Patent Publication Number: US-2021171082-A1

Title: Wheel adapter for providing rolling mobility to a cargo container

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a Continuation-In-Part Utility Patent application claiming priority to U.S. Utility patent application Ser. No. 15/594,037, filed on May 12, 2017, which in turn claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional patent Application Ser. No. 62/336,011, filed on May 13, 2016, both of which are incorporated by reference herein in their entirety. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates generally to cargo containers, and more particularly, to a wheel adapter for a cargo container which can be attached to a cargo container to impart a rolling mobility to the cargo container. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Shipping containers, also known as cargo containers, are used to load cargo onto and unload the cargo from a ship, truck, train or other means of transportation, and to carry the cargo in an organized and relocatable manner on a means of transportation. For example, intermodal containers are large standardized shipping containers used to transport cargo using different modes of transport without the requirement of unloading and reloading the cargo. ISO containers are an example of intermodal containers. 
     Conventional cargo containers typically include a floor, walls extending from the floor and a roof on the walls. One or more doors may be provided in the walls of the containers. Containers can also typically include fasteners, or fastening portions to which fasteners can be coupled, to allow securing the containers during loading, unloading and transportation. For instance, ISO containers include eight ISO connectors, one at each corner of the container, for attaching ISO compliant fasteners. 
     When loaded with cargo, a cargo container may be sufficiently heavy to require machinery for transport. Accordingly, forklifts, cranes or other machinery are commonly used to transport the containers over short distances such as onto and from a means of transportation or among various locations in a storage facility. In some applications, however, forklifts, cranes or other machinery may not be available or may be in limited supply, particularly in the event that a large number of cargo containers require movement over short distances. 
     Ideally, it would be extremely useful to be able to attach a set of wheels to a container. However, a forklift, crane or other machinery is envisaged as still being necessary to lift the container and allow attaching the set of wheels to the container. 
     Accordingly, there is an established need for a preferably wheeled device or apparatus that imparts short-range mobility to the cargo container, and yet does not require the use of a crane, forklift or other complex machinery to install or utilize the device. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention is directed to a wheel adapter for connecting to a cargo container and providing the cargo container with rolling mobility. The wheel adapter includes an adapter body, one or more wheels rotatable with respect to the adapter body, and a container connector extending from the adapter body for connection to the cargo container. A pusher mechanism engages the adapter body and is operable to move the adapter body relative to the wheel or wheels in order to vary the vertical placement of the wheel(s) in relation to the container connector. For example, the pusher mechanism can include a wheel-displacement bolt for translationally moving the wheel(s) upward and downward with respect to the container connector, and/or an airbag unit for pivoting the adapter body in relation to the wheel(s) and thus lowering or raising the wheel(s) with respect to the container connector. Accordingly, in an exemplary application, a respective wheel adapter can be attached to each side of the cargo container. The pusher mechanism of each wheel adapter can be operated to selectively raise the container and facilitate rolling displacement of the container along a floor or support surface. 
     In a first implementation of the invention, a wheel adapter for lifting a cargo container and providing rolling mobility to the cargo container comprises an adapter body. A container connector is carried by and extends outward from the adapter body. The container connector is configured for connection to a cargo container. The wheel adapter further includes at least one wheel, rotatable relative to the adapter body, and a pusher mechanism engaging the adapter body. The wheel adapter is configured to selectively and reversibly adopt a first position and a second position by operating the pusher mechanism. In the first position, the bottom of the at least one wheel is at a first vertical position relative to the container connector. In the second position, the bottom of the at least one wheel is at a second vertical position relative to the container connector which is lower than the first vertical position, and the bottom of the at least one wheel contacts a ground or support surface. 
     In a second aspect, the container connector can be pivotably attached to the adapter body. 
     In another aspect, the container connector can be non-movably attached to the adapter body. 
     In another aspect, the at least one wheel can be rotatably coupled to and carried by a wheel support. The wheel support can be translationally movable relative to the adapter body and coupled to the pusher mechanism such that operation of the pusher mechanism causes the wheel adapter to switch between the first and second positions by translationally moving the wheel support and at least one wheel relative to the adapter body. 
     In another aspect, the at least one wheel may be suspended from the pusher mechanism when the wheel adapter is in the first position. 
     In yet another aspect, the pusher mechanism can include a wheel-displacement bolt threadably engaging the adapter body and comprising a bolt head for the application of a torque on the bolt head to rotate the wheel-displacement bolt. 
     In another aspect, the bolt head is preferably accessible and operable from outside the wheel adapter. 
     In another aspect, the wheel-displacement bolt can be registered with the at least one wheel such that threading the wheel-displacement bolt into the adapter body pushes the at least one wheel downward relative to the container connector to switch the wheel adapter to the second position. 
     In another aspect, the wheel-displacement bolt can be coupled to the at least one wheel such that unthreading (i.e. reverse threading) the wheel-displacement bolt from the adapter body elevates the at least one wheel relative to the container connector to switch the wheel adapter to the first position. 
     In yet another aspect, the container connector may be pivotably attached to the adapter body about a first rotation axis. In turn, the at least one wheel may be rotatably carried by the adapter body about a second rotation axis arranged rearward of and parallel to the first rotation axis. The wheel-displacement bolt can be arranged frontward of the first rotation axis and configured to be threaded into the adapter body to push against the container connector and cause the adapter body to pivot about the first rotation axis such that the at least one wheel responsively descends in relation to the container connector to switch the wheel adapter to the second position. 
