COLLAPSIBLE STORAGE AND TRANSPORTATION UNIT
A collapsible storage and transportation unit is disclosed and comprises a base including a cargo area surrounded by an edge having four ends; four wall panel supporting members connected to the edge of the base, each wall panel supporting member comprising at least a first post member and a second post member, the wall panel supporting members being pivotable between a folded configuration and an unfolded configuration, wherein in the folded configuration the wall panel supporting members are lying down over the base and the collapsible storage and transportation unit is in a collapsed configuration. In the unfolded configuration the first post member of a first given wall panel supporting member and the second post member of a second given wall panel supporting member are both adjacent to each other. A first collapsible storage and transportation unit is stackable over a second collapsible storage and transportation unit.
This application claims priority on United States Provisional Application No. 62/701,966, filed on Jul. 23, 2018.
TECHNICAL FIELDThe invention relates to storage and transportation units, and more particularly to a collapsible storage and transportation unit configurable in a collapsed and uncollapsed configurations.
BACKGROUNDShipping containers revolutionized domestic and global trades by dramatically reducing the costs, time and losses associated with the transportation of goods (or cargo). Goods may be stored and transported using various types of containers. Typically, a container for storing and transporting goods will comprise a cargo base for receiving the goods to be stored and/or transported thereon as well as side structures to contain the goods on the base. Such containers are usually rectangular or cubic to enable a plurality of containers to be stacked and/or disposed adjacent to each other such that there is no space or minimal space between the containers.
However, depending on the particularities of trading routes, the worldwide use of shipping containers poses environmental and economic issues. For instance, when there is an imbalance in the net amount of shipping containers trafficking between two market destinations, they tend to pill up at one end of the line where they take up space that could be used otherwise. In this case, it is usually too expensive to send back empty containers over long distances to the original market destination while it is almost the same cost to expedite shipping containers full of goods. Accordingly, it would be desirable to have shipping containers that may be shipped empty and/or stored without occupying an unnecessary large amount of space.
Furthermore, most shipping containers are not configured to adapt to the nature of cargo being stored or transported by either protecting the cargo from the outside environment (in the case, e.g., of goods sensitive to air, humidity, light, etc.) or by exposing the cargo to the outside environment (in the case, e.g., of live animals).
There is therefore a need for a shipping container that will overcome at least one of the above-identified issues or drawbacks.
BRIEF SUMMARYAccording to a broad aspect, there is disclosed a collapsible storage and transportation unit, comprising a base including a cargo area surrounded by an edge having four ends; four wall panel supporting members connected to the edge of the base, each wall panel supporting member comprising at least a first post member and a second post member, the wall panel supporting members being pivotable between a folded configuration and an unfolded configuration, wherein in the folded configuration the wall panel supporting members are lying down over the base and the collapsible storage and transportation unit is in a collapsed configuration, wherein in the unfolded configuration the first post member of a first given wall panel supporting member and the second post member of a second given wall panel supporting member are both adjacent to each other and project together from each corresponding end of the base generally perpendicularly thereto and four locking means, each locking means comprising a first locking member and a second locking member, the first locking member being located on a first post member of a first wall panel supporting member, the second locking member being located on a second post member of a second wall panel supporting member, wherein the physical coupling between the first locking member and the second locking member enables locking the first wall panel supporting member and the second wall panel supporting member in a uncollapsed configuration, wherein a first collapsible storage and transportation unit is stackable over a second collapsible storage and transportation unit.
According to an embodiment, the collapsible storage and transportation unit further comprises at least one wall panel, the at least one wall panel being connectable between two corresponding post members of any wall panel supporting member.
According to an embodiment, the first collapsible storage and transportation unit in any one of the collapsed and the uncollapsed configuration is stackable over the second collapsible storage and transportation unit in any one of the collapsed and the uncollapsed configuration.
According to an embodiment, the collapsible storage and transportation unit is transportable in presence or absence of the at least one wall panel.
According to an embodiment, the first collapsible storage and transportation unit and the second collapsible storage and transportation unit are stackable over each other in presence or absence of the at least one wall panel.
According to an embodiment, the at least one wall panel is stackable over another wall panel.
According to an embodiment, the at least one wall panel is transportable while stacked over another wall panel.
According to an embodiment, each of the four wall panel supporting members comprises a U-shaped frame.
According to an embodiment, the at least one wall panel is received within the U-shaped frame.
According to an embodiment, each of the four wall panel supporting members comprises at least one hinge.
According to an embodiment, the at least one hinge comprises a slotted hinge.
According to an embodiment, the slotted hinge is sized and shaped so that the four wall panel supporting members are collapsed in a random order.
According to an embodiment, the first locking member comprises a male connector and the second locking member comprises a female connector sized and shaped to receive the male connector therein.
