Transport container

Abstract

A transport container for carrying one or more generally planar objects having a base configured to support the one or more generally planar objects. First and second side walls are removably coupled to opposing ends of the base. The first and second side walls are movable substantially along a first axis between an extended position and a contracted position. The first side wall is spaced from the second side wall by a first distance when the first and second side walls are in the extended position and by a second distance when the first and second side walls are in the contracted position. The first and second side walls are movable substantially along a second axis between a deployed position and a collapsed position. The first and second side walls have a first height in the deployed position and a second height different than the first height in the collapsed position.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A transport container for carrying one or more generally planar objects, the transport container comprising:
 a base configured to support the one or more generally planar objects; and   first and second side walls removably coupled to opposing ends of the base, the first and second side walls movable substantially along a first axis between an extended position and a contracted position, the first side wall spaced from the second side wall a first distance when the first and second side walls are in the extended position and a second distance when the first and second side walls are in the contracted position, the second distance different from the first distance;   wherein the first and second side walls are movable substantially along a second axis between a deployed position and a collapsed position, the first and second side walls having a first height in the deployed position and a second height different than the first height in the collapsed position.   
     
     
         2 . The transport container of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second side walls are each removably couplable to the base in one of the extended position or the contracted position. 
     
     
         3 . The transport container of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second side walls move in opposite directions when moving between the extended position and the contracted position. 
     
     
         4 . The transport container of  claim 1 , wherein the base includes a first extended position receiver and a first contracted position receiver, the first side wall selectively coupled to the first extended position receiver when the first side wall is coupled to the base in the extended position and to the first contracted position receiver when the first side wall is coupled to the base in the contracted position. 
     
     
         5 . The transport container of  claim 4 , wherein the first side wall includes a post selectively disposed in the first extended position receiver when the first side wall is coupled to the base in the extended position and in the first contracted position receiver when the first side wall is coupled to the base in the contracted position. 
     
     
         6 . The transport container of  claim 4 , wherein the base includes a second extended position receiver and a second contracted position receiver, the second side wall selectively coupled to the second extended position receiver when the second side wall is coupled to the base in the extended position and to the second contracted position receiver when the second side wall is coupled to the base in the contracted position. 
     
     
         7 . The transport container of  claim 6 , wherein the second side wall includes a post selectively disposed in the second extended position receiver when the second side wall is coupled to the base in the extended position and in the second contracted position receiver when the second side wall is coupled to the base in the contracted position. 
     
     
         8 . The transport container of  claim 4 , wherein the base includes one or more intermediate receivers between the first extended position receiver and the first contracted position receiver, the first side wall selectively coupled to one of the one or more intermediate receivers when the first side wall is coupled to the base in an intermediate position between the extended and contracted positions. 
     
     
         9 . The transport container of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second side walls extend substantially perpendicular to the base in the deployed position. 
     
     
         10 . The transport container of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second side walls extend substantially parallel to the base in the collapsed position. 
     
     
         11 . The transport container of  claim 1 , further comprising first and second braces movable between a bracing position and a stowed position, the first and second braces engaging the base in the bracing position. 
     
     
         12 . The transport container of  claim 1 , further comprising first and second braces each including a retainer configured to engage the base to secure the respective first and second brace in a bracing position. 
     
     
         13 . The transport container of  claim 12 , wherein each retainer is resiliently biased toward a coupling position, each retainer engaging the base when the respective retainer is in the coupling position and the respective first and second brace is in the bracing position. 
     
     
         14 . The transport container of  claim 12 , wherein each retainer includes a body configured to engage the base in a coupling position and a spring resiliently biasing the body toward the coupling position, the body and the spring integrally formed with each other. 
     
     
         15 . The transport container of  claim 11 , wherein the first and second braces move substantially along the first axis with the first and second side walls as the first and second side walls are moved between the extended position and the contracted position. 
     
     
         16 . The transport container of  claim 1 , further comprising a first brace configured to secure the first side wall in the deployed position and a second brace configured to secure the second side wall in the deployed position. 
     
     
         17 . The transport container of  claim 1 , further comprising first and second braces movable between a bracing position and a stowed position, wherein, when the first and second braces are in the bracing position, the first and second side walls are restricted from moving between the collapsed position and the deployed position, and when the first and second braces are in the stowed position, the first and second side walls are free to move between the collapsed position and the deployed position. 
     
     
         18 . The transport container of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one ramp coupleable to the base. 
     
     
         19 . A transport container for carrying one or more generally planar objects, the transport container comprising:
 a base configured to support the one or more generally planar objects, the base defining two or more discrete positions along a first axis;   a first side wall supported by the base;   a second side wall moveable between the two or more discrete positions to be selectively supported at one of the two or more discrete positions in order to change a distance between the first and second side walls to conform the distance to a dimension of the one or more generally planar objects;   wherein the first and second side walls are movable substantially along a second axis between a deployed position and a collapsed position, wherein in the deployed position the first and second side walls are substantially upright and in the collapsed position the first and second side walls lay substantially flat on the base.   
     
     
         20 . A method of conforming a transport container that carries one or more generally planar objects to a dimension of the one or more generally planar objects, the method comprising:
 moving first and second side walls from a collapsed position in which the first and second side walls lie substantially flat on a base to a deployed position in which the first and second side walls are substantially upright and are supported by the base;   removing one or both of the first and second side walls from a first position on the base and;   reattaching said one or both of the first and second side walls at a second position on the base different than the first position such that a distance between the first and second side walls conforms to the dimension of the one or more generally planar objects.