초록 ▼

A collapsible container having an expanded storage configuration and a collapsed storage configuration is provided, the collapsible container comprising a floor portion; a ceiling portion opposed to the floor portion; at least one wall portion disposed between the floor portion and the ceiling porti

A collapsible container having an expanded storage configuration and a collapsed storage configuration is provided, the collapsible container comprising a floor portion; a ceiling portion opposed to the floor portion; at least one wall portion disposed between the floor portion and the ceiling portion; at least one door portion disposed between the floor portion and the ceiling portion; and at least two posts having a collapsed length configuration and an expanded length configuration, the at least two posts, in the collapsed length configuration, being adapted to interconnect the ceiling portion to the floor portion when the container is in the collapsed configuration and, in the expanded length configuration, being adapted to interconnect the ceiling portion to the floor portion when the container is in the expanded configuration. A collapsible container kit and a method of using the collapsible container is also provided.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A collapsible container having an expanded configuration and a collapsed configuration, the collapsible container comprising: a floor portion;a ceiling portion opposed to the floor portion;at least one wall portion disposed between the floor portion and the ceiling portion;at least one door porti

1. A collapsible container having an expanded configuration and a collapsed configuration, the collapsible container comprising: a floor portion;a ceiling portion opposed to the floor portion;at least one wall portion disposed between the floor portion and the ceiling portion;at least one door portion disposed between the floor portion and the ceiling portion; anda plurality of posts, each post including a lower portion comprising four walls, secured to the floor portion at a first end thereof for a collapsed length configuration thereof, and a removable upper portion adapted to be longitudinally assembled and secured, at a first end thereof, to a second end of the lower portion, for extending the post in an expanded length configuration, the upper portion being adapted to be secured to the lower portion with at least one securing element longitudinally securing the upper portion to the lower portion by longitudinally pulling the upper portion toward the bottom portion to limit and prevent relative longitudinal movement between the lower portion and upper portion, wherein each of the plurality of posts in the expanded length configuration includes a lifting anchor at a second end of the upper portion,the plurality of posts, in the collapsed length configuration, being adapted to interconnect the ceiling portion to the floor portion when the collapsible container is in the collapsed configuration and, in the expanded length configuration, being adapted to interconnect the ceiling portion to the floor portion when the collapsible container is in the expanded configuration, wherein the collapsible container in the expanded configuration is adapted to be suspended by the lifting anchors extending over the ceiling portion. 2. The collapsible container of claim 1, wherein the collapsible container is stackable. 3. The collapsible container of claim 1, wherein the plurality of posts in the collapsed length configuration are permanently secured to the floor portion. 4. The collapsible container of claim 1, wherein the at least one securing element is a pair of opposed securing elements longitudinally securing the upper portion to the lower portion. 5. The collapsible container of claim 4, wherein one of the pair of opposed securing elements is disposed on a lateral side of the container. 6. The collapsible container of claim 4, wherein one of the pair of opposed securing elements is disposed inside the container whereby the upper portion is disconnectable from the lower portion when the interior of the container is accessible. 7. The collapsible container of claim 4, wherein the pair of opposed securing elements are laterally offset and are not exactly facing each other. 8. The collapsible container of claim 1, wherein the securing element is a clamp adapted to be actuated without a tool. 9. The collapsible container of claim 8, wherein the post includes a longitudinal recess portion adapted to receive at least a portion of the clamp therein. 10. The collapsible container of claim 1, wherein the lifting anchor is a connector extending from the post section above the ceiling portion, the connector being adapted to suspend the collapsible container. 11. The collapsible container of claim 1, wherein a male-female interface is provided between the lower portion and the upper portion of the post to further secure the lower portion and the upper portion of the post. 12. The collapsible container of claim 11, wherein the male-female interface is provided with a low friction polymer material to facilitate a mating assembly of the male-female interface. 13. The collapsible container of claim 1, wherein the posts respectively include a centering member adapted to locate the additional post section. 14. A collapsible container kit comprising: a floor portion;a ceiling portion adapted to be mounted in parallel opposition to the floor portion;at least one wall portion adapted to be mounted between the floor portion and the ceiling portion;at least one door portion adapted to be pivotably disposed between the floor portion and the ceiling portion; andfour posts, each post including a lower portion comprising four walls, secured to the floor portion at a first end thereof for a collapsed length configuration thereof, and a removable upper portion adapted to be longitudinally assembled and secured, at a first end thereof, to a second end of the lower portion, for extending the post in an expanded length configuration, the upper portion being adapted to be secured to the lower portion with at least one securing element longitudinally securing the upper portion to the lower portion by longitudinally pulling the upper portion toward the bottom portion to limit and prevent relative longitudinal movement between the lower portion and upper portion, wherein each of the four posts in the expanded length configuration includes a lifting anchor at a second end thereof,the four posts, in the collapsed length configuration, being adapted to interconnect the ceiling portion with the floor portion when the container is in the collapsed configuration and, in the expanded length configuration, being adapted to interconnect the ceiling portion with the floor portion when the container is in the expanded configuration, wherein the collapsible container in the expanded configuration is adapted to be suspended by the lifting anchors extending from the ceiling portion. 15. The collapsible container kit of claim 14, wherein the at least one securing element is a pair of opposed securing elements longitudinally securing the upper portion to the lower portion. 16. The collapsible container kit of claim 15, wherein one of the pair of opposed securing elements is disposed on a lateral side of the post. 17. The collapsible container kit of claim 16, wherein the securing element is a clamp adapted to be actuated without a tool. 18. A method of assembling an expandable container having an expanded configuration and a collapsed configuration, the method comprising: providing a floor portion;providing a ceiling portion in a position opposed to the floor portion;providing at least one wall portion disposed between the floor portion and the ceiling portion;providing at least one door portion disposed between the floor portion and the ceiling portion;providing a plurality of posts each post including a lower portion comprising four walls, secured to the floor, at a first end thereof, in a collapsed length configuration thereof;longitudinally assembling a removable upper portion to each of the lower portions;longitudinally securing each of the upper portions with respective lower portions with at least one securing element longitudinally assembling and securing the upper portion, at a first end thereof, to a second end of the lower portion, for extending the post in an expanded length configuration, the upper portion being adapted to be secured to the lower portion with the at least one securing element longitudinally securing the upper portion to the lower portion by longitudinally pulling the upper portion toward the bottom portion to limit and prevent relative longitudinal movement between the lower portion and upper portion, wherein each of the plurality of posts in the expanded length configuration includes a lifting anchor at a second end thereof, andinterconnecting the ceiling portion to the floor portion with the plurality of posts in their expanded length configuration to provide the collapsible container in the expanded configuration, the plurality of posts in the expanded length configuration being further adapted to secure the ceiling portion by extending the lifting anchors through the ceiling portion, wherein the collapsible container in the expanded configuration is adapted to be suspended by the lifting anchors extending over the ceiling portion. 19. The method of assembling an expandable container of claim 18, wherein the securing element is a clamp adapted to be manually actuated and wherein the method further comprising manually actuating the clamp. 20. The collapsible container of claim 17, wherein the post includes a longitudinal recess portion adapted to receive at least a portion of the clamp therein.