Container conversion system and method

Abstract

A temporary wall system for use in temporarily converting a shipping container, such as a standard or high-cube intermodal container, into a living space or workspace, the shipping container having a substantially rectangular access opening having a perimeter, wherein the wall system comprises a wall having exterior dimensions suitable to allow the perimeter of the wall to at least substantially mate with the perimeter of the container's access opening, wherein the wall defines an access opening that is sized to allow an adult human to pass from one side of the wall to the other through the access opening, and the wall comprises a door that is mounted so that the door can be selectively moved between an open and a closed position; and a power hookup for powering one or more accessories supported by the wall.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of converting an intermodal container into a workspace or shelter, the method comprising:
 providing the intermodal container, the intermodal container comprising:
 a substantially planar container bottom; 
 a substantially planar container top spaced apart from and co-facing the planar container bottom; 
 a first, substantially planar side wall extending between respective first lateral sides of the container top and container bottom; 
 a second, substantially planar side wall extending between respective second lateral sides of the container top and container bottom; 
 a substantially planar rear wall extending between respective first end sides of the container top, container bottom, first side wall, and second side wall, wherein:
 said container top, container bottom, first side wall, second side wall, and rear wall define an enclosure substantially in the shape of a rectangular prism, the enclosure defining an interior and a front opening; and 
 said intermodal container further comprises one or more doors that are mounted adjacent the container so that the one or more doors are moveable between: (1) a closed position in which the one or more doors substantially cover the intermodal container's front opening; and (2) an open position in which the one or more doors do not substantially cover the intermodal container's front opening, 
 
   providing a temporary wall that is adapted to be temporarily attached adjacent the container's front opening to selectively prevent individuals from entering the container via the front opening, the temporary wall defining a door opening and comprising a door that is positioned adjacent the door opening and that is adapted to be selectively moved between: (1) a first, closed position in which the door is positioned within the door opening so that the door prevents passage of individuals through the door opening and into the interior of the container; and (2) a second, open position in which the door is positioned to allow passage of individuals through the door opening and into the interior of the container; and   attaching the temporary wall adjacent the container's front opening so that the door may be used to selectively prevent individuals from entering the container.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the temporary wall has a width of about 8 feet and a height of about 8.5 feet. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the temporary wall has width of about 8 feet and a height of about 9.5 feet. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the temporary wall comprises at least one attachment mechanism that is adapted for use in temporarily attaching the temporary wall adjacent the container's front opening. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the at least one attachment mechanism comprises a plurality of attachment mechanism, each of the attachment mechanisms extending from a different position along an outer perimeter of the temporary wall. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the plurality of attachment mechanism comprises a first attachment mechanism that is disposed on a first lateral side of the temporary wall and a second attachment mechanism that is disposed on a second lateral side of the temporary wall. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein each of the plurality of attachment mechanisms comprises a selectively extendable fastener that is adapted to extend into a corresponding recess within the container and to thereby facilitate holding the temporary wall in place adjacent the container. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the temporary wall includes at least one power receptacle for use in providing power to one or more powered accessories disposed adjacent the temporary wall. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein at least one of the one or more powered accessories is an environmental control unit that is configured to regulate a temperature of air within the interior of the container. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein at least one of the one or more powered accessories is a light that is disposed adjacent a side of the temporary wall that is positioned facing the interior of the enclosure when the temporary wall is attached adjacent the container's front opening. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the temporary wall comprises at least one escape hatch for facilitating an emergency departure of a human from the interior of the container. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the container has dimensions corresponding to a type 1AA, 1BB, 1CC, 1A, 1B, 1C, or 1D container specified in ISO 668. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the temporary wall comprises a gasket disposed adjacent a perimeter of the temporary wall for creating a substantially weatherproof seal between the temporary wall and the container adjacent the container's front opening. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the gasket extends around at least about 80% of the entire perimeter of the temporary wall. 
     
