Modular Multi-Container Housing Structure, Multi-Container Interlock, and Methods for Manufacture of Same

Abstract

A modular multi-container housing structure connection system for shipping containers having fittings defining orifices includes modular interchangeable interlocks each comprising a lock part shaped and configured to lock within an orifice of a container in a locked state, a modular connector frame comprising interchangeable struts, each of the struts comprising opposing first and second interlock assembly bodies, each of the opposing interlock assembly bodies configured to receive therein at least one of the interlocks, a set of the struts comprising at least one of a pair of right and left vertical struts and of upper and lower horizontal struts, and at least one of the interlocks being disposed and positioned within a respective one of the interlock assembly bodies of the strut set such that, placing a respective interlock in the locked state causes the interlock assembly body containing the respective interlock to be locked within an adjacent container orifice.

1 . (canceled) 
     
     
         2 . A modular multi-container housing structure connection system for shipping containers having fittings defining orifices, the system comprising:
 a plurality of modular interchangeable interlocks each comprising a lock part shaped and configured to lock within an orifice of a shipping container in a locked state;   a modular connector frame comprising modular, interchangeable struts, each of the struts comprising at least one interlock assembly body configured to receive therein at least one of the modular interchangeable interlocks; and   at least one of the interlocks being disposed and positioned within an interlock assembly body of one of the struts such that:
 placing the interlock assembly body adjacent an orifice of the shipping container; and 
 placing the at least one of the interlocks in the locked state; 
   causes the lock part of the at least one of the interlocks to be locked releasably within the adjacent orifice to thereby secure the one of the struts to the shipping container.   
     
     
         3 . The system according to  claim 2 , wherein:
 the modular connector frame comprises a pair of at least one of:
 right and left modular, interchangeable struts; and 
 upper and lower modular, interchangeable struts; 
   each of the pair of struts comprises at least one interlock assembly body configured to receive therein at least one of the modular interchangeable interlocks; and   at least one of the interlocks being disposed and positioned within a respective one of the interlock assembly bodies of each of the set of struts such that:
 placing the interlock assembly bodies adjacent a respective orifice of the shipping container; and 
 placing the at least one of the interlocks in the interlock assembly bodies in the locked state; 
   causes the lock parts of the respective interlocks to be locked releasably within respective adjacent orifices of the shipping container.   
     
     
         4 . The system according to  claim 2 , wherein:
 the shipping container defines six sides;   the modular connector frame comprises at least four modular, interchangeable struts that, together, form a rectangle;   each of the struts comprises at least one interlock assembly body configured to receive therein at least one of the modular interchangeable interlocks; and   at least one of the interlocks being disposed and positioned within a respective one of the interlock assembly bodies of each of the four struts such that:
 placing the interlock assembly bodies adjacent a respective orifice on one of the six sides of the shipping container; and 
 placing the at least one of the interlocks in the interlock assembly bodies in the locked state; 
   causes the lock parts of the respective interlocks to be locked releasably within respective adjacent orifices of the shipping container.   
     
     
         5 . The system according to  claim 4 , wherein the four struts are integral. 
     
     
         6 . The system according to  claim 4 , wherein the four struts are four separate pieces. 
     
     
         7 . The system according to  claim 4 , wherein the four struts are a combination of integral and separate pieces. 
     
     
         8 . The system according to  claim 5 , wherein the four struts are integral and the interlock assembly bodies are four in number. 
     
     
         9 . The system according to  claim 8 , wherein the four interlock assembly bodies are located at a respective corner of the rectangle. 
     
     
         10 . The system according to  claim 2 , wherein each of the modular interchangeable interlocks comprises a pivot boss about which the lock part pivots, and a driveshaft configured to pivot the lock part between:
 a first position in the locked state; and   a second position different from the first position in an unlocked state of the lock part.   
     
     
         11 . The system according to  claim 2 , wherein each of the modular, interchangeable struts comprises opposing strut ends and the interlock assembly body is disposed respectively at one of the opposing strut ends. 
     
     
         12 . The system according to  claim 2 , wherein:
 the shipping container is a plurality of shipping containers, two of the plurality of shipping containers placed adjacent one another such that at least one pair of fittings on a respective one of the two shipping containers face one another;   the at least one interlock assembly body:
 comprising first and second orifices; and 
 being configured to receive therein first and second modular interchangeable interlocks, the lock part of the first modular interchangeable interlock is configured to extend out from the first orifice in the locked state and retract back through in an unlocked state, and the lock part of the second modular interchangeable interlock is configured to extend out from the second orifice in the locked state and retract back through in an unlocked state; 
   the lock part of the first modular interchangeable interlock in the locked state releasably locks the at least one interlock assembly body to a first of the pair of fittings of a first of the two shipping containers; and   the lock part of the second modular interchangeable interlock in the locked state releasably locks the at least one interlock assembly to a second of the pair of fittings of a second of the two shipping containers.   
     
     
         13 . The system according to  claim 4 , wherein:
 the shipping container comprises first and second shipping containers placed adjacent one another such that at least four pairs of fittings on the two shipping containers face one another;   each of the at least four interlock assembly bodies:
 comprises first and second orifices; and 
 are configured to receive therein first and second modular interchangeable interlocks, the lock part of the first modular interchangeable interlock is configured to extend out from the first orifice in the locked state and retract back through in an unlocked state, and the lock part of the second modular interchangeable interlock is configured to extend out from the second orifice in the locked state and retract back through in an unlocked state; 
   the lock part of the first modular interchangeable interlock in the locked state releasably locks a respective one of the at least four interlock assembly bodies to a first of one pair of fittings of the first shipping container; and   the lock part of the second modular interchangeable interlock in the locked state releasably locks the respective one of the at least four interlock assembly bodies to a second of the one pair of fittings of the second shipping container.   
     
