US3408027A

US3408027A - Shipping container combination

Info

Publication number: US3408027A
Application number: US611953A
Authority: US
Inventors: Albert E Price
Original assignee: General American Transportation Corp
Current assignee: General American Transportation Corp
Priority date: 1967-01-26
Filing date: 1967-01-26
Publication date: 1968-10-29
Anticipated expiration: 1985-10-29
Also published as: FR1551804A; DE1586685A1; NL6800968A; BE709847A

Description

Oct. 29, 1968 A. E. PRICE 3,408,027

SHIPPING CONTAINER COMBINATION Filed Jan. 26, 1967 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 F162 ,3 FI6.I

INVENTOR ALBERT E. PRICE A TTYS.

Oct. 29, 1968 A E. PRICE 3,408,027

SHIPPING CONTAINER COMBINATION Filed Jan. 26, 1967 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 United States Patent 3,408,027 SHIPPING CONTAINER COMBINATION Albert E. Price, Brookfield, Ohio, assignor to General American Transportation Corporation, Chicago, 11]., a corporation of New York Filed Jan. 26, 1967, Ser. No. 611,953 6 Claims. (Cl. 248-151) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE The combination comprising a shipping container including a substantially rectangular base of rigid structure, four identical rigid legs adapted to support the respective corners of the base, and four identical rigid adapter devices adapted detachably to connect the respective legs to the respective corners of the base; where in each adapter device comprises a rigid body having an upstanding leg opening formed therethrough that is adapted removably to receive in either end thereof the upper end of any one of the legs so that the adapter device may be mounted in either of two reversely related positions upon the upper end of the received leg and may then be adjusted vertically in its mounted position thereupon, a part carried by the body and cooperating with the received leg for restraining the adapter device in its vertically adjusted mounted position upon the upper end of the received leg, a rigid primary projection rigidly carried by the body and extending laterially outwardly therefrom, a rigid arm rigidly carried by the body and extending longitudinally outwardly therefrom, and a rigid secondary projection rigidly carried by the arm and extending laterally outwardly therefrom, wherein the promary projection and the secondary projection are disposed in substantially parallel longitudinally spacedapart relation and separated by a fixed distance corresponding to the fixed distance between primary and secondary holes in a hole set, wherein four of such hole sets are formed in the two sides of the base respectively adjacent to the four corners thereof.

The present invention relates to the combination comprising a shipping container provided with a rigid rectangular base, four identical rigid legs adapted removably to support the respective corners of the base, and four identical rigid adapter devices adapted detachably to connect the respective four legs to the respective two sides of the base at the respective four corners thereof, wherein each one of the adapter devices is so constructed and arranged that any one of the four adapter devices may removably receive any one of the four legs and may, in turn, be detachably connected to either of the two sides of the base adjacent to either of the ends thereof; whereby, in the combination, right-hand and left-hand adapter devices are altogether eliminated.

Another object of the invention is to provide in the combination described, the adapter device of improved construction and arrangement and comprising a minimum number of individual parts formed of sheet steel and unified into a strong, rigid structure.

A further object of the invention is to provide in the combination described, the adapter device of improved construction and arrangement and comprising primary and secondary projections arranged in longitudinally spaced-apart relation and extending in the lateral direction, wherein the primary and secondary projections are adapted to be removably received in corresponding primary and secondary holes in any one of four hole sets respectively arranged in the two sides of the base at the four respective corners thereof.

A still further object of the invention is to provide in the combination described, the adapter device of improved construction and arrangement, wherein the longitudinally spaced-apart and laterally extending primary and secondary projections are rigidly carried by the body of the adapter device, so as to eliminate any substantial pivoting of the one of the legs received by the adapter device with respect to the adapter device, in

order to eliminate any substantial relative movement of the shipping container with respect to the four supporting legs when the shipping device is supported by the four legs upon the ground.

