阅读说明：本技术 货物单元 (Cargo unit ) 是由 M·C·B·阿根蒂 于 2020-03-04 设计创作，主要内容包括：本文描述了用于运输货物的单元及其使用方法。在一些实施例中,所述单元是可折叠的、可堆叠的货物单元。在一些实施例中,货物单元包括具有前部、后部和两个侧部的大致矩形的基部,在基部的前部、后部和每个侧部上具有叉车槽。货物单元还可包括从基部向上延伸的前壁和后壁。货物单元还可包括在前壁和后壁之间从基部向上延伸的第一侧壁和第二侧壁。第一侧壁可以具有大于第二侧壁的长度。货物单元还可以包括集成盖,该集成盖铰接地附接到前壁、后壁和侧壁中的一者或多者。(Units for transporting cargo and methods of using the same are described herein. In some embodiments, the unit is a collapsible, stackable cargo unit. In some embodiments, the cargo unit includes a generally rectangular base having a front, a rear, and two sides with a forklift slot on each of the front, rear, and sides of the base. The cargo unit may further comprise a front wall and a rear wall extending upwardly from the base. The cargo unit may further comprise a first side wall and a second side wall extending upwardly from the base between the front wall and the rear wall. The first sidewall may have a length greater than the second sidewall. The cargo unit may further include an integrated cover hingedly attached to one or more of the front wall, the rear wall, and the side walls.)

1. A foldable, stackable cargo unit having an erected configuration in which the cargo unit can define a closed interior and a folded configuration in which the cargo unit can be compactly stored and transported, the cargo unit comprising:

a generally rectangular base having a front, a rear and two sides with a forklift slot on the front, rear and each side thereof;

front and rear walls extending upwardly from the base;

a first side wall and a second side wall extending upwardly from the base between the front wall and the rear wall, the first side wall having a length greater than the second side wall; and

an integrated cover hingedly attached to one or more of the front wall, the rear wall, and the side walls.

2. The cargo unit of claim 1, wherein the base includes a first fixed upright wall adjacent the first side wall and a second fixed upright wall adjacent the second side wall, wherein the second fixed upright wall extends a greater height than the first fixed upright wall.

3. The cargo unit of claim 1, wherein the integrated cover comprises a first cover member and a second cover member, the first cover member comprising a hinge edge hingedly attached to the first side wall, and the second cover member comprising a hinge edge hingedly attached to the second side wall.

4. The cargo unit of claim 1, wherein in a folded configuration, the first cover member rotates to rest on the first side wall, and the second cover member is substantially coplanar with the second side wall.

5. The cargo unit of claim 4, wherein each of the first and second cover members includes a free edge opposite its hinged edge, and wherein the first cover member is larger than the second cover member, wherein a dimension between its hinged edge and its free edge is larger than a corresponding dimension of the second cover member.

6. The cargo unit of claim 5, wherein each cover member has a first handle extending outwardly on the front wall and a second handle extending outwardly on the rear wall.

7. The cargo unit of claim 6, wherein each of the cover members is permanently attached to a side wall and is pivotable through an arc of 270 ° between a generally horizontal closed position in which the free ends of the cover members are adjacent one another and a generally vertical open position in which the cover members are suspended against the outer surface of their associated side wall.

8. The cargo unit of claim 7, wherein the front wall includes a releasable locking mechanism configured to lock the cargo unit in an upright configuration.

9. The cargo unit of claim 8, wherein the front wall comprises a lower front wall and an upper front wall pivotally connected to the lower front wall, wherein the lower front wall comprises a locking mechanism and the upper front wall comprises a locking mechanism and is (1) lockable in an upright configuration associated with a fully closed state of the cargo unit or (2) unlockable and foldable outwardly and downwardly through an arc of approximately 180 ° to hang against an outer surface of the lower front wall when the cargo unit is in its upright configuration while the lower front wall remains locked in place to partially open the cargo unit and facilitate access to the interior.

10. The cargo unit of claim 9, wherein each of the front, rear, and side walls is completely removable from the base.

11. The cargo unit of claim 10, wherein each of the base and walls comprises a metal frame and one or more metal sheets welded or otherwise attached to the frame.

12. The cargo unit of claim 10, wherein one or more of the base and wall comprise a unitary, one-piece stamped main member incorporating an integrated structural profile to provide strength and rigidity.

13. The cargo unit of claim 1, wherein the cargo unit is made of galvanized steel and has a tare weight of about 80 to 90 kg.

14. A dual cargo unit having an upright configuration in which the cargo unit can define an enclosed interior, and a folded configuration in which the cargo unit can be compactly stored and transported;

the dual cargo units comprise a pair of similar individual cargo units engaged with each other;

when in the erected configuration, each of the individual cargo units comprises:

a generally rectangular base having four sides with a forklift slot on at least three sides;

a first upright wall, a second upright wall, and a third upright wall extending upwardly from the base to define a three-sided housing and an open side;

an integrated cover hingedly attached to one or more of the walls; and

the individual cargo units are joined together at their open sides.

