JPH07102875B2 - Freight container - Google Patents

Abstract

A cargo container which includes a plurality of elongated frame members (12) each having an elongated channel (31) and an elongated recess (30) therein. A plurality of coupling members (14) is removably engagable with ends of the frame members. A plurality of panels (51) is removably engagable with the elongated channels in the frame members and each of the panels having an elongated recess (54) around a perimeter thereof which, together with the elongated recess in each of the frame members, forms an elongated slot. A locking element (38) is removably insertable into the slots formed by the panel recesses and frame member recesses, when the panels are in engagement with the channels to lock the frame members, panels and coupling members into a substantially rigid assembly.

Description

Description: TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention is for use in air transportation or ground transportation, and is composed of components that are easy to assemble and disassemble, and is capable of withstanding bending and deformation of panels and frames. Of improved freight containers.

Technical Background The use of transparent panels as the prior art closest to the present invention is disclosed in US Pat. No. 4,833,771. Since such panels are retained by the inner and outer corner moldings, the edges of each panel must be tailored to match the shape of those corner moldings. Moreover, such processing of the panel edge causes stress cracking, which causes breakage during use. This is because bolts and nuts are used as means for covering and fixing such inner and outer corner molded products on the panel edges.

A shipping container that can be assembled without tools, i.e., without bolts and nuts or other fasteners, is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,517,849. In that patent, an extruded frame member having elongated slots for receiving the edges of the rigid panel and the corner member is used to allow the legs of the corner member to fit into the hollow ends of the frame member. The frame members are connected to each other so that each panel surrounded by the frame member and the corner member is engaged with an adjacent panel also surrounded by the frame member and the corner member. However, the container of this patent is not watertight at the edges proximate the corner members because the panels are not glued to the corner members. Moreover, this container is not very capable of withstanding deformations as it causes distortions in the edge joints and the rigid panel itself. Moreover, the panels of the container of this patent cannot be removed without first disassembling at least a portion of the frame structure.

Italian Patent No. 623,11 issued on July 7, 1961
No. 8 is a knockdown container with a corner member having legs sized to fit into the ends of an extruded frame member and a panel adapted to be attached to the extruded frame member by bolts. Disclosure. The corner member includes an outer rounded corner member having a bolt, an inner corner member having a bolt hole,
It consists of a nut that tightens onto the bolt to hold the inner and outer corner members together.

Known containers using rigid panels, the edges of which are glued to the frame member or fixed to the frame member with screws or bolts, are susceptible to panel breakage when deformed under load. Or, the joint part of the edge is easily damaged. Since a large load is usually applied to the inner wall of a container when it is packed, its life is relatively limited when used as a container for air transportation, truck transportation or ship transportation. .

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an improved freight container.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a freight container that is easy to assemble and disassemble.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a freight container that has a higher capacity to withstand deformation than conventionally known containers.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a substantially watertight freight container.

To achieve the above object, the present invention provides a plurality of frame members each having an elongated channel, a plurality of connecting members removably engageable with the ends of the frame members, and channels of the frame members. A freight container comprising a plurality of panels removably engageable with the frame member, each frame member having an elongated recess, the panels cooperating with the recesses in the frame member at their periphery. Has an elongated recess defining an elongated slot and is removable within the slot to lock the frame member, panel and connecting member as a rigid assembly when the panel is engaged with the channel. There is provided a freight container characterized in that it is provided with locking means which can be inserted into.

Advantageously, the channels are arranged in air inside the container for increased safety. This container assembly is a structure that is easy to assemble and disassemble without the need for complicated fasteners such as bolts and nuts to assemble it.

However, it is preferable to use locking means for detachably attaching the respective panels to the frame member and the connecting member. Also, the use of elastic means as the locking means for attaching the panel to the frame member and the connecting member not only avoids the need to use separate fasteners such as bolts and nuts, but also adds to this container structure. Provides resistance to bending or bending.

The locking means is preferably an elastic strip that is captured between the elongated surface portion of the frame member and the elongated surface portion of the edge of the panel.

