Collapsible Containers

Abstract

Collapsible containers dimensioned to integrate into motor carrier operations are provided. The container may include a base, a pair of first and second opposing walls, each first and second opposing wall including a top edge, two side edges and a bottom edge. The container further includes a top panel removably attached to the top edge of the pairs of first and second opposing walls and a plurality of engaging devices positioned along the perimeter of the top panel and base and along the two side edges and top and bottom edges of the pairs of first and second opposing walls. The plurality of engaging devices are configured to removably connect the pair of first opposing walls to the pair of second opposing walls and to removably connect the pairs of first and second opposing walls to the top panel and base.

1 . A collapsible container comprising:
 a base;   a pair of first opposing walls, each first opposing wall comprising a top edge, two side edges and a bottom edge;   a pair of second opposing walls, each second opposing wall comprising a top edge, two side edges and a bottom edge;   a top panel removably attached to the top edge of the pairs of first and second opposing walls; and   a plurality of engaging devices positioned along the perimeter of the base and top panel and along the two side edges and top and bottom edges of the pairs of first and second opposing walls;   wherein:
 the plurality of engaging devices are configured to removably connect the pair of first opposing walls to the pair of second opposing walls and to removably connect the pairs of first and second opposing walls to the base and to the top panel. 
   
   
   
       2 . A collapsible container as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the collapsible container is dimensioned to integrate into less than truck load operations. 
   
   
       3 . A collapsible container as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of engaging devices comprise a plurality of male fastening components and a plurality of female fastening components, the plurality of female fastening components configured to accept the plurality of male fastening components. 
   
   
       4 . A collapsible container as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of engaging devices comprise a plurality of engaging tabs and a plurality of slots configured to accept the engaging tabs. 
   
   
       5 . A collapsible container as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of engaging devices comprise:
 a plurality of engaging hooks positioned outwardly along the two side edges of the pair of first opposing walls;   a plurality of engaging tabs positioned outwardly along the top and bottom edges of the pairs of first and second opposing walls; and   a plurality of slots positioned along the two side edges of the pair of second opposing walls and the perimeter of the base and top panel, the slots configured to accept the engaging hooks and the engaging tabs.   
   
   
       6 . A collapsible container as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the base further comprises a plurality of support blocks spaced along the underside of the base such that a forklift may be used to lift the collapsible container. 
   
   
       7 . A collapsible container as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the base is configured to secure to at least one of the pairs of the first and second opposing walls. 
   
   
       8 . A collapsible container as claimed in  claim 7 , wherein the base is secured to at least one of the pairs of the first and second opposing walls utilizing a latching mechanism. 
   
   
       9 . A collapsible container as claimed in  claim 7 , wherein the base is secured to at least one of the pairs of the first and second opposing walls utilizing a tie-down mechanism. 
   
   
       10 . A collapsible container as claimed in  claim 7 , wherein the base is secured to at least one of the pairs of the first and second opposing walls utilizing a pin and clevis mechanism. 
   
   
       11 . A collapsible container as claimed in  claim 6 , wherein at least one support block is configured to allow a pin to be inserted into the support block and wherein at least one of the engaging devices along the bottom edges of the pairs of the first and second opposing walls is configured to allow the pin to be inserted through the engaging device. 
   
   
       12 . A collapsible container as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the pairs of first and second opposing walls comprise an access point. 
   
   
       13 . A collapsible container as claimed in  claim 12 , wherein the access point comprises a door. 
   
   
       14 . A collapsible container as claimed in  claim 13 , wherein the access point comprises an overhead roll-up door. 
   
   
       15 . A collapsible container as claimed in  claim 12 , wherein the access point is transparent or semi-transparent. 
   
   
       16 . A collapsible container as claimed in  claim 12 , wherein the access point comprises a window. 
   
   
       17 . A collapsible container as claimed in  claim 12 , wherein the access point is configured to allow a user to load/unload items from the collapsible container. 
   
   
       18 . A collapsible container as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the collapsible container is dimensioned to fit in curtain side linehaul trailers and trailers with overhead roll-up doors. 
   
   
       19 . A collapsible container as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the base, the pairs of first and second opposing walls and the top panel are made of a plastic material. 
   
   
       20 . A collapsible container as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the collapsible container further comprises a tarp. 
   
   
       21 . A collapsible container as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the collapsible container further comprises at least one freight securing mechanism configured to secure items within the collapsible container to the base. 
   
   
       22 . A collapsible container as claimed in  claim 21 , wherein the freight securing mechanism comprises a tie down positioned on an interior face of the base. 
   
   
       23 . A collapsible container as claimed in  claim 21 , wherein the freight securing mechanism comprises a latch positioned on an interior face of the base. 
   
   
       24 . A collapsible container as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the base, the pairs of first and second opposing walls, and the top panel are configured to be disassembled and stacked to minimize storage space of the collapsible container. 
   