     
         14 . The system according to  claim 13 , wherein the at least four pairs of fittings on the two shipping containers are respective corner fittings of one of the six sides on the first shipping container facing the opposite one of the six sides of the second shipping container. 
     
     
         15 . The system according to  claim 2 , wherein:
 the shipping container comprises:
 a first shipping container having a first side; and 
 a second shipping container having a second side facing the first side; 
   the modular connector frame defines:
 a first surface facing the first side; and 
 a second surface facing the second side; 
   removably locking the modular connector frame to the first side of the first shipping container water tightly seals the first side of the first shipping container to the first surface of the modular connector frame; and   removably locking the modular connector frame to the second side of the second shipping container water tightly seals the second side of the second shipping container to the second surface of the modular connector frame.   
     
     
         16 . The system according to  claim 4 , wherein:
 the shipping container comprises:
 a first shipping container having a first side; and 
 a second shipping container having a second side facing the first side; 
   the modular connector frame defines:
 a first surface facing the first side; and 
 a second surface facing the second side; 
   removably locking the modular connector frame to the first side of the first shipping container water tightly seals the first side of the first shipping container to the first surface of the modular connector frame; and   removably locking the modular connector frame to the second side of the second shipping container water tightly seals the second side of the second shipping container to the second surface of the modular connector frame.   
     
     
         17 . The system according to  claim 2 , wherein each of the plurality of modular interchangeable interlocks is identical in shape. 
     
     
         18 . The system according to  claim 2 , wherein the modular, interchangeable struts of the modular connector frame comprises:
 a pair of modular, vertical end struts; and   a pair of modular, horizontal end struts.   
     
     
         19 . The system according to  claim 2 , wherein the modular, interchangeable struts of the modular connector frame comprises:
 a pair of modular, vertical side struts; and   a pair of modular, horizontal side struts.   
     
     
         20 . The system according to  claim 19 , wherein the pair of modular, horizontal side struts are shaped to extend along opposing, longitudinal edges of the shipping container. 
     
     
         21 . The system according to  claim 2 , wherein:
 each lock part has threads; and   each of the plurality of modular interchangeable interlocks comprises a body, a pivot boss about which the lock part pivots with respect to the body, and a driveshaft:
 configured to pivot the lock part between:
 a first position in the locked state; and 
 a second position different from the first position in an unlocked state of the lock part. 
 
 comprising:
 threads operably connected to and corresponding with the threads of the lock part; and 
 a connector shaped to interact with a standard power tool and, responsive to rotation of the connector by the power tool, to pivot the lock part about the pivot boss between the first position and the second position. 
 
   
     
     
         22 . The system according to  claim 21 , wherein the driveshaft has a longitudinal axis, is fixed in place with respect to the body, and is rotatable about the longitudinal axis. 
     
     
         23 . The system according to  claim 21 , which further comprises a washer and nut assembly fixing the driveshaft in place in the body with the driveshaft being freely rotatable about the longitudinal axis. 
     
     
         24 . The system according to  claim 21 , wherein the connector has a head comprising one of:
 an internal Philips head connector;   an internal flat head connector;   an external hexagonal nut connector;   an external star nut connector; and   an external square nut connector.   
     
     
         25 . A modular multi-container housing structure connection system for shipping containers having fittings defining orifices, the system comprising:
 a plurality of modular interchangeable interlocks each comprising a lock part shaped and configured to lock within an orifice of a shipping container in a locked state;   a modular connector frame comprising modular, interchangeable struts having at least one end compartment configured to receive therein at least one of the modular interchangeable interlocks; and   at least one of the interlocks being disposed and positioned within a respective one of the at least one end compartments of the struts such that, placing a respective one of the interlocks in the locked state causes the at least one end compartment containing the respective interlock to be locked within an adjacent orifice of the shipping container.   
     
     
         26 . The system according to  claim 25 , wherein each of the plurality of modular interchangeable interlocks is identical in shape. 
     
     
         27 . A modular multi-container housing structure connection system for shipping containers having corner fittings defining orifices, the system comprising:
 a plurality of modular interchangeable interlocks each comprising a pivot boss, a body, a driveshaft; and a lock part:
 movable about the pivot boss between a locked position and an unlocked position; and 
 shaped and configured to lock within an orifice of a corner fitting of a shipping container; 
   a modular connector frame comprising a plurality of modular, interchangeable struts each having a corner interlock assembly body defining a hollow interlock assembly compartment shaped to contain therein at least one of the interchangeable interlocks; and   the plurality of modular, interchangeable struts comprising a pair of at least one of:
 right and left modular, interchangeable struts; and 
 upper and lower modular, interchangeable struts; 
   at least a subset of the modular, interchangeable interlocks is disposed within a respective one of the hollow interlock assembly compartments and positioned such that, moving each lock part into the locked position causes the pair of struts to be removably locked to respective corner fittings of the shipping container; and   each of the subset of the modular, interchangeable interlocks being identical in shape.