# US 11,299,341 B2 · Modular cargo containers with surface connectors > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,299,341 B2 - Document ID: US11299341B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/720,185 - Filed: 2019-12-19 - Published: 2021-06-24 - Granted: 2022-04-12 - Earliest claimed: 2019-12-19 - Assignees: The Boeing Company - Applicants: The Boeing Company - Inventors: Robert Erik Grip; Michael S. Karapetian; John J. Brown - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11299341B2 ## CPC - B65D 90/0006: {Coupling devices between containers, e.g. ISO-containers (coupling devices between containers and vehicles B60P7/13)} - B65D 88/022: {in multiple arrangement, e.g. stackable, nestable, connected or joined together side-by-side} - B65D 90/0026: {Corner fittings characterised by shape, configuration or number of openings} - B65D 88/121: {ISO containers} - B65D 88/14: by air - B65D 2590/0008: Coupling device between containers - B65D: CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES ## Abstract Certain aspects of the present disclosure provide techniques for a modular container, including: six sides, wherein: each side of the six sides of the modular container comprises at least four surface connector arrangements, each surface connector arrangement of the at least four surface connector arrangements comprises at least two connector elements, wherein: at least one connector element of the at least two connector elements is of a first type, and at least one connector element of the at least two connector elements is of a second type; and an access door in at least one side of the six sides. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A modular container, comprising: six sides, wherein: each side of the six sides of the modular container comprises a face and at least four surface connector arrangements of connector elements as part of the face, each surface connector arrangement of connector elements of the at least four surface connector arrangements of connector elements comprises at least two connector elements, wherein: at least one connector element of the at least two connector elements is of a first type comprising a protrusion, and at least one connector element of the at least two connector elements is of a second type comprising a recess; and an access door in at least one side of the six sides. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The modular container of claim 1, wherein each surface connector arrangement of connector elements comprises a 2-inch pattern of connector elements. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The modular container of claim 2, wherein each side of the six sides of the modular container further comprises four corner fittings. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The modular container of claim 3, wherein each respective corner fitting of the four corner fittings comprises: a first face on a first side of the six sides of the modular container, a second face on a second side of the six sides of the modular container, a third face on a third side of the six sides of the modular container, and an aperture centered approximately 3.379 inches from a first edge of the respective corner fitting and approximately 3.379 inches from a second edge of the respective corner fitting. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The modular container of claim 1, wherein at least two sides of the six sides of the modular container are rectangular. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The modular container of claim 1, wherein: at least one side of the six sides comprises a surface connector arrangement of connector elements of a first type and a surface connector arrangement of connector elements of a second type. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The modular container of claim 1, wherein each face of each side of the six sides comprises one of a corner-located, an edge-located, or a face-located surface connector arrangement of connector elements. ### Claim 8 An agglomerated container, comprising: a plurality of modular containers, wherein: each respective modular container of the plurality of modular containers comprises six sides, each side of the six sides of a respective modular container comprises a face and at least four surface connector arrangements of connector elements as part of the face, wherein: each surface connector arrangement of connector elements of the at least four surface connector arrangements of connector elements comprises at least two connector elements, at least one connector element of the at least two connector elements is of a first type comprising a protrusion, and at least one connector element of the at least two connector elements is of a second type comprising a recess; and each respective modular container of the plurality of modular containers is connected to another modular container of the plurality of modular containers via engagement between one or more surface connector arrangements of connector elements on a first side of the respective modular container and one or more surface connector arrangements of connector elements on a first side of the another modular container. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The agglomerated container of claim 8, wherein: each of the plurality of modular containers is a same size, each of the plurality of modular containers further comprises eight corner fittings, wherein: each respective corner fitting of the eight corner fittings for a respective modular container of the plurality of modular containers comprises a corner fitting aperture centered approximately 3.379 inches from a first edge of the respective corner fitting and approximately 3.379 inches from a second edge of the respective corner fitting. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) The agglomerated container of claim 8, wherein: the agglomerated container is approximately 95.727 inches wide, and the agglomerated container is approximately 95.727 inches long. ### Claim 11 (depends on 8) The agglomerated container of claim 8, wherein: the agglomerated container is approximately 95.727 inches wide, and the agglomerated container is approximately 119.659 inches long. ### Claim 12 (depends on 8) The agglomerated container of claim 8, wherein: the plurality of modular containers is arranged in a plurality of layers, a first layer of the plurality of layers comprises a first subset of the plurality of modular containers, wherein each modular container of the first subset of the plurality of modular containers comprises: eight corner fittings, wherein each respective corner fitting of the eight corner fittings comprises a corner fitting aperture centered approximately 3.379 inches from a first edge of the respective corner fitting and approximately 3.379 inches from a second edge of the respective corner fitting. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The agglomerated container of claim 12, further comprising: a second layer of the plurality of layers comprising a second subset of the plurality of modular containers, wherein each modular container of the second subset of the plurality of modular containers does not comprise a corner fitting. ### Claim 14 (depends on 8) The agglomerated container of claim 8, wherein: the plurality of modular containers is arranged in a plurality of layers, a first layer of the plurality of layers has a first cross-sectional area, and a second layer of the plurality of layers has a second cross-sectional area that is different than the first cross-sectional area. ### Claim 15 (depends on 8) The agglomerated container of claim 8, wherein: the plurality of modular containers comprises a first subset of modular containers of a first size, and the plurality of modular containers comprises a second subset of modular containers of a second size. ### Claim 16 A method of forming an agglomerated container, comprising: connecting a plurality of modular containers to form an agglomerated container, wherein: each respective modular container of the plurality of modular containers comprises six sides, wherein: each side of the six sides of the modular container comprises a face and at least four surface connector arrangements of connector elements as part of the face, each surface connector arrangement of connector elements of the at least four surface connector arrangements of connector elements comprises at least two connector elements, wherein: at least one connector element of the at least two connector elements is of a first type comprising a protrusion, and at least one connector element of the at least two connector elements is of a second type comprising a recess; and each respective modular container of the plurality of modular containers is connected to another modular container of the plurality of modular containers via engagement between one or more surface connector arrangements of connector elements on a first side of the respective modular container and one or more surface connector arrangements of connector elements of a first side of the another modular container. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The method of claim 16, wherein each surface connector arrangement of connector elements of the at least four surface connector arrangements of connector elements comprises a 2-inch pattern of connector elements. ### Claim 18 (depends on 16) The method of claim 16, wherein: each of the plurality of modular containers is a same size, and each of the plurality of modular containers further comprises eight corner fittings, each respective corner fitting of the eight corner fittings for a respective modular container of the plurality of modular containers comprises a corner fitting aperture centered approximately 3.379 inches from a first edge of the respective corner fitting and approximately 3.379 inches from a second edge of the respective corner fitting. ### Claim 19 (depends on 16) The method of claim 16, wherein: the agglomerated container is approximately 95.727 inches wide, and the agglomerated container is approximately 95.727 inches long. ### Claim 20 (depends on 16) The method of claim 16, further comprising: attaching the agglomerated container to ISO standard connection equipment on a vehicle.