal cross-section or from above.

[0117] The overall, external dimensions of the cargo box container 10 all should be at least about seven (7′) feet in all three dimensions, namely, width, height and depth. For example, the illustrated container 10 is square in horizontal cross-section (in contrast to the extended rectangular shape of container 210 of FIG. 11) having a width and depth of about eight and a half (8.5′) feet and a height of about eight (8′) feet.

[0118] If desired, ISO fittings can be added at the top corners of the box container 10 to allow one container to be safely stacked on top of another.

[0119] The side and rear walls 11/12 typically are made of flat metal sheet sections 19 with a series of laterally spaced, vertically extended, typically “V” shaped crimps 19A (note close-up detail of FIG. 4C) extended out from the main body of the sheet material for enhanced structural strength, with the crimps extending out from the main surface of the sheet a distance of, for example, about one and a half (1.5″) inches. The flat metal sheet sections 19 are mounted on and supported by the structural framework 16/17/18, along with any other desired reinforcements, closing off the interior 20 of the cargo box 10 in conjunction with the doors 13A/B, floor 14 and top cover 15, when the top cover is closed over the top of the box.

[0120] Such crimped sheet wall sections 19 typically have the vertically directed, elongated, “V” shaped, crimps 19A pointed outwardly presenting smooth surfaces to the interior 20 of the cargo box 10. However, for the rear wall 12 the crimps 19A are directed or pointed inwardly presenting smooth surfaces to the rear exterior 21 of the cargo box 10. This helps provide an unobstructed area into which the top cover 15 can slide in, in close proximity and parallel to the rear wall 12.

[0121] As can be seen in FIGS. 4 & 4A, two, vertically disposed, opposed, substantially spaced, parallel, “U” shaped, beam guides 23 are located in the interiors of the rear pair of vertical, corner posts 16C & D. Affixed to the side edges 15C & D of the rear end 15A of the top cover 15 are outwardly, laterally extending pinion rods or pins 24. The guides 23 extend down along a significant amount of or completely along the vertical lengths of the corner posts 16C & D, so that the rear end 15A of the cover top 15 is sufficiently supported along the rear wall 12 after the cover top has been raised to a vertical disposition by, for example, a crane whose lifting hook (see, for example, hook 302 in FIG. 5) is engaged with the top cover, lifting pad eye 25 and allowed to then controllably slide vertically down, with the pinion rods or pins 24 nested in the interior tracks of the “U” shaped guides 23, properly aligning and guiding the top cover as it moves down along side of the rear wall 12.

[0122] This action opens up the top of the box container 10, as shown for example, in FIG. 4, so that the interior of the box is no longer covered. As will be explained more fully below in connection with the second embodiment (110) with respect to FIGS. 7A & B, this opening allows easy access to the interior 20 of the container 10 from above for the removal of the cargo and other heavy equipment previously loaded into the cargo box.

2nd Embodiment (FIGS. 5-10)

[0123] It is noted that the second embodiment of the box container 110 of FIG. 5-10 is very similar to the box container 10 of FIGS. 1-4D, which are more detailed drawings, while FIGS. 5-10 are more generalized and simplified for brevity purposes, since the greater detail is provided in the analogous drawings for FIGS. 1-4D. Likewise, analogous reference numbering has been used in the drawings, with the numbering for the analogous or exact structure of the second embodiment being the same as the first embodiment but with a hundred being added to the reference numbers of the first embodiment. Thus, for the sake of brevity, only the major differences between the two, exemplary embodiments are being discussed here.

[0124] The primary differences between the two embodiments 110 and 10 with respect to some of the substantive aspects of the present invention are:

[0125] the front top structural member 18A of cargo box 10 is eliminated in the cargo box 110 providing completely open access to and from the interior 120 of the cargo box (note particularly FIGS. 6 & 10);

[0126] a pair of angled support pads or extension guide plates 124 are provided on the side, vertical, structural members 116C & D (note particularly FIGS. 8, 9 & 9A) which allow the crane operator to over-shoot the “vertical” disposition by up to about twenty (20°) degrees and still allow the rear end 115A of the top cover 115 and its side pinion rods 124 to be lowered down into the guide track 123; and

[0127] a front-to-back, interfacing seal is provided by a pair of side rubber strips 130 on the underside 115E of the top cover 115 interfacing with a pair of supine “L” shaped, channel members 131 (of, for example, an inch in size) mounted on the top, front-to-back structural members 117A & B (note particularly FIGS. 6 & 10), as well as the rear end 115A of the top cover 115, if so desired.