     In another aspect, the adapter body can include a first adapter body portion extending upward from a rotation axis of the at least one wheel, and a second adapter body portion extending frontward of the rotation axis of the at least one wheel. The pusher mechanism can be carried by the first adapter body portion and the container connector can be carried by the second adapter body portion. 
     In another aspect, the pusher mechanism can include an inflatable and deflatable airbag unit arranged in contact with the adapter body. The wheel adapter may be configured to adopt the second position by inflating the airbag unit such that the airbag unit pushes and causes rotation of the adapter body relative to the at least one wheel, thereby causing the container connector to rotate carried by the adapter body and to elevate relative to the at least one wheel. 
     In another aspect, the wheel-displacement bolt can be configured to push the at least one wheel set downward thereby increasing separation between the airbag unit and the bottom of the at least one wheel. 
     In yet another aspect, the wheel-displacement bolt may also be configured to pull the at least one wheel set upward thereby decreasing separation between the airbag unit and the bottom of the at least one wheel. 
     These and other objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will become more readily apparent from the attached drawings and the detailed description of the preferred embodiments, which follow. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The preferred embodiments of the invention will hereinafter be described in conjunction with the appended drawings provided to illustrate and not to limit the invention, where like designations denote like elements, and in which: 
         FIG. 1  presents an exploded isometric view of a pair of wheel adapters connected to a respective pair of ISO connectors on an ISO cargo container in accordance with a first illustrative embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  presents an exploded isometric view of one of the wheel adapters illustrated in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  presents an exploded isometric view of the wheel adapter illustrated in  FIG. 2 , with the container connector in an assembled configuration; 
         FIG. 4  presents an isometric view of the partially-assembled wheel adapter, more particularly illustrating typical attachment of a wheel to the wheel axle; 
         FIG. 5  presents an isometric view of the wheel adapter in a first position, in which the wheels are elevated relative to the adapter housing, more particularly illustrating rotation of the wheel-displacement bolt to elevate the adapter housing; 
         FIG. 6  presents an isometric view of the wheel adapter in a second position, in which the wheels are lowered relative to the adapter housing; 
         FIG. 7  presents a cross-sectional side elevation view of the wheel adapter in the first position of  FIG. 5 , further illustrating the ISO container; 
         FIG. 8  presents a cross-sectional side elevation view of the wheel adapter in the second position of  FIG. 6 , further illustrating the ISO container; 
         FIG. 9  presents a side elevation view of the wheel adapter on the cargo container (shown only partially), with the wheel adapter in the first position of  FIG. 5 ; 
         FIG. 10  presents a side elevation view of the wheel adapter on the cargo container, with the wheel adapter in the second position of  FIG. 6 ; 
         FIG. 11  presents an exploded isometric view of a pair of wheel adapters connected to a respective pair of ISO connectors on an ISO cargo container in accordance with a second illustrative embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 12  presents an exploded isometric view of one of the wheel adapters illustrated in  FIG. 11 ; 
         FIG. 13  presents a partially-exploded isometric view of the wheel adapter illustrated in  FIG. 12 , with the container connector in exploded view and the wheel assembled; 
         FIG. 14  presents a partially-exploded isometric view of the wheel adapter illustrated in  FIG. 12 , more particularly illustrating typical engagement of the wheel-displacement bolt with the adapter housing; 
         FIG. 15  presents an isometric view of the wheel adapter of  FIG. 12  in a first position, in which the wheel is elevated relative to the container connector, more particularly illustrating rotation of the wheel-displacement bolt to elevate the adapter housing; 
         FIG. 16  presents an isometric view of the wheel adapter of  FIG. 12  in a second position, in which the wheel is lowered relative to the container connector; 
         FIG. 17  presents a cross-sectional side elevation view of the wheel adapter in the first position of  FIG. 15 , further illustrating the ISO container; 
         FIG. 18  presents a cross-sectional side elevation view of the wheel adapter in the second position of  FIG. 16 , further illustrating the ISO container; 
         FIG. 19  presents a side elevation view of the wheel adapter of  FIG. 12  on the cargo container (shown only partially), with the wheel adapter in the first position of  FIG. 15 ; 
         FIG. 20  presents a side elevation view of the wheel adapter of  FIG. 12  on the cargo container, with the wheel adapter in the second position of  FIG. 16 ; 
         FIG. 21  presents an exploded top front isometric view of a pair of wheel adapters connected to a respective pair of ISO connectors on an ISO cargo container in accordance with a third illustrative embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 22  presents a top rear isometric view of one of the wheel adapters illustrated in  FIG. 21 ; 
         FIG. 23  presents an exploded top rear isometric view of the wheel adapter illustrated in  FIG. 22 ; 
         FIG. 24  presents an exploded bottom front isometric view of the wheel adapter illustrated in  FIG. 22 ; 
         FIG. 25  presents a side elevation view of the wheel adapter of  FIG. 22 , the wheel-displacement bolt in a threaded position that causes the wheel to be translationally displaced downward and lowered in relation to the container connector; 
         FIG. 26  presents a top plan view of the wheel adapter of  FIG. 25 , indicating the section plane used to generate the cross-sectional side elevation views of  FIGS. 27-29 ; 
         FIG. 27  presents a cross-sectional side elevation view of the wheel adapter of  FIG. 22  attached to a cargo container, the wheel adapter shown in a first position in which the wheel-displacement bolt is unthreaded from the adapter body, the wheel is raised from the ground, and the airbag unit is deflated, the figure further illustrating the cargo container resting on the ground; 
         FIG. 28  presents a cross-sectional side elevation view of the wheel adapter and cargo container of  FIG. 27  in a second position, in which the wheel-displacement bolt is threaded into the adapter body, the wheel is pushed by the bolt to contact the ground, and the airbag unit remains deflated, with the cargo container still resting on the ground; 
         FIG. 29  presents a cross-sectional side elevation view of the wheel adapter and cargo container of  FIG. 27  in a third position, in which the wheel-displacement bolt is threaded into the adapter body, the wheel continues to rest on the ground, and the airbag unit is inflated causing the adapter body to pivot relative to the wheel and the container connector to responsively ascend relative to the wheel, thereby elevating the cargo container from the ground; 
         FIG. 30  presents a side elevation view of the wheel adapter and cargo container in the position of  FIG. 28 ; and 
         FIG. 31  presents a side elevation view of the wheel adapter and cargo container in the position of  FIG. 29 . 
