Equipment mount, method and system

Abstract

An equipment mount 100 for attaching equipment to an intermodal container 10 is disclosed. The equipment mount 100 comprises a rail 102 having a first end 104 and a second end 106. The equipment mount

Description

The present invention is directed towards an equipment mount, method, and system. The equipment mount is for attaching equipment to an intermodal container. The equipment mount couples to the intermodal container and serves as an attachment point for equipment. BACKGROUND Intermodal containers, also known as ISO containers, marine containers, or shipping containers are in the form of a steel box with corner castings provided at each corner. The corner castings have openings for receiving twist lock fasteners. The corner castings are used to allow the gripping of the container from above, below or at the side, and to facilitate stacking. The openings are generally of an elongate shape, such as an ellipse or oval shape. Intermodal containers were originally designed for the transport of goods. However, intermodal containers, are also frequently repurposed as temporary building structures such as workspaces or offices on building sites or other locations. It is desirable to attach equipment to the exterior of intermodal containers particularly when used as temporary building structures. The equipment can include floodlights for illuminating a building site or other location. Floodlights are typically mounted on a long pole, which may be telescopic, manually extendable or powered. It is an objective of the present disclosure, to provide an improved mechanism for mounting equipment to an intermodal container that is easier to install and / or provide a more secure attachment of the equipment to the intermodal container. SUMMARY There is provided an equipment mount, method and system as set out in the accompanying independent claims. Other features of the invention will be apparent from the dependent claims, and the description which follows. According to a first aspect of the invention, there is provided an equipment mount for attaching equipment to an intermodal container. The equipment mount comprises a rail having a first end and a second end. The equipment mount comprises a first supporting mechanism for supporting the equipment mount on the intermodal container. The first supporting mechanism comprises a mechanical attachment such as a hook coupled to the first end of the rail. The hook comprises a free end arranged to be received in an opening of a first corner casting of the intermodal container to hang the equipment mount over the first corner casting. Other mechanical attachments could include plates brackets or clamps. Advantageously, the equipment mount comprises a rail which may serve as a mounting point for equipment. Equipment may be mounted on the rail in use to thereby attach equipment to the intermodal container. The equipment mount further comprises a hook coupled to the first end of the rail. The hook enables the equipment mount to be hung over the first corner casting such that the weight of the equipment mount is supported by the first comer casting. The free end of the hook is arranged to be received in an opening of the first corner casting formed in a top surface of the intermodal container such that the rail extends along an external surface of the intermodal container. That is, the equipment mount hangs vertically downwards in use. The equipment mount is easy to install and provides a secure point of attachment for equipment. The positioning of the equipment mount on the intermodal container does not require any modification to the intermodal container and thus does not affect the structural integrity of the intermodal container. The equipment mount serves as a mounting point for equipment and thereby enables equipment to be easily attached to an intermodal container without requiring any modification of the intermodal container. In use, the equipment mount I rail extends along an external surface of the intermodal container. The equipment mount / rail may extend along a vertical edge of the intermodal container. That is, between a top surface and a bottom surface of the intermodal container. The hook may comprise a fixed end coupled to the first end of the rail and a section spanning between the fixed end and the free end. The section spanning between the fixed end and the free end may define a crook which is arranged to rest on the first comer casting. The crook advantageously rests on an exterior surface of the first corner casting to support the weight of the equipment mount. The crook may have a profile that corresponds to an exterior profile of the first corner casting. The hook may comprise first and second spaced apart hook plates that define the fixed end, free end and section spanning between the fixed end and free end of the hook. One or more struts may extend between the first and second hook plates to secure the first and second hook plates together. One of the one or more struts may extend between the first hook plate and the second hook plate in the section spanning between the fixed end and free end of the hook. Advantageously, the strut may act as a lifting point to enable the equipment mount to be lifted using lifting machinery such as a fork lift. One of the one or more struts may extend between the first hook plate and the second hook plate in the free end of the hook. The fixed ends of the first and second hook plates may be positioned either side of the first end of the rail and attached to the first end of the rail. The