   
       25 . A collapsible container as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the top panel further comprises at least one vertical lip along the perimeter of an interior face of the top panel. 
   
   
       26 . A collapsible container as claimed in  claim 25 , wherein the top panel further comprises a first section, a second section and a third section. 
   
   
       27 . A collapsible container as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising one or more stability bars, wherein the one or more stability bars are configured to extend between at least one pair of the first and/or second opposing walls, and wherein the stability bars are configured to secure to an interior of the at least one pair of the first and/or second opposing walls. 
   
   
       28 . A collapsible container as claimed in  claim 27 , wherein the interior side of the at least one pair of the first and/or second opposing walls comprises one or more sockets configured to engage the one or more stability bars. 
   
   
       29 . A collapsible container comprising:
 a pair of first opposing walls, each first opposing wall comprising:
 a top edge comprising a plurality of top male fastening components; 
 a bottom edge comprising a plurality of bottom male fastening components; and 
 two side edges comprising a plurality of side male fastening components; 
   a pair of second opposing walls, each second opposing wall comprising:
 a top edge comprising a plurality of top male fastening components; 
 a bottom edge comprising a plurality of bottom male fastening components; and 
 two side edges comprising a plurality of side female fastening components configured to accept the plurality of side male fastening components; 
   a base comprising a plurality of base female fastening components along a perimeter of the base, the plurality of base female fastening components configured to accept the plurality of bottom male fastening components of the pairs of first and second opposing walls; and   a top panel comprising a plurality of top female fastening components along a perimeter of the top panel, the plurality of top female fastening components configured to accept the plurality of top male fastening components of the pairs of first and second opposing walls.   
   
   
       30 . A collapsible container as claimed in  claim 29 , wherein when the collapsible container is in an erected position, the collapsible container is a receptacle dimensioned to integrate into less than truck load operations. 
   
   
       31 . A collapsible container as claimed in  claim 29 , wherein the base, the pairs of first and second opposing walls, and the top panel are configured to be stacked when the collapsible container is in a collapsed position. 
   
   
       32 . A collapsible container comprising:
 a pair of first opposing walls, each first opposing wall comprising:
 a plurality of engaging hooks positioned outwardly along two opposing edges; 
 a plurality of first engaging tabs positioned outwardly along two edges adjacent to the two opposing edges; and 
 an exterior face comprising a graphic; 
   a pair of second opposing walls, each second opposing wall comprising:
 a plurality of slots positioned along two opposing edges configured to accept the plurality of engaging hooks of the pair of first opposing walls; 
 a plurality of second engaging tabs positioned outwardly along two edges adjacent to the two opposing edges; and 
 an exterior face comprising a graphic; 
   a base comprising a plurality of base slots that are sized and positioned to accept the first and second engaging tabs of the respective pairs of first and second opposing walls to form a receptacle; and   a top panel comprising a plurality of top slots that are sized and positioned to accept the first and second engaging tabs of the respective pairs of first and second opposing walls.   
   
   
       33 . A collapsible container as claimed in  claim 32 , wherein the collapsible container is dimensioned to integrate into less than truck load operations. 
   
   
       34 . A collapsible container as claimed in  claim 32 , wherein in the length of the first engaging tabs is different than the length of the second engaging tabs. 
   
   
       35 . A collapsible container as claimed in  claim 32 , wherein the collapsible container further comprises a plurality of freight securing mechanisms. 
   
   
       36 . A collapsible container as claimed in  claim 35 , wherein the plurality of freight securing mechanisms comprise tie downs positioned on an interior face of the base, the pairs of first and second opposing walls and the top panel. 
   
   
       37 . A collapsible container as claimed in  claim 35 , wherein the plurality of freight securing mechanisms comprise latches positioned on an interior face of the base, the first and second pair of opposing walls and the top panel. 
   
   
       38 . A collapsible container comprising:
 a base;   a pair of first opposing walls, each first opposing wall comprising a top edge, two side edges and a bottom edge;   a pair of second opposing walls, each second opposing wall comprising a top edge, two side edges and a bottom edge;   a top panel removably attached to the top edge of the pairs of first and second opposing walls; and   a plurality of engaging devices positioned along the perimeter of the base and along the two side edges and bottom edge of the pairs of first and second opposing walls;   wherein:
 the plurality of engaging devices are configured to removably connect the pair of first opposing walls to the pair of second opposing walls and to removably connect the pairs of first and second opposing walls to the base; 
   wherein the base further comprises a plurality of support blocks spaced along the underside of the base such that a forklift may be used to lift the collapsible container; and   wherein the top panel further comprises one or more support block lips configured to minimize movement of a second container stacked on top of the container and wherein the support block lips are dimensioned to engage corresponding support blocks of a second container.