     
    
    
     Like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout the several views of the drawings. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The following detailed description is merely exemplary in nature and is not intended to limit the described embodiments or the application and uses of the described embodiments. As used herein, the word “exemplary” or “illustrative” means “serving as an example, instance, or illustration.” Any implementation described herein as “exemplary” or “illustrative” is not necessarily to be construed as preferred or advantageous over other implementations. All of the implementations described below are exemplary implementations provided to enable persons skilled in the art to make or use the embodiments of the disclosure and are not intended to limit the scope of the disclosure, which is defined by the claims. For purposes of description herein, the terms “upper”, “lower”, “left”, “rear”, “right”, “front”, “vertical”, “horizontal”, and derivatives thereof shall relate to the invention as oriented in  FIG. 1 . Furthermore, there is no intention to be bound by any expressed or implied theory presented in the preceding technical field, background, brief summary or the following detailed description. It is also to be understood that the specific devices and processes illustrated in the attached drawings, and described in the following specification, are simply exemplary embodiments of the inventive concepts defined in the appended claims. Hence, specific dimensions and other physical characteristics relating to the embodiments disclosed herein are not to be considered as limiting, unless the claims expressly state otherwise. 
     Shown throughout the figures, the present invention is directed toward a wheel adapter which can be attached to a cargo container to impart a rolling mobility to the cargo container. 
     Referring initially to  FIGS. 1-10 , a wheel adapter for a cargo container, hereinafter wheel adapter  100 , is illustrated in accordance with a first exemplary embodiment of the present invention. As shown for instance in  FIG. 2 , the wheel adapter  100  includes an adapter housing or body  102 . In some embodiments, the adapter body  102  may include a front wall  104 , a rear wall  106 , a bottom wall  108 , a top wall  110  and a housing interior  112 . An interiorly-threaded bolt opening  114  extends through the top wall  110 . By interiorly-threaded, it is understood that the bolt opening  114  provides a female threaded connection. 
     A container connector  115  may extend outward from the adapter body  102  in a front-to-back, longitudinal direction x along a central axis  190  of the container connector  115 . The container connector  115  is configured to attach the wheel adapter  100  to a cargo container; for instance and without limitation, the container connector  115  can be configured for connection to a standard ISO connector  302  on an ISO cargo container  300 , shown for example in  FIG. 1 . As illustrated in  FIGS. 2 and 7 , in some embodiments, the container connector  115  may include a container coupling bolt  116  and a bolt head  118 . The container coupling bolt  116  may extend from the front wall  104  of the adapter body  102  in a non-movable relationship with the front wall  104  of the adapter body  102 . In some embodiments, as shown in the figures, the container coupling bolt  116  may be integrally formed with the adapter body  102  into a single-piece unit; in other embodiments, the container coupling bolt  116  may be formed as a separate unit and non-movably attached to the adapter body  102 , such as by welding. A regular nut  120  and a lock nut  122  may be threaded on the container coupling bolt  116 . The regular nut  120  and the lock nut  122  facilitate coupling of the container coupling bolt  116 , and thus the adapter body  102 , to the cargo container  300 . 
     A wheel axle  130  may be formed along a central axis  102  and extend through the adapter body  102 . The wheel axle  130  and central axis  192  are arranged preferably in a left-to-right, transverse direction y which is perpendicular to the longitudinal direction x. A pair of wheels  132  may be provided on the wheel axle  130 . The wheel axle  130  may be mounted in the adapter body  102 . As illustrated in  FIGS. 2 and 3 , in some embodiments, an axle coupling  124  may be disposed in the housing interior  112  of the adapter body  102 . The axle coupling  124  may be generally T-shaped with an axle receiving portion  126  extending along the transverse direction transverse direction y and about the same central axis  192  as the wheel axle  130 , and an interiorly-non-threaded, cylindrical bolt receiving portion  128  which can extend upward from a central portion of the axle receiving portion  126  along a central axis  194  which is preferably arranged in a lateral direction z perpendicular to the longitudinal and transverse directions x and y. A C-clip  129  is non-movably secured to the bolt receiving portion  128  (fitted into a recess  128   a  provided in an inner wall of the bolt receiving portion  128 ) for purposes that will be described hereinafter. The axle receiving portion  126  is shaped and sized to receive the wheel axle  130  therethrough. The axle receiving portion  126  and wheel axle  130  jointly provide a wheel support, for rotatably supporting the wheels  132 . The wheels  132  are configured to rotate freely in relation to the housing  102 ; for instance and without limitation, the wheels  132  can be rotatably coupled to the wheel axle  130  or the wheel axle  130  can be rotatably coupled to the axle receiving portion  126  by ball bearings or other suitable techniques known by those skilled in the art. When the wheel adapter  100  is assembled, the wheel axle  130  extends through the axle receiving portion  126 , and the bolt receiving portion  128  aligns or registers with the bolt opening  114  for purposes which will be hereinafter described. 