first supporting mechanism may comprise a securing means for securing the hook to the intermodal container. The securing means may comprise an aperture formed in the free end of the hook. The aperture may be arranged to engage a secondary securing means for securing the hook to the first corner casting. The equipment mount may further comprise a second supporting mechanism for supporting the equipment mount on the intermodal container. The second supporting mechanism may be coupled to the second end of the rail. The second supporting mechanism may be arranged to engage with a second corner casting of the intermodal container. The second corner casting may be aligned with and positioned vertically below the first corner casting. The first corner casting may be referred to as a top corner casting and the second comer casting may be referred to as a bottom comer casting. The equipment mount may extend along an external surface of the intermodal container between the first corner casting and the second corner casting and may be supported by the first corner casting and the second corner casting. The equipment mount may extend along a vertical edge of the intermodal container between the first corner casting and the second corner casting. The second supporting mechanism may comprise a projection arranged to be received in an opening of the second corner casting. The opening may be a side opening of the second corner casting. The projection may be in the form of a spigot. The second supporting mechanism may comprise a securing means for securing the projection to the intermodal container. The securing means may comprise an aperture formed in the projection. The aperture may be arranged to engage a secondary securing means for securing the projection to the second corner casting. The secondary securing means comprises means for engaging with the securing means of the hook or the projection. The secondary securing means and the securing means of the hook or projection comprising male and female engagement means for providing a secondary fixing for fixing the rail onto the container. The secondary securing means comprises means for locating the secondary securing means onto the container. The secondary securing means comprises means for engaging with the hook or projection. The aperture of the hook or projection forms an at least partly threaded bore. The longitudinal axis of the at least partly threaded bore is capable of extending all the way through the opening defined in the corner casting. The longitudinal axis of the at least partly threaded bore is capable of being in alignment with the longitudinal axis of the opening defined in the corner casting. By longitudinal axis of the opening, we mean an axis extending out through the aperture of the casting in a horizontal plane. The means for locating the secondary securing means onto the container comprises a plate, ideally flat. The plate is dimensioned so as to extend beyond the boundary of the aperture of the corner casting so as to sit ideally flush against the casting surface defining the aperture. The means for engaging with the aperture of the hook or projection comprises an at least partly threaded shaft protruding from the plate, ideally protruding orthogonally therefrom. The at least partly threaded shaft is rotatably mounted on the plate via an aperture in the plate. The at least partly threaded shaft has a nut on the end of the shaft. The longitudinal axis of the at least partly threaded shaft is capable of extending all the way through the opening defined in the corner casting. The longitudinal axis of the at least partly threaded shaft is capable of being in alignment with the longitudinal axis of the opening defined in the corner casting. The longitudinal axis of the at least partly threaded shaft is capable of being in alignment with the longitudinal axis of the at least partly threaded bore of the hook or projection. In use, when the hook or projection is located in the opening of the first / upper corner casting or second / lower corner casting of the intermodal container, an operator can move the free end of the at least partly threaded shaft towards the at least partly threaded bore of the hook or projection and engage the threaded portions. Once engaged an operator can use a power tool to run the at least partly threaded shaft through the at least partly threaded bore until the plate is pulled tight onto the surface of the casting defining the aperture thereby securely attaching the equipment mount onto the container. The rail may comprise a mounting structure for mounting equipment. The mounting structure may be positioned proximate to the first end of the rail. The mounting structure may be positioned proximate to the second end of the rail. The mounting structure may comprise a mounting plate. The mounting plate may comprise one or more apertures for receiving bolts. The rail may comprise a plurality of mounting structures. A first of the mounting structures may be positioned proximate to the first end of the rail. A second of the mounting structures may be positioned proximate to the second end of the rail. The rail may comprise a cable receiving structure. The cable receiving structure may comprise an opening for receiving a cable of the equipment. The cable receiving structure may comprise a plate that projects away from the rail at an angle. The plate may comprise the opening. The plate may be a warped plate. According to a second aspect of the disclosure, there is provided a method of positioning an equipment mount on an intermodal container