DESCRIPTION

Containerized Transport And Storage System

Technical Field

A containerized transport and storage system for use with a truck or other

transport means to selectively store and transport goods or materials therein. Disclosure of Invention

The present invention relates to a containerized transport and storage

system to selectively store and transport goods or materials therein

comprising a container and a plurality of container lift assemblies. The

container can be configured in an erected or assembled configuration for

transportation and/or storage of goods or materials, and in a collapsed or

dissembled configuration, for transportation and/or storage of the

containerized transport and storage system itself.

The container comprises a pair of container side panels, a first and

second container end panel, a container top and container base held in

operative relationship relative to each other by a plurality of comer posts or

members.

The container top comprises a container top frame including a pair of

container top side frame members and a pair of container top end frame

members to support a container top panel. A coupler or connector member

extends downwardly from each corner portion of the container top frame to

detachably secure corresponding corner posts or members and one of the

container sides and the first container end or second container end thererto.

The container bottom comprises a container bottom frame including a

pair of container bottom side frame members and a pair of container bottom

end frame members to cooperatively form a rectilinear configuration to

support a container bottom panel. A coupler or connector member extends

upwardly from each corner portion of the container bottom frame to

detachably secure corresponding corner posts or members and one of the

container sides and either the first container end or second container end

thereto.

The container lift assembly comprises a lower lift member supported on

the ground or other surface telescopingly disposed within an upper lift

member. The upper lift member is moved vertically by a positioning

mechanism coupled to a positioning motor. A first lift coupler is held in fixed

spaced relationship relative to the upper lift member by an interconnecting

member. A. second lift coupler is affixed to each corner post or member to

selectively engage the first lift coupler of the corresponding container lift

assembly to raise or lower a container.

The invention accordingly comprises the features of construction,

combination of elements, and arrangement of parts which will be exemplified

in the construction hereinafter set forth, and the scope of the invention will be

indicated in the claims. Brief Description of the Drawings

For a fuller understanding of the nature and object of the invention,

reference should be had to the following detailed description taken in

connection with the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a side view of a pair of erected or assembled containers of

the present invention on a truck.

Figure 2 is a side view of an erected or assembled container on a truck

and the container lift system of the present invention.

Figure 3 is a side view of an erected or assembled container of the

present invention supported above the ground and truck bed by the container

lift system.

Figure 4 is a perspective view of an erected or assembled container of

the present invention.

Figure 5 is a top view of an erected or assembled container of the

present invention.

Figure 6 is a bottom view of an erected or assembled container of the

present invention.

Figure 7 is a side view of an erected or assembled container of the

present invention.

Figure 8 is a front view of an erected or assembled container of the

present invention.

Figure 9 is a rear view of an erected or assembled container of the

present invention.

Figure 10 is a side view of a collapsed or disassembled container of the

present invention.

Figure 11 is a rear view of a collapsed or disassembled container of the

present invention.

Figure 12 is a rear view of a collapsed or disassembled container of the

present invention supported on casters.

Figure 12A is a rear view of a collapsed or disassembled container of

the present invention supported on rollers.

Figure 13 is a side view of the top assembly of the present invention.

Figure 14 is a rear view of the top assembly of the present invention.

Figure 15 is a side view of the bottom assembly of the present

invention.

Figure 16 is a rear view of the bottom assembly of the present

invention.

Figure 17 is a perspective of a container lift assembly of the present

invention.

Figure 18 is a rear view of a plurality of stacked collapsed or

disassembled containers of the present invention.

Figure 19 is a top view of an erected or assembled container of the

present invention with an alternative container lift assembly.

Figure 20 is a side view of an erected or assembled container of the

present invention with an alternative container lift assembly.

Figure 21 is an end view of an erected or assembled container of the

present invention with an alternative container lift assembly.

Similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the

several views of the drawings.

Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

As shown in FIGS. 1 through 3, the present invention relates to a

containerized transport and storage system for use with a truck generally

indicated as 10 to selectively store and transport goods or materials therein.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the containerized transport and storage system

comprises a container generally indicated as 12 and a plurality of container lift

assemblies each generally indicated as 14. The container 12 can be

configured in an erected or assembled configuration for transportation and/or

storage of goods or materials, FIGS. 4 and 7 through 9, and in a collapsed or

disassembled configuration, for transportation and/or storage of the

containerized transport and storage system itself, FIGS. 10 through 12.

The container 12 of the present invention comprises a pair of a

container side panels each generally indicated as 16, a first and second

container end panel generally indicated as 18 and 20 respectively, and a

container top and container base indicated generally as 22 and 24 respectively

held in operative relationship relative to each other by a plurality of corner

posts or members each generally indicated as 26 including a first and second

element or leg 28 and 30 respectively, disposed as substantially right angles

to each other, when in the erected or assembled configuration. Apertures 32

are formed through the upper and lower portions of the first and second

elements or legs 28 and 30 of the corresponding corner post or member 26 to

receive fasteners therethrough to selectively maintain the container 12 in the

erect or assembled configuration.

As best shown in FIGS. 13 and 14, the container top 22 comprises a

container top frame including a pair of container top side frame members

each indicated as 34 and a pair of container top end frame members each

indicated as 36 to cooperatively form a rectilinear configuration to support a

container top panel 36 thereon. A coupler or connector member generally

indicated as 40 extends downwardly from each corner portion of the container

top frame to detachably secure corresponding corner posts or members 26

and a portion of one of the container sides 16 and the first container end 18

or second container end 20 thereto.

Each coupler or connector member 40 comprises a first and second

connector element or leg indicated as 42 and 44 respectively to cooperatively

form an intersection to receive an end portion of adjacent container panels 16

and 18 or 20 as described more fully hereinafter. Both the first and second

connector elements or legs 42 and 44 include an aperture 46 formed therein

to receive a fastener extending through a corresponding aperture 32 formed

through the upper portion of the corresponding first or second connector

element leg 28 or 30 of the corresponding corner post or member 26 as

described more fully hereinafter. A container stacking post 48 comprising a

tapered member extends upwardly from each corner portion of the container

top panel 38 of the container top 22.

As best shown in FIGS. 15 and 16, the container bottom 24 comprises

a container bottom frame including a pair of container bottom side frame

members each indicated as 50 and a pair of container bottom end frame

members each indicated as 52 to cooperatively from a rectilinear configuration

to support a container bottom panel 54 thereon. A coupler or connector

member generally indicated as 56 extends upwardly from each corner portion

of the container bottom frame to detachably secure corresponding corner

posts or members 26 and one of the container sides 16 and either the first

container end 18 or second container end 20 thereto. As shown in FIG. 6, the

container bottom frame further includes a plurality of longitudinal frame

members each indicated as 58 and a plurality of transverse frame members

each indicated as 60.

Each coupler or connector member 56 comprises a first and second

connector element or leg indicated as 62 and 64 respectively to cooperatively

from an intersection to receive an end portion of adjacent container panels 16

and 18 or 20 as described more fully hereinafter. Both the first and second

connector elements or legs 62 and 64 include an aperture 66 formed therein

to receive a fastener extending through a corresponding aperture 32 formed

through the lever portion of the corresponding first or second connector

element or leg 28 or 30 of the corresponding corner post or member 26 as

described more fully hereinafter. A container stacking aperture 67 is formed

through each corner portion of the container bottom panel 54 of the container

base 24 to receive the corresponding container stacking post 48 when

collapsed or disassembled containers 12 are stacked as shown in FIG. 18.

Each container bottom side frame member 50 and each container

bottom end frame member 52 includes a pair of spaced apart openings each

indicated as 68 to receive a portion of and accommodate a fork lift or other

lifting device.

The structure of a container lift assembly 14 is best shown in FIG. 17.

Specifically, the container lift assembly 14 comprises a lower lift member 70

supported on the ground or other surface by a lift base 72 disposed around an

upper lift member 74. The upper lift member 74 is moved telescopingly or

vertically with the lower lift member 70 by a positioning mechanism 76 such

as a gear arrangement or hydraulic piston/cylinder combination coupled to a

positioning motor or actuator 78 controlled remotely by a lift control 80. A

first lift coupler generally indicated as 82 is held in fixed spaced relationship

relative to the upper lift member 74 by a first and second interconnecting

member 84 and 86 respectively. A second lift coupler generally indicated as

88 is affixed to each corner post or member 26 to selectively engage the first

lift coupler 82 of the corresponding container lift assembly 14 to raise or lower

a container 12 as described more fully hereinafter.

The first lift coupler 82 comprises a pair of first coupler plates each

indicated as 90 disposed at about 88 degrees relative to each other to engage

the intersection of the first and second elements or legs 28 and 30 when the

first coupler plates 90 engage the first and second elements or legs 28 and 30

of the corresponding corner post or member 26. The upper edges 92 of each

first coupler plate 90 are inclined upwardly at an angle of at least about 30

degrees and preferably from about 40 degrees to about 44 degrees. The

second lift coupler 88 comprises a pair of second coupler plates each indicated

as 94 extending outwardly from the corresponding first and second leg or

element 28 and 30 of each corner post or member 26 at an angle of less than

about 45 degrees. Each second coupler plate 94 is inclined upwardly at an

angle of about at least 45 degrees such that the upper edges 92 of each first

coupler plate 90 engages the corresponding second coupler plate 94 and the

corresponding first and second element or leg 28 and 30 to detachably couple

each container lift assembly 14 to the corresponding corner post or member

26.

As shown in FIG. 17, a pair of first lift couplers 82 and a corresponding

pair of second lift couplers 88 may be used.

Alternatively, as shown in FIGS. 19 through 21, each container lift

assembly 14 may be disposed internally within the container 12 at each of the

4 corners thereof. Specifically, each container lift assembly 14 comprises a

lower lift member 70 supported on the ground or other surface by a lift base

72 disposed within upper lift member 74 attached to the container 14. The

lower lift member 72 is moved telescopingly or vertically within the upper lift

member 74 by a positioning mechanism 76 such as a gear arrangement or

hydraulic piston/cylinder combination coupled to a positioning motor or

actuator 78 controlled remotely by a lift control 80.

As shown in FIG. 18, a plurality of collapsed or disassembled containers

12 may be stacked one upon another. When dissembled for storage or

transport without goods or materials, each coupler or connector member 40 of

the container top 22 engages the corresponding coupler or connector member

56 of corresponding container base 24 to cooperatively form a storage space

96 for the corresponding container side panels 16, first container end panel 18

and second container end panel 20. When the containers 12 are stacked,

each of the container stacking posts 48 extending upwardly form the

corresponding container top panel 30 of the container top 22 extends through

the corresponding container stacking aperture 67 formed in the corresponding

container bottom panel 54 of the container base 24.

As shown in FIGS. 12 and 18, the containers 12 may be supported by a

plurality of casters .each indicated as 98. Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 12A,

the containers 12 may be supported by a plurality of rollers each indicated as

99.

As shown in FIGS. 9 through 11, the first container end panel 18 may

comprise a pair of panel sections indicated as 18A and 18B hingedly attached

to a corresponding corner post or member 26 by a hinge generally indicated

as 101. The end panel sections 18A and 18B can be securely closed by a lock

mechanism generally indicated as 100.

To erect the container, side panels 16, first and second container end

panels 18 and 20, container top 22 and container base 24, and corner posts or

members 26 are assembled. Fasteners are extended through apertures 32

formed in the upper and lower portions of the first and second elements or

legs 28 and 30, corresponding apertures (not shown) formed through the

container side panels 16, first and second end panels 18 (18A and 18B) and

then through apertures 46 formed in the corresponding first and second

connector element or leg 42 and 44 of the corresponding coupler or connector

member 40 of the container top 22 and through apertures 66 formed in the

corresponding first and second connector element or leg 62 and 64 of the

corresponding coupler or connector member 56 of the container base 24.

To load the container 12 onto the truck 10, a container lift assembly 14

is positioned at each of the four corners of an erected or assembled container

12 such that the first coupler plate 90 engages the first and second elements

or legs 28 and 30 of the corresponding corner post or member 26 and the

corresponding second coupler plates 94. The positioning motors or actuators

78 are activated or energized by the lift control 80 to move the corresponding

upper lift member 74 upward raising the container base 24 to a height above

the truck bed allowing the truck 10 to be positioned under the container 12.

The positioning motor or actuator 78 Is reversed lowering the container 12

onto the truck bed for transport.

The container 12 is removed from the truck bed by a similar process.

The alternate embodiment of the container lift assemblies 14 operate in

a similar manner to vertically position the container 12.

It will thus be seen that the objects set forth above, among those made

apparent from the preceding description are efficiently attained and since

certain changes may be made in the above construction without departing

from the scope of the invention, it is intended that all matter contained in the

above description or shown in the accompanying drawing shall be interpreted

as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

It is also to be understood that the following claims are intended to

cover all of the generic and specific features of the invention herein described,

and all statements of the scope of the invention which, as a matter of

language, might be said to fall therebetween.

Now that the invention has been described,