Roof rail for a portable storage container

Abstract

A portable storage container includes a plurality of upstanding sidewalls defining a storage space therebetween such that the sidewalls are disposed in an outward direction from the storage space. A roof sheet is disposed above the sidewalls. At least one roof rail is connected to a corresponding one of the sidewalls. The roof rail includes a horizontal portion defining a first plane that is horizontally oriented, and a down-sloping portion attached to an outer edge of the horizontal portion. The down-sloping portion extends in an outward direction away from the horizontal portion and defines a second plane oriented at an angle of approximately between ten degrees and eighty degrees relative to the first plane. At least one fastener attaches the roof sheet to a corresponding down-sloping portion of a corresponding roof rail. The fastener extends through the roof sheet.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A portable storage container, comprising:
 a plurality of upstanding sidewalls defining a storage space therebetween such that the sidewalls are disposed outwardly from the storage space;   a roof sheet disposed above the sidewalls;   at least one roof rail connected to a corresponding one of the sidewalls, the roof rail including:
 a horizontal portion defining a first plane that is horizontally oriented; and 
 a down-sloping portion attached to an outer edge of the horizontal portion, the down-sloping portion extending in an outward direction away from the horizontal portion and defining a second plane oriented at an angle of approximately between ten degrees and eighty degrees relative to the first plane; and 
   at least one fastener attaching the roof sheet to a corresponding said down-sloping portion of a corresponding said roof rail, the fastener extending through the roof sheet.   
     
     
         2 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the fastener extends through the corresponding said down-sloping portion of the corresponding said roof rail. 
     
     
         3 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the second plane is oriented at an angle of approximately between twenty degrees and forty-five degrees relative to the first plane. 
     
     
         4 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the roof rail further comprises a vertically-oriented back portion attached to an inner edge of the horizontal portion and disposed below the horizontal portion. 
     
     
         5 . The container of  claim 4 , wherein the horizontal portion comprises an upper horizontal portion, the roof rail further comprising a lower horizontal portion attached to a lower edge of the vertically-oriented back portion and disposed outwardly of the vertically-oriented back portion. 
     
     
         6 . The container of  claim 5 , wherein the roof rail further comprises a vertically-oriented leg portion attached to an outward edge of the lower horizontal portion. 
     
     
         7 . The container of  claim 6 , wherein the vertically-oriented leg portion is attached to the corresponding one of the sidewalls. 
     
     
         8 . A roof rail for interconnecting a roof sheet and an upstanding sidewall of a portable storage container, the roof rail comprising:
 a cap portion including a first edge and a second edge, the cap portion defining a first plane and being configured to be horizontally oriented while supporting a body of the roof sheet;   a brim portion attached to the first edge of the cap portion, the brim portion defining a second plane oriented at an angle of approximately between ten degrees and eighty degrees relative to the first plane, the brim portion being configured to be fastened to an outer periphery of the roof sheet while the brim portion slopes downward from the cap portion and while the cap portion is horizontally oriented and supports the body of the roof sheet; and   a leg portion connected to the second edge of the cap portion, the leg portion being oriented perpendicular to the cap portion, the leg portion being configured to be attached to the upstanding sidewall of the portable storage container.   
     
     
         9 . The roof rail of  claim 8 , wherein the brim portion is configured to be fastened to an outer periphery of the roof sheet by a fastener extending through both the roof sheet and the brim portion. 
     
     
         10 . The roof rail of  claim 8 , wherein the second plane is oriented at an angle of approximately between twenty degrees and forty-five degrees relative to the first plane. 
     
     
         11 . The roof rail of  claim 8 , wherein the roof rail further comprises a back portion oriented perpendicular to the cap portion, a first edge of the back portion being attached to the second edge of the cap portion, the back portion being disposed below the cap portion while the cap portion is horizontally oriented and supports the body of the roof sheet. 
     
     
         12 . The roof rail of  claim 11 , wherein the roof rail further comprises a base portion attached to a second edge of the back portion and disposed outwardly of the back portion. 
     
     
         13 . The roof rail of  claim 12 , wherein the leg portion is attached to an outward edge of the base portion. 
     
     
         14 . The roof rail of  claim 8 , wherein the leg portion is disposed outwardly of an outer edge of the brim portion. 
     
     
         15 . A method of installing a roof sheet on a portable storage container, the method comprising:
 attaching a roof rail to one of a plurality of upstanding sidewalls that define a storage space therebetween such that the sidewalls are disposed outwardly from the storage space;   placing a roof sheet above the upstanding sidewalls such that a horizontal portion of the roof rail supports a body of the roof sheet; and   fastening a periphery of the roof sheet to a down-sloping portion of the roof rail, the down-sloping portion extending outwardly and downwardly from an outer edge of the horizontal portion, a first plane defined by the horizontal portion being oriented at an angle of approximately between ten degrees and eighty degrees relative to a second plane defined by the down-sloping portion.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the fastening includes inserting a rivet pin through both the periphery of the roof sheet and through the down-sloping portion of the roof rail. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the second plane is oriented at an angle of approximately between twenty degrees and forty-five degrees relative to the first plane. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the attaching step includes attaching a vertically-oriented leg portion of the roof rail to the one of the upstanding sidewalls. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the leg portion is disposed outwardly of an outer edge of the down-sloping portion. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the horizontal portion of the roof rail comprises a first horizontal portion, the leg portion being connected to the first horizontal portion by a second horizontal portion of the roof rail and a vertically oriented back portion of the roof rail.