Inventors:
Rick Lucas - Belmont OH, US
Douglas Merriman - Wheeling WV, US
Saundra McDonough - Verona PA, US
Allan Tweddle - Carleston WV, US
Assignee:
Composite Transport Technologies ,Inc. - Charleston WV
International Classification:
B65D 90/00, B29C 70/52, B32B 7/02
Abstract:
A unit load device constructed from fiber reinforced polymer matrix composite materials is described. Individual panels of the unit load device may be customized with composite materials and patterns. The joints are adapted to receive the ends of the panels of the unit load device and may further be customized with fiber reinforced composite materials to strengthen the joint. Some embodiments provide for construction of a unit load device from a variety of fiber reinforcing materials utilizing a matrix of thermoplastic polymers with similar softening temperatures. Each component part within the container was designed and/or created to address the specific needs of the particular part. The unit load devices described herein provide for all composite containers with a significant weight savings from conventional unit load devices.