Abstract:
A shipping platform for transporting over-dimensional items, adapted for stacking above or below the decks of container ships on top of standard sized ISO cargo containers. The shipping platform has a base and foldable end frames. The shipping platform is wider than a standard ISO shipping container. The base has transverse end beams that are sufficiently rigid to allow the shipping platform to be mounted atop the corner posts of the standard ISO shipping container and support that portion of the shipping platform that extends beyond the width of the ISO shipping container.

Description:
CLAIM OF PRIORITY 
       [0001]    This application claims priority from U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/071,654, filed on May 9, 2008, which is incorporated herein in their entirety. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    This application relates to shipping platforms for transporting cargo on container ships, and more specifically to an oversized shipping platform for transporting large vehicles and other over-dimensional items, adapted for stacking above or below the decks of container ships. Examples of shipping platforms are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,533,510; 7,011,479; 7,040,848; and 7,140,821, all of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    The holds of modern container ships are usually constructed to receive ISO (International Standards Organization) containers that measure 40 feet in length, by 8 feet in width, by 8 feet 6 inches in height. The holds have bulkheads, spaced about 40 feet apart, that extend laterally from port to starboard. These bulkheads are provided with vertically extending cells that are sized to permit the 40 feet by 8 feet ISO containers to be slid down between protruding, vertically extending T-shaped cell guide members, which define the width of the cells. The number and depth of the cells, as well as the thickness of the T-shaped cell guide members, depend on the vessel class and age. With this construction, the containers can be secured against both rolling and pitching of the container ship. After a hold is filled with the ISO containers, a cover may be placed over the hatch to close the hold. Containers then can be stacked above deck, over the hatches. 
         [0004]    Stacked ISO containers typically are joined together by twist-lock devices that engage the apertures of twist-lock corner castings of adjacent containers. The containers bear the considerable weight of superposed containers by virtue of the columnar strength of their robust corner posts, which are vertically aligned with others in the stack of standard ISO containers. 
         [0005]    Containers wider than 8 feet also are used on container ships. These containers, too, have robust corner posts. Shipping platforms of the type disclosed in the aforementioned patents also may be wider than ISO containers, e.g., 12 feet wide, and also have robust vertical load-bearing frames, which may be adjustable in height depending on load height, and foldable for compactness when no load is carried. If a wider container or a wider shipping platform were to be placed on a stack of 8 feet wide ISO containers, not all of the corner posts or load-bearing frames would be aligned. In order to avoid improper load distribution, one must resort to interposing separate stacking devices between the diverse cargo layers, such as the stacking devices disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,027,291 and 6,793,448, both of which are incorporated herein by reference. Such stacking devices properly transfer the load of the wider containers or shipping platforms to the corner posts of the 8 feet wide ISO containers. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0006]    The shipping platform of this invention, which is wider than 8 feet, obviates the need for stacking devices when platforms of this type are to be stacked on 8 feet wide ISO containers, either above deck or below in cargo holds (although such stacking devices may still be used, if desired). When used below deck, the shipping platform of the present invention spans more than one cell in the hold, and its robust construction enables it partially to overhang an adjacent and underlying ISO container without sagging and without loading the adjacent and underlying ISO container improperly. The shipping platform has a base with a cargo floor that preferably is sloped at both ends to facilitate the loading and unloading of wheeled cargo. The shipping platform of the present invention also has a robust, upright load-bearing frame at each end (“end frame”), which may be foldable parallel to the cargo floor for compactness when the shipping platform is empty and is to be moved about or stowed in that folded condition. The end frames optionally can be adjustable in height. Strategically placed twist-lock apertures enable connection of the shipping platform to adjacent shipping platforms or to ISO containers in the same or in an adjacent stack; and they serve as lift points for a gantry crane or other conventional types of lift equipment for handling the shipping platform when the end frames are upright or folded. Optional fork lift pockets in the base also facilitate handling of the shipping platform. 
         [0007]    Preferably the shipping platform is about 12 feet wide so that it can span one-and-one-half 8 feet wide ISO containers. Consequently, when two such 12 feet wide shipping platforms are placed side by side (totaling 24 feet in width), the 12 feet wide shipping platforms can exactly span three side-by-side 8 feet wide ISO containers. The preferred height of the shipping platform is about 12 feet, 9 inches (with end frames upright), making the shipping platform one-and-one-half times the height of a low-cube ISO container, which is 8 feet, 6 inches high. As a result, the combined height of two stacked shipping platforms (25 feet, 6 inches) equals the combined height of three stacked low-cube ISO containers. Further, the preferred height of a folded shipping platform is about 4 feet, 3 inches at the corners, which is half the height of an ISO container, so that the combined height of two folded and stacked shipping platforms equals the height of one low-cube ISO container. These width and height dimensions for the shipping platform thus facilitate close-packed configurations of shipping platforms and ISO containers, maximizing space utilization. The length of the shipping platform preferably is about 40 feet so that it can fit in the holds of modern container ships and engage the T-shaped cell guide members on the bulkheads of the hold. Cell guide slots at appropriate locations on each end of the shipping platform are provided for this purpose. The shipping platform may be longer than 40 feet if used only above deck. Built-in lashing points around the perimeter of the shipping platform facilitate securing the cargo to the shipping platform. 