[0128] With reference to FIG. 5, “D” rings 132 preferably are provided on the sides 111A & B for securing the cargo box 110 to the truck on transport vessel it is being carried on for transport. Such “D” rings 132 likewise preferably are included on the interior 120 of the cargo box 110.

[0129] Side sling lines 128 with their centralized hook ring 129 are attached to the upper side pad eyes 127 and are provided on the exterior of both of the box sides 111A & 111B to allow a crane to easily pick up and move the cargo box 110.

[0130] With reference to FIG. 6, it can be seen that there is no front top structural member, such as the member 18A of cargo box 10, and such is eliminated in the cargo box 110, providing completely open access to and from the interior 120 of the cargo box with respect to the front side and the top when the doors 113A & B are opened and the top cover 115 is lifted up and positioned on the back-side 112 of the box (note also FIG. 10). This complete open access allows, for example, a crane with a fork attachment to slide into a pallet without obstruction. It also allows the removal of heavy lifts [e.g. a heavy motor 303; see the crane (300) operation in FIG. 7A] through the front area when the doors 113A & B are open (note horizontal direction lines).

[0131] Because of the absence of a front top structural member, the doors 113A & B are latched into the front end 115B of the top cover 115.

[0132] In addition to the back-and-forth, heavy-lift cargo movement by the crane 300 with its cable line 301 and its hook 302 illustrated in FIG. 7A, an exemplary pallet of cargo items 304 can be raised up through the open top of the cargo box 110 (note the double-headed, vertical direction arrow).

[0133] With the seal provided by the interfacing rubber strips 130 and the upwardly directed base leg of the “L” shaped strip 131, when the top cover 115 is down covering the top of the box 110 and the front doors 113A & B are closed and all latched together, the cargo contained in the interior 120 of the closed, sealed box is sealed, enclosed and protected.

[0134] With reference to FIGS. 8, 8A, 9 & 9A, as before the top cover 115 (15) is raised up by a crane (300) using the cable 301 hooked to the top eye (25) 125 to raise the front end 115B of the top up to at least a generally “vertical” disposition. In this action the rear end 115A of the top rotates about the side pins 124 rotating in the top of the guide tracks 123.

[0135] Should the crane operator, in raising the top cover 115, over-shoot the ninety (90°) degree, vertical position by some additional, angular amount, up to, for example, about twenty (20°) degrees, the presence of the side, angled, support plates 126 provides support, security and guidance to the top cover 115 as it is further lowered with the pins 124 moving down the guide tracks 123. This allows a significant margin of operator “over-shoot” error, greatly enhancing the practical use of this embodiment 110 on, for example, a cramped offshore platform or drilling rig.

[0136] The presence of the plates 126 also secure the top cover 115 in place while the top cover is in its down, stored disposition. Because the top cover 115 has a width less than the separation distance between the sides of the opposed guides 123, the top cover unhooked from the supporting crane line 301 would have a tendency to fall down and back rotating about the pins 124 sitting way down in the guide tracks 123, were the plates 126 not there. Thus, it should be understood that the side edges of the top cover 115 do not ride in the guide tracks 123, but only the pinion rods or pins 124 do.

[0137] As can be seen in FIG. 9, the side support plates 126 are fixedly mounted on the sides of the combined corner posts 116C & D and the vertical guides 123 making an angle of about twenty (20°) degrees with the vertical and is positioned, for example, about four (4″) inches down from the top of the guides 123. Each of the side, angled plates can be, for example, about five (5″) inches long by about two and a half (2.5″) inches wide.

[0138] The side guides 123 each have tops to them which prevent the pins 124 from being pulled up out of the guides, should, for example, the crane operator try to pull the top cover 115 up too high, as it pulls the top cover up to return it to its closed disposition.

3rd Embodiment (FIG. 11)

[0139] A third embodiment of the cargo box container 210 is very generally related in a very simplified manner. As can be seen in FIG. 11, unlike the generally square or mildly elongated cargo boxes 10 & 110, the cargo box 210 is very elongated with long sides (e.g., 211A, other side not shown for simplicity purposes) of, for example, about twenty (20′) feet in length.

