Modular storage container

Abstract

A modular container comprising a housing, a contained volume defined within the housing, and a door panel providing access to the contained volume in an open position and preventing access to the contained volume in a closed position. One or more interengagement features can be provided with the container such that a plurality of containers can be stacked atop each other to define a plurality of stacked containers. In some example embodiments, the container comprises at least one fan and one or more lights.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A modular container comprising:
 a housing comprising a front end, a rear end, sides, a top end, and a bottom end, the front end defining an opening, the rear end defining a rear panel, the sides defining side panels, the top end defining a top panel, and the bottom end defining a bottom panel;   a contained volume defined within the panels; and   a door panel mounted to one of the panels, the door panel being movable between an open position for providing access to the contained volume and a closed position for preventing access to the contained volume.   
     
     
         2 . The modular container of  claim 1 , wherein an interior surface of each of the side panels comprise an array of ridges, the ridges capable of interengagement with a shelf. 
     
     
         3 . The modular container of  claim 1 , further comprising an opening formed within at least one of the panels for receiving a fan, the fan providing airflow within or out the contained volume. 
     
     
         4 . The modular container of  claim 1 , further comprising one or more lights mounted within the container. 
     
     
         5 . The modular container of  claim 4 , wherein the one or more lights comprise blue LED lights for preventing fungal and bacterial growth. 
     
     
         6 . The modular container of  claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of feet protruding from an outer surface of the bottom panel. 
     
     
         7 . The modular container of  claim 6 , further comprising a plurality of receivers formed within an outer surface of the top panel. 
     
     
         8 . The modular container of  claim 7 , wherein the feet and receivers are configured for complementary interengagement to enable stacking of one container atop another container. 
     
     
         9 . The modular container of  claim 8 , further comprising a base assembly, the base assembly comprising a plurality of receivers for providing complementary interengagement with the feet of a container. 
     
     
         10 . The modular container of  claim 9 , wherein the base is provided with an electrical connector for connecting with an electrical outlet, and wherein one or more electrical connectors of the base are configured for electrically connecting with one or more electrical connectors of the container. 
     
     
         11 . The modular container of  claim 10 , wherein the one or more electrical connectors of the container are provided generally near a pair of the feet of the bottom panel, and wherein the one or more electrical connectors of the base are provided near a pair of the receivers of the base assembly, and wherein interengagement of the feet of the container with the receivers of the base assembly cause interengagement of the electrical connectors of the base assembly with the electrical connectors of the container such that the electricity provided to the base assembly can freely move through the electrical connectors to provide electrical power to the container. 
     
     
         12 . The modular container of  claim 1 , wherein the housing is formed from at least one material selected from plastic, metal, composite or other natural or synthetic materials, or combinations thereof. 
     
     
         13 . The modular container of  claims 3  and  4 , further comprising a control system for controlling the lights, fans, and any other electrical components that may be incorporated with the container. 
     
     
         14 . A container comprising a housing defining an internal contained volume, the container comprising one or more complementary interengagement features for providing complementary interengagement with at least one other container comprising complementary interengagement features, wherein the complementary interengagement features of the containers provide the ability to stack a plurality of containers atop each other and/or beside each other to define a plurality of interconnected containers. 
     
     
         15 . A modular storage container system comprising:
 at least a first and second modular container each comprising a top and a bottom, wherein the first and second modular containers comprise at least one accessory;   a base assembly;   wherein the first modular container is configured to sit atop and electrically couple to the base assembly;   wherein the second modular container is configured to sit atop and electrically couple to the first modular container;   wherein the base assembly is configured to control the accessory of both the first modular container and the second modular container.   
     
     
         16 . The modular storage container system of  claim 15 , wherein the accessory comprises one of a fan, a light, or a heating element. 
     
     
         17 . The modular storage container system of  claim 15 , wherein the base assembly is controlled remotely. 
     
     
         18 . The modular storage container system of  claim 15 , wherein the base assembly comprises an interengagement feature configured to engage a complimentary interengagement feature of the first modular container. 
     
     
         19 . The modular storage container system of  claim 15 , wherein the top of the first modular container comprises an interengagement feature configured to engage a complimentary interengagement feature of the second modular container. 
     
     
         20 . The modular storage container system of  claim 15 , wherein the base assembly further comprises a motion sensor configured to control the operation of the accessory.