Exoskeleton-supported portable storage unit

Abstract

An exoskeleton supported portable storage unit is provided. The exoskeleton may be metal sheet panels adapted to reinforce a lightweight non-self-supporting frame/substructure, thereby providing structural integrity to the overall structure while maintaining an overall lightweight, portable storage unit.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An exoskeleton-supported portable structure, comprising:
 a substructure separating an inner compartment and an exterior surface, wherein the exterior surface is a quadrilateral in cross section;   the substructure comprising a plurality of posts, wherein each two adjacent posts of the plurality of posts define an exterior post surface coplanar with a portion of said quadrilateral; and   an exoskeleton interconnecting each two adjacent posts along a respective exterior post surface,   wherein the substructure has no welds and no self-supporting bracing.   
     
     
         2 . The exoskeleton-supported portable structure of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a plurality of horizontal members interconnecting each two adjacent posts.   
     
     
         3 . The exoskeleton-supported portable structure of  claim 2 , wherein the plurality of horizontal members is orthogonally oriented relative to each two adjacent posts. 
     
     
         4 . The exoskeleton-supported portable structure of  claim 2 , wherein the plurality of horizontal members has an exterior member surface coplanar with the respective exterior post surface. 
     
     
         5 . The exoskeleton-supported portable structure of  claim 1 , wherein the exoskeleton comprising overlapping structural sheets. 
     
     
         6 . The exoskeleton-supported portable structure of  claim 5 , wherein the overlapping structural sheets comprises metal sheeting.