The panel may be composed of a flexible sheet having a rigid edging material attached to the periphery thereof. By using a flexible sheet instead of a rigid sheet, breakage of the panel due to container deformation is avoided and resistance to deformation of the container structure is increased. Further, since there is no need to drill holes in the edges of the panel, such drilling does not weaken or stress the panel. The elastic strips ensure that the load applied to the inside of the container does not pull the strips out, but rather clamps the strips in place and prevents the strips from being exposed to accidental external contact. Preferably, it is placed inside the container. This placement of the strip inside the container also increases the security of preventing unauthorized access to the contents of the container by a third party.

The frame member may be an extruded hollow aluminum structure having a pair of elongated round recesses for receiving round (arc-shaped) strips or O-rings and a shape having channels. Can be
One side wall of the channel is a wall that is slightly inwardly inclined to define an angle of slightly less than 90 ° to the bottom wall of the channel. The edging material may include elongated protrusions that may be inserted into corresponding channels of the frame member, the protrusions having sidewalls that abut parallel to the sidewalls of the channel of the frame member. The O-ring acts to press the side wall of the edging material against the side wall of the channel of the frame member. When the panel is deformed in an outwardly displacing direction, the protrusion of the edging material is rotated about a fulcrum on the side wall of the channel of the frame member and merely compresses the O-ring.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the container of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an end view of the frame member showing in cross section the panel frame and the edge portion of the panel held in place by the O-ring.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the outer surface of the connecting member of the frame member.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the inner surface of the connecting member of the frame member.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the door with the outer lining shown partially cut away and the inner lining corners also shown cut away.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the base and the frame member coupled thereto.

FIG. 7 is a sectional view of a frame member according to another embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a sectional view of a frame member according to still another embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a partial cross-sectional view of the frame member of the embodiment shown in FIG. 8 and shows a modification at the time of receiving a load in a direction perpendicular to the plane of the panel.

FIG. 10 is a sectional view of the hollow O-ring.

EXAMPLE Referring to FIG. 1, there is shown a freight container 10 of the present invention assembled by a plurality of frame members 12 adjacent by a connecting member 14. A transparent rectangular panel 16 is provided in each open area defined by these connected frame members 12 and connecting members 14. A door opening 20 is formed on one side of the container 10, and a hoist type door or cover 22 is removably attached to one side of the door opening 20 by a velcro fastener, that is, a so-called magic tape as described later. The entire upper structure of the container 10 is detachably fixed to the base 24 with bolts and nuts.

The frame member 12 is shown in the cross-sectional view of FIG. 2 as an extruded hollow aluminum structure. The frame member 12 is for use at the intersection of two panels 51 (only one is shown in FIG. 2) that are orthogonal to each other. In this embodiment, the frame member 12 has an arcuate portion 26 which is an arc of a quadrant, but when it is used at an intersection at another angle, the arcuate portion 26 has a different arc. be able to. At both ends of the arc-shaped portion 26, an elongated round shape (having an arc-shaped cross section) that connects each end to the bracing portion 28
A portion or recess 30 is provided. Both ends of the arcuate portion 26 of the frame member also have extensions 32 extending tangentially thereto. Each extension 32 terminates in a substantially orthogonal lip 36. Lip 36 is an arcuate part from 90 °
Slightly towards 26, for example 0.794 in a distance of 9.525 mm
mm, that is, having an inner wall 34 inclined inward by about 5 °. Each panel 51 (only a portion of which is shown in FIG. 2)
A transparent flexible plastic sheet 52 having its periphery bonded to a rigid peripheral edging material 40. The edging material 40 has enlarged portions 46, 48, 50 which function as adhesive channels, and a pair of spaced apart lips 42, 44 which project substantially at right angles to the plane of the panel 51. However, lip 4
4 is inclined about 5 ° outwards to match the inclination of the inner wall 34 of the lip 36 of the frame member 12. The total width of the lips 42, 44 is selected to be less than the width of the extension 32, thereby allowing the edging material 40 to fit into the wall 53 of the frame member 12.
It is possible to make a slight rotation in the counterclockwise direction around the contact point 56 with the lip 36 as shown in FIG. The edging 40 also has an elongated rounded portion 54 which cooperates with the elongated rounded portion 30 of the frame member 12 to receive a resilient strip or O-ring 38. A circular O-ring groove defining an arc of about 270 ° is formed. With the O-ring 38 in place, the edging material 40
An abutment 44 against the inner wall 34 of the frame member is retained within the channel 31 defined by the extension 32 and the walls 53 and 34. The elastic strip or O-ring 38 is a sealing member and also serves as a frame member 12, a panel 51 and a connecting member 14.
Also serves as a locking means for locking the as a solid assembly.

