Adaptive rails for stacking/securing different sized shipping containers

• US 20040081528A1
• Filed: 10/25/2002
• Published: 04/29/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 10/25/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: China International Marine Containers Limited (China International Marine Containers Company Limited)
• Original Assignee: International Transport Logistics, Inc.
• Inventors: Sain, Bernard S.
• Granted Patent: US 6,793,448 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 410/46
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 88/022 in multiple arrangement, e.g. stackable, nestable, connected or joined together side-by-side
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 90/0006 Coupling devices between containers, e.g. ISO-containers coupling devices between containers and vehicles B60P7/13
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 90/0026 Corner fittings characterised by shape, configuration or number of openings

Abstract

In order to facilitate quick and easy stacking of containers of different sizes, adaptive rails are disposed on a row of containers of a first size and enable a row of containers of a different size to be placed on top of the first row. The adaptive rails are provided with guide surfaces/features which engage portions of the containers onto which they are placed or portions of the containers which are placed on the rails. This engagement forces the rail/container to slide into the requisite spatial relationship with the other of the rail/container and allows connection features to mate appropriately.

Claims

1. A method of stacking containers comprising the steps of:

forming a first row of first containers;

guiding rails to selected positions on opposite edges of the first row of first containers;

interconnecting connection features on the rails to connection features on the first containers;

laying a second row of second containers on the rails; and

interconnecting connection features on the rails to connection features on the second containers.

2. A method of stacking containers as set forth in claim 1, wherein the step of guiding comprises the steps of:

providing a downwardly depending outwardly flared corner guide at one end of each of the rails;

lowering the rails toward the first row of first containers;

engaging the corner guides on the rails with corners of an endmost container of the first row of first containers;

using the corner guides to force the rails to the preselected portions wherein engagement features on the first row of first containers mate with connection features on the rails on the first row of containers as the rails continue to be lowered down onto the first row of containers.

3. A method as set forth in claim 1, wherein the step of guiding comprises the steps of:

providing a downwardly depending outwardly flared skirt along at least a portion of a side of the rails;

engaging the sides of the first row of first containers with the skirts; and

using the skirts to force the rails laterally with respect to the first row of first containers and toward the preselected portions as the rails continue to be lowered down onto the first row of first containers.

4. A method as set forth in claim 2, further comprising the steps of:

providing a top guide on each rail proximate the end to which the corner guide is attached; and

positioning each top guide so that an angled surface provided thereon is engageable with an endmost container of the second row of second containers as it is lowered toward the rails and for forcing the endmost container to a preselected position with respect to the first row of first containers.

5. A method as set forth in claim 1, wherein the step of laying the second row of second containers comprises aligning containers which have one of a different width and a different length from the containers which are aligned to form the first row of first containers.

6. An apparatus for stacking a first row of first containers on top of a second row of second containers wherein at least one of the containers of the second row of second containers has one of a different width and a different length from at least one of the containers of the first row of first containers, the stacking apparatus comprising:

a pair of rails each adapted to seat along a side of the second row of second containers;

a downwardly depending outwardly flared corner guide at one end of each of the rails, each downwardly extending corner guide being adapted to engage a corner portion of an end container of the second row of second containers and to force the ends of the rails to predetermined positions on the end container as the rails are lowered down toward the second row of second containers.

7. An apparatus as set forth in claim 6, further comprising:

a downwardly depending outwardly flared skirt extending along at least a portion of the length of each rail, the skirt on each rail being respectively adapted to engage an upper edge surface of at least one of the second row of second containers and to force the rail toward a predetermined seating position on the second row of second containers.

8. An apparatus as set forth in claim 7, wherein the skirt is detachably connected to the rail.

9. An apparatus as set forth in claim 7, wherein the skirt is formed essentially along the full length of the rail.

10. An apparatus as set forth in claim 7, wherein the skirt is formed as skirt sections which are disposed along predetermined portions of the rail.

11. An apparatus as set forth in claim 6, further comprising a top guide member secured to an upper edge of each of the pair of rails, each top guide member having an angled surface adapted to engage a lower edge portion of an end container of the first row of first containers and to guide the end container of the first row of first containers toward a predetermined seating position on top of the pair of rails wherein connection features on the end container of the first row of first containers mate with connection features on the pair of rails.

12. An apparatus for stacking first containers on top of second containers, the stacking apparatus comprising:

two elongated rails each having;

at least one guide member connected thereto for engaging a portion of one of the first and second containers and for forcing the rails to move into a predetermined seating position with respect to the other of the first and second containers as the rails approaches the one of the first and second container and the at least one guide member on each rail, initially engages the one of the first and second containers.

13. An apparatus as set forth in claim 12, wherein the at least one guide member is detachably connected to a rail.

14. An apparatus as set forth in claim 12, wherein the first and second containers have different sizes.

15. An apparatus as set forth in claim 12, wherein the at least one guide member is a corner guide member which is connected to a rail end and which has first and second guide surfaces that extend downwardly and away from the rail to which they are attached, that are respectively parallel to an end edge and a side edge of the rail to which they are attached and which intersect to form an angled edge.

16. An apparatus as set forth in claim 12, wherein the at least one guide member is a skirt member which extends along at least a portion of the rail to which it is attached.

17. An apparatus as set forth in, claim 12, wherein the at least one guide member comprises a plurality of skirts which extend down and away from the rail to which they are connected and which are spacedly disposed along the length of the rail.

18. An apparatus as set forth in claim 17, wherein the plurality of skirts are detachably connected to the rail.

19. An apparatus as set forth in claim 12, wherein the at least one guide member is a top guide member which is secured to an upper surface of a rail and which has an angled surface which is oriented upwardly at a predetermined angle.

20. An apparatus as set forth in claim 19, wherein the top guide member is detachably connected to the rail.

21. An apparatus as set forth in claim 12, further comprising:

a plurality of first mounting fixtures for aligning and releasably connecting each rail to the first containers; and

a plurality of second mounting fixtures for aligning and releasably connecting each rail to the second containers.