15. The dual cargo unit of claim 14, wherein the integrated cover of each individual cargo unit comprises a first cover member comprising a hinged edge hingedly attached to the first wall and a second cover member comprising a hinged edge hingedly attached to a second wall.

16. The dual cargo unit of claim 15, wherein the first upright wall of one of the individual cargo units comprises a lower front wall and an upper front wall pivotally connected to the lower front wall, wherein the lower front wall comprises a locking mechanism and the upper front wall comprises a locking mechanism and, when the dual cargo unit is in its upright configuration, the upper front wall is either (1) lockable in an upright configuration associated with a fully closed state of the cargo unit or (2) unlocked and folded outwardly and downwardly through an arc of approximately 180 ° to hang against an outer surface of the lower front wall while the lower front wall remains locked in place to partially open the cargo unit and facilitate access to the interior.

17. The dual cargo unit of claim 16, wherein each of the upright walls is completely removable from the base.

18. The dual cargo unit of claim 17, wherein each of the base and the upright walls comprises a metal frame, and one or more metal sheets welded or otherwise attached to the frame.

19. The dual cargo unit of claim 18, wherein each of the base and walls comprises a unitary, one-piece stamped main member incorporating an integrated structural profile to provide strength and rigidity.

20. A method of unloading and folding a collapsible, stackable cargo unit having an erected configuration in which the cargo unit defines an enclosed interior and a folded configuration in which the cargo unit can be compactly stored and transported, the cargo unit including a generally rectangular base having a front, a rear and two sides, with a forklift slot on the front, rear and each side of the base; front and rear walls extending upwardly from the base; first and second side walls extending upwardly from the base between the front and rear walls; a locking mechanism capable of retaining the cargo unit in its upright configuration; and a two-piece integrated cover in a generally horizontal position when the cargo unit is in its erected configuration, the method comprising:

(a) opening first and second cover members by pivoting each cover member through an arc of about 270 ° about a hinge connecting the cover member to a respective one of the first and second sidewalls;

(b) removing cargo from the cargo unit;

(c) releasing the locking mechanism on the front wall and pivoting the front wall downward and inward through an arc of about 90 ° about the pivotable connection with the base such that the front wall rests on the base;

(d) releasing the locking mechanism on the rear wall and pivoting the rear wall downwardly and inwardly through an arc of about 90 ° about a pivotable connection with the base such that the rear wall rests on the base, wherein the pivotable connection comprises an upwardly extending slot on the base that allows upward movement of the pivotable connection of the rear wall with the base, and wherein the side walls remain upright, supported by base corner posts;

(e) pivoting a first sidewall downwardly and inwardly through an arc of about 90 ° about a pivotable connection with the base such that the first sidewall rests on the base, wherein the pivotable connection comprises an upwardly extending slot on the base that allows upward movement of the pivotable connection of the first sidewall with the base;

(f) pivoting a second sidewall downwardly and inwardly through an arc of about 90 ° about a pivotable connection with the base such that the second sidewall rests on the base, wherein the pivotable connection comprises an upwardly extending slot on the base that allows upward movement of the pivotable connection of the second sidewall with the base; and

(g) pivoting the second cover member through an arc of about 180 ° about a hinge connecting it to the second side wall such that the second cover member rests on the first cover member but not the second cover member, thereby reducing the height of the folded cargo unit.

Technical Field

The present invention relates generally to units for transporting cargo, and more particularly to collapsible, stackable cargo units.

Background

Reusable, stackable containers (such as those disclosed in U.S. patent No.8,573,427, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference) may be used to transport various types of goods in overseas commerce and in other environments, such as by rail. During transport operations, when a fleet of containers of this type is intended to include stacks of up to, for example, four or five full containers, it is desirable that each container in the fleet be capable of supporting the weight of multiple full containers stacked thereon. Other existing stackable containers are described in CN103158924B and CN 201172503Y.

A problem with some containers is that components such as covers, removable walls, etc. may become separated from other components during use. Permanently connecting all components together may potentially solve this problem, but removal of the cover and walls may sometimes be used to facilitate loading and unloading.

Another problem associated with collapsible shipping containers is that they may be damaged during use, in either the erected or collapsed configuration, for example, due to collisions with other containers and forklift tines. Another problem is that the goods may exert very high outward pressure on the side walls. One particular material that may exert significant outward pressure on the sidewalls is rubber, which in some cases may exert an increasing outward pressure over time during transport. During operation, forklift tines and other containers also apply significant inward pressure and impact loads to the side walls. For example, when containers are transported by rail, the stopping and starting of railcars may cause adjacent containers to contact each other, collide, and/or otherwise exert a force.

