Bracket for mounting an electronic device to a shipping container

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12084268-B2
Application number	US-202117464558-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 1, 2021
Priority date	Sep 1, 2021
Publication date	Sep 10, 2024
Grant date	Sep 10, 2024

Abstract

A bracket for affixing a device to a shipping container, the bracket having a base; a first arm and a second arm disposed on distal ends of the base; a first flange and second flange extending from the first arm and the second arm; a first affixing mechanism and a second affixing mechanism to affix the first flange and the second flange respectively to adjacent locking rods on the shipping container, said first affixing mechanism and second affixing mechanism allowing rotation of the locking rods; and a mounting mechanism on the base for mounting the device, wherein the base is configured to fit within a corrugation behind the adjacent locking rods, and at least one portion of the base is configured to contact the shipping container when the first flange and the second flange are behind the adjacent locking rods.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A bracket for affixing a device to a shipping container, the bracket comprising:
a base;
a first arm and a second arm disposed on distal ends of the base;
a first flange and second flange extending from the first arm and the second arm;
a first affixing mechanism and a second affixing mechanism to affix the first flange and the second flange respectively to adjacent locking rods on the shipping container, said first affixing mechanism and second affixing mechanism allowing rotation of the locking rods; and
a mounting mechanism on the base for mounting the device,
wherein the base is configured to fit within a corrugation behind the adjacent locking rods, and at least one portion of the base is configured to contact the shipping container when the first flange and the second flange are behind the adjacent locking rods.

2. The bracket of claim 1 , wherein the first affixing mechanism comprises a flange extending from the first arm, and a locking and positioning mechanism rotatable connected to the flange,
wherein the locking and positioning mechanism is rotatable over one of the adjacent locking rods and is configured to affix to the first arm.

3. The bracket of claim 2 , wherein the locking and positioning mechanism is configured to affix utilizing at least one of: folding tabs at an end of the locking and positioning mechanism to fold over the first arm; and a hole in a surface at the end of the locking and positioning mechanism aligning with a hole in the arm and a bolt and nut being affixed therethrough.

4. The bracket of claim 1 , wherein the second flange comprises a cup at the end of the second arm configured to slide over one of the adjacent locking rods, the second affixing mechanism comprising a lock rotatably engageable at an end of said cup.

5. The bracket of claim 1 , wherein the base is telescoping.

6. The bracket of claim 1 , wherein the base is configured to sit flush within the corrugation of the shipping container.

7. The bracket of claim 1 , wherein a lower edge of the base is configured to engage a lower sloped surface of the corrugation and an upper edge of the base is configured to engage an upper sloped surface of the corrugation when the bracket is affixed behind the adjacent locking rods.

8. The bracket of claim 1 , wherein the base includes tensioning screws projecting rearwardly of the base, the tensioning screws configured cause the base to move away from the shipping container when adjusted, thereby increasing pressure on the first flange and the second flange with the adjacent locking rods.

9. The bracket of claim 1 , where the base includes adjusting screws to increase a width of the bracket.

10. The bracket of claim 1 , wherein the first flange has a plurality of holes to receive a locking and positioning mechanism based on a spacing between the adjacent locking rods.

11. The bracket of claim 1 , wherein the base includes a mounting mechanism comprising:
a first u-shaped bend configured to receive a first mounting portion of the device;
a first dimple configured to project into a screw hold within the first mounting portion;
a second u-shaped bend a second mounting portion of the device;
a second dimple configured to project into a screw hold within the second mounting portion; and
a plurality of tabs,
wherein the first dimple and second dimple position the device in an X axis and a Y axis and wherein the plurality of tabs prevent movement of the electronic device.

12. The bracket of claim 11 , wherein the mounting mechanism is one of: affixed to the base; or integral to the base.

13. The bracket of claim 1 , wherein the base includes a mounting mechanism comprising:
a first u-shaped bend configured to receive a first mounting portion of the device, the first u-shaped bend having a hole to receive a screw therein; and
a second u-shaped bend configured to receive a second mounting portion of the device, the second u-shaped bend having a hole to receive a screw therein;
wherein the electronic device is positioned under or over the first u-shaped bend.

14. The bracket of claim 1 , wherein the base includes a mounting mechanism comprising:
a first base plate; and
a second base plate, the second base plate being angled to the first base plate to mount the electronic device at an angle to the shipping container.

15. A bracket for affixing a device to a shipping container, the bracket comprising:
a base shaped to securely fit within a corrugation on the shipping container behind adjacent locking rods on the shipping container;
a first affixing mechanism and a second affixing mechanism to affix the device to the adjacent locking rods on the shipping container, said first affixing mechanism and second affixing mechanism allowing rotation of the locking rods; and
a mounting mechanism on the base for mounting the device.

16. The bracket of claim 15 , wherein the base is extruded or injection molded to fit within the corrugation.

17. The bracket of claim 15 , wherein the first affixing mechanism is at least one of:
a stopper configured to sit adjacent one of the locking rods;
a u-shaped clamp configured to fit over one of the locking rods; and
a clamp configured to be affixed on one side of one of the locking rods and extend over the one of the locking rods.

18. The bracket of claim 17 , wherein the second affixing mechanism is at least one of:
a stopper configured to sit adjacent a second of the locking rods;
a u-shaped clamp configured to fit over the second of the locking rods; and
a clamp configured to be affixed on one side of the second of the locking rods and extend over the second of the locking rods.

19. The bracket of claim 15 , wherein the mounting mechanism includes predrilled holes in a surface of the base to secure the device.

20. The bracket of claim 15 , further comprising:
rubber feet affixed to the base and configured to rest between the base and the corrugation; and
rubber stopper affixed to a front surface of the base and configured to rest between the base and each of the adjacent locking rods.

Assignees

• Blackberry Ltd

Inventors

• Wang Enliang
• Dill Scott Leonard

Classifications

• B65D2590/0083

  Computer or electronic system, e.g. GPS systems · CPC title

• B65D90/48 Primary

  Arrangements of indicating or measuring devices · CPC title

• B65D90/00 Primary

  Component parts, details or accessories for large containers (B65D88/34 - B65D88/78 take precedence) · CPC title