Container for secure transport of cargo

• US 6,981,828 B2
• Filed: 10/02/2003
• Issued: 01/03/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 10/02/2003
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: YRC Worldwide Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Roadway Express, Inc. (YRC Worldwide Incorporated)
• Inventors: Relle, Ferenc M. Jr., Davies, Larry A.
• Primary Examiner(s): GUTMAN, HILARY L
• Application Number:
  US10/677,998
• Publication Number:
  US 20050074310A1
• Time in Patent Office: 824 Days
• Field of Search: 410/141, 410/140, 410/129, 410/121, 410/143, 410/144, 410/117, 410/118
• US Class Current: 410/141
• CPC Class Codes: B60P 7/0823 Straps; Tighteners
• CPC Class Codes: B60P 7/135 Securing or supporting by load bracing means
• CPC Class Codes: B61D 45/006 Fixing by movable walls

Abstract

A temporary, secured divider is provided to partition a cargo container into a secured compartment and a non-secured compartment, allowing for the secured transport of cargo that does not occupy the entire container. Also provided is a container for such secured transportation and methods and systems of secured transportation of a partial cargo load.

Claims

1. A container for transporting cargo in a secured manner, comprising:

a. a first wall, a second wall, a top, and a bottom;

b. a temporary divider selectively located in the container for separating the container into at least a first compartment and a second compartment, the temporary divider comprising;

i. a bulkhead configured to extend substantially from the first wall to the second wall and to the container top;

ii. at least one first bar removeably attached to and extending from the first wall to the second wall on a first side of the bulkhead; and

iii. at least one second bar removeably attached to and extending from the first wall to the second wall on a second side of the bulkhead, opposite the first side of the bulkhead; and

c. at least one lock for securing the temporary divider against unauthorized removal

wherein access to the cargo in the first compartment is prevented without first removing the at least one lock and the temporary divider, while access to cargo in the second compartment is unaffected by the at least one lock and the temporary divider.

2. The container of claim 1, wherein the temporary divider further comprises a base comprising a groove configured to receive the bulkhead, the base capable of resting on the bottom of the container.

3. The container of claim 1, wherein the at least one lock cooperates with the at least one second bar to secure the temporary divider against unauthorized removal.

4. A secured divider for dividing a cargo container having a first wall, a second wall, a top, and a bottom into a secured compartment and an unsecured compartment, comprising:

a. a bulkhead configured to extend substantially from the first wall to the second wall and to the container top;

b. at least one first bar removeably attached to and extending from the first wall to the second wall on a first side of the bulkhead;

c. at least one second bar removeably attached to and extending from the first wall to the second wall on a second side of the bulkhead, opposite the first side of the bulkhead; and

d. at least one lock disposed to cooperate with the second bar to prevent removal of the second bar,

wherein placement of the divider in the cargo container with the lock locked prevents further access to the secured compartment, without affecting access to the unsecured compartment, and wherein the bulkhead cannot be removed, and access cannot be provided to the secured compartment, without removal of the second bar.

5. The divider of claim 4, wherein the container is a deck trailer for use with a tractor-trailer vehicle, the deck trailer comprising at least one horizontal rail with spaced slots disposed on the first wall and on the second wall.

6. The divider of claim 5, wherein the bars comprise deck bars configured to interlock with the rails.

7. The divider of claim 6, wherein the lock comprises two rod locks, the rod locks placed in cooperation with the second bar near where the second bar attaches to the first wall and near where the second bar attaches to the second wall.

8. The divider of claim 4, further comprising a base with a groove configured to receive the bulkhead, the base capable of resting on the bottom of the container.

9. The divider of claim 8, wherein the base comprises a board with a first width fastened between two boards with a second width to create the groove, the second width being greater than the first width.

10. The divider of claim 8, wherein the bulkhead is disposed within the groove and is secured to the base.

11. The divider of claim 4, wherein the bulkhead comprises two plywood sheets capable of being disposed side by side.

12. The divider of claim 4, wherein the lock comprises at least one rod lock, cable tie, cable seal, bolt seal, lead and wire seal, or combination thereof.

13. A method for constructing a secured divider in a container having a first wall, a second wall, a top and a bottom, comprising

a. assembling a base capable of receiving a bulkhead;

b. attaching at least one first bar to the first wall and to the second wall;

c. placing the base on the container bottom near a vertical plane in which the first bar is disposed;

d. inserting the bulkhead into the base such that the first bar is near a first side of the bulkhead;

e. attaching at least one second bar to the first wall and to the second wall such that the second bar is near a second side of the bulkhead, opposite the first side of the bulkhead; and

f. locking the second bar with at least one lock so that removal of the second bar may only be accomplished by removal of the associated lock.

14. A cargo control system for transporting cargo, comprising

a. a container;

b. material for constructing a removable bulkhead to be placed within the container to define a compartment having a volume smaller than the volume of the container;

c. at least one lock for locking the removable bulkhead;

d. means for identifying the at least one lock; and

e. means for verifying that the at least one lock has not been unlocked, removed, or breached during transport of the container;

wherein the means for identifying the at least one lock comprises a serial number associated with the at least one lock, and the means for verifying comprises a notification capable of being affixed to the bulkhead and on which can be recorded the serial number associated with the at least one lock.