GB2590413A

GB2590413A - Container cover

Info

Publication number: GB2590413A
Application number: GB1918562.8A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Colfar John
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2019-12-16
Filing date: 2019-12-16
Publication date: 2021-06-30
Also published as: GB201918562D0

Abstract

A cover (100) for a shipping container comprises a flexible sheet (102) formed from a water-resistant material, and a skirt (104) connected to the flexible sheet around its perimeter, wherein the skirt (104) comprises a plurality of magnetic fasteners (106) suitable for releasably engaging the cover (100) to a shipping container.

Description

Container cover The present invention relates to a cover suitable for use with a shipping container.

Shipping containers, also known as intermodal containers, are widely used throughout the world as transportation and/or storage units, as they are easily manufactured and durable.

Standard closed-top shipping containers generally have walls, a base and a roof formed from corrugated metal sheets, to provide a strong and rigid frame. These shipping containers may be placed in container ports for extended periods of time whilst awaiting transportation, and indeed many shipping containers are repurposed as storage units, where they may remain in situ indefinitely.

Due to the structure of these standing shipping containers, rainwater may collect in the recesses of the corrugated metal roof of a container. This can be damaging to the structure of the container, as the container will become more susceptible to oxidation (rusting), which can lead to holes forming in the container roof and, if left unchecked, catastrophic failure of the container roof. This is clearly undesirable, since water leaking into the container may damage any materials stored inside.

In order to prevent damage to these containers, it is desirable to have a cover that can be positioned over the container roof to prevent the collection of water in the recesses of the roof.

A variant of the standard closed-top shipping container is the open-top container, which is generally formed from corrugated metal walls and a base, with no fixed roof. In place of a fixed roof, such containers instead comprise a rectangular tarpaulin sheet that may be removed and attached as desired, to allow access to the container. The tarpaulin cover is generally rectangular, with a plurality of apertures spaced around the perimeter of the cover. In use, the cover is placed on top of the open-top container such that the apertures of the cover are aligned with a plurality of outwardly extending rings that are integrally formed on the container walls and pass through the apertures of the cover. A rope or cable is then threaded through the rings to secure the cover in position.

An example of this known configuration is shown in Figures 1 and 2. The tarpaulin cover A comprises a plurality of substantially equally spaced apertures B around the perimeter of the cover A. In use, the cover A is placed over the top of an open-top container C, such that the portion of the cover A comprising the apertures B hangs over the edge of the open top and sits flush with the side walls of the container C. Each of the side walls of the container C is provided with a plurality of perpendicularly extending rings D, and the cover A is generally dimensioned such that the apertures B of the cover align precisely with the rings D, with the rings D passing through the apertures B. The cover A is secured to the container C by a rope E, which passes through each of the rings Din turn and is securely tied to prevent unwanted removal of the cover A. However, these tarpaulin covers are not suitable for use with closed-top shipping containers, since the side walls of these closed-top containers are not fitted with attachment rings. As a result, it would not be possible to securely attach such a cover to a closed-top container to reliably prevent water damage to the container roof.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a cover that can be quickly and securely attached to and removed from a closed-top shipping container to prevent pooling of water on the container roof.

In accordance with the present invention, a cover for a shipping container comprises: A cover for a shipping container, comprising: a flexible sheet formed from a water-resistant material; a skirt connected to the flexible sheet around its perimeter, wherein the skirt comprises a plurality of magnetic fasteners suitable for releasably engaging the cover to a shipping container.

By providing a cover having magnetic fasteners attached to a skirt, the cover may be placed over the roof of a shipping container such that the skirt hangs vertically downwards, flush with the side walls of the container, allowing the magnetic fasteners to magnetically engage with the (metal) side walls of the container to provide a secure fit.

Additionally, by providing a cover that can reliably attach to the roof of a shipping container, this will minimise the possibility of water damage to the container, thus prolonging the life of the container and reducing the need for mass production of new shipping containers (and therefore providing an environmental benefit).

Preferably, the cover further comprises at least one manual fastening component.

By providing a cover with at least one manual fastening component, the cover may be further secured in position by tying or attaching such manual fastening components to complementary sections of a shipping container (i.e. rings or apertures formed on corner castings of a container).

Preferably, each manual fastening component of the at least one manual fastening components comprises: (a) a zip tie; or (b) a rope; or (c) a wire; or (d) a cable.

