US20210339944A1 - Roof rail for a portable storage container - Google Patents

Abstract

A portable storage container includes a plurality of upstanding sidewalls defining a storage space therebetween such that the sidewalls are disposed in an outward direction from the storage space. A roof sheet is disposed above the sidewalls. At least one roof rail is connected to a corresponding one of the sidewalls. The roof rail includes a horizontal portion defining a first plane that is horizontally oriented, and a down-sloping portion attached to an outer edge of the horizontal portion. The down-sloping portion extends in an outward direction away from the horizontal portion and defines a second plane oriented at an angle of approximately between ten degrees and eighty degrees relative to the first plane. At least one fastener attaches the roof sheet to a corresponding down-sloping portion of a corresponding roof rail. The fastener extends through the roof sheet.

Description

BACKGROUND
• The present invention relates to a roof for a portable storage container. Such storage containers are frequently placed outdoors where they are exposed to rain, and thus the roofs of the containers need to be fully waterproof in order to prevent water damage to the contents of the container.FIG. 1 illustrates a portion of arail10 that extends along one of the edges of the rectangular top of the container. Asimilar rail10 extends along each of the other three edges of the rectangular top of the container, as shown inFIG. 2. Eachrail10 includes a vertically-orientedportion12 attached to a horizontally-orientedportion14. A roof sheet (not shown) may be disposed aboverails10 and may be riveted to each horizontally-orientedportion14. A silicone-based sealant is typically applied to the rivet joints in order to make the joints waterproof. However, the sealant degrades with age, which makes it difficult to maintain the rivet joints in a waterproof state. Further, often due to workmanship errors, there is often too much spacing between rivets, or rivets are missed, in which case the sealant cannot adequately cover the gap, which leads to water leaks.
SUMMARY
• The present invention may include a roof rail having a down-sloping upper surface to which a roof sheet may be riveted. The down-sloping surface enables any water near the rivet joint to drain down away from the joint by force of gravity. Like the topside, the underside of the rivet joint is exposed to ambient air and is on a downslope to facilitate drainage and evaporation of any moisture near the rivet joint.
• The invention comprises, in one form thereof, a portable storage container including a plurality of upstanding sidewalls defining a storage space therebetween such that the sidewalls are disposed in an outward direction from the storage space. A roof sheet is disposed above the sidewalls. At least one roof rail is connected to a corresponding one of the sidewalls. The roof rail includes a horizontal portion defining a first plane that is horizontally oriented, and a down-sloping portion attached to an outer edge of the horizontal portion. The down-sloping portion extends in an outward direction away from the horizontal portion and defines a second plane oriented at an angle of approximately between ten degrees and eighty degrees relative to the first plane. At least one fastener attaches the roof sheet to a corresponding down-sloping portion of a corresponding roof rail. Such fasteners extend through the roof sheet.
• The invention comprises, in another form thereof, a roof rail for interconnecting a roof sheet and an upstanding sidewall of a portable storage container. The roof rail includes a cap portion including a first edge and a second edge. The cap portion defines a first plane and is horizontally oriented while supporting a body of the roof sheet. A brim portion of the roof rail is attached to the first edge of the cap portion. The brim portion defines a second plane oriented at an angle of approximately between ten degrees and eighty degrees relative to the first plane. The brim portion is fastened to an outer periphery of the roof sheet while the brim portion slopes downward from the cap portion and while the cap portion is horizontally oriented and supports the body of the roof sheet. A leg portion is connected to the second edge of the cap portion. The leg portion is oriented perpendicular to the cap portion. The leg portion is attached to the upstanding sidewall of the portable storage container.
• The invention comprises, in yet another form thereof, a method of installing a roof sheet on a portable storage container, including attaching a roof rail to one of a plurality of upstanding sidewalls that define a storage space therebetween such that the sidewalls are disposed outwardly from the storage space. A roof sheet is placed above the upstanding sidewalls such that a horizontal portion of the roof rail supports a body of the roof sheet. A periphery of the roof sheet is fastened to a down-sloping portion of the roof rail. The down-sloping portion extends outwardly and downwardly from an outer edge of the horizontal portion. A first plane defined by the horizontal portion is oriented at an angle of approximately between ten degrees and eighty degrees relative to a second plane defined by the down-sloping portion.
• An advantage of the present invention is that water may drain away from the rivet joints that attach the roof sheet to the container.
• Another advantage of the present invention is that waterproofing may be achieved without using sealant on the rivet joints that attach the roof sheet to the container.
