Telescopic container
A telescopic container includes a first enclosure section defining a first interior volume and being open on one side. A second enclosure section defines a second interior volume and is open on one side. The open sides face each other. The second section has exterior dimensions enabling movement thereof into the first enclosure section. A plurality of telescopic units connect the first and second enclosure sections. The telescoping units having operable length such that when fully extended, the first and second enclosure sections are separated from each other and a work surface is defined having an area exceeding a combined surface area of the first and second enclosure sections. The operable length is such that when fully retracted, the second enclosure section is nested in the first enclosure section to define a total interior volume less than the sum of the first and second interior volumes.
Continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 11/786,137 filed on Apr. 11, 2007.
STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENTNot Applicable
FIELD OF INVENTIONThe invention generally relates to a container, and, in particular, such with a dual capacity to store items in a contracted state of the container and serve as a mobile work area in an expanded state of the container.
BACKGROUNDContainers are commonplace in both residential and commercial environments. In either environment, as is well known, containers are used to store and ship a wide variety of items. The identity of the specific items for containing oftentimes dictates, or at least suggests, a suitable substance for a particular container. For instance, although containers may be constructed from wood, plastic, metal, or countless other substances, fireworks, marine airguns and weapons may be preferably contained in containers constructed of different substances, each of which provide the necessary sturdiness and containment requirements, such as aerobicness and humidity, en route or during stationary storage for the containments.
Problems exist, however, when one wishes to use items removed from their containers. Using the aforementioned containments as examples, a work space must be found or constructed in order to use the fireworks, marine airguns or weapons. If a work space must be found, this may require transporting the containments to distant locations as well as possibly requiring additional containers for this transporting to the work space; this adds costs and time before ultimate use of the containments. If a work space must be constructed, this requires materials, costs, and time before ultimate use of the containments.
Accordingly, in light of the example, above-identified problems, a need, therefore, exists that combine containment and a work space in one device.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONA telescopic container according to one aspect of the invention includes a first enclosure section defining a first interior volume and being open on one side. A second enclosure section defines a second interior volume and is open on one side. The open sides face each other. The second section has exterior dimensions enabling movement thereof into the first enclosure section. A plurality of telescopic units connect the first and second enclosure sections. The telescoping units having operable length such that when fully extended, the first and second enclosure sections are separated from each other and a work surface is defined having an area exceeding a combined surface area of the first and second enclosure sections. The operable length is such that when fully retracted, the second enclosure section is nested in the first enclosure section to define a total interior volume less than the sum of the first and second interior volumes.
So that the manner in which the above recited features, advantages and objects of the present invention are attained and can be understood in detail, a more particular description of the invention, briefly summarized above, may be had by reference to the embodiments thereof which are illustrated in the appended drawings.
It is to be noted, however, that the appended drawings illustrate only typical embodiments of this invention and are therefore not to be considered limiting of its scope, for the invention may admit to other equally effective embodiments.
The following is a detailed description of example embodiments of the invention depicted with assistance and reference to the accompanying drawings. The embodiments are examples and are in such detail as to clearly communicate the invention. However, the amount of detail offered is not intended to limit the anticipated variations of embodiments; on the contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claims. The detailed descriptions below are designed to make such embodiments obvious to a person of ordinary skill in the art.
Generally speaking, devices for telescopic containers are contemplated. By “telescopic” is meant extensible or compressible by or as if by the sliding of overlapping sections. In a fully contracted state, the telescopic container operates as containers ordinarily do, i.e., to house items of any kind of goods for storage and/or shipping. The disclosed telescopic containers, however, also have one or more telescopic units that allow the telescopic containers to expand, and thereby, provide a larger surface area that may be used for the contained goods or other goods, such as a deployment work surface area.
Referring now to
Although the fully contracted telescopic container 100 shows a bisector 110 that divides the telescopic container 100 in two portions, namely a first portion 115 and a second portion 120, of the same size, the disclosed telescopic container 100 could also be divided into two non-equal portions that are not depicted herein, but easily imagined. Looking at
Turning now to
A final attribute shown in
Moving on to
Referring now to
Now, turning to
While the foregoing is directed to example embodiments of the disclosed invention, other and further embodiments of the invention may be devised without departing from the basic scope thereof. For example, male portions comprising pipes of selected diameter could be affixed to both the first portion and the second portion of telescopic containers 100 or 175. The two male portions could then be interconnected by a single female portion comprising a pipe or rod of slightly smaller diameter than the two male portions inserted within the two male portions. By drilling holes through the resulting pipe assembly at various intervals, locking pins could be inserted. The separation between the first portion and the second portion of the container can then be secured with the locking pins from fully extended to fully closed, at intervals defined by the holes. Those skilled in the art, having the benefit of the foregoing disclosure will readily devise other implementations that do not exceed the scope of the invention. The scope of the invention therefore is determined only by the claims that follow.
Claims
1. A telescopic container, comprising:
- a first enclosure section defining a first interior volume, the first enclosure section open on one side;
- a second enclosure section defining a second interior volume, the second enclosure section open on one side, the open sides of the first and second enclosure sections facing each other, the second enclosure section having exterior dimensions enabling movement thereof into the open side of the first enclosure section;
- a plurality of telescopic units connecting the first and second enclosure sections, the telescoping units having operable length such that when fully extended, the first and second enclosure sections are separated from each other and a work surface is defined having an area exceeding a combined surface area of the first and second enclosure sections, the operable length selected such that when fully retracted, the second enclosure section is nested in the first enclosure section to define a total interior volume less than the sum of the first and second interior volumes.
2. The telescopic container of claim 1, wherein the telescopic container has a rectangular shape, and, as a result, each of the portions has three sides.
3. The telescopic container of claim 1, wherein the telescopic container has a wheel shape, and, as a result, each of the portions has one side.
4. The telescopic container of claim 1, wherein the telescopic container has a range of positions from a fully contracted state to a fully expanded state.
5. The telescopic container of claim 1, further comprising a securing mechanism having a first part located on one of the one or more first sides and a second part located on one of the one or more second sides, whereby the securing mechanism provides the telescopic container with enclosure support in a fully contracted state.
6. The securing mechanism of claim 5, wherein the securing mechanism comprises a latch.
7. The telescopic container of claim 1, wherein each of the more than one telescopic units comprises a male portion disposed on the first enclosure section for movable engagement with a female portion disposed on the second enclosure section.
8. The telescopic container of claim 1, wherein each of the telescopic units comprises a portion on the first enclosure section for movable engagement with a corresponding grooved portion on the second enclosure section.
9. The telescopic container of claim 1, wherein each of the telescopic units has portions affixed to top and bottom surfaces of the respective first and second enclosure sections.
10. The telescopic container of claim 1, wherein each of the telescopic units further comprises a travel limiting device to prevent complete separation of the first enclosure section from the second enclosure section.
11. The restraining mechanism of claim 10, wherein each of the telescopic units comprises a male portion, having a T-shape and integrally connected to the first enclosure section for movable engagement with a female portion disposed on the second enclosure section, wherein an upper bar shape of the T-shape is larger than a width of the female portion, thereby preventing complete separation of the first enclosure section from the second enclosure section.
Type: Application
Filed: Oct 12, 2010
Publication Date: Jun 16, 2011
Inventors: Arne Vatn (Oslo), Jeroen Hoogeveen (Bekkestua)
Application Number: 12/925,005
International Classification: B65D 6/00 (20060101); B65D 43/04 (20060101);