     
         15 . A temporary wall system for use in temporarily converting a shipping container into a living space or workspace, the shipping container having a substantially rectangular access opening having a perimeter, wherein the wall system comprises:
 a wall having exterior dimensions suitable to allow the perimeter of the wall to at least substantially mate with the perimeter of the container's access opening, wherein:
 the wall defines an access opening that is sized to allow an adult human to pass from one side of the wall to the other through the access opening, and 
 the wall comprises a door that is mounted so that the door can be selectively moved between: (1) a first position in which the door obstructs the access opening to prevent passage of individuals through the access opening; and (2) a second position in which the door does not sufficiently obstruct the access opening to prevent passage of individuals through the access opening; and 
   a power hookup for powering one or more accessories supported by the wall.   
     
     
         16 . The temporary wall system of  claim 15 , wherein the wall has a width of about 8 feet and a height of about 8.5 feet. 
     
     
         17 . The temporary wall system of  claim 15 , wherein the wall has a width and a height that is between about 95% and about 100% of the width and height of a standard intermodal shipping container. 
     
     
         18 . The temporary wall system of  claim 15 , wherein the wall has a width and height that is between about 95% and about 100% of the width and height of a high-cube intermodal shipping container. 
     
     
         19 . The temporary wall system of  claim 15 , wherein the power hookup is attached adjacent the wall. 
     
     
         20 . The temporary wall system of  claim 15 , wherein:
 the wall defines an environmental control opening that is dimensioned for receiving a heating/air-conditioning unit; and   the wall comprises a shelf disposed adjacent a bottom portion of the opening and that is configured for supporting the heating/air-conditioning unit so that an output portion of the heating/air-conditioning unit is at least substantially aligned with the environmental control opening.   
     
     
         21 . The temporary wall system of  claim 15 , wherein:
 the wall comprises a light that is mounted adjacent the wall, the light being adapted to be powered by power supplied by the power hookup.   
     
     
         22 . The temporary wall system of  claim 15 , wherein:
 the wall comprises a power outlet that is mounted adjacent the wall, the power outlet being adapted to be powered by power from the power hookup.   
     
     
         23 . The temporary wall system of  claim 15 , wherein the door comprises an escape hatch. 
     
     
         23 . The temporary wall system of  claim 15 , wherein the wall is dimensioned to allow the wall to be operatively positioned within the shipping container while one or more exterior doors associated with the shipping container are closed to prevent access to the wall from outside the shipping container. 
     
     
         24 . The temporary wall system of  claim 15 , wherein the shipping container has length selected from a group consisting of: (1) about 10 feet; (2) about 20 feet; and (3) about 40 feet. 
     
     
         26 . A method of converting a shipping container into a temporary living space or temporary workspace, the method comprising:
 providing a temporary wall system for use in temporarily converting an intermodal container into a temporary living space or workspace, the container having a substantially rectangular access opening having a perimeter, wherein the wall system comprises:
 a wall having exterior dimensions suitable to allow the perimeter of the wall to at least substantially mate with the perimeter of the container's access opening, wherein:
 the wall defines an access opening that is sized to allow an adult human to pass from one side of the wall to the other through the access opening, and 
 the wall comprises a door that is mounted so that the door can be selectively moved between: (1) a first position in which the door obstructs the access opening to prevent passage of individuals through the access opening; and (2) a second position in which the door does not sufficiently obstruct the access opening to prevent passage of individuals through the access opening; and 
 
 a power hookup disposed adjacent the wall for powering one or more accessories supported by the wall; 
   positioning the temporary wall system adjacent the container's access opening so that the perimeter of the wall substantially mates with the perimeter of the container's access opening;   connecting the power hookup to a power source; and   using power from the power hookup to power an environmental control unit adjacent the wall, the environmental control unit being adapted for selectively providing heated or cooled air to an interior of the container.   
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein the shipping container is an ISO intermodal container.