Storage unit having adjustable volume
View Patent ↗A rigid extendable storage unit comprises a front wall and a back wall positioned adjacent to the front wall in a folded state and configured to be deployed opposite the front wall, wherein the back wall has an opening configured to be covered. Side walls that are made of at least one section are provided and positioned adjacent to the front wall in a folded state and extended between the front wall and the back wall in a deployed state. A roof is positioned adjacent to the front wall in a folded state and extended to enclose a volume formed between the front wall, the back wall, and the side walls. In the folded state, the extendable storage unit occupies minimal area of the surface or the platform it is mounted on, and transforming the storage unit from folded state to deployed state and vice versa can be handled manually or automatically.
1 . An extendable storage unit to be deployed on a surface of a vehicle or a platform having side frames, the extendable storage unit comprising:
a rigid front wall section stationary relative to the surface or the platform;
a sliding rigid back wall positioned adjacent to said front wall in a folded state and configured to slide away from the rigid front wall, wherein the back wall has an opening configured to be covered;
a plurality of sliding rigid central sections forming a roof, and stationary side walls mounted on the side frames opposite to one another;
wherein each of the plurality of sliding rigid central sections comprises two opposite edges that slide on corresponding portions of the stationary side walls, and wherein the plurality of sliding rigid central sections are capable of sliding one on top of the other so that in a folded state, the plurality of sliding rigid central sections is adjacent the front wall and when deployed, the sliding rigid central sections extend away from the rigid front wall section and wherein height adjustment mechanisms are provided within the side walls, and wherein the height adjustment mechanisms are configured to elevate the roof to increase an inner volume of the extendable storage unit when deployed.
2 . The extendable storage unit of claim 1 , wherein the surface is a rear load area of a pickup truck.
3 . The extendable storage unit of claim 1 , wherein two rails are provided, each of said rails being mounted on a corresponding side wall, and wherein at least one of said sliding sections is capable of sliding on the rails.
4 . The extendable storage unit of claim 3 , wherein said two opposite edges of the sliding sections are provided with wheels capable of sliding along said rails.
5 . The extendable storage unit of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of rigid central sliding sections are adjacent to said sliding rigid back wall that is capable of sliding back and forth between the folded state and the deployed state while in the deployed state, the sliding back wall is adjacent to a back frame and the sliding central sections are disposed one aside the other between the back frame and the rigid front wall section forming an enclosed volume.
6 . The extendable storage unit of claim 1 , wherein said opening further comprises a shutter in the sliding rigid back wall acting as a door for said extendable portable storage unit.
7 . The extendable storage unit of claim 1 , wherein said opening is provided with a door.
8 . The extendable storage unit of claim 1 , wherein the height adjustment mechanism is accommodated within a housing that comprises a squeeze box or accordion shaped envelope that is adapted to extend when the height adjustment mechanism is raised.
9 . The extendable storage unit of claim 8 , wherein the squeeze box or accordion shaped envelope is made of a metal sheet that is semi rigid.
10 . The extendable storage unit of claim 1 , wherein the height adjustment mechanism comprises a plurality of pairs of rods, each pair is diagonally arranged and attached by a hinge that allows the rods to rotate about the hinge to form a scissors-type mechanism in which ends of the pair of rods are sliding within corresponding rails so as to elevate the roof.
11 . The extendable storage unit of claim 10 , wherein each pair of scissors-type mechanism that are placed adjacent to each other is connected to each other by a gas spring that has a default state in which it is expanded and pushes the ends of the pair of rods from each other so that the height adjustment mechanism gains a maximum height.
12 . The extendable storage unit of claim 10 , wherein each scissors-type mechanism is connected on both sides to lateral springs that has a default state in which the lateral springs expand and push opposite ends of the rods to be separated to a maximum height.
13 . The extendable storage unit of claim 10 , wherein the scissors-type mechanism is manually operated by a lever.
14 . The extendable storage unit of claim 1 , wherein the height adjustment mechanism comprises a plurality of hydraulic cylinders that are telescopically elevated.
15 . The extendable storage unit of claim 1 , wherein the height adjustment mechanism can operate in a manner by which the roof is tilted.