Further features of the invention pertain to the particular construction and arrangement of the elements of the combination described, whereby the above-outlined and additional operating features thereof are attained.

The invention, both as to its organization and method of operation, together with further objects and advantages thereof, will best be understood by reference to the following specifications, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a front perspective view of a shipping container combination embodying the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary front perspective view of the rear portion of the shipping container, as shown in FIG. 1 illustrating the hole set that is provided in the side of the base thereof adjacent to the corresponding rear end thereof;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary front perspective view of the rear corner of the shipping container, together with the associated adapter device and leg as shown in FIG. 1, except that the adapter device is illustrat-ed in its detached position with respect to the adjacent side of the base of the shipping container;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged front elevational view of the adapter device, as shown in FIG. 3, and illustrating the cooperation thereof with the adjacent side of the base of the shipping container;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged plan view of the adapter device, as shown in FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged side elevational view of the adapter device, this view being taken in the direction of the arrows along the line 6-6 in FIG. 4;

FIG. 7 is an enlarged schematic illustration of the arrangement of the holes respectively provided in the upper end of the leg and in the body of the adapter device; and

FIG. 8 is a reduced side elevational view, similar to FIG. 1, illustrating the movement of the freight container in the longitudinal direction by skidding thereof as permitted by the four supporting legs, and Without swaying of the legs with respect to the base of the shipping container.

Referring now more particularly to FIGS. 1 and 8 of the drawings, the shipping container combination there illustrated, and embodying the features of the present invention, essentially comprises a shipping container proper 10 of a box-like form, including a substantially rectangular rigid base 11, four upstanding rigid legs adapted to support the base 11 of the freight container 10 adjacent to the respective four corners thereof, and four adapter devices adapted detachably to connect the respective four legs 20 to the base 11 adjacent to the respective 'four corners thereof.

As best shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, the shipping container 10 may be of substantially conventional construction including, in addition to the base 11, a substantially horizontal bottom wall 12 formed of steel, a substantially horizontal top wall 13, a pair of upstanding end walls 14 and a pair of upstanding side walls 15; whereby the shipping container 10 is of box-like form as noted above.

In the arrangement, the base 11 essentially comprises a 3 pair of longitudinally extending side members 16 formed of steel and disposed in laterally spaced-apart relation, and a pair of laterally extending end members 17 formed of steel and disposed in longitudinally spacedapart relation. Each of the side members 16 has a pair of hole sets formed therein respectively adjacent to the opposite end portions thereof; each of the hole sets includes a primary hole 16a, located adjacent to one end of the side member 16 and extending laterally thereinto, and a secondary hole 16!), located adjacent to the primary hole 16a and spaced longitudinally a fixed distance therefrom and away from the corresponding one end of the side member 11 and extending laterally thereinto. Accordingly, in each hole set, the primary hole 16a and the secondary hole 16b are symmetrically located with respect to the adjacent end of the side member 16 and are longitudinally spaced-apart with respect to each other the previously mentioned fixed distance, and are positioned in parallel relation with respect to each other. Also, in the arrangement, the primary hole 16a is of fixed size and of predetermined lateral section; whereby, as illustrated, the primary hole 16b may be square in lateral section. Similarly, in the arrangement, the secondary hole 16b is of fixed size and of predetermined lateral section; whereby as illustrated, the secondary hole 16b may be round in lateral section.

In order to reinforce the corners of the base 11, four blocks 18 are respectively incorporated therein; each of the blocks 18 is formed of steel and is suitably secured, as by welding, to the adjacent portion of the bottom wall 12 and to the adjacent end portions of the side member 16 and the end member 17. Also, each of the blocks 18 has a laterally extending hole 18a formed thereinto;

which hole 18a is arranged in lateral alignment with the adjacent primary hole 16:: formed in the end of the side member 16.