[0140] In this case the top cover 215 is raised, when desired, and slid back down along side the side wall 211A, rather than a rear wall (cf. 12, 112). Additionally, rather than having just a front door 213A, a rear door 213B also is provided for enhanced access to the interior 220 of the cargo box container 210.

[0141] For enhanced handling in raising and lowering the top cover 215, a pair of spaced crane hook eyes 225 is added to it for connection to the crane line 301 and hook 302 using a sling.

[0142] Otherwise, the cargo box container 210 can be built, if so desired, in the same general manner as described in connection with the first two embodiments.

Loading, Transporting & Unloading Methodology

[0143] As should be understood from the forgoing, an exemplary method of loading cargo into a cargo box container 110 (10/210) at or at least associated with a land based dock for offshore delivery, protectively transporting the cargo in the box container 110 (10/210) via a marine vessel (e.g., an offshore supply or work boat) to an offshore site (e.g., offshore platform or drilling rig), and unloading the cargo from the cargo box container 110 (10/210) at the offshore site using an over-head cargo crane (300), includes the following, sequential steps:

[0144] (A) using a transportable container 110 (10/210) having a rigid, structural framework including at least—

[0145] four, vertically and laterally spaced, longitudinally extending, horizontally disposed, side, structural beams,

[0146] four, longitudinally and laterally spaced, vertically disposed, corner, end beams, and

[0147] at least three, vertically and longitudinally spaced, laterally extending, horizontally disposed, end beams 118B-D (18A-D),

[0148]  all of the beams being fixedly joined together at at least near their ends forming a rigid, structurally strong framework defining an extended, box-like configuration, the transportable container further having—

[0149] an open interior into which cargo is placeable,

[0150] two end sides, a front end side and a rear end side,

[0151] two rigid, laterally spaced, opposed sides extending between the front and rear sides,

[0152] an attached, rigid, bottom floor below the interior,

[0153] at least one door located at its front end moveable to and from a closed disposition and an open disposition, also providing access to the interior when in its open disposition for loading and/or unloading cargo, and

[0154] a convertible, rotatable, rigid top 115 (15/215) having four edges and extending between and across all of the sides mounted on the framework allowing it to be rotatably moved back and forth from a closed disposition and an open disposition, providing access to the interior when the rigid top is in its open disposition for loading and/or unloading cargo, and closing off all of the sides from above when the rigid top is in its closed disposition,

[0155]  the sides, the top, the floor and the door located surroundingly around the interior in all three dimensions protectively enclosing the interior, protecting any contained cargo when the cargo container 110 (10/210) is being transported from one location to another;

[0156] (B) loading the cargo into the cargo box container 110 (10/210) using either the door and/or through the top of the box container when the rigid top is in its open disposition;

[0157] (C) transporting the loaded cargo box container 110 (10/210) with the cargo in its interior to the offshore site;

[0158] (D) opening up the cargo box 110 (10/210) container by at least initially rotating the rigid top up about one of its four edges exposing the interior of the cargo box container through its top; and

[0159] (E) unloading at least some of the cargo using an over-head cargo crane 300 having an over-head lifting cable 301 extending during at least part of this unloading step down through the now open top of the container 110 (10/210).

[0160] In the initial loading of the cargo box container 110 (10/210) either, for example, a forklift truck or an over-head cargo crane 300 can be used (see FIGS. 7A & 7B), either at, for example, a dock or at a remote location after which the loaded cargo box container is transported to, for example, a dock with which it is associated. Likewise, the cargo box container 110 (10/210) itself, empty, partially loaded or fully loaded, can be easily moved about using again either a forklift truck using the forklift slots (22) or a cargo crane 300. Additionally, the loaded cargo box container 110 (10/210) can be moved from, for example, from a dock to a marine vessel for offshore transport using either a forklift truck or a cargo crane 300 either mounted on the dock or on the marine vessel.

[0161] Step “D” preferably includes the sub-step of opening the rigid top 115 (15/215) to its open disposition by initially rotating it up about one of its edges 115A (15A/215A) from a horizontal, closed disposition to at least a generally vertical disposition and then lowering the rigid top down along side the one of the sides while the rigid top is in a vertical disposition during at least part of its downward travel.

[0162] Also step “D” preferably includes using a set of laterally disposed, outwardly directed pins 124 (24) attached to the rotating edge 115A (15A) of the rigid top 115 (15) riding in an opposed set of downwardly directed guide tracks 123 (23) to lower the rigid top down along side the one of the sides while the rigid top is in a vertical disposition during at least part of its downward travel.

