초록 ▼

An intermodal container comprising: a plurality of self-centering volume maximizing posts; where the width of the container is about 38 inches to about 52 inches, the length is about 44 inches to about 110 inches, and the height is about 28 inches to about 88 inches; a plurality of side support memb

An intermodal container comprising: a plurality of self-centering volume maximizing posts; where the width of the container is about 38 inches to about 52 inches, the length is about 44 inches to about 110 inches, and the height is about 28 inches to about 88 inches; a plurality of side support members that act as very stiff springs that can provide shock dampening effects and reduce vibration to the interior of the container; a plurality of removable blocking and bracing members attached to support members; and where the cross-sectional area of each of the posts has more than 4 bends, where the bends are configured to provide greater strength to the posts while allowing for use of a lighter material.

대표청구항 ▼

1. An intermodal container comprising: a first post, the first post having a self-centering cross-section at the top of the post and the bottom of the post, and having an angle α facing towards the interior of the container and tending to maximize the volume available inside the container for transp

1. An intermodal container comprising: a first post, the first post having a self-centering cross-section at the top of the post and the bottom of the post, and having an angle α facing towards the interior of the container and tending to maximize the volume available inside the container for transporting material;a second post, the second post having a self-centering cross-section at the top of the post and the bottom of the post, and having an angle α facing towards the interior of the container and tending to maximize the volume available inside the container for transporting material;a third post, the third post having a self-centering cross-section at the top of the post and the bottom of the post, and having an angle α facing towards the interior of the container and tending to maximize the volume available inside the container for transporting material;a fourth post, the fourth post having a self-centering cross-section at the top of the post and the bottom of the post, and having an angle α facing towards the interior of the container and tending to maximize the volume available inside the container for transporting material;a first side panel attached to two posts;a second side panel attached to two other posts;a front panel attached to two posts, the front panel comprising at least two front panel supports;a rear panel attached to two other posts, the rear panel comprising at least two rear panel supports;at least one shelf attached to the first, second, third, and fourth posts, and where the shelf can attach to posts at a plurality of heights from the bottom of the container;wherein the width of the container is about 38 inches to about 52 inches, the length is about 44 inches to about 110 inches, and the height is about 28 inches to about 88 inches;a side support member attached to a post and generally located in the same plane as the first side panel, the side support member having one or more bends configured such that the side support member acts as a very stiff spring that can provide shock dampening effects and reduce vibration to the interior of the container;a front support member attached to a post, and generally located in the same plane as the front panel, the front support member having one or more bends configured such that the front support member acts as a very stiff spring that can provide shock dampening effects and reduce vibration to the interior of the container;a removable blocking and bracing member attached to the side support member;at least one tab extending from the shelf, and configured to slide into at least two of the group selected from the group consisting of the first side panel, the second side panel, the front panel, and the rear panel, thus when the tab is slid into two of the group, and the two of the group are in place in the container, the shelf cannot be removed;a slideable member slideably attached to one of the front panel supports and to an adjacent post, a hole located in the slideable member between the front panel support and the adjacent post when the slideable member is fully engaged with the front panel support and the adjacent post;a locking devices removeably attachable to the hole, and when removeably attachable to the hole, the slideable member cannot be removed from the post and the front panel support thereby locking the front panel in place with respect to the adjacent post; andwherein the cross-sectional area of each of the posts has more than 4 bends, where the bends are configured to provide greater strength to the posts while allowing for use of a lighter material. 2. The intermodal container of claim 1, wherein the bends in the side support member are of an obtuse angle; andwherein the bends in the front support member are of an obtuse angle. 3. The intermodal container of claim 1, further comprising: a second side support member attached to a post and generally located in the same plane as the second side panel, the second side support member having one or more bends configured such that the second side support member acts as a very stiff spring that can provide shock dampening effects and reduce vibration to the interior of the container;a rear support member attached to a post, and generally located in the same plane as the rear panel, the rear support member having one or more bends configured such that the rear support member acts as a very stiff spring that can provide shock dampening effects and reduce vibration to the interior of the container. 