To provide the strength necessary to withstand such stresses, as well as stacking loads and other loads associated with, for example, forklift operation, many commercial shipping containers have relatively heavy steel structures, and thus their weight can be a significant proportion of their capacity. For example, a Goodpack MB5 intermediate bulk container capable of carrying a payload of approximately 1,650 kg or 3,637 pounds in a commercial application may have a tare weight of approximately 126 to 136 kg or 280-300 pounds. There is a continuing interest in providing new and improved shipping containers that provide similar functionality to existing commercial containers, but with reduced tare weight.

Collapsible shipping containers typically include bar code labels, RFID tags, or other devices to facilitate tracking by providing each container with a unique machine-readable identifier. In some cases, for example for containers on top of a five-high stack (five-high stack), the tag or label may be difficult to access. Such markers and tags may also be subject to damage or wear due to, for example, impact or abrasion by forklift tines, other containers. Improvements are also needed in this area.

Disclosure of Invention

Disclosed herein is a collapsible, stackable cargo unit having an upright configuration wherein the cargo unit can define an enclosed interior, and a collapsed configuration wherein the cargo unit can be compactly stored and transported. The cargo unit includes: a generally rectangular base having a front, a rear and two sides with a fork truck slot on each of the front, rear and sides of the base; front and rear walls extending upwardly from the base; first and second side walls extending upwardly from the base between the front and rear walls; and an integrated cover hingedly attached to one or more of the front, rear and side walls.

In some embodiments, all four walls are completely removable.

In some embodiments, the integrated lid comprises a first lid member comprising a hinge edge hingedly attached to the first sidewall and a second lid member comprising a hinge edge hingedly attached to the second sidewall. In some embodiments, each of the first and second cover members comprises a free edge opposite its hinged edge, wherein the first cover member is larger than the second cover member, wherein the dimension between its hinged edge and its free edge is larger than the corresponding dimension of the second cover member. In some embodiments, each cover member has a first handle extending outwardly on the front wall and a second handle extending outwardly on the rear wall to facilitate lifting the cover to open the cargo unit. Each handle may include a downwardly projecting end that wraps down over the top of its associated front or rear wall to add strength and rigidity to the structure and/or to help maintain the lid members in alignment when in the closed position.

In some embodiments, each cover member is permanently attached to a side wall when the cargo unit is erected, and is pivotable through an arc of 270 ° between a substantially horizontal closed position in which the free ends of the cover members are adjacent one another, and a substantially vertical open position in which the cover members are suspended against the outer surface of their associated side wall.

In some embodiments, the front wall includes a releasable locking mechanism configured to lock the cargo unit in the upright configuration. In some embodiments, the front wall comprises a lower front wall and an upper front wall pivotally connected to the lower front wall, wherein the lower front wall comprises a locking mechanism and the upper front wall comprises a locking mechanism, and when the cargo unit is in its erected configuration, the upper front wall can be (1) locked in an erected configuration associated with a fully closed state of the cargo unit, or (2) unlocked and folded outwardly and downwardly through an arc of approximately 180 ° to hang against an outer surface of the lower front wall while the lower front wall remains locked in place to partially open the cargo unit and facilitate access to the interior. In some embodiments, the rear wall is the same or substantially the same as the front wall as described above.

In some embodiments, each of the base and the walls comprises a metal frame, and one or more substantially flat planar metal sheets or plates welded or otherwise attached to the frame. The metal may be, for example, galvanized steel, and the cargo unit may have a tare weight of, for example, 70 to 100 kg, 80 to 90kg, or about 84 kg. In other embodiments, rather than including a frame in combination with a sheet or plate, one or more of the base and wall include a unitary, one-piece stamped main member that incorporates integrated structural profiles to provide strength and rigidity, and the cargo unit may have a tare weight significantly less than 80 kg.

Also disclosed herein is a dual cargo unit comprising a pair of similar individual cargo units joined back-to-back to each other, wherein each individual cargo unit is similar to one of the above-described cargo units except that it does not include a rear wall. Thus, the individual cargo units in these embodiments are engaged at their respective open sides. The individual cargo units may be joined by bridge plates, splice plates, or other structures that join together one or more of their base members, side walls, and covers, and/or by other means such as bolting adjacent portions of the base directly to one another. In some embodiments, the bases together define a generally flat floor without any significant upward projection or rim projecting upward at the junction between the bases of the individual cargo units. In some embodiments, increased rigidity and strength is provided by long narrow structural members such as steel plates, angle iron, or tubular members having, for example, a rectangular cross-section, which extend across the junction at the lid height, engage all four upper sidewall corners adjacent the junction, and provide support for the edge of the lid member adjacent the junction. The structure may have a slot or recess for receiving a downward projection of the lid handle.

In some embodiments, the integrated cover of each individual cargo unit includes a first cover member including a hinged edge hingedly attached to the first side wall and a second cover member including a hinged edge hingedly attached to the second side wall.

