Intermodal shipping container box

Abstract

An intermodal shipping container box assembly having front cube, rear cube and middle sections with the front cube and rear cube of variable lengths to provide a container box up to sixty and a half feet in length. The front and rear cubes have modified stacking post and casting block arrangements. The front cube and rear cube may include additional cross bracing. The front cube and middle section include a modified tunnel section for accommodating a vehicle chassis.

What is claimed: 
     
         1 . A container assembly, comprising:
 a pair of top rails;   a pair of bottom rails;   a pair of front corner posts, each front corner post being coupled to a first end of one of the pair of top rails and a first end of one of the pair bottom rails;   a pair of rear corner posts each rear corner post being coupled to a second end of one of the pair of top rails and a second end of one of the pair bottom rails;   a top front header coupled transversely to the pair of top rails and a front sill coupled transversely to the pair of bottom rails, adjacent the front corner posts;   a rear header coupled transversely to the pair of top rails and a rear sill coupled transversely to the pair of bottom rails, adjacent the rear corner posts;   the front corner posts, top rails, bottom rails, top front header, front sill, rear header, rear sill, and rear corner posts defining a generally rectangular container frame;   the front corner posts, the top front header, the front sill and adjacent portions of the top rails and bottom rails defining a front cube;   the rear corner posts, the rear header, the rear sill and adjacent portions of the top rails and bottom rails defining a rear cube;   the remaining portions of the top rails and bottom rails defining a middle section between the front cube and the rear cube;   a pair of front stacking posts disposed between the front cube and the middle section and extending between respective top and bottom rails;   a pair of rear stacking posts disposed between the rear cube and the middle section and extending between respective top and bottom rails;   the middle section having a length in the range of 39 to 40 feet;   the front cube having a length in the range of 9 to 10.5 feet;   the rear cube having a length in the range of 9 to 10.5 feet;   a first pair of cross-brace members, each extending diagonally from one of the front corner posts adjacent the top rail to one of the front stacking posts adjacent the bottom rail;   a second pair of cross-brace members each extending diagonally from one of the front corner posts adjacent the bottom rail to one of the front stacking posts adjacent the top rail;   a third pair of cross-brace members, each extending diagonally from one of the rear corner posts adjacent the top rail to one of the rear stacking posts adjacent the bottom rail; and   a fourth pair of cross-brace members, each extending diagonally from one of the rear corner posts adjacent the bottom rail to one of the rear stacking posts adjacent the top rail.   
     
     
         2 . The container assembly of  claim 1  wherein the top and bottom rails in the front cube have a thickness of approximately 0.25 inches and a height 2 inches greater than the height of the top and bottom rails in the middle section. 
     
     
         3 . The container assembly of  claim 1  wherein the top and bottom rails in the rear cube have a thickness of approximately 0.25 inches and a height 2 inches greater than the height of the top and bottom rails in the middle section. 
     
     
         4 . The container assembly of  claim 1  wherein outer edges of each of the front corner posts are tapered or rounded. 
     
     
         5 . The container assembly of  claim 4  wherein each of the front corner posts comprises a casting block adjacent the bottom rail, the casting block being inset from an outer edge of the bottom rail. 
     
     
         6 . The container assembly of claim I wherein each of the front stacking posts and rear stacking posts comprises a casting block adjacent the bottom rail. 
     
     
         7 . The container assembly of  claim 1  wherein each of the front stacking posts and rear stacking posts comprises a casting block adjacent the top rail. 
     
     
         8 . The container assembly of  claim 7  further comprising:
 a front roof header assembly extending between the top rails and disposed between the front cube and the riddle suction, and 
 two front roof impact plates extending in a plane parallel to and above the front roof header assembly, each front roof impact plate extending along a length adjacent one of the top rails and greater than a width of the front roof header assembly, and each roof impact plate extending inwardly across a portion the front roof header assembly towards the other top rail. 
 
     
     
         9 . The container assembly of  claim 8  wherein each front roof impact plate is trapezoidal in shape with a longer base edge adjacent the top rail and wherein each front roof impact plate comprises a notched portion shaped to accommodate the casting block of the front stacking post. 
     
     
         10 . The container assembly of claim further comprising two front inner corner gusset plates disposed below and parallel to respective front roof impact plates and the front roof header assembly, each front inner corner gusset plate extending along the top rail from a first edge of the front roof header assembly adjacent the front cube to a first roof bow adjacent the front roof header assembly. 
     
     
         11 . The container assembly of  claim 8  further comprising first and second pairs of post gusset plates, each pair being adjacent one of the front stacking posts, wherein each post gusset plate in a pair extends along a length of the top rail and vertically downward along opposite sides of the front stacking post, each post gusset plate in the pair being in a plane parallel to the front stacking post. 
     
     
         12 . The container assembly of  claim 7  further comprising:
 a rear roof header assembly extending between the top rails and disposed between the rear cube and the middle section, and 
 two rear roof impact plates extending m a plane parallel to and above the rear roof header assembly, each rear roof impact plate extending along a length adjacent one of the top rails and greater than a width of the rear roof header assembly, and each rear roof impact plate extending inwardly across a portion the rear roof header assembly to cards the other top rail. 
 
     
     
         13 . The container assembly of  claim 12  wherein each ear roof impact plate is trapezoidal in shape with a longer base edge adjacent the top rail and wherein each rear roof impact plate comprises a notched portion shaped to accommodate the casting block of the rear stacking post. 
     
     
         14 . The container assembly of  claim 12  further comprising two rear inner corner gusset plates disposed below and parallel to respective rear roof impact plates and the rear roof header assembly, each rear inner corner gusset plate extending along the top rail from a first edge of the rear roof header assembly adjacent the rear cube to a first roof bow adjacent the rear roof header assembly. 
     
     
         15 . The container assembly of  claim 12  further comprising third and fourth pairs of post gusset plates, each pair being adjacent one of the rear stacking posts, wherein each post gusset plate in a pair extends along a length of the top rail and vertically downward along opposite sides of the rear stacking post, each post gusset plate in the pair being in a plane parallel to the rear stacking post. 
     
     
         16 . The container assembly of  claim 1  wherein the total length of the front cube, middle section and rear cube is 60.5 feet. 
     
     
         17 . The container assembly of  claim 1  wherein each cross-brace member comprises a bar having a thickness of ⅛ to ¼ inches and a width of 2 to 4 inches. 
     
     
         18 . The container assembly of  claim 1  further comprising a plurality of roof bows extending transversely between each of the pair of top rails for supporting a roof, wherein the density of roof bows in the front cube and rear cube is greater than the density of roof bows in the middle section. 
     
     
         19 . The container assembly of  claim 1  further comprising two pluralities of side posts, each plurality extending vertically between one of the top rails and one of the bottom rails, the side posts having a density in the front cube and rear cube greater than the density of side posts in the middle section. 
     
     
         20 . The container assembly of  claim 1  wherein a base of the front cube and a base of a portion of the middle section define an extended tunnel section for receiving an extendible pull out section of a chassis.