Storage container for a trailer

Abstract

The present invention relates to a container for transport and storage of excavator attachments. In particular, but not exclusively, the present invention relates to a container for securing excavator attachments on a trailer. A container for retaining an excavator attachment on a trailer comprises a lower portion including a base, a pair of opposing end walls, and a front wall; a lid connected to the lower portion and arranged to pivot between a first position, in which the container may receive an excavator attachment, and a second position, in which the excavator attachment is retained by the container; and a coupling configured to secure the container to a trailer such that the end walls of the lower portion are adjacent side walls of the trailer and the front wall of the lower portion is adjacent a front wall of the trailer, wherein a depth of the lid, in a direction perpendicular to the base of the container, is greater than a depth of the lower portion.

1 . A container for retaining an excavator attachment on a trailer, the container comprising:
 a lower portion including a base, a pair of opposing end walls, and a front wall;   a lid connected to the lower portion and arranged to pivot between a first position, in which the container may receive an excavator attachment, and a second position, in which the excavator attachment is retained by the container; and   a coupling configured to secure the container to a trailer such that the end walls of the lower portion are adjacent side walls of the trailer and the front wall of the lower portion is adjacent a front wall of the trailer,   
        wherein a depth of the lid, in a direction perpendicular to the base of the container, is greater than a depth of the lower portion. 
     
     
         2 . The container of  claim 1  wherein the depth of the lid is more than twice the depth of the lower portion. 
     
     
         3 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the coupling comprises a flange extending from the front wall of the lower portion. 
     
     
         4 . The container of  claim 3 , wherein the coupling further comprises a flange extending from each of the end walls of the lower portion. 
     
     
         5 . The container of  claim 3 , wherein the lid is connected to the lower portion by a hinge and a part of the hinge is attached to the flange extending from the front wall of the lower portion. 
     
     
         6 . The container of  claim 5 , wherein the hinge comprises a hinge plate that extends from the flange so as to define a channel within which a wall of the trailer may be received to secure the container to the trailer. 
     
     
         7 . The container of  claim 1 , the lid further comprising an arm hitch for coupling to an excavator arm, such that the container can be lifted onto or away from the trailer by an excavator arm. 
     
     
         8 . The container of  claim 7 , wherein the arm hitch is releasably attached to the lid. 
     
     
         9 . The container of  claim 8  wherein the arm hitch comprises a base plate including engagement features configured to secure the arm hitch to the lid. 
     
     
         10 . The container of  claim 9  wherein the engagement features comprise channels within which bars of the lid are seated to secure the arm hitch to the lid. 
     
     
         11 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the lid and the base comprise cooperating features configured to engage with each other such that the cooperating feature of the lid of a first container may be engaged with the cooperating feature of the base of a second container to retain the first and second containers in a stacked configuration. 
     
     
         12 . The container of  claim 11 , wherein the cooperating features comprise a projection and an aperture. 
     
     
         13 . The container of  claim 12 , wherein the projection comprises a rail member. 
     
     
         14 . A trailer for transporting an item of plant machinery, the trailer comprising:
 a platform including a floor for supporting the item of plant machinery, a front end wall and two side walls; and   the container of  claim 1 , the container being secured to the trailer by the coupling such that the end walls of the lower portion of the container are adjacent the side walls of the platform and the front wall of the container is adjacent the front end wall of the platform.   
     
     
         15 . The trailer of  claim 14 , wherein a top edge of each of the end walls and the front wall of the lower portion of the container lie in substantially the same plane as top edges of the front end wall and the side walls of the platform. 
     
     
         16 . The trailer of  claim 14 , wherein the coupling comprises a flange extending from the front wall of the lower portion that is engaged with the front end wall of the platform and the coupling comprises a flange extending from each of the end walls of the lower portion, each end wall flange being engaged with a respective one of the side walls of the platform. 
     
     
         17 . A combination of the trailer of  claim 14 , and an item of plant machinery seated on the floor of the trailer, wherein the lid of the container comprises an arm hitch, and an arm of the item of plant machinery is secured to the arm hitch. 
     
     
         18 . The combination of  claim 17 , wherein the arm hitch comprises a retainer bar and the arm of the item of plant machinery is secured to the retainer bar by a quick release coupling on the arm.