Intermodal container and protective shield therefor

Abstract

Intermodal container The present disclosure provides an intermodal container comprising a container base comprising a structural base and a floor provided on a first inner side of the structural base. The container base comprises a ladderframe comprising first and second side rails and a plurality of cross members extending between the first and second side rails. The side rails each comprise an upper rail surface and a lower rail surface and the plurality of cross members support the floor. The container comprises a protective shield provided on a second outer side of the structural base for protecting the container base. The shield is arranged to protect one or more of the plurality of cross members and/or the floor. The shield is fixed to the lower rail surfaces of the side rails or the shield is located in a recess provided in each of the lower rail surfaces of the side rails.

1 . An intermodal container comprising:
 a container base comprising a structural base and a floor provided on a first inner side of the structural base, the container base comprising a ladderframe comprising first and second side rails and a plurality of cross members extending between the first and second side rails, the side rails each comprising an upper rail surface and a lower rail surface and the plurality of cross members supporting the floor; and   a protective shield provided on a second outer side of the structural base for protecting the container base, the protective shield arranged to protect one or more of the plurality of cross members and/or the floor, wherein:   a) the protective shield is fixed to the lower rail surfaces of the side rails; or   b) the protective shield is located in a recess provided in each of the lower rail surfaces of the side rails.   
     
     
         2 . An intermodal container as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the protective shield extends between the first and second side rails 
     
     
         3 . An intermodal container as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein one or more of the plurality of cross members are arranged between the inner base side and the protective shield. 
     
     
         4 . An intermodal container as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein an inward face of the protective shield is in contact with or connected to one or more of the plurality of cross members. 
     
     
         5 . An intermodal container as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the protective shield is spaced apart from one or more of the plurality of cross members. 
     
     
         6 . An intermodal container as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the protective shield is arranged in a plane substantially parallel to a plane defined by the outer base side. 
     
     
         7 . An intermodal container as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the protective shield is a continuous sheet of material. 
     
     
         8 . An intermodal container as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the intermodal container further comprises a plurality of container support members arranged to protrude from the outer base side such that, when the intermodal container is located on a flat surface, the protective shield is spaced apart from the flat surface. 
     
     
         9 . An intermodal container as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the intermodal container is an intermodal container over 20 feet (6.1 metres) in length. 
     
     
         10 . An intermodal container as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the protective shield is a forklift protective shield. 
     
     
         11 . An intermodal container as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the protective shield is a plate. 
     
     
         12 . An intermodal container as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the protective shield is a continuous member covering a portion of the outer side of the structural base. 
     
     
         13 . An intermodal container as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising a second protective shield arranged on the outer base side for protecting the structural base. 
     
     
         14 . An intermodal container as claimed in  claim 13 , wherein the first and second protective shields are spaced apart from a longitudinal mid-point of the intermodal container or the centre of mass of the intermodal container by an equal distance. 
     
     
         15 . A protective shield for use in the intermodal container of  claim 1 .