When an outward load is applied to the seat (also referred to as a “panel” for convenience) 52, the panel 52 is displaced outward, exerting a torque on the edging material 40 about an axis passing through the contact point 56. The lips 42,44 are pressed against the wall 53 and the edging 4
Further compress the O-ring 38 to resist 0 deformation.

The connecting member 14 for connecting the frame members 12 to each other,
This is clearly shown in FIG. The connecting member 14 has three different legs or bosses 64 each having a sectional shape that fits into the corresponding frame member 12 as shown by the broken lines in FIG. 2, and a central portion integrally formed with the legs 64. It has an enlarged portion 60. Enlarged portion 60 defines a shoulder 62 with each leg 64 that abuts one end of each frame member. As shown in FIG. 4, each connecting member 14 has grooves 61, 63, 65 aligned with corresponding recesses or grooves 30 in the frame member 12. Connecting member 14
Is made of metal or a rigid plastic such as polycarbonate. Rigid plastics such as polycarbonate restore to their original shape after deformation.

The door opening 20 is closed by a roll-up door 22 as shown in detail in FIG. The door 22 is made up of two flexible sheet material portions 70, 72 that are sewn together on both sides and in the center with a spring 66 sandwiched therebetween. The spring 66 is made of stainless steel machined to have a hoisting balance position and serves to hoist the door 22 to the hoisting position. The door 22 is unwound, and a pair of velcro tapes 68 attached to the inner surface of the door 22 are attached to both sides of the opening 20.
The door 22 can be held in the closed position by engaging with. When the door 22 is unwound, the horizontal bars 74 arranged near the lower end of the door 22 are fitted into the horizontal bar receiving openings 76 formed on both sides of the opening 20.

To complete the construction of the container 10, the bottom frame member 12 is bolted to the base 24, as shown in FIG. The entire container 10, except for the suspension mounts for the base 24 and door 22, is assembled without fasteners such as bolts and nuts. Assembling of the container proceeds from the base 24 gradually upward. First, the lowermost frame members 12 are connected to each other by the connecting members 14, and then the upward frame members 12 are slidably fitted to the corresponding upward legs 64 of the connecting members 14. After all the frame members 12 have been assembled in this manner, the bottommost frame member 12 is bolted to the base 24. After that, put each transparent panel 51 into the container 10
The elastic O-ring 38 is fitted into the frame member 12 from the inside of the frame and the O-ring groove 30 of the frame member 12 and the corresponding connecting member
Insert into 14 O-ring grooves 61, 63, 65. The top of the door 22 is fastened to the top of the container 10 to complete the assembly. The entire structure can be quickly disassembled for shipping,
Once you reach your destination, you can reassemble it.

FIG. 7 shows a modified embodiment of the frame member and the connecting member. In this example, the O-ring 80 is trapezoidal in cross section,
Correspondingly, the walls 82, 83 of the frame member 81 and the O-ring grooves defined by the surfaces 85, 87 of the edging material 88 are also trapezoidal in cross section. It will be clear that other variants like that are possible.

FIG. 8 shows still another modified embodiment of the frame member and the edging material. In this embodiment, the edging material 90 is an O-ring.
A round recess 96 for abutting against 38, a protruding head 93 defined by an inner lip 92 and an outer lip 94, and a round recess
96 and a connecting arm 95.

The lips 92, 94 include the inner wall 53 of the frame member 12 and the extension 3
2 and the channel 91 defined by the wall 34 of the lip 36
Can be inserted into.

The protruding head 93 of the edging material 90 is connected to the panel receiving portion 100 via the inclined wall portion 98. Panel receiving part 100
Has a slot 102 for receiving a panel 52.