Also disclosed herein is a method of unloading and folding a foldable, stackable cargo unit as described above, the cargo unit having an erected configuration in which the cargo unit defines a closed interior, and a folded configuration in which the cargo unit can be compactly stored and transported, the cargo unit including a generally rectangular base having a front, a rear, and two sides, with a forklift slot on the front, rear, and each side of the base; front and rear walls extending upwardly from the base; first and second side walls extending upwardly from the base between the front and rear walls; a locking mechanism capable of holding the cargo unit in its upright configuration; and a two-piece integrated cover that is in a generally horizontal position when the cargo unit is in its upright configuration.

In some embodiments, the method may comprise:

a. opening first and second cover members by pivoting each cover member through an arc of about 270 ° about a hinge connecting the cover member to a respective one of the first and second sidewalls;

b. removing cargo from the cargo unit;

c. releasing the locking mechanism on the front wall and pivoting the front wall downward and inward through an arc of about 90 ° about the pivotable connection with the base such that the front wall rests on the base;

d. releasing the locking mechanism on the rear wall and pivoting the rear wall downwardly and inwardly through an arc of about 90 ° about a pivotable connection with the base such that the rear wall rests on the base, wherein the pivotable connection comprises an upwardly extending slot on the base that allows the pivotable connection of the rear wall with the base to move upwardly, wherein the pivot axis of the rear wall is fixed at a height that is vertically offset above the height of the front wall by a dimension equal to or about equal to the thickness of the front wall, and wherein the side walls remain upright, supported by the base corner posts;

e. pivoting a first sidewall downwardly and inwardly through an arc of about 90 ° about a pivotable connection with the base such that the first sidewall rests on the back wall, wherein a pivot axis of the first sidewall is fixed at a height that allows the first sidewall to lie flat on the back wall in a generally horizontal orientation;

f. pivoting a second sidewall downwardly and inwardly through an arc of about 90 ° about a pivotable connection with the base such that the second sidewall rests on the first sidewall, wherein a pivot axis of the second sidewall is fixed at a height that allows the second sidewall to lie flat on the first sidewall in a generally horizontal orientation; and

g. the second cover member is pivoted through an arc of about 180 ° about a hinge connecting it to the second side wall such that the second cover member rests on the first cover member rather than the second side wall, thereby reducing the height of the folded cargo unit.

In some embodiments, the method of erecting a folded cargo unit may include reversing the above steps. In some embodiments, the method of folding or erecting dual cargo units as described above may include the same methods as described above, except that the steps involving the rear wall would not be applicable, and methods involving other walls would need to be performed on each individual cargo unit.

In some embodiments involving loading or unloading of individual cargo units or dual cargo units as described above, any number of walls may be removed from the base prior to loading or unloading. This may facilitate access to the interior from one or more sides, which may be useful in some situations involving, for example, manual loading or unloading and/or use of a forklift for loading or unloading.

It is contemplated that, to the extent practicable, any number of the features described herein may be included in combination with one another in various embodiments. It is further contemplated that, to the extent practicable, any number of the features described in the above-identified U.S. patent No.8,573,427 may be included in combination with one or more of the features described herein, in various embodiments.

Drawings

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of an individual cargo unit in an upright configuration.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the individual cargo units of fig. 1 in a folded configuration.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of a dual cargo unit in an upright configuration.

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the dual cargo unit of fig. 3 in a folded configuration.

Fig. 5A is a perspective view of the individual cargo unit of fig. 1 with the cover member rotated to an open position.

Fig. 5B is a perspective view of the individual cargo unit of fig. 1 with the front wall in a folded position.

Fig. 5C is a perspective view of the individual cargo unit of fig. 1 with the rear wall in a folded position.

Fig. 5D is a perspective view of the individual cargo unit of fig. 1 with the first side wall in a folded position.

Fig. 5E is a perspective view of the individual cargo unit of fig. 1 with the second side wall in a folded position.

Fig. 5F is a perspective view of the individual cargo unit of fig. 1 in a folded configuration with the cover member of the second wall rotated to extend over the cover member of the first wall.

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of another cargo unit in an upright configuration.

Fig. 7 is a bottom plan view of the cargo unit of fig. 6.

Fig. 8 is a side, partial cross-sectional view taken along line 8-8 of fig. 7.

Fig. 9 is a rear partial sectional view taken along line 9-9 of fig. 7.

Fig. 10 is a rear view of the cargo unit of fig. 6 in a folded configuration.

Fig. 11 is a rear view of a plurality of folded cargo units in a stacked configuration.

