US20150368035A1

US20150368035A1 - Intermodal shipping container box

Info

Publication number: US20150368035A1
Application number: US14/744,783
Authority: US
Inventors: Benito Di Franco; David Mizgala
Original assignee: INNOVATIVE TRAILER DESIGN TECHNOLOGIES Inc
Current assignee: INNOVATIVE TRAILER DESIGN TECHNOLOGIES Inc
Priority date: 2014-06-19
Filing date: 2015-06-19
Publication date: 2015-12-24
Also published as: CA2894724A1

Abstract

An intermodal shipping container box assembly having front cube, rear cube and middle sections with the front cube and rear cube of variable lengths to provide a container box up to sixty and a half feet in length. The front and rear cubes have modified stacking post and casting block arrangements. The front cube and rear cube may include additional cross bracing. The front cube and middle section include a modified tunnel section for accommodating a vehicle chassis.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 62/014,447, filed Jun. 19, 2014.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a container box for use in the transportation of freight through multiple modes of transportation.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Current freight transportation by sea, rail, or road often occurs through the use of container boxes which are designed for use in multiple modes of transportation, i.e. intermodal transportation, and for use in various countries. The majority of shipping container boxes are twenty or forty foot container boxes built to standards defined by the International Standards Organization (ISO). In North America, fifty-three foot container boxes built according to ISO or Association of American Railroads (AAR) standards are also common. In use, container boxes may be lifted, stacked for storage or transportation by sea or rail, and mounted to a vehicle chassis or rail car for transportation by road or rail.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Embodiments of the present disclosure provide a container box with an increased volume which may be used with existing vehicle chassis, lift equipment, rail cars and other container boxes. In one embodiment, a front cube section is provided with additional length, an improved stacking post and casting block arrangement, and an improved tunnel section for accommodating a vehicle chassis. In one embodiment, a rear cube section is provided with additional length and an improved stacking post and casting block arrangement. In a further embodiment, by combining the front and rear cube sections, with a middle section, a container box of varying and additional length is provided. A 60.5 foot container box may be provided by combining the front and rear cube sections, with a middle section approximately 39 to 40 feet in length.
According to one embodiment, there is provided a container assembly, having a pair of top rails; a pair of bottom rails; a pair of front corner posts, each front corner post being coupled to a first end of one of the pair of top rails and a first end of one of the pair bottom rails; a pair of rear corner posts, each rear corner post being coupled to a second end of one of the pair of top rails and a second end of one of the pair bottom rails; a top front header coupled transversely to the pair of top rails and a front sill coupled transversely to the pair of bottom rails, adjacent the front corner posts; and a rear header coupled transversely to the pair of top rails and a rear sill coupled transversely to the pair of bottom rails, adjacent the rear corner posts. The front corner posts, top rails, bottom rails, top front header, front sill, rear header, rear sill, and rear corner posts define a generally rectangular container frame. The front corner posts, the top front header, the front sill and adjacent portions of the top rails and bottom rails define a front cube and the rear corner posts, the rear header, the rear sill and adjacent portions of the top rails and bottom rails define a rear cube. The remaining portions of the top rails and bottom rails define a middle section between the front cube and the rear cube. The assembly includes a pair of front stacking posts disposed between the front cube and the middle section and extending between respective top and bottom rails; and a pair of rear stacking posts disposed between the rear cube and the middle section and extending between respective top and bottom rails. The middle section may have a length in the range of 39 to 40 feet; the front cube may have a length in the range of 9 to 10.5 feet; and the rear cube may have a length in the range of 9 to 10.5 feet. The assembly includes a first pair of cross-brace members, each extending diagonally from one of the front corner posts adjacent the top rail to one of the front stacking posts adjacent the bottom rail; a second pair of cross-brace members each extending diagonally from one of the front corner posts adjacent the bottom rail to one of the front stacking posts adjacent the top rail; a third pair of cross-brace members, each extending diagonally from one of the rear corner posts adjacent the top rail to one of the rear stacking posts adjacent the bottom rail; and a fourth pair of cross-brace members, each extending diagonally from one of the rear corner posts adjacent the bottom rail to one of the rear stacking posts adjacent the top rail.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an isometric top view of a container box according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 2 is an isometric bottom view of a container box according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 3 is an isometric cut away view of a container box according to an embodiment of the present disclosure with the roof and side walls removed;

FIG. 4 is a curbside side view of a container box according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 5 is a roadside side view of a container box according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 6 is a top view of a container box according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 7 is a bottom view of a container box according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 8 is a front view of a container box according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 9 is a rear view of a container box according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 10A is a close-up isometric view of circled portion A from FIG. 3 and FIG. 10B is a close-up bottom view of portion A;

FIG. 11A is a close-up isometric side view of circled portion B from FIG. 3 and FIG. 11B is a close-up isometric top view of portion B;

FIG. 12 is close-up side view of the container box and circled portion C from FIG. 3; and

FIG. 13 is an isometric cut away view of a container box according to a further embodiment of the present disclosure.

Like reference numerals are used in the drawings to denote like elements and features.
While the invention will be described in conjunction with the illustrated embodiments, it will be understood that it is not intended to limit the invention to such embodiments. On the contrary, it is intended to cover all alternatives, modifications and equivalents as may be included within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Embodiments of the present disclosure provide a container box having an increased length and volume for carrying freight for intermodal transportation. The container box is comprised of modified front and rear cube sections which may be assembled with a middle section to create a container box up to 50.5 feet in length.
FIGS. 1 to 9 illustrate embodiments of container box assembly 10 including a front cube 15, a rear cube 20 and a middle section 25. In some embodiments the container box assembly 10 is approximately 60.5 feet long with a middle section 25 approximately 39 to 40 feet in length, and typically 39 feet, 4 inches; a front cube 15 up to approximately 9 to 10.5 feet in length; and a rear cube 20 up to approximately 9 to 10.5 feet in length. In this embodiment, the 60.5 foot container box assembly 10 provides an increase in volume of approximately 15% over current 53 foot container box assemblies. It will be appreciated that different lengths of container boxes, from 58 feet up to 60.5 feet, may be achieved by varying the length of the front cube 15 and rear cube 20 disclosed herein while maintaining the length of the middle section 25.
When assembled, the container box assembly 10 typically comprises a base 30, a curbside sidewall 32 a, a roadside sidewall 32 b, a roof 34, a front wall 36 and rear doors 38. The walls 32 a, 32 b, base 30 and roof 34 extend from the front of the container box and the front cube 15 to the rear of the container box at the end of the rear cube 20. Except as noted herein, the container walls 32 a, 32 b, base 30 and roof 34 generally may be constructed according to known implementations such as for a steel container box assembly comprised primarily of corrugated sheet steel or an aluminum container box assembly comprised primarily of sheet aluminum. It will be appreciated that other materials may be used for construction of the container box assembly.
Other implementations for the container box assembly 10, including but not limited to an insulated or refrigerated container box, also may be provided. In these embodiments, the length of the front cube 15 may be shortened to provide space for a heating unit or a refrigeration unit and frame in order to provide a container box assembly 10 having an overall length of up to 60.5 feet. In other embodiments, such units may be placed within the front cube 15 of the container box assembly 10.
FIGS. 1 and 2 and the cutaway view of FIG. 3 illustrate the construction of the front cube 15 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. The front cube 15 includes two front corner posts 40 and two stacking posts 42 as well as top rails 44 and bottom rails 46. Each front corner post 40 is coupled to one end of the top rail 44 and one end of the bottom rail 46. Upper and lower members or beams couple the top rails 44 and bottom rails 46. Specifically, near the front corner posts 40, a top front header 41 extends transversely between the pair of top rails 44 and a front sill 43 extends transversely between the pair of bottom rails 46 to define a square frame. The length of the front cube 15 is extended by up to 9 to 10.5 feet by increasing the length of the top rails 44 and bottom rails 46 and by increasing the number of side posts 48 and roof bows 50. In one embodiment, the density of side posts 48 and roof bows 50 is increased in the front cube 15 as can be seen from FIGS. 1-3. In one embodiment, the front cube 15 includes top rails 44 and bottom rails 46 having a height increased by about two inches, to a height of approximately 6 inches. In one embodiment, the thickness of the top rails 44 may be increased from 0.135″ to approximately 0.25″. Different configurations of the top rails 44 and bottom rails 46 are provided to increase the strength of the lengthened front cube 15. The top rails 44 and bottom rails 46 may be comprised of steel, such as high strength low alloy steel of 50,000 psi to 60,000 psi minimum yield strength.
In one embodiment, as illustrated in FIGS. 10A and 10B, the front corner posts 40 may be tapered and flat, or rounded to provide a swing clearance of 2.0 metres or less when the container box assembly 10 is mounted to a vehicle chassis (not shown).