for attaching equipment to the intermodal container, the method comprises: lifting a hookof a first supporting mechanism of the equipment mount over a first corner casting of the intermodal container, the hook being coupled to a first end of a rail of the equipment mount; lowering a free end of the hook into an opening of the first corner casting such that the equipment mount is hung over the first corner casting. The method may comprise engaging a second supporting mechanism of the equipment mount with a second corner casting of the intermodal container. The second supporting mechanism being coupled to a second end of the rail. Engaging the second supporting mechanism with the second corner casting may comprise inserting a projection of the second supporting mechanism into an opening of the second corner casting. According to a third aspect of the disclosure, there is provided a system comprising an intermodal container. The system comprising an equipment mount for attaching equipment to the intermodal container. The equipment mount comprises a rail having a first end and a second end. The equipment mount comprises a first supporting mechanism for supporting the equipment mount on the intermodal container. The first supporting mechanism comprises a hook coupled to the first end of the rail. The hook comprises a free end arranged to be received in an opening of a first corner casting of the intermodal container to hang the equipment mount over the first corner casting. The system may comprise any of the features of the equipment mount of the first aspect of the disclosure. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Examples of the present disclosure will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figures 1 to 2 show aspects of an intermodal container; and Figures 3 to 5 show an example equipment mount according to aspects of the present disclosure; Figures 6 to 9 show the equipment mount of Figures 3 to 5 in the process of being positioned on an intermodal container; Figure 10 show the equipment mount of Figures 3 to 5 positioned on the intermodal container; Figure 11 is a perspective view of the equipment mount being coupled to the upper corner casting by the secondary securing arrangement; Figure 12 is a detail perspective view of the secondary securing arrangement being coupled to the hook of the equipment mount; Figure 13 is a detail perspective view of the secondary securing arrangement being coupled to the projection of the equipment mount; Figure 14 is a perspective view of the equipment mount being coupled to the lower corner casting by the secondary securing arrangement; Figure 15 is a perspective view of the equipment mount being coupled to the container by the secondary securing arrangement with the attached spotlights in a retracted position; and Figure 16 is a perspective view of the equipment mount being coupled to the container by the secondary securing arrangement with the spotlights in an extended position. DETAILED DESCRIPTION The following description with reference to the accompanying drawings is provided to assist in a comprehensive understanding of various embodiments of the disclosure as defined by the claims and their equivalents. It includes various specific details to assist in that understanding but these are to be regarded as merely exemplary. Accordingly, those of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that various changes and modifications of the various embodiments described herein can be made without departing from the scope and spirit of the disclosure. In addition, descriptions of well-known functions and constructions may be omitted for clarity and conciseness. The terms and words used in the following description and claims are not limited to the bibliographical meanings, but, are merely used by the inventor to enable a clear and consistent understanding of the disclosure. Accordingly, it should be apparent to those skilled in the art that the following description of various embodiments of the disclosure is provided for illustration purpose only and not for the purpose of limiting the disclosure as defined by the appended claims and their equivalents. It is to be understood that the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” include plural referents unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. Figures 1 and 2 show details of an example intermodal container 10 that may be used with the equipment mount of the present disclosure. The intermodal container 10 comprises a top surface (not shown), a bottom surface (not shown), and connecting side surfaces 12, 14. The intermodal container 10 further comprises corner castings 16,18. A first corner casting 16 is located at the corner joining the top surface to the side surfaces 12, 14. A second corner casting 18 is located at the corner joining the bottom surface to the side surfaces 12,14. The first corner casting 16 and second comer casting 18 are located along the same vertical edge portion of the intermodal container 10. The first corner casting 16 and second corner casting 18 are vertically spaced from one another such that the second corner casting 18 is provided vertically below the first corner casting 16. The first corner casting 16 comprises an opening 20 (Figure 1) formed in the top surface and openings 22, 24 formed in the side surfaces. The second corner casting 18 comprises an opening (not shown) formed in the bottom surface and openings 26, 28 (Figure 2) formed in the side surfaces. The corner castings 16, 18 are designed to be used with twist-lock fasteners for stacking