As best shown in FIG. 3, each of the legs 20 comprises an upstanding tubular body 21 that is substantially square in horizontal section, and a foot 22 carried on the extreme lower end of the body 21, the foot 22 being of the skid-type accommodating the support of the leg 20 upon the ground or earth, as explained more fully hereinafter. Preferably, the tubular body 21, as Well as the foot 22, are formed of sheet metal construction, sheet steel being the normal material of construction. Also, a plurality of holes 21a are arranged in the upper end of the body 21 and disposed in vertically spaced-apart relation with respect to each other. As best shown in FIG. 7, the holes 21a extend through the front and rear sides of the body 21 in respectively aligned relation with respect to each other; and preferably, the holes 21a are arranged in fixed vertically spaced-apart relation, a normal spacing of 2" between the adjacent holes 21a being recommended by way of illustration; which holes 21a accommodate adjustment of the vertically mounted position of the cooperating adapter member 30 upon the upper end of the body 21, as explained more fully below.

Referring now to FIGS. 3, 4, 5, and 6, it will be observed that the adapter device 30 is of composite construction comprising a rigid body-31 having an upstanding leg opening formed therethrough that is adapted nicely to receive in either end thereof the upper end of the body 21 of any one of the legs 20, the leg opening formed through the body 31 having a horizontal section that substantially conforms to that of the outside of the leg 21; whereby the leg opening formed through the body 31 has a substantially square horizontal section, as illustrated. Accordingly, the adapter device 30 may be mounted upon the upper end of the body 21 in either of two reversely related positions by the insertion of the extreme upper end of the body 21 through the corresponding open end of the leg opening formed through the body 31; whereby any one of the adapter devices 30 may be mounted upon the upper end of the body 21 of any one of the legs 20 in either one of its two positions mentioned, for a purpose more fully described hereinafter.

Also, two longitudinally spaced-apart upstanding reinforcing plates 32 are respectively rigidly secured, as by Welding, to the front and rear sides of body 31, as best shown in FIGS. 3, 4, 5 and 7; which reinforcing plates 32 have a plurality of horizontally aligned holes 32a formed therethrough that are adapted to cooperate with a pin, or key, 40, indicated in FIG. 5; which key 40 also cooperates with the holes 21a formed in the upper end of the body.21 of the one of the legs 20 that is received in the leg opening provided in the body 31. In the arrangement, the holes 32a are disposed in vertically spaced-apart relation, employing different vertical spacings therebetween, so as to accommodate selective vertical adjustment of the adapter device 30 upon the upper end of the body 21 of the cooperating leg 20. For example: the top hole 32a may be spaced 2%" above the adjacent intermediate hole 32a; the bottom hole 32a may be spaced 2%" below the adjacent intermediate hole 32a; and the two intermediate holes 32a may be spaced apart 2" with respect to each other. This arrangement accommodates the vertical adjustment of the body 31 of the adapter device 30, when the adapter device 30 is mounted in either of its two positions upon the upper end of the body 21, in vertically spaced-apart positions respectively displaced by /2".

After the body 31 of the adapter device 30 has been set in the desired vertically adjusted position upon the upper end of the body 21 of the leg 20, the pin 40 is inserted in the horizontal direction through the aligned holes 32a and 21a respectively formed in the reinforcing plates 32 and in the body 21 of the leg 20, thereby to restrain the adapter device 30 in its vertically adjusted position with respect to the upper end of the body 21 of the leg 20 that is projected through the leg opening formed through the body 31. In the arrangement, the pin 40 may be secured to the adapter device 30 by a suitable section of flexible chain, not shown, so as to accommodate the insertion and removal of the pin 40 with respect to the holes 32a, as described above, without danger of loss of the pin 40 from the adapter device 30.

