Shipping container

Abstract

A shipping container includes a shipping base housing. An accessory unit cradle is within the shipping base housing. The accessory unit cradle is configured to support an accessory unit within the container. A winch assembly is affixed to the shipping base housing and has at least one attachment cable configured for selective attachment to a transport vehicle. The winch is configured to wind the at least one attachment cable to hoist the shipping base housing and the accessory unit into a predetermined position for mounting the accessory unit to the transport vehicle.

1 . A shipping container comprising:
 a shipping base housing;   an accessory unit cradle within the shipping base housing, the accessory unit cradle being configured to support an accessory unit within the container; and   a winch assembly affixed to the shipping base housing and having at least one attachment cable configured for selective attachment to a transport vehicle, the winch assembly being configured to wind the at least one attachment cable to hoist the shipping base housing and the accessory unit into a predetermined position for mounting the accessory unit to the transport vehicle.   
   
   
       2 . The shipping container of  claim 1 , further comprising a shipping cover housing configured to substantially enclose the accessory unit cooperatively with the shipping base housing. 
   
   
       3 . The shipping container of  claim 2 , further comprising at least one shipping housing fastener selectively configured to attach the shipping base housing and the shipping cover housing. 
   
   
       4 . The shipping container of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one container wheel attached to the shipping base housing and configured to provide rolling support for transporting the shipping container to the transport vehicle. 
   
   
       5 . The shipping container of  claim 1 , wherein the winch assembly is manually powered. 
   
   
       6 . The shipping container of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one winch motor configured to provide power to the winch assembly. 
   
   
       7 . The shipping container of  claim 1 , wherein the accessory unit is at least one of an engine, a fuel tank, a cargo container, and an air defense pod. 
   
   
       8 . The shipping container of  claim 1 , wherein the accessory unit cradle includes at least one shock-absorbing mounting. 
   
   
       9 . The shipping container of  claim 1 , further comprising a leveling/tilt system configured to position the accessory unit in a predetermined angular orientation with respect to the transport vehicle. 
   
   
       10 . The shipping container of  claim 1 , the winch assembly being configured to unwind the at least one attachment cable to lower the shipping base housing from the transport vehicle and the accessory unit mounted to the transport vehicle. 
   
   
       11 . The shipping container of  claim 1 , the winch assembly comprising a first winch device positioned at a first end of the shipping base housing and a second winch device positioned at a second end of the shipping base housing. 
   
   
       12 . A shipping container for housing an accessory unit mountable to a transport vehicle, the shipping container comprising:
 means for housing the accessory unit;   means for supporting the accessory unit within the means for housing; and   means for hoisting the means for housing and the accessory unit into a predetermined position for mounting the accessory unit to the transport vehicle.   
   
   
       13 . The shipping container of  claim 12 , further comprising means for enclosing the accessory unit within the shipping container and means for fastening the means for enclosing to the means for housing. 
   
   
       14 . The shipping container of  claim 12 , wherein the means for housing further comprising means for transporting the means for housing to the transport vehicle. 
   
   
       15 . The shipping container of  claim 12 , further comprising means for positioning the accessory unit in a predetermined angular orientation with respect to the transport vehicle. 
   
   
       16 . The shipping container of  claim 12 , wherein the means for hoisting comprises a first means for hoisting positioned at a first end of the means for housing and a second means for hoisting positioned at a second end of the means for housing. 
   
   
       17 . A method of installing an accessory unit on a transport vehicle, the method comprising:
 transporting to the transport vehicle the accessory unit in a shipping container that includes a shipping base housing, an accessory unit cradle within the shipping base housing and a winch assembly having at least one attachment cable, the winch assembly being affixed to the shipping base housing;   positioning the shipping container at a desired installation area of the transport vehicle;   connecting at least one attachment cable to the transport vehicle;   actuating the winch assembly to wind the at least one attachment cable about the winch assembly lifting the shipping base housing and the accessory unit to position the accessory unit for attaching to the transport vehicle;   attaching the accessory unit to the transport vehicle;   actuating the winch assembly to unwind the at least one attachment cable from the winch assembly lowering the shipping base housing from the transport vehicle; and   disconnecting the attachment cable from the transport vehicle.   
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising removing the shipping cover housing from the shipping base housing prior to connecting the at least one attachment cable to the transport vehicle, the shipping cover housing configured to substantially enclose the accessory unit. 
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the actuating the winch assembly to wind the at least one attachment cable comprising concurrently winding a first winch device positioned at a first end of the shipping base housing and a second winch device positioned as a second end of the shipping base housing. 
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising:
 positioning the accessory unit on the accessory unit cradle;   enclosing the accessory unit with a shipping cover housing configured to substantially enclose the accessory unit within the shipping container;   attaching the shipping cover housing to the shipping base housing; and   shipping the shipping container to a remote location for attaching the accessory unit to the transport vehicle.