U.S. patent application number 11/888271 was filed with the patent office on 2009-02-05 for joint structure for portable work and storage container.
This patent application is currently assigned to Pacific Container Network, Inc.. Invention is credited to Terry Chu.
Application Number | 20090032530 11/888271 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 40037354 |
Filed Date | 2009-02-05 |
United States Patent
Application |
20090032530 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Chu; Terry |
February 5, 2009 |
Joint structure for portable work and storage container
Abstract
A joint structure for portable work and storage container
includes a plurality of joint members and a plurality of
reinforcing shafts. Each joint member includes an upper joint
extended from a top retention frame, a lower joint extended from a
bottom retention frame, and a shaft holder alignedly mounting
between the upper and lower joints to form a reinforcement channel.
The reinforcing shafts are disposed within the reinforcement
channels and coupling between the upper and lower joints through
the shaft holders respectively, wherein each of the reinforcing
shafts has an upper portion received in a respective upper socket
of the upper joint, a lower portion received in a respective lower
socket of the lower joint, and a mid-portion received within the
respective shaft holder such that the joint structure reinforces
the a strength between the top and bottom retention frames to
rigidly support the wall frame.
Inventors: |
Chu; Terry; (Chino Hills,
CA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
DAVID AND RAYMOND PATENT FIRM
108 N. YNEZ AVE., SUITE 128
MONTEREY PARK
CA
91754
US
|
Assignee: |
Pacific Container Network,
Inc.
|
Family ID: |
40037354 |
Appl. No.: |
11/888271 |
Filed: |
July 30, 2007 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
220/4.28 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D 88/528 20130101;
B65D 90/08 20130101; E04B 1/34315 20130101; B65D 88/121 20130101;
E04B 2001/34389 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
220/4.28 |
International
Class: |
E04B 1/343 20060101
E04B001/343; B65D 88/52 20060101 B65D088/52 |
Claims
1. A portable work and storage container, comprising: a wall frame
which comprises a top wall, a bottom wall, and a surrounding wall
defining a storage compartment therewithin; and a supporting frame
which comprises a top retention frame encirclingly mounting to said
top wall and a bottom retention frame encirclingly mounting to said
bottom wall, wherein said surrounding wall is mounted between said
top and bottom retention frames; and a joint structure for coupling
said top retention frame with said bottom retention frame, wherein
said joint structure comprises: a plurality of joint members
spacedly extended between said top and bottom retention frames,
each of said joint members comprising an upper joint having an
upper socket downwardly extended from said top retention frame, a
lower joint having a lower socket upwardly extended from said
bottom retention frame to align with said upper socket, and a shaft
holder alignedly mounting between said upper and lower joints to
form a reinforcement channel between said upper and lower sockets
through said shaft holder; and a plurality of reinforcing shafts
being disposed within said reinforcement channels and coupling
between said upper and lower joints through said shaft holders
respectively, wherein each of said reinforcing shafts has an upper
portion received in said respective upper socket, a lower portion
received in said respective lower socket, and a mid-portion
received within said respective shaft holder such that said joint
structure reinforces said a strength between said top and bottom
retention frames to rigidly support said wall frame.
2. The portable work and storage container, as recited in claim 1,
wherein each of said shaft holders has two end portions detachably
coupling with said upper and lower joints respectively such that
said top and bottom retentions are adapted to be disassembled when
said shaft holders are detached from said upper and lower
joints.
3. The portable work and storage container, as recited in claim 1,
wherein each of said joint members comprises a tubular sleeve
receiving said respective reinforcing shaft therealong and two
joint panels outwardly and integrally extended from said tubular
sleeve to reinforce a structure of said tubular sleeve.
4. The portable work and storage container, as recited in claim 2,
wherein each of said joint members comprises a tubular sleeve
receiving said respective reinforcing shaft therealong and two
joint panels outwardly and integrally extended from said tubular
sleeve to reinforce a structure of said tubular sleeve.
5. The portable work and storage container, as recited in claim 2,
wherein said joint structure further comprises a plurality of
connecting panels sidewardly extended from said upper joints, said
lower joints and said end portions of each of said shaft holders
respectively, and a plurality of panel lockers detachably coupling
between two said corresponding connecting panels so as to
detachably connect said two end portions of said shaft holders with
said upper and lower joints respectively.