Again, the flexible panel 52 is positioned so that it is flush with the outer surface of the frame member 12, thereby minimizing trapping of water by the panel portion when used as a roof of a structure or the like. To do. Panel 52 is also a edging material
90 is also made of polycarbonate. In this way, by manufacturing the both with the same material, the bondability of the both with the adhesive is improved.

The presence of the ramped wall portion 98 provides a significant and unexpected benefit in terms of resistance to loading on the panel. When the transmission mode of the load generated in the panel 52 was examined, the following was found.

(I) A load in the plane of the panel 52 towards the frame member 12 first compresses the O-ring 38 and then causes the inclined wall portion 98 to flex about the fulcrum 56. The panel 52 is also flexible so that it deforms before the ramped wall portion 98 is parallel to the outer lip 94.

(Ii) The load in the direction away from the frame member 12 in the plane of the panel 52 does not generate torque centering on the contact point 56 from the panel 52 because the edging material 90 is rigid. Proportionally transmitted to member 12. The contact between the outer lip 94 of the edging material 90 and the lip wall 34 of the flat frame member is strengthened. As the tensile load increases, the sloped wall portion 98 is displaced in a direction that matches the plane of the panel 52, causing the sloped wall portion 98 to flex. A torque is then generated about the contact point 56, and finally the protruding head 93 first compresses the elastic O-ring 38 and then pops it out. Thus, the panel 52 is disengaged from the frame member 12 with its edging material 90.

(Iii) When a vertical load is applied to the plane of the panel 52 from right to left as viewed in FIG. 9, the protruding head 93 is rotated clockwise around the fulcrum 110 on the lip 36,
This compresses the O-ring 38. The protruding head 93 is O
The outer lip 94 and the inclined wall portion 98 of the head 93 are respectively fulcrums or contact points 110 on both ends of the lip 36 before the ring 38 is rotated so as to squeeze out and remove the panel 52.
And packed at 116. Therefore, even if a larger load is applied, the protruding head 93 is not further rotated, and the edging material is deformed at the fulcrum 114 and finally the edging material is broken at the fulcrum 114. Therefore, although the O-ring 38 can withstand a large load in two directions without breaking the member.
Is never played. When the load is released, the protruding head 93 is returned to its original shape by the O-ring 38.

(Iv) When a vertical load is applied to the plane of the panel 52 from left to right as viewed in FIG. 9, the inclined wall portion 98 is rotated counterclockwise, thereby rotating the protruding head 93, Lock the elastic O-ring 38 in place more tightly. The final breaking point of the edging material is point 112.

As noted above, the perimeter edging material 90 is capable of withstanding significantly greater loads than the configuration shown in FIG. 2, especially for loads in the directions (ii) and (iii) above, and It provides the container structure with greater flexibility when subjected to loads from any of the four directions. Such loads occur not only due to mechanical shock, but also due to thermal expansion and contraction.

Obviously, various shapes of containers other than the one shown in FIG. 1 can be designed in accordance with the teachings of the present invention to suit a vehicle carrying the container.

It will also be apparent that a metal panel could be used instead of the plastic panel described above.
However, in that case, the resistance to deformation is slightly lost.

Instead of the elastic o-ring 38, a rigid or semi-rigid bar or tube can be used, which can be removed from one of the two connecting members and inserted at the end of each frame member. In this case, the resistance to deformation is reduced, but the ease of assembling and disassembling the container remains unchanged.

Alternatively, the O-ring 38 can be hollow, as shown in FIG. 10, to reduce resistance to deformation (for ease of deformation).

Although the present invention has been described with reference to the embodiments, the present invention is not limited to the structures and modes of the embodiments illustrated herein, and various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. It is to be understood that various embodiments are possible and that various changes and modifications can be made.