Continuing with the construction and arrangement of the adapter device 30, it will be observed, as shown in FIGS. 3, 4, 5 and 6, that the same comprises a rigid hollow box-like transition section 33 rigidly carried by the body 31 and extending laterally inwardly therefrom; and the inner end of the transition section 33 rigidly carries a laterally extending rigid tubular primary projection 34 that is located substantially symmetrical with respect to the opposite ends of the body 31. Also, the inner end of the transition section 33 rigidly carries a longitudinally extending rigid arm 35 that is located substantially symmetrical with respect to the opposite ends of the body 31; which arm 35 is substantially U-shaped in vertical section, as best illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4. The extreme outer end of the arm 35 rigidly carries a rigid secondary projection 36 extending in the lateral direction.

In the arrangement, the primary projection 34 and the secondary projection 36 are located in longitudinally spaced-apart relation and separated by a fixed distance corresponding to that of the separation of the'primary hole and the secondary hole 16b in each of the hole sets provided in the opposite ends of the two said members '16 of the base 11. Specifically, the primary projection 34 has a transverse section substantially conforming to that of any one of the primary holes 16a; whereby the primary projection 34 is substantially square in transverse section, as illustrated. Similarly, the secondary projection 36 has a transverse section substantially conforming to that of any one of the secondary holes 16b; whereby the secondary projection 36 is substantially round in transverse section, as illustrated.

In the construction of the adapter device 30, it is preferable that the

various elements

31, 32, 33, 34 and 35 be formed of sheet metal, sheet steel being the normal construction material recommended. Of course, the several elements mentioned of the adapter device 30 are suitably rigidly secured together, as by welding, so as to provide a strong rigid unified construction.

In view of the foregoing description of the construction and arrangement of the adapter device 30, it will be understood that when the same is assembled in one of its two positions upon the upper end of the body 21 of the cooperating leg 20, that the same is adapted for ready cooperation with two of the hole sets respectively disposed in first diametrically opposed ends of the two side member 16, and that when the same is assembled in the other of its two positions upon the upper end of the body 21 of the cooperating leg 20, that the same is adapted for ready cooperation with the other two of the hole sets respectively disposed in second diametrically opposed ends of the two side members 16. More particularly, when the adapter device 30 is properly assembled upon the upper end of the body 21 of the cooperating leg 20, and locked in place, employing the cooperating pin 40, in the manner previously explained, the primary and

secondary projections

34 and 36 are properly related to be inserted into the respectively cooperating primary and

secondary holes

16a and 16b provided in the adjacent end of the side member 16; whereby the adapter member 30 in its consequent operative position operatively connects the cooperating leg 20 to the corresponding end of the corresponding side member 16 of the base 11; whereby the leg 20 is in position to support the corresponding corner of the shipping container 10 upon the ground or earth through the foot 22 in contact with the earth.

Recapitulating: it will be understood that when the adapter device is assembled in one of its two positions upon the upper end of the 'body 21 of any cooperating one of the legs 20, the arm extends toward the right with respect to the centrally disposed primary projections 34; whereby the secondary projection 36 is located toward the right with respect to the primary projection 34; which arrangement of the two

projections

34 and 36 is proper for cooperation with two diametrically located hole sets formed in the base 11. On the other hand, when the adapter device 30 is assembled in the other of its two positions upon the upper end of the body 21 of any cooperating one of the legs 20, the arm 35 extends toward the left with respect to the centrally disposed primary projection 34; whereby the secondary projection 36 is located toward the left with respect to the primary projection 34; which arrangement of the two

projections

34 and 36 is proper for cooperation with the other two diammetrically located hole sets formed in the base 11. Accordingly, it will be appreciated that the symmetrical disposition of the primary and

secondary projections

34 and 36 with respect to the transition section 33, and consequently with respect to the body 31, brings about the elimination of the usual necessity for right-hand and lefthand adapter devices; whereby all of the adapter devices 30 are identical, since the proper assembly of any one of the adapter devices 30 upon the upper end of the body 21 of any one of the legs 20 causes the one adapter device 30 to be in proper position to cooperate with the desired hole set provided in the corner of the base 11.

