Air cargo container

• US 20050051544A1
• Filed: 09/05/2003
• Published: 03/10/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 09/05/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Satco, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Satco, Inc.
• Inventors: Looker, Robert
• Granted Patent: US 7,063,227 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 220/1.500
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 88/14 by air
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 90/021 Flexible side walls or doors B65D88/125 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 206/816 Flexible closure, e.g. sliding desktop type

Abstract

An air cargo container includes a base, two side walls, and a rear wall. The side walls each included a curved front edge. A retractable or roll-up door is located between the side walls. The door is extendible from an open position in which the door is retracted or rolled-up, to a closed position in which the door follows the curved front edges of the side walls and terminates at a position adjacent to the base. A support member is attached along the curved front edge of each of the side walls. The support members each include a channel for receiving a cable on a side edge of the retractable door. One or more levers on each support member are rotatable from an open position to a closed position in which the levers secure the cables within the channels in the support members.

Claims

1. A cargo container, comprising:

a base;

a first side wall attached to the base and having a curved front edge;

a second side wall attached to the base and having a curved front edge;

a rear wall attached to the base and attached to a rear edge of each of the first and second side walls; and

a retractable door between the first and second side walls, with the door extendible along the curved front edge of the first and second side walls to a position adjacent to the base.

2. The cargo container of claim 1 further comprising a support member attached along the curved front edge of each of the first and second side walls, each support member including a channel for receiving a side edge of the retractable door.

3. The cargo container of claim 2 further comprising a cable attached to each side edge of the retractable door, wherein the channel in each support member is configured to receive one of the cables to secure the cable in the support member.

4. The cargo container of claim 3 further comprising at least one pivotable lever on each of the support members, wherein each lever is movable from an open position to a closed position in which the lever secures the cable within the channel in the support member.

5. The cargo container of claim 2 further comprising a door frame extrusion on an inner section of each of the support members, wherein the channels are formed in the door frame extrusions.

6. The cargo container of claim 2 further comprising a door bar attached to a leading edge of the door, wherein the bar is securable to at least one of the side walls, the base, and the support members for maintaining the door in the closed position.

7. The cargo container of claim 1, wherein the door is a roll-up door.

8. The cargo container of claim 7 wherein the door has a cable at each of its side edges, and with each cable captive within the first or second side wall.

9. The cargo container of claim 1 with the first and second side walls each having a straight section extending from the base up to the curved edge.

10. The cargo container of claim 1 wherein the rear wall is flat.

11. In an air freight container of the type having a flat back wall on a base, and an opening in a curved front wall, for loading and unloading the container, the improvement comprising:

a roll-up door on the container moveable from a first position, wherein the door is rolled up and the opening is uncovered, for loading or unloading the container,

to a second position, wherein the door extends along the curved front wall toward the base, and the door covers the opening, to close the container.

12. The air freight container of claim 11 further including a first cable at a first side of the door, and a second cable at a second side of the door and with the first cable positioned within a first channel on the container and with the second cable positioned within a second channel on the container.

13. The air freight container of claim 12 further comprising retaining means for retaining the first and second cables in the first and second channels, respectively.

14. A cargo container, comprising:

a base;

a first side wall extending upwardly from the base and having a curved front edge;

a second side wall extending upwardly from the base and having a curved front edge;

a flat rear wall extending upwardly from the base and connecting to a rear edge of each of the first and second side walls;

a first support member attached along the curved front edge of the first side wall, the first support member including a first channel;

a second support member attached along the curved front edge of the second side wall, the second support member including a second channel; and

a roll-up door having a first cable on a first side edge and a second cable on a second side edge, the door extendible from an open position in which the door is rolled up, to a closed position where the door is at least partially unrolled and the first cable is positioned in the first channel and the second cable is positioned in the second channel.

15. The air cargo container of claim 14 further comprising at least one lever on each of the first and second support members, wherein each lever is movable from an open position to a closed position in which the lever secures one of the first and second cables within the corresponding first and second channel, respectively.

16. The cargo container of claim 14 further comprising a bar attached to a leading edge of the door, wherein the bar is securable to a lower portion of each of the first and second support members for maintaining the door in the closed position.

17. The cargo container of claim 16 further comprising means for locking the door into the closed position.

18. The cargo container of claim 14 further comprising door retaining means for keeping the door substantially within the plane of the curved front edges of the first and second support.

19. The cargo container of claim 14 further comprising a door frame extrusion on an inner section of each of the first and second support members, wherein the first and second channels are formed in the door frame extrusions.

20. A method of loading cargo into a cargo container having a curved front end defining a curved plane and a flat vertical rear wall, comprising the steps of:

loading cargo items against an interior surface of the flat rear wall until the items are loaded to near a ceiling of the container;

loading additional cargo items into the cargo container until the cargo container is substantially filled with cargo items;

pulling a roll-up door down along the curved front end of the container;

maintaining the door in the plane of the curved front end; and

pulling a leading edge of the door down to a position adjacent to a base of the cargo container.

21. The method of claim 20 further including the step of maintaining the door in the plane of the curved front end by pivoting a first pair of levers positioned on each side of the door to secure cables in the door within the channels.

22. The method of claim 20 further comprising the step of pulling the door down part way along the curved front end to determine whether the cargo container is substantially filled with cargo items, and loading additional cargo items into the cargo container if the cargo container is not substantially filled with cargo items, or removing cargo items if the cargo container is over-filled with cargo items.

23. A cargo container, comprising:

a base;

a first side wall attached to the base;

a second side wall attached to the base;

a front wall attached to the base and attached to a front edge of each of the first and second side walls;

a substantially vertical first support member attached to a rear edge of the first side wall, the first support member including a first channel;

a substantially vertical second support member attached to a rear edge of the second side wall, the second support member including a second channel;

a retractable door positioned between the first and second support members, the door including a cable attached each of two side edges of the retractable door, wherein the first and second channels are each configured to receive one of the cables; and

at least one pivotable lever on each of the first and second support members, wherein each lever is movable from an open position to a closed position in which the lever secures the cable within one of the first and second channels.