     As particularly illustrated in  FIGS. 7 and 8 , a pusher mechanism or wheel-displacement bolt  134  may be threaded to the bolt opening  114 , into the adapter body  102  and inserted into the bolt receiving portion  128  of the axle coupling  124 . The wheel-displacement bolt  134  includes a bolt head  135  which is accessible and operable from outside the wheel adapter  100 , and more preferably arranged outside the adapter body  102  to facilitate the coupling of a torque-applying tool or device (not shown) onto the bolt head  135 . The wheel-displacement bolt  134  further includes a threaded shaft  136 , a partially-conical and partially-cylindrical neck portion  137  which is narrower than and extends from the threaded shaft  136 , and a conical end portion  138  which extends from and end of the neck portion  137  and is wider than said end of the neck portion  137  and preferably narrower than the threaded shaft  136 . A stop surface  189  of the end portion  138  extends radially from said end of the neck portion  137 , as best shown in  FIGS. 2 and 7 . The wheel-displacement bolt  134  is movably received in the bolt receiving portion  128 , and is able to move within the bolt receiving portion  128  both axially (along central axis  194 ) and rotationally (about central axis  194 ). The axial movement of the wheel-displacement bolt  134  relative to the bolt receiving portion  128  is limited by the C-clip  129 . The wheel-displacement bolt  134  is registered with the wheels  132  such that threading the wheel-displacement bolt  134  into the adapter body  102  pushes the wheels  132  downward for purposes that will be hereinafter described. 
     In some embodiments, as shown in  FIG. 7 , a central longitudinal axis of the wheel-displacement bolt  134  (arranged in the lateral direction z) may be vertically aligned with a central longitudinal axis of the wheel axle  130  (arranged in the transverse direction y). The axle coupling  124  is movable laterally (i.e. in the lateral direction z) within and in relation to the adapter body  102 . As will be described in greater detail hereinafter, by adjusting the degree of threading and insertion of the wheel-displacement bolt  134  into the bolt opening  114  of the adapter body  102 , the lateral position of the axle coupling  124  relative to the adapter body  102  and container connector  115  is adjusted, thereby adjusting the vertical position of the wheel axle  130  relative to the adapter body  102  and container connector  115 . For instance, the axle coupling  124  and wheel axle  130  can be selectively deployed in a first or elevated position relative to the container connector  115 , as illustrated in  FIGS. 5 and 7 , typically by counterclockwise threading of the wheel-displacement bolt  134  in the bolt opening  114  of the adapter body  102 ; accordingly, the housing  102  and container connector  115  are deployed in a lowered position relative to the axle coupling  124  and wheel axle  130 . Alternatively, the axle coupling  124  and wheel axle  130  can be selectively deployed in a second or lowered position relative to the container connector  115 , as illustrated in  FIGS. 6 and 8 , typically by clockwise threading of the wheel-displacement bolt  134  in the bolt opening  114  of the adapter body  102 ; accordingly, the housing  102  and container connector  115  are deployed in an elevated position relative to the axle coupling  124  and wheel axle  130 , and the wheel  132  is in a lowered position in which a bottom end of the wheel provides a bottom end of the wheel adapter  100 . Although not shown, intermediate positions are possible, by only partially threading the wheel-displacement bolt  134  into the adapter body  102 . 
     As illustrated in  FIGS. 1 and 7-10 , in typical application, two or more wheel adapters  100  are attached to a cargo container  300  to facilitate rolling mobility of the cargo container  300  on a support surface  310 . The cargo container  300  may be a standard shipping container known in the art including but not limited to a standard ISO shipping container, as shown in the drawings. As best shown in  FIG. 1 , a standard ISO connector  302  is provided on each of the six corners of the standard ISO cargo container  300  as known in the art. In some applications, four wheel adapters  100  in accordance with the invention can be respectively attached to the four bottom corners of the cargo container  300 ; in other applications, such as that of  FIG. 1 , only two wheel adapters  100  can be connected to two opposed bottom ISO connectors  302  of the cargo container  300 . The container connector  115  of each wheel adapter  100  couples with the companion ISO connector  302  to facilitate attachment of the wheel adapters  100  to the cargo container  300 . Standard ISO connectors  302  are highly resistant to cargo weight and pulling and pushing forces on the cargo container  300 . Therefore, because the wheel adapter  100  typically connects to the standard ISO connector  302  on the cargo container  300 , the connection between the wheel adapter  100  and the cargo container  300  is particularly robust. 
     As illustrated in  FIGS. 7 and 9 , each wheel adapter  100  may initially be deployed in a first position with the cargo container  300  resting on the support surface  310 . In this first position, the wheel-displacement bolt  134  has been threaded in the counterclockwise direction relative to the bolt opening  114  of the adapter body  102 , as illustrated in  FIGS. 5 and 7 , and threaded out of the adapter body  102  in an upward direction. During the unthreading and rising of the wheel-displacement bolt  134 , the stop surface  139  of the end portion  138  of the wheel-displacement bolt  134  has risen and contacted C-clip  129  and exerted an upward traction force on the C-clip  129 , causing the C-clip  129 , axle coupling  124 , wheel axle  130  and wheels  132  to jointly rise, suspended from the wheel-displacement bolt  134 . In the first position of  FIGS. 5 and 7 , the wheel-displacement bolt  134  is sufficiently unthreaded from the adapter body  102  to position the wheels  132  in an elevated position relative to the support surface  310 . 
