US-12617605-B2 - Methods of using modified shipping containers

US12617605B2US 12617605 B2US12617605 B2US 12617605B2US-12617605-B2

Abstract

Methods and apparatuses for shipping of fabricated rectangular wooden modules used for construction of a wood frame structure and for shipping of other bulky items are described. In particular, the disclosure features a modified shipping container for shipping the fabricated rectangular wooden modules and methods of loading, transporting, and unloading the fabricated rectangular wooden modules. The modified shipping container features a removable header system and a removable cover. The fabricated rectangular wooden modules include a module length axis, a module width axis, a bounded wood perimeter, and joists or rafters oriented perpendicularly to the module length axis, and are stacked as cargo in the interior of the container such that joists or rafters of the fabricated rectangular wooden modules are substantially vertical and the length axes of the modules are substantially parallel to a length axis of the container.

Inventors

Kyle Tompane
Garrett Moore

Assignees

Kyle Tompane
Garrett Moore

Dates

Publication Date: 20260505
Application Date: 20231013

Claims (12)

1 . A method of loading one or more fabricated rectangular wooden modules into a modified shipping container having an interior and top; the method comprising: removing a removable header from the modified shipping container prior to placing the one or more fabricated rectangular wooden modules in the interior of the modified shipping container, wherein the removable header is a component of a system installed on the modified shipping container, the system comprising a frame having a structure extending outward from the frame and capable of supporting the header; a flange attached to a support, the flange having a flange bore therethrough and in alignment with a header bore; a pin designed to pass through the header bore and the flange bore; and a clip designed to attach at an end of the pin on a side of the header opposing the flange which locks the pin in place when the header is attached to the modified shipping container.
2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the one or more fabricated wooden modules are placed in the interior of the modified shipping container through a front opening of the modified shipping container.
3 . The method of claim 2 , further comprising replacing the removable header after the one or more fabricated rectangular wooden modules are placed in the interior of the modified shipping container interior.
4 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising removing a removable cover from the modified shipping container prior to placing the one or more fabricated rectangular wooden modules in the interior of the modified shipping container.
5 . The method of claim 4 , wherein the one or more fabricated wooden modules are placed in the interior of the modified shipping container through a top opening of the modified shipping container.
6 . The method of claim 5 , further comprising replacing the removable cover after the one or more fabricated rectangular wooden modules are placed in the interior of the modified shipping container interior.
7 . The method of claim 4 , wherein the removable cover comprises: a rectangular piece of flexible polymeric material dimensioned to cover the top of the modified shipping container, the flexible polymeric material comprising a portion which extends over a top portion of one or more sides of the shipping container during use, a strip or margin of material attached to the portion of polymeric material; and a plurality of rings attached to the strip or margin of material.
8 . A method of unloading one or more fabricated rectangular wooden modules into a modified shipping container having an interior and top; the method comprising: removing a removable header from the modified shipping container prior to placing the one or more fabricated rectangular wooden modules in the interior of the modified shipping container, wherein the removable header is a component of a system installed on the modified shipping container, the system comprising a frame having a structure extending outward from the frame and capable of supporting the header; a flange attached to a support, the flange having a flange bore therethrough and in alignment with a header bore; a pin designed to pass through the header bore and the flange bore; and a clip designed to attach at an end of the pin on a side of the header opposing the flange which locks the pin in place when the header is attached to the modified shipping container.
9 . The method of claim 8 , wherein the one or more fabricated wooden modules are removed from the interior of the modified shipping container through a front opening of the modified shipping container.
10 . The method of claim 8 , further comprising removing a removable cover from the modified shipping container prior to removing the one or more fabricated rectangular wooden modules from the interior of the modified shipping container.
11 . The method of claim 10 , wherein the one or more fabricated wooden modules are removed from the interior of the modified shipping container through a top opening of the modified shipping container.
