A fastener for fastening an ISO container to a ship, truck, trailer, another ISO container or other structure. In one embodiment an elongated nut is inserted into an elongated aperture of the ISO container's corner casting, and is rotated 90 degrees to be transverse to the longitudinal axis of the aperture. A threaded shaft is rotated, after being inserted in a slot of a plate mounted to the structure, causing the plate and elongated nut to be drawn closer to one another, thereby clamping the corner casting between the nut and the plate. In another embodiment an elongated nut is inserted into the elongated aperture and is rotated 90 degrees. A line extends from a winch mounted to the structure and is mounted to a loop at the opposite end from the nut. The winch tightens the strap, drawing the loop, nut and, thereby, the container against the structure.

A fastener for fastening an ISO container to a ship, truck, trailer, another ISO container or other structure. In one embodiment an elongated nut is inserted into an elongated aperture of the ISO container's corner casting, and is rotated 90 degrees to be transverse to the longitudinal axis of the aperture. A threaded shaft is rotated, after being inserted in a slot of a plate mounted to the structure, causing the plate and elongated nut to be drawn closer to one another, thereby clamping the corner casting between the nut and the plate. In another embodiment an elongated nut is inserted into the elongated aperture and is rotated 90 degrees. A line extends from a winch mounted to the structure and is mounted to a loop at the opposite end from the nut. The winch tightens the strap, drawing the loop, nut and, thereby, the container against the structure.

The present disclosure provides a cargo securement system for use in various types of cargo areas of transportation vehicles or in other applications where is desirable to secure payloads, materials, goods, products or other cargo in position to prevent unwanted or undesired movement or repositioning. The cargo securement system is flexible and adaptable or configurable for installation in a variety of cargo areas having different sizes, dimensions and constructions.

The present disclosure relates to an apparatus for automatically locking a container, which includes: a cylindrical housing: a top plate installed on the top of the housing; a bottom plate installed under the housing; an elevation unit installed to move up and down in the housing; a locker installed to rotate left and right to lock and unlock a container; a guide guiding up-down movement and rotation movement of the locker; a first elastic supporting member elastically supporting upward the elevation unit; and a second elastic supporting member elastically supporting upward the locker. Accordingly, the present disclosure provides an effect that a container is automatically locked or unlocked by its own weight when it is loaded or unloaded, so it is possible to safely transport heavy containers always in a locked state and it is possible to prevent malfunction or poor function of the locker.

A container retention device comprises a housing and an actuator having a first portion disposed in the housing and a second portion movable between a first position inside the housing to a second position outside the housing. The device further comprises a first link assembly in the housing engageable by the first portion of the actuator and movable in response to movement of the second portion between the first and second positions. Also, a second link assembly is disposed in the housing having a third portion engageable by the first link, a fourth portion, and a fifth portion disposed between the third portion and the fourth portion wherein the third portion and the fourth portion are rotatable about the fifth portion in response to movement of the first link assembly. A locking member is extendable outside the housing in response to movement of the second portion to the first position. A container retention method is also disclosed.

A container retention device comprises a housing and an actuator having a first portion disposed in the housing and a second portion movable between a first position inside the housing to a second position outside the housing. The device further comprises a first link assembly in the housing engageable by the first portion of the actuator and movable in response to movement of the second portion between the first and second positions. Also, a second link assembly is disposed in the housing having a third portion engageable by the first link, a fourth portion, and a fifth portion disposed between the third portion and the fourth portion wherein the third portion and the fourth portion are rotatable about the fifth portion in response to movement of the first link assembly. A locking member is extendable outside the housing in response to movement of the second portion to the first position. A container retention method is also disclosed.

A void-filling apparatus is disclosed. The void-filling apparatus may include multiple end pieces secured together by multiple cylindrical elements. The end pieces may include a sheet (or sheets) of material secured to a panel, which may include a honeycomb panel. Each of the cylindrical elements may fit into a respective opening in the first and second end pieces. In some instances, the end pieces and the cylindrical elements are made of paper-based materials. However, the end pieces and the cylindrical elements are made of a paper-based material may be covered by a liquid-resistant material, resulting in a liquid-resistant void-filling apparatus. In order to maintain engagement between the cylindrical elements and the end pieces, the openings (into which the cylindrical elements are inserted) may include a diameter to promote a compression fit. Adhesive securing may also be used. Also, adjacent cylindrical elements may be equidistant from each other.

According to one aspect, a compartment on a vehicle such as an autonomous or semi-autonomous delivery vehicle may be provided with an interface arrangement configured to facilitate the coupling and uncoupling of compartment inserts. The interface arrangement may include mechanical, electrical, and data transmission features. Mechanical features of an interface arrangement may be configured to physically secure or hold a compartment insert in a desired position and/or orientation within a compartment, while electrical features may be configured to enable power to be provided to the compartment insert. Data transmission features may be configured to enable monitoring and control of features of the compartment insert. Different types of compartment inserts may be configured to mate with an interface arrangement, e.g., a substantially universal interface arrangement which effectively provides for interoperability of different compartment inserts, in a compartment of a vehicle.

A fleet for delivering packages comprising a first number of containers, each container comprising at least one compartment for receiving packages at a main distribution center. The container comprises a first attachment member on an outer surface and a second attachment member on an outer surface. The fleet comprises a second number of long-range transports, each long-range transport is configured to carry multiple containers from the main distribution center to an intermediate distribution center, each long-range transport comprising multiple first attachment receivers, whereby the multiple containers are attached to the long-range transports during transport from the main distribution center to the intermediate distribution center. The fleet comprises a third number of short-range tractors, each short-range tractor is configured to carry at least one container from the intermediate distribution center to delivery destinations for the packages in the container, each tractor comprising at least one second attachment receiver, whereby the at least one container is attached to the short-range tractor during transport from the intermediate distribution center to the delivery destinations and back to the intermediate distribution center. The third number is at least twice as large as the second number and wherein the first number is at least twice as large as the third number.

A fleet for delivering packages comprising a first number of containers, each container comprising at least one compartment for receiving packages at a main distribution center. The container comprises a first attachment member on an outer surface and a second attachment member on an outer surface. The fleet comprises a second number of long-range transports, each long-range transport is configured to carry multiple containers from the main distribution center to an intermediate distribution center, each long-range transport comprising multiple first attachment receivers, whereby the multiple containers are attached to the long-range transports during transport from the main distribution center to the intermediate distribution center. The fleet comprises a third number of short-range tractors, each short-range tractor is configured to carry at least one container from the intermediate distribution center to delivery destinations for the packages in the container, each tractor comprising at least one second attachment receiver, whereby the at least one container is attached to the short-range tractor during transport from the intermediate distribution center to the delivery destinations and back to the intermediate distribution center. The third number is at least twice as large as the second number and wherein the first number is at least twice as large as the third number.