[0163] Remembering that the front end preferably has a top which is completely open and unobstructed in the vertical direction between the opposed sides, when the door 113 and the rigid top 115 are in their respective open dispositions, there being an absence of any (i.e., no) front, top structural member (cf 18A of the first embodiment) in the framework. This structural arrangement allows an unloading step in step “E” of:

[0164] moving the over-head cable from the interior while the over-head cargo crane is carrying cargo from in the container through the door opening when the door is in its open disposition while the cable is extending down into the interior as well as extending above the cargo box container (note FIG. 7A).

[0165] Also remembering that the width of the rigid top 115 is less than the width of the (rear) one of the sides; and that there is further included a pair of angled support plates 126 mounted on the framework on opposite sides in association with the opposed guide tracks 123, the angled plates extending toward each other laterally past the guide tracks, the support plates allowing the rigid top to be rotated past its vertical disposition and still be slid down the guide tracks, the support plates supporting the rigid top at least near the edge 115B of the rigid top opposed from its rotating edge 115A, maintaining it up in its open, storage disposition along side the “(rear) one of the sides;” step “D” can include the step of:

[0166] rotating the rigid top 115 past the vertical in an over-shoot by at least about five (5°) degrees, using the angled support plates 126 to limit the amount of vertical over-shoot; and

[0167] using the support plates 126 to maintain the rigid top 115 up in its lowered, open, storage disposition up along side “the (rear) one of the sides.”

[0168] It should be understood that, in using herein the terms “horizontal” or “vertical,” such is being used in a relative sense and not necessarily literally. Thus, for example, those terms would be literal when the bottom of the container is sitting on a flat, horizontal surface, but only relative when the container 10/110/210, for example, is set at an angle to the true horizontal.

[0169] It is noted that the embodiments described herein in detail for exemplary purposes are of course subject to many different variations in dimension, structure, design, application and methodology. Because many varying and different embodiments may be made within the scope of the inventive concepts herein taught, and because many modifications may be made in the embodiments herein detailed in accordance with the descriptive requirements of the law, it is to be understood that the details herein are to be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

Claims

1. A convertible, transport, rigid, cargo box container suitable for protectively transporting cargo from, for example, a land based dock via a marine vessel to an offshore site, comprising:

a transportable container having a rigid, structural framework including at least—

four, vertically and laterally spaced, longitudinally extending, horizontally disposed, side, structural beams,

four, longitudinally and laterally spaced, vertically disposed, corner, end beams, and

at least three, vertically and longitudinally spaced, laterally extending, horizontally disposed, end beams,

 all of said beams being fixedly joined together at at least near their ends forming a rigid, structurally strong framework defining an extended, box-like configuration, said transportable container further having—

an open interior into which cargo is placeable,

two end sides, a front end side and a rear end side,

two rigid, laterally spaced, opposed sides extending between said front and rear sides,

an attached, rigid, bottom floor below said interior,

at least one door located at its front end moveable to and from a closed disposition and an open disposition, also providing access to said interior when in its open disposition for loading and/or unloading cargo, and

a convertible, rotatable, rigid top extending between and across all of said sides mounted on said framework allowing it to be rotatably moved back and forth from a closed disposition and an open disposition, providing access to said interior when said rigid top is in its open disposition for loading and/or unloading cargo, and closing off all of said sides from above when said rigid top is in its closed disposition,

 said sides, said top, said floor and said door located surroundingly around said interior in all three dimensions protectively enclosing said interior, protecting any contained cargo when said cargo container is being transported from one location to another.

2. The transport, cargo box container of claim 1, wherein:

said rotatable top is mounted on said framework by an attachment which allows said top to be moved down along side one of said sides.

3. The transport cargo box container of claim 2, wherein:

said attachment, when said rigid top is in its closed disposition, allows said rotatable top to initially rotate up at least to about a vertical disposition and then move down in a vertical direction along side said one of said one of said sides in a open, storage disposition in parallel juxtaposition to said one of said sides.

4. The transport cargo box container of claim 3, wherein:

said rigid top has a width less than the width of said one of said sides; and

wherein there is further included:

a pair of angled support plates mounted on said framework on opposite sides in association with said opposed guide tracks, said angles plates extending toward each other laterally past said guide tracks, said support plates allowing said rigid top to be rotated past its vertical disposition and still be slide down said guide tracks, said support plates supporting said rigid top at least near the edge of said rigid top opposed from its rotating edge, maintaining it up in its open, storage disposition along side said one of said sides.