6. The portable work and storage container, as recited in claim 4,
wherein said joint structure further comprises a plurality of
connecting panels sidewardly extended from said upper joints, said
lower joints and said end portions of each of said shaft holders
respectively, and a plurality of panel lockers detachably coupling
between two said corresponding connecting panels so as to
detachably connect said two end portions of said shaft holders with
said upper and lower joints respectively.
7. The portable work and storage container, as recited in claim 5,
wherein each of said connecting panels, having a mounting hole,
integrally, outwardly and transversely extended from said tubular
sleeve such that when said two corresponding connecting panels are
overlapped to align said mounting holes with each other, said
respective panel locker is detachably coupled with said connecting
panels through said mounting holes.
8. The portable work and storage container, as recited in claim 6,
wherein each of said connecting panels, having a mounting hole,
integrally, outwardly and transversely extended from said tubular
sleeve such that when said two corresponding connecting panels are
overlapped to align said mounting holes with each other, said
respective panel locker is detachably coupled with said connecting
panels through said mounting holes.
9. The portable work and storage container, as recited in claim 4,
further comprising a panel guide for guiding said surrounding wall
between said top and bottom retention frames, wherein said panel
guide comprises two longitudinal guiders attaching to peripheral
edge portions of said top and bottom walls respectively and a
transverse guider outwardly and integrally extended from each of
said joint members such that peripheral edge of said surrounding
wall is sandwiched between said longitudinal and transverse guiders
to retain said surrounding wall in position.
10. The portable work and storage container, as recited in claim 8,
further comprising a panel guide for guiding said surrounding wall
between said top and bottom retention frames, wherein said panel
guide comprises two longitudinal guiders attaching to peripheral
edge portions of said top and bottom walls respectively and a
transverse guider outwardly and integrally extended from each of
said joint members such that peripheral edge of said surrounding
wall is sandwiched between said longitudinal and transverse guiders
to retain said surrounding wall in position.
11. The portable work and storage container, as recited in claim 1,
wherein each of said reinforcement channels has a non-circular
cross section, wherein each of said reinforcement shafts has a
non-circular cross section corresponding to said reinforcement
channel such that when said reinforcement shaft is disposed in said
respective reinforcement channel, said reinforcement shaft is
retained to prevent a rotational movement within said reinforcement
channel.
12. The portable work and storage container, as recited in claim 8,
wherein each of said reinforcement channels has a non-circular
cross section, wherein each of said reinforcement shafts has a
non-circular cross section corresponding to said reinforcement
channel such that when said reinforcement shaft is disposed in said
respective reinforcement channel, said reinforcement shaft is
retained to prevent a rotational movement within said reinforcement
channel.
13. The portable work and storage container, as recited in claim
10, wherein each of said reinforcement channels has a non-circular
cross section, wherein each of said reinforcement shafts has a
non-circular cross section corresponding to said reinforcement
channel such that when said reinforcement shaft is disposed in said
respective reinforcement channel, said reinforcement shaft is
retained to prevent a rotational movement within said reinforcement
channel.
14. The portable work and storage container, as recited in claim 1,
wherein said upper and lower joints are integrally and spacedly
extended from said top and bottom retention frames
respectively.
15. The portable work and storage container, as recited in claim
13, wherein said upper and lower joints are integrally and spacedly
extended from said top and bottom retention frames
respectively.
16. The portable work and storage container, as recited in claim 1,
wherein each of said reinforcing shafts has a top side biasing
against said top retention frame when said upper portion of said
reinforcing shaft is received in said upper socket of said upper
joint, and a bottom side biasing against said bottom retention
frame when said lower portion of said reinforcing shaft is received
in said lower socket of said lower joint.
17. The portable work and storage container, as recited in claim 8,
wherein each of said reinforcing shafts has a top side biasing
against said top retention frame when said upper portion of said
reinforcing shaft is received in said upper socket of said upper
joint, and a bottom side biasing against said bottom retention
frame when said lower portion of said reinforcing shaft is received
in said lower socket of said lower joint.
18. The portable work and storage container, as recited in claim
15, wherein each of said reinforcing shafts has a top side biasing
against said top retention frame when said upper portion of said
reinforcing shaft is received in said upper socket of said upper
joint, and a bottom side biasing against said bottom retention
frame when said lower portion of said reinforcing shaft is received
in said lower socket of said lower joint.
19. The portable work and storage container, as recited in claim 1,
wherein each of said top and bottom retention frames has a
rectangular shape that said upper and lower joints are provided at
corners of said top and bottom retention frames respectively.
