Interlocking container

Abstract

An interlocking container for intermodal transportation includes a plurality of storage chambers that are surrounded by a frame. The frame is configured to support multiple interlocking containers stacked on top of the interlocking container. Each of the storage chambers are configured to couple with a vertically adjacent storage chamber, so that materials stored within a particular storage chamber may travel to a different storage chamber. Each storage chamber uses a sealing member to couple with a vertically adjacent storage chamber to prevent loss of materials.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 - 6 . (canceled) 
     
     
         7 . An interlocking system comprising:
 a first interlocking container that includes a storage chamber encompassed by a frame, the storage chamber having an inlet located in an upper surface of the storage chamber and an outlet located in a lower surface of the storage chamber; and   a second interlocking container that includes a storage chamber encompassed by a frame, the first storage chamber of the second interlocking container having an inlet located in an upper surface of the storage chamber of the second interlocking container and an outlet located in a lower surface of the storage chamber of the second interlocking container, wherein
 the second interlocking container is placed above the first interlocking container; and 
 the second interlocking container includes a sealing member adapted to operatively couple the outlet of the storage chamber of the second interlocking container to the inlet of the storage chamber of the first interlocking container, the sealing member being further adapted to selectively extend below the frame of the second interlocking container to engage the inlet of the storage chamber of the first interlocking container. 
   
     
     
         8 . The interlocking system of  claim 7 , wherein the first interlocking container and the second interlocking container each include three storage chambers. 
     
     
         9 . The interlocking system of  claim 7 , wherein each interlocking container has a footprint substantially defined by its frame, and wherein each frame is configured to support multiple interlocking containers stacked on top of the frame without substantially increasing the footprint. 
     
     
         10 . The interlocking system of  claim 7 , further comprising a conveyor unit configured to transport materials from the storage chamber of the first interlocking container, wherein the conveyor unit includes multiple transportation mechanisms for transporting the materials from the storage chambers. 
     
     
         11 . The interlocking system of  claim 10 , wherein the multiple transportation mechanisms include a Venturi system, a blower system, and a manual system. 
     
     
         12 . The interlocking system of  claim 10 , wherein the conveyor unit is located below the first interlocking container. 
     
     
         13 . The interlocking system of  claim 10 , wherein the conveyor unit directly receives materials from the storage chamber of the first interlocking container and indirectly receives materials from the storage chamber of the second interlocking container through the first interlocking container. 
     
     
         14 . The interlocking system of  claim 10 , wherein the conveyor unit includes a series of valves that enables selective application of a particular transportation mechanism of the multiple transportation mechanisms. 
     
     
         15 - 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . The interlocking system of  claim 12 , wherein each interlocking container has a footprint substantially defined by its frame, wherein each frame is configured to support multiple interlocking containers stacked on top of the frame without substantially increasing the footprint, wherein the conveyor unit includes a frame, and wherein the frame of the conveyor unit is configured to support multiple interlocking containers stacked on top of the frame of the conveyor unit without substantially increasing the footprint. 
     
     
         22 . The interlocking system of  claim 8 , wherein the three storage chambers of the first interlocking container and the three storage chambers of the second interlocking container each include a corresponding inlet and a corresponding outlet, and wherein the second interlocking container includes three sealing members, each sealing member being adapted to operatively couple a corresponding outlet of one of the storage chambers of the second interlocking container to the inlet of one of the storage chambers of the first interlocking container by selectively extending below the frame of the second interlocking container to engage the inlet of the storage chamber of the first interlocking container. 
     
     
         23 . An interlocking system comprising:
 a first interlocking container that includes a storage chamber encompassed by a frame, the storage chamber having an inlet and an outlet; and   a second interlocking container that includes a storage chamber encompassed by a frame, the storage chamber of the second interlocking container having an inlet and an outlet, wherein
 the second interlocking container includes a sealing member being configured to transition between a retracted position and an extended position in which the sealing member operatively couples the outlet of the storage chamber of the second interlocking container to the inlet of the storage chamber of the first interlocking container. 
   
     
     
         24 . The interlocking system of  claim 23 , wherein the sealing member is disposed above the frame of the first interlocking container in the retracted position. 
     
     
         25 . The interlocking system of  claim 23 , further comprising a cap configured to transition between a closed configuration in which the cap seals the inlet of the storage chamber of the first interlocking container and an open configuration in which the cap does not seal the inlet of the storage chamber of the first interlocking container. 
     
     
         26 . The interlocking system of  claim 25 , wherein the cap is pneumatically-driven between the closed configuration and the open configuration. 
     
     
         27 . The interlocking system of  claim 23 , wherein the sealing member in its extended position substantially prevents external materials from entering the inlet of the first interlocking container and enables internal materials to pass from the outlet of the storage chamber of the second interlocking container through the inlet of the storage chamber of the first interlocking container. 
     
     
         28 . The interlocking system of  claim 23 , further comprising collapsible pad eye pickups coupled to the frame of the second interlocking container. 
     
     
         29 . The interlocking system of  claim 28 , wherein the collapsible pad eye pickups are center point collapsible pad eye pickups. 
     
     
         30 . The interlocking system of  claim 23 , wherein the frame of the first interlocking container supports the frame of the second interlocking container thereabove. 
     
     
         31 . The interlocking system of  claim 23 , wherein the first interlocking container and the second interlocking container each include a plurality of storage chambers. 
     
     
         32 . The interlocking system of  claim 31 , wherein the plurality of storage chambers of both of the first interlocking container and the second interlocking container each include a corresponding inlet and a corresponding outlet, and wherein the second interlocking container includes a plurality of sealing members, each sealing member being adapted to operatively couple an outlet of one of the storage chambers of the second interlocking container to a corresponding inlet of one of the storage chambers of the first interlocking container. 
     
     
         33 . The interlocking system of  claim 31 , wherein the first interlocking container and the second interlocking container each include three storage chambers. 
     
     
         34 . The interlocking system of  claim 23 , further comprising a third interlocking container that includes a storage chamber encompassed by a frame, the storage chamber of the third interlocking container having an inlet and an outlet, wherein the first interlocking container includes a sealing member being configured to transition between a retracted position and an extended position in which the sealing member of the first interlocking container operatively couples the outlet of the storage chamber of the first interlocking container to the inlet of the storage chamber of the third interlocking container.