Removable roof for cargo container

Abstract

A shipping container ( 20 ) includes a floor ( 40 ) and opposite side walls ( 42, 44 ), with each side wall including a panel supporting element ( 68, 70 ) at or near an upper region of the side, wall for supporting a plurality of removable rigid cover panels ( 30 ). Each cover panel ( 30 ) has opposite side edges ( 60, 66 ) and first and second ends ( 56, 58 ). The panel supporting elements of the side walls are configured to at least partially receive the side edges of the cover panels to support the cover panels at the upper region of the side walls. The cover panels are configured to be removably supported at the panel supporting elements in adjacent relationship, whereby the first end ( 56 ) of at least one of the cover panels engages the second end ( 58 ) of another of the cover panels.

1 . A shipping container for cargo ships and trailer trucks, said shipping container comprising:
 a floor;   opposite side walls, each of said side walls comprising a panel supporting element at or near an upper region of said side wall;   a plurality of removable rigid cover panels, each of said cover panels having opposite side edges and first and second ends; and   wherein said panel supporting elements of said side walls are configured to at least partially receive said side edges of said cover panels to horizontally support said cover panels at said upper region of said side walls, said cover panels being configured to be removably supported at said panel supporting elements in adjacent relationship, whereby said first end of at least one of said cover panels engages said second end of another of said cover panels, wherein said panel supporting elements comprise opposed tracks affixed to respective ones of said side walls, and wherein said side edges of said cover panels of each of said cover panels are removably received in respective ones of said tracks.   
   
   
       2 . The shipping container of  claim 1  further comprising a removable cover assembly, said removable cover assembly comprising a plurality of support members and at least one flexible cover member, wherein said support members are configured to be removably extended between said opposite side walls, and wherein said flexible cover member is removably disposed over said support members when said support members are extended between said opposite side walls. 
   
   
       3 . The shipping container of  claim 2 , wherein said removable cover assembly and said side walls are configured such that said removable cover assembly is installed above said removable cover panels. 
   
   
       4 . (canceled) 
   
   
       5 . The shipping container of  claim 1 , wherein each of said opposed tracks is affixed to a plurality of brackets, each said bracket being removably mounted to respective ones of said side walls. 
   
   
       6 . The shipping container of  claim 1  further comprising a first end track at an end wall at a first end of said shipping container, and wherein said removable cover panels include a first end cover panel, and wherein said first end of said first end cover panel is configured to be received at least partially in said first end track. 
   
   
       7 . The shipping container of  claim 6  further comprising a second end track at a second end of said shipping container, said second end being opposite said first end, said removable cover panels including a second end cover panel, said second end of said second end cover panel being configured to be received at least partially in said second end track. 
   
   
       8 . The shipping container of  claim 7 , wherein said second end track is movably mounted at said second end of said shipping container and is movable between an open position, where said tracks of said side walls are open for receiving said side edges of said cover panels at least partially therein, and a closed position, where said tracks of said side walls are at least partially restricted whereby insertion of and removal of said cover panels into said tracks of said side walls is substantially limited. 
   
   
       9 . The shipping container of  claim 8  further comprising a door assembly at said second end of said shipping container, said door assembly comprising a door panel and a door beam extending between said opposite side walls and generally above said door panel, said door beam including said second end track. 
   
   
       10 . The shipping container of  claim 9 , wherein said tracks of said side walls comprise elongated channel members that are configured to slidingly receive said side edges of said cover panels. 
   
   
       11 . The shipping container of  claim 10 , wherein said channel members comprise substantially C-shaped channel members. 
   
   
       12 . The shipping container of  claim 1 , wherein said tracks each include a water conduit, said water conduit adapted to divert water away from an interior of said shipping container. 
   
   
       13 . The shipping container of  claim 1 , wherein said first end of at least one of said cover panels engages said second end of an adjacent one of said cover panels in an overlapping relationship. 
   
   
       14 . The shipping container of  claim 1 , wherein said first end of at least one of said cover panels engages said second end of an adjacent one of said cover panels in an interlocking relationship. 
   
   
       15 . The shipping container of  claim 1 , wherein said first and second ends of adjacent ones of said cover panels are removably secured together using at least one fastener. 
   
   
       16 . The shipping container of  claim 1 , wherein said cover panels comprise a corrugated metallic material. 
   
   
       17 . The shipping container of  claim 16 , wherein said cover panels include a protective coating. 
   
   
       18 . A method of selectively covering a shipping container for cargo ships and trailer trucks, said method comprising:
 providing a shipping container, said shipping container including a floor, opposite side walls, and first and second ends;   providing side panel supporting elements along said side walls, said side panel supporting elements comprising opposed tracks affixed to respective ones of said side walls at or near an upper region of said side walls;   providing a plurality of removable rigid cover panels, each of said cover panels having first and second side edges and first and second ends, said cover panels configured to be removably supported by said side panel supporting elements in adjacent relationship;   inserting a first cover panel along said side panel supporting elements such that said side panel supporting elements at least partially receive said first and second side edges of said first cover panel;   inserting a second cover panel along said side panel supporting elements such that said side panel supporting elements at least partially receive said first and second side edges of said second cover panel; and   moving said cover panels along said side panel supporting elements until said first end of said second cover panel engages said second end of said first cover panel, such that said cover panels are supported by said side panel supporting elements in adjacent relationship.   
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein moving said cover panels comprises moving said first cover panel until said first end of said first cover panel engages an end panel supporting element at said first end of said shipping container. 
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 19  further comprising inserting a plurality of cover panels until said cover panels substantially cover and close over the top of said shipping container, said plurality of cover panels including an end cover panel at said second end of said shipping container. 
   
   
       21 . The method of  claim 18  further comprising:
 providing a removable flexible cover assembly, said removable flexible cover assembly comprising a plurality of support members and at least one flexible cover member;   extending said support members between said opposite side walls of said shipping container; and   disposing said flexible cover over said support members when said support members are extended between said opposite side walls.   
   
   
       22 . The method of  claim 18  further comprising:
 providing a movable header element between said opposite side walls and proximate an upper region of said second end of said shipping container;   before inserting said first cover panel, moving said header element into an open position such that said side panel supporting elements are adapted to receive said side edges of said cover panels as said cover panels are inserted along said side panel supporting elements; and   after inserting said cover panels, moving said header element into a closed position to limit retraction of said cover panels from said side panel supporting elements.   
   
   
       23 . The method of  claim 22  further comprising inserting a plurality of cover panels until said cover panels substantially cover and close over the top of said shipping container, said plurality of cover panels including an end cover panel at said second end of said shipping container. 
   
   
       24 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein moving said header element into a closed position comprises moving said header element such that a header panel supporting element engages said second end of said end cover panel to limit retraction of said cover panels from said side panel supporting elements. 
   
   
       25 . The method of  claim 18  further comprising uncovering said shipping container. 
   
   
       26 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein uncovering said shipping container comprises:
 moving said cover panels along said side panel supporting elements and removing said cover panels from said side supporting elements.   
   
   
       27 . The method of  claim 26  further comprising:
 providing a movable header element between said opposite side walls and proximate an upper region of said second end of said shipping container; and   before removing said cover panels from said side supporting elements, moving said header element to an open position such that said panel supporting elements and said cover panels are readily accessible.   
   
   
       28 . The method of  claim 27 , further comprising, after removing said cover panels from said side supporting elements, moving said header element to a closed position.