         [0008]    Further objects, features and advantages will become apparent upon consideration of the following detailed description of the invention when taken in conjunction with the drawings and the appended claims. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0009]      FIG. 1  is a corner perspective view of a shipping platform according to the invention. 
           [0010]      FIG. 2  is an end perspective view of the shipping platform of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0011]      FIG. 3  is a top plan view of the base of the shipping platform of  FIG. 1 , with a portion of the cargo floor cut away and the end frames removed for clarity. 
           [0012]      FIG. 4  is a longitudinal sectional view of the base taken along line  4 - 4  in  FIG. 3 . 
           [0013]      FIG. 5  is a transverse sectional view of the base taken along line  5 - 5  in  FIG. 3 . 
           [0014]      FIG. 6  is a detail sectional view of one end beam of the base taken along  6 - 6  in  FIG. 3 . 
           [0015]      FIG. 7  is a front elevation view of an end frame of the shipping platform of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0016]      FIG. 8  is a side elevation view of the end frame of  FIG. 7 . 
           [0017]      FIG. 9  is a top plan view of the end frame of  FIG. 7 . 
           [0018]      FIG. 10  is an end elevation view of the shipping platform of  FIG. 1 , showing the end frame in a upright position and two side brace frames swung inwardly and tied together. 
           [0019]      FIG. 11  is a composite side elevation view of the shipping platform of  FIG. 1 , showing an upright end frame on the right side, and showing a folded end frame on the left side with another shipping platform and folded end frame stacked thereon. 
           [0020]      FIG. 12  is a perspective view of two 12 feet wide shipping platforms according to the invention (with end frames folded) stacked atop two adjacent and underlying 8 feet wide ISO containers, with the upper shipping platform engaged by a gantry crane. 
           [0021]      FIG. 13  is an end perspective view of several stacks of 8 feet wide ISO containers and 12 feet wide shipping platforms according to the invention in the hold of a ship. 
           [0022]      FIG. 14  is an end perspective view, similar to  FIG. 13 , showing a different arrangement of ISO containers and shipping platforms. 
           [0023]      FIG. 15  is a close-up of a portion of  FIG. 13 , showing the shipping platform&#39;s cell guide openings in alignment with those of the containers. 
           [0024]      FIG. 16  is a corner perspective view showing the manner in which 8 feet wide ISO containers and 12 feet wide shipping platforms according to the invention can be securely disposed in the hold of a container ship. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
       [0025]    Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , a 12 feet wide by 40 feet long shipping platform  10  according to the invention generally comprises a base  100  and two end frames  200  that are hinged to the base. The base  100  comprises a cargo floor  102  having a central flat section  104  and sloping end sections  106  at opposite ends of the central flat section  104 . The structural perimeter of the base  100  is comprised of I-beam type, web-reinforced side rails  108 , and robust tubular end beams  110  welded to the side rails  108 . A center sloped projection  111  and two side sloped projections  113  are welded to the front face of each box tubular end beam  110  and define two cell guide slots  115  that are spaced and sized such that one slot  115  on each end of the shipping platform  10  will always engage a T-shaped cell guide member  105  on a bulkhead  107  in the hold of a cargo ship ( FIGS. 13-16 ). Specifically, for this 12 feet wide shipping platform  10 , the cell guide slots  115  are about 12 inches deep, about 12 inches wide, and about 5 feet on center to accommodate variations in the location and thickness of the T-shaped cell guide members  105  on the bulkheads  107 . The sloped top surfaces of side sloped projections  113  are rough to maximize traction as a vehicle is driven up onto the cargo floor  102 . 
         [0026]    Referring to  FIGS. 3-6 , the cargo floor  102  preferably comprises longitudinal wooden planks  130  screwed to an underlying base support structure  129 . The base support structure  129  comprises laterally extending joists  132  welded at their ends the side rails  108 , and supported centrally by a longitudinal I-beams-type center rails  134 . In addition, three laterally extending C-section members  135  connect the center rails  134  to each other and to the side rails  108 , near the bottom. Diagonal braces  136  stiffen the entire support structure. The ends of the planks  130  adjacent each tubular end beam  110  rest on a flange  138  welded to the tubular end beam  110  ( FIG. 6 ). Cargo tie-down rings  142  are provided around the perimeter of the base  100  and are hinged to the side rails  108  and to the tubular end beams  110 . 
