IP Library › Granted Patent US 7,252,468
Granted Patent B2
US 7,252,468 · App. 11/396,600 · Granted Aug 7, 2007

Methods and devices for adapting a cargo container to directly interface with an aircraft cargo bay

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,252,468
App. No.
11/396,600
Granted
Aug 7, 2007
Kind
B2
Abstract

The present invention relates generally to a skid assembly for use with a cargo container. In one particular embodiment, the skid assembly comprises an elongate member having an upper surface, a lower surface, and a side surface; a plurality of side extensions spaced at predetermined intervals along the side surface; and at least two locking fittings, attached to the upper surface, for removably attaching the skid assembly to at least two corresponding castings located on the lower surface of a cargo container. Alternately, the skid assembly may comprise: an elongate member having an upper surface, a lower surface, two end surfaces, and an end extension extending from each of the two end surfaces for slideably engaging at least two elongate tracks of a cargo locking system. The present invention also relates to methods for adapting a cargo container to directly interface with an aircraft cargo bay floor having a cargo conveyor system to permit cargo to slide along the aircraft cargo bay floor and a cargo locking system to lock the cargo in place.

Claims (45)

1. A skid assembly for use with a cargo container, the skid assembly comprising:

an elongate member having an upper surface, a lower surface, and a side surface that extends between said upper surface and said lower surface;

a plurality of side extensions spaced at predetermined intervals along the side surface;

a first locking fitting, attached to the upper surface, for removably attaching the skid assembly to a first casting located on the lower surface of the cargo container;

a second locking fitting, attached to the upper surface, for removably attaching the skid assembly to a second casting located on the lower surface of the cargo container, and positioned relative to the first locking fitting to permit the first and second locking fitting to be simultaneously removably attached to the first and second castings, respectively; and

at least one rigid movable portion for varying the spacing between the first locking fitting and the second locking fitting to enable the assembly to be adapted to attach to cargo containers of a plurality of sizes.

2. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein:

the at least one rigid movable portion can be retracted to reduce the overall dimensions of the assembly for storage.

3. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein:

at least one of the first and second castings comprises an ISO corner casting.

4. A skid assembly for use with a cargo container, the skid assembly comprising:

an elongate member having an upper surface, a lower surface, and a side surface that extends between said upper surface and said lower surface;

at least one side extension extending from the side surface;

a first locking fitting, attached to the upper surface, for removably attaching the skid assembly to a first casting located on the lower surface of the cargo container; and

a second locking fitting, attached to the upper surface, for removably attaching the skid assembly to a second casting located on the lower surface of the cargo container, and positioned relative to the first locking fitting to permit the first and second locking fitting to be simultaneously removably attached to the first and second castings, respectively,

wherein the elongate member includes at least one rigid section of variable dimension such that the relative positions of the first locking fitting and the second locking fitting may be adjusted in at least one dimension.

5. The assembly of claim 4 , wherein the at least one side extension further comprises:

at least one opening for receiving a locking pin.

6. A skid assembly for use with a cargo container, the skid assembly comprising:

an elongate member having an upper surface, a lower surface, and a side surface that extends between said upper surface and said lower surface;

a plurality of side extensions spaced at predetermined intervals along the side surface;

a first locking fitting, attached to an end of the upper surface; and

a second locking fitting, attached to an opposite end of the upper surface and positioned relative to the first looking fitting to permit the first and second looking fittings to be simultaneously removably attached to corresponding first and second castings of the cargo container, respectively; and

at least one rigid extendable portion for varying the spacing between the first locking fitting and the second locking fitting to enable the assembly to be adapted to attach to cargo containers of a plurality of sizes.

7. The assembly of claim 6 , wherein:

the extendable portion can be retracted to reduce the overall dimensions of the assembly for storage.

8. A skid assembly for use with a cargo container, the skid assembly comprising:

an elongate member having an upper surface, a lower surface, and a side surface that extends between said upper surface and said lower surface;

a plurality of side extensions spaced at predetermined intervals along the side surface;

a first locking fitting, attached to the upper surface; and

a second locking fitting, attached to the upper surface and positionable relative to the first locking fitting by at least one rigid extendable portion of the elongate member.

9. An adapter system for a cargo container, the system comprising:

a first elongate member having an upper surface and a side surface, said first elongate member comprising:

at least one extension extending outwardly from the side surface of the first elongate member and adapted to engage a cargo locking system;

a first locking fitting attached to the upper surface of said first elongate member and adapted to engage the cargo container;

a second locking fitting attached to the upper surface of said first elongate member and adapted to engage the cargo container; and

at least one adjustable segment that permits a spacing between the first locking fitting and the second locking fitting to be adjusted in at least one direction; and

a second elongate member having an upper surface and a side surface, said second elongate member comprising:

at least one extension extending outwardly from the side surface of the second elongate member and adapted to engage a cargo locking system;

a third locking fitting attached to the upper surface of said second elongate member and adapted to engage the cargo container,

a fourth locking filling attached to the upper surface of said second elongate member and adapted to engage the cargo container; and

at least one adjustable segment that permits a spacing between the third locking fitting and the fourth locking fitting to be adjusted in at least one direction;

wherein a spacing between the first elongate member and the second elongate member may be adjusted in at least one direction.

