Patent Publication Number: US-2023134069-A1

Title: Container anchoring base

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     1. Technical Field 
     This disclosure relates generally to forming portable structures and in particular to a weighted support base for locating shipping containers. 
     2. Description of Related Art 
     Intermodal shipping containers are often utilized for form temporary or rapid structures at a variety of locations. Such locations may frequently be remote having little site preparation. Accordingly, the ground at such locations may be, soft, uneven, unlevel or a combination of these site conditions. Current practices in such locations is frequently to level the ground as much as possible before locating the shipping container in place. It will be appreciated that such site preparation may be expensive requiring specialized equipment and may also result in less than optimal surface preparation. 
     Other attempts have been made to provide blocks or other bodies under specific locations the shipping container such as the corners. However, it will be appreciated that such blocks are prone to miss placement or may be difficult to horizontally align. 
     Other difficulties with shipping containers at remote locations is that such containers may be subjected to increased wind loading due to their raised or exposed location. Such loading is exacerbated by any additional structures such as antenna, solar panels or the like that are secured to the containers. Current ground work or blocks add no stability to the shipping container to resist such wind loading. 
     SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE 
     According to a first embodiment, there is disclosed an apparatus for supporting an intermodal shipping container comprising a base member having a top surface and a width greater than 8 feet and a top surface and at least one connector extending from the top surface positioned and selected to be engagable within a twistlock opening of the intermodal shipping container. 
     The apparatus may further comprise two connectors. The two connectors may be spaced apart by a distance corresponding to a distance between twistlock openings on opposite sides of the shipping container. The at least one connector ay comprise a rotating connector. 
     The base member may extend past one of the at least one connectors to form a weight support platform. The weight support platform may extend past the at least one connector by a distance of at least 18 inches. The weight support platform may include a protrusion extending from the top surface sized to be received within a corresponding cavity in the bottom of a weight. 
     The base member may have a weight of at least 2000 pounds. The base member may be formed of concrete. The base member may include rebar therein. The base member may include openings therethrough proximate to a bottom thereof sized and positioned to receive forklift forks therein. 
     According to a further embodiment, there is disclosed a kit for forming a support for an intermodal shipping container comprising a base member having a top surface and a width greater than 8 feet and a top surface and at least one connector extending from the top surface positioned and selected to be engagable within a twistlock opening of the intermodal shipping container and at least one weight adapted to be located on an extension from the base member. 
     According to a further embodiment, there is disclosed a method for supporting an intermodal shipping container comprising locating a base member having a top surface and a width greater than 8 feet and a top surface at a desired location and positioning the shipping container on the base such that at least one twistlock opening of the shipping container is located around a corresponding connector extending from the top surface of the base member and securing the shipping container to the base member by locking the at least one connector. 
     The method may further comprise locating a weight on a weight supporting platform extending from the base member. 
     Other aspects and features of the present disclosure will become apparent to those ordinarily skilled in the art upon review of the following description of specific embodiments in conjunction with the accompanying figures. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The accompanying drawings constitute part of the disclosure. Each drawing illustrates exemplary aspects wherein similar characters of reference denote corresponding parts in each view, 
         FIG.  1    is a perspective view of an intermodal shipping container located on the anchor base of the present disclosure. 
         FIG.  2    is a perspective view of the anchor base of  FIG.  1   . 
         FIG.  3    is a side view of the anchor base of  FIG.  1   . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Aspects of the present disclosure are now described with reference to exemplary apparatuses, methods and systems. Referring to  FIG.  1   , an exemplary apparatus for supporting an intermodal shipping container  8  according to a first embodiment is shown generally at  10 . The apparatus  10  comprises a base  12  having at least one connector  40  extending from a top surface thereof adapted to engage with and secure the container  8  to the base  12 . 