4. The intermodal container of claim 1, further comprising: a slideable member slideably attached to one of the rear panel supports and to an adjacent post, a hole located in the slideable member between the rear panel support and the adjacent post when the slideable member is fully engaged with the rear panel support and the adjacent post; anda locking devices removeably attachable to the hole, and when removeably attachable to the hole, the slideable member cannot be removed from the post and the rear panel support thereby locking the rear panel in place with respect to the adjacent post. 5. The intermodal container of claim 3, where the locking device is selected from the group consisting of a padlock and a snaplink. 6. The intermodal container of claim 1, wherein the container is collapsible to a flat-pack volume of about 20% to about 30% of the original uncollapsed container volume. 7. The intermodal container of claim 1, wherein the container is generally made out of High Strength Low Alloy (HSLA) Steel that is hot rolled and cold formed. 8. The intermodal container of claim 1, further comprising: at least two tabs extending from the side support member, each of the tabs having a hole through them;at least two side tabs attached to one of the panels; each of the side tabs having a hole through them;wherein the removable blocking and bracing member comprises: a plurality of slots in the removable blocking and bracing member, configured to allow the tabs to slide through;a locking pin configured to go through the hole in the tabs, and configured to removeably hold the removable blocking and bracing member against the side support member;a locking sleeve, the locking sleeve comprising: a lower portion, the lower portion with at least two locking tabs, each of the locking tabs with a hole through them;an upper portion, removable form the lower portion, with at least two slots configured to slide over the at least two locking tabs, and at least one slot configured to slide over the two side tabs;a locking pin configured to slide through the holes in the two side tabs and to removably attack the locking sleeve to one of the panels, and further configured to slide through the holes of the locking tab, and to removably attach the locking sleeve to the removable blocking and bracing member and to a second removable blocking and bracing member from a second intermodal container; andwherein the removable blocking and bracing member is storable completely under the intermodal container; and further the removable blocking and bracing member can be extended from under the intermodal container towards the front panel or the rear panel and attach to the second removable blocking and bracing member from the second intermodal container via the locking sleeve. 9. The intermodal container of claim 1, further comprising: a first cross-member located near the top of the intermodal container, attached to two posts, and generally coplanar with the first side panel, the first cross-member having a plurality of holes located through the top side and bottom side of the first cross-member;an inner cross-member in slideable communication with the first cross-member; and storable generally completely within the first cross-member; the inner cross-member having a plurality of holes located through the top side and bottom side of the inner cross-member, an innermost cross-member in slideable communication with the inner cross-member;and storable generally completely within the inner cross-member; the innermost cross-member having a plurality of holes located through the top side and bottom side of the innermost cross-member,a first locking pin, configured to slide into the holes in the first cross-member, inner cross-member, and innermost cross-member, and removably lock the three cross-members in place with respect to one another;a second locking pin, configured to slide into the holes in the first cross-member, inner cross-member, and innermost cross-member, and removably lock the three cross-members in place with respect to one another;wherein the inner cross-member can extend out from the first cross-member, in a direction generally perpendicular to the front or rear panel;wherein the innermost cross-member can extend out from the inner cross-member; in a direction generally perpendicular to the front or rear panel; and wherein the innermost cross-member can slide into an inner cross-member from a second intermodal container, and can be locked in place via the locking pins. 10. The intermodal container of claim 9, further comprising: a second cross-member located near the top of the intermodal container, attached to two posts, and generally coplanar with the second side panel, the second cross-member having a plurality of holes located through the top side and bottom side of the second cross-member;a second inner cross-member in slideable communication with the second cross-member;and storable generally completely within the second cross-member; the second inner cross-member having a plurality of holes located through the top side and bottom side of the second inner cross-member,a first locking pin, configured to slide into the holes in the second cross-member, and second inner cross-member, and removably lock the two cross-members in place with respect to one another;a second locking pin, configured to slide into the holes in the second cross-member, and second inner cross-member, and removably lock the two cross-members in place with respect to one another;wherein the second inner cross-member can extend out from the second