5. The transport cargo box container of claim 4, wherein:

said angled plates each make an angle of about fifteen to about twenty (15°-20°) degrees back from the vertical.

6. The transport cargo box container of claim 3, wherein said attachment comprises:

a pair of laterally extending pins defining an axis of rotation, and

a pair of downwardly extending, opposed guide tracks each having a top end, said guide tracks being fixedly attached to said framework adjacent to said one of said sides,

said pins riding in said opposed guide tracks restraining and guiding the movement of said rigid top, said pins being located at the top ends of said guide tracks when said rigid top is in its closed disposition, allowing said rigid top to rotate up about the axis formed by said pins at least to about said vertical disposition, the subsequent movement of said pins in said guide tracks allowing said rigid top to thereafter move down along side of said one of said sides to its open, storage disposition.

7. The transport cargo box container of claim 6, wherein:

said guide tracks are downwardly directed in a vertical direction.

8. The transport cargo box container of claim 2, wherein:

said one of said sides is said rear end side.

9. The transport cargo box container of claim 1, wherein:

said front end has a top which is completely open and unobstructed in the vertical direction between said opposed sides when said door and said rigid top are in their respective open dispositions, there being an absence of any front, top structural member in said framework.

10. The transport cargo box container of claim 1, wherein:

said opposed sides and said rear end sides, including said one of said sides, are made of sheet material attached to said framework and having a main body, each sheet of material having a series of parallel, vertical, spaced crimps extending out from said main body of said sheet material, the crimps on said one of said sides extending inwardly toward said interior while the crimps on the other sides extend outwardly away from said interior.

11. The transport cargo box container of claim 1, wherein:

said sides form a rectangular shape.

12. The transport cargo box container of claim 11, wherein:

said rectangular shape is a square.

13. The transport cargo box container of claim 1, wherein:

said framework has dimensions of at least about seven feet in each of all three dimensions.

14. A method of loading cargo in a cargo box container at or at least associated with a land based dock for offshore delivery, protectively transporting the cargo in said box container via a marine vessel to an offshore site, and unloading the cargo from said cargo box container at the offshore site, comprising the following sequential steps:

(A) using a transportable container having a rigid, structural framework including at least—

four, vertically and laterally spaced, longitudinally extending, horizontally disposed, side, structural beams,

four, longitudinally and laterally spaced, vertically disposed, corner, end beams, and

at least three, vertically and longitudinally spaced, laterally extending, horizontally disposed, end beams,

 all of said beams being fixedly joined together at at least near their ends forming a rigid, structurally strong framework defining an extended, box-like configuration, said transportable container further having—

an open interior into which cargo is placeable,

two end sides, a front end side and a rear end side,

two rigid, laterally spaced, opposed sides extending between said front and rear sides,

an attached, rigid, bottom floor below said interior,

at least one door located at its front end moveable to and from a closed disposition and an open disposition, also providing access to said interior when in its open disposition for loading and/or unloading cargo, and

a convertible, rotatable, rigid top having four edges and extending between and across all of said sides mounted on said framework allowing it to be rotatably moved back and forth from a closed disposition and an open disposition, providing access to said interior when said rigid top is in its open disposition for loading and/or unloading cargo, and closing off all of said sides from above when said rigid top is in its closed disposition,

 said sides, said top, said floor and said door located surroundingly around said interior in all three dimensions protectively enclosing said interior, protecting any contained cargo when said cargo container is being transported from one location to another;

(B) loading the cargo into said cargo box container using either the door and/or through the top of the box container when said rigid top is in its open disposition;

(C) transporting the loaded cargo box container with the cargo in its interior to the offshore site;

(D) opening up said cargo box container by at least initially rotating said rigid top up about one of its four edges exposing the interior of said cargo box container through its top; and