10. The system of claim 9 , wherein the at least one adjustable segment of the first elongate member and the at least one adjustable segment of the second elongate member comprise rigid adjustable segments.

11. The system of claim 9 , wherein the first elongate member may be positioned relative to the cargo container independently of the second elongate member.

Assignments (18)
RELEASE OF PATENT SECURITY INTEREST RECORDED AT R/F 59664/0917 Recorded Mar 4, 2026
From: TRUIST BANK
To: FLORIDA TURBINE TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; GICHNER SYSTEMS GROUP, INC.; KRATOS ANTENNA SOLUTIONS CORPORATION; KRATOS INTEGRAL HOLDINGS, LLC; KRATOS TECHNOLOGY & TRAINING SOLUTIONS, INC.; KRATOS UNMANNED AERIAL SYSTEMS, INC.; MICRO SYSTEMS, INC.
Reel/Frame 075029/0769 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Apr 6, 2022
From: TRUIST BANK, SUCCESSOR BY MERGER TO SUNTRUST BANK, AS COLLATERAL AGENT AND ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
To: KRATOS INTEGRAL HOLDINGS, LLC; SAT CORPORATION; KRATOS TECHNOLOGY & TRAINING SOLUTIONS, INC.; CHARLESTON MARINE CONTAINERS, INC.; DIGITAL FUSION, INC.; KRATOS UNMANNED AERIAL SYSTEMS, INC. (F/K/A COMPOSITE ENGINEERING, INC.); GICHNER SYTEMS GROUP, INC.; MICRO SYSTEMS, INC.; SECUREINFO CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 059616/0151 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Apr 6, 2022
From: WILMINGTON TRUST, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: CHARLESTON MARINE CONTAINERS, INC.; DIGITAL FUSION, INC.; KRATOS INTEGRAL HOLDINGS, LLC; KRATOS TECHNOLOGY & TRAINING SOLUTIONS, INC.; KRATOS UNMANNED AERIAL SYSTEMS, INC. (F/K/A COMPOSITE ENGINEERING INC.); SAT CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 059616/0001 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Apr 6, 2022
From: FLORIDA TURBINE TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; GICHNER SYSTEMS GROUP, INC.; KRATOS ANTENNA SOLUTIONS CORPORATON; KRATOS INTEGRAL HOLDINGS, LLC; KRATOS TECHNOLOGY & TRAINING SOLUTIONS, INC.; KRATOS UNMANNED AERIAL SYSTEMS, INC.; MICRO SYSTEMS, INC.
To: TRUIST BANK, AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 059664/0917 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 23, 2022
From: CHARLESTON MARINE CONTAINERS, INC.
To: GICHNER SYSTEMS GROUP, INC.
Reel/Frame 059080/0263 →
AMENDED AND RESTATED INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Dec 7, 2017
From: KRATOS DEFENSE & SECURITY SOLUTIONS, INC.; AI METRIX, INC.; AIRORLITE COMMUNICATIONS, INC.; AVTEC SYSTEMS, INC.; BSC PARTNERS, LLC; CARLSBAD ISI, INC.; CHARLESTON MARINE CONTAINERS INC.; DALLASTOWN REALTY I, LLC; DALLASTOWN REALTY II, LLC; DEFENSE SYSTEMS, INCORPORATED; DEI SERVICES CORPORATION; DFI REALTY, LLC; DIGITAL FUSION SOLUTIONS, INC.; DIGITAL FUSION, INC.; DIVERSIFIED SECURITY SOLUTIONS, INC.; DTI ASSOCIATES, INC.; GENERAL MICROWAVE CORPORATION; GENERAL MICROWAVE ISRAEL CORPORATION; GICHNER SYSTEMS GROUP, INC.; GICHNER SYSTEMS INTRERNATIONAL, INC.; HAVERSTICK CONSULTING, INC.; HAVERSTICK GOVERNMENT SOLUTIONS, INC.; HENRY BROS. ELECTRONICS, INC.; HENRY BROS. ELECTRONICS INC.; HENRY BROS. ELECTRONICS, L.L.C.; HGS HOLDINGS, INC.; JMA ASSOCIATES, INC.; KPSS GOVERNMENT SOLUTIONS, INC; KRATOS COMMUNICATIONS, INC.; KRATOS DEFENSE & ROCKET SUPPORT SERVICES, INC.; KRATOS INTEGRAL HOLDINGS, LLC; KRATOS INTEGRAL SYSTEMS INTERNATIONAL, INC.; KRATOS PUBLIC SAFETY & SECURITY SOLUTIONS, INC.; KRATOS SOUTHEAST, INC.; KRATOS SPACE & MISSILE DEFENSE SYSTEMS, INC.; KRATOS SYSTEMS AND SOLUTIONS, INC.; KRATOS TECHNOLOGY & TRAINING SOLUTIONS, INC.; KRATOS TEXAS, INC.; KRATOS UNMANNED AERIAL SYSTEMS, INC.; KRATOS UNMANNED SYSTEMS SOLUTIONS, INC.; LVDM, INC.; MADISON RESEARCH CORPORATION; MICRO SYSTEMS, INC.; MSI ACQUISITION CORP.; POLEXIS, INC.; REAL TIME LOGIC, INC.; REALITY BASED IT SERVICES LTD.; ROCKET SUPPORT SERVICES, LLC; SAT CORPORATION; SCT ACQUISITION, LLC; SCT REAL ESTATE, LLC; SECUREINFO CORPORATION; SHADOW I, INC.; SHADOW II, INC.; SUMMIT RESEARCH CORPORATION; WFI NMC CORP.; KRATOS SOUTHWEST L.P.
