ATV storage/shipping container

Abstract

A vehicle storage container includes a top, a bottom, and surrounding sidewalls configured as a shipping container. At least one of the sidewalls is hingedly connected to the bottom or to an adjacent sidewall, and the top is hingedly connected to another one of the sidewalls, so that the top can be extended up and the at least one sidewall can be opened to allow a vehicle to be moved into or out of the container.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A vehicle storage container, comprising: 
 a top, a bottom, and surrounding sidewalls, the container being configured as a shipping container;    at least one of the sidewalls being hingedly openable;    the top being hingedly connected to one of the sidewalls, so that the top can be extended up and the openable sidewall can be opened to allow a vehicle to be moved into or out of the container.    
     
     
         2 . A container in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the openable sidewall is hingedly connected to the bottom of the container, so as to be downwardly openable to expose an inside surface for use as a ramp, to allow the vehicle to ride up into the container.  
     
     
         3 . A container in accordance with  claim 2 , wherein the top is hingedly connected to a sidewall that is opposite the openable sidewall.  
     
     
         4 . A container in accordance with  claim 3 , wherein the container is configured to allow a user to lift and open the top of the container while riding the vehicle into the container.  
     
     
         5 . A container in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the openable sidewall is hingedly connected to an adjacent sidewall, so as to be laterally openable.  
     
     
         6 . A container in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the openable sidewall is selectively hingedly connectable to the bottom and an adjacent sidewall.  
     
     
         7 . A container in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the surrounding sidewalls include a front wall, a back wall, and two sidewalls, the front wall being the openable wall, and the back wall and two side walls being integrally formed with the bottom as a single unit.  
     
     
         8 . A container in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the container includes lift points, configured to allow the container to be lifted with the vehicle inside, to facilitate transport.  
     
     
         9 . A container in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the bottom of the container includes slots, configured to receive the forks of a forklift, to allow the container to be lifted by a forklift with the vehicle inside, to facilitate transport.  
     
     
         10 . A container in accordance with  claim 1 , further comprising tie-down points on an exterior of the container, to allow the container to be secured to a support structure.  
     
     
         11 . A container in accordance with  claim 1 , further comprising tie-down points in an interior of the container, configured to allow the vehicle to be secured inside the container.  
     
     
         12 . A container in accordance with  claim 1 , further comprising indexing structure, associated with the top of the container, configured to allow multiple containers to be stacked substantially vertically atop each other.  
     
     
         13 . A container in accordance with  claim 12 , wherein the indexing structure comprises an indexing groove, disposed around a perimeter of the top of the container, configured to align the bottom of a container above so that sidewalls of stacked containers bear substantially upon each other.  
     
     
         14 . A container in accordance with  claim 12 , further comprising reinforcing members, associated with the sidewalls of the container, configured to support the weight of a container above when stacked.  
     
     
         15 . A container in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the vehicle is selected from the group consisting of a four wheel ATV, three wheel ATV, a snowmobile, a motorcycle, and a go-cart.  
     
     
         16 . A container in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the top comprises a shape that is sloped to promote drainage of water therefrom.  
     
     
         17 . A container in accordance with  claim 1 , further comprising a latch, associated with the top and an adjacent sidewall, configured to releasably latch the top to the sidewall to close the container.  
     
     
         18 . A container in accordance with  claim 17 , further comprising a release, attached to the latch within the container, configured to allow release of the latch from within the container.  
     
     
         19 . A container in accordance with  claim 1 , further comprising a seal strip, disposed between the top and the sidewalls adjacent thereto, configured to provide a weathertight seal therebetween.  
     
     
         20 . A container in accordance with  claim 1 , further comprising an anchor, configured to anchor the bottom of the container to a support surface.  
     
     
         21 . A container in accordance with  claim 1 , further comprising a wheel stop, disposed inside the container on the bottom thereof, configured to limit advancing of the vehicle into the container.  
     
     
         22 . A vehicle storage container, comprising: 
 a top, a bottom, and surrounding sidewalls, the container being configured as a shipping container;    at least one of the sidewalls being hingedly connected to the bottom;    the top being hingedly connected to another one of the sidewalls, so that the top can be extended up and the at least one sidewall can be lowered to allow a vehicle to be moved into or out of the container.    
     
     
         23 . A container in accordance with  claim 22 , further comprising indexing structure, associated with the top of the container, configured to allow multiple containers to be stacked substantially vertically atop each other.