Door Converter Assembly For Storage Containers

Abstract

An assembly of a frame and doors with a lifting device to position the assembly in an open end of a storage container for conversion to access from opposing ends, the frame including side plates and end plates that abut respective side walls and end edges of end of the storage container from which an end panel is removed, and the lifting device attached to the assembly to hold the assembly in the end while rigidly connecting the assembly to the storage container. A method of converting a storage container for dual opposing access is disclosed.

1 . A door converter apparatus for providing dual access from opposing ends of a box storage container having an end from which a closing panel has been removed and an opposing end having a selectively openable door, comprising:
 a mounting frame having two opposing vertical members and two opposing horizontal members;   at least one door hingedly attached to a respective one of the vertical members; and   means for selectively locking the door in a plane defined by the mounting frame for shipment and installation of the door converter apparatus in an end of a box storage container from which an end panel has been removed, wherein, the mounting frame being fixably secured thereto, provides a selectively operable door in the end of the storage container from which the end panel was removed.   
     
     
         2 . The door converter apparatus as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the members in the mounting frame have an end plate and a side plate, wherein the end plates of the mounting frame bear against a distal edge of the end of the storage container and the side plates abut against an inside surface of the open end of the storage container. 
     
     
         3 . The door converter apparatus as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising means for selectively locking the door from pivoting on the hinge. 
     
     
         4 . A method of converting a box storage container having an end closed by an end panel and an opposing end having at least one selectably openable door to a dual access container for selective entry from opposing ends, comprising the steps of
 (a) removing an end panel of a closed end of a box storage container to define an open end thereof having free distal edge portions about a perimeter of the open end;   (b) providing a door converter apparatus having a frame made of elongated members and with at least one hingedly attached door;   (c) positioning the door converter apparatus within the open end of the box storage container with the elongated members contacting against a respective one of the free distal edge portions of the open end of the box storage container; and   (d) fastening the elongated members to the free distal edge portions, wherein the door converter assembly, fastened to the open end of the box storage container, provides a selectively openable and closeable door for the formerly closed end of the box storage container.   
     
     
         5 . The method of converting as recited in  claim 4 , wherein the step (c) of positioning comprises aligning a side plate of each of the members against an inner edge of the open end and an end plate of each of the members against an end edge of the open end. 
     
     
         6 . The method of converting as recited in  claim 4 , wherein the step (c) positioning further comprises the steps of:
 attaching the door converter apparatus to a lifting frame; and   moving the lifting frame with the attached door converter apparatus into alignment with the open end of the box storage container.   
     
     
         7 . The method of converting as recited in  claim 6 , wherein the step of attaching comprises the steps placing the lifting frame onto the door converter apparatus and moving each of a plurality of connectors from a disengaged position relative to the door converter apparatus to an engaged position relative to the door converter apparatus. 
     
     
         8 . The method of converting as recited in  claim 7 , wherein the step moving the connectors comprises rotating a knob to move a hook from a first position to a second position engaging a portion of the door converter apparatus. 
     
     
         9 . A lifting frame for picking up and installing a door converter apparatus in an end of a box storage container from which an end panel has been removed opposing a second end having selectively openable doors for providing dual access from opposing ends to the box storage container, comprising:
 a support frame having two opposing side members, a bottom member and an opposing top member rigidly joined together;   a pair of intermediate members attached transverse to the two opposing side members;   a pair of U-shaped forklift pockets attached to a first one of the transverse members;   a second pair of forklift pockets attached to and extending from the top member;   two pairs of connectors, each pair attached to a respective one of the transverse members and selectively moveable from a first position for engaging a portion of the door converter assembly and a second position securing the door converter assembly to the lifting device; and   two opposing legs pivotally attached to the side members and moveable from a folded position and an erect position extending outwardly from the side member,   wherein the lifting assembly, being connected to a door converter assembly by the moveable hooks holds the door converter assembly in an open end of a box storage container for installation or with the pivotable legs moved to the extended position supporting the door converter assembly in a standing position for installation in an open end of a box storage container.   
     
     
         10 . A method of installing a door converter assembly in an open end of a box storage container from which an end panel has been removed opposing a second end having at least one selectively openable door, to provide dual access from opposing ends of the box storage container, comprising the steps of
 (a) providing a door converter assembly comprising:
 a mounting frame; and 
 a pair of doors hingedly attached in opposing relation to the mounting frame; 
   (b) attaching a lifting frame to the door converter assembly;   (c) raising the lifting frame and the attached door converter assembly and inserting the door converter assembly into an open end of a box storage container;   (d) rigidly connecting the mounting frame of the door converter assembly to the box storage container; and   (e) detaching the lifting frame from the door converter assembly,   whereby the door converter assembly with the mounting frame being rigidly connected to the box storage container, provides a selectively operable door in the end of the storage container from which the end panel was removed.   
     
     
         11 . The method as recited in  claim 10 , wherein step (b) further comprises moving a plurality of first connectors attached in spaced-apart relation to the support frame from a first position for positioning the lifting frame and the door converter assembly together and a second position securing the door converter assembly to the lifting frame. 
     
     
         12 . The method as recited in  claim 10 , wherein before step (c), further comprising the step of standing the lifting frame with the attached door converter assembly in an erected position. 
     
     
         13 . The method as recited in  claim 12 , further comprising the step of positioning legs to extend outwardly from the lifting frame to hold the lifting frame with the attached door converter assembly in the erected position. 
     
     
         14 . The method as recited in  claim 12 , wherein the lifting frame further comprises a pair of legs hingedly attached to move from a first position retracted to the lifting frame to a second position extending outwardly from the lifting frame. 
     
     
         15 . The method as recited in  claim 12 , wherein the lifting frame further comprises two opposing legs pivotally attached to the support frame and moveable between a folded position and an erect position extending outwardly therefrom. 
     
     
         16 . The method as recited in  claim 12 , wherein the step of standing the door converter assembly attached to the lifting frame comprises:
 attaching second connectors to the support frame; and   moving the second connectors relative to the support frame to pivot the lifting frame and attached door converter assembly from a connecting position to the erected position.   
     
     
         17 . The method as recited in  claim 10 , wherein the step (c) comprises:
 inserting a pair of forks of a forklift truck into a respective one of a pair of forklift pockets attached to the lifting frame; and   moving the forks relative to the ground to raise the lifting frame and attached door converter assembly; and   moving the forklift towards the open end of the box storage container.   
     
     
         18 . The method as recited in  claim 10 , further comprising the step of detaching an anti-racking bracket detachably attached to the doors to secure the doors closed in the mounting frame for shipment and installation of the door converter assembly in the open end of the box storage container from which the end panel has been removed.