20. The portable work and storage container, as recited in claim
18, wherein each of said top and bottom retention frames has a
rectangular shape that said upper and lower joints are provided at
corners of said top and bottom retention frames respectively.
21. The portable work and storage container, as recited in claim 4,
wherein said surrounding wall comprises a plurality of surrounding
panels connecting edge-to-edge to enclose said storage
compartment.
22. The portable work and storage container, as recited in claim
10, wherein said surrounding wall comprises a plurality of
surrounding panels connecting edge-to-edge to enclose said storage
compartment.
23. The portable work and storage container, as recited in claim
20, wherein said surrounding wall comprises a plurality of
surrounding panels connecting edge-to-edge to enclose said storage
compartment.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE PRESENT INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of Invention
[0002] The present invention relates to a portable work and storage
container, and more particularly to the joint structure for the
portable work and storage container, wherein the joint structure
not only enhances the rigid structure of the portable work and
storage container but also allows the portable work and storage
container to be disassemble for storage and transportation.
[0003] 2. Description of Related Arts
[0004] A storage container, such as a cargo, is considered as one
of common tools for transporting a load over land, sea, or through
the air. A conventional storage container comprises four sidewalls,
a top wall, a bottom wall, and a frame structure supporting the
walls to form a rectangular shaped container. Since the load is
relatively heavy, generally more than thousands pounds, the storage
container must be transported by lifting machine from one spot to
another spot. Thus, the frame structure must be rigid enough to
support the heavy load.
[0005] Instead of carrying the load, the storage container is
recently used as a portable work container. For example, the
portable work container is set up when the building is under
construction such that people are able to temporary work in the
portable work container. A mobile home can also be built by the
portable work container. No matter what the storage container is
set up as a storage cargo, portable work container, or the mobile
home, the frame structure must be strong enough to withstand the
environmental influence, such as wind or rain, and to protect the
load or people inside the storage container.
[0006] In addition, the storage container requires lots of space
for storage or transportation even though the storage container is
empty. In other words, the storage container cannot be disassembled
for storage and transportation purposes. It is because the frame
structure must be formed in one piece structure to maximize the
strength of the storage container. Therefore, when the storage
container is empty, the mover can only carry one storage container
at one time to transport the storage container from one place to
another place.
[0007] An improved storage container includes a joint to
disassemble the frame structure such that two or more storage
containers can be transported at the same time. However, the joint,
especially for the movable joint parts thereof, will substantially
weaken the overall structure of the frame structure because the
stress will be created around the joint. Therefore, it is a
conflict between the strength enhancement of the storage container
and the collapsible feature of the storage container for easily
transportation. The existing storage container obviously cannot
achieve the current needs of the users to provide both strength
enhancement and collapsible feature for the storage container.
SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION
[0008] A main object of the present invention is to provide a joint
structure for a portable work and storage container, wherein the
joint structure not only enhances the rigid structure of the
portable work and storage container but also allows the portable
work and storage container to be disassemble for storage and
transportation.
[0009] Another object of the present invention is to provide a
joint structure for a portable work and storage container, wherein
a plurality of reinforcement shafts, which are made of relatively
rigid material such as steel or even concrete, are used as a pillar
to rigidly support the portable work and storage container.
[0010] Another object of the present invention is to provide a
joint structure for a portable work and storage container, wherein
the upper and lower joints are detachably coupling with the
reinforcement shafts such that the portable work and storage
container can be set up to provide a rigid structural configuration
and can be collapsed into an impact size.
[0011] Another object of the present invention is to provide a
joint structure for a portable work and storage container, wherein
the storage container is easy to assemble and disassemble without
weakening the strength of the joint structure.
[0012] Another object of the present invention is to provide a
joint structure for a portable work and storage container, wherein
each of the surrounding panels of the surrounding wall is
replaceable for multiple usages.
[0013] Another object of the present invention is to provide a
joint structure for a portable work and storage container, which
does not require to alter the original structural design of the
storage container, so as to minimize the manufacturing cost of the
storage container incorporating with the existing lifting
machine.
[0014] Another object of the present invention is to provide a
joint structure for a portable work and storage container, wherein
no expensive or complicated structure is required to employ in the
present invention in order to achieve the above mentioned objects.
Therefore, the present invention successfully provides an economic
and efficient solution for providing a rigid configuration for the
storage container and for enhancing the transportation ability when
the storage container is folded into an impact size.
[0015] Accordingly, in order to accomplish above objects, the
present invention provides a portable work and storage container,
comprising a wall frame, a supporting frame and a joint
structure.
