Vertically collapsible semi-truck trailer
A collapsible container including frame assembly, a lifting mechanism, a retractable side wall, a retractable end wall, a top member, and a bottom member is disclosed. The frame assembly includes rectangular frame members and articulated vertical frame members disposed between the rectangular frame members. At least one rectangular frame member includes a receptacle member. The articulated vertical frame members are positioned and arranged to retract within the frame assembly. The lifting mechanism is positioned and arranged to elevate the rectangular frame members from each other. The retractable side wall is positioned and arranged to retract into a receptacle member. The retractable end wall is positioned and arranged to retract into a receptacle member. The top member is disposed on an uppermost rectangular frame member. The bottom member is disposed on a lowermost rectangular frame member. A method of transporting a plurality of containers is disclosed.
1. A collapsible container comprising:
a frame assembly comprising:
a plurality of rectangular frame members having a longitudinal length and a width;
a plurality of articulated vertical frame members disposed between the rectangular frame members;
wherein at least one rectangular frame member comprises a receptacle member included within the rectangular frame member in the length direction;
wherein at least one rectangular frame member comprises a receptacle member included within the rectangular frame member in the width direction; and
wherein the articulated vertical frame members are positioned and arranged to retract to within the frame assembly;
a lifting mechanism positioned and arranged to elevate the rectangular frame members from each other;
a retractable side wall positioned and arranged to retract into the receptacle member in the length direction;
a retractable end wall positioned and arranged to retract into the receptacle member in the width direction;
a top member disposed on an uppermost rectangular frame member of the frame assembly; and
a bottom member disposed on a lowermost rectangular frame member of the frame assembly;
wherein the lifting mechanism is disposed between the uppermost rectangular frame member of the frame assembly and the lowermost rectangular frame member of the frame assembly; and
wherein the lifting mechanism is disposed within the side thickness of the uppermost rectangular frame member of the frame assembly and the lowermost rectangular frame member of the frame assembly.
2. The container of claim 1 wherein the lifting mechanism is disposed along the length direction of the rectangular frame members.
3. The container of claim 1 wherein the lifting mechanism is disposed along the width direction of the rectangular frame members.
4. The container of claim 1 wherein the top member is pre-engineered to receive at least one additional frame assembly.
5. The container of claim 1 wherein the container is attached to a trailer.
6. The container of claim 1 wherein the lowermost rectangular frame member is integrated into a trailer assembly.
7. The container of claim 1 wherein the frame assembly is attached to a railcar assembly or goods wagon, configured and arranged for transportation of goods via railways.
8. The container of claim 1 wherein the frame assembly is attached to a box truck.
9. The container of claim 1 wherein a portion of the lifting mechanism is disposed outside of a perimeter of the frame assembly.
10. The container of claim 1 further comprising at least one lock member positioned and arranged to lock the rectangular members of the frame assembly in place when the frame assembly is in a collapsed position.
11. The container of claim 1 wherein the lifting mechanism comprises a receptacle for receiving power to actuate the lifting mechanism.
12. The container of claim 1 wherein the lifting mechanism is attached to the uppermost rectangular frame member of the frame assembly and attached to the lowermost rectangular frame member of the frame assembly.
13. The container of claim 1 wherein the lifting mechanism is configured to self-erect the container.
14. The container of claim 1 wherein the lifting mechanism comprises a set of scissor arms pivotally attached between two of the plurality of rectangular frame members.
15. A collapsible container comprising:
a frame assembly comprising:
a plurality of rectangular frame members having a longitudinal length and a width;
a plurality of articulated vertical frame members disposed between the rectangular frame members;
wherein at least one rectangular frame member comprises a receptacle member included within the rectangular frame member in the length direction;
wherein at least one rectangular frame member comprises a receptacle member included within the rectangular frame member in the width direction; and
wherein the articulated vertical frame members are positioned and arranged to retract to within the frame assembly;
a lifting mechanism positioned and arranged to elevate the rectangular frame members from each other;
a retractable side wall positioned and arranged to retract into the receptacle member in the length direction;
a retractable end wall positioned and arranged to retract into the receptacle member in the width direction;
a top member disposed on an uppermost rectangular frame member of the frame assembly; and
a bottom member disposed on a lowermost rectangular frame member of the frame assembly;
wherein the lifting mechanism is disposed between the uppermost rectangular frame member of the frame assembly and the lowermost rectangular frame member of the frame assembly; and
wherein the articulated vertical frame members comprise:
an assembly of two vertical members attached by a hinge that is positioned and arranged on a first side of the two vertical members, whereby the two members rotate relative to each other about the hinge,
wherein a first vertical member of the two vertical members is pivotally attached to a first rectangular frame member of the plurality of rectangular frame members,
wherein a second vertical member of the two vertical members is pivotally attached to a second rectangular frame member of the plurality of rectangular frame members, and
wherein the pivotal attachments to the rectangular frame members are disposed on a second side of the respective two vertical members opposite from the side of the attached hinge, whereby the first vertical member is rotatable towards the first rectangular frame member and the second vertical member is rotatable towards the second rectangular frame member, urging the hinged first sides together.
16. The container of claim 15 wherein the lifting mechanism is disposed along the length direction of the rectangular frame members.
17. The container of claim 15 wherein the lifting mechanism is disposed along the width direction of the rectangular frame members.
18. The container of claim 15 wherein the top member is pre-engineered to receive at least one additional frame assembly.
19. The container of claim 15 wherein the container is attached to a trailer.
20. The container of claim 15 wherein the lowermost rectangular frame member is integrated into a trailer assembly.
21. The container of claim 15 wherein the frame assembly is attached to a railcar assembly or goods wagon, configured and arranged for transportation of goods via railways.
22. The container of claim 15 wherein the frame assembly is attached to a box truck.
23. The container of claim 15 wherein a portion of the lifting mechanism is disposed outside of a perimeter of the frame assembly.
24. The container of claim 15 further comprising at least one lock member positioned and arranged to lock the rectangular members of the frame assembly in place when the frame assembly is in a collapsed position.
25. The container of claim 15 wherein the lifting mechanism comprises a receptacle for receiving power to actuate the lifting mechanism.
26. The container of claim 15 wherein the lifting mechanism is attached to the uppermost rectangular frame member of the frame assembly and attached to the lowermost rectangular frame member of the frame assembly.
27. The container of claim 15 wherein the lifting mechanism is configured to self-erect the container.
28. The container of claim 15 wherein the lifting mechanism comprises a set of scissor arms pivotally attached between two of the plurality of rectangular frame members.