     From this first position, a torque may be applied on the bolt head  135  of the wheel-displacement bolt  134  in the clockwise direction to thread the wheel-displacement bolt  134  into the bolt opening  114  of the adapter body  102 . Threading the wheel-displacement bolt  134  into the adapter body  102  causes the wheel-displacement bolt  134  and the components that are suspended from the wheel-displacement bolt  134  (i.e. the C-clip  129 , axle coupling  124 , wheel axle  130  and wheels  132 ) to jointly descend (translationally move downward), eventually causing the wheels  132  to reach the support surface  310 . Once the wheels  132  have contacted the support surface  310 , this contact prevents the wheels  132 , wheel axle  130 , axle coupling  124  and wheel-displacement bolt  134  from moving further downwards; thus, further continued threading of the wheel-displacement bolt  134  into the adapter body  102  causes the bolt opening  114  (and thus the adapter body  102 ) to displace upward with respect to the wheel-displacement bolt  134  as the wheel-displacement bolt  134  rotates but no longer moves axially downward. In consequence, the container connector  115  (which is affixed to the adapter body  102 ) and the cargo container  300  (which is attached to the container connector  115 ) are caused to jointly move upward relative to the wheels  132 , wheel axle  130 , axle coupling  124  and wheel-displacement bolt  134 , lifting the cargo container  300  off the support surface  310 . The illustrations of  FIGS. 8 and 10  show the wheel adapter  100  in a second position, in which the wheel-displacement bolt  134  has been threaded as deeply as possible into the adapter body  102  and the bolt head  135  rests against the adapter body  102 , and the cargo container  300  significantly lifted from the support surface  310 . In this second position, a bottom end of the wheel-displacement bolt  134  opposite the bolt head  135  is received in the bolt receiving portion  128 , ensuring that the wheel-displacement bolt  134  remains in correct alignment with the axle coupling  124  and wheel axle  130  regardless of longitudinal or transverse forces which may be exerted on the wheel-displacement bolt  134  or other components of the wheel adapter  100 ; more specifically, when aligned, the central axis  194  of the wheel-displacement bolt  134  is preferably coplanar to the central axis  192  of the wheel axle  130 . Furthermore, in this second position, the bottom end  133  of the wheel  132  rests on the support surface  310 . This lifting sequence can be repeated on a wheel adapter  100  affixed to an opposite corner of the cargo container  300 . The raised cargo container  300  can be transported on the support surface  310  typically by lifting an opposite end of the cargo container  300  and pulling or pushing the cargo container  300  as the two wheels  132  roll on the support surface  310 . Alternatively, the lifting sequence can be repeated on wheel adapters  100  provided on all four bottom corners of the cargo container  300 , to completely lift the cargo container  300  to become supported on four wheels  132  and allow the cargo container  300  to be displaced by pulling or pushing the cargo container  300  as the four wheels  132  roll on the support surface  310 . In this manner, the cargo container  300  can be easily moved, such as from a cargo storage area onto a transport vehicle, from the transport vehicle to the cargo storage area or from one place to another within a lot. 
     After the cargo container  300  has arrived at the intended destination, the wheel adapters  100  can again be operated to the first position of  FIGS. 5, 7 and 9  typically by counterclockwise rotation of the head  135  of the wheel-displacement bolt  134  relative to the adapter body  102  and the axle coupling  124  of each corresponding wheel adapter  100 . This action lowers the cargo container  300  back onto the support surface  310 , as illustrated in  FIG. 9 . In some applications, the wheel adapters  100  can be detached from the cargo container  300  by uncoupling the container connectors  115  on the respective wheel adapters  100  from the respective ISO connectors  302  ( FIG. 1 ) on the cargo container  300 . Alternatively, in some applications, the wheel adapters  100  may remain in place on the cargo container  300  in anticipation of further transport requirements. 
     In summary, a cargo container wheel adapter  100  is provided which can elevate a cargo container  300  and provide a wheeled support by simply operating a wheel-displacement bolt  134 . In dependence of the degree to which the wheel-displacement bolt  134  is threaded into the adapter body  102  (i.e. the bolt opening  114 ), the vertical position of the adapter body  102  in relation to the wheels  132  can be adjusted. Thus, by adjusting the wheel-displacement bolt  134 , the cargo container  300  can be lifted from or lowered onto a support surface  310 , and can be supported or not on the wheels  132 . 
     Referring next to  FIGS. 11-20 , a wheel adapter  200  is shown in accordance with a second illustrative embodiment of the invention. Reference numerals which correspond to like elements of the wheel adapter  100  heretofore described with respect to  FIGS. 1-10  are designated by the same reference numerals in the 200-299 series in  FIGS. 11-20 . As illustrated in  FIG. 12 , the adapter housing or body  202  of the wheel adapter  200  may include a pair of generally elongated, parallel, spaced-apart side plates  250  arranged in a front-to-back, longitudinal direction z, and a connecting plate  264  extending between the side plates  250  at a front end of the adapter body  202 . A bolt opening  214  may extend through the connecting plate  264 . A pusher mechanism, constituted by a wheel-displacement bolt  234  formed along a central axis  294 , threadably engages the bolt opening  214  and is threadingly movable along a lateral direction z perpendicular to the longitudinal direction x. The wheel-displacement bolt  234  includes a bolt head  235  which is accessible and operable from outside the wheel adapter  200 . 
     A pair of wheel axle openings  252  may extend through the side plates  250  at a rear end of the adapter body  202 . The wheel axle openings  252  are aligned or in registration with one another along a left-to-right, transverse direction y perpendicular to the longitudinal and lateral directions x and z. A wheel axle  230 , formed along a central axis  292 , may extend through the wheel axle openings  252  and in the transverse direction y. A wheel  232  may be mounted for rotation on the wheel axle  230  between the side plates  250  of the adapter body  202 . 