In one embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 7, the front section of the container box assembly 10, including the front cube 15 and an adjacent portion of the middle section 25, includes a modified tunnel section 52 to accommodate an extendible pull out section on a gooseneck chassis. Specifically, the tunnel section may be constructed as a 170 inch section with a depth of either 3¼″ (shallow tunnel) or 4¾″ (deep tunnel) to allow for optimal inside height of the container box.,
FIGS. 1 and 2 and the cutaway view of FIG. 3 also illustrate the construction of the rear cube 20. The r cube 20 includes two rear corner posts 60 and two stacking posts 62 as well s top rails 64 and bottom rails 66. Each rear corner post 60 is coupled to one end of the top rail 64 and one end of the bottom rail 66. Upper and lower members or beams couple the top rails 44 and bottom rails 46. Specifically, near the rear corner posts 60, a rear header 61 extends transversely between the pair of top rails 64 and a rear sill 63 extends transversely between the pair of bottom rails 66 to define a square frame. The length of the rear cube 20 is extended by up to 9 to 10.5 feet by increasing the length of the top rails 64 and bottom rails 66 and by increasing the number of side posts 48 and roof bows 50. In one embodiment, the density of side posts 48 and roof bows 50 is increased in the rear cube 20 as can be seen from FIGS. 1-3. In one embodiment, the rear cube 20 includes top rails 64 and bottom rails 66 having a height increased by about two inches. In one embodiment, the thickness of the top rails 64 may be increased from 0.135″ to approximately 0.25″. Different configurations of the top rails 64 and bottom rails 66 of the rear cube 20 are provided to increase the strength of the lengthened rear cube 20. The top rails 64 and bottom rails 66 may be comprised of steel, such as high strength low alloy steel of 50,000 psi to 60,000 psi minimum yield strength.
Except as noted herein, the middle section 25 generally may be constructed according to known implementations such as for a steel container box assembly comprised primarily of corrugated sheet steel or an aluminum container box assembly comprised primarily of sheet aluminum. The middle section 25 comprises a pair of top rails 67 which support a plurality of roof bows 50 and the roof 34 and a pair of bottom rails 68 which support the base 30. One top rail 67 and one bottom rail 68 are illustrated in FIG. 3. A plurality of side posts 48 extend vertically between the top rails 67 and bottom rails 68 for supporting the side walls 32 a, 32 b. In one embodiment, the top rail 44 of the front cube, the top rail 67 of the middle section 25, and the top rail 64 of the rear cube comprise separate rails coupled together at the stacking posts 42, 62; and the bottom rail 46 of the front cube, the bottom rail 68 of the middle section 25, and the bottom rail 66 of the rear cube 20 comprise separate rails coupled together at the stacking posts 42, 62. In one embodiment, the top and bottom rails 44, 64, 46, 66 in the respective front cube 15 and rear cube 20 comprise steel and the top and bottom rails 67, 68 in the middle section 25 comprise aluminum.
Casting blocks 70 are provided at the bottom of each stacking post 42, 52 for securing the respective front cube 15 and rear cube 20 and the container box assembly 10 to a container chassis, container ship, rail car or other container box (not shown). Casting blocks 70 also may be provided at the top of each stacking post 42, 62 for securing the container box assembly 10 to other container boxes placed on top of the container box 10, or to a railcar or container ship. It will be appreciated that additional casting blocks 70 may be positioned in the container box assembly 10, such as by providing casting blocks 70 at the front corner posts 40 and rear corner posts 60 as described above. Alternatively or additionally, four casting blocks 70 may be provided on the top and/or bottom of the container box assembly 10 according to ISO or ARR dimensions and positions for securing the container box assembly 10 to other containers. Thus, existing container box assemblies, or container box assemblies according to the present disclosure, may be placed on top of and secured to the container box assembly. Casting blocks 70 also may be used with existing equipment for lifting the container box.
Additional casting blocks 70 may be provided, for example, at the bottom of each front corner post 40 and at the bottom of each rear corner post 60 for securing the container box assembly 10 to a vehicle chassis. As shown in FIGS. 10A and 10B, the casting blocks 70 at the front corner post 40 may be inset from the side of the container box assembly 10 in order to achieve the swing clearance noted above.
In one embodiment, when assembled, the container box 10 includes at least four casting blocks 70 in the roof 34 at the top of each stacking post 42, 52 and the base 30 includes at least four casting blocks 70 at the bottom of each stacking post 42, 62. With a container box assembly 10 having a middle section 25 approximately 39-40 feet in length, the casting block positions are configured to match current ISO 40-foot stacking posts positions. In this embodiment, the approximately 60.5 foot container box assembly 10 may be used with and stacked on top of existing container boxes, such as a 40 foot container box, or a 53 foot container box provided with stacking posts at the standard 40 foot positions. In use, for example when the container box assembly 10 is stacked on top of a 40 foot single pack railcar, or on top of a multipack 53 foot railcar, the 60.5 foot container box assembly 10 closes the gap or spacing which exists between railcars, thereby decreasing the drag on the train and improving fuel efficiency.
With casting blocks 70 provided in the front corner posts 40 and rear corner posts 60 of the container box assembly 10, the assembly may be secured on a container chassis, such as through the use of a combination of twist locks or pin locks. Other embodiments may allow for the securement on the chassis through the casting blocks 70 located at the stacking posts 42, 62 or at other intermediate locations as noted above.
