Foldable crate for a lawn maintenance vehicle

1. A foldable crate comprising:

a base having a front end and a rear end, said base including:

a frame formed by a plurality of longitudinal beams and a plurality of lateral beams connected to said plurality of longitudinal beams;

a plurality of skid shoes attached to a bottom of said frame;

a first end gate rotatably attached to said front end of said base and a second end gate rotatably attached to said rear end of said base, wherein said first and second end gates being rotatable relative to said base between at least a first operative position, a second operative position and a third operative position; and

wherein said first and second gates are independently rotatable relative to said base between a first operative position, a second operative position, and a third operative position;

wherein each of said first and second end gates includes a pair of posts rotatably attached to said base, said pair of posts being connected by a plurality of cross beams, and each of said posts being integrally formed as a single piece and having an offset in which opposing ends of said post are not linearly aligned.

2. The foldable crate of claim 1 , wherein a knob is attached to each post adjacent to one end thereof and a cap is attached to each post adjacent to an opposing end thereof.

3. The foldable crate of claim 2 , wherein said knob extends perpendicularly from said post, said knob being located adjacent to said end of said post connected to said base.

4. The foldable crate of claim 2 , wherein said cap extends longitudinally from said end of said post.

5. The foldable crate of claim 2 , wherein each of said skid shoes includes a socket for receiving said knob or said cap of an adjacent foldable crate.

6. The foldable crate of claim 1 , wherein each of said end gates includes a pair of bracing assemblies, and each of said bracing assemblies includes a brace having one end rotatably attached to said gate and an opposing end removably connectable to said base for maintaining said gate in said first operative position.

7. The foldable crate of claim 6 , wherein said bracing assemblies include a clip attached to said end gate, said clips receiving said brace for securing said brace on-board said end gate when said end gate is in positioned in said second or third operative position.

8. A foldable crate for transporting a riding vehicle comprising:

a base having a structural frame for supporting said riding vehicle, said frame having a top, a bottom, a front end, and a rear end;

a pair of front skid shoes attached to the bottom of said frame adjacent to said front end of said frame;

a pair of rear skid shoes attached to the bottom of said frame adjacent to the rear end of said frame;

a first end gate rotatably attached to said frame adjacent to said front end, said first end gate being rotatable relative to said frame between a plurality of operative positions;

a second end gate rotatably attached to said frame adjacent to said rear end, said second end gate being independently rotatable with respect to said first end gate, said second end gate being rotatable relative to said frame between a plurality of operative positions;

wherein each of said first and second end gates includes a pair of opposing posts and at least one cross beam extending between said posts; and

wherein each of said posts includes a first longitudinal axis through one end of said post and a second longitudinal axis through the opposing end of said post, and each of said posts being integrally formed as a single piece and including a transition portion forming an offset, wherein said first and second longitudinal axes are parallel and not linearly aligned.

9. The foldable crate of claim 8 , wherein each of said posts includes a cap extending longitudinally from an end of each of said posts and a knob extending perpendicular from each post adjacent to an opposing end of said post that is rotatably connected to said frame.

10. The foldable crate of claim 9 , wherein said caps and said knobs are receivable within a portion of said front or rear skid shoe of an adjacent foldable crate in a stacked orientation.

11. The foldable crate of claim 8 , wherein said frame includes a pair of wheel pans for receiving front wheels of said riding vehicle.

12. The foldable crate of claim 8 , wherein said frame includes a pair of outer longitudinal beams that are spaced-apart and oriented parallel to each other, a front lateral beam extending between said outer longitudinal beams, a rear lateral beam extending between said outer longitudinal beams, and at least two central lateral beams.

13. The foldable crate of claim 12 , wherein each of said outer longitudinal beams includes a pair of fork holes formed therethrough.

14. The foldable crate of claim 12 , wherein said front lateral beam includes a pair of fork guides extending forwardly from said front lateral beam, and each of said fork guide surrounds a fork hole formed through said front lateral beam.

15. The foldable crate of claim 8 further comprising a bracing assembly, said bracing assembly includes a diagonal brace having a first end and an opposing second end, an angle bracket attached to one of said first or second end gates, and a clip attached to one of said first or second end gates, wherein said first end of said diagonal brace is rotatably connected to said angle bracket.

16. The foldable crate of claim 15 , wherein said second end of said diagonal brace is releasably attachable to said frame for securing said first or second end gate in a transport position in which said end gate is oriented substantially perpendicular to said frame.

17. The foldable crate of claim 15 , wherein said clip releasably secures said second end of said diagonal brace to said end gate.