According to an embodiment, the male connector physically couples the female connector socket by a vertical displacement of the at least one slotted hinge.
According to an embodiment, the male connector comprises a hook and the female connector comprises a hook-receiving socket.
In order that the invention may be readily understood, embodiments of the invention are illustrated by way of example in the accompanying drawings.
In the following description of the embodiments, references to the accompanying drawings are by way of illustration of an example by which the invention may be practised. It will be understood that various embodiments may be made without departing from the scope of the invention disclosed.
TermsThe term “invention” and the like mean “the one or more inventions disclosed in this application”, unless expressly specified otherwise.
The terms “an aspect”, “an embodiment”, “a given embodiment”, “embodiment”, “embodiments”, “the embodiment”, “the embodiments”, “one or more embodiments”, “some embodiments”, “certain embodiments”, “one embodiment”, “another embodiment”, and the like mean “one or more (but not all) embodiments of the disclosed invention(s)”, unless expressly specified otherwise.
A reference to “another embodiment” or “another aspect” in describing an embodiment does not imply that the referenced embodiment is mutually exclusive with another embodiment (e.g., an embodiment described before the referenced embodiment), unless expressly specified otherwise.
The terms “including”, “comprising”, and variations thereof mean “including but not limited to”, unless expressly specified otherwise.
The terms “a”, “an”, and “the” mean “one or more”, unless expressly specified otherwise.
The term “plurality” means “two or more”, unless expressly specified otherwise.
The term “herein” means “in the present application, including anything that may be incorporated by reference”, unless expressly specified otherwise.
The term “whereby” is used herein only to precede a clause or other set of words that express only the intended result, objective, or consequence of something that is previously and explicitly recited. Thus, when the term “whereby” is used in a claim, the clause or other set of words that the term “whereby” modifies do not establish specific further limitations of the claim or otherwise restricts the meaning or scope of the claim.
The term “e.g.” and like terms mean “for example”, and thus do not limit the terms or phrases they explain.
The term “i.e.” and like terms mean “that is”, and thus limit the terms or phrases they explain.
Neither the Title nor the Abstract is to be taken as limiting in any way as the scope of the disclosed invention(s). The title and headings of sections of the present application are for convenience only and are not to be taken as limiting the disclosure in any way.
Numerous embodiments are described in the present application and are presented for illustrative purposes only. The described embodiments are not, and are not intended to be, limiting in any sense. The presently disclosed invention(s) is or are widely applicable to numerous embodiments, as is readily apparent from the disclosure. A skilled addressee will appreciate that the disclosed invention(s) may be practised with various modifications and alterations, such as structural modifications, for instance. Although particular features of the disclosed invention(s) may be described with reference to one or more particular embodiments and/or drawings, it should be understood that such features are not limited to usage in the one or more particular embodiments or drawings with reference to which they are described, unless expressly specified otherwise.
With all this in mind, the present disclosure is directed to a collapsible storage and transportation unit. In one embodiment, the collapsible storage and transportation unit is used for storing cargoes and/or goods. In another embodiment, the collapsible storage and transportation unit is used for transporting and/or shipping cargoes and/or goods. In the present disclosure, it will be appreciated that cargoes and/or goods may be anything that is susceptible to be stored, transported, and/or shipped by the use of any kind of containers, including but not limited to shipping containers, intermodal containers, cargo containers, freight containers, ISO containers, High Cube or Hi-Cube containers, sea or ocean containers, sea cans or c cans, container vans or boxes (Conex), for example.
With reference to
Referring to
On the lower face 304 of an embodiment, the base 102 comprises four generally rectangular corner foot members 312a, 312b, 312c, 312d projecting perpendicularly relative to the base 102 (i.e. downwardly), as illustrated in
Still on the lower face 304 of an embodiment, the base 102 further comprises four generally U-shaped central supports 318a, 318b, 318c, 318d providing structural rigidity to the collapsible storage and transportation unit 100 for supporting the cargo. More particularly, the U-shaped central supports 318b, 318d extend between the corresponding longer peripheral plates 400a, 400b and the corresponding longer strip baseplates 314a, 314b, while the U-shaped central supports 318a, 318c extend between the corresponding shorter peripheral plates 402a, 402b and the corresponding shorter strip baseplates 316a, 316b. Each of the U-shaped central supports 318a, 318b, 318c, 318d is further centred between the corresponding corner foot members 312a, 312b, 312c, 312d, therefore defining lifting openings 320a, 320b, 320c, 320d along the corresponding longer parallel longitudinal sides 300a, 300b and lifting openings 322a, 322b, 322c, 322d along the corresponding shorter parallel longitudinal sides 302a, 302b on the lower face 304 of base 102.
The skilled addressee will appreciate that the U-shaped central supports 318a, 318b, 318c, 318d may have various configurations, including size, shape and location, as long as the lifting openings 320a, 320b, 320c, 320d and 322a, 322b, 322c, 322d are maintained for the collapsible storage and transportation unit 100 to be handled by lifting equipment, such as for instance using forklifts, jacks, and the likes. Similarly, it will be appreciated that the lifting openings 320a, 320b, 320c, 320d and 322a, 322b, 322c, 322d may also have various configurations, including size, shape and location, as long as the collapsible storage and transportation unit 100 maintain the ability to be handled by lifting equipment.
In one embodiment, and with reference to
On the upper face 306 of an embodiment, and referring to
Still on the upper face 306 of an embodiment, the base 102 further comprises a pair of longer base sidewalls 326a, 326b and a pair of shorter base sidewalls 328c, 328d extending perpendicularly relative to the base 102 (i.e. upwardly), as illustrated in
In an embodiment illustrated in
Turning to
The longer base sidewall 326a of base 102 extends between the corners 308b, 308c along the full length (i.e. the length L1) of the longer parallel longitudinal side 300a on the upper face 306 of base 102, as illustrated in
In one embodiment, the alignment notch supports 322b, 322d of longer base sidewall 326a further comprises the slotted hinge members 404b, 404c, as illustrated in
For supporting the wall panel 110a in an upstanding position while the collapsible storage and transportation unit 100 is in a uncollapsed configuration, and with reference to
In another embodiment, the L-shaped central support 412a generally defines an inverted L-shaped configuration with its vertical projection projecting generally perpendicularly from the longer peripheral plate 400a (i.e. upwardly) and its connecting horizontal projection projecting horizontally to connect the longer base sidewall 326a. The L-shaped central support 412a is located at the centre of the longer base sidewall 326a, just above the U-shaped central support 318b. Alternatively, the L-shaped central support 412a may extend all the way across the longer base sidewall 326a.
Turning to
The shorter base sidewall 328a of base 102 extends between the corners 308a, 308b along the length S2 on the shorter parallel longitudinal side 302a on the upper face 306 of base 102, as illustrated in
In another embodiment where the collapsible storage and transportation unit 100 is collapsible, the frame supports 408a, 408b of shorter base sidewall 328a further comprises the slotted hinge members 410a, 410b, as illustrated in
The skilled addressee will appreciate that the frame supports 406a, 406b, 406c, 406d and the L-shaped central supports 412a, 412b of longer base sidewalls 326a, 326b as well as the frame supports 408a, 408b, 408c, 408d of shorter base sidewalls 328a, 328b are adapted to support the longer wall panel supporting frames 104a, 104b and the shorter wall supporting frames 106a, 106b in an upstanding position (e.g. while the collapsible storage and transportation unit 100 is in a uncollapsed configuration). It will further be appreciated that the frame supports 406a, 406b, 406c, 406d, 408a, 408b, 408c, 408d and the L-shaped central supports 412a, 412b of a first collapsible storage and transportation unit 100 in a uncollapsed configuration are further adapted to support the weight of a second collapsible storage and transportation unit 100 that stacked over the first collapsible storage and transportation unit 100.
In the present disclosure, the skilled addressee will also appreciate that the longer base sidewalls 326a, 326b (including all its structures and functions described herein) may be generally interchanged with the shorter base sidewalls 328a, 328b (including all its structures and functions described herein) to produce a base 102.
Referring to
In one embodiment, and with reference to
The post members 706, 706b of a given embodiment generally define a rectangular configuration and comprise a pair of outer sides 708a, 708b extending perpendicularly between a pair of inner sides 710a, 710b where both the outer sides 708a, 708b and the inner sides 710a, 710b are connected at the middle by horizontal elements 712a, 712b and at their most distant part, opposing to the cross-member 702, by upper sides 714a, 714b. Taken together, the outer sides 708a, 708b, the inner sides 710a, 710b, the horizontal elements 712a, 712b, and the upper sides 714a, 714b define with a corresponding portion of the cross-member 702 four embossments 716 on the outer face 902 of longer wall panel supporting frame 104a.