In one embodiment, the front cube 15 and the stacking posts 42 include modified and additional parts to enable the front cube 15 to be extended while allowing the container box assembly 10 to be mounted to other container boxes, chassis etc., at various positions. Similarly, the rear cube 20 and stacking posts 62 may include modified and additional parts to enable the rear cube 20 to be extended while allowing the container box assembly 10 to be mounted to other container boxes, chassis etc. at various positions.
As illustrated in FIGS. 11A and 11B with respect to the front cube section 15, a roof impact plate 80 may be provided which is increased in length and extends across the width of a front roof header assembly 82. In one embodiment, the roof impact plate 80 is trapezoidal in shape and welded to the top rail 44, to the roof header assembly 82 and to the casting block 70. In some embodiments, the casting block 70 is welded to the top of the stacking post 42. The roof header assembly 82 is first welded around the casting block 70 and then the roof impact plate 80 is welded to the roof header assembly 82 and to the casting block 70. The roof impact plate 80 defines a notched portion to accommodate the casting block 70. Similar roof impact plates 80 may be provided at each stacking post 42, 62 in the front and rear cube sections as seen in FIGS. 1, 3 and 6, with a rear roof header assembly being disposed between the rear cube 20 and the middle section 25.
An additional plate or inner corner gusset 86 is added in one embodiment in a plane parallel to and below the roof impact plate 80 and the roof header assembly 82. The inner corner gusset 86 may be a triangular or 5-sided shape as shown and extend from a first edge of the roof header assembly 82 along the top rail 44 into the front cube section to the first roof bow designated as roof bow 50 a in FIG. 11B. The inner corner gusset 86 may be welded to the first edge of the roof header assembly 82 and to the top rail 44, it may extend out to provide a support to fasten the closest roof bow 50 a. While shown in detail with respect to the front cube section of FIG. 3, a similar inner corner gusset 86 may be provided in the stacking posts 62 of the rear cube 20. The inner coiner gusset 86 in the rear cube 20 extends from an edge of the roof header assembly 82 adjacent the rear cube 20, along the top rail 64 into the rear cube section 20 to the first roof bow 50.
In some embodiments, a modified upper corner post gusset 88 is provided on each stacking post 42, 62 along a plane parallel to the side wall 32 of the container box assembly 10. A close-up illustration of the modified upper corner post gusset 88 for the rear cube 20 is provided in FIG. 12. The upper corner post gusset 88 may comprise first and second steel plates which are welded to respective bottom edges of the top rail 44 and to the sides of the stacking post 62. In one embodiment, the first steel plate extends into the rear cube 20 up to approximately 25 inches or more towards a second adjacent side post 48 a in the rear cube 20, as shown in FIG. 12. In one embodiment, the second steel plate extends up to approximately 15 inches into the middle section 25 of the container box to a first adjacent side post 48 b in the middle section 25.
In one embodiment, the roof impact plate 80, the inner corner gusset 86 and the upper corner post gusset 88 comprise steel plates welded to the other components of the front cube 15, rear cube 20 and middle sections 25 as noted above. In other embodiments, the roof impact plate 80, the inner corner gusset 86 and the upper corner post gusset 88 comprise plates which are riveted and/or monobolted through with the plate and stacking post and the plate and upper rail connections.
In a further embodiment illustrated in FIG. 13, cross-bracing 90 may be provided along each of the side walls 32 a, 32 b to increase the rigidity of each of the front cube 15 and rear cube 20. The cross-bracing 90 may comprise ⅛″ to ¼″ thick flatbar with a width of 2″ to 4″ wide depending on the rigidity required. In some embodiments, the cross-bracing 90 may comprise high strength, low alloy steel. The cross-bracing 90 may be mounted between the lower front corner adjacent the front corner post 40 to the top corner of the adjacent stacking post 42 along the sidewall 32 a and from the top or upper front corner adjacent the front corner post 40 to the bottom corner of the stacking post 42 along the sidewall 32 a as shown. Similar cross-bracing 90 may be provided between the front corner post 40 and the adjacent stacking post 42 along the sidewall 32 b, as shown in FIG. 13. Similar cross-bracings 90 also may be provided along the sidewalls 32 a, 32 b between the rear corner posts 60 and the stacking posts 62 between the rear cube 20 and middle section 25, as shown. In one embodiment (not shown), the cross-bracing 90 may comprises separate segments fastened or welded between adjacent side posts 48 at angles extending between the stacking posts 42, 62 and adjacent front corner posts 40 or rear corner posts 60.
Thus, it is apparent that there has been provided in accordance with the embodiments of the present disclosure a container box assembly and front and rear cube sections for a container box assembly which provide an increased volume for intermodal freight transportation and which fully satisfy the objects, aims and advantages set forth above. While the invention has been described in conjunction with illustrated embodiments thereof, it is evident that many alternatives, modifications and variations will be apparent to those skilled in the art in light of the foregoing description. Accordingly, it is intended to embrace all such alternatives modifications and variations as fall within the spirit and broad scope of the invention.

