Container for storing, securing and transporting articles

• US 7,392,993 B1
• Filed: 01/24/2006
• Issued: 07/01/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 01/24/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: SST Systems NFC LLC
• Original Assignee: SST Systems NFC LLC
• Inventors: Fike, John, Prohl, Richard, Hacket, Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): PHAN, HAU VAN
• Application Number:
  US11/338,050
• Time in Patent Office: 889 Days
• Field of Search: 280/33.998, 280/33.993, 280/33.996, 280/651, 280/639, 280/79.3, 280/79.11
• US Class Current: 280/33.998
• CPC Class Codes: A47F 5/137 having wheels
• CPC Class Codes: B62B 1/00 Hand carts having only one axis carrying one or more transport wheels; Equipment therefor
• CPC Class Codes: B62B 1/006 being vertically stackable with each other
• CPC Class Codes: B62B 2203/05 Rocking means for facilitating tilting of the cart, e.g. by loading
• CPC Class Codes: B62B 2203/70 Comprising means for facilitating loading or unloading
• CPC Class Codes: B62B 3/002 characterised by a rectangular shape, involving sidewalls or racks
• CPC Class Codes: B62B 3/16 vertically stackable
• CPC Class Codes: B62B 5/0006 Bumpers; Safety devices

Abstract

A container for storing, securing and transporting articles. The container comprises a plurality of members having predetermined lengths. A plurality of connectors interconnect the members to space apart and arrange the members generally vertically and horizontally to form a boxlike shape. A selectably securable closure is hingedly coupled to a first sidewall of the container. A pair of wheels are attached to a first edge of a bottom of the container, and a pair of legs attached to a second, opposing edge of the bottom of the container. The container may be stored in either a generally vertical orientation or a generally horizontal orientation. The container may also be pivoted about the wheels to transport the container. In addition, the container may be stacked with other containers when in the horizontal orientation.

Claims

1. A container for storing, securing and transporting articles, comprising:

a plurality of members having predetermined lengths;

a plurality of connectors interconnecting the members to space apart and arrange the members generally vertically and horizontally to form a boxlike shape, the connectors comprising a plurality of open, hollow ends into which the members are inserted and fixedly retained;

a selectably securable closure hingedly coupled to a first sidewall of the container;

a pair of wheels attached to a first edge of a bottom of the container; and

a first pair of legs attached to a second, opposing edge of the bottom of the container,

wherein the container is configured to receive one or more articles through the closure for storage,

wherein the container is configurable for storage in both a generally vertical orientation, resting upon the wheels and legs, and a generally horizontal orientation,

wherein the container is pivotable about the wheels to transport the container, and

wherein the container is configured to be stacked upon like containers when in the horizontal orientation.

2. The container of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of runners attached to a second sidewall of the container.

3. The container of claim 2 wherein the runners are configured to facilitate insertion of forklift tines between the runners and the container to lift and transport the container with a forklift.

4. The container of claim 1 wherein the members are tubing sections.

5. The container of claim 1 wherein the closure is constructed from a plurality of members having predetermined lengths and a plurality of connectors to form a generally planar door.

6. The container of claim 5 wherein the closure further includes one of a latch, clamp, lock, deadbolt, cable tie, tamper-resistant seal, tapes, fasteners, cables and chains to secure the closure.

7. The container of claim 1 wherein the closure comprises a plurality of sections hinged to a common edge of the container.

8. The container of claim 1, further comprising at least one stowable ramp proximate the closure to facilitate loading and unloading of articles into and from the container.

9. The container of claim 1, further comprising at least one divider.

10. The container of claim 1, further comprising an accessory box.

11. The container of claim 1, further comprising a deck.

12. The container of claim 1, further comprising an exterior cover to generally enclose the container.

13. The container of claim 1, further comprising a nameplate displaying information corresponding to the articles stored in the container.

14. The container of claim 1, further comprising an electrical power outlet.

15. The container of claim 1, further comprising at least one data port configured to facilitate transfer of data to and from articles stored within the container.

16. The container of claim 1, further comprising at least one of GPS equipment and RFID tags to facilitate inventory and tracking of at least one of the container and articles stored therein.

17. The container of claim 1 wherein the members are finished in at least one predetermined color by one of molding, plating and painting.

18. The container of claim 1 wherein the pair of legs comprise a second pair of wheels.

19. The container of claim 1 wherein the articles comprise voting equipment.

20. The container of claim 1, further comprising a table detachably coupled to a sidewall of the container.

21. The container of claim 1, further comprising a storage cage attached to the container.