         [0027]    Referring again to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , upstanding hinge assemblies  112  at the ends of side rails  108  provide pivotal mounting points for corner posts  202  of end frames  200 . Each hinge assembly  112  has a pair of spaced aperture plates  114  between which the lower end  204  of one of the corner post  202  is hinged by means of a hinge pin  116  ( FIGS. 7 and 8 ). Hinge assembly  112  also has a post-like member  118  with an ISO corner casting  119  welded on top. The post-like member  118  provides an upright shoulder that serves as a rotational stop for the corner post  202  in its upright position. Each corner post  202  also carries a safety lock assembly  120 , which connects to the corner casting  119  when the end frame  200  is upright. The safety lock assembly  120  ensures that the end frame  200  will not drop unintentionally from an upright position when its side brace frames  240  are not secure, such as during end frame erecting or folding procedures. The post-like members  118  also facilitate alignment during stacking of folded shipping platforms by providing corner casting apertures  121  for engaging semi-automatic twist-locks for stacking and shipping ( FIGS. 10 and 12 ). The height of post-like members  118  is about 4 feet, 3 inches, which is half the height of the low-cube ISO container  20 . Consequently, when two folded shipping platforms  10  are stacked on each other, the combined height of the two stacked shipping platforms  10  equals the height of one low-cube ISO container  20 . 
         [0028]    Side brace frames  240 , each of which is pivotally connected to a respective corner post  202  by a pair of hinges  242  ( FIG. 10 ), stably support the end frames in an upright position when the lower ends of the side brace frames  240  are secured to the tops of the side rails  108 . Securement of the end frames is provided by four brace frame lock shaft assemblies  244  carried by the side rails  108 . Each lock shaft assembly  244  includes a slidable lock shaft releasably engageable with an aperture in the lower end of an adjacent side brace frame  240 . 
         [0029]    Referring to  FIGS. 1 ,  2 , and  7 - 11 , a header assembly  210  interconnects the tops of the corner posts  202  of each end frame  200 . Header assembly  210  comprises a number of members welded together to form a top beam  214  having two side projecting portions  216  and one central projecting portion  218 . A D-ring  219  is attached to the central projecting portion  218 . The D-ring  219  is used to raise from and lower the end frame  200  its folded position ( FIGS. 11 and 12 ) and its upright position ( FIGS. 1 and 2 ). Projecting portions  216  and  218  together define two upper cell guide slots  220  that are as wide as the lower cell guide slots  115  and are vertically aligned with the lower cell guide slots  115  so that one of the upper guide slots  220  also will always engage a T-shaped cell guide member  105  on a bulkhead  107  in the hold of a cargo ship. Inner and outer gusset plates  222  and  224  are welded to top beam  214  and to corner posts  202 . A pair of aperture lock bars  226  project inwardly near the upper end of each end frame  200 , and are adapted to be pinned to aperture side rail lock plates  140  on side rails  108  when the end frames  200  are released from brace lock shaft assemblies  224  and folded. When the end frames  200  are folded, the lower ends of each pair of side brace frames  240  preferably are stabilized by means of a stabilizing rod  241  ( FIGS. 11 and 12 ) that couples the ends together. 
         [0030]    In a standard configuration, the preferred height of the end frames  200  of the shipping platform  10  is about 12 feet, 9 inches (with end frames upright), making the shipping platform  10  one-and-one-half times the height of the low-cube ISO container  20 , which is 8 feet, 6 inches high. Consequently, the combined height of two stacked shipping platforms  10  (25 feet, 6 inches) equals the combined height of three stacked ISO containers  20 . In an alternative embodiment, the height of the end frames  200  can be adjusted to take into account cargo size and/or headroom factors. This can be accomplished by adjustably connecting the header assembly  210  to the corner posts  202  by means of, for example, inner posts (not shown) integral with the header assembly  210  that telescope into the upper ends of the hollow corner posts  202 , each inner post secured by a pin that extends through aligned holes  203  in the telescoping members ( FIG. 7 ). 