(E) unloading at least some of the cargo using an over-head cargo crane having an over-head lifting cable extending during at least part of this unloading step down through the now open top of the container.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein said front end has a top which is completely open and unobstructed in the vertical direction between said opposed sides when said door and said rigid top are in their respective open dispositions, there being an absence of any front, top structural member in said framework; and wherein there is further included in step “E” the step of:

moving the over-head cable from the interior while the over-head cargo crane is carrying cargo from in the container through the door opening when the door is in its open disposition while the cable is extending down into said interior as well as extending above said cargo box container.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein there is further included the steps of:

opening the rigid top to its open disposition by initially rotating it up about one of its edges from a horizontal, closed disposition to at least a generally vertical disposition and then lowering the rigid top down along side one of said sides while the rigid top is in a vertical disposition during at least part of its downward travel.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein there is further included the step of:

using a set of laterally disposed, outwardly directed pins attached to the rotating edge of the rigid top riding in an opposed set of downwardly directed guide tracks to lower the rigid top down along side said one of said sides while the rigid top is in a vertical disposition during at least part of its downward travel.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the width of said rigid top is less than the width of said one of said sides; and wherein there is further included a pair of angled support plates mounted on said framework on opposite sides in association with said opposed guide tracks, said angled plates extending toward each other laterally past said guide tracks, said support plates allowing said rigid top to be rotated past its vertical disposition and still be slid down said guide tracks, said support plates supporting said rigid top at least near the edge of said rigid top opposed from its rotating edge, maintaining it up in its open, storage disposition along side said one of said sides; and wherein there is further included the step of:

rotating said rigid top past the vertical in an over-shoot by at least about five (5°) degrees, using said angled support plates to limit the amount of vertical over-shoot; and

using said support plates to maintain said rigid top up in its lowered, open, storage disposition up along side said one of said sides.

19. In a convertible, transport, rigid, cargo box container suitable for protectively transporting cargo from, for example, a land based dock via a marine vessel to an offshore site, including a transportable container having a rigid, structural framework including at least—

four, vertically and laterally spaced, longitudinally extending, horizontally disposed, side, structural beams,

four, longitudinally and laterally spaced, vertically disposed, corner, end beams, and

at least three, vertically and longitudinally spaced, laterally extending, horizontally disposed, end beams,

all of said beams being fixedly joined together at at least near their ends forming a rigid, structurally strong framework defining an extended, box-like configuration, said transportable container further having—

an open interior into which cargo is placeable,

two end sides, a front end side and a rear end side,

two rigid, laterally spaced, opposed sides extending between said front and rear sides,

an attached, rigid, bottom floor below said interior, and

at least one door located at its front end moveable to and from a closed disposition and an open disposition, also providing access to said interior when in its open disposition for loading and/or unloading cargo, and

a rigid top attached to said framework; said sides, said top, said floor and said door located surroundingly around said interior in all three dimensions protectively enclosing said interior, protecting any contained cargo when said cargo container is being transported from one location to another; the improvement comprising:

a convertible, rotatable top extending between and across all of said sides mounted to be rotatably moved back and forth from a closed disposition and an open disposition, providing access from above to said interior when said rigid top is in its open disposition for loading and/or unloading cargo, and closing off all of said sides from above when said rigid top is in its closed disposition, said rotatable top is mounted on said framework by an attachment which allows said top to be moved down along side one of said sides, said attachment, when said rigid top is in its closed disposition, allowing said rotatable top to initially rotate up at least to about a vertical disposition and then move down in a vertical direction along side said one of said sides in a open, storage disposition in parallel juxtaposition to said one of said sides,

a pair of laterally extending pins defining an axis of rotation, and

a pair of downwardly extending, opposed guide tracks each having a top end, said guide tracks being fixedly attached to said framework adjacent to said one of said sides,

said pins riding in said opposed guide tracks restraining and guiding the movement of said rigid top, said pins being located at the top ends of said guide tracks when said rigid top is in its closed disposition, allowing said rigid top to rotate up about the axis formed by said pins at least to about said vertical disposition, the subsequent movement of said pins in said guide tracks allowing said rigid top to thereafter move down along side of said one of said sides to its open, storage disposition, said guide tracks being downwardly directed in a vertical direction.

20. The improved transport cargo box container of claim 19, wherein:

said rigid top has a width less than the width of said one of said sides; and

wherein there is further included:

a pair of angled support plates mounted on said framework on opposite sides in association with said opposed guide tracks, said angles plates extending toward each other laterally past said guide tracks, said support plates allowing said rigid top to be rotated past its vertical disposition and still be slide down said guide tracks, said support plates supporting said rigid top at least near the edge of said rigid top opposed from its rotating edge, maintaining it up in its open, storage disposition along side said one of said sides.