• Yet another advantage of the present invention is that even if there is workmanship error during riveting the roof is still waterproof.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
• The above mentioned and other features and objects of this invention, and the manner of attaining them, will become more apparent and the invention itself will be better understood by reference to the following description of an embodiment of the invention taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:
• FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a roof rail of the prior art;
• FIG. 2 is a perspective view of four roof rails of the prior art in their relative positions as when they are attached to the rectangular top of a portable storage container;
• FIG. 3 is a rear perspective view of one embodiment of a portable storage container of the present invention including four roof rails attached to the rectangular top of the portable storage container;
• FIG. 4 is a rear view of the portable storage container ofFIG. 3 along line4-4;
• FIG. 5 is an enlarged view ofarea5 inFIG. 4;
• FIG. 6 is an enlarged view ofarea6 inFIG. 4;
• FIG. 7 is a fragmentary perspective view of one of the roof rails ofFIG. 3; and
• FIG. 8 is a side view of one of the roof rails ofFIG. 3.
• Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views. Although the drawings represent embodiments of the present invention, the drawings are not necessarily to scale and certain features may be exaggerated in order to better illustrate and explain the present invention. Although the exemplification set out herein illustrates embodiments of the invention, in several forms, the embodiments disclosed below are not intended to be exhaustive or to be construed as limiting the scope of the invention to the precise forms disclosed.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
• The embodiments hereinafter disclosed are not intended to be exhaustive or limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed in the following description. Rather the embodiments are chosen and described so that others skilled in the art may utilize its teachings.
• Referring to the drawings, wherein like numerals indicate like elements,FIG. 3 illustrates one embodiment of fourroof rails20 of the present invention attached to the rectangular top of aportable storage container26. In one embodiment,portable storage container26 has a height h approximately between seven and eight feet, a width w approximately between seven and eight feet, and a length l approximately between eight and twenty feet.
• FIG. 4 illustratesportable storage container26 along line4-4 ofFIG. 3.Portable storage container26 includes roof rails20 (FIG. 5),rivet pins28, aroof sheet30, a roofsheet support tube32,side panels34,back posts36, arear wall38, floor rails40 (FIG. 6),wooden floor42, afloor support44 and afloor support tube46.
• Optional brackets47 may be spaced along the lengths ofroof rails20, and eachbracket47 may be attached to bothroof rail20 androof sheet30. As shown inFIG. 3,brackets47 do not cover most of the lengths ofroof rails20.
• As shown inFIG. 7,roof rail20 includes a vertically-oriented leg portion48 which is attached to a horizontally-oriented base portion50, which is attached to a vertically-orientedback portion52, which is attached to a horizontally-oriented cap portion54, which is attached to a down-slopingbrim portion56. Legportions48 may be attached or adhered toside panels34.Back portions52 may be attached or adhered to roofsheet support tubes32.
• As shown inFIG. 5,cap portion54 may support a body ofroof sheet30. A periphery ofroof sheet30 may be attached tobrim portion56 byrivet pin28. The body ofroof sheet30 may be inside of and surrounded by the periphery ofroof sheet30.
• As shown inFIG. 8,brim portion56 may be oriented at an angle of 150 degrees relative to capportion54. That is,brim portion56 may be oriented at anangle0 of30 degrees down from thehorizontal plane57 ofcap portion54. Aheight58 ofroof rail20 may be about 135 millimeters (mm); awidth60 ofroof rail20 may be about 44 mm; athickness62 ofroof rail20 may be about 3 mm; aheight64 ofback portion52 may be about 60 mm; a width66 ofcap portion54 may be about 23 mm; and a width68 ofbrim portion56 may be about 16 mm.
• Although angle θ is shown as being about 30 degrees, angle θ may be approximately between 10 degrees and 80 degrees within the scope of the invention. An advantage of angle θ being less than 90 degrees is that the integrity of the galvanization coating (e.g., zinc) on arail20 made of steel or iron is easier to maintain the smaller angle θ is. Similarly, because the shape ofroof sheet30 at its outer edges may conform to the shape of the upper surfaces ofcap portion54 andbrim portion56, an advantage of angle θ being less than 90 degrees is that the integrity of aroof sheet30 having any brittleness is easier to maintain the smaller angle θ is. Another advantage of angle θ being less than 90 degrees is that there may be less warping during galvanizing.
• While this invention has been described as having an exemplary design, the present invention may be further modified within the spirit and scope of this disclosure. This application is therefore intended to cover any variations, uses, or adaptations of the invention using its general principles. Further, this application is intended to cover such departures from the present disclosure as come within known or customary practice in the art to which this invention pertains.