cross-member, in a direction generally perpendicular to the front or rear panel; andwherein an innermost cross-member from a second intermodal container can slide into the second inner cross-member, and can be locked in place via the locking pins. 11. An intermodal container comprising: a first post;a first side panel attached to the first post;a second post, attached to the first side panel;a third post;a second side panel attached to the third post;a fourth post attached to the second side panel;a front panel attached to the first and fourth posts;a rear panel attached to the second and third posts;at least one shelf attached to the first, second, third, and fourth posts, and where the shelf can attach to the posts at a plurality of heights along the posts;a support member attached to at least one post selected from the group consisting of the first post, second post, third post, and fourth post; and generally located in the same plane as a panel selected from the group consisting of the first side panel, second side panel, front panel, and rear panel, the support member configured to generally support at least a portion of the weight of the intermodal container, the support member having one or more bends configured such that the support member acts as a very stiff spring that can provide shock dampening effects and reduce vibration to the interior of the container;at least two tabs extending from the support member, each of the tabs having a hole through them;at least two side tabs attached to one of the panels; each of the side tabs having a hole through them;wherein the removable blocking and bracing member comprises: a plurality of slots in the removable blocking and bracing member, configured to allow the tabs to slide through;a locking pin configured to go through the hole in the tabs, and configured to removeably hold the removable blocking and bracing member against the side support member;a locking sleeve, the locking sleeve comprising: a lower portion, the lower portion with at least two locking tabs, each of the locking tabs with a hole through them;an upper portion, removable form the lower portion, with at least two slots configured to slide over the at least two locking tabs, and at least one slot configured to slide over the two side tabs;a locking pin configured to slide through the holes in the two side tabs and to removably attack the locking sleeve to one of the panels, and further configured to slide through the holes of the locking tab, and to removably attach the locking sleeve to the removable blocking and bracing member and to a second removable blocking and bracing member from a second intermodal container; andwherein the removable blocking and bracing member is storable completely under the intermodal container; and further the removable blocking and bracing member can be extended from under the intermodal container towards the front panel or the rear panel and attach to the second removable blocking and bracing member from the second intermodal container via the locking sleeve. 12. The intermodal container of claim 11, further comprising: a first cross-member located near the top of the intermodal container, attached to two posts, and generally coplanar with the first side panel, the first cross-member having a plurality of holes located through the top side and bottom side of the first cross-member;an inner cross-member in slideable communication with the first cross-member; and storable generally completely within the first cross-member; the inner cross-member having a plurality of holes located through the top side and bottom side of the inner cross-member,an innermost cross-member in slideable communication with the inner cross-member; and storable generally completely within the inner cross-member; the innermost cross-member having a plurality of holes located through the top side and bottom side of the innermost cross-member,a first locking pin, configured to slide into the holes in the first cross-member, inner cross-member, and innermost cross-member, and removably lock the three cross-members in place with respect to one another;a second locking pin, configured to slide into the holes in the first cross-member, inner cross-member, and innermost cross-member, and removably lock the three cross-members in place with respect to one another;wherein the inner cross-member can extend out from the first cross-member, in a direction generally perpendicular to the front or rear panel;wherein the innermost cross-member can extend out from the inner cross-member; in a direction generally perpendicular to the front or rear panel; and wherein the innermost cross-member can slide into an inner cross-member from a second intermodal container, and can be locked in place via the locking pins. 13. The intermodal container of claim 12, further comprising: a second cross-member located near the top of the intermodal container, attached to two posts, and generally coplanar with the second side panel, the second cross-member having a plurality of holes located through the top side and bottom side of the second cross-member;a second inner cross-member in slideable communication with the second cross-member; and storable generally completely within the second cross-member; the second inner cross-member having a plurality of holes located through the top side and bottom side of the second inner cross-member,a first locking pin, configured to slide into the holes in the second cross-member, and second inner cross-member, and removably lock the two cross-members in place with respect to one another;a second locking pin, configured to slide into the holes in the second cross-member, and second inner cross-member, and