Container

1. A container for transportation and/or storage of items, the container comprising:

a base frame having a generally rectangular shape with four corners;

an enclosure supported above the base frame and having a length and a width and an open top, the enclosure defining two end portions that are disposed opposite one another along the length of the enclosure, the two end portions each bounded by a corresponding pair of corners of the base frame;

a securing arrangement, disposed within the enclosure, comprising an upright restraint configured to be advanced and retracted across the width of the enclosure for holding the items in an upright orientation; and

an access arrangement, enabling placing items into the enclosure or removing items from the enclosure, the access arrangement providing access to at least one of the two end portions of the enclosure, the access arrangement comprising a first movable side panel disposed proximate a given end portion of the two end portions of the enclosure;

said first moveable side panel being pivotable about a first vertical pivot axis provided on a first vertical support member that extends upward from the base frame from a location intermediate first and second corners of the base frame, the first corner belonging to the pair of corners that bounds the given end portion of the enclosure, and the second corner belonging to the pair of corners that bounds the other end portion of the enclosure, wherein the first moveable side panel has a side disposed adjacent the first corner of the base frame in a closed configuration, whereby the pivoting movement of the first moveable side panel about the first vertical pivot axis renders open the given end portion of the enclosure at the first corner of the base frame; and

said first movable side panel having a top edge that defines a portion of the open top of the enclosure in the closed configuration of the first moveable side panel.

2. A container according to claim 1 , wherein:

the securing arrangement is disposed centrally between the two end portions of the enclosure.

3. A container according to claim 1 , wherein:

at least one of the two end portions of the enclosure has a closed end wall that extends from the base frame across the width of the enclosure.

4. A container according to claim 1 , wherein:

at least one of the two end portions of the enclosure has an open end that extends across the width of the enclosure.

5. A container according to claim 1 , wherein:

the base frame has openings that accommodate tines of a lift apparatus.

6. A container according to claim 1 , wherein:

the first moveable side panel is configured to pivot outwardly about the first vertical pivot axis provided on the first vertical support member.

7. A container according to claim 1 , wherein:

the access arrangement further includes a second movable side panel disposed proximate the other end portion of the enclosure, said second moveable side panel being pivotable about a second vertical pivot axis provided on a second vertical support member that extends upward from the base frame from a location intermediate third and fourth corners of the base frame, the third corner belonging to the pair of corners that bounds the other end portion of the enclosure, and the fourth corner belonging to the pair of corners that bounds the given end portion of the enclosure, wherein the second moveable side panel has a side disposed adjacent the third corner of the base frame in a closed configuration, whereby the pivoting movement of the second moveable side panel about the second vertical pivot axis renders open the other end portion of the enclosure at the third corner of the base frame.

8. A container according to claim 7 , wherein:

the second moveable side panel is configured to pivot outwardly about the second vertical pivot axis provided on the second vertical support member.

9. A container according to claim 1 , wherein:

the enclosure has an openable or open top.

10. A container according to claim 1 , wherein:

the base frame and upper portions of the enclosure are provided with stacking formations enabling stacking of containers one on top of another.

11. A container according to claim 1 , wherein:

the upright restraint of the securing arrangement extends in an upright orientation for the major extent of the height of the enclosure.

12. A container according to claim 1 , wherein:

the securing arrangement includes support means mounting the upright restraint, and facilitating ease of movement of the upright restraint along the width of the enclosure.

13. A container according to claim 12 , wherein:

the upright restraint is at least one of (i) supported to be movable on a rotatable support arrangement and (ii) constrained to move along a track.

14. A container according to claim 1 , further comprising:

a lock arrangement for locking the upright restraint at a selected position across the width of the enclosure.

15. A container according to claim 14 , wherein:

the lock arrangement includes a series of spaced lock position locators for locking the upright restraint at one or more of a defined series of positions across the width of the enclosure.

16. A container according to claim 1 , wherein:

the upright restraint carries at least one contact member for contacting an adjacent item in the enclosure.

17. A container according to claim 16 , further comprising:

an adjustment arrangement for urging the contact member into securing engagement with the adjacent item in the enclosure.

18. A container according to claim 16 , wherein:

the at least one contact member is angularly adjustable relative to the upright restraint.

19. A container according to claim 16 , wherein:

the at least one contact member comprises a flexible or resilient contact layer for contacting the adjacent item in the enclosure.

20. A container according to claim 16 , further comprising:

a contact member arrangement including upper and lower contact members carried by the upright restraint.

21. A container according to claim 16 , wherein:

the at least one contact member is mounted within the enclosure spaced from and facing the upright restraint.

22. A container according to claim 16 , wherein:

the at least one contact member is angularly adjustable with respect to the container.

23. A container according to claim 16 , wherein:

the at least one contact member is at least one of height adjustable and reorientatable with respect to the container.

24. A container according to claim 1 , further comprising:

slide elements provided at opposed sides of the upright restraint.

25. A container according to claim 1 , further comprising:

a slide element provided across the given end portion of the enclosure.

26. A container according to claim 14 , wherein:

the slide element includes a friction reduced surface layer promoting sliding of the items during loading or unloading.

27. A container according to claim 1 , further comprising:

a securing element arranged to lie in engagement with the underside of the items in the enclosure.

28. A container according to claim 1 , further comprising:

a plurality of sheet items in upright orientation contained therein for transportation or storage thereof.

29. A container according to claim 28 , wherein:

the sheet items are glass sheets.

30. A container according to claim 29 , wherein:

the glass sheets include a number of differently configured vehicle windscreens.

31. A container according to claim 1 , further comprising:

a plurality of spaced slide elements extending along the width of the enclosure in the region of the bottom of the enclosure.

32. A container according to claim 11 , wherein:

the first moveable side panel comprises a door.