Collapsible cargo organizer

Abstract

An organizer for holding and organizing cargo comprises a case and a collapsible wall. The case comprises two hinged case components that are adapted to contain the collapsible wall. The collapsible wall comprises at least two end walls and at least one side wall. Each side wall can include two or more side wall panels that can be pivotally joined together. The collapsible wall is configurable into a generally rectangular-in-plan-view open configuration, or a generally flat, collapsed configuration. Together, the case and the collapsible wall form an open-top bin for holding cargo. One or more restraining poles can be used to assist in securing cargo. The collapsible wall can be set to the collapsed configuration and stored in the case along with the pole(s). The case can then be placed in the closed position, whereupon the organizer is contained within the closed case, facilitating storage and transport thereof.

1 . A collapsible cargo organizer, comprising:
 a case comprising a plurality of case components, each case component including a base having a plurality of upwardly extending short walls at a periphery thereof forming a bulwark wall;   each bulwark wall comprising at least a first end short wall, a hinge short wall, and an outside short wall;   each hinge short wall including a mutually-cooperating hinge means;   the case including at least one latch means;   the case configurable into an open position in which the bases of each case component are generally coplanar, and a closed position in which one case component is rotated about the hinge means substantially 180 degrees until the bulwark walls of each case component are brought substantially into mutual contact;   a collapsible wall component comprising at least two end walls and at least one side wall, each wall including an upper edge, a lower edge, a left edge, a right edge, an inside surface, and an outside surface and wherein the at least one side wall can be swung out from one of the end walls by a second hinge means configured along the right edge of the end wall and the left edge of the side wall;   the collapsible wall component configurable into a generally square-in-plan-view open configuration and a generally flat, collapsed configuration;   whereby with the collapsible wall component in the open configuration and positioned such that the lower edges of each wall thereof are in close proximity to the bulwark wall of each case component, the case in the open position, the organizer forms an open bin for holding cargo and the case forms a water-tight tray, and with the collapsible wall component in the collapsed configuration and stored in the case, the case in the closed position, the organizer is contained within the closed case.   
   
   
       2 . The organizer of  claim 1  wherein the case includes a handle projecting from an outer surface of the bulwark walls thereof. 
   
   
       3 . The organizer of  claim 1  wherein the latch means includes a lever and a catch, such that the catch is frictionally retained by the lever when the case is in the closed position, the lever being manually actuated to release the catch to allow opening of the case. 
   
   
       4 . The organizer of  claim 1  wherein each case component is structurally similar such that each case component may be formed using the same mold. 
   
   
       5 . The organizer of  claim 1  further including at least one restraining pole having two ends, the pole sized to fit between and be frictionally retained by the walls of the collapsible wall component. 
   
   
       6 . The organizer of  claim 2  further including at least one restraining pole having two ends, the pole sized to fit between and be frictionally retained by the walls of the collapsible wall component. 
   
   
       7 . The organizer of  claim 5  wherein the end of each pole further includes a clip for receiving and being retained by the upper edges of each wall of the collapsible wall component, whereby each pole may be engaged between upper edges of opposing walls to strengthen the organizer when the case and collapsible wall component are in the open configuration. 
   
   
       8 . The organizer of  claim 5  wherein the inside surface of each wall of the collapsible wall component includes a plurality of pole receiving means, each pole receiving means for receiving one end of the pole. 
   
   
       9 . The organizer of  claim 6  wherein the inside surface of each wall of the collapsible wall component includes a plurality of pole receiving means, each pole receiving means for receiving one end of the pole. 
   
   
       10 . A collapsible cargo organizer, comprising:
 a case comprising a plurality of case components, each case component including a base having a plurality of upwardly extending short walls at a periphery thereof forming a bulwark wall;   each bulwark wall comprising at least a first end short wall, a hinge short wall, and an outside short wall;   each hinge short wall including a mutually-cooperating hinge means;   the case including at least one latch means;   the case configurable into an open position in which the bases of each case component are generally coplanar, and a closed position in which one case component is rotated about the hinge means substantially 180 degrees until the bulwark walls of each case component are brought substantially into mutual contact;   a collapsible wall component comprising at least a first and second end wall and at least a first and second side wall, each wall including an upper edge, a lower edge, a left edge, a right edge, an inside surface, and an outside surface and wherein the first side wall can be swung out from the first end wall by a second hinge means configured along the right edge of the first end wall and the left edge of the first side wall and wherein the second side wall can be swung out from the second end wall by a third hinge means configured along the right edge of the second end wall and the left edge of the second side wall;   the right edge of the second side wall is capable of being removably attached to the left edge of the first end wall via a first plurality of clips and the right edge of the first side wall is capable of being removably attached to the left edge of the second end wall via a second plurality of clips;   the collapsible wall component configurable into a generally square-in-plan-view open configuration and a generally flat, collapsed configuration;   whereby with the collapsible wall component in the open configuration and positioned such that the lower edges of each wall thereof are in close proximity to the bulwark wall of each case component, the case in the open position, the organizer forms an open bin for holding cargo and the case forms a water-tight tray, and with the collapsible wall component in the collapsed configuration and stored in the case, the case in the closed position, the organizer is contained within the closed case.   
   
   
       11 . The organizer of  claim 10  wherein the case includes a handle projecting from an outer surface of the bulwark walls thereof. 
   
   
       12 . The organizer of  claim 10  wherein the latch means includes a lever and a catch, such that the catch is frictionally retained by the lever when the case is in the closed position, the lever being manually actuated to release the catch to allow opening of the case. 
   
   
       13 . The organizer of  claim 10  wherein each case component is structurally similar such that each case component may be formed using the same mold. 
   
   
       14 . The organizer of  claim 10  further including at least one restraining pole having two ends, the pole sized to fit between and be frictionally retained by the walls of the collapsible wall component. 
   
   
       15 . The organizer of  claim 11  further including at least one restraining pole having two ends, the pole sized to fit between and be frictionally retained by the walls of the collapsible wall component. 
   
   
       16 . The organizer of  claim 14  wherein the end of each pole further includes a clip for receiving and being retained by the upper edges of each wall of the collapsible wall component, whereby each pole may be engaged between upper edges of opposing walls to strengthen the organizer when the case and collapsible wall component are in the open configuration. 
   
   
       17 . The organizer of  claim 14  wherein the inside surface of each wall of the collapsible wall component includes a plurality of pole receiving means, each pole receiving means for receiving one end of the pole. 
   
   
       18 . The organizer of  claim 15  wherein the inside surface of each wall of the collapsible wall component includes a plurality of pole receiving means, each pole receiving means for receiving one end of the pole.