removably lock the two cross-members in place with respect to one another;wherein the second inner cross-member can extend out from the second cross-member, in a direction generally perpendicular to the front or rear panel; andwherein an innermost cross-member from a second intermodal container can slide into the second inner cross-member, and can be locked in place via the locking pins. 14. An intermodal container comprising: a first post;a first side panel attached to the first post;a second post, attached to the first side panel;a third post;a second side panel attached to the third post;a fourth post attached to the second side panel;a front panel attached to the first and fourth posts;a rear panel attached to the second and third posts;at least one shelf attached to the first, second, third, and fourth posts, and where the shelf can attach to the posts at a plurality of heights along the posts;a removable blocking and bracing member attached to the support member;at least two tabs extending from the support member, each of the tabs having a hole through them;at least two side tabs attached to one of the panels; each of the side tabs having a hole through them;wherein the removable blocking and bracing member comprises: a plurality of slots in the removable blocking and bracing member, configured to allow the tabs to slide through;a locking pin configured to go through the hole in the tabs, and configured to removeably hold the removable blocking and bracing member against the side support member;a locking sleeve, the locking sleeve comprising: a lower portion, the lower portion with at least two locking tabs, each of the locking tabs with a hole through them;an upper portion, removable form the lower portion, with at least two slots configured to slide over the at least two locking tabs, and at least one slot configured to slide over the two side tabs;a locking pin configured to slide through the holes in the two side tabs and to removably attack the locking sleeve to one of the panels, and further configured to slide through the holes of the locking tab, and to removably attach the locking sleeve to the removable blocking and bracing member and to a second removable blocking and bracing member from a second intermodal container; andwherein the removable blocking and bracing member is storable completely under the intermodal container; and further the removable blocking and bracing member can be extended from under the intermodal container towards the front panel or the rear panel and attach to the second removable blocking and bracing member from the second intermodal container via the locking sleeve. 15. The intermodal container of claim 14, further comprising: a first cross-member located near the top of the intermodal container, attached to two posts, and generally coplanar with the first side panel, the first cross-member having a plurality of holes located through the top side and bottom side of the first cross-member;an inner cross-member in slideable communication with the first cross-member; and storable generally completely within the first cross-member; the inner cross-member having a plurality of holes located through the top side and bottom side of the inner cross-member,an innermost cross-member in slideable communication with the inner cross-member; and storable generally completely within the inner cross-member; the innermost cross-member having a plurality of holes located through the top side and bottom side of the innermost cross-member,a first locking pin, configured to slide into the holes in the first cross-member, inner cross-member, and innermost cross-member, and removably lock the three cross-members in place with respect to one another;a second locking pin, configured to slide into the holes in the first cross-member, inner cross-member, and innermost cross-member, and removably lock the three cross-members in place with respect to one another;wherein the inner cross-member can extend out from the first cross-member, in a direction generally perpendicular to the front or rear panel;wherein the innermost cross-member can extend out from the inner cross-member; in a direction generally perpendicular to the front or rear panel; and wherein the innermost cross-member can slide into an inner cross-member from a second intermodal container, and can be locked in place via the locking pins. 16. The intermodal container of claim 15, further comprising: a second cross-member located near the top of the intermodal container, attached to two posts, and generally coplanar with the second side panel, the second cross-member having a plurality of holes located through the top side and bottom side of the second cross-member;a second inner cross-member in slideable communication with the second cross-member; and storable generally completely within the second cross-member; the second inner cross-member having a plurality of holes located through the top side and bottom side of the second inner cross-member,a first locking pin, configured to slide into the holes in the second cross-member, and second inner cross-member, and removably lock the two cross-members in place with respect to one another;a second locking pin, configured to slide into the holes in the second cross-member, and second inner cross-member, and removably lock the two cross-members in place with respect to one another;wherein the second inner cross-member can extend out from the second cross-member, in a direction generally perpendicular to the front or rear panel; andwherein an innermost cross-member from a second intermodal container can slide into the second inner cross-member, and can be locked in place via the locking pins.