Preferably, the plurality of fasteners are positioned around the entirety of the skirt.

Preferably, the plurality of magnetic fasteners are positioned in a linear pattern along the skirt at substantially equal distances from each other.

Preferably, the cover comprises eight manual fastening components, wherein each corner of the skirt is provided with two of the eight manual fastening components.

Preferably, the cover further comprises at least one longitudinal support member attached to a first surface of the flexible sheet, the longitudinal support member extending vertically downwards from the first surface of the flexible sheet.

Further preferably, in use, the longitudinal support member extends vertically downwards from the first surface of the flexible sheet and abuts an upper surface of a shipping container, to provide a vertical separation between a portion of the flexible sheet and the upper surface of the shipping container such that the flexible sheet is inclined relative to the upper surface of the shipping container.

By providing a longitudinal support member that provides a vertical separation between a portion of the flexible sheet and the upper surface of the shipping container, this prevents the collection of rainwater on the flexible sheet. The longitudinal support member ensures that the flexible sheet is inclined with respect to the upper surface of the shipping container, so that rainwater can run off the sheet. Thus, there is a smaller possibility of rainwater contacting the upper surface of the shipping container, which will ensure that oxidation (rusting) is minimised. Additionally, by preventing collection of rainwater on the flexible sheet, there will be less weight on the upper surface of the container.

By way of example only, a specific embodiment of the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a top view of a known container cover; Figure 2 is a perspective view of an open-top shipping container with the known container cover of Figure 1 secured in position; Figure 3 is a top view of a cover in accordance with the present invention; Figure 4 is a perspective view of the cover of Figure 3; Figure 5 is a perspective view of a shipping container with the cover of Figure 3 secured in position over the container roof; Figure 6 is a side view of the composite structure of a magnetic fastener in accordance with the present invention; and Figure 7 is an exploded view of the magnetic fastener of Figure 6.

As shown in Figure 3, the cover 100 comprises a resiliently deformable flexible sheet 102, where the sheet 102 is formed from a plastics material with water-resistant properties, for example a 610 gsm double-sided PVC coated polyester. The cover 100 also comprises a skirt 104, with long edges 104a, 104b and short edges 104c, 104d. The skirt 104 is integrally formed with the flexible sheet 102 and extends outwardly, and in the same plane as, the flexible sheet 102. The skirt 104 is shown in a disconnected state in Figure 3, although it is envisaged that the long edges 104a, 104b can be connected (i.e. stitched together) to the short edges 104c, 104d at each corner.

The flexible sheet 102 has approximate dimensions of 20ft x aft (approximately 6.1m x 2.4m)-suitable for use with a standard 20ft (6.1m) shipping container. However, it is envisaged that the sheet 102 may be produced in a variety of different sizes, in order to fit shipping containers with different dimensions, such as aft x aft, 10ft x aft or 40ft x aft containers. The edges 104a-104d of the skirt 104 are approximately 6 inches (0.15m) wide, but again, can be produced with different dimensions if required.

Each of the edges 104a-104d of the skirt 104 are provided with a plurality of magnetic fasteners 106. As shown in Figure 3, each of the long edges 104a, 104b comprises seven magnetic fasteners. Short edge 104c comprises five magnetic fasteners and short edge 104d comprises three magnetic fasteners. It is also envisaged that each of the edges 104a-104d could be provided with additional magnetic fasteners or fewer magnetic fasteners, as required.

When the container cover 100 is positioned on top of the shipping container, the magnetic fasteners 106 will securely engage the metal (steel) surface of the shipping container.

Figure 3 shows that short edge 104d of the skirt 104 has a narrower central section 108. In use, the narrow section 108 will be positioned to ensure that the locking rods of the container doors are unobstructed. It is alternatively envisaged that the whole of the short edge 104d may have the same width, provided that the edge 104d is sufficiently narrow to prevent obstruction of the locking rods of the container doors.

As shown in Figures 3 to 5, the cover 100 is also provided with a plurality of manual fastening components, located at the ends of each of the edges 104a-104d of the skirt 104. Each manual fastening component comprises by a pair of apertures 110a and 110b which, when the corners of the skirt 104 are connected, are aligned such that a zip tie (not shown in the Figures) can be passed through the apertures 110a and 110b in turn and secured. In use, each corner section of the cover comprising the manual fastening components is positioned over the top corner section of a shipping container. In general, shipping containers comprise corner castings with a plurality of apertures. The manual fastening components allow a zip tie to be passed, in turn, through aperture 110a, in to and out of the corner casting via its apertures, and aperture 110b, to provide a secure fastening.