Front Page Continuation (72) Inventor Watson, Peter Canada VI 6M 4E9, British Columbia, Vancouver, Larch Street 6430 (72) Inventor Brazaia, Ronald Canada VI 7T2W9, BR Tissue Columbia, West Vancouver, Clyde Avenue 203-1363 (56) References JP-A-55-29494 (JP, A) US Patent 2956705 (US, A)

Claims (31)

[Claims] 1. A plurality of frame members (12) each having an elongated channel (31), and a plurality of connecting members (14) removably engageable with the ends of the frame members.
A freight container comprising a plurality of panels (16) removably engageable with a channel (31) of the frame member, wherein each frame member (12) has an elongated recess (30). , Each panel has an elongate recess (54) at its periphery that cooperates with a recess (30) in the frame member to define an elongate slot, the panel defining the channel (31).
Elastic locking means (38) removably insertable into the slot for locking the frame member, panel and connecting member as a rigid assembly when engaged in the. A freight container. 2. The freight container according to claim 1, wherein the channel (31) is formed inside the container. 3. Freight container according to claim 1, characterized in that the locking means (38) is an elastic strip and the frame member (12) is rigid. 4. Each frame member has an elongated second channel and an elongated second recess proximate to the second channel so that each panel fits into the corresponding channel (31) of the frame member. When engaged, the recesses of the panels cooperate with the recesses of the frame members to define elongated slots along the perimeter of each panel and the locking means (38) attach each panel to the frame member. Elastic strips that can be removably inserted into the slots for the purpose of causing the edges of each panel to resist the compression resistance of the corresponding elastic strips in response to a load exerted on the panels from inside the container. The load exerted on the panels from the inside of the container is transferred to the peripheral edge of each panel, and the panels are moved to the flare. A cargo container according to claim 1, characterized in that it serves to hold it more firmly in the channel (31) of the boom member. 5. The locking means is an elastic strip captured between an elongated recess in the frame member and an elongated recess in the edge of the panel, the side wall defining the channel relative to the plane of the panel. The cargo container according to claim 4, wherein the cargo container is substantially transverse. 6. The freight container according to claim 5, wherein the panel is a flexible sheet having a rigid edging material attached to the periphery thereof. 7. The strip of the frame member comprises:
The freight container according to claim 5, wherein the freight container is mounted on a side facing the inside of the container. 8. The edging material and the frame member have opposing contact holding surface portions substantially transverse to a plane of the panel, the contact retaining surface portions including the elastic members. Allowing the edging material to rotate a limited amount relative to the frame member without the need for significant deflection of the edging material and the frame member, against the resistance force provided by the compression of the strip. The freight container according to claim 6. 9. The frame member has elongated channels on opposite sides thereof and elongated recesses proximate to each channel, the edging material projecting substantially perpendicularly from the plane of the flexible sheet, A protruding lip that can be inserted into a corresponding one of the channels, the edging material corresponding to the elongated recess of the frame member when the protruding lip is inserted into the corresponding channel of the frame member. 7. A freight container as claimed in claim 6 having an elongated recess which cooperates with one to define an elongated slot. 10. The protruding lip of the panel opposes the compression resistance of an elongated elastic strip inserted into the slot to cause the edging material to define the outer edge of the lip defining a portion of the channel of the frame member. 10. A freight container according to claim 9 having a width smaller than the width of the channel of the frame member so that it can be rotated about. 11. The freight container of claim 9 wherein said slot has a partially circular cross-sectional shape to receive an elastic strip of circular cross-section. 12. The cargo container according to claim 4, wherein each frame member is an extruded aluminum part. 13. The freight container according to claim 4, wherein each panel is made of transparent plastic. 14. Each of the frame members (12) has an outer side surface and an inner side surface opposite to the outer side surface. The inner side surface has a pair of openings on both side edges of the frame member. An elongated second channel (91) and a pair of elongated second recesses (30) in parallel proximity to the corresponding second channels (91).
Is formed, and a edging material (9
0) is additionally provided, and the edging material (90) has a protruding portion (93) which can be detachably inserted into the channel (91) of the frame members (12) connected to each other, The elongated recess (96) at the periphery of each panel is formed in the edging material (90), thereby engaging the edging material (90) with the corresponding channel (91) of the frame member (12). When combined, the recess (96) of the edging material (90) corresponds to the corresponding recess (3) of the frame member (12).