     With reference to  FIG.  2   , the base  12  comprises a body of material selected to have dimensions and a shape sufficient to span an end of the intermodal shipping container as illustrated in  FIG.  1   . In particular, the base  12  extends between first and second ends,  14  and  16 , respectively defining a length and first and second sides,  18  and  20  respectively defining a width. The base may have a thickness between top and bottom surfaces,  22  and  24 , respectively selected to have sufficient strength to support the shipping container thereon without undesirable levels of flexing. In practice it has been found that a width between the first and second sides of between 1 and 5 feet (25 and 1524 mm), a length between the first and second ends of at least 8 feet (2400 mm) and a thickness of at least 6 inches (152 mm) has been adequate although it will be appreciated that other dimensions may be useful as well. It will be appreciated that in order to adequately stabilize the container from tipping, that larger dimensions will generally be more suitable, especially for larger shipping containers. The base  12  may be formed of any suitable material having sufficient strength and providing an adequate weight to stabilize the shipping container. In particular, it has been found that concrete has been particularly useful including rebar reinforced concrete. It will also be appreciated that steel or composite materials may be utilized provided sufficient weight is contained therein or thereon so as to sufficiently stabilize the container. In practice, it has been found that a weight of at least 2000 pounds has been useful. It will be appreciated that where other materials than concrete are utilized, that the above dimensions may be modified to accommodate the different density and strength characteristics of that material. 
     The top surface  22  includes at least one connector  40  extending therefrom. The connectors are located at a position to correspond to an opening in a bottom of the container  8  as are commonly included at the corners thereof. In particular, twist lock style connectors as are commonly utilized for securing such containers may be utilized within includes a rotatable oval body that is received within the oval shaped openings of the container and are thereafter rotated out of alignment with the openings to couple the container to the base. As illustrated in  FIG.  2   , two connectors may be utilized and spaced apart by a distance corresponding to the two openings on an end of the container. Once thus secured, the container will therefore be prevented from rotating independently of the base thereby adding the weight of the base to the overall structure and increasing the stability of the container. As illustrated in  FIG.  2   , the connectors may include a handle  42  for rotating and engaging the locks within the openings as are commonly known. 
     As illustrated in  FIGS.  1  and  2   , the base member  12  may include an extended weight platform  50  extending past one of the connectors  40  to the side of the base member  12 . The weight platform  50  is positioned to extend past the side of the container  8  located thereon such that a weight  60  may be added to the top of the base member further increasing the weight thereof and therefore the overall stability of the container. The weight platform  50  may extend to the side of the container  8  by a distance of at least 24 inches (610 mm) although it will be appreciated that other distances may also be utilized depending on the weight type and dimensions. The weight  60  may be of any suitable size and type such as, by way of non-limiting example, concrete blocks, steel bodies or hollow containers adapted to be filled with a fluid. In particular, as illustrated in  FIG.  2   , the weight may comprise a concrete block having a cavity  62  in the bottom surface thereof as are commonly known. The weight platform  50  may include a corresponding protrusion extending from the top surface thereof adapted to be received the cavity  62  of the weight  60  thereon. The weight  60  may also include a protrusion on the top surface thereof to permit further stacking of additional weights. 
     In operation, at a desired location, the base may be located at the desired position for the container. As illustrated in  FIG.  1   , the assembly includes a base  12  at each end of the container although it will be appreciated that a single base may also be utilized. Once located at the desired position, the container  8  is then lowered onto the bases such that the openings in the bottom thereof are positioned around the connectors  40 . The connectors may then be locked securing the container to the base. Optionally, one or more weights  60  may be positioned on the weight platform  50  either before or after the container is positioned on the bases. It will be appreciated that one or more of the bases  12  and or weights  60  may be transported to the desired location inside the container. 
     Optionally, the base may include at least one opening  30  therethrough for passing the forks of a forklift to be utilized during locating of the base at the desired location. As illustrated in  FIG.  2   , the openings  30  extend into the bottom  24  of the base  12  however they may also form bores into the middle of the base. Alternatively, lifting loops, handles or similar structures may be provided to assist lifting the base members  12 . 
     Furthermore, it will be appreciated that the base member  12  may be formed at a desired location by pouring concrete into a form with the connectors  40  embedded therein. Such a poured base member  12  or other base members may also be formed to support the shipping container with a single base member  12 . 
     While specific embodiments have been described and illustrated, such embodiments should be considered illustrative only and not as limiting the disclosure as construed in accordance with the accompanying claims.