12 . The method of claim 10 , wherein the removable cover comprises: a rectangular piece of flexible polymeric material dimensioned to cover the top of the shipping container, the flexible polymeric material comprising a portion which extends over a top portion of one or more sides of the shipping container during use, a strip or margin of material attached to the portion of polymeric material; and a plurality of rings attached to the strip or margin of fabric.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS The present application is a continuation application of U.S. Non-Provisional patent application Ser. No. 18,116,756 filed on Mar. 2, 2023, which was a continuation application of U.S. Non-Provisional patent application Ser. No. 17,752,804 filed on May 24, 2022, which was a continuation-in-part of U.S. Non-Provisional patent application Ser. Nos. 17/394,720 and 17/394,737, both of which were filed on Aug. 5, 2021, each of said applications are hereby incorporated by reference in their entireties. FIELD The present disclosure is directed to the field of intermodal shipping. More particularly, the disclosure relates to methods and apparatuses for the shipping of fabricated rectangular wooden modules and other bulky items. BACKGROUND Shipping containers come in standard sizes and are capable of transport by sea, rail, or road all over the world. Standard dimensions of shipping containers (length by width by height) include 10 feet by 8 feet by 8 feet 6 inches, 20 feet by 8 feet by 8 feet 6 inches, 20 feet by 8 feet by 9 feet 6 inches, 40 feet by 8 feet by 8 feet 6 inches, 40 feet by 8 feet by 9 feet 6 inches, and 45 feet by 8 feet by 9 feet 6 inches. The containers are unloaded from cargo ships at ports by a crane, and then placed on trucks or trains for transport inland. However, the design of the shipping containers often hinders transport of cargo that is bulky and/or has dimensions exceeding structurally defined dimensions of the containers, thus limiting their use. SUMMARY In general, in a first aspect, the disclosure features a modified shipping container. The modified shipping container includes a container bottom, two container sides and a container end in communication with the container bottom, a first container opening opposing the container end providing access to a container interior from a front of the container, one or more doors at the first container opening configured to facilitate front loading of the container when open, and seal the first container opening when closed, and a second container opening providing access to the container interior from the top of the container. In general, in a second aspect, the disclosure features a removable header system for a shipping container. The removable header system includes a header having a header bore therethrough, a frame having a structure extending outward from the frame and capable of supporting the header, a flange attached to a support, the flange having a flange bore therethrough and in alignment with the header bore, a pin designed to pass through the header bore and flange bore, and a clip designed to attach at an end of the pin on a side of the header opposing the flange which locks the pin in place when the header is attached to the shipping container. The removable header system can further include a tether attached to the pin at one end and attached to the support at an opposing end. In general, in a third aspect, the disclosure features a removable cover for a shipping container. The removable cover includes a rectangular piece of flexible polymeric material dimensioned to cover the top of the shipping container, the flexible polymeric material including a portion which extends over a top portion of one or more sides of the shipping container during use, a strip or margin of material attached to the portion of polymeric material, and a plurality of rings attached to the strip or margin of fabric. In general, in a fourth aspect, the disclosure features a method of loading one or more fabricated rectangular wooden modules into a modified shipping container. Each fabricated rectangular wooden module includes a module length axis, a module width axis, a bounded wood perimeter, and joists or rafters oriented perpendicularly to the module length axis. The method includes placing the one or more fabricated rectangular wooden modules in the interior of the modified shipping container such that joists or rafters of the fabricated rectangular wooden modules are substantially vertical and the length axes of the modules are substantially parallel to a length axis of the container. In general, in a fifth aspect, the disclosure features a method of unloading one or more fabricated rectangular wooden modules into a modified shipping container. Each fabricated rectangular wooden module includes a module length axis, a module width axis, a bounded wood perimeter, and joists or rafters oriented perpendicularly to the module length axis. The method includes removing the one or more fabricated rectangular wooden modules from the interior of the modified shipping container, the fabricated rectangular wooden modules having been previously loaded such that they are oriented within an interior of the modified shipping container such that joists or rafters of the fabricated rectangular wooden modules are substantially vertical and the length axes of the modules are substantially parallel to a length axis of the contain