Shipping container adapter

Abstract

An adapter for a vent system for a cargo container having corrugated panels, has a base portion formed of sheet material, having an outer boundary and an inner boundary, the inner boundary enclosing an area sufficient to accommodate a twelve-inch diameter circle, the base portion shaped to closely conform to geometry of the corrugated panels of the cargo container, an intermediate portion joined in an airtight manner to the inner boundary of the base portion, presenting a surface at a height above an upper extremity of the corrugated geometry of the base portion, and an interface providing a through opening in the surface of the intermediate portion within the area enclosed by the inner boundary of the base portion.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. An adapter for a vent appliance for a cargo container having corrugated panels, comprising:
 a base portion having an overall width and an overall length, the base portion having a rectangular inner boundary with parallel opposite edges each more than twelve inches in length, the base portion shaped to closely conform to geometry of the corrugated panels of the cargo container;   an intermediate portion comprising four vertical sidewalls, each sidewall joined in an airtight manner along the full length of one of the edges of the inner boundary of the base portion, the four vertical sidewalls extending upward to a common height above an upper extremity of the corrugated geometry of the base portion, and comprising a horizontal planar top surface joined to the four vertical sidewalls at upper edges of the sidewalls; and   a tubular collar having an outside diameter equal to or less than twelve inches, extending upward from the horizontal planar top surface of the intermediate portion and opening into a volume enclosed by the intermediate portion.   
     
     
       2. The adapter of  claim 1 , formed of fiberglass-reinforced plastic. 
     
     
       3. The adapter of  claim 1  further comprising a plurality of through-holes around a periphery of the base portion, for engaging fasteners to fasten the base portion to a corrugated panel of the cargo container. 
     
     
       4. An adapter system for a vent appliance for a cargo container having a corrugated panel, comprising:
 an adapter having a base portion having an overall width and an overall length, the base portion having a rectangular inner boundary with parallel opposite edges each more than twelve inches in length, the base portion shaped to closely conform to geometry of the corrugated panels of the cargo container, an intermediate portion comprising four vertical sidewalls, each sidewall joined in an airtight manner along the full length of one of the edges of the inner boundary of the base portion, the four vertical sidewalls extending upward to a common height above an upper extremity of the corrugated geometry of the base portion, and comprising a horizontal planar top surface joined to the four vertical sidewalls at upper edges of the sidewalls, and a tubular collar having an outside diameter equal to or less than twelve inches, extending upward from the horizontal planar top surface of the intermediate portion and opening into a volume enclosed by the intermediate portion; and   a gasket having thickness and upper and lower surfaces, formed in the geometry of the base portion of the adapter, providing a seal between the adapter and the corrugated panel of the cargo container.   
     
     
       5. The adapter system of  claim 4  wherein the upper and lower surfaces of the gasket have an adhesive coating, for adhering the gasket to both the corrugated panel of the cargo container, and to the base portion of the adapter. 
     
     
       6. The adapter system of  claim 5  wherein the gasket further comprises peel-off paper or plastic coverings over the adhesive coatings. 
     
     
       7. A method for adapting a vent appliance to a cargo container having a corrugated panel, comprising:
 providing an adapter having a base portion having an overall width and an overall length, the base portion having a rectangular inner boundary with parallel opposite edges each more than twelve inches in length, the base portion shaped to closely conform to geometry of the corrugated panels of the cargo container, an intermediate portion comprising four vertical sidewalls, each sidewall joined in an airtight manner along the full length of one of the edges of the inner boundary of the base portion, the four vertical sidewalls extending upward to a common height above an upper extremity of the corrugated geometry of the base portion, and comprising a horizontal planar top surface joined to the four vertical sidewalls at upper edges of the sidewalls, and a tubular collar having an outside diameter equal to or less than twelve inches, extending upward from the horizontal planar top surface of the intermediate portion and opening into a volume enclosed by the intermediate portion;   cutting an opening through the corrugated panel of the cargo container, the opening sized to be within the inner boundary of the adapter;   placing a gasket having a thickness and upper and lower surfaces, formed in the geometry of the base portion of the adapter, providing a seal between the adapter and the corrugated panel of the cargo container, in a position around the opening cut through the corrugated panel of the cargo container; and   placing the adapter onto the gasket placed on the corrugated panel of the cargo container.   
     
     
       8. The method of  claim 7 , wherein the gasket further comprises adhesive coatings on the upper and lower surfaces, covered by a paper or plastic film, further comprising a step for peeling away the paper or plastic films before placing the gasket. 
     
     
       9. The method of  claim 7 , wherein the gasket and the base portion of the adapter have a plurality of matching holes for fasteners, and further comprising a step for inserting and securing fasteners through the holes into the corrugated panel of the cargo container, fastening the adapter to the cargo container. 
     
     
       10. The method of  claim 7  further comprising a step for joining the vent appliance to the tubular collar of the adapter. 
     
     
       11. An adapter for a shipping container, comprising:
 a base that defines an inner boundary, wherein the base comprises at least two upper corrugated portions that are each configured to align with corrugated panels of the shipping container; and   an intermediate section comprising a sidewall configuration that is vertical, the sidewall configuration joined in an airtight manner along a full length the inner boundary of the base, the sidewall configuration extended upward to a common height above an upper extremity of the at least two upper corrugated portions of the base, and a top surface joined to the sidewall configuration at upper edges of the sidewall configuration, wherein the intermediate section is connected with the at least two upper corrugated portions and defines a space between the top surface and the sidewall configuration that is configured to disperse air as the air enters or gather air as the air exits the adapter; and   a collar extended from the top surface of the intermediate section and opened into the space enclosed by the sidewall configuration and the top surface of the intermediate section,   wherein the base, the intermediate section, and the collar are joined in an airtight manner that is sealable against the corrugated panels of the shipping container.   
     
     
       12. The adapter of  claim 11 , wherein the base further comprises lower corrugated portions that are each dipped relative to the at least two upper corrugated portions and positioned between the at least two upper corrugated portions. 
     
     
       13. The adapter of  claim 11 , wherein the inner boundary encloses an area sufficiently large to accommodate the collar. 
     
     
       14. The adapter of  claim 13 , wherein the collar is separated from the at least two upper corrugated portions by the intermediate section, and wherein the collar has a shape of a tube or a square. 
     
     
       15. The adapter of  claim 14 , further comprising:
 a gasket configured to seal the base against the corrugated panels of the shipping container when the base is secured over the gasket.   
     
     
       16. The adapter of  claim 15 , wherein the base further comprises apertures positioned around a peripheral edge of the base that are configured to receive fasteners to secure the gasket against the corrugated panel of the shipping container so that the base and the collar are airtight against the corrugated panels of the shipping container. 
     
     
       17. The adapter of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 a mesh connected with the collar, the mesh configured to prevent some foreign objects from passing through the collar.   
     
     
       18. The adapter of  claim 17 , wherein the collar is configured to connect with a powered ventilation device that is configured to vent air from an inside of the shipping container to an external environment. 
     
     
       19. An adapter for a shipping container, comprising:
 a base portion having an overall width and an overall length, the base portion having upper corrugated portions and lower corrugated portions that define an inner boundary having an area, wherein the upper corrugated portions and the lower corrugated portions of the base portion are shaped to closely conform to corrugated panels of the shipping container;   an intermediate section comprising sidewalls, each sidewall joined in an airtight manner along a full length of an edge of the area of the inner boundary of the base portion, the sidewalls extended upward to a common height above an upper extremity of the upper corrugated portions of the base portion, and comprising a top surface joined to the sidewalls at upper edges of the sidewalls, wherein the intermediate section is connected to the upper corrugated portions and the lower corrugated portions and defines a space between the top surface and the sidewalls and within the area of the inner boundary that is configured to disperse air as the air enters or gather air as the air exits the adapter; and   a collar extended from the intermediate section and comprising a through opening that extends to the top surface of the intermediate section to the space enclosed by the top surface and the sidewalls; and   a mesh connected with the interface so that debris is prevented from entering the space.   
     
     
       20. The adapter of  claim 19 , wherein the top surface is horizontal and planar, and wherein the sidewalls are vertical relative to the base portion. 
     
     
       21. The adapter of  claim 19 , wherein the upper corrugated portions are separated from the interface by the intermediate section so that the space allows a user to be more lenient towards size and positioning of cutting an opening on the shipping container. 
     
     
       22. The adapter of  claim 19 , wherein the collar is connectable with a powered ventilation device that is configured to vent air from the space to an external environment. 
     
     
       23. The adapter of  claim 19 , further comprising:
 a gasket configured to seal the base portion and the interface against the corrugated panels of the shipping container when the base portion is secured over the gasket.   
     
     
       24. The adapter of  claim 23 , wherein the gasket is flexibly structured so that the gasket conforms to the upper corrugated and grooved portions and to the corrugated panels of the shipping container. 
     
     
       25. The adapter of  claim 23 , wherein the gasket and the base portion are connectable by fasteners that extend through holes in the gasket and the base portion. 
     
     
       26. The adapter of  claim 19 , wherein the mesh extends from the interface and over the space enclosed by the top surface, the sidewalls, and the inner boundary. 
     
     
       27. The adapter of  claim 19 , wherein the base portion, the intermediate section, and the interface are formed in an airtight manner. 
     
     
       28. A method, comprising:
 cutting an opening through a shipping container;   connecting a gasket with corrugated panels of the shipping container at the opening; and   securing an adapter over the corrugated panels of the shipping container,   wherein the adapter comprises a base that is shaped to align with a geometry of the corrugated panel of the shipping container and defines an inner boundary, an intermediate section that has a sidewall configuration joined to the inner boundary in an airtight manner and defines a space between the sidewall configuration and within an area of the inner boundary that is greater than twelve inches and configured to disperse air as the air enters or gather air as the air exits the adapter, and a collar that extends from a top surface of the intermediate portion that is connected with the sidewall configuration in an airtight manner,   wherein the space has a larger boundary than a diameter of the collar so that a user has more lenience towards size and positioning of cutting the opening, and   wherein the opening through the shipping container has a diameter that is larger than a diameter of the collar.   
     
     
       29. The method of  claim 28 , further comprising:
 before cutting the opening, marking a cutting area on the corrugated panels of the shipping container for cutting of the opening.   
     
     
       30. The method of  claim 28 , wherein the base, the intermediate section, and the collar of the adapter are formed in an airtight manner.