FIELD OF THE INVENTION:

The present invention relates to the field of mobile service stations. More particularly, the present invention relates to a modular container dressing system for mobile service stations, as well as a method for assembling or reconfiguring the service station.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION:

For a long time, there has been a need to provide various service stations at different events for short to long term periods of time. Very often, buildings have to be built on site which implies costs and problems due to coordination and installation of the building materials. Typically, when such service stations must be provided in remote locations or international expositions, participation in these types of activities is typically limited to companies with significant resources. Moreover, several markets in the world that could be of interest to different small and medium-sized companies are not typically considered by these companies given the complications and costs in attempting to provide international services at a foreign site for their products and services.

On the other hand, there is presently a worldwide surplus of shipping containers accumulating in various areas of the world. These building containers can be recycled for various applications.

US 3, 182,424 describes a combination shipping container and showcase serving multiple functions. The container not only houses trail exhibits but is also used as a means for transporting the exhibits to various sites. The container can be shipped to port cities which do not necessarily have business centers and then moved in land by truck or rail transportation means to the appropriate display location.

US 5,493,187 describes a mobile workshop. This mobile workshop has the capacity to be transported as a closed container to different work sites. Various machinery items are mounted on the side walls of the container. The side walls of the container are retractable from a vertical position, acting as container walls to a horizontal position, defining a new base for the workshop when deployed.

Recycling of transport containers to convert them into mobile service stations has been typically done on a project-by-project basis, with custom designs, and with little effort to standardize components in order to facilitate the manufacturing of recycled containers on a larger commercial scale or to facilitate the external reconfiguration of a recycled container.

Therefore, there is presently a need for a modular container dressing system that can address at least one of the above-mentioned problems.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The object of the present invention is to provide a modular container dressing system, which by virtue of its design and components, satisfies some of the above-mentioned needs and is thus an improvement over other related container dressing systems and/or methods known in the prior art, or other similar applications.

In accordance with the present invention, one of the above objects is achieved, as will be easily understood, with a modular container dressing system, such as the one briefly described herein, and such as the one exemplified in the accompanying drawings. More particularly, and according to the present invention, there is provided a modular container dressing system for dressing at least one end and sides of a container comprising:

-a plurality of dressing elements installable along a periphery of the container; and

-a framework assembly installable within a structure of a container, the framework assembly comprising:

-a plurality of subframe elements positioned along the periphery of the container, each subframe element being sized to receive one of the plurality of dressing elements,

wherein each of the subframe elements along the sides of the container and a subframe element at the at least one end of the container are identically sized.

Preferably, the plurality of dressing elements are selectively and interchangeably mountable in the subframe elements to provide a plurality of container configurations.

The foregoing and other objects, features, and advantages of this invention will become more readily apparent from the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein the preferred embodiment of the invention is shown and described, by way of examples. As will be realized, the invention is capable of other and different embodiments, and its several details are capable of modifications in various obvious respects, all without departing from the invention. Accordingly, the drawings and description are to be regarded as illustrative in nature, and not as restrictive. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Figures 1 a to 1 c are perspective views of a sequential assembly of a container including the modular container dressing system according to an embodiment.

Figure 2 is a perspective view of the finished container shown in Figure 1.

Figures 3a to 3g are front views of different container dressing elements that can be used with the modular container dressing system according to an embodiment.

Figure 4 is a front perspective view of a finished container according to another embodiment.

Figure 5 is a rear perspective view of the finished container shown in Figure 4.

Figure 6 is a partial interior view of the finished container shown in Figure 4.

Figure 7a to 7j are schematic views of a design of a subframe element that can be used with a modular container dressing system according to an embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

In the following description, the same numerical references refer to similar elements. The embodiments, geometrical configurations, materials mentioned and/or dimensions shown in the figures or described in the present description are preferred embodiments only, given for exemplification purposes only.

Moreover, although the present modular container dressing system was primarily designed for recycling transport containers for use as mobile service stations, it may be used for other types of purposes and with other types of objects, and in other fields, as apparent to a person skilled in the art. For this reason, expressions such as "service station", etc., used herein should not be taken as to limit the scope of the present invention and includes all other kinds of objects or fields with which the present invention could be used and may be useful.

