Shipping container

1. A reusable shipping container comprising:

a substantially rectangular bottom unit, said bottom unit further comprising

a base, said base having an upper surface and a lower surface;

a fork strap unit, said fork strap unit having an upper surface and a lower surface, and said fork strap unit being releasably connected to said base using a plurality of connectors, each connector of said plurality of connectors further comprising

a male latch portion extending downward from the bottom surface of the base, said male latch portion comprising at least one spring member terminating in a ramped end portion and at least one male latching surface defined by the ramped end portion of the at least one spring member and

a female latch portion defined by the fork strap unit, said female latch portion further comprising a housing, said housing defining a central opening for receiving said at least one spring member of the male latch portion and said housing defining a female latching surface around a periphery of said central opening wherein none of said plurality of connectors bear a vertical load from the weight of the base;

a plurality of inner impact walls extending downward from the base wherein, when the fork strap unit is releasably connected to the base, each of the plurality of connectors is surrounded by one of the plurality of inner impact walls and each of the plurality of inner impact walls has a height such that each inner impact wall contacts the upper surface of forkstrap unit and bears a portion of the vertical load of the base and

a plurality of outer impact walls extending upward from the fork strap unit wherein, when the fork strap unit is releasably connected to the base, each of the plurality of inner impact walls is surrounded by one of the plurality of outer impact walls and each of the outer impact walls has a height such that each outer impact wall contacts the bottom surface of the base and bears a portion of the weight of the base wherein

each of the inner impact walls has a perimeter that provides a gap between an inner surface of the inner impact wall and the connector the inner impact wall is surrounding and

each of the outer impact walls has a perimeter that provides a gap between an inner surface of the outer impact wall and the inner impact wall the outer impact wall is surrounding.

2. The reusable shipping container of claim 1 wherein each male latch portion of the plurality of male latch portions further comprises four spring members, wherein the four spring members are arranged about the perimeter of a rectangle with the ramped end portion of each spring member facing outward away from the rectangle.

3. The reusable shipping container of claim 2 wherein each male latch portion further comprises:

a reinforcing rib extending from the rectangular portion of the base unit defined by the four spring members such that said reinforcing rib is in contact with the spring members and provides additional resistance to the spring members being bent toward a central portion of said rectangle.

4. The reusable shipping container of claim 1 wherein the plurality of connectors further comprises:

a central connector, four side connectors, and four corner connectors wherein

the central connector is located at a central portion of the bottom unit;

each of the four corner connectors is located at a different corner portion of the bottom unit; and

each of the four side connectors is located intermediate two of the corner connectors along a different side portion of the bottom unit.

5. The reusable shipping container of claim 4 further comprising:

a plurality of crumple zones wherein each crumple zone is associated with one of the corner connectors or one of the side connectors and each crumple zone further comprises

a fork shield that is substantially parallel to the portion of the outer impact wall of the connector with which the crumple zone is associated that runs along an exterior portion of the container and

a plurality of ribs extending outward from the outer impact wall with which the crumple zone is associated to an inner surface of the fork shield.

6. The reusable shipping container of claim 4 wherein the fork strap unit further comprises:

a plurality of integral perimeter fork straps extending between the outer impact wall of each of the corner connectors and the outer impact walls of the side connectors adjacent to that corner connector and

a plurality of integral central fork straps extending between the outer impact wall surrounding the central connector and the outer impact walls surrounding each of the side connectors.

7. The reusable shipping container of claim 6 wherein:

at least one of the perimeter fork straps extends from the portions of the outer impact walls that are adjacent to the base when the fork strap unit is connected to the base and

at least one of the central fork straps extends from the portions of the outer impact walls that are adjacent to the base when the fork strap unit is connected to the base such that when the container is placed on a flat surface there is a gap between said fork straps and the surface.