and moving the intermodal containers 10. The equipment mount of the present disclosure advantageously uses the corner castings 16, 18 as attachment points. This allows the equipment mount to be coupled to the intermodal container 10 without requiring any modification of the intermodal container 10. Intermodal containers 10 typically have standardised sizes. The intermodal container 10 may be 2.44 m wide. The intermodal container may be 2.6 m or 2.9 m high. The intermodal container 10 may be 6.1 m or 12.2 m long. Other dimensions are possible. Figure 3 shows an example equipment mount 100 in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure. The equipment mount 100 is arranged to be coupled, non-permanently, to an intermodal container such as the intermodal container 10 shown in Figures 1 and 2. The equipment mount 100 serves as an attachment point for equipment to be secured to the intermodal container 10. The equipment mount 100 comprises a rail 102 having a first end 104 and a second end 106. The rail 102 is an elongate rail having a square or rectangular cross-section and a hollow centre. The rail 102 may be constructed from a metal such as stainless steel, steel or aluminium. The rail 102 is typically of a length such that it may extend between vertically spaced (in the height direction) corner castings 16, 18 of the intermodal container 10. The equipment mount 100 comprises a first supporting mechanism 108 for supporting the equipment mount 100 on the intermodal container 10. The first supporting mechanism 108 enables the equipment mount 100 to be mounted on and held on the intermodal container 10. The first supporting mechanism 108 comprises a hook 110 which is coupled to the first end 104 of the rail 102. The hook 110 is arranged to engage with the first corner casting 16 of the intermodal container 10. The equipment mount 100 comprises a second supporting mechanism 112 for supporting the equipment mount 100 on the intermodal container 10. The second supporting mechanism 112 is arranged to engage with the second corner casting 18 of the intermodal container 10. The second supporting mechanism 112 comprises a projection 114 that extends from the rear surface (that faces the intermodal container 10 in use) of the rail 102. The rail 102 further comprises a first mounting structure 116 in the form of a mounting plate 116 and a second mounting structure 118 in the form of a mounting plate 118. The first mounting plate 116 is positioned proximate to the first end 104 of the rail 102. The second mounting plate 118 is positioned proximate to the second end 106 of the rail 102. The mounting plates 116,118 are attached to the front surface (that faces away from the intermodal container 10 in use) of the rail 102. The mounting plates 116, 118 serve as mounting points for mounting equipment to the equipment mount 100. The mounting plates 116, 118 comprise apertures 120 arranged to receive fasteners for securing the equipment to the equipment mount 100. Additionally mounting plates may be provided. The mounting plates are not required to be positioned proximate to the first end 104 and second end 106 of the rail 102 in all examples although this arrangement does provide a particular secure anchoring of equipment to the equipment mount 100. Mounting plates / mounting structures are not required in all examples as the equipment may be coupled to the rail 102 using other means. For example, the equipment may be clamped to the rail. The type of coupling between equipment and rail can be selected depending to the type and construction of the equipment intended to be used with the equipment mount 100. Generally, the rail 102 serves as a mounting point for equipment The rail 102 further comprises a cable receiving structure 122 in the form of a plate 122 that projects away from the front surface of the rail 102 at an angle. The plate 122 is a warped plate in this example. The plate 122 comprises an opening 124 for receiving a cable of the equipment. The rail 102 is generally as long as the height of the intermodal container 10. The rail 102 may be at least 2.4 m long. The rail 102 may be at least 2.5 m. The rail 102 may be less than 3.1 m long. The rail 102 may be less than 3 m long. The rail 102 may be between 2.6 m and 2.9 m long. Here, length will be understood as referring to the distance between the first end 104 and the second end 106 of the rail 102. The overall length of the equipment mount 100 is generally greater than the height of the intermodal container 10 to allow for the hook 110 to hook over the first corner casting 16 while the rail 102 extends from the first corner casting 16 to the second comer casting 18 as explained in greater detail below. Figure 4 shows a more detailed view of the first supporting mechanism 108 of the equipment mount 100. The hook 110 is coupled to the first end 104 of the rail 102 and in particular is permanently coupled to the rail 102 by welding. The hook 110 may otherwise be securely fastened to the rail 102 such as by using bolts or other securing means. The hook 110 may also be integrally formed with the rail 102 in some examples. The hook 110 comprises a fixed end 126 that is coupled to the first end 104 of the rail 102, a free end 128, and a section 130 spanning between the fixed end 126 and the free end 128. The section 130 spanning between the fixed end 126 and the free end 128 defines a crook 132. The crook 132 is substantially flat in this example. Overall, the hook 110 resembles a J-shape. The hook 110 is formed from a first hook plate 134 and a second hook plate 136 in