The shipping container 10 is of substantially conventional construction; whereby there is provided a lading compartment therein positioned between the

coordinate walls

12, 13, 14 and 15, in the usual manner; whereby one of the

upstanding walls

14 or 15 is provided with a doorway, not shown, carrying a cooperating door, not shown, so as to accommodate loading and unloading of the goods or merchandise with respect to the lading compartment defined in the shipping container 10. In the utilization of the shipping container 10, the same may be transported or carried either upon the chassis of a road semitrailer, or upon the deck of a railway car of the piggyback type, in a manner well understood. Also the shipping container 10 is frequently stored in a freight yard, or terminal, wherein it is supported upon the four legs 20 until the same is loaded upon the chassis of a cooperating road semitrailer, or upon the deck of a railway car. Incident to loading of the shipping container 10 upon either of the mobile vehicles mentioned, the four legs 20, together with the four adapter devices 30, secured thereto, are detached from the base 11; whereby the four legs 20 and the four adapter devices 30 may be retained at the freight yard for use in the support of another container 10, as a large number of the shipping containers 10 are normally handled daily at the freight yard, since frequent interchange of the freight containers 10 between road semitrailers and railway cars is required.

Further, it is contemplated that the corners of the bases 11 of the various freight containers 10, regardless of the lengths of the freight containers 10 between the end walls 14 thereof, will be identical so that any one of the adapter devices 30 may be detachably secured in a ready manner to any one of the four corners of the base 11 of any one of the freight containers 10; whereby the adapter devices 30 and the legs 20 are employed commonly to support all of the shipping containers 10, without reference to the lengths of the various shipping containers 10.

When the shipping container 10 occupies its supported position upon the four legs 20, the same may be readily moved in the longitudinal direction by skidding it along the ground, as indicated in FIG. 8, by virtue of the construction and arrangement of the four feet 22, as best shown in FIG. 3. Also, in this connection, it will be appreciated that there is no substantial pivoting of the shipping container 10 relative to the four supporting legs 20, incident to longitudinal skidding of the shipping container 10 along the ground, by virtue of the strong, rigid construction and arrangement of the four adapter devices 30. Specifically, in the adapter device 30, the arm 35 is rigid and the two

rigid projections

34 and 36 are spaced well apart in the longitudinal direction so as to prevent any turning action of the primary projection 34 in the cooperating primary hole 18a provided in the base 11 of the shipping container 10.

In view of the foregoing, it is apparent that there has been provided an improved combination that may be assembled using any one of a plurality of individual shipping containers of different lengths, any four of a great plurality of individual supporting legs, and any four of a great plurality of individual adapter devices for detachably connecting the four respective supporting legs to the four respective corners of the base of the one shipping container.

While there has been described what is at present considered to be the preferred embodiment of the invention, it will be understood that various modifications may be made therein, and it is intended to cover in the appended claims all such modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. In combination, a shipping container including a substantially rectangular base of rigid structure and provided with a pair of longitudinally extending side members arranged in laterally spaced-apart relation and a pair of laterally extending end members arranged in longitudinally spaced-apart relation, each of said side members having a pair of hole sets formed therein respectively adjacent to the opposite end portions thereof, each of said hole sets including a primary hole located adjacent to one end of one of said side members and extending laterally thereinto and a secondary hole located adjacent to said primary hole and spaced longitudinally a fixed distance therefrom and away from said one end of said one side member and extending laterally thereinto; four substantially identical upstanding legs for supporting said shipping container adjacent to the four corners of said base; and four substantially identical adapter devices respectively detachably connecting said four legs to said base adjacent to the four corners thereof; each of said adapter devices comprising a rigid body having an upstanding leg opening formed therethrough that is adapted removably to receive in either end thereof the upper end of any one of said legs, whereby said adapter device may be mounted in either of two reversely related positions upon the upper end of said one received leg and then may be adjusted vertically in its mounted position upon the upper end of said one received leg, a part carried by said body and cooperating with said one received leg for restraining said adapter device in its vertically adjusted mounted position upon the upper end of said one received log, a rigid primary projection rigidly carried by said body and extending laterally outwardly therefrom, said primary projection having a transverse section substantially corresponding to that of any one of said primary holes, a rigid arm rigidly carried by said body and extending longitudinally outwardly therefrom, and a rigid secondary projection rigidly carried by said arm and extending laterally outwardly therefrom, said secondary projection having a transverse section substantially corresponding to that of any one of said secondary holes, said primary projection and said secondary projection being disposed in substantially parallel longitudinally spaced-apart relation and separated by substantially said fixed distance; whereby any one of said adapter devices mounted in a coordinate one of its two positions upon the upper end of any one of said legs may be employed to support any one of the four corners of said base with'the primary and secondary projections carried by said one adapter device extending laterally into the respective primary and secondary holes of the corresponding hole set disposed adjacent to said one corner of said base.