     A container connector  215 , formed along a central axis  290 , is pivotally connected to the adapter body  202  and protrudes outward from the front end of the adapter body  202 . The container connector  215  is pivotally mounted between the side plates  250  of the adapter body  202 . For instance and without limitation, as illustrated in  FIG. 12 , in some embodiments, a pin coupling  258  may terminate the container coupling bolt  216  inside the adapter body  202 . The pin coupling  258  may include a neck  262  attached to or integrally formed with the container coupling bolt  216 , and a transverse, preferably cylindrical pin receiving portion  260  which terminates the neck  262 . A pair of aligned or registering pin openings  254  may extend through the side plates  250  at a point which is longitudinally between the bolt opening  214  in the connecting plate  264  and the wheel axle openings  252 . A pivot pin  256 , formed along a central axis  296 , may extend in the transverse direction y through the pin openings  254  and through the registering pin receiving portion  260  to pivotally mount the container connector  215  between the side plates  250  for purposes which will be hereinafter described. 
     As particularly illustrated in  FIGS. 17 and 18 , the wheel-displacement bolt  234  may abut against the container connector  215 . More specifically, the wheel-displacement bolt  234  may be threaded through the bolt opening  214  in the connecting plate  264  of the adapter body  202  and into engagement with the container coupling bolt  216  of the container connector  215 . In the present embodiment, as shown in  FIG. 17 , the central axis  294  of the wheel-displacement bolt  234  is longitudinally spaced-apart with respect to the central axis  292  of the wheel axle  230 , with the central axis  294  arranged frontward of the central axis  292 . In turn, the central axis  296  of the pivot pin  256  is arranged longitudinally rearward of the central axis  294  of the wheel-displacement bolt  234  and frontward of the central axis  292  of the wheel axle  230 . Thus, the pivot pin  256  forms an intermediate pivoting axis between the front and rear ends of the adapter body  202 . 
     The wheel adapter  200  can be selectively deployed in the lowered position, as illustrated in  FIGS. 15 and 17 , typically by applying a torque on a head  235  of the wheel-displacement bolt  234  to cause a counterclockwise threading of the wheel-displacement bolt  234  outward of the bolt opening  214 . This action lowers the front end of the adapter body  202  as the adapter body  202  pivots relative to the container coupling bolt  216  about the central axis  296  of the pivot pin  256 . Alternatively, the wheel adapter  200  can be selectively deployed in the raised position, as illustrated in  FIGS. 16 and 18 , typically by applying a torque on a head  235  of the wheel-displacement bolt  234  to cause a clockwise threading of the wheel-displacement bolt  234  into the bolt opening  214  and against the container coupling bolt  216  of the container connector  215 . This action raises the front end of the adapter body  202  as the adapter body  202  pivots relative to the container coupling bolt  216  about the central axis  296  of the pivot pin  256 . In this raised position, a bottom end  233  of the wheel  232  provides a bottom end of the wheel adapter  200 . 
     Application of the wheel adapter  200  may be as was heretofore described with respect to the wheel adapter  100  of  FIGS. 1-10 . As illustrated in  FIGS. 11 and 17-20 , in typical application, two or more wheel adapters  200  are attached to the cargo container  300 . As illustrated in  FIG. 19 , each wheel adapter  200  may initially be deployed in the lowered position with the cargo container  300  resting on the support surface  310 . The wheel-displacement bolt  234  may then be threaded in the clockwise direction into the bolt opening  214  and against the container coupling bolt  216  of the container connector  215 , as illustrated in  FIGS. 16 and 18 , to raise the adapter body  202  relative to the wheel axle  130  and lift the cargo container  300  from the support surface  310 , as illustrated in  FIG. 20  while the bottom end  233  of the wheel  232  rests on the support surface  230 , thus facilitating transport of the cargo container  300  over the support surface  310 . 
     After the cargo container  300  has arrived at the intended destination, the wheel adapters  200  can again be deployed in the lowered position typically by counterclockwise rotation of the wheel-displacement bolt  234  in the adapter body  202  of each corresponding wheel adapter  200  to lower the cargo container  300  back onto the support surface  310 , as illustrated in  FIG. 19 . The wheel adapters  200  can be detached from the cargo container  300  or remain in place on the cargo container  300  in anticipation of further short-range transport requirements. 
     Referring next to  FIGS. 21-31 , a wheel adapter  400  is shown in accordance with a third illustrative embodiment of the invention. Similarly to the previous embodiments, the wheel adapter  400  allows for lifting a cargo container (for example, cargo container  300  shown in  FIG. 21 ) and providing rolling mobility to the cargo container  300 . As in the previous embodiments, the wheel adapter  400  comprises an adapter housing or body  410 , a container connector  430  carried by and extending outward from the adapter body  410  to connect to the cargo container  300 , and at least one wheel (a single wheel  450  in the present embodiment) which is rotatable relative to the adapter body  410  and provides rolling mobility to the wheel adapter  400 . Also similarly to the previous embodiments, the wheel adapter  400  includes at least one pusher mechanism  470  engaging the adapter body  410  and configured to move the wheel  450  relative to the container connector  430  in order raise or lower the cargo container  300  relative to the wheel  450 . 
