This application relates to the field of shipping containers, and more specifically, to a modular shipping container, system, and method.
The efficient, safe, and secure shipment of freight, such as goods, components, products, mail, etc. is an important aspect of business today. Freight is often shipped nationally and internationally by truck, train, ship, and airplane. Before the freight reaches its destination, it is often handled by several different entities, such as trucking companies, intermediate consolidators, railways, shipping companies, and airlines.
One problem with present systems and methods for shipping freight is that they typically involve the complex and inefficient transfer and repackaging of freight before it is received by end users. For example, items of freight are typically picked up by one entity and brought to a transfer point where the goods are consolidated with other freight into boxes or containers. These boxes and containers, often containing freight for a variety of different end users, are then shipped by land, sea, or air to another site where the items are unconsolidated, reloaded, and then delivered to the end users. Throughout this process, different entities have control of the freight which increases the likelihood of mishandling or error. This complex process results in inefficiency and added expense. It also increases the likelihood of damage to or loss of the freight as it is transported to the end user.
A need therefore exists for an improved shipping container, system, and method. Accordingly, a solution that addresses, at least in part, the above and other shortcomings is desired.
According to one aspect of the application, there is provided a modular shipping container, comprising: an enclosure have a base opposed and spaced from a roof, each of the base and roof coupled to respective ends of opposed and spaced left and right side walls and to opposed and spaced front and back walls, the front and back walls having front and back door openings formed therein, respectively; and, front and back doors sized for mounting over the front and back door openings, respectively, to selectively close the front and back door openings; wherein the front door opening and the front door are smaller than the back door opening and the back door, respectively, whereby the front door is passable through the back door opening.
Features and advantages of the embodiments of the present application will become apparent from the following detailed description, taken in combination with the appended drawings, in which:
It will be noted that throughout the appended drawings, like features are identified by like reference numerals.
In the following description, details are set forth to provide an understanding of the application. In some instances, certain structures, techniques and methods have not been described or shown in detail in order not to obscure the application.
According to one embodiment, the modular shipping container (or shipping container or container) 100 includes: a base 110; opposed right and left side walls (or first and second side walls) 120, 130 coupled (or joined or fastened) to the base 110; opposed front and back walls (or first and second end walls) 140, 150 coupled to the base 110, the front and back walls 140, 150 having front and back door openings (or first and second openings) 141, 151 formed therein, respectively, for the loading and removal of freight (not shown) from the shipping container 100; a roof 180 coupled to the right and left side walls 120, 130 and to the front and back walls 140, 150; and, front and back doors (or first and second closure panels) 160, 170 sized for mounting over the front and back door openings 141, 151, respectively, to selectively close the front and back door openings 141, 151 to secure the freight within the shipping container 100. The front door opening 141 and the front door 160 may be sized smaller than the back door opening 151 and the back door 170, respectively, to allow the front door 160 to be passed through the back door opening 151.
The modular shipping container 100 may be used for transporting and storing freight which may be placed on the upper surface 111 of the base 110 within the volume 190 or enclosure 191 defined by the base 110, side walls 120, 130, end walls 140, 150, and roof 180 (i.e., inside 190 the shipping container 100). According to one embodiment, the shipping container 100 may be constructed using wood, plastic, fibreglass, and/or metal.
The front wall 140 of the shipping container 100 may be rectangular in shape having an inner surface 142 facing the inside 190 of the container 100 and an outer surface 144 facing the outside 200. Similarly, the front door 160 may be rectangular in shape having an inner surface 162 facing the inside 190 of the container 100 and an outer surface 164 facing the outside 200. Similarly, the front door opening 141 may be rectangular in shape. According to other embodiments, the front door 160 and front door opening 141 may be square in shape, circular in shape, or any other shape.
The front door 160 is mounted over the front door opening 141 in the front wall 140 to close the front door opening 141 from outside 200 the shipping container 100 by first fitting an upper edge 166 of the front door 160 into a slot 146 formed in the front wall 140 above the front door opening 141 (i.e., in the front door lintel 400) and then resting a lower edge 168 of the front door 160 on a ledge 112 formed in the upper surface 111 of the base 110 below the front door opening 141. (i.e., at the front door sill 360).
