ISO fittings for composite structures

Abstract

An apparatus and method are disclosed for removably attaching an ISO corner fitting to a composite material shipping container. The apparatus and method of the invention comprises a post that is anchored in the composite material frame of the container. The ISO corner fitting is then attached to the post using a connector assembly that may be engaged and disengaged as needed to attach and detach the ISO corner fitting from the post. The post has a plurality of grooves formed thereon that help hold the post in the composite material of the shipping container. The grooves transfer any tension or compression loads that are applied to the ISO corner fitting directly to the shipping container.

1 . An apparatus for releasably attaching a non-composite material structure to a composite material structure, comprising: 
 a post embedded in the composite material structure such that one end of the post remains exposed relative to the composite material structure; and    a connector assembly having a first component connected to the non-composite material structure and a second component connected to the post, wherein the non-composite material structure may be attached to and detached from the post by engaging and disengaging the first component and the second component of the connector assembly.    
   
   
       2 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein at least one side of the post is substantially flatter than the other sides of the post.  
   
   
       3 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the connector assembly is a dovetail joint.  
   
   
       4 . The apparatus according to  claim 3 , wherein the dovetail joint has guides that are oriented at an angle off of an axis running parallel to a length of the composite material structure.  
   
   
       5 . The apparatus according to  claim 3 , wherein adjacent dovetail joints have guides that are oriented at right angles to each other.  
   
   
       6 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the composite material is a pultruded material including fiberglass and carbon fiber reinforced materials.  
   
   
       7 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the post has a plurality of grooves formed thereon for holding the post in the composite material structure.  
   
   
       8 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the post is tapered in order to hold the post in the composite material structure.  
   
   
       9 . An apparatus for attaching a non-composite material structure to a composite material structure, comprising: 
 a post embedded in the composite material structure such that one end of the post remains exposed relative to the composite material structure; and    a connector assembly having a first component connected to the non-composite material structure and a second component connected to the post, wherein the non-composite material structure may be attached to the post by engaging the first component and the second component of the connector assembly.