Although the manual fastening components described above involve the use of zip ties, it is alternatively possible to use wires, ropes, cables, or any other suitable securing device.

It is alternatively envisaged that each of the edges 104a-104d of the skirt 104, instead of being formed as a single 'tab' as shown in Figures 3-5, may instead comprise a plurality of smaller tabs, equally spaced around the perimeter of the container (i.e. the edges of the skirt 104 comprise a series of rectangular 'crenellations' (in other words, a 'square wave' shape)). In this alternative arrangement, each tab of the plurality of tabs is provided with a single magnetic fastener or a manual fastening component.

Although not shown in Figures 3-5 herein, the container cover 100 may additionally be provided with a longitudinal support member, attached to a first (lower) surface of the flexible sheet 102.

The longitudinal support member is configured to extend vertically downwards from the first surface of the flexible sheet 102 and to abut an upper surface (roof) of a shipping container and to create a vertical separation between the flexible sheet 102 and the shipping container roof. This configuration ensures that the flexible sheet 102 is inclined relative to the shipping container roof, to prevent pooling of rainwater on the flexible sheet 102.

As shown in Figures 6 and 7, each of the magnetic fasteners 106 has a composite structure. Each magnetic fastener 106 comprises a counter-sunk magnet 112, a first washer 114, a second washer 116, a bolt 118 and nut 120. Each magnetic fastener 106 can therefore be coupled and uncoupled from the skirt 104.

The magnet 112 is positioned adjacent to the first washer 114, and the first washer 114 in turn is positioned on a first (inner) surface of the skirt 104. The second washer 116 is positioned on a second (outer) surface of the skirt 104, such that the skirt 104 is secured between the first washer 114 and the second washer 116. The bolt 118 is configured to pass through a central aperture in each of the magnets 112, the first washer 114, the skirt 104 and the second washer 116, and the assembly is secured by a nut 120, which is attached to the bolt 118.

In this arrangement, the magnet 112 is positioned between the surface of the container and the 9 inner surface of the skirt 104, which ensures that rainwater is prevented from contacting the magnet 112, in order to prevent oxidation (rusting) of the magnet 112.

Figure 7 shows the components of the magnetic fastener 106 in an exploded view, where the magnetic fastener 106 is uncoupled from the container cover 100, for ease of reference.

It is alternatively envisaged that the magnetic fastener 106 could be configured without one or both of the washers 114,116, if required. In contrast, additional components could be introduced, as required, in order to improve durability of the fastener 106.

The invention is not restricted to the details of the embodiment described above. It is envisaged that various amendments could be made to the structure of the container cover (for example, differences in size or shape of the cover) differences in amount and position of fasteners, differences in material of the cover, differences in configuration of the magnetic fastener assembly) without departing from the scope of the appended claims.

Claims

Claims 1. A cover for a shipping container, comprising: a flexible sheet formed from a water-resistant material; a skirt connected to the flexible sheet around its perimeter, wherein the skirt comprises a plurality of magnetic fasteners suitable for releasably engaging the cover to a shipping container.
2. A cover as claimed in claim 1, further comprising at least one manual fastening component.
3. A cover as claimed in claim 2, wherein each manual fastening component of the at least one manual fastening components comprises: (a) a zip tie; or (b) a rope; or (c) a wire; or (d) a cable.
4. A cover as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein the plurality of fasteners are positioned around the entirety of the skirt.
5. A cover as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein the plurality of magnetic fasteners are positioned in a linear pattern along the skirt at substantially equal distances from each other.
6. A cover as claimed in claim 2 or claim 3, comprising eight manual fastening components, wherein each corner of the skirt is provided with two of the eight manual fastening components.
7. A cover as claimed in any of the preceding claims, further comprising at least one longitudinal support member attached to a first surface of the flexible sheet, the longitudinal support member extending vertically downwards from the first surface of the flexible sheet.
8. A cover as claimed in claim 7, wherein, in use, the longitudinal support member extends vertically downwards from the first surface of the flexible sheet and abuts an upper surface of a shipping container, to provide a vertical separation between a portion of the flexible sheet and the upper surface of the shipping container such that the flexible sheet is inclined relative to the upper surface of the shipping container.