     With initial reference to  FIGS. 23 and 24 , the adapter body  410  includes a first side plate  412  and an opposite, second side plate  414 , which are spaced apart from one another to house the wheel  450  therebetween. In some embodiments, the first and second side plates  412 ,  414  can be generally L-shaped, as shown. The first and second side plates  412 ,  414  can include a first side plate portion  412   a ,  414   a  that extends generally upward from a rotation axis  452  of the wheel  450  and a second side plate portion  412   b ,  414   b  extending generally frontward of the rotation axis  452 . A generally horizontal, transverse top plate  416  extends between and is non-movably attached to the first side plate portion  412   a  and the second side plate portion  414   a  and includes a threaded nut  418 . A generally vertical, transverse front plate  420  extends between front ends of the first and second side plates  412 ,  414 . The first side plate portions  412   a ,  414   a , transverse top plate  416  and transverse front plate  420  form a first portion of the adapter body  410  (or first adapter body portion) extending generally upward from the wheel rotation axis  452 , while the second side plate portions  412   b ,  414   b  form a second portion of the adapter body  410  (or second adapter body portion) which extends generally frontward from the wheel rotation axis  452 . 
     The first side plate  412  further includes a top slot  412   c  and a bottom slot  412   d  extending therethrough. Similarly, the second side plate  414  includes a top slot  414   c  and a bottom slot  414   d  extending therethrough. The top slots  412   c ,  414   c  and bottom slots  412   d ,  414   d  are formed generally vertically and in longitudinal alignment. 
     Similarly to previous embodiments, the wheel  450  is carried by a wheel support  454 . Specifically, the wheel support  454  is comprised of a crossbar  456 , two opposite side links  458 ,  460  and a wheel shaft  462 . The crossbar  456  extends between the first and second side plates  412 ,  414  and through the top slots  412   c ,  414   c  and is fixedly coupled to top openings formed in the side links  458 ,  460 . In turn, the wheel shaft  462  extends through the bottom slots  412   d ,  414   d  and is coupled to bottom openings formed in the side links  458 ,  460  such that the wheel  450  is rotatable relative to the side links  458 ,  460  (for example, by having the wheel  450  pivotably carried by the wheel shaft  462  and the wheel shaft  462 , in turn, non-movably affixed to the side links  458 ,  460 ). For purposes that will be hereinafter described, the crossbar  456  and wheel shaft  462  are configured to jointly move along the slots  412   c ,  412   d ,  414   c ,  414   d , enabling the wheel support  454  (crossbar  456 , side links  458 ,  460  and wheel shaft  462 ) to be translationally movable relative to the adapter body  410 . 
     Similarly to the first embodiment of  FIGS. 11-20 , the container connector  430  of the present embodiment is pivotably attached to the adapter body  410 . More specifically, as shown in  FIGS. 23 and 24 , the container connector  430  is carried by a pivotable support  434  that is pivotably coupled to the adapter body  410  by a pivot pin  436  defining a rotation axis  438 . The rotation axis  438  is generally transverse and horizontal. 
     As mentioned heretofore, the wheel adapter  400  of the present embodiment includes at least one pusher mechanism  470  configured to move the wheel  450  relative to the container connector  430 . More specifically, two pusher mechanisms  470  are provided in the present wheel adapter  400 . 
     A first pusher mechanism  470  is provided by a threaded, wheel-displacement bolt  474  that is threadably coupled to the threaded nut  418  of the adapter body  410  and thus carried by the first adapter body portion. The wheel-displacement bolt  474  comprises a bolt head  476  for the application of a torque thereon to rotate the wheel-displacement bolt  474  about a central longitudinal axis of the wheel-displacement bolt  474 . As best shown in  FIGS. 21, 22 and 25 , the bolt head  476  is accessible and operable from outside the wheel adapter  400 . At a distal end of the wheel-displacement bolt  474 , a pusher cover or cap  478  ( FIG. 24 ) is non-movably coupled to the wheel-displacement bolt  474  and is also welded or otherwise affixed to the crossbar  456  such that the pusher cap  478 , wheel-displacement bolt  474  and crossbar  456  are jointly movable. As best shown in  FIGS. 25 and 27-29 , the wheel-displacement bolt  474  and pusher cap  478  are in registration (i.e. aligned) with the wheel  450  such that threading and unthreading the wheel-displacement bolt  474  into and from the adapter body  410  moves the wheel relative to the adapter body  410 , as will be described in greater detail hereinafter. 
     A second pusher mechanism  470  is provided by an inflatable and deflatable airbag unit  480 , shown in  FIGS. 27-31  (and omitted from  FIGS. 21-26  for clarity). The airbag unit  480  is arranged in contact with the adapter body  410 , and more specifically, in contact with the transverse front plate  420  of the adapter body  410 . For instance, in some embodiments, the airbag unit  480  can be permanently or non-permanently (i.e. disconnectably) attached to the transverse front plate  420 . In other embodiments, the airbag unit  480  may be separate from the adapter body  410  and placed between the transverse front plate  420  and container  300  and retained therewithin by friction. The airbag unit  480  can be in fluid communication with an air compressor or other gas or air source  482  ( FIGS. 30 and 31 ) via a hose  484 . As will be described in greater detail hereinafter, the inflatable and deflatable airbag unit  480  is configured to pivot the adapter body  410  relative to the wheel  450  to lower the wheel  450  in relation to the container connector  430  and thereby elevate the container  300  relative to the wheel  450 . 
     An example of operation of the wheel adapter  400  will now be described with reference to  FIGS. 21 and 27-31 . 
