Adjustable length container

Abstract

An adjustable length container includes an inner container section having interconnected side walls and an end wall defining a predetermined dimensioned length, width, and height. A bottom is connected to the side walls and end wall. A pair of upper rails is positioned adjacent and extending along the side walls of the inner container section. An outer container section is provided having interconnected side walls and an end wall defining a predetermined dimensioned length, width, and height, and a bottom connected to the interconnected side walls. The length, width and height of the outer container section have dimensions adapted to telescopically receive the inner container section in a predetermined overlapping configuration relative to the outer container section.

I claim: 
     
         1 . An adjustable length container, comprising:
 (a) an inner container section having interconnected side walls and an end wall defining a predetermined dimensioned length, width, and height, and a bottom connected to the side walls and end wall;   (b) a pair of upper rails positioned adjacent and extending along the side walls of the inner container section;   (c) an outer container section having interconnected side walls and an end wall defining a predetermined dimensioned length, width, and height, and a bottom connected to the interconnected side walls and bottom, the predetermined dimensional length, width and height of the outer container section having dimensions adapted to telescopically receive the inner container section in a predetermined overlapping configuration relative to the outer container section;   (d) a pair of upper rails positioned adjacent to and extending along the side walls of the outer container section and dimensioned to telescopically receive the pair of upper rails of the inner section therein; and   (e) the pair of upper rails of the inner container section and the pair of upper rails of the outer container section having complementary inner and outer locking elements for locking the inner and outer container sections in the predetermined telescopically overlapping configuration.   
     
     
         2 . The adjustable length container according to  claim 1 , and including a rail formed between the pair of upper rails positioned adjacent the side walls of the inner container section and adapted to receive a respective wall of the pair of upper rails of the outer container section as the inner container section and the outer container section telescopically overlap. 
     
     
         3 . The adjustable length container according to  claim 1 , wherein the complementary inner and outer locking elements comprise at least one pin-receiving hole formed in each of the inner pair of upper rails and adapted to receive a removable locking pin therein. 
     
     
         4 . The adjustable length container according to  claim 3 , wherein the at least one pin-receiving hole comprises a plurality of pin-receiving holes spaced along a length of the inner pair of upper rails and adapted to lock the inner and outer container sections in the predetermined telescopically overlapping configuration. 
     
     
         5 . The adjustable length container according to  claim 1 , and including:
 (a) an inner pair of lower rails positioned adjacent and extending along parallel lengthwise walls of the inner container section;   (b) an outer pair of lower rails positioned adjacent to and extending along parallel lengthwise walls of the outer container section, dimensioned to telescopically receive the inner pair of lower rails therein; and   (c) the inner pair of lower rails and the outer pair of lower rails having complementary inner and outer locking elements for locking the inner and outer container sections in the predetermined telescopically overlapping configuration.   
     
     
         6 . The adjustable length container according to  claim 5 , wherein the complementary inner and outer locking elements comprise at least one pin-receiving hole formed in each of the inner pair of lower rails and adapted to receive a removable locking pin therein. 
     
     
         7 . The adjustable length container according to  claim 6 , wherein the at least one pin-receiving hole comprises a plurality of pin-receiving holes spaced along a length of the inner pair of lower rails. 
     
     
         8 . The adjustable length container according to  claim 1 , and including a removable wall. 
     
     
         9 . The adjustable length container according to  claim 8 , wherein the removable wall is an end wall defining the width of the container. 
     
     
         10 . The adjustable length container according to  claim 1 , and including a pair of casters positioned on one or another of the inner or outer container sections. 
     
     
         11 . The adjustable length container according to  claim 1 , wherein the complementary inner and outer locking elements comprise at least one pin-receiving hole formed in each of the inner pair of upper rails and adapted to receive a respective leaf spring with a locking pin positioned thereon, mounted on the outer pair of upper rails. 
     
     
         12 . The adjustable length container according to  claim 1 , wherein the rails are tubular with an inside dimension of the inner pair of upper and lower rails dimensioned to be telescopically received in the outer pair of upper and lower rails. 
     
     
         13 . An adjustable length container, comprising:
 (a) an inner container section having interconnected walls with predetermined dimensioned length, width, and height, and a bottom connected to the interconnected walls;   (b) an inner pair of upper rails positioned adjacent and extending along parallel lengthwise walls of the inner container section;   (c) an outer container section having interconnected walls with predetermined dimensioned length, width, and height, and a bottom connected to the interconnected walls, the predetermined dimensional length, width and height of the outer container section having dimensions adapted to telescopically receive the inner container section in a predetermined overlapping configuration relative to the outer container section;   (d) an outer pair of upper rails positioned adjacent to and extending along parallel lengthwise walls of the outer container section, and dimensioned to telescopically receive the inner pair of upper rails therein;   (e) the inner pair of upper rails and the outer pair of upper rails having complementary inner and outer locking elements for locking the inner and outer container sections in a predetermined telescopically overlapping position;   (f) an inner pair of lower rails positioned adjacent and extending along parallel lengthwise walls of the inner container section;   (g) an outer pair of lower rails positioned adjacent to and extending along parallel lengthwise walls of the outer container section and dimensioned to telescopically receive the inner pair of lower rails therein; and   (h) the inner pair of lower rails and the outer pair of lower rails having complementary inner and outer locking elements for locking the inner and outer container sections in the predetermined telescopically overlapping position.   
     
     
         14 . The adjustable length container according to  claim 13 , wherein the interconnected walls are formed of a rigid material. 
     
     
         15 . The adjustable length container according to  claim 13 , and including casters positioned on one or another of the inner or outer container sections. 
     
     
         16 . The adjustable length container according to  claim 13 , and including channels formed between the inner pair of upper rails positioned adjacent the parallel lengthwise walls of the outer container section and adapted to receive a wall of the outer pair of upper rails of the inner container section as the inner container section and the outer container section telescopically overlap. 
     
     
         17 . The adjustable length container according to  claim 16 , wherein the complementary inner and outer locking elements comprise at least one pin-receiving hole formed in each of the inner pair of upper rails and adapted to receive a removable locking pin therein. 
     
     
         18 . The adjustable length container according to  claim 17 , wherein the at least one pin-receiving hole comprises a plurality of pin-receiving holes spaced along a length of the inner pair of upper rails and adapted to lock the container in a predetermined length. 
     
     
         19 . The adjustable length container according to  claim 18 , wherein the removable locking pin comprises a self-locking pin. 
     
     
         20 . The adjustable length container according to  claim 18 , wherein the complementary inner and outer locking elements comprise at least one pin-receiving hole formed in each of the inner pair of upper rails and adapted to receive a locking pin positioned on a lower side of respective elongate leaf springs mounted on the outer pair of upper rails. 
     
     
         21 . The adjustable length container according to  claim 13 , and including guide channels formed in the interconnected walls of the inner container section for cooperating with pins carried by the outer container section and positioned in the guide channels. 
     
     
         22 . The adjustable length container according to  claim 13 , and including guide channels formed in the interconnected walls and the bottom of the inner container section for cooperating with pins carried by interconnected walls and bottom of the outer container section and positioned in the guide channels.