         [0031]    Twist-lock apertures  146 ,  246 ,  250 , and  252  are provided at strategic locations on the shipping platform  10  to permit the shipping platform  10  to mate with conventional ISO containers  20  and other shipping platforms  10  and to permit loading and unloading by commonly used cranes and other loading devices. Referring to  FIGS. 1 ,  2 , and  11 , each end of the base  100  has two outboard twist-lock apertures  146  formed near the corners of the base, and two inboard twist-lock apertures  146  formed near the corners of projection  111  ( FIG. 2 ). Referring additionally to  FIGS. 2 and 7 , each header assembly  210  similarly has two outboard twist-lock apertures  246  formed near the corners of the header, and two inboard twist-lock apertures  246  formed near the corners of projection  218 . The horizontal spacing of these lower twist-lock apertures  146  and upper twist-lock apertures  246  is the same, viz., the horizontal spacing between the corner twist-lock apertures of  8  feet wide ISO containers  20 . Thus, as seen in  FIGS. 12-16 , when shipping platforms  10  according to the invention are stacked above (or below) 8 feet wide ISO containers  20 , two twist-lock apertures of each shipping platform  10  are vertically aligned with the corner twist-lock apertures of ISO containers  20  below. Consequently, all of the shipping platforms  10  and the ISO containers  20  can be secured together, and the cell guide slots  115  and  220  of the shipping platform  10  can accommodate the T-shaped cell guide members  105  of any thickness. 
         [0032]    Two additional inboard twist-lock apertures  250  ( FIG. 2 ) are provided below the top of each header assembly  210 . These twist-lock apertures  250  face upwardly when the end frames  200  are folded and serve as lift points for a gantry crane  249  or other type of lift equipment ( FIG. 12 ). Another pair of twist-lock apertures  252  are provided along the top of header assembly  210  for picking up the erected units ( FIG. 9 ). Twist-lock apertures  252  are located in such a way as to allow the gantry crane&#39;s spreader to clear the upper cell guide slots  220  in the header assembly  210 . 
         [0033]    In order to facilitate handling of the shipping platform  10  by a forklift, optional forklift pockets  109  ( FIG. 10 ) are formed by two open transverse tubes that extend into the width of the shipping platform  10  and are welded to the side rails  108  and to the center rails  134 . The forklift pockets  109  preferably are symmetrically arranged lengthwise of the shipping platform  10 , and are about 6 inches high, about 16 inches wide, and about 6 feet, 8¾ inches on center. Vertical stiffening ribs  117  are welded to the side rails  108  adjacent the forklift pockets  109  for added reinforcement. 
         [0034]    Steel is the preferred material for most components of the shipping platform  10  according to the invention, and welding is the preferred method of making virtually all of the permanent connections. One major exception is the cargo floor  102 , which, as noted, preferably is made of pressure-treated wood planks  130  that are screwed to the underlying latterly extending joists  132 . Screw fasteners facilitate replacement of broken and worn planks as needed. Other suitable materials and fastening methods may be used, as will be appreciated by those skilled in the art. 
         [0035]      FIGS. 12-16  illustrate the stacking of the 12 feet wide shipping platform  10  according to the invention atop 8 feet wide ISO containers  20 . Particularly, with one longitudinal edge of the shipping platform  10  aligned with one longitudinal edge of the first underlying ISO container  20   a  ( FIG. 12 ), about one-third of the width of the shipping platform  10  extends over one-half the width of the second adjacent and underlying ISO container  20   b.  While the central portion of the second adjacent and underlying ISO container  20   b  is not as strong vertically as its corner posts, the second adjacent and underlying ISO container  20   b  is not subject to damage by the overhanging portion of the shipping platform  10  because of the high lateral bending stiffness of the base  100  of the shipping platform  10 . The bending stiffness of the base  100  results from its robust tubular end beams  110  ( FIGS. 3 and 6 ), which are welded to side rails  108  and whose projections  111  and  113  directly overlie the corner posts of the first underlying ISO container  20   a.  Additional lateral bending stiffness of the entire shipping platform  10  is afforded by the robust, gusseted upright end frames  200 , which are solidly secured to the base  100 . Thus, the shipping platform  10  remains stable and well-supported at points spaced 8 feet apart primarily by the first underlying ISO container  20   a,  even though about one-third of the shipping platform&#39;s  10  width overhangs the second adjacent and underlying ISO container  20   b.    
         [0036]      FIGS. 13 and 14  illustrate that two side-by-side shipping platforms  10  according to the invention span the width of three 8 feet wide ISO containers  20 , and are well supported by the corner posts of the two outer ISO containers  20   a  while overhanging the middle ISO container  20   b.  These figures also illustrate that two stacked shipping platforms  10  according to the invention span the height of three stacked low-cube ISO containers  20 .  FIG. 16  shows a perspective view of the stack shown in  FIG. 14  with the upper cell guide slots  220  engaging the T-shaped cell guide members  105  attached to the bulkhead  107 . 
         [0037]    While this invention has been described with reference to preferred embodiments thereof, it is to be understood that variations and modifications can be affected within the spirit and scope of the invention as described herein and as described in the appended claims.