     Initially, as shown in  FIG. 21 , two wheel adapters  400  are connected to two corresponding ISO connectors  302  arranged on opposite bottom rear corners of an ISO cargo container  300  by attaching the respective container connectors  430  of the wheel adapters  400  to the ISO connectors  302 . Once the container connectors  430  have been coupled to the ISO connectors  302 , the wheel adapter  400  may be arranged in a first position, shown in  FIG. 27 , in which a bottom  451  of the wheel  450  is at a raised or first vertical position relative to the container connector  430 . In this first position, the wheel  450  can be in the air, with the bottom  451  of the wheel  450  not touching the ground or other support surface  310 . Furthermore, in this first vertical position, the wheel  450  of the present embodiment is suspended from the wheel-displacement bolt  474 , which is arranged in a relatively unthreaded position in which the wheel-displacement bolt  474  is slightly retracted outward (upward) from the adapter body  410  and has pulled the wheel  450  upward via the attached pusher cap  478 , crossbar  458  and side links  458 ,  460  that interconnect the wheel shaft  462  to the wheel-displacement bolt  474 . The wheel adapter  400  can remain in this first position, with the wheel  450  is elevated from the support surface  310  and the cargo container  300  in turn resting on the support surface  310 , by different means such as, but not limited to, a sufficient friction at the pivotable connection between the pivotable support  343  of the container connector  430  and the first and second side plates  412 ,  414 , or a mechanical or magnetic locking mechanism (not shown) securing the first and second side plates  412 ,  414  in the first position. 
     In order to provide rolling mobility to the cargo container  300 , the pusher mechanism  474  is operated to switch the wheel adapter  400  to a second position in which the wheel  450  is moved to a second vertical position relative to the container connector  430  which is lower than the first vertical position of  FIG. 27 , and in which the bottom  451  of the wheel  450  contacts the support surface  310  while the cargo container  300  attached to the container connector  430  is lifted by the container connector  430 . In the present embodiment, switching the wheel adapter  400  to said second position is carried out in a two-step sequence. 
     In a first step of the sequence, a torque is applied on the bolt head  476  to cause the wheel-displacement bolt  470  to rotate about its central longitudinal axis. Because the wheel-displacement bolt  470  is threaded into the non-movable threaded nut  418 , rotation of the wheel-displacement bolt  470  causes the wheel-displacement bolt  470  to advance (translationally move downward) towards the ground or support surface  310 . In consequence, the pusher cap  478 , crossbar  456 , side links  458 ,  460 , wheel shaft  462  and wheel  450  are jointly translated downward towards the support surface  310 . Separation between the airbag unit  480  and the bottom  451  of the wheel  450  is also thereby increased. By applying a sufficient torque on the bolt head  476 , the bottom  451  of the wheel  450  can contact the support surface  310  as shown in  FIGS. 28 and 30 . Sufficient operation of the bolt head  476  will cause the wheel  450  to be tensioned against the support surface  310  and thus be better prepared for the next step. 
     The illustration of  FIG. 29  shows a second step of the sequence. Once the bottom  451  of the wheel  450  has contacted the support surface  310  and the wheel  450  is preferably tensioned against the support surface  310 , air or gas is fed into the airbag unit  480  via the hose  484 , causing the airbag unit  480  to inflate and exert a pressure on the wall of the cargo container  300  and on the transverse front plate  420  of the wheel adapter  400 . Because the cargo container  300  is resting on the ground or support surface  310  and is relatively heavy, the pressure exerted by the inflating airbag unit  480  on the transverse front plate  420  causes the first adapter body portion and second adapter body portion to rotate jointly about rotation axis  452  as indicated by arrows A and B, respectively, while the wheel  450  remains on the ground or support surface  310 . The rising second adapter body portion, and more specifically, the rising second side plate portions  412   b ,  414   b  of the side plates  412 ,  414 , pull the pivotable support  434  upward, which in turn pulls the container connector  430  upward and causes the cargo container  300  to be lifted and separated from the ground or support surface  310 , as shown in  FIG. 29  and further shown in  FIG. 31 . Furthermore, by having the container connector  430  pivotably attached to the adapter body  410  about rotation axis  438 , the container connector  430  may rotate about the rotation axis  438  while rising, as indicated by arrow C, to more efficiently raise the cargo container  300  in a generally vertical direction. 
     Once the cargo container  300  is raised from the ground and supported on wheels  450 , it may be easily transported or moved to a different position using pulling or driving apparatus or vehicles which will not be described so as not to obscure the present invention. Finally, the cargo container  300  may once more be placed to rest on the ground or support surface  310  by carrying out the sequence described above in inverse order. I.e., the airbag unit  480  can first be deflated to rest the cargo container  300  on the support surface  310 , and the wheel-displacement bolt  474  can then be unthreaded from the adapter body  410  to elevate the wheel  450  relative to the container connector  430  and thus lift the wheel  450  off the support surface  310  and bring the bottom  451  of the wheel  450  closer to the airbag unit  480 . 
     Alternative embodiments are contemplated to those shown in the drawings and/or described heretofore. For example, it is contemplated that one or more wheels of the wheel adapter may be multidirectional wheels, i.e. wheels capable of imparting rolling mobility to the container in multiple directions and not just a longitudinal direction as shown in the present drawings. For instance, the one or more multidirectional wheels can include one or more swivel casters, spherical wheels, or the like. It is also contemplated that the pusher mechanisms described herein may alternatively or additionally include actuating mechanisms such as, but not limited to, a gas cylinder, a hydraulic system, a pneumatic system, an electric motor, etc. 
     Since many modifications, variations, and changes in detail can be made to the described preferred embodiments of the invention, it is intended that all matters in the foregoing description and shown in the accompanying drawings be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense. Thus, the scope of the invention should be determined by the appended claims and their legal equivalents.