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  Freight containerRelated Patent Categories: Receptacles, Freight ContainersThe Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20070194017. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
[0001] This invention relates to a freight container and particularly (but not exclusively) to a container for transporting elongate cargoes, such as lengths of timber. [0002] It is known to transport goods which exist in long lengths, eg timber or piping, on so-called flat racks which allow this type of cargo to be transported along with standard freight containers. Standard freight containers in this context are those also known as ISO containers. Flat racks fold down when they are not in use, so that when they are transported back to base empty they take up relatively little volume. However there is still a cost associated with repatriating such flat racks. [0003] According to the invention, there is provided a freight container having a floor, walls and a roof module, wherein the roof module can be lifted off from the walls, and has means by which goods can be suspended within the container from the roof module, so that they can be lifted out of the container, suspended from the roof module, when the roof module is lifted off. [0004] The ability to lift off the roof means that elongate cargoes can be loaded into the container transversely to their length, which is what happens when a flat rack is loaded. However, with the container of the invention, the roof module can be replaced after discharging the elongate cargo and the container can then be used in the same way as a standard closed container. In other words, the container can also carry general cargo and earn revenue on the return voyage. [0005] The roof module preferably incorporates a structural, load bearing frame, from which the goods can be suspended. Slings can be provided to suspend the goods, with the ends of the slings being mounted on the frame. The slings may be of fixed length, with the length being such that the slings will have just slightly more than sufficient length to follow the internal walls and floor of the container cross-section. As a result, when the roof module is in place on the container, the slings will be slack, and any goods suspended by the slings when the roof module is being lifted will rest on the container floor and will not be supported on the slings. [0006] The roof module can have a series of drums along each long side, on a face of the module which, in use, will be inside the container, so that load slings can be passed beneath a stack of goods to be carried in the container, and attached to the drums at either end. The drums may be spring-loaded so that the load slings (which are preferably webbing straps) are retracted onto the drums when they are not in use. It is desirable to keep the slings out of the way when they are not in use, and winding them up onto a drum in the roof module will be particularly convenient. [0007] Alternatively, pockets may be formed at the corrugated container walls by bridging some of those corrugations with sheet material, to form a pocket between the corrugation and the sheet material. The pockets can then be used to accommodate the slings when they are not in use. [0008] The container preferably has ISO castings at it corners, and the roof module fits between those castings. The roof module can also have ISO castings at points intermediate its ends, so that the roof module can be lifted by attaching a suitable lifting module such as a reach stacker to the intermediate ISO castings (the container as a whole can be lifted in a known manner using the corner castings). [0009] The roof module may be slightly shorter than the full length of the container, with the container having short, fixed roof portions at each end which remain in place when the module is lifted away from the container. These fixed roof portions assist in maintaining rigidity and stability of the container when the roof module is lifted away. [0010] A weathertight seal is provided between the roof module and the container walls to seal the inside of the container when the roof module is in place. The roof module can have clamps arranged around the periphery to clamp the roof to the walls of the container, and to load the seals to provide a weathertight seal. The clamps should be adequate to ensure that the seal is effective, but no external loads will normally be transmitted through the clamps. [0011] The invention also extends to a method of handling freight, wherein a rigid support frame is placed on top of a stack of freight items, slings are passed from the frame beneath the stack and the frame is lifted by a crane or the like to lift the freight which is then suspended from the frame within the slings. [0012] A further aspect of the invention extends to a rigid support frame having means by which the frame can be suspended from a crane or the like, and slings for suspending a load from beneath the frame. The means for suspending the frame from a crane or the like may comprise a set of ISO castings suitably spaced so that the frame can be lifted by a reach stacker. [0013] The invention will now be further described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: [0014] FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a container in accordance with the present invention, in the closed condition; [0015] FIG. 2 shows the container of FIG. 1 with the roof module lifted; [0016] FIG. 3 shows the roof module of the container separated from the floor and walls of the container, and with lengths of timber positioned beneath the module being loaded into the container; [0017] FIG. 4 shows the module preparing to unload a stack of timber onto a flatbed trailer; [0018] FIG. 5 is a cross-section through the roof module and a suspended load, on the line V-V from FIG. 3; [0019] FIG. 5a is a detail from the circle A in FIG. 5; [0020] FIG. 6 is a detail showing winches located as part of the roof module; [0021] FIG. 7 is a section taken on the line VII-VII from FIG. 1; [0022] FIG. 8 is a section taken on the line VIII-VIII from FIG. 1; [0023] FIG. 9 is a section taken on the line IX-IX from FIG. 1; and [0024] FIG. 10 is a section taken on the line VIII-VII from FIG. 1, but showing an alternative embodiment to that shown in FIG. 7. Continue reading... Full patent description for Freight container Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Freight container patent application. ###  How KEYWORD MONITOR works... a FREE service from FreshPatents1. Sign up (takes 30 seconds). 2. Fill in the keywords to be monitored. 3. Each week you receive an email with patent applications related to your keywords. Start now! - Receive info on patent apps like Freight container or other areas of interest. ### Previous Patent Application: Easy to assemble wastebasket Next Patent Application: Telescoping tool basket, especially for offshore operations, and method of using same Industry Class: Receptacles ### FreshPatents.com Support Thank you for viewing the Freight container patent info. 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