Detailed Description

With reference to the accompanying fig. 1 and 2, there is provided a foldable, stackable cargo unit 20 having an erected configuration in which the cargo unit 20 may define a closed interior, and a folded configuration in which the cargo unit 20 may be compactly stored and transported. The cargo unit 20 includes a generally rectangular base 22 having a front 24, a rear, and two sides 26, with a fork truck slot 28 on each side, front, rear, and sides of the base; a front wall 30 and a rear wall 32 extending upwardly from the base 22; first and second side walls 34 and 36 extending upwardly from the base 22 between the front wall 30 and the rear wall 32; and an integrated cover hingedly attached to one or more of the front wall, the back wall, and the side walls.

In some embodiments, all four walls are completely removable.

In some embodiments, the integrated cover includes a first cover member 38 including a hinge edge 40 hingedly attached to the first sidewall 34 and a second cover member 42 including a hinge edge 44 hingedly attached to the second sidewall 36. In some embodiments, each of the first and second cover members 38, 42 includes a free edge 46, 48 opposite its hinged edge, wherein the first cover member 38 is larger than the second cover member 42 and the dimension between its hinged edge 40 and its free edge 46 is larger than the corresponding dimension of the second cover member 42. In some embodiments, each cover member has a first handle 50 extending outwardly on front wall 30 and a second handle 52 extending outwardly on rear wall 32 to facilitate lifting the cover to open cargo unit 20. Each handle 50 may include a downwardly projecting end that wraps down over the top of its associated front or rear wall to add strength and rigidity to the structure and/or to help retain the cover member in the closed position.

In some embodiments, each cover member is permanently attached to a side wall when the cargo unit is erected, and is pivotable through an arc of 270 ° between a substantially horizontal closed position in which the free ends of the cover members are adjacent one another, and a substantially vertical open position in which the cover members are suspended against the outer surface of their associated side wall.

In some embodiments, the front wall 30 includes a releasable locking mechanism 54 configured to lock the cargo unit 20 in an upright configuration. In some embodiments, the front wall 30 includes a lower front wall 56 and an upper front wall 58 pivotally connected thereto, wherein the lower front wall 56 includes a locking mechanism and the upper front wall 58 includes a locking mechanism, and when the cargo unit 20 is in its erected configuration, the upper front wall 58 may be (1) locked in an upright configuration associated with a fully closed state of the cargo unit, or (2) unlocked and pivoted outward and downward through an arc of approximately 180 ° to hang against an outer surface of the lower front wall 56 while the lower front wall 56 remains locked in position to partially open the cargo unit 20 and facilitate access to the interior while providing for receipt of a lower portion of the cargo. In some embodiments, the rear wall 32 is the same or substantially the same as the front wall 30 as described above.

In some embodiments, each of the base and the walls comprises a metal frame, and one or more substantially flat planar metal sheets or plates welded or otherwise attached to the frame. Each frame may include a generally rectangular perimeter, and one or more stiffeners within the perimeter. The metal may be, for example, galvanized steel, and the cargo unit may have a tare weight of, for example, 70 to 100 kg, 80 to 90kg, or about 84 kg. In other embodiments, one or more of the base and the walls comprise a unitary, one-piece stamped main member incorporating an integrated structural profile to provide strength and rigidity, rather than comprising a frame in combination with a sheet or plate, and the cargo unit may have a tare weight significantly less than 80 kg.

Fig. 3 and 4 show a double cargo unit 60 comprising a pair of similar individual cargo units 62 engaged back-to-back with each other, wherein each individual cargo unit is similar to one of the above-described cargo units except that it does not comprise a rear wall. Thus, the individual cargo units in these embodiments are engaged at their respective open sides. The individual cargo units may be joined by bridge plates, splice plates, or other structures that join together one or more of their base members, side walls, and covers, and/or by other means, such as fastening adjacent portions of the base and/or side walls directly to one another using fasteners 64, such as bolts. In some embodiments, the bases together define a generally flat floor without any significant upward projection or rim projecting upward at the junction between the bases of the individual cargo units. In some embodiments, increased rigidity and strength is provided by a long narrow removable support 66, such as a steel plate, angle steel, or tubular member having, for example, a rectangular cross-section, that extends across the junction at the lid height, joins all four upper sidewall corners adjacent the junction, and provides support for the edge of the lid member adjacent the junction. The structural member may have a slot or recess 68 for receiving the downward projection of the lid handle.

In some embodiments, the integrated cover of each individual cargo unit comprises a first cover member comprising a hinged edge hingedly attached to the first side wall and a second cover member comprising a hinged edge hingedly attached to the second side wall, wherein the edges of the cover members cover the front wall, side walls and supports 66.