Claims

What is claimed:

1. A container assembly, comprising:

a pair of top rails;

a pair of bottom rails;

a pair of front corner posts, each front corner post being coupled to a first end of one of the pair of top rails and a first end of one of the pair bottom rails;

a pair of rear corner posts each rear corner post being coupled to a second end of one of the pair of top rails and a second end of one of the pair bottom rails;

a top front header coupled transversely to the pair of top rails and a front sill coupled transversely to the pair of bottom rails, adjacent the front corner posts;

a rear header coupled transversely to the pair of top rails and a rear sill coupled transversely to the pair of bottom rails, adjacent the rear corner posts;

the front corner posts, top rails, bottom rails, top front header, front sill, rear header, rear sill, and rear corner posts defining a generally rectangular container frame;

the front corner posts, the top front header, the front sill and adjacent portions of the top rails and bottom rails defining a front cube;

the rear corner posts, the rear header, the rear sill and adjacent portions of the top rails and bottom rails defining a rear cube;

the remaining portions of the top rails and bottom rails defining a middle section between the front cube and the rear cube;

a pair of front stacking posts disposed between the front cube and the middle section and extending between respective top and bottom rails;

a pair of rear stacking posts disposed between the rear cube and the middle section and extending between respective top and bottom rails;

the middle section having a length in the range of 39 to 40 feet;

the front cube having a length in the range of 9 to 10.5 feet;

the rear cube having a length in the range of 9 to 10.5 feet;

a first pair of cross-brace members, each extending diagonally from one of the front corner posts adjacent the top rail to one of the front stacking posts adjacent the bottom rail;

a second pair of cross-brace members each extending diagonally from one of the front corner posts adjacent the bottom rail to one of the front stacking posts adjacent the top rail;

a third pair of cross-brace members, each extending diagonally from one of the rear corner posts adjacent the top rail to one of the rear stacking posts adjacent the bottom rail; and

a fourth pair of cross-brace members, each extending diagonally from one of the rear corner posts adjacent the bottom rail to one of the rear stacking posts adjacent the top rail.