0) to define an elongated slot around the edging material, the edging material further having a panel receiving portion (100) attached to the panel receiving portion (100). And an inclined wall portion (98) connecting the protruding portion (93) to the panel receiving portion (100) so that the panel (52) is flush with the outer surface of the frame member.
The locking means (38) has a panel (5).
Elastic strips that can be removably inserted into each of the slots for attaching 2) to the frame member (12), whereby the edges of each panel are loaded from inside the container to the panel. A freight container according to claim 1, characterized in that it is capable of reversibly being slightly displaced in response to only the compression resistance of said corresponding elastic strip in response to the above. 15. The sloping wall portion (98) is such that the tensile force exerted by the panel on the panel receiving portion (100) of the edging material is normal to the sloping wall portion (98). 15. A freight container according to claim 14 which is inclined with respect to the panel so as to create 16. The freight container according to claim 14, wherein each of the panels is a flexible sheet having a rigid edging material attached to the periphery thereof. 17. A freight container according to claim 14, wherein the strip is mounted on the side of the frame member facing the inside of the container. 18. The edging member and frame member oppose each other to allow a limited amount of rotation of the edging member with respect to the frame member against a resistance force provided by compression of the elastic strip. The cargo container according to claim 16, which has a contact and holding surface portion. 19. The projecting portion (93) has a leg insertable into a corresponding one of the channels of the frame member, and resists the compression resistance of an elastic strip inserted into the slot. 15. A freight container according to claim 14 having a width less than the width of the channel so that it can rotate about an outer lip defining the outer wall of the channel. 20. The freight container of claim 14 wherein said elongated slot is semi-circular in cross section. 21. The freight container according to claim 19, wherein each panel is made of transparent plastic. 22. The angle between the protrusion (93) and the panel is such that the load exerted on the panel creates a significant force component perpendicular to the protrusion. The freight container according to claim 14, characterized in that 23. The inclined wall portion (98) is inclined with respect to the panel such that the panel is flush with the outer surface of the frame member adjacent thereto. Freight container according to the scope of paragraph 22. 24. The projecting portion (93) has a pair of spaced apart legs.
The freight container described in paragraph 22. 25. The method according to claim 22, wherein the edging material is rigid, and each of the panels includes a flexible sheet having the rigid edging material attached to the periphery thereof. Freight container. 26. The channel is defined by an outer lip having an outer wall, an extension wall substantially perpendicular to the outer lip, and an inner wall, one of the projecting portions.
The two legs are adapted to be positioned proximate to the outer lip by slightly tilting the leg and the outer lip away from the vertical relationship to the panel towards the inner wall of the channel. Claim 23. The freight container according to claim 22. 27. Each frame member is a hollow extrudate having a pair of elongated channels on each side thereof,
The connecting member (14) is provided with a boss (64) having a cross-sectional shape that can be slidably fitted to an end portion of the frame member, and each panel includes a transparent flexible sheet. Has a round recess (30) adjacent to each of the channels (91), and a rigid edging material (90) is attached to the periphery of the sheet of each panel. A pair of elongated lips (92,94) insertable into the channel (91), each panel further comprising a recess adjacent said rounded recess (30) of the frame member and a panel receiving portion (100). ) And the transparent sheet (52) are flush with the outer surface of the frame member, and the lip (92) is arranged so that the tensile force acting on the edging material is proportionally transmitted to the outer surface of the frame member. , 94) to the panel receiving portion (10
0) is provided with an inclined wall portion (98), and an elastic O-ring (38) which can be inserted into the recesses of the frame member and the connecting member is provided, and the strip is provided with each of the panels. 23. The freight container according to claim 22, wherein the freight container is configured to hold at a predetermined position. 28. A freight container according to claim 27, wherein each panel includes a flexible sheet having the rigid edging material attached to the periphery thereof. 29. The O-ring of the frame member,
The freight container according to claim 27, characterized in that it is mounted on the side facing the inside of the container. 30. The edging material and the frame member have abutting bearing surface portions facing each other, each abutting bearing surface portion resisting the resistance force exerted by the compression of the elastic O-ring. 28. The method of claim 27, wherein the edging material is slightly inclined toward the inner wall of the channel to allow rotation of the edging material relative to the frame member by a limited amount. Freight container described in. 31. A cargo container according to claim 27, wherein said elastic strip is hollow.