this example. The first hook plate 134 and second hook plate 136 are made of metal and may be made from the same material as the rail 102. The fixed ends 126 of the first hook plate 134 and second hook plate 136 are positioned either side of the rail 102 and welded to the rail 102 so as to securely attach the hook 110 to the rail 102. Additionally struts 138,140 are provided to couple the first hook plate 134 to the second hook plate 136 and restrict relative movement of the first hook plate 134 and the second hook plate 136. A first strut 138 is provided to join the spanning section 130 of the first hook plate 134 to the spanning section 130 of the second hook plate 136. The first strut 138 is in the form of a metal rod which is securely joined to the first hook plate 134 and second hook plate 136 with a combination of bolts and welding. The first strut 138 additionally serves as a lifting point for allowing the equipment mount 100 to be lifted by a forklift. A second strut 140 is provided to join the free end 128 of the first hook plate 134 to the free end 128 of the second hook plate 136. The second strut 138 is in the form of a metal rod which is securely joined to the first hook plate 134 and second hook plate 136 by welding. An aperture extends through the first hook plate 134 and into the second strut 140. The aperture is arranged to receive a bolt 142 for securing the equipment mount 100 to the intermodal container 10 as explained more detail below. An aperture also extends through the second hook plate 136 and into the second strut 140. The two apertures may be joined together. Figure 5 shows a more detailed view of the second supporting mechanism 112. The second supporting mechanism 112 comprises a projection 144 in the form of a spigot 144 that extends away from the rear surface of the rail 102. The second supporting mechanism 112 also comprises a plate 146 that is welded to the rear surface of the second end 106 of the rail 102. The spigot 144 extends through the plate 146 and rail 102 and is welded to the second end 106 of the rail 102. The spigot 144 may be otherwise attached to the second end 106 of the rail 102 such as by bolts. The spigot 144 may be integrally formed with the rail 102. The spigot 144 has an aperture for bolt 148 for securing the spigot 144 to the intermodal container 10. Figures 6 to 8 show part of the process of positioning the equipment mount 100 on the intermodal container 10. The free end 128 of the hook 110 is lifted over the first corner casting 16 (Figure 6). This may be performed manually or using a lifting machine such as a forklift. As explained above, the first strut 138 (Figure 4) may be used as a lifting point for a machine such as a forklift. The free end 128 of the hook 110 is lowered into the opening 20 formed in the top surface of the first corner casting 16 (Figure 7). The weight of the equipment mount 100 is supported by the first corner casting 16 which simplifies the subsequent assembly steps as the installer does not need to continue to support the weight of the equipment mount 100. The spigot 144 is then simply positioned in the opening 26 formed in the side of the second corner casting 18 (Figure 8). The hook 110 and spigot 144 may then be secured in place by bolts via their apertures 150, 152. Figure 9 shows the hook 110 as installed on the intermodal container 10. The hook 110 fits snugly with the first corner casting 16, and the crook 132 (Figure 6) rests against the outer surface of the first comer casting 16. The crook 132 being substantially flat means that it has a complementary profile to that of the exterior surface of the first corner casting 16 to allow for the hook 110 to fit snugly with the first corner casting 16. Figure 10 shows the overall equipment mount 100 as installed on the intermodal container 10. The equipment mount 100 hangs over the first corner casting 16 of the intermodal container 10 via the hook 110 of the first supporting mechanism 108. The rail 102 extends along an exterior vertical edge of the intermodal container 10 between the first corner casting 16 and the second corner casting 18. The equipment mount 100 is also supported by the second corner casting 18 via the spigot which extends into the second corner casting via the side opening. The plate 146 of the second supporting mechanism rests against the second corner casting 18. Figure 10 also shows an item of equipment 200 ready to be positioned on the equipment mount 100.The item of equipment 200 in this example is a telescopic pole used to carry floodlights. The telescopic pole is shown in a retracted position in Figure 10 and may be extended manually or using a powered pneumatic pump. The equipment 200 comprises a first bracket 202 and a second bracket 204. The first bracket 202 is coupled to the first mounting plate 116. The second bracket 118 is coupled to the second mounting plate 118. Once coupled to the equipment mount 100, the equipment 200 is securely fastened to the intermodal container 10 and supported by the first corner casting 16 and the second comer casting 18. This enables the equipment 200 to be robustly held in place even when the telescopic pole is extended. A secure attachment of the equipment 200 is desirable to ensure that the equipment 200 does not get damaged in windy conditions. The power cable of the equipment 200 can be passed through the opening 124 of the cable receiving structure 122 (Figure 3) and routed into the intermodal container 10 where a power source may be located. The equipment mount 100 of the present disclosure is easy to install by