US 5,040,693 A · Liner for a cargo container and a method of installing a liner inside a cargo container

Abstract

A liner for a cargo container and a method of installing a liner inside a cargo container. The liner comprises an inflatable body and left and right connecting strips that are connected to the liner body. The left connecting strip extends along and laterally projects outside a bottom left edge of the liner body, and the right connecting strip extends along and laterally projects outside a bottom right edge of the liner body. The liner is placed inside the container, with the left connecting strip positioned on the container floor adjacent the left side wall of the container, and with the right connecting strip positioned on the container floor adjacent the right side wall of the container. These two connecting strips are then releasably clamped to the container floor, for example by securely nailing wooden slats to the container floor, over the connecting strips. Also disclosed is a method of fluidizing a bulk cargo inside a lined cargo container to facilitate unloading the cargo from the container.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A liner for a cargo container of the type defining an interior cargo space and including at least a floor and left and right side walls, the liner comprising:

an expandable body having an expanded shape adapted to fit inside the cargo space, and including a front edge and bottom left and right side edges;
a left connecting strip connected to the body, extending along the bottom left edge of the body, from a position at least adjacent the front edge of the body, and laterally projecting outside said bottom left edge, the left connecting strip being adapted to be secured on the container floor, between the left side wall of the container and the bottom left edge of the liner body;
and
a right connecting strip connected to the body, extending along the bottom right edge of the body, from a position at least adjacent the front edge of the body, and laterally projecting outside said bottom right edge, the right connecting strip being adapted to be secured on the container floor, between the right side wall of the container and the bottom right edge of the liner body.

1 more element

A cargo container, comprising:

a container body defining an interior cargo space having a given shape, and including at least a floor;
a liner secured inside the container, and including
i) a liner body positioned in the cargo space, and including a front edge and bottom left and right edges
ii) a left connecting strip extending along and laterally projecting outside the bottom left edge of the liner body, the left connecting strip being held against the floor of the container and extending rearward from a position at least adjacent the front edge of the liner body, and
iii) a right connecting strip extending along and laterally projecting outside the bottom right edge of the liner body, the right connecting strip being held against the floor of the container and extending rearward from a position at least adjacent the front edge of the liner body;
a left elongated securing member extending rearward, over the left connecting strip, from a position at least adjacent the front edge of the liner body, and releasably clamping the left connecting strip to the container floor;
and
a right elongated securing member extending rearward, over the right connecting strip, from a position at least adjacent the front edge of the liner body, and releasably clamping said right connecting strip to the container floor.

5 more elements

A method for installing a liner inside a container comprising:

placing the liner inside the container with a bottom panel of the liner over a floor of the container, with a bottom left edge of the liner adjacent a lower left edge of the container, with a bottom right edge of the liner adjacent a lower right edge of the container, and with a bottom front edge of the liner adjacent a lower front edge of the container;
positioning a left connecting strip of the liner between the bottom left edge of the liner and the lower left edge of the container, with the left connecting strip of the liner extending rearward from a position at least adjacent the bottom front edge of the liner;
positioning a right connecting strip of the liner between the bottom right edge of the liner and the lower right edge of the container, with the right connecting strip of the liner extending forward from a position at least adjacent the bottom back edge of the liner;
releasably clamping the left connecting strip to the container floor;
releasably clamping the right connecting strip to the container floor;
and
expanding the liner inside the container.

4 more elements

A method for installing a liner inside a container, comprising:

placing the liner inside the container with a bottom panel of the liner over a floor of the container, with a bottom left edge of the liner adjacent a lower left edge of the container, with a bottom right edge of the liner adjacent a lower right edge of the container, and with a bottom front edge of the liner adjacent a lower front edge of the container;
positioning a left connecting strip of the liner between the bottom left edge of the liner and the lower left edge of the container, with the left connecting strip of the liner extending rearward from a position at least adjacent the bottom front edge of the liner, and including the step of forming the left connecting strip by holding first and second lower longitudinal portions of a left side panel of the liner against each other and over the container floor;
positioning a right connecting strip of the liner between the bottom right edge of the liner and the lower right edge of the container, with the right connecting strip of the liner extending forward from a position at least adjacent the bottom back edge of the liner, and including the step of forming the right connecting strip by holding first and second lower longitudinal portion of a right side panel of the liner against each other and over the container floor.
releasably clamping the left connecting strip to the container floor;
releasably clamping the right connecting strip to the container floor;
and
expanding the liner inside the container.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Liner for a cargo container and a method of installing a liner inside a cargo container

Life of this patent

Liner for a cargo container and a method of installing a liner inside a cargo container

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims20