Patent Application
20090302046
The present invention relates generally to shipping and storage containers and methods, and in particular, embodiments relate to collapsible containers that may be integrated into a motor carrier's current less than load operations without any additional equipment or disruption of service.
Containers are utilized by industry and consumers to ship freight from one location to another. Containers are also commonly used to store items for a length of time. Conventional containers, although effective when full of freight, become a source of lost revenue for a motor carrier when the container is empty because the space taken up by the empty container could be used by a full container or other freight. Similarly, in the case of residential or commercial use, an empty container undesirably takes up a great deal of space in a residential or commercial user's basement, attic, storage space, warehouse or other similar location. A user may desire to keep an empty container in his or her possession for future use but for the undesirable space the empty container requires.
Conventional containers are also difficult for a commercial or residential user to load and unload. The top-loading of a shipping container can be a harrowing experience, especially when the item to be shipped or stored is being loaded into a tall container. For example, the article may be accidentally dropped while it is being loaded into the container from the top. Additionally, articles positioned at the bottom of a full top-loaded container may be difficult, if not impossible, to locate or remove if the need arises.
Additionally, conventional containers are not easily integrated into a motor carrier's current less than load (“LTL”) operations. LTL freight, unlike full truckload freight, is collected from various shippers and consolidated onto a trailer. Non-uniformity of conventional container dimensions create inefficiencies in LTL linehaul operations by causing large gaps of dead space in between freight and containers. Similarly, conventional shipping containers are not dimensioned to fit in trailers with overhead, roll-up doors.
Accordingly, a shipping and storing container that takes up minimum space when empty, is easily loaded and unloaded, and integrates into LTL operations is desired.
According to one embodiment, a collapsible container is provided. The collapsible container includes a base, a pair of first opposing walls, each first opposing wall comprising a top edge, two side edges and a bottom edge, a pair of second opposing walls, each second opposing wall comprising a top edge, two side edges and a bottom edge, a top panel removably attached to the top edge of the pairs of first and second opposing walls and a plurality of engaging devices positioned along the perimeter of the base and along the two side edges and bottom edge of the pairs of first and second opposing walls. The plurality of engaging devices are configured to removably connect the pair of first opposing walls to the pair of second opposing walls and to removably connect the pairs of first and second opposing walls to the base. Further, the collapsible container is dimensioned to integrate into less than truck load operations.
According to another embodiment, a collapsible container is provided. The collapsible container includes a pair of first opposing walls, each first opposing wall including a top edge, a bottom edge comprising a plurality of bottom male fastening components, and two side edges including a plurality of side male fastening components. The collapsible container also includes a pair of second opposing walls, each second opposing wall including a top edge, a bottom edge comprising a plurality of bottom male fastening components, and two side edges comprising a plurality of side female fastening components configured to accept the plurality of side male fastening components. A base including a plurality of base female fastening components along a perimeter of the base, the plurality of base female fastening components configured to accept the plurality of bottom male fastening components of the pairs of first and second opposing walls and a top panel configured to removably attach to the top edge of the pairs of first and second opposing walls are also included. When the collapsible container is in an erected position, the collapsible container is a receptacle dimensioned to integrate into less than truck load operations.
According to yet another embodiment, a collapsible container includes a pair of first opposing walls, each first opposing wall including a plurality of engaging hooks positioned outwardly along two opposing edges, a plurality of first engaging tabs positioned outwardly along an edge adjacent to the two opposing edges, a substantially flat edge and an exterior face comprising a graphic. The collapsible container also includes a pair of second opposing walls, each second opposing wall including a plurality of slots positioned along two opposing edges configured to accept the plurality of engaging hooks of the pair of first opposing walls, a plurality of second engaging tabs positioned outwardly along an edge adjacent to the two opposing edges, a substantially flat edge, and an exterior face comprising a graphic. The collapsible container also includes a base comprising a plurality of base slots that are sized and positioned to accept the first and second engaging tabs of the respective pairs of first and second opposing walls to form a receptacle and a top panel configured to removably attach to the substantially flat edge of the pairs of first and second opposing walls. The collapsible container is dimensioned to integrate into less than truck load operations.
The following detailed description will be more fully understood in view of the drawings in which:
The embodiments set forth in the drawings are illustrative in nature and are not intended to be limiting of the invention defined by the claims. Moreover, individual features of the drawings and the invention will be more fully apparent and understood in view of the detailed description.
In one embodiment, a collapsible storage and shipping container is provided. According to the embodiment, the container may be used for both commercial and residential shipping and storing applications. The container, which may be made of a plastic material such as natural HDPE, for example, is designed and dimensioned to allow a motor carrier to integrate pickup and delivery of the container into the motor carrier's current less than load (LTL) operations without any additional equipment or disruption of service. For example, according to some embodiments, the container may be loaded and unloaded at a dock or with a liftgate on the trailer so the user or carrier is not required to provide equipment such as a forklift or flatbed trailer. As described herein below, embodiments are dimensioned such that they are easily integrated current LTL operations. Dimensioning of the containers ensures that space is not wasted within the trailer by minimizing gaps caused by oddly-dimensioned freight and containers. According to some embodiments, the container will fit in all linehaul trailers, including, as an example and not a limitation, curtain side linehaul trailers, trailers with overhead roll-up doors and other types of linehaul trailers. Embodiments are also dimensioned to allow the shipping and storage of oversized items, such as couches, other large furniture, machines or equipment. The container may be custom-sized to suit the user's shipping and storage needs.
The container is fully collapsible to provide efficient storage and/or transport of the container when the container is empty, as well as provide increased loading and unloading flexibility for the user. According to some embodiments, engaging tabs and hooks are configured to be inserted into mating slots for easy assembly and collapsibility of the container. The container of this embodiment may be assembled and disassembled without the use of, or need for, tools. Because the container is collapsible, it may be collapsed during transport when the container is empty, thereby decreasing the required volume of the container within the linehaul trailer. This significantly increases the load capacity of the trailer, which frees up the motor carrier to load the trailer with more freight. Likewise, the user may collapse the container when he or she is not presently using the container, thereby taking up less space within the storage area. The collapsibility also allows for increased loading and unloading flexibility. As an example, the freight to be loaded into the container for shipping and/or storage may be placed on the base of the container before the attachment of the sides and top panel. A user may choose to remove just the top panel of the container when unloading an item from the container, or he or she may additionally remove one or more sides to unload items that are difficult to access from the container.
Embodiments may also comprise additional features. Freight securing mechanisms may be provided on the interior surface of the base according to some embodiments. The freight securing mechanisms allow freight to be tied down or secured to the base of the container, thus preventing damage to the freight during transport. Other embodiments may also include a tarp that covers the container for all-weather protection when the container is subject to the elements. Because conventional containers may be unsightly, residential and commercial users may be reluctant to store items in a container in the exterior of their home or place of business where the container may be seen from the road, sidewalk or other public vantage point. However, exterior storage may be desirable where the user does not have adequate interior storage space, does not wish the store the item indoors, or for other reasons. Therefore, according to some embodiments, the exterior of the container may comprise an aesthetically pleasing design. As an example and not a limitation, the design may include a playhouse, club house, fence, landscape scene, or any other pleasing design to disguise the container.
As shown in the illustrated embodiment of
According to the embodiment of
The slots 25, 27 located on the base 16 are configured to accept the corresponding engaging tabs 24, 26 of the pairs of first and second of opposing walls 12, 14 (i.e., slot 25 is configured to accept engaging tab 24 and slot 27 is configured to accept engaging tab 26). The slots 25, 27 and engaging tabs 24, 26 are dimensioned such that the pairs of first and second opposing walls 12, 14 may only be inserted in the correct position on the base. For example, slot 25 and engaging tab 24 may be of a length that is longer than slot 27 and engaging tab 26 or visa versa. Similarly, slot 25 and engaging tab 24 may be of a width that is wider than slot 27 and engaging tab 26 or visa versa. As is shown in
Referring again to
Additional embodiments may comprise handles 22 that are located on each wall of the container 22. These handles 22 may be attached to the opposing walls 12, 14. Or, according to other embodiments and as illustrated in
The top panel 18 of the container 10 is dimensioned such that there is an overhang above each opposing wall 12, 14. Under each overhang (i.e., around the perimeter of the underside of the top panel 18) is a vertical lip 29 that enfolds the walls 12, 14 when the container 10 is assembled, as may be viewed in the embodiment illustrated in
As described above, the container 10 may be designed and dimensioned in a number of sizes that allow the container 10 to be integrated into LTL operations.
Now referring to
After the opposing walls 12, 14 are in place and the freight has been loaded, the top panel 18 may be placed on the top portion of the opposing walls 12, 14 and fit into place, as illustrated in
The foregoing description of the various embodiments of the invention has been presented for the purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise steps and/or forms disclosed. Many alternatives, modifications and variations will be apparent to those skilled in the art of the above teaching. Moreover, although multiple inventive aspects have been presented, such aspects need not be utilized in combination, and various combinations of inventive aspects are possible in light of the various embodiments provided above. Accordingly, the above description is intended to embrace all possible alternatives, modifications, combinations, and variations that have been discussed or suggested herein, as well as all others that fall with the principles, spirit and broad scope of the inventions as defined by the claims.
