Frame container and method of loading semi-trailer chassis into a frame container

Abstract

A frame container for shipping chassis includes a base frame and corner posts. The base frame includes two bottom side beams each extending in a longitudinal direction between two corner posts and beams extending between two bottom side beams in a direction that is perpendicular to the bottom side beams. Each bottom side beam includes an upper surface and a lower surface extending in the longitudinal direction between the two corner posts and a locking hole defined between the upper and lower surfaces for receiving a twist lock of a chassis.

1 . A frame container for shipping chassis, comprising:
 a base frame and corner posts, the base frame including two bottom side beams each extending in a longitudinal direction between two corner posts, and beams extending between two bottom side beams in a direction that is perpendicular to the bottom side beams,   wherein each bottom side beam includes an upper surface and a lower surface extending in the longitudinal direction between the two corner posts and a locking hole defined between the upper and lower surfaces for receiving a twist lock of a chassis.   
   
   
       2 . A frame container of  claim 1 , wherein the locking hole includes an opening facing upward in a direction parallel to the corner post. 
   
   
       3 . A frame container of  claim 1 , further comprising a beam attached to two corner posts at two ends and extending in a direction parallel to the beams extending between the two bottom side beams. 
   
   
       4 . A frame container of  claim 3 , wherein the beam attached to the two corner posts is attached to the two corner posts at a height adapted to support a gooseneck beam of a second chassis loaded in the frame container, with a first chassis being loaded in an inverted manner on the base frame of the container and wheels of the first chassis placed adjacent a first end of the base frame, and the second chassis being loaded in a non-inverted manner on the first chassis and wheels of the second chassis placed adjacent a second end of the base frame. 
   
   
       5 . A frame container of  claim 3 , further comprising reinforcing structures attached to the beam attached to the corner posts and the corner posts. 
   
   
       6 . A frame container of  claim 1 , further comprising reinforcing structures attached to the corner posts. 
   
   
       7 . A frame container of  claim 1 , wherein the container is configured to receive:
 a first semi-trailer chassis in an inverted manner on the base frame of the container, wherein wheels of the first semi-trailer chassis is adjacent a first end of the base frame;   a second semi-trailer chassis in a non-inverted manner on the first semi-trailer chassis, wherein wheels of the second semi-trailer chassis is adjacent a second end of the base frame of the container;   a third semi-trailer chassis in an inverted manner on the second semi-trailer chassis, wherein the wheels of the third semi-trailer chassis is adjacent the first end of the base frame of the container; and   a fourth semi-trailer chassis in a non-inverted manner on the third semi-trailer chassis, wherein wheels of the fourth semi-trailer chassis is adjacent the second end of the base frame of the container.   
   
   
       8 . A frame container of  claim 7 , wherein the container has a height that is not less than the height of the four stacked chassis. 
   
   
       9 . A frame container of  claim 1 , wherein the side beams each has a cross-section, which has a shape selected from a group consisting of an I-shape, a channel shape, and a rectangular shape. 
   
   
       10 . A frame container for shipping chassis comprising:
 a base frame and corner posts, the base frame having two side beams extending in a longitudinal direction between two corner posts, two end beams extending between the two side beams, a middle beam between the two side beams, and beams extending between the middle beam and a side beam,   wherein each side beam includes an upper surface and a lower surface extending in the longitudinal direction between two corner posts and a locking hole defined between the upper and lower surfaces for receiving a twist lock of a chassis.   
   
   
       11 . A frame container of  claim 10 , wherein the locking hole includes an opening facing upward in a direction parallel to the corner post. 
   
   
       12 . A frame container of  claim 10 , further comprising a beam attached to two corner posts at two ends and extending in a direction parallel to the end beams. 
   
   
       13 . A frame container of  claim 12 , wherein the beam attached to the two corner posts is attached to the two corner posts at a height adapted to support a gooseneck beam of a second chassis loaded in the frame container, with a first chassis being loaded in an inverted manner on the base frame of the container and wheels of the first chassis placed adjacent a first end of the base frame, and the second chassis being loaded in a non-inverted manner on the first chassis and wheels of the second chassis placed adjacent a second end of the base frame. 
   
   
       14 . A frame container of  claim 13 , further comprising reinforcing structures attached to the beam attached to the corner posts and the corner posts. 
   
   
       15 . A frame container of  claim 10 , further comprising reinforcing structures attached to the corner posts. 
   
   
       16 . A frame container of  claim 10 , wherein the container is configured to receive:
 a first semi-trailer chassis in an inverted manner on the base frame of the container, wherein wheels of the first semi-trailer chassis is adjacent a first end of the base frame;   a second semi-trailer chassis in a non-inverted manner on the first semi-trailer chassis, wherein wheels of the second semi-trailer chassis is adjacent a second end of the base frame of the container;   a third semi-trailer chassis in an inverted manner on the second semi-trailer chassis, wherein the wheels of the third semi-trailer chassis is adjacent the first end of the base frame of the container; and   a fourth semi-trailer chassis in a non-inverted manner on the third semi-trailer chassis, wherein wheels of the fourth semi-trailer chassis is adjacent the second end of the base frame of the container.   
   
   
       17 . A frame container of  claim 16 , wherein the container has a height that is not less than the height of the four stacked chassis. 
   
   
       18 . A frame container of  claim 10 , wherein the side beams each has a cross-section, which has a shape selected from a group consisting of an I-shape, a channel shape, and a rectangular shape.