Referring to fig. 5A-5F, a method of unloading and folding a foldable, stackable cargo unit as described above and changing its configuration from that shown in fig. 1 to that shown in fig. 2 may include:

a. opening the first and second cover members 38, 42 by pivoting each cover member through an arc of about 270 ° about a hinge connecting the cover member to a respective one of the first and second side walls 34, 36, as shown in fig. 53A;

b. removing cargo from the cargo unit;

c. releasing the locking mechanism 54 on the front wall 30 and pivoting the front wall 30 downward and inward through an arc of about 90 ° about the pivotable connection with the base to rest the front wall on the base 22, as shown in fig. 5B;

d. releasing the locking mechanism on the rear wall 32 and pivoting the rear wall 32 through an arc of about 90 ° downward and inward about the pivotable connection with the base such that the rear wall rests on the front wall 30, as shown in fig. 5C, with the side walls 34, 36 remaining upright, supported by the base corner posts;

e. pivoting the first side wall 34 downwardly and inwardly through an arc of about 90 ° about the pivotable connection with the base such that the first side wall rests on the rear wall 32, as shown in fig. 5D;

f. pivoting the second side wall 36 downwardly and inwardly through an arc of about 90 ° about the pivotable connection with the base such that the second side wall rests on the first cover member 38, as shown in fig. 5E; and

g. the second cover member 42 is pivoted through an arc of approximately 180 ° about the hinge connecting it to the second side wall 36 such that the second cover member 42 rests on the first cover member 38 rather than the second side wall 36, as shown in fig. 5F, thereby reducing the height of the folded cargo unit.

In some embodiments, the method of erecting and loading folded cargo units may include reversing the above steps. In some embodiments, the method of folding or erecting dual cargo units as described above may include the same methods as described above, except that the steps involving the rear wall would not be applicable, and methods involving other walls would need to be performed on each individual cargo unit.

In some embodiments involving loading or unloading of individual cargo units or dual cargo units as described above, any number of walls may be removed from the base prior to loading or unloading, and subsequently replaced. This may facilitate access to the interior from one or more sides, which may be useful in some situations involving, for example, manual loading or unloading and/or use of a forklift for loading or unloading.

The cargo units 20 may include identification components 70 that include RFID tags, barcode labels, and/or other identifiers in the slots of the base 22. This positioning provides protection from damage due to contact between the cargo units and also provides some protection from contact with the forklift tines or other potential sources of damage.

In some embodiments, the cargo unit 20 has dimensions of 1150 x 995 x 835 mm. This may help provide a "one size fits all" feature.

As will be discussed in more detail below with reference to cargo unit 100, the length of first side wall 34 (i.e., the vertical length when in the upright configuration) may be different than the length of second side wall 36. As such, the first cover member 38 may lie flat (e.g., substantially coplanar) with the first sidewall 34 when in the folded configuration to reduce the height of the stack wall.

Referring now to fig. 6, another cargo unit 100 is shown. The cargo unit 100 may be the same as the cargo unit 20 of fig. 1-5F. For example, the cargo unit 100 includes: a generally rectangular base 122 having a front 124, a rear and two sides 126, with a fork truck slot 128 on the front, rear and each side thereof; a front wall 130 and a rear wall 132 extending upwardly from the base 122; first and second side walls 134 and 136 extending upwardly from the base 122 between the front wall 130 and the rear wall 132; and an integrated cover hingedly attached to one or more of the front, rear and side walls. As discussed in more detail with respect to fig. 8, the first sidewall 134 may have a length that is shorter than a length of the second sidewall 136.

In some embodiments, all four walls are completely removable.

In some embodiments, the integrated cover includes a first cover member 138 including a hinge edge 140 hingedly attached to the first sidewall 134 and a second cover member 142 including a hinge edge 144 hingedly attached to the second sidewall 126. In some embodiments, each of the first and second cover members 138, 142 includes a free edge 146, 148 opposite its hinged edge, wherein the first cover member 138 is larger than the second cover member 142, wherein the dimension between its hinged edge 140 and its free edge 146 is larger than the corresponding dimension of the second cover member 142. In some embodiments, each cover member has a first handle 150 extending outwardly on front wall 130 and a second handle 152 extending outwardly on rear wall 132 to facilitate lifting the cover to open cargo unit 100. Each handle may include a downwardly projecting end that wraps down over the top of its associated front or rear wall to add strength and rigidity to the structure and/or to help retain the cover member in the closed position.

In some embodiments, each cover member 138, 142 is permanently attached to a side wall when the cargo unit 100 is erected, and is pivotable through an arc of 270 ° between a generally horizontal closed position in which the free ends of the cover members are adjacent one another, and a generally vertical open position in which the cover members are suspended against the outer surface of their associated side wall.