[0016] The wall frame comprises a top wall, a bottom wall, and a
surrounding wall defining a storage compartment therewithin. The
supporting frame comprises a top retention frame encirclingly
mounting to the top wall and a bottom retention frame encirclingly
mounting to the bottom wall, wherein the surrounding wall is
mounted between the top and bottom retention frames.
[0017] The joint structure couples the top retention frame with the
bottom retention frame, wherein the joint structure comprises a
plurality of joint members spacedly extended between the top and
bottom retention frames, and a plurality of reinforcing shafts.
[0018] Each of the joint members comprises an upper joint having an
upper socket downwardly extended from the top retention frame, a
lower joint having a lower socket upwardly extended from the bottom
retention frame to align with the upper socket, and a shaft holder
alignedly mounting between the upper and lower joints to form a
reinforcement channel between the upper and lower sockets through
the shaft holder.
[0019] The reinforcing shafts are disposed within the reinforcement
channels and coupling between the upper and lower joints through
the shaft holders respectively, wherein each of the reinforcing
shafts has an upper portion received in the respective upper
socket, a lower portion received in the respective lower socket,
and a mid-portion received within the respective shaft holder such
that the joint structure reinforces the a strength between the top
and bottom retention frames to rigidly support the wall frame.
[0020] These and other objectives, features, and advantages of the
present invention will become apparent from the following detailed
description, the accompanying drawings, and the appended
claims.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0021] FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a portable work
and storage container with a joint structure according to a
preferred embodiment of the present invention.
[0022] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the joint structure for
portable work and storage container according to the above
preferred embodiment of the present invention illustrating the
constitution of the upper joint and the upper portion of the
reinforcement shaft.
[0023] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the joint structure for
portable work and storage container according to the above
preferred embodiment of the present invention illustrating the
constitution of the lower joint and the lower portion of the
reinforcement shaft.
[0024] FIG. 4 is a top sectional view of the joint structure for
the portable work and storage container according to the above
preferred embodiment of the present invention.
[0025] FIG. 5 is a side sectional view of the joint structure for
the portable work and storage container according to the above
preferred embodiment of the present invention.
[0026] FIG. 6 is perspective view of the portable work and storage
container according to a preferred embodiment of the present
invention, illustrating the portable work and storage container
being collapsed via the joint structure.
[0027] FIG. 7 illustrates an alternative mode of the surrounding
wall of the portable work and storage container according to the
above preferred embodiment of the present invention, illustrating
the portable work and storage container being assembled as a work
office or a mobile home.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0028] Referring to FIG. 1 of the drawings, a portable work and
storage container according to a preferred embodiment of the
present invention is illustrated, wherein the portable work and
storage container comprises a wall frame 10, a supporting frame 20
and a joint structure 30.
[0029] The wall frame 10 comprises a top wall 11, a bottom wall 12,
and a surrounding wall 13 defining a storage compartment 101
therewithin.
[0030] The supporting frame 20 comprises a top retention frame 21
encirclingly mounting to the top wall 11 and a bottom retention
frame 22 encirclingly mounting to the bottom wall 12, wherein the
surrounding wall 13 is mounted between the top and bottom retention
frames 21, 22.
[0031] As shown in FIGS. 1 to 4, the joint structure 30 couples the
top retention frame 21 with the bottom retention frame 22, wherein
the joint structure 30 comprises a plurality of joint members 31
spacedly extended between the top and bottom retention frames 21,
22, and a plurality of reinforcing shafts 32.
[0032] Each of the joint members 31 comprises an upper joint 311
having an upper socket 310 downwardly extended from the top
retention frame 21, a lower joint 312 having a lower socket 320
upwardly extended from the bottom retention frame 22 to align with
the upper socket 310, and a shaft holder 313 alignedly mounting
between the upper and lower joints 311, 312 to form a reinforcement
channel 300 between the upper and lower sockets 310, 320 through
the shaft holder 313.
[0033] The reinforcing shafts 32 are disposed within the
reinforcement channels 300 and coupling between the upper and lower
joints 311, 312 through the shaft holders 313 respectively, wherein
each of the reinforcing shafts 32 has an upper portion 321 received
in the respective upper socket 310, a lower portion 322 received in
the respective lower socket 320, and a mid-portion 323 received
within the respective shaft holder 313 such that the joint
structure 30 reinforces the a strength between the top and bottom
retention frames 21, 22 to rigidly support the wall frame 10.
[0034] