Connectors for assembling shipping containers

Abstract

A series of connectors for connecting panels of a shipping crate or box together. The invention will allow the user to make a box from a kit. A set of uniquely shaped corner pieces that will accommodate the sides, top and bottom of the structure will be used and provide the framework for the finished product. Because of these corner pieces the finished crate or box will be as strong as a box that is made by a skilled carpenter. Intermediate reinforcement pieces are also disclosed.

1 . A shipping container for transporting cargo, the shipping container comprising:
 a plurality of side panels;   at least one of a top panel and a bottom panel;   at least one corner connector assembly interconnecting two side panels of the plurality of side panels and the at least one of the top panel and the bottom panel, the at least one corner connector assembly including a pair of coupling members oriented in a predetermined relation to each other, each coupling member including:
 a first sidewall oriented so as to be parallel to a corresponding one of the two side panels being interconnected, 
 a top sidewall oriented so as to be parallel to and support a corner section of the at least one of the top panel and bottom panel, 
 a barrier wall connected to the top sidewall extending away from the top sidewall, and 
 interior sidewall positioned between the first sidewall and the barrier wall, the interior sidewall being oriented so as to be parallel to the first sidewall, the first sidewall and the interior sidewall defining a channel that receives a corner section of the corresponding side panel; and 
   a plurality of fasteners securing the at least one corner connector to the two side panels and the at least one of the top panel and the bottom panel so as to retain the two side panels and the at least one of the top panel and the bottom panel in a predetermined relation relative to each other, at least a first fastener of the plurality of fasteners being positioned such that a portion of the first fastener passing through the at least one corner connector extends into a space defined at least by the second sidewall and the interior sidewall,   wherein at least the barrier wall is operable to shield the cargo from contact with the first fastener.   
     
     
         2 . A shipping container for transporting cargo, the shipping container comprising:
 a plurality of side panels;   at least one of a top panel and a bottom panel;   at least one edge connector interconnecting a side panel of the plurality of side panels and the at least one of the top panel and the bottom panel, the at least one edge connector including:
 a first sidewall constructed so as to be parallel to the side panel, 
 a second sidewall constructed so as to be parallel to and support an edge section of the at least one of the top panel and the bottom panel, 
 a barrier wall connected to the second sidewall and extending away from the at least one of the top panel and the bottom panel, and 
 a first interior sidewall positioned between the first sidewall and the barrier wall, the interior sidewall being constructed so as to be parallel to the first sidewall, the first sidewall and the interior sidewall defining a channel that receives an edge section of the side panel; 
   at least one fastener securing the at least one edge connector to the side panel and the at least one of the top panel and the bottom panel so as to retain the side panel and the at least one of the top panel and the bottom panel in a predetermined relation, at least a first fastener of the at least one fastener being positioned such that a portion of the first fastener passing through the at least one edge connector extends into a space defined at least by the barrier wall and the interior sidewall,   wherein at least the barrier wall is operable to shield the cargo from contact with the first fastener.   
     
     
         3 . An edge connector for use in constructing a shipping container that includes a plurality of side panels, at least one of a top panel and a bottom panel, and a plurality of fasteners, the edge connector being operable to interconnect a side panel of the plurality of side panels and the at least one of the top panel and the bottom panel, the edge connector comprising:
 a first exterior side member;   a second exterior side member oriented non-parallel to the first exterior side member and constructed so as to support an edge section of the at least one of the top panel and the bottom panel, the second exterior side member defining a first surface and a second surface, the first surface of the second exterior side member being operable to contact the edge section of the at least one of the top panel and the bottom panel when the edge section of the at least one of the top panel and the bottom panel is placed upon the second exterior side member;   a third exterior side member connected to the second exterior side member and extending in a direction generally opposite the first surface of the second exterior side member; and   an interior side member positioned between the first exterior side member and the third exterior side member, the interior side member being substantially parallel to the first exterior side member, the first exterior side member and the interior side member defining a channel that is operable to receive an edge section of the side panel;   wherein at least the third exterior side member and the interior side member define a space operable to receive and contain an end portion of a fastener passing through at least one of the interior side member and the second exterior side member such that the end portion of the fastener does not pass through the third exterior side member.