In some embodiments, the front wall 130 includes a releasable locking mechanism 154 that is capable of locking the cargo unit in an upright configuration. In some embodiments, front wall 130 includes a lower front wall 156 and an upper front wall 158 pivotally connected thereto, wherein lower front wall 156 includes a locking mechanism and upper front wall 158 includes a locking mechanism, and when cargo unit 100 is in its upright configuration, upper front wall 158 may be (1) locked in an upright configuration associated with a fully closed state of cargo unit 100, or (2) unlocked and pivoted outward and downward through an arc of approximately 180 ° to hang against an outer surface of lower front wall 156 while lower front wall 156 remains locked in place to partially open cargo unit 100 and facilitate access to the interior while providing accommodation of a lower portion of the cargo. In some embodiments, the rear wall 132 is the same or substantially the same as the front wall 130, except that it may have a different height to accommodate a vertically offset pivot axis, such that when erected, the top edges of the front and rear walls will be coplanar, while their bottom edges are at a slightly different height.

In some embodiments, each of the base and the walls comprises a metal frame, and one or more substantially flat planar metal sheets or plates welded or otherwise attached to the frame. Each frame may include a generally rectangular perimeter, and one or more stiffeners within the perimeter. The metal may be, for example, galvanized steel, and the cargo unit may have a tare weight of, for example, 70 to 100 kg, 80 to 90kg, or about 84 kg. In other embodiments, one or more of the base and the walls comprise a unitary, one-piece stamped main member incorporating an integrated structural profile to provide strength and rigidity, rather than comprising a frame in combination with a sheet or plate, and the cargo unit may have a tare weight significantly less than 80 kg.

Referring to fig. 7, the base portion 122 of the cargo unit 100 includes a lower front frame 160, a lower rear frame 162 opposite the lower front frame 160, a first lower side frame 164, and a second lower side frame 166 opposite the first lower side frame 164. The lower frame extends between the corner posts 170 of the base 122. The lower front frame 160 and the lower rear frame 162 have a common length that is longer than a common length of the first lower frame 164 and the second lower frame 166. For example, the lower front frame 160 and the lower rear frame 162 may each have a length that is about 15% longer than the length of the first and second lower frames 164 and 166. In this way, the lower frames cooperate to form a rectangular base 122. The base 122 also includes a support structure 172 extending between the lower front frame 160 and the lower rear frame 162, and a lateral support structure 174 extending between the first lower side frame 164 and the second lower side frame 166. Lateral support structure 174 may extend orthogonally relative to support structure 172. The support structures 172 and the lateral support structures 174 cooperate to support a floor 176 of the base 122.

Referring to fig. 8, the base 122 includes a first upright side portion 180 extending vertically between the first lower side frame 164 and a hinge edge 184 of the first side wall 134, and a second upright side portion 182 extending vertically between the second lower side frame 166 and a hinge edge 186 of the second side wall 136. The upright side portions 180, 182 may be fixed upright walls. For example, the upright side portions 180, 182 may be integrally formed with the base 122.

The upright side portions 180, 182 of the base 122 may have different vertical lengths. For example, as shown in fig. 8, the first upright side portion 180 extends to a first vertical height, indicated at 190, and the second upright side portion 182 extends to a second vertical height, indicated at 192, that is vertically above the first vertical height 190 (i.e., higher from the ground surface).

The first and second side walls 134, 136 may be hingedly secured to the base adjacent the first and second upright side portions 180, 182. More particularly, the hinge edge 184 of the first sidewall 134 is hingedly attached to the corner post 170 of the base 122 such that the first sidewall 134 is pivotable about the first pivot axis 194. The hinge edge 186 of the second side wall 136 is hingedly attached to the corner post 170 of the base 122 such that the second side wall 136 is pivotable about a second pivot axis 196 that is vertically offset from the first pivot axis 194. As shown, the second pivot axis 196 is vertically above (i.e., higher from the ground surface) the first pivot axis 194.

As discussed, the first and second sidewalls 134, 136 may have different lengths. As used herein, the length of the side wall refers to the vertical dimension when the side wall is in the upright position, and the horizontal dimension when the side wall is in the collapsed position. As shown, the first sidewall 134 may have a length, indicated at 200, that is greater than a length, indicated at 202, of the second sidewall 136.

As such, the vertical height 190 of the first upright side portion 180 and the length 200 of the first side wall 134 combine to form a combined length 204 of the first side of the cargo unit 100, and the vertical height 192 of the second upright side portion 182 and the length 202 of the second side wall 136 combine to form a combined length 206 of the second side of the cargo unit 100, such that the first combined length 204 is substantially the same as the second combined length 206. In this way, the two sides 126 of the cargo unit 100 extend to a substantially common height.

Referring to fig. 9, the front wall 130 has a length 210 that is substantially the same as a length 212 of the rear wall 132.

The cargo unit 100 may be folded into the folded configuration shown in fig. 10 in a manner similar to that discussed with respect to fig. 5A-5F. For example, a user may pivot each of the first and second cover members 138, 142 through an arc of about 270 ° about a hinge connecting it to a respective one of the first and second side walls 134, 136. With the first and second cover members 138, 142 vertically positioned along the first and second side walls 134, 136 (similar to the configuration shown in fig. 5A), the operator may remove cargo from the cargo unit 100.