2. The container assembly of claim 1 wherein the top and bottom rails in the front cube have a thickness of approximately 0.25 inches and a height 2 inches greater than the height of the top and bottom rails in the middle section.

3. The container assembly of claim 1 wherein the top and bottom rails in the rear cube have a thickness of approximately 0.25 inches and a height 2 inches greater than the height of the top and bottom rails in the middle section.

4. The container assembly of claim 1 wherein outer edges of each of the front corner posts are tapered or rounded.

5. The container assembly of claim 4 wherein each of the front corner posts comprises a casting block adjacent the bottom rail, the casting block being inset from an outer edge of the bottom rail.

6. The container assembly of claim I wherein each of the front stacking posts and rear stacking posts comprises a casting block adjacent the bottom rail.

7. The container assembly of claim 1 wherein each of the front stacking posts and rear stacking posts comprises a casting block adjacent the top rail.

8. The container assembly of claim 7 further comprising:

a front roof header assembly extending between the top rails and disposed between the front cube and the riddle suction, and

two front roof impact plates extending in a plane parallel to and above the front roof header assembly, each front roof impact plate extending along a length adjacent one of the top rails and greater than a width of the front roof header assembly, and each roof impact plate extending inwardly across a portion the front roof header assembly towards the other top rail.

9. The container assembly of claim 8 wherein each front roof impact plate is trapezoidal in shape with a longer base edge adjacent the top rail and wherein each front roof impact plate comprises a notched portion shaped to accommodate the casting block of the front stacking post.

10. The container assembly of claim further comprising two front inner corner gusset plates disposed below and parallel to respective front roof impact plates and the front roof header assembly, each front inner corner gusset plate extending along the top rail from a first edge of the front roof header assembly adjacent the front cube to a first roof bow adjacent the front roof header assembly.

11. The container assembly of claim 8 further comprising first and second pairs of post gusset plates, each pair being adjacent one of the front stacking posts, wherein each post gusset plate in a pair extends along a length of the top rail and vertically downward along opposite sides of the front stacking post, each post gusset plate in the pair being in a plane parallel to the front stacking post.

12. The container assembly of claim 7 further comprising:

a rear roof header assembly extending between the top rails and disposed between the rear cube and the middle section, and

two rear roof impact plates extending m a plane parallel to and above the rear roof header assembly, each rear roof impact plate extending along a length adjacent one of the top rails and greater than a width of the rear roof header assembly, and each rear roof impact plate extending inwardly across a portion the rear roof header assembly to cards the other top rail.

13. The container assembly of claim 12 wherein each ear roof impact plate is trapezoidal in shape with a longer base edge adjacent the top rail and wherein each rear roof impact plate comprises a notched portion shaped to accommodate the casting block of the rear stacking post.

14. The container assembly of claim 12 further comprising two rear inner corner gusset plates disposed below and parallel to respective rear roof impact plates and the rear roof header assembly, each rear inner corner gusset plate extending along the top rail from a first edge of the rear roof header assembly adjacent the rear cube to a first roof bow adjacent the rear roof header assembly.

15. The container assembly of claim 12 further comprising third and fourth pairs of post gusset plates, each pair being adjacent one of the rear stacking posts, wherein each post gusset plate in a pair extends along a length of the top rail and vertically downward along opposite sides of the rear stacking post, each post gusset plate in the pair being in a plane parallel to the rear stacking post.

16. The container assembly of claim 1 wherein the total length of the front cube, middle section and rear cube is 60.5 feet.

17. The container assembly of claim 1 wherein each cross-brace member comprises a bar having a thickness of ⅛ to ¼ inches and a width of 2 to 4 inches.

18. The container assembly of claim 1 further comprising a plurality of roof bows extending transversely between each of the pair of top rails for supporting a roof, wherein the density of roof bows in the front cube and rear cube is greater than the density of roof bows in the middle section.

19. The container assembly of claim 1 further comprising two pluralities of side posts, each plurality extending vertically between one of the top rails and one of the bottom rails, the side posts having a density in the front cube and rear cube greater than the density of side posts in the middle section.

20. The container assembly of claim 1 wherein a base of the front cube and a base of a portion of the middle section define an extended tunnel section for receiving an extendible pull out section of a chassis.