Located at each of the extremity 704a, 704b of horizontal cross-member 702 and contacting the outer sides 708a, 708b of post members 706a, 706b are a corresponding first and second hinge-receiving elements 718a, 718b with corresponding first and second slotted hinge members 800a, 800b secured thereto, as illustrated in
To assist maintaining the longer wall panel supporting frame 104a in an upstanding position on the base 102 (i.e. while the collapsible storage and transportation unit is in a uncollapsed configuration), a pair of notch-receiving sockets 720a, 720b is provided on the bottom face of each corresponding outer sides 708a, 708b of longer wall panel supporting frame 104a, just next to the corresponding hinge-receiving elements 718a, 718b, as in an embodiment illustrated in
Four frame locking elements 108a, 108b, 108c, 108d are provided on the longer wall panel supporting frames 104a, 104b and the shorter wall panel supporting frames 106a, 106b, above each corresponding corners 308a, 308b, 308c, 308d of base 102, to lock the longer wall panel supporting frames 104a, 104b and the shorter wall panel supporting frames 106a, 106b together so that the collapsible storage and transportation unit 100 is also locked in a uncollapsed configuration. The locking elements 108a, 108b, 108c, 108d includes corresponding locking hooks 722a, 722b, 722c, 722d of longer wall panel supporting frames 104a, 104b and corresponding hook-receiving sockets 1112a, 1112b, 1112c, 1112d of shorter wall panel supporting frames 106a, 106b (for clarity, only the locking hooks 722b, 722c and the hook-receiving sockets 1112a, 1112b are illustrated).
In the case of the longer wall panel supporting frame 104a, the locking elements 108b, 108c comprise corresponding locking hooks 722b, 722c, which are located on the inner face 900 at the free, most distant end of corresponding post members 706a, 706b relative to the horizontal cross-member 702. Each of the locking hooks 722b, 722c defines a generally L-shaped configuration having a first horizontal segment 904 connected to the inner face 900 of post members 706a, 706b and a vertical segment 906 projecting parallel towards the upper sides 714a, 714b (i.e. upwardly). Each free extremity of the vertical segment 906 also includes an end 908 angled away from the post members 706a, 706b. As it will be described, the locking hooks 722b, 722c of longer wall panel supporting frame 104a are configured to engage corresponding hook-receiving socket 1112b, 1112c of upstanding shorter wall supporting frames 106a, 106b while the upstanding shorter wall supporting frames 106a, 106b are moved down towards the base 102 by the action of the slotted hinge members 400b, 400c and 800a, 800b. In this configuration, the end 908 facilitates physical coupling between the locking hooks 722a, 722b, 722c, 722d of longer wall panel supporting frames 104a, 104b and the hook-receiving sockets 1112a, 1112b, 1112c, 1112d of shorter wall panel supporting frames 106a, 106b.
Referring to
In one embodiment, and referring to
In one embodiment, a pair of alignment notches 728a, 728b are further comprised on the upper sides 714a, 714b of post members 706a, 706b of longer wall panel supporting frame 104a for stacking a collapsible storage and transportation units 100 over another collapsible storage and transportation units 100 that is in a uncollapsed configuration (the all four alignment notches 728a, 728b, 728c, 728d are illustrated in
Referring to
In one embodiment, the shorter wall panel supporting frame 106a also generally defines a U-shaped configuration 1100 having a first inner face 1102 directed towards the cargo area 302 when the shorter wall panel supporting frame 106a is properly mounted on the base 102 and a second opposed outer face 1104, as illustrated in
With reference to
To be maintained in an upstanding position on the base 102 (e.g. while the collapsible storage and transportation unit is in an uncollapsed configuration) by the longer wall panel supporting frames 104a, 104b, the shorter wall supporting frames 106a, 106b each comprises a pair of hook-receiving sockets 1112a, 1112b on the outer face 1104 of post members 1110a, 1110b, as in an embodiment illustrated in
As described for the longer wall panel supporting frames 104a, the frame locking elements 108a, 108b, 108c, 108d lock the longer wall panel supporting frames 104a, 104b and the shorter wall panel supporting frames 106a, 106b together so that the collapsible storage and transportation unit 100 is also locked in a uncollapsed configuration. In addition, the frame locking elements 108a, 108b, 108c, 108d maintain the shorter wall panel supporting frames 106a, 106b in an upstanding position.
In the case of the shorter wall panel supporting frame 106a, the locking elements 108b, 108c comprise corresponding hook-receiving sockets 1112a, 1112b, which are located on the inner face 1102 at the free, most distant end of corresponding post members 1110a, 1110b relative to the horizontal cross-member 1106. The hook-receiving sockets 1112a, 1112b of wall panel supporting frame 106a generally define U-shaped openings 1208a, 1208b opened towards the horizontal cross-member 1106, along the post members 1110a, 1110b, that are adapted to receive the corresponding locking hooks 722a, 722b of longer wall panel supporting frames 104a, 104b.
In one embodiment, the shorter wall supporting frames 106a, 106b comprise the hook-receiving sockets 1112a, 1112b, 1112c, 1112d, while the longer wall panel supporting frames 104a, 104b comprise the locking hooks 722a, 722b, 722c, 722d. Alternatively, the shorter wall supporting frames 106a, 106b may comprise the locking hooks 722a, 722b, 722c, 722d, while the longer wall panel supporting frames 104a, 104b comprise may comprise the hook-receiving sockets 1112a, 1112b, 1112c, 1112d. The skilled addressee will appreciate that any kind of locking mechanism enabling a locking of the longer wall panel supporting frames 104a, 104b with the shorter wall supporting frames 106a, 106b in a uncollapsed configuration may be used.
