Framing brackets and systems for shipping container exterior

Abstract

A bracket system for use in framing a shipping container exterior, with first brackets having a mounting portion for mounting to a first longitudinal structural member of the shipping container and a first stud retention portion for receipt and retention of a first end of a stud, and second brackets having a mounting portion for mounting to a second longitudinal structural member of the shipping container and a second stud retention portion for receipt and retention of a second end of the stud, so the stud can be used as a framing member. First and second brackets are paired, and they can retain vertical studs as exterior wall framing members and/or horizontal studs as exterior roof framing members. Upper brackets can include both a retention portion for a vertical stud and a retention portion for a horizontal stud.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A bracket system for use in framing an exterior of a shipping container, the system comprising:
 at least one first bracket comprising:
 a first bracket mounting portion sized and configured for exteriorly mounting to a first longitudinal structural member of the shipping container; and 
 a first stud retention portion sized and configured for receipt and retention therein of a first end of a stud; and 
   at least one second bracket comprising:
 a second bracket mounting portion sized and configured for exteriorly mounting to a second longitudinal structural member of the shipping container; and 
 a second stud retention portion sized and configured for receipt and retention therein of a second end of the stud; 
   such that the stud is retained exteriorly to the shipping container as a framing member.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the first longitudinal structural member is located adjacent an upper edge of the shipping container, and the first end of the stud is an upper end of the stud; and   the second longitudinal structural member is located adjacent a lower edge of the shipping container, and the second end of the stud is a lower end of the stud;   such that the stud forms a vertical wall stud for use in framing a wall exterior of the shipping container.   
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the first longitudinal structural member is located adjacent a first upper edge of the shipping container; and   the second longitudinal structural member is located adjacent a second and opposed upper edge of the shipping container;   such that the stud forms a horizontal roof wall stud between the at least one first bracket and the at least one second bracket exterior of the shipping container.   
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one first bracket further comprises an additional stud retention portion sized and configured for receipt and retention therein of a first end of an additional stud, wherein:
 the first longitudinal structural member is located adjacent an upper edge of the shipping container, and the first end of the stud is an upper end of the stud; and   the second longitudinal structural member is located adjacent a lower edge of the shipping container, and the second end of the stud is a lower end of the stud;   such that the stud forms a vertical wall stud for use in framing a wall exterior of the shipping container; and   such that the additional stud extends horizontally across and exteriorly of an upper surface of the shipping container for use in framing a roof exterior to the shipping container.   
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 4 , and further comprising:
 at least one third bracket comprising:
 a third bracket mounting portion sized and configured for exteriorly mounting to a third longitudinal structural member of the shipping container, the third longitudinal structural member located adjacent the upper edge of the shipping container but positioned on an opposite side of the shipping container from the first longitudinal structural member; 
 a third stud retention portion sized and configured for receipt and retention therein of an upper end of a second vertical wall stud; and 
 an opposed additional stud retention portion sized and configured for receipt therein of a second end of the additional stud; and 
   at least one fourth bracket comprising:
 a fourth bracket mounting portion sized and configured for exteriorly mounting to a fourth longitudinal structural member of the shipping container, the fourth longitudinal structural member located adjacent the lower edge of the shipping container but positioned on the opposite side of the shipping container from the second longitudinal structural member; and 
 a fourth stud retention portion sized and configured for receipt and retention therein of a lower end of the second vertical wall stud. 
   
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the first bracket mounting portion and the second bracket mounting portion are each sized and configured to be at least partially positioned within a wall corrugation of the exterior of the shipping container. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one first bracket is a plurality of first mounting brackets and the at least one second bracket is a plurality of second mounting brackets, each of the plurality of first brackets paired with a corresponding one of the plurality of second brackets. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second longitudinal structural members are composed of steel tubing, such that mounting the at least one bracket and the at least one second bracket respectively thereto does not penetrate into an interior of the shipping container. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one first bracket and the at least one second bracket are composed of a material selected from the group consisting of metal, plastic, and composite. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 1 , and further comprising a space between the stud and the exterior of the shipping container sized and configured for receipt of an insulating material therein. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one first bracket and the at least one second bracket comprise holes for mounting the at least one first bracket and the at least one second bracket to the first and second longitudinal structural members, respectively. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the holes are of different sizes to accommodate different sized mechanical fasteners. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the holes comprise slots to allow adjustment of the at least one first bracket and the at least one second bracket. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the at least one first bracket and the at least one second bracket are injection-molded from plastic and further comprise gussets to guide mechanical fasteners therethrough.