In addition, although the embodiments of the present invention as illustrated in the accompanying drawings may comprise various components, and although the preferred embodiment of the modular container dressing system as shown consists of certain geometrical configurations as explained and illustrated herein, not all of these components and geometries are essential to the invention and thus should not be taken in their restrictive sense, i.e. should not be taken as to limit the scope of the present invention. It is to be understood, as also apparent to a person skilled in the art, that other suitable components and cooperation therein between, as well as other suitable geometrical configurations may be used for the modular container dressing system and corresponding components according to the present invention, as will be briefly explained hereinafter and as can be easily inferred herefrom by a person skilled in the art, without departing from the scope of the invention.

Having discussed some of the principal components and features of the modular container dressing system 10 according to the present invention, other preferential embodiments will be further discussed hereinbelow. Referring to Figures 1 a to 1 c, a modular container dressing system 10 is shown. After a cutout of the original container sidewalls from the container 1 1 (as shown in Figure 1 a), a framework assembly 12 is installed within a structure of a container (as shown in Figure 1 b). The framework assembly 12 includes a plurality of subframe elements 14 positioned along the periphery of the container 11. Each subframe element 14 is sized to receive a dressing element 16. A plurality of dressing elements 16 are then installed along a periphery of the container 11 into the subframe elements 14. Each of the subframe elements 14 along the sides of the container and a subframe element 14 at the end of the container 11 are identically sized. The plurality of dressing elements 16 are selectively and interchangeably mountable in the subframe elements 14 to provide a plurality of container configurations.

Figure 2 shows a perspective view of a container 1 1 including the modular container dressing system according to an embodiment. The container 1 1 is a 8' x 20' base unit. The system 10 uses seven standard dressing elements 16 that are 72"W x 86"H. The walls and ceiling of the container can include an Advantica™ Norbec™ finish. The floor in the container can be made from recycled tires. The container can include built-in recessed LED lighting. The dressing elements can be insulated with, for example, R24 materials. Electrical wiring and subsystems can be preinstalled with the framework assembly 12. The original container door at the end of the container can be kept and used.

Figures 3a to 3g different container dressing elements that can be used with the modular container dressing system. These include among others:

-a full panel 16a (made for example with a Norbec™ modular panel);

-a service panel 16b (including for example an electrical box, water, gas and electrical lines and Tesla™ fittings); -a flip-up counter 16c (with a Norbec™ panel in a flip-up configuration and a counter in a flip-down configuartion)

-a movable service window 16d;

-a service door 16e with or without a window;;

-a glass door assembly 16f; and

-a window 16g.

Other dressing elements can be considered as long as they are sized to fit within the subframe elements. Figures 4 to 6 show an example of different dressing elements installed in the subframe elements for a specific application in a market setting. The container 10 can include for example two flip-up counters 16c with five full panels 16a that can be decorated with different visual designs. The panels and counters can be reconfigured as required or updated at a later time.

Figure 7a to 7j are detailed schematic views of a design of a subframe element 14 that can be used with a modular container dressing system. The subframe element. The subframe element can be made of steel for example, and include sealing elements around a periphery thereof to seal the contour of the subframe element once installed in the container structure. The subframe element can also include stiffener assemblies to further stiffen the subframe element and to further support the structural integrity of the container. The subframe element 14 can also include simple fastener interfaces to facilitate installation and removal of dressing elements therein.

The present invention offers a systematic approach to container modification and recycling, thus allowing mass production of standard units that can be used for multiple applications (sales, catering, experiential, residential, etc.). Such a design can lead to economies of scale. The framework assembly serves as a new structure for the container thus allowing it to receive a plurality of modules, preferably 7, while maintaining its structural integrity in order to be moved. Displacement of the container can be accomplished using its standard eight corners and slots for the forks under the floor .

In some implementations, each unit can receive 7 modules, 1 in the front and 3 per side.

The containers are easy to install and reconfigure with simple and eady to use mechanical fasteners such as bolts. This allows customers to change the configuration of the containers over time according to customer preferences and needs.

Utilities such as electricity, water and gas can preinstalled in the container and framework assembly.

Customers wishing to purchase the modular container dressing system can simplify their shopping experience by choosing modular components in a catalog, and then can order a custom unit using standard dressing elements.

The scope of the claims should not be limited by the preferred embodiments set forth in the examples, but should be given the broadest interpretation consistent with the description as a whole.