lifting the hook 110 over and into the opening 20 formed in the top surface of the first corner casting 16 and positioning the spigot 144 in the side opening 26 of the second corner casting 16. Once the hook 110 is in position, the weight of the equipment mount 100 is supported by the intermodal container 10 which makes the subsequent installation steps easier for the installer. Advantageously, the hook 110 can be positioned in any of the corner castings joining the top surface of the intermodal container 10 to the side walls. Moreover, the hook 110 can be received such that it extends along any of the faces of the intermodal container 10. That is, the hook 110 can be received in the opening 20 of the intermodal container such that the equipment mount 100 extends along the side surface 12 or the side surface 14. Referring to the drawings and now to Figures 11 to 16, there is shown a secondary securing arrangement indicated generally by the reference numeral 300 having an arrangement 301 for engaging with the securing arrangement 303 of the hook 110 see Figure 12 and / or the projection 144 see Figure 13. The secondary securing arrangement 300 and the securing arrangement 303 of the hook 110 and / or projection 144 have male and female engagement members 305, 304 respectively for providing a secondary fixing for fixing the rail 102 onto the container 10. The secondary securing arrangement 300 has a mounting plate 306 for locating the secondary securing arrangement 300 onto the container. The secondary securing arrangement 300 also has a member 305 for engaging with the hook 110 and / or projection 144. The aperture 304 of the hook 110 and / or projection 144 forms an at least partly threaded bore. The longitudinal axis of the at least partly threaded bore is capable of extending all the way through the opening 307 / 308 defined in the corner casting 16 / 18. The longitudinal axis of the at least partly threaded bores are capable of being in alignment with the longitudinal axis of the openings 307 / 308 defined in the corner castings 16 / 18. By longitudinal axis of the opening, we mean an axis extending out through the aperture 307 / 308 of the castings 16 / 18 in a horizontal plane. The arrangement for locating the secondary securing arrangement 300 onto the container 10 has a plate 306, ideally flat. The plate 306 is dimensioned so as to extend beyond the boundary of the apertures 307 / 308 of the corner castings 16 / 18 so as to sit ideally flush against the casting surface defining the aperture 307 / 308. The member 305 for engaging with the aperture 307 / 308 of the hook 110 or projection 144 has a partly threaded shaft protruding from the plate 306, ideally protruding orthogonally therefrom. The at least partly threaded shaft is rotatably mounted on the plate 306 via an aperture in the plate 306. The partly threaded shaft 305 has a nut 309 on the end of the shaft 305. The longitudinal axis of the partly threaded shaft 305 is capable of extending all the way through the opening 307 / 308 defined in the corner casting 16 / 18. The longitudinal axis of the partly threaded shaft 305 is capable of being in alignment with the longitudinal axis of the opening 307 / 308 defined in the corner casting 16 / 18. The longitudinal axis of the partly threaded shaft 305 is capable of being in alignment with the longitudinal axis of the partly threaded bore of the hook 110 or projection 144. In use, when the hook 110 or projection 144 is located in the opening 20 of the first / upper corner casting 16 or second / lower corner casting 18 respectively of the intermodal container 10, an operator can move the free end of the partly threaded shaft 305 towards the partly threaded bore of the hook 110 or projection 144 and engage the threaded portions. Once engaged an operator can use a power tool or hand tool to run the partly threaded shaft 305 through the at least partly threaded bore until the plate 306 is pulled tight onto the surface of the casting 16 / 18 defining the aperture 307 / 308 thereby securely attaching the equipment mount 100 onto the container 10. Various combinations of optional features have been described herein, and it will be appreciated that described features may be combined in any suitable combination. In particular, the features of any one example embodiment may be combined with features of any other embodiment, as appropriate, except where such combinations are mutually exclusive. Throughout this specification, the term “comprising” or “comprises” means including the component(s) specified but not to the exclusion of the presence of others. 5 All of the features disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), and / or all of the steps of any method or process so disclosed, may be combined in any combination, except combinations where at least some of such features and / or steps are mutually exclusive. Each feature disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings) 10 may be replaced by alternative features serving the same, equivalent or similar purpose, unless expressly stated otherwise. Thus, unless expressly stated otherwise, each feature disclosed is one example only of a generic series of equivalent or similar features. The invention is not restricted to the details of the foregoing embodiments). The invention extends to any novel one, or any novel combination, of the features disclosed in this specification (including any 15 accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), or to any novel one, or any novel combination, of the steps of any method or process so disclosed.