To: SUNTRUST BANK
Reel/Frame 044742/0845 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Dec 1, 2017
From: AIRORLITE COMMUNICATIONS, INC.; CHARLESTON MARINE CONTAINERS, INC.; DIGITAL FUSION, INC.; HENRY BROS. ELECTRONICS, INC. (DE); HENRY BROS. ELECTRONICS, INC. (NJ); KRATOS INTEGRAL HOLDINGS, LLC; KRATOS TECHNOLOGY & TRAINING SOLUTIONS, INC.; KRATOS UNMANNED AERIAL SYSTEMS, INC.; GICHNER SYSTEMS GROUP, INC.; MICRO SYSTEMS, INC.; SAT CORPORATION; SECUREINFO CORPORATION
To: WILMINGTON TRUST, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 044593/0678 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Nov 21, 2017
From: WILMINGTON TRUST, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
To: AIRORLITE COMMUNICATIONS, INC.; CHARLESTON MARINE CONTAINERS INC.; KRATOS UNMANNED AERIAL SYSTEMS, INC.; DIGITAL FUSION, INC.; GENERAL MICROWAVE CORPORATION; HENRY BROS. ELECTRONICS, INC.; KRATOS INTEGRAL HOLDINGS, LLC; KRATOS TECHNOLOGY & TRAINING SOLUTIONS, INC.; KRATOS DEFENSE & SECURITY SOLUTIONS, INC.; SECUREINFO CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 044195/0924 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jan 30, 2015
From: AIRORLITE COMMUNICATIONS, INC.; CHARLESTON MARINE CONTAINERS INC.; COMPOSITE ENGINEERING, INC.; DIGITAL FUSION, INC.; GENERAL MICROWAVE CORPORATION; HENRY BROS. ELECTRONICS, INC.; KRATOS INTEGRAL HOLDINGS, LLC; KRATOS TECHNOLOGY & TRAINING SOLUTIONS, INC.; KRATOS DEFENSE & SECURITY SOLUTIONS, INC.; SECUREINFO CORPORATION
To: WILMINGTON TRUST, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
Reel/Frame 034861/0796 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jun 18, 2014
From: WILMINGTON TRUST, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION (AS SUCCESSOR BY MERGER TO WILMINGTON TRUST FSB)
To: CHARLESTON MARINE CONTAINERS, INC.
Reel/Frame 033200/0076 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jun 17, 2014
From: KEYBANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
To: CHARLESTON MARINE CONTAINERS
Reel/Frame 033188/0775 →
AMENDMENT AND CONFIRMATION OF INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Aug 17, 2011
From: CHARLESTON MARINE CONTAINERS, INC.
To: KEYBANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
Reel/Frame 026764/0435 →
INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Jun 15, 2010
From: CHARLESTON MARINE CONTAINERS, INC.
To: WILMINGTON TRUST FSB, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 024539/0398 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded May 28, 2010
From: NATIONAL PENN BANK
To: CHARLESTON MARINE CONTAINERS, INC.,
Reel/Frame 024456/0517 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded May 20, 2010
From: ARGOSY INVESTMENT PARTNERS III, L.P.
To: CHARLESTON MARINE CONTAINERS INC.
Reel/Frame 024411/0497 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Oct 7, 2008
From: CHARLESTON MARINE CONTAINERS INC.
To: ARGOSY INVESTMENT PARTNERS III, L.P.
Reel/Frame 021658/0437 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Oct 3, 2008
From: CHARLESTON MARINE CONTAINERS, INC.
To: NATIONAL PENN BANK
Reel/Frame 021630/0410 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 25, 2008
From: SEA CONTAINERS AMERICA INC.
To: CHARLESTON MARINE CONTAINERS, INC.
Reel/Frame 021570/0881 →