Modular cargo container

Abstract

A modular cargo container ( 100 ), which facilitates ease of assembly and disassembly and facile repair and replacement of damaged panels ( 3, 5 ). The container comprises a standard pallet ( 1 ) having a peripheral recess ( 25 ), and wall panels having a rock-in apparatus ( 31 ) for mating engagement into the pallet recess. A roof panel ( 11 ) secured to each of the wall panels ( 3, 5 ) serves to add structural stability to the container walls. In order to be better accommodated into an aircraft lower or middle deck hold, one or more wall panels ( 3, 5 ) arc suitably contoured.

1 . A cargo container which includes: 
 a polygonal, rigid base member, configured so as to accommodate rock-in type fastening apparatus along the periphery thereof;    a plurality of wall portions, each having rock-in fastening apparatus formed along a predetermined edge portion thereof, arranged for mating engagement with said base member so as to become secured thereto, and further arranged to define a container volume together with said base member; and    apparatus for fastening said plurality of wall portions to each other.    
   
   
       2 . A cargo container according to  claim 1 , wherein said rock-in type fastening apparatus has a planar portion, fixably attached to said predetermined edge portion, and a toe-portion disposed perpendicularly to said planar portion and extending in operative orientation sideways in cross-section, and wherein said toe-portion is inserted with a rock-in motion of said wall portion into a peripheral seat track disposed in the topmost plane of said rigid base member, said peripheral seat track being defined in cross-section as a recess having a first edge member and a second edge member partially overlapping said recess, and wherein said toe-portion underlies and engages said first edge member to become secured thereto.  
   
   
       3 . A cargo container according to  claim 2 , wherein said rock-in type fastening apparatus is configured with a planar portion, a curved concave portion and a toe portion.  
   
   
       4 . A cargo container according to  claim 1 , wherein said apparatus for fastening said plurality of wall portions to each other includes a roof portion which is secured to said wall portions, thereby to provide additional structural stability thereto.  
   
   
       5 . A cargo container according to  claim 1 , wherein said wall portions are arranged to provide an opening to enable loading of cargo into said container volume.  
   
   
       6 . A cargo container according to  claim 5 , wherein said opening is closed with a covering fixably attached to a container portion, said covering selected from the list of a flexible covering and a rigid covering.  
   
   
       7 . A cargo container according to  claim 1 , wherein said predetermined edge portion arranged for mating engagement with said base member, includes a sealing device located between said edge portion and said base member.  
   
   
       8 . A cargo container according to  claim 1 , wherein each of said wall portions includes a covering member fixably attached to a frame member.  
   
   
       9 . A cargo container according to  claim 8 , wherein said covering member and said frame member are fabricated from a material selected from the list of aluminum, steel, a metal alloy, a plastic substance, foam plastic, reinforced plastic, wood, and laminated composites thereof.  
   
   
       10 . A cargo container according to  claim 1  wherein said polygonal, rigid base member is a rectangular, rigid base member.  
   
   
       11 . A cargo container according to  claim 1 , wherein wall portions may fit all types and sizes of contourar, rectangular, igloo shaped & other containers. (at least one of said wall portions is configured with at least two planar surfaces to form a predetermined contoured shape.)  
   
   
       12 . (A cargo container according to  claim 11 , wherein said at least two planar surfaces are fixably connected by means of a hinge device to form a variable shape).