Claims (20)

What is claimed is:

1. A portable storage container, comprising:

a plurality of upstanding sidewalls defining a storage space therebetween such that the sidewalls are disposed outwardly from the storage space;

a roof sheet disposed above the sidewalls;

at least one roof rail connected to a corresponding one of the sidewalls, the roof rail including:

a horizontal portion defining a first plane that is horizontally oriented; and

a down-sloping portion attached to an outer edge of the horizontal portion, the down-sloping portion extending in an outward direction away from the horizontal portion and defining a second plane oriented at an angle of approximately between ten degrees and eighty degrees relative to the first plane; and

at least one fastener attaching the roof sheet to a corresponding said down-sloping portion of a corresponding said roof rail, the fastener extending through the roof sheet.

2. The container ofclaim 1, wherein the fastener extends through the corresponding said down-sloping portion of the corresponding said roof rail.

3. The container ofclaim 1, wherein the second plane is oriented at an angle of approximately between twenty degrees and forty-five degrees relative to the first plane.

4. The container ofclaim 1, wherein the roof rail further comprises a vertically-oriented back portion attached to an inner edge of the horizontal portion and disposed below the horizontal portion.

5. The container ofclaim 4, wherein the horizontal portion comprises an upper horizontal portion, the roof rail further comprising a lower horizontal portion attached to a lower edge of the vertically-oriented back portion and disposed outwardly of the vertically-oriented back portion.

6. The container ofclaim 5, wherein the roof rail further comprises a vertically-oriented leg portion attached to an outward edge of the lower horizontal portion.

7. The container ofclaim 6, wherein the vertically-oriented leg portion is attached to the corresponding one of the sidewalls.

8. A roof rail for interconnecting a roof sheet and an upstanding sidewall of a portable storage container, the roof rail comprising:

a cap portion including a first edge and a second edge, the cap portion defining a first plane and being configured to be horizontally oriented while supporting a body of the roof sheet;

a brim portion attached to the first edge of the cap portion, the brim portion defining a second plane oriented at an angle of approximately between ten degrees and eighty degrees relative to the first plane, the brim portion being configured to be fastened to an outer periphery of the roof sheet while the brim portion slopes downward from the cap portion and while the cap portion is horizontally oriented and supports the body of the roof sheet; and

a leg portion connected to the second edge of the cap portion, the leg portion being oriented perpendicular to the cap portion, the leg portion being configured to be attached to the upstanding sidewall of the portable storage container.

9. The roof rail ofclaim 8, wherein the brim portion is configured to be fastened to an outer periphery of the roof sheet by a fastener extending through both the roof sheet and the brim portion.

10. The roof rail ofclaim 8, wherein the second plane is oriented at an angle of approximately between twenty degrees and forty-five degrees relative to the first plane.

11. The roof rail ofclaim 8, wherein the roof rail further comprises a back portion oriented perpendicular to the cap portion, a first edge of the back portion being attached to the second edge of the cap portion, the back portion being disposed below the cap portion while the cap portion is horizontally oriented and supports the body of the roof sheet.

12. The roof rail ofclaim 11, wherein the roof rail further comprises a base portion attached to a second edge of the back portion and disposed outwardly of the back portion.

13. The roof rail ofclaim 12, wherein the leg portion is attached to an outward edge of the base portion.

14. The roof rail ofclaim 8, wherein the leg portion is disposed outwardly of an outer edge of the brim portion.

15. A method of installing a roof sheet on a portable storage container, the method comprising:

attaching a roof rail to one of a plurality of upstanding sidewalls that define a storage space therebetween such that the sidewalls are disposed outwardly from the storage space;

placing a roof sheet above the upstanding sidewalls such that a horizontal portion of the roof rail supports a body of the roof sheet; and

fastening a periphery of the roof sheet to a down-sloping portion of the roof rail, the down-sloping portion extending outwardly and downwardly from an outer edge of the horizontal portion, a first plane defined by the horizontal portion being oriented at an angle of approximately between ten degrees and eighty degrees relative to a second plane defined by the down-sloping portion.

16. The method ofclaim 15, wherein the fastening includes inserting a rivet pin through both the periphery of the roof sheet and through the down-sloping portion of the roof rail.

17. The method ofclaim 15, wherein the second plane is oriented at an angle of approximately between twenty degrees and forty-five degrees relative to the first plane.

18. The method ofclaim 15, wherein the attaching step includes attaching a vertically-oriented leg portion of the roof rail to the one of the upstanding sidewalls.

19. The method ofclaim 18, wherein the leg portion is disposed outwardly of an outer edge of the down-sloping portion.

20. The method ofclaim 18, wherein the horizontal portion of the roof rail comprises a first horizontal portion, the leg portion being connected to the first horizontal portion by a second horizontal portion of the roof rail and a vertically oriented back portion of the roof rail.

Images