Collapsible shipping container

Abstract

The present disclosure is directed to a collapsible shipping container and a system of stacked collapsible shipping containers.

1 . A collapsible shipping container, including: 
 a base having a generally planar base surface and a plurality of receiving terminals connected to a pair of generally parallel cross members connected to the base surface; and    a pair of upstanding walls having upright supports removably attached to the base at the receiving terminals, the upright supports extending generally perpendicular to the base surface, each of the upstanding walls including a plurality of spaced-apart shelving support members extending between the upright supports;    wherein the upstanding walls are adapted to be removably connected to at least one shelf; and    wherein the collapsible shipping container is adapted to be disassembled and reassembled at the base, upstanding walls and the at least one shelf.    
   
   
       2 . The collapsible shipping container of  claim 1  wherein the upstanding walls are adapted to be connected to a plurality of shelves.  
   
   
       3 . The collapsible shipping container of  claim 1  wherein each upstanding wall includes two upright supports.  
   
   
       4 . The collapsible shipping container of  claim 1  wherein the at least one shelf is removably connected to the upstanding walls so as to be generally planar to the base surface.  
   
   
       5 . The collapsible shipping container of  claim 1  wherein the upstanding walls are connected together with at least two braces extending between the upstanding walls and opposite the shipping container from the base.  
   
   
       6 . The collapsible shipping container of  claim 5  wherein the braces are removably attached to the upright supports.  
   
   
       7 . The collapsible shipping container of  claim 1  wherein the upstanding walls are connected together with removable trusses.  
   
   
       8 . The collapsible shipping container of  claim 7  wherein the removable trusses are removably attached to the upright supports.  
   
   
       9 . The collapsible shipping container of  claim 1  wherein the base includes a pair of laterally oriented supports extending generally perpendicular to the cross members and a plurality of decking slats attached to the laterally oriented supports.  
   
   
       10 . The collapsible shipping container of  claim 9  wherein the cross members are removably attached to the laterally oriented supports.  
   
   
       11 . The collapsible shipping container of  claim 10  wherein the decking slats and laterally oriented supports are included in a conventional pallet.  
   
   
       12 . The collapsible shipping container of  claim 1  wherein the cross members are fixedly attached to the receiving terminals, and the cross members are removably attached to the base surface.  
   
   
       13 . The collapsible shipping container of  claim 1  wherein the cross members are fixedly attached to the base surface and include a pair of standoffs attached to an upper cross support having an open channel.  
   
   
       14 . The collapsible shipping container of  claim 1  wherein each of the receiving terminals include a peripheral member disposed about and attached to an inner sleeve, wherein the inner sleeve is adapted to be removably connected to one of the upright terminals.  
   
   
       15 . The collapsible shipping container of  claim 1  wherein each upstanding wall includes a plurality of removably interconnected wall segments.  
   
   
       16 . A system of stacked collapsible shipping containers including: 
 an assembled shipping container having:    a base having a generally planar base surface and a plurality of receiving terminals connected to a pair of generally parallel cross members connected to the base surface; and    a pair of assembled upstanding walls having upright supports removably attached to the base at the receiving terminals, the upright supports extending generally perpendicular to the base surface, each of the upstanding walls including a plurality of spaced-apart shelving support members extending between the upright supports;    wherein the upstanding walls are adapted to be removably connected to at least one shelf; and    at least one disassembled shipping container having:    a plurality of disassembled upstanding walls disposed between the assembled upstanding walls of the assembled shipping container.    
   
   
       17 . The system of  claim 16  wherein the at least one disassembled shipping container includes a disassembled cross member having attached receiving terminals, the disassembled cross member disposed on the base surface of the assembled shipping container.  
   
   
       18 . The system of  claim 16  wherein the cross members of the assembled shipping container include a pair of first upper cross supports each attached to a first standoff, wherein each of the first cross supports includes a first open channel; and the at least one disassembled shipping container includes a second base having a pair of second upper cross supports each attached to a second standoff, wherein each of the second cross supports includes a second open channel.  
   
   
       19 . The system of  claim 18  wherein the base of the assembled shipping container is stacked with the second base of the at least one disassembled shipping container.  
   
   
       20 . The system of  claim 19  wherein the pair of first standoffs of the base of the assembled shipping container are disposed within the second open channel of the second base of the disassembled shipping container.  
   
   
       21 . The system of  claim 20  wherein the second open channels each include a pair of stops disposed therein adapted to prevent the first standoffs from movement relative to the second cross supports when the pair of first standoffs of the base of the assembled shipping container are disposed within the second open channel of the second base of the disassembled shipping container.  
   
   
       22 . The system of  claim 18  wherein the disassembled upstanding walls each include a plurality of disassembled upstanding wall segments, wherein each of the disassembled upstanding wall segments includes a pair of upright support segments, and 
 wherein each of the upright support segments are disposed within the first open channel of the assembled shipping container.    
   
   
       23 . The system of  claim 16  wherein the assembled shipping container includes at least one assembled shelf removably connected to the upright supports, and wherein the disassembled shipping container includes at least one shelf unit disposed on the assembled shelf.  
   
   
       24 . The system of  claim 16  wherein the at least one disassembled shipping container includes five disassembled shipping containers.