A user or users may position the front door 160 in place using one or more handles 350 (e.g., four handles 350) mounted on the outer surface 164 of the front door 160. The front door 160 is secured or locked in place over the front door opening 141 using one or more slide bolt latches 300 (e.g., two slide bolt latches) mounted along the border or edges 600 of the outer surface 164 of the front door 160. The bolt 310 of each slide bolt latch 300 engages a respective strike plate or hole 320 mounted on or formed in the front wall 140 (e.g., in the doorjamb 700) adjacent each slide bolt latch 300.
A bump seal or seals 169 may be provided along doorstops 710 mounted to respective doorjambs 700 of the front wall 140 at the front door opening 141 and/or along the edge or spaced from the edge of the slot 146 formed in the lintel 400 to seal the front door 160 to the front wall 140 (i.e., to the front doorjambs 700, front door lintel 400, and front door sill 360).
The back wall 150 may be rectangular in shape having an inner surface 152 facing the inside 190 the container 100 and an outer surface 154 facing the outside 200. Similarly, the back door 170 may be rectangular in shape having an inner surface 172 facing the inside 190 of the container 100 and an outer surface 174 facing the outside 200. Similarly, the back door opening 151 may be rectangular in shape. According to other embodiments, the back door 170 and back door opening 151 may be square in shape, circular in shape, or any other shape.
The back door 170 is mounted over the back door opening 151 in the back wall 150 to close the back door opening 151 from inside 190 the shipping container 100 by first resting a lower edge 178 of the back door 170 on a ledge 114 formed in the upper surface 111 of the base 110 below the back door opening 151 (i.e., at the back door sill 1660) and then resting or pressing an upper portion 176 of the outer surface 174 of the back door 170 against a lower portion 156 of the inner surface 152 of the back wall 150 above the back door opening 151 (i.e., at the back door lintel 1700).
A user or users may position the back door 170 in place using one or more handles 350 (e.g., two handles 350) mounted on the inner surface 172 of the back door 170. The back door 170 is secured or locked in place over the back door opening 151 using one or more locks 2000 (e.g., five locks) mounted along the border or edges 2200 of the inner surface 172 of the back door 170. The hasp of each lock 2000 engages a respective base or protrusion or board mounted on or formed in the inner surface 152 of the back wall 150 (e.g., adjacent the doorjamb 1800 and lintel 1700) adjacent each lock 2000.
A bump seal or seals 169 may be provided along the inner surface 152 of the back wall 150 adjacent to the doorjambs 1800, lintel 1700, and sill 1160 of the back wall 150 at the back door opening 151 and/or along or spaced from the border or edges 2300 of the outer surface 174 of the back door 170 to seal the back door 150 to the back wall 150.
The front and back walls 140, 150 may be coupled to the side walls 120, 130 using angled metal reinforcement plates 3000 which may be fastened to the inner surfaces (e.g., 142, 132) of each wall using bolts 3010. A cover plate 3020 may be mounted over each reinforcement plate 3000 and its respective bolts 3010 to reduce damage to freight from scratching. One or more D-rings 380 may be mounted in the outer surfaces 144, 154 of the front and back walls 140, 150 to provide a means of securing the shipping container 100 to a trailer, ship hold, etc., and/or to another shipping container 100 as described below.
One or more removable strapping boards 3400 may be mounted between the side walls 120, 130 across the front door opening 141 and behind the front door 160 to secure freight within the shipping container 100 and to prevent freight that may have shifted during transport from coming into contact with the front door 160. Each removable strapping board 3400 may be mounted across the front door opening using a support 3500 attached to the inner surface (e.g., 132) of each side wall (e.g., 130). The inner surface (e.g., 132) of each side wall (e.g., 130) may be further equipped one or more handles 3700 (e.g., four handles) for securing freight within the shipping container 100. These handles 3700 may be used to position freight within the shipping container 100 so as to face the front door 140.
Thus, according to one embodiment, there is provided a modular shipping container 100, comprising: an enclosure 191 having a base 110 opposed and spaced from a roof 180, each of the base 110 and roof 180 coupled to respective ends of opposed and spaced left and right side walls 130, 120 and to opposed and spaced front and back walls 140, 150, the front and back walls 140, 150 having front and back door openings 141, 151 formed therein, respectively; and, front and back doors 160,170 sized for mounting over the front and back door openings 141, 151, respectively, to selectively close the front and back door openings 141, 151; wherein the front door opening 141 and the front door 160 are smaller than the back door opening 151 and the back door 170, respectively, whereby the front door 160 is passable through the back door opening 151.
