Removable cargo container base brackets

1 . A base for a cargo container, the base comprising:

a bottom plate;

a top plate;

a latch fixed to the top plate, the latch defining a receiver with the top plate; and

a bracket having a foot, a head, and a body interconnecting the foot and the head, the bracket extending between the bottom plate and the top plate, the foot removably fixed to the bottom plate, the head received within the receiver to secure the head to the top plate, the head moveable with respect to the latch and the top plate when the head is received in the receiver.

2 . The base according to claim 1 , wherein the latch includes a first layer that is fixed to the top plate and a second layer that extends from the first layer, the latch defining the receiver between the second layer and the top plate.

3 . The base according to claim 2 , wherein the first layer has a thickness substantially equal to a thickness of the head.

4 . The base according to claim 1 , wherein the bracket is configured to maintain a distance between the top plate and the bottom plate.

5 . The base according to claim 1 , wherein the body is configured to fail before the latch.

6 . The base according to claim 1 , wherein the top plate has a top surface facing away from the bottom plate, the bracket configured to be replaced without access to the top surface of the top plate.

7 . The base according to claim 1 , further comprising risers interconnecting the top plate and the bottom plate, each riser defining an opening, the bracket configured to be replaced entirely through the openings between the top plate and the bottom plate.

8 . The base according to claim 7 , wherein the top plate and the bottom plate are solid.

9 . The base according to claim 1 , wherein the latch is fixed to the top plate by fasteners passing through the latch and the top plate.

10 . A cargo container comprising:

a base according to claim 1 ;

backwall secured to the base;

an opening opposite the backwall;

sidewalls secured to the base and opposite one another, the sidewalls extending from the backwall towards the opening; and

a topwall secured to the backwall and the sidewalls opposite the base.

11 . A base for a cargo container, the base comprising:

a bottom plate;

a top plate;

a latch fixed to the top plate, the latch defining a receiver with the top plate; and

a bracket configured to be replaceable separate from the bottom plate and the top plate, having a foot, a head, and a body interconnecting the foot and the head, the bracket extending between the bottom plate and the top plate, the foot fixed to the bottom plate, the head received within the receiver to secure the head to the top plate, the head configured to move within the receiver to prevent damage to the latch when the head is secured to the top plate.

12 . The base according to claim 11 , comprising a plurality of risers interconnecting the top plate and the bottom plate, each riser defining an opening, the bracket configured to be replaced entirely through the openings between the top plate and the bottom plate.

13 . The base according to claim 11 , wherein the body is configured to fail before the latch.

14 . The base according to claim 11 , wherein the top plate has a top surface facing away from the bottom plate, the bracket configured to be replaced without access to the top surface of the top plate.

15 . The base according to claim 14 , wherein the top plate has a bottom surface opposite the top surface facing the bottom plate, the latch fixed to the bottom surface of the top plate by fasteners passing through the latch and the top plate.

16 . A cargo container comprising:

a base according to claim 11 ;

backwall secured to the base;

an opening opposite the backwall;

sidewalls secured to the base and opposite one another, the sidewalls extending from the backwall towards the opening; and

a topwall secured to the backwall and the sidewalls opposite the base.

17 . A method of repairing a base of a cargo container, the method comprising:

identifying a damaged bracket of the base that extends between a top plate and a bottom plate of the base, a latch fixed to the top plate and defining a receiver therewith, the damaged bracket having a foot removably fixed to the bottom plate and a head received within the receiver;

releasing the damaged bracket from the base without access to a top surface of the top plate of the base, including unfixing the foot of the damaged bracket from the bottom plate and withdrawing the head from the receiver; and

securing a new bracket to the base without access to the top surface of the top plate of the base, including inserting a head of the new bracket into the receiver and removably fixing a foot of the new bracket to the bottom plate.

18 . The method according to claim 17 , wherein releasing the damaged bracket comprises:

removing fasteners fixing the foot of the damaged bracket to the bottom plate of the base; and

sliding the head of the damaged bracket out of the receiver of the latch that secures the head of the damaged bracket to the top plate of the base.

19 . The method according to claim 18 , wherein removing the fasteners fixing the foot of the damaged bracket to the base includes accessing a bottom surface of the bottom plate to remove the fasteners.

20 . The method according to claim 17 , wherein securing the new bracket to the base comprises:

sliding the head of the new bracket into the receiver of the latch that secures the head of the new bracket to the top plate of the base; and

fixing the foot of the new bracket to the bottom plate to the base with fasteners that extend through the bottom plate and the foot.