2. The combination set forth in claim 1, and further comprising four feet respectively carried by the lower ends of said legs and adapted to engage the ground, each of said feet being of the skid type, whereby said feet accommodate skidding in the longitudinal direction along the ground of said supported shipping container without any substantial pivoting of said legs with respect to said base.

3. The combination set forth in claim 1, wherein each of said legs and each of said leg openings have complementary and substantially square transverse sections.

4. The combination set forth in claim 1, wherein each of said primary projections and each of said primary holes have complementary and substantially square transverse sections, and each of said secondary projections and each of said secondary holes have complementary and substantially round transverse sections.

5. The combination set forth in claim 1, wherein each of said legs is formed of hollow tubular structure, and each of said adapter devices is formed principally of sheet metal and of hollow structure.

6. In combination, a shipping container including a substantially rectangular base of rigid structure and provided with a pair of longitudinally extending side members arranged in laterally spaced-apart relation and a pair of laterally extending end members arranged in longitudinally spaced-apart relation, each of said side members having a pair of hole sets formed therein respectively adjacent to the opposite end portions thereof, each of said hole sets including a primary hole located adjacent to one end of one of said side members and extending laterally thereinto and a secondary hole located adjacent to said primary hole and spaced longitudinally a fixed distance therefrom and away from said one end of said one side member and extending laterally thereinto; an upstanding ,leg for supporting any one of the four carriers of said base; and an adapter device detachably connecting said leg to said base adjacent to said one corner thereof; said adapter device comprising a rigid body having an upstanding leg opening formed therethrough that is adapted removably to receive in either end thereof the upper end of said leg, whereby said adapter device may be mounted in either of two reversely related positions upon the upper end of said leg and then may be adjusted vertically in its mounted position upon the upper end of said leg, a part carried by said body and cooperating with said leg for restraining said adapter device in its vertically adjusted mounted position upon the upper end of said leg, a rigid primary projection rig idly carried by said body and extending laterally outwardly therefrom, said primary projection having a transverse section substantially corresponding to that of any one of said primary holes, a rigid arm rigidly carried by said body and extending longitudinally outwardly therefrom, and a rigid secondary projection rigidly carried by said arm and extending laterally outwardly therefrom, said secondary projection having a transverse section substantially corresponding to that of any one of said secondary holes, said primary projection and said secondary projection being disposed in substantially parallel longitudinally spaced-apart relation and separated by substantially said fixed distance; whereby said adapter device mounted in a coordinate one of its two positions upon the upper end of said leg may be employed to support any one of the four corners of said base with said primary projection and said secondary projection extending laterally into the respective primary and secondary holes of the corresponding hole set disposed adjacent to said one corner of said base.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,742,877 4/1956 Stoner 248l88 XR 3,017,153 1/1962 Johnson 248-188 XR 3,017,231 1/1962 Johnson 248l 3,063,667 11/1962 Doty et al. 248-151 XR ROY D. FRAZIER, Primary Examiner.

ROBERT P. SEITTER, Assistant Examiner.