Claims

1. An equipment mount for attaching equipment to an intermodal container, the equipment mount comprising:a rail having a first end and a second end;a first supporting mechanism for supporting the equipment mount on the intermodal container, the first supporting mechanism comprising a hook coupled to the first end of the rail, the hook comprising a free end arranged to be received in an opening of a first corner casting of the intermodal container to hang the equipment mount over the first corner casting.

2. An equipment mount as claimed in claim 1, wherein the hook further comprises a fixed end coupled to the first end of the rail and a section spanning between the fixed end and the free end, wherein the section spanning between the fixed end and the free end defines a crook which is arranged to rest on the first corner casting in use.

3. An equipment mount a claimed in claim 2, wherein the hook comprises first and second spaced apart hook plates that define the fixed end, free end and section spanning between the fixed end and free end of the hook.

4. An equipment mount as claimed in claim 3, wherein one or more struts extend between the first and second hook plates to secure the first and second hook plates together.

5. An equipment mount as claimed in claim 4, wherein one of the one or more struts extends between the first hook plate and the second hook plate in the section spanning between the fixed end and free end of the hook.

6. An equipment mount as claimed in claim 4 or 5, wherein one of the one or more struts extends between the first hook plate and the second hook plate in the free end of the hook.

7. An equipment mount as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the first supporting mechanism further comprises securing means for securing the hook to the intermodal container.

8. An equipment mount as claimed in claim 7, wherein the securing means comprises an aperture formed in the free end of the hook and arranged to receive a bolt for securing the hook to the first corner casting.

9. An equipment mount as claimed in any preceding claim, further comprising a second supporting mechanism for supporting the equipment mount on the intermodal container, wherein the second supporting mechanism is coupled to the second end of the rail.

10. An equipment mount as claimed in claim 9, wherein the second supporting mechanism is arranged to engage with a second corner casting of the intermodal container.

11. An equipment mount as claimed in claim 10, wherein the second supporting mechanism comprises a projection arranged to be received in an opening of the second corner casting.

12. An equipment mount as claimed in claim 11, wherein the second supporting mechanism further comprises securing means for securing the projection to the intermodal container.

13. An equipment mount as claimed in claim 12, wherein the securing means comprises an aperture formed in the projection and arranged to receive a bolt for securing the projection to the second comer casting.

14. An equipment mount as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the rail comprises a mounting structure for mounting equipment.

15. An equipment mount as claimed in claim 14, wherein the mounting structure is positioned proximate to the first end of the rail.

16. An equipment mount as claimed in claim 15, wherein the mounting structure is positioned proximate to the second end of the rail.

17. An equipment mount as claimed in any of claims 14 to 16, wherein the rail comprises a plurality of mounting structures.

18. An equipment mount as claimed In claim 17, wherein a first of the mounting structures is positioned proximate to the first end of the rail, and a second of the mounting structures is positioned proximate to the second end of the rail.

19. An equipment mount as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the rail comprises a cable receiving structure, the cable receiving structure comprises an opening for receiving a cable of the equipment.

20. An equipment mount as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein, in use, the rail extends along an exterior vertical edge of the intermodal container.

21. A method of positioning an equipment mount on an intermodal container for attaching equipment to the intermodal container, the method comprises:lifting a hook of a first supporting mechanism of the equipment mount over a first corner casting of the intermodal container, the hook being coupled to a first end of a rail of the equipment mount;lowering a free end of the hook into an opening of the first corner casting such that the equipment mount is hung over the first corner casting.

22. A method as claimed in claim 21, further comprising engaging a second supporting mechanism of the equipment mount with a second corner casting of the intermodal container, the second supporting mechanism being coupled to a second end of the rail.

23. A method as claimed in claim 22, wherein engaging the second supporting mechanism with the second corner casting comprises inserting a projection of the second supporting mechanism into an opening of the second corner casting.

24. A system comprising:an intermodal container;an equipment mount for attaching equipment to the intermodal container, the equipment mount comprising:a rail having a first end and a second end;a first supporting mechanism for supporting the equipment mount on the intermodal container, the first supporting mechanism comprising a hook coupled to the first end of the rail, and wherein the hook comprises a free end arranged to be received in an opening of a first corner casting of the intermodal container to hang the equipment mount over the first corner casting.

25. A system as claimed in claim 24, wherein the equipment mount further comprises a second supporting mechanism for supporting the equipment mount on the intermodal container, wherein the second supporting mechanism is coupled to the second end of the rail.

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