8. The reusable shipping container of claim 6 wherein:

the central fork straps extending between the outer impact wall surrounding the central connector and the outer impact walls surrounding one pair of opposing side connectors are elevated such that when the container is placed on a flat surface there is a gap between said fork straps and the surface and

the perimeter fork straps that are parallel to the central fork straps that are elevated are similarly elevated.

9. The reusable shipping container of claim 1 further comprising:

a crumple zone extending from each outer impact wall that runs along a side portion of the container, each crumple zone including a fork shield that is generally parallel to the outer impact wall and that is connected to the outer impact wall via a plurality of ribs that are substantially perpendicular to the outer impact wall and the fork shield.

10. The reusable shipping container of claim 1 wherein:

at least one of the plurality of inner impact walls is non-continuous.

11. The reusable shipping container of claim 1 wherein:

at least one of the plurality of inner impact walls is supported by at least one reinforcing rib extending from a first portion of the inner impact wall to a second portion of the inner impact wall and

at least one of the plurality of outer impact walls is supported by at least one reinforcing rib extending from a first portion of the outer impact wall to a second portion of the outer impact wall.

12. The reusable shipping container of claim 1 further comprising:

a plurality of sidewalls arising from a perimeter portion of the base of the bottom unit; each sidewall of said plurality defining therein a plurality of dunnage attachment points, each dunnage attachment point comprising a slot that will allow an article of dunnage to be inserted and retained in said slot.

13. The reusable shipping container of claim 12 wherein each of said plurality of sidewalls is detachably connected to the base.

14. A reusable shipping container comprising:

a substantially rectangular bottom unit, said bottom unit including a base and a fork strap unit that cooperate to define a plurality of passage ways that permit a pair of substantially parallel members to be introduced from any side of the container that can be used to lift and move the container; and a plurality of container sides arising from a perimeter of the base unit wherein

the fork strap unit is releasably connected to the base using a plurality of connectors such that the connectors do not bear a vertical load from the weight of the base, the container sides, and any material that is contained in the container when the container is supported from underneath wherein when said fork strap unit is connected to said base, each of said plurality of connectors is surrounded by an inner impact wall having a perimeter that provides a gap between an inner surface of the inner impact wall and the connector surrounded by the inner impact wall and each of said inner impact walls is surrounded by an outer impact wall having a perimeter that provides a gap between an inner surface of the outer impact wall and the inner impact wall surrounded by the outer impact wall.

15. The reusable shipping container of claim 11 wherein:

each of the plurality of connectors further comprises a male connector portion that includes at least one spring member extending downward from the base toward the fork strap unit and terminates in a ramped portion that defines at least one male latching surface and a female connector portion integral to the fork strap unit that defines a central opening for receiving the at least one spring member and that includes a female latching surface defined by the perimeter of said central opening and

the inner impact walls and the outer impact walls cooperate to bear the vertical load of the weight of the base, the container sides, and any material that is introduced to the container when the container is supported from underneath.

16. A reusable shipping container comprising:

a substantially rectangular bottom unit, said bottom unit including a base and a fork strap unit that is releasably connected to an underneath side of the base using a plurality of means for connecting wherein

each of said plurality of means for connecting do not bear a vertical load when the fork strap unit is connected to the base;

each of said plurality of means for connecting is provided with a plurality of layers of impact protection further comprising

an inner impact wall surrounding each of said plurality of means for connecting, each inner impact wall having a perimeter that provides a gap between an inner surface of the inner impact wall and the means for connecting surrounded by the inner impact wall and

an outer impact wall surrounding each inner impact wall, each outer impact wall having a perimeter that provides a gap between an inner surface of the outer impact wall and the inner impact wall surrounded by the outer impact wall and

the base and fork strap unit cooperate to define a plurality of passage ways that permit a pair of substantially parallel members to be introduced from any side of the container that can be used to lift and move the container.

17. The reusable shipping container of claim 16 wherein each means for connecting comprises a male latch portion and a female latch portion wherein the male latch portion extends from either the base or the fork strap unit and the female latch portion is defined by the opposing portion of the bottom unit.

