Convertible container

Abstract

A container includes fittings for gripping, handling and securing same, each of the fittings being placed at a corner of the container in the non-deployed position of the container. In the non-deployed position, the container is formed by: a central case having a longitudinal dimension and a transverse dimension, and two extension blocks connected to the central case, with at least part of the structure of the central case and of the extension blocks being sealed, the length or width of each of the extension blocks being greater than half the longitudinal or transverse dimension of the central case respectively. The extension blocks can move between the non-deployed position, where the blocks and central case are placed at least partially on top of one another, and a deployed position where each block forms a longitudinal or transverse extension of the central case, the deployed assembly forming a floating structure.

1 . Container including fittings for holding, handling and fixing said container, each of said fittings ( 8 ) being placed at one corner of said container in a non-deployed configuration of said container, characterized in that:
 in said non-deployed configuration of said container, said container is constituted of a central box ( 1 ) having a longitudinal dimension and a transverse dimension and two extension units ( 2 ,  3 ) connected to said central box ( 1 ), at least part of the structure of the central box ( 1 ) and the extension units ( 2 ,  3 ) being watertight,   each of said extension units ( 2 ,  3 ) having a length, or width, in said non-deployed configuration greater than half the longitudinal, respectively transverse, dimension of said central box ( 1 ),   said extension units ( 2 ,  3 ) being mobile between said non-deployed configuration in which said extension units ( 2 ,  3 ) and said central box ( 1 ) are placed at least in part one above the other, and a deployed configuration in which each extension unit ( 2 ,  3 ) forms a longitudinal or transverse extension of said central box ( 1 ), the whole deployed in this way then forming a floating structure having an increased loading area.   
     
     
         2 . Container according to  claim 1 , characterized in that said extension units ( 2 ,  3 ) comprise a single box or two boxes preferably placed one against the other in said non-deployed configuration. 
     
     
         3 . Container according to  claim 1 , characterized in that in said deployed configuration the hull of said floating structure has a longitudinal or transverse dimension greater than twice the longitudinal, respectively transverse, dimension of said central box ( 1 ). 
     
     
         4 . Container according to  claim 1 , characterized in that said extension units ( 2 ,  3 ) are connected in an articulated manner to said central box ( 1 ). 
     
     
         5 . Container according to  claim 4 , characterized in that it include actuators for moving the extension units ( 2 ,  3 ) from the non-deployed configuration to the deployed configuration of said container and vice versa. 
     
     
         6 . Container according to  claim 4 , characterized in that said extension units ( 2 ,  3 ) are connected to said central box ( 1 ) by hinges ( 4 - 7 ), and even better hinges with two axes. 
     
     
         7 . Container according to  claim 1 , characterized in that said extension units ( 2 ,  3 ) have complementary profiles so as to cooperate in said non-deployed configuration to form with the central box ( 1 ) a whole the free walls of which define a parallelepiped or substantially a parallelepiped. 
     
     
         8 . Container according to  claim 7 , characterized in that each of said extension units ( 2 ,  3 ) has a triangular or truncated triangular profile. 
     
     
         9 . Container according to  claim 1 , characterized in that the deck of the floating structure is plane or substantially plane. 
     
     
         10 . Container according to  claim 9 , characterized in that, each of said extension units ( 2 ,  3 ) comprising a single box, a first of said boxes effects a rotation of 180° between the non-deployed configuration and the deployed configuration of said container while the other box effects a rotation of less than 180°. 
     
     
         11 . Container according to  claim 1 , characterized in that each extension unit ( 2 ,  3 ) is constituted of a single extension box the longitudinal dimension of which is equal to that of said central box ( 1 ), said boxes ( 1 - 3 ) being superposed on each other in the non-deployed configuration of said container, forming a stack of boxes. 
     
     
         12 . Container according to  claim 11 , characterized in that, said boxes ( 1 - 3 ) being articulated to each other, two consecutive boxes are connected to each other by at least two connecting arms mounted on the same lateral edge of said boxes, one of said connecting arms being common to the three boxes, and in that:
 two consecutive connecting arms form with the two consecutive boxes that they connect a deformable regular parallelogram so that the movement of one of said boxes relative to an immediately lower box in the stack from said non-deployed configuration of said container leads to circular translation of said box relative to the immediately lower box of the stack.   
     
     
         13 . Container according to  claim 1 , characterized in that at least one of said extension units includes one or more extension ramps ( 25 ,  26 ) for lengthening the longitudinal and/or transverse dimension of the deck of said floating structure. 
     
     
         14 . Container according to  claim 1 , characterized in that it includes a propulsion system so that said floating structure is self-propelled. 
     
     
         15 . Container according to  claim 1 , characterized in that said extension units ( 2 ,  3 ) and said central box ( 1 ) are hollow to receive loads. 
     
     
         16 . Container according to  claim 1 , characterized in that, said fittings ( 8 ) for holding, handling and fixing a said container being at least eight in number, said fittings ( 8 ) are placed at the extreme corners of said container in its non-deployed configuration, said fitting ( 8 ) being intended to cooperate with standard ISO infrastructures for holding, handling and fixing said container. 
     
     
         17 . Container according to  claim 1 , characterized in that said container is connected to interconnection means allowing two or more containers to be connected edge-to-edge or end-to-end to form a unitary shipping assembly at the extreme corners of which are placed fittings for holding, handling and fixing said unitary assembly. 
     
     
         18 . Container according to  claim 1 , characterized in that it includes elements ( 19 ) inflatable independently or not for improving the buoyancy of said floating structure. 
     
     
         19 . Container according to  claim 1 , characterized in that said container includes wheels ( 20 ,  21 ), retractable or not. 
     
     
         20 . Floating craft including at least two containers according to  claim 1  in their deployed configuration, said containers being connected to each other to form a unitary floating structure.