The user may then release the locking mechanism 154 on the front wall 130 and may pivot the front wall 130 downward and inward through an arc of about 90 ° about the pivotable connection with the base 122 so that the front wall rests on the base 22 (similar to the configuration shown in fig. 5B).

The user may then release the locking mechanism 154 on the rear wall 132 and may pivot the rear wall 132 downwardly and inwardly through an arc of about 90 ° about the pivotable connection with the base 122 so that the rear wall rests on the front wall 130 with the side walls 134, 136 remaining upright, supported by the base corner posts (similar to the configuration shown in fig. 5C).

The user may then pivot the first side wall 134 downward and inward through an arc of about 90 ° about the pivotable connection with the base such that the first side wall rests on the rear wall 132 (similar to the configuration shown in fig. 5D), and may then pivot the second side wall 136 downward and inward through an arc of about 90 ° about the pivotable connection with the base 122 such that the second side wall rests on the first cover member 138 (similar to the configuration shown in fig. 5E).

To reduce the height of the cargo unit 100 in the folded configuration, the user may pivot the second cover member 142 through an arc of approximately 180 ° about the hinge connecting the second cover member 142 to the second side wall 136 such that the second cover member 42 rests on the first cover member 138 instead of the second side wall 136.

As such, and as shown in fig. 10, in the folded configuration, the front wall 130 contacts and is supported by the floor 176 of the base 122, and the rear wall 132 contacts and is supported by the front wall 130. The first side wall 134 contacts and is supported by the rear wall 132, with the first cover member 138 folded over and supported by the first side wall 134. The distal end 220 of the second side wall 136 contacts and is supported by the first cover member 138 with the proximal end 222 spaced from the rear wall 132. The second cover member 142 rotates such that it contacts and is supported by the first cover member 138. As shown, the combined length of the second side wall 136 and the second cover member 142 corresponds to or is less than the interior dimension (e.g., interior length) of the cargo unit 100. In this way, the second sidewall 136 and the second cover member 142 may be at least partially coplanar without interfering with opposing surfaces such as the post 170. In another approach, the combined length of the second side wall 136 and the second cover member 142 may exceed the interior dimension (e.g., interior length) of the cargo unit 100. In this approach, the second cover member 142 may be sized to pass between the posts 170 so as not to interfere with the planar orientation of the second cover member 142.

According to one aspect, the combined length of the first side wall 132 and the first cover member 138 may exceed the interior dimension (e.g., interior length) of the cargo unit 100. According to another aspect, the combined length of the first side wall 132 and the first cover member 138 may exceed the interior dimension (e.g., interior length) of the cargo unit 100.

In this way, the folding of the front wall 130, the rear wall 132, the first side wall 134, the first cover member 138, and the second side wall 136 with the second cover member 142 deployed therefrom provides a compact folded configuration of the cargo unit 100. More particularly, the height of the stacked walls and cover member reduces the thickness of the second cover member 142, which may be, for example, about 26 mm. This compact configuration allows for compact stacking of multiple cargo units 100.

For example, referring to fig. 11, a plurality of cargo units 100, 100' may be stacked. In the stacked configuration, the lower frame structure of the upper cargo unit 100' is spaced apart (e.g., vertically spaced apart) from the walls and covers of the stack of the lower cargo unit 100. More particularly, the lower rear frame 162' of the base portion 122' of the upper cargo unit 100' is spaced from the second side wall 136 and the second cover member 142 of the lower cargo unit 100. In the stacked configuration, the upper portion 230 of the corner post 170 of the lower cargo unit 100 may receive (or may be received within) the receiving portion 232' of the lower portion 234' of the upper cargo unit 100 '.

From the above, it should be appreciated that a complete metal cargo unit is described and illustrated herein having 4 fully removable doors, an integrated cover that folds with associated walls, and a foldable half door with latches that can be returned in one unit and individually and uniquely identified and tracked. In some embodiments, the cargo units can provide maximum capacity utilization within trucks, trailers, railcars, and ISO 40ft containers (e.g., one size fits all).

It is contemplated that, to the extent practicable, any number of the features described herein may be included in combination with one another in various embodiments. It is further contemplated that, to the extent practicable, any number of the features described in the above-identified U.S. patent No.8,573,427 may be included in combination with one or more of the features described herein, in various embodiments.

The present disclosure describes embodiments and examples of cargo units and related methods of use and operation. Terms such as front, back, side, vertical, horizontal, up, down, and the like are descriptive of the drawings presented herein.

Those skilled in the art will recognize that a wide variety of modifications, alterations, and combinations can be made with respect to the above described embodiments without departing from the scope of the invention as set forth in the claims, and that such modifications, alterations, and combinations are to be viewed as being within the ambit of the inventive concept. Further, it is to be understood that features of one embodiment described herein may be combined with features of other embodiments described herein to provide yet further embodiments, as desired.