18. A reusable shipping container comprising:

a base and

a fork strap unit wherein said fork strap unit is releasably attached to said base using a plurality of connectors, each connector further comprising a male latch member and a female latch member;

an inner impact wall surrounding each of said plurality of connectors, each inner impact wall having a perimeter that provides a gap between an inner surface of the inner impact wall and the connector surrounded by the inner impact wall; and

an outer impact wall surrounding each of said inner impact walls, each outer impact wall having a perimeter that provides a gap between an inner surface of the outer impact wall and the inner impact wall surrounded by the outer impact wall.

19. A reusable shipping container comprising:

a base and a fork strap unit wherein said fork strap unit is releasably attached to said base using a plurality of connectors, each connector further comprising a male latch member and a female latch member;

an inner impact wall surrounding each of said plurality of connectors;

an outer impact wall surrounding each of said inner impact walls; and

a crumple zone extending from each outer impact wall that runs along a side portion of the container, each crumple zone including a fork shield that is generally parallel to the outer impact wall.

20. The reusable container of claim 19 wherein said fork shield is connected to the outer impact wall via a plurality of ribs that are substantially perpendicular to the outer impact wall and the fork shield.

21. A reusable shipping container comprising:

a base and

a fork strap unit wherein said fork strap unit is releasably attached to said base using a plurality of connectors, said plurality of connectors further comprising a central connector, four side connectors, and four corner connectors wherein the central connector is located at a central portion of the bottom unit, each of the four corner connectors is located at a different corner portion of the bottom unit, and each of the four side connectors is located intermediate two of the corner connectors along a different side portion of the bottom unit and each connector further comprising a male latch member and a female latch member;

an inner impact wall surrounding each of said plurality of connectors;

an outer impact wall surrounding each of said inner impact walls; and

a plurality of crumple zones wherein each crumple zone is associated with one of the corner connectors or one of the side connectors and each crumple zone further comprises

a fork shield that is substantially parallel to the portion of the outer impact wall of the connector with which the crumple zone is associated that runs along an exterior portion of the container.

22. The reusable container of claim 21 further comprising a plurality of ribs extending outward from the outer impact wall with which the crumple zone is associated to an inner surface of the fork shield.

23. A reusable shipping container comprising:

a substantially rectangular bottom unit, said bottom unit further comprising

a base, said base having a upper surface and lower surface;

a fork strap unit, said fork strap unit having an upper surface and a lower surface, and said fork strap unit being releasably connected to said base using a plurality of connectors, each connector of said plurality of connectors further comprising

a male latch portion extending downward from the bottom surface of the base, said male latch portion comprising at least one spring member terminating in a ramped end portion and at least one male latching surface defined by the ramped end portion of the at least one spring member and

a female latch portion defined by the fork strap unit, said female latch portion further comprising a housing, said housing defining a central opening for receiving said at least one spring member of the male latch portion and said housing defining a female latching surface around a periphery of said central opening wherein none of said plurality of connectors bear a vertical load from the weight of the base;

a plurality of inner impact walls extending downward from the base wherein, when the fork strap unit is releasably connected to the base, each of the plurality of connectors is surrounded by one of the plurality of inner impact walls and each of the plurality of inner impact walls has a height such that each inner impact wall contacts the upper surface of forkstrap unit and bears a portion of the vertical load of the base;

a plurality of outer impact walls extending upward from the fork strap unit wherein, when the fork strap unit is releasably connected to the base, each of the plurality of inner impact walls is surrounded by one of the plurality of outer impact walls and each of the outer impact walls has a height such that each outer impact wall contacts the bottom surface of the base and bears a portion of the weight of the base; and

a crumple zone extending from each outer impact wall that runs along a side portion of the container, each crumple zone including a fork shield that is generally parallel to the outer impact wall and that is connected to the outer impact wall via a plurality of ribs that are substantially perpendicular to the outer impact wall and the fork shield.

24. A reusable shipping container comprising:

a substantially rectangular bottom unit, said bottom unit further comprising

a base, said base having a upper surface and lower surface;

a fork strap unit, said fork strap unit having an upper surface and a lower surface, and said fork strap unit being releasably connected to said base using a plurality of connectors, the plurality of connectors further comprising

a central connector, four side connectors, and four corner connectors wherein the central connector is located at a central portion of the bottom unit, each of the four corner connectors is located at a different corner portion of the bottom unit, and each of the four side connectors is located intermediate two of the corner connectors along a different side portion of the bottom unit; wherein each connector of said plurality of connectors further comprises

a male latch portion extending downward from the bottom surface of the base, said male latch portion comprising at least one spring member terminating in a ramped end portion and at least one male latching surface defined by the ramped end portion of the at least one spring member and

a female latch portion defined by the fork strap unit, said female latch portion further comprising a housing, said housing defining a central opening for receiving said at least one spring member of the male latch portion and said housing defining a female latching surface around a periphery of said central opening wherein none of said plurality of connectors bear a vertical load from the weight of the base;

a plurality of inner impact walls extending downward from the base wherein, when the fork strap unit is releasably connected to the base, each of the plurality of connectors is surrounded by one of the plurality of inner impact walls and each of the plurality of inner impact walls has a height such that each inner impact wall contacts the upper surface of forkstrap unit and bears a portion of the vertical load of the base;

a plurality of outer impact walls extending upward from the fork strap unit wherein, when the fork strap unit is releasably connected to the base, each of the plurality of inner impact walls is surrounded by one of the plurality of outer impact walls and each of the outer impact walls has a height such that each outer impact wall contacts the bottom surface of the base and bears a portion of the weight of the base; and

a plurality of crumple zones wherein each crumple zone is associated with one of the corner connectors or one of the side connectors and each crumple zone further comprises

a fork shield that is substantially parallel to the portion of the outer impact wall of the connector with which the crumple zone is associated that runs along an exterior portion of the container and

a plurality of ribs extending outward from the outer impact wall with which the crumple zone is associated to an inner surface of the fork shield.

25. A reusable shipping container comprising:

a substantially rectangular bottom unit, said bottom unit further comprising

a base, said base having a upper surface and lower surface;

a fork strap unit, said fork strap unit having an upper surface and a lower surface;

said fork strap unit being releasably connected to said base using a plurality of connectors, said plurality of connectors further comprising a central connector, four side connectors, and four corner connectors wherein the central connector is located at a central portion of the bottom unit, each of the four corner connectors is located at a different corner portion of the bottom unit, and each of the four side connectors is located intermediate two of the corner connectors along a different side portion of the bottom unit;

an inner impact wall surrounding each of said plurality of connectors; and

an outer impact wall surrounding each of said inner impact walls;

the fork strap unit further comprising

a plurality of integral perimeter fork straps extending between the outer impact wall of each of the corner connectors and the outer impact walls of the side connectors adjacent to that corner connector and

a plurality of integral central fork straps extending between the outer impact wall surrounding the central connector and the outer impact walls surrounding each of the side connectors wherein

the central fork straps extending between the outer impact wall surrounding the central connector and the outer impact walls surrounding one pair of opposing side connectors are elevated such that when the container is placed on a flat surface there is a gap between said fork straps and the surface and

the perimeter fork straps that are parallel to the central fork straps that are elevated are similarly elevated.

26. The reusable container of claim 25 wherein each connector of said plurality of connectors further comprises

a male latch portion comprising at least one spring member terminating in a ramped end portion and at least one male latching surface defined by the ramped end portion of the at least one spring member and

a female latch portion comprising a housing, said housing defining a central opening for receiving said at least one spring member of the male latch portion and said housing defining a female latching surface around a periphery of said central opening wherein none of said plurality of connectors bear a vertical load from the weight of the base.