The above embodiments may contribute to an improved modular shipping container 100 and may provide one or more advantages. First, to increase freight capacity, a number of modular shipping containers 100 may be positioned, placed, or coupled front wall 140 to back wall 150 to form a modular shipping container system 4200. Second, freight may be loaded and removed from the modular shipping container system 4200 by opening the front door 160 of just the first modular shipping container 100 in the system 4200.
The embodiments of the application described above are intended to be exemplary only. Those skilled in this art will understand that various modifications of detail may be made to these embodiments, all of which come within the scope of the application.
Number | Name | Date | Kind |
---|---|---|---|
2715040 | Rhoads | Aug 1955 | A |
2761581 | Cohee | Sep 1956 | A |
2920781 | Butcher et al. | Jan 1960 | A |
3004682 | Bertolini et al. | Oct 1961 | A |
3015407 | Fesmire et al. | Jan 1962 | A |
3061134 | Fesmire et al. | Oct 1962 | A |
3073466 | Greer et al. | Jan 1963 | A |
3485406 | Borden | Dec 1969 | A |
3561634 | Meldrum | Feb 1971 | A |
3593672 | Breen et al. | Jul 1971 | A |
3752349 | Rana | Aug 1973 | A |
3907148 | Meller et al. | Sep 1975 | A |
3915327 | Lovich | Oct 1975 | A |
4177907 | Funaioli et al. | Dec 1979 | A |
4214669 | McQuiston | Jul 1980 | A |
4302044 | Sims | Nov 1981 | A |
4726149 | Tryba | Feb 1988 | A |
4819820 | Weiner | Apr 1989 | A |
5052569 | Cooper | Oct 1991 | A |
5192176 | Roberts | Mar 1993 | A |
5199589 | Noble | Apr 1993 | A |
5289933 | Streich et al. | Mar 1994 | A |
5326212 | Roberts | Jul 1994 | A |
5326213 | Roberts | Jul 1994 | A |
5501333 | Swan | Mar 1996 | A |
5601201 | Looker | Feb 1997 | A |
5611449 | Pedersen | Mar 1997 | A |
5662450 | Roberts | Sep 1997 | A |
5829595 | Brown et al. | Nov 1998 | A |
5904262 | Coppi | May 1999 | A |
6010021 | Zuidam et al. | Jan 2000 | A |
6071062 | Warhurst et al. | Jun 2000 | A |
6089398 | Weinstein | Jul 2000 | A |
6155770 | Warhurst | Dec 2000 | A |
6299008 | Payne | Oct 2001 | B1 |
6363586 | Neufingerl | Apr 2002 | B1 |
6415938 | Karpisek | Jul 2002 | B1 |
6811048 | Lau | Nov 2004 | B2 |
7185779 | Payne | Mar 2007 | B2 |
7296704 | Ferrini | Nov 2007 | B2 |
7357611 | Faivre et al. | Apr 2008 | B2 |
7811044 | Warhurst | Oct 2010 | B2 |
8100279 | Nielsen et al. | Jan 2012 | B2 |
8128327 | Jevaney | Mar 2012 | B2 |
8308018 | Kochanowski | Nov 2012 | B2 |
8376168 | Fielden | Feb 2013 | B2 |
8794480 | Gollnick et al. | Aug 2014 | B2 |
20010035410 | Taube et al. | Nov 2001 | A1 |
20070108204 | Warhurst et al. | May 2007 | A1 |
20090026196 | Leedekerken | Jan 2009 | A1 |
20090078700 | Boivin | Mar 2009 | A1 |
20090145897 | Chen | Jun 2009 | A1 |
20100147842 | Reynard et al. | Jun 2010 | A1 |
20100191615 | Thomas | Jul 2010 | A1 |
Number | Date | Country |
---|---|---|
3600378 | Jul 1987 | DE |
3600378 | May 1988 | DE |
9310023 | May 1993 | WO |
Number | Date | Country | |
---|---|---|---|
20160145039 A1 | May 2016 | US |