The inner edge of the opened centre portion of U-shaped frame 1100 also comprises a series of nine wall panel-receiving holes 1114a, 1114b, 1114c, 1114d, 1114e, 1114f, 1114g, 1114h, 1114i as in an embodiment illustrated in
In the present disclosure, the skilled addressee will appreciate that the longer wall panel supporting frames 104a, 104b (including all its structures and functions described herein) may be interchanged with shorter wall supporting frames 106a, 106b (including all its structures and functions described herein). It will also be appreciated that various configurations of longer wall panel supporting frame 104a, 104b and various configurations of shorter wall supporting frames 106a, 106b may be used, including inverted U-shaped frames (i.e. frames having the free extremities of the post members directed towards the cross-member) and square frames (i.e. frames having a square configuration with a hollow centre receivable for the wall panel), for example.
The skilled addressee will further appreciate that while the slotted hinge members disclosed enable the folding of the shorter wall panel supporting frames 106a, 106b in a random order first, followed by the folding of the longer wall panel supporting frames 104a, 104b in a random order, all the slotted hinge members disclosed may also be adapted in size and shape to enable folding any of the shorter wall panel supporting frames 106a, 106b and any of the longer wall panel supporting frames 104a, 104b in any random order over the base 102. It will further be appreciated that any kind of hinges, including slotted hinges and L-shaped slotted hinge members, that enable the longer wall panel supporting frames 104a, 104b and the shorter wall supporting frames 106a, 106b to be pivoted, either randomly or not, in order to collapse the collapsible storage and transportation unit 100 may also be used.
Furthermore, while two slotted hinges are described for each of the longer wall panel supporting frames 104a, 104b and each of the shorter wall supporting frames 106a, 106b, the skilled addressee will appreciate that any number of slotted hinges may be used. It will also be appreciated that the slotted hinges may be attached or secured to the wall panel supporting frames 104a, 104b, the shorter wall supporting frames 106a, 106b, and the base 102 by a variety of ways, including but not limited to riveting, screwing, welding, and the likes.
Referring to
The wall panel 110a of a given embodiment generally defines a rectangular configuration and comprises a pair of longer parallel sides 1300a, 1300b extending perpendicularly between a pair of shorter parallel sides 1302a, 1302b, as well as inner face 1304, an opposed outer face 1306, and four corners 1308a, 1308b, 1308c, 1308d, as illustrated in
In the illustrated embodiment, each of the corrugation members 1310a, 1310b, 1310c, 1310d, 1310e are spaced apart from each other by the same distance. The corrugation members 1310a, 1310e are also spaced apart from the corresponding shorter parallel sides 1302a, 1302b by a same distance, which is different from the distance separating each of the corrugation members 1310a, 1310b, 1310c, 1310d, 1310e. Alternatively, the distance separating each of the corrugation members 1310a, 1310b, 1310c, 1310d, 1310e as well as the distance separating the corrugation members 1312a, 1312e from the corresponding shorter parallel sides 1302a, 1302b may be the same or different.
On its outer periphery, and still referring to
To be secured to the longer wall panel supporting frames 104a, 104b and to the shorter wall supporting frames 106a, 106b, the wall panel 110a further comprises a pair of spring-loaded securing handles 1318a, 1318b accessible from the outer face 1306 and located at the corresponding corners 1308a, 1308b, as in an embodiment illustrated in
In one embodiment, the horizontal segment 1320 includes a coil-spring 1326 located between the housing bracket 1324 and the corresponding shorter longitudinal sides 1302a, 1302b. In a rest state, the coil-spring 1326 biases the spring-loaded securing handles 1318a, 1318b such that the corresponding wall panel pins 1316c, 1316d are projecting perpendicularly from the corresponding shorter parallel sides 1302a, 1302b (i.e. sidewardly). Accordingly, a force opposed to the force of the spring-coil 1326 (e.g. by using the handle of vertical segment 1322) may be applied to the spring-loaded securing handles 1318a, 1318 to retract the wall panel pins 1316c, 1316d within the shorter longitudinal sides 1302a, 1302b, inside the wall panel 110a. In another embodiment, while the spring-loaded securing handles 1318a, 1318b are in the rest state, the vertical segment 1322 is secured in place by a clip 1328 located on the outer face 1306 of wall panel 110a, within the embossment created by the corrugation members 1310a, 1310e and the shorter parallel sides 1302a, 1302b. The skilled addressee will appreciate that the wall panel pins 1316c, 1316d are adapted to secure the wall panels 110a, 110b, 110c, 110d to the longer wall panel supporting frames 104a, 104b and to the shorter wall supporting frames 106a, 106b.
To attach and secure the wall panel 110a, the wall panel pins 1316c, 1316d of spring-loaded securing handles 1318a, 1318b are first retracted within the shorter longitudinal sides 1302a, 1302b. The wall panel 110a is then aligned with and moved down towards the longer wall panel supporting frames 104a, 104b or the shorter wall supporting frames 106a, 106b to be received in the centre portion of U-shaped frames 700, 1110 thereof. The wall panel pins 1316a, 1316b, 1316e, 1316f, 1316g, 1316h, 1316i therefore engage the corresponding wall panel-receiving holes 726a, 726b, 726e, 726f, 726g, 726h, 726i or the corresponding wall panel-receiving holes 1114a, 1114b, 1114e, 1114f, 1114g, 1114h, 1114i to attach the wall panel 110a to the longer wall panel supporting frames 104a, 104b or to the shorter wall panel supporting frames 106a, 106b, respectively. When in place, the panel pins 1316c, 1316d are moved from their retracted positions to engage the corresponding wall panel-receiving holes 726c, 726d of longer wall panel supporting frames 104a, 104b or the corresponding wall panel-receiving holes 1114c, 1114d of shorter wall panel supporting frames 106a, 106b by the action of the coil-spring 1326, thereby securing the wall panel 110a. Wall panel-receiving holes 726a, 726b, 726e, 726f, 726g, 726h, 726i, 1114a, 1114b, 1114e, 1114f, 1114g, 1114h, 1114i may similarly be placed at different locations along the members 702, 710a, 710b of the longer wall panel supporting frame 104a, 104b and members 1110a, 1110b, 1106 of shorter wall panel supporting frames 106a, 106b in more or less quantities as shown, if needed. Their circular orientation may also be changed to a slotted shape for accommodating a rectangular, tapered wall panel pin. Such a slotted shape may also extend to the front faces of wall panel supporting frames 104a, 104b, 106a, 106b.
The skilled addressee will appreciate that any kind of wall panel pins and wall panel-receiving holes, including wall panel-receiving holes located on wall panel and wall panel pins located on supporting frames, may be used. It will also be appreciated that various kinds of spring-loaded securing pins, including removable securing pins and securing pins functioning by rocking at least one of their elements to lock a wall panel into a wall panel supporting frame, may also be used.
The wall panels 110a, 110b, 110c, 110d are all interchangeably connectable and securable to the longer wall panel supporting frames 104a, 104b, as illustrated in
Turning to
In one embodiment, and referring to
To fold it over the base 102 from its upstanding position, the shorter wall panel supporting frame 106a is pulled away from the base 102, in a direction opposed thereof (i.e. upwardly), by a displacement corresponding to the displacement of the vertical openings 332a, 332b of slotted hinge members 410a, 410b, as in one embodiment. By doing so, the displacement covered by the shorter wall panel supporting frame 106a provides the clearance required to disengage the hook-receiving sockets 1112a, 1112b from a corresponding locking hook 722b of longer wall panel supporting frame 104a and the corresponding locking hook 722a of longer wall panel supporting frame 104b. From this upward position, the shorter wall panel supporting frame 106a may then be pivoted relative to the base 102 to be folded over the cargo area 310 by the combined action of the slotted hinge members 410a, 410b of base 102, the slotted hinge members 1200a, 1200b of shorter wall panel supporting frame 106a, and the guiding cylindrical pins, not shown.
In another embodiment, the folding of each of the longer wall panel supporting frames 104a, 104b is also the same and only the folding of longer wall panel supporting frame 104a will be described. The skilled addressee will appreciate that a similar description applies to the longer wall panel supporting frame 104b with appropriate modifications, if applicable.
To fold it over the base 102 from its upstanding position, the longer wall panel supporting frame 104a is pulled away from the base 102, in a direction opposed thereof (i.e. upwardly), by a displacement corresponding to the displacement of the vertical openings 332b, 332c of slotted hinge members 404b, 404c, as in one embodiment. By doing so, the displacement covered by the longer wall panel supporting frame 104a provides a clearance required to disengage the notch-receiving sockets 720a, 720 from the corresponding alignment notches 324b, 324c of base 102. From this upward position, the longer wall panel supporting frame 104a may then be pivoted relative to the base 102 to be folded over any one of the shorter wall panel supporting frames 106a, 106b by the combined action of the slotted hinge members 404b, 404c of base 102, the slotted hinge members 800a, 800b of longer wall panel supporting frame 104a, and the guiding cylindrical pins 1000a, 1000b. When folded, the locking hooks 722a, 722b, 722c, 722d of the first folded longer wall panel supporting frames 104a, 104b are received within the corresponding free spaces created by the offset of the shorter wall panel supporting frames 106a, 106b and the shorter base sidewalls 328a, 328b, while the locking hooks 722a, 722b, 722c, 722d of the second folded longer wall panel supporting frames 104a, 104b are received within the rectangular cut holes 724a, 724b of the first folded longer wall panel supporting frames 104a, 104b.
In an embodiment illustrated in
Referring to
In one embodiment, a first collapsible storage and transportation unit 2100 may be stacked over a second collapsible storage and transportation unit 2102 while both the first and second collapsible storage and transportation units 2100, 2102 are in a uncollapsed configuration, as illustrated in
In another embodiment, a first collapsible storage and transportation unit 2200 may be stacked over a second collapsible storage and transportation unit 2202 while both the first and second collapsible storage and transportation units 2200, 2202 are in a collapsed configuration, as illustrated in
In another embodiment, a first collapsible storage and transportation unit 100 may be stacked over a second collapsible storage and transportation unit 100 while any of the first and second collapsible storage and transportation units 100 is in a collapsed and/or uncollapsed configuration(s). Still in this embodiment, the first and second collapsible storage and transportation units may also be stacked over each other while at least one wall panels 110a, 110b, 110c, 110d is connected to any one of them. Alternatively, neither of the first and second collapsible storage and transportation units 100 have wall panels 110a, 110b, 110c, 110d connected thereto to facilitate access to cargo, therefore exposing the goods and/or cargo to the outside environment. This last configuration may be useful, e.g., when it is not desired to store and/or transport cargo in an enclosed space (e.g. plants, animals, livestock, etc.) or when a reduced weight collapsible storage and transportation unit 100 would be desirable.
In still another embodiment, the base 102 alone (without any other elements of a collapsible storage and transportation unit) or any alternative covering/capping element may be stacked over a collapsible storage and transportation unit to provide a ceiling to it.
Although the present embodiments illustrated the stacking of two collapsible storage and transportation units 100 over each other, the skilled addressee will appreciate that any number of collapsible storage and transportation units 100, each in either of the collapsed or uncollapsed configuration, may also be stacked.
The skilled addressee will appreciate that the collapsible storage and transportation unit 100, including all the elements thereof, may be manufactured from steel or any suitable metal alloys or polymers (e.g. plastics) by any appropriate manufacturing technique, including but not limited to forming, shaping, joining, and welding metal sheets.
Although the above description relates to specific preferred embodiments as presently contemplated by the inventor, the skilled addressee will appreciate that the invention in its broad aspect includes mechanical and functional equivalents of the elements described herein.
CLAUSESClause 1: A collapsible storage and transportation unit, comprising:
-
- a base including a cargo area surrounded by an edge having four ends;
- four wall panel supporting members connected to the edge of the base, each wall panel supporting member comprising at least a first post member and a second post member, the wall panel supporting members being pivotable between a folded configuration and an unfolded configuration, wherein in the folded configuration the wall panel supporting members are lying down over the base and the collapsible storage and transportation unit is in a collapsed configuration, wherein in the unfolded configuration the first post member of a first given wall panel supporting member and the second post member of a second given wall panel supporting member are both adjacent to each other and project together from each corresponding end of the base generally perpendicularly thereto; and
- four locking means, each locking means comprising a first locking member and a second locking member, the first locking member being located on a first post member of a first wall panel supporting member, the second locking member being located on a second post member of a second wall panel supporting member, wherein the physical coupling between the first locking member and the second locking member enables locking the first wall panel supporting member and the second wall panel supporting member in a uncollapsed configuration,
- wherein a first collapsible storage and transportation unit is stackable over a second collapsible storage and transportation unit.
Clause 2: The collapsible storage and transportation unit according to clause 1, further comprising at least one wall panel, the at least one wall panel being connectable between two corresponding post members of any wall panel supporting member.
Clause 3: The collapsible storage and transportation unit according to any one of clauses 1 and 2, wherein the first collapsible storage and transportation unit in any one of the collapsed and the uncollapsed configuration is stackable over the second collapsible storage and transportation unit in any one of the collapsed and the uncollapsed configuration.
Clause 4: The collapsible storage and transportation unit according to clause 2, wherein the collapsible storage and transportation unit is transportable in presence or absence of the at least one wall panel.
Clause 5: The collapsible storage and transportation unit according to clause 2, wherein the first collapsible storage and transportation unit and the second collapsible storage and transportation unit are stackable over each other in presence or absence of the at least one wall panel.
Clause 6: The collapsible storage and transportation unit according to any one of clauses 2, 4, and 5, wherein the at least one wall panel is stackable over another wall panel.
Clause 7: The collapsible storage and transportation unit according to any one of clauses 2, 4 to 6, wherein the at least one wall panel is transportable while stacked over another wall panel.
Clause 8: The collapsible storage and transportation unit according to any one of clauses 1 to 7, wherein each of the four wall panel supporting members comprises a U-shaped frame.
Clause 9: The collapsible storage and transportation unit according to any one of clauses 2, 4 to 7, wherein the at least one wall panel is received within the U-shaped frame.
Clause 10: The collapsible storage and transportation unit according to any one of clauses 1 to 9, wherein each of the four wall panel supporting members comprises at least one hinge.
Clause 11: The collapsible storage and transportation unit according to clause 10, wherein the at least one hinge comprises a slotted hinge.
Clause 12: The collapsible storage and transportation unit according to any one of clauses 10 and 11, wherein the slotted hinge is sized and shaped so that the four wall panel supporting members are collapsed in a random order.
Clause 13: The collapsible storage and transportation unit according to any one of clauses 1 to 13, wherein the first locking member comprises a male connector and the second locking member comprises a female connector sized and shaped to receive the male connector therein.
Clause 14: The collapsible storage and transportation unit according to clause 13, wherein the male connector physically couples the female connector socket by a vertical displacement of the at least one slotted hinge.
Clause 15: The collapsible storage and transportation unit according to any one of clauses 13 and 14, wherein the male connector comprises a hook and the female connector comprises a hook-receiving socket.
Claims
1. A collapsible storage and transportation unit; comprising:
- a base including a cargo area surrounded by an edge having four ends;
- four wall panel supporting members connected to the edge of the base, each wall panel supporting member comprising at least a first post member and a second post member, the wall panel supporting members being pivotable between a folded configuration and an unfolded configuration, wherein in the folded configuration the wall panel supporting members are lying down over the base and the collapsible storage and transportation unit is in a collapsed configuration, wherein in the unfolded configuration the first post member of a first given wall panel supporting member and the second post member of a second given wall panel supporting member are both adjacent to each other and project together from each corresponding end of the base generally perpendicularly thereto; and
- four locking means, each locking means comprising a first locking member and a second locking member, the first locking member being located on a first post member of a first wall panel supporting member, the second locking member being located on a second post member of a second wall panel supporting member, wherein the physical coupling between the first locking member and the second locking member enables locking the first wall panel supporting member and the second wall panel supporting member in a uncollapsed configuration, wherein a first collapsible storage and transportation unit is stackable over a second collapsible storage and transportation unit.
2. The collapsible storage and transportation unit according to claim 1, further comprising at least one wall panel, the at least one wall panel being connectable between two corresponding post members of any wall panel supporting member.
3. The collapsible storage and transportation unit according to claim 1, wherein the first collapsible storage and transportation unit in any one of the collapsed and the uncollapsed configuration is stackable over the second collapsible storage and transportation unit in any one of the collapsed and the uncollapsed configuration.
4. The collapsible storage and transportation unit according to claim 2, wherein the collapsible storage and transportation unit is transportable in presence or absence of the at least one wall panel.
5. The collapsible storage and transportation unit according to claim 2, wherein the first collapsible storage and transportation unit and the second collapsible storage and transportation unit are stackable over each other in presence or absence of the at least one wall panel.
6. The collapsible storage and transportation unit according to claim 2, wherein the at least one wall panel is stackable over another wall panel.
7. The collapsible storage and transportation unit according to claim 2, wherein the at least one wall panel is transportable while stacked over another wall panel.
8. The collapsible storage and transportation unit according to claim 1, wherein each of the four wall panel supporting members comprises a U-shaped frame.
9. The collapsible storage and transportation unit according to claim 2, wherein the at least one wall panel is received within the U-shaped frame.
10. The collapsible storage and transportation unit according to claim 1, wherein each of the four wall panel supporting members comprises at least one hinge.
11. The collapsible storage and transportation unit according to claim 10, wherein the at least one hinge comprises a slotted hinge.
12. The collapsible storage and transportation unit according to claim 10, wherein the slotted hinge is sized and shaped so that the four wall panel supporting members are collapsed in a random order.
13. The collapsible storage and transportation unit according to claim 1, wherein the first locking member comprises a male connector and the second locking member comprises a female connector sized and shaped to receive the male connector therein.
14. The collapsible storage and transportation unit according to claim 13, wherein the male connector physically couples the female connector socket by a vertical displacement of the at least one slotted hinge.
15. The collapsible storage and transportation unit according to claim 13, wherein the male connector comprises a hook and the female connector comprises a hook-receiving socket.
Type: Application
Filed: Jul 23, 2019
Publication Date: Oct 28, 2021
Applicant: World Trans Bin Inc. (Montréal, QC)
Inventors: Eric Lawee (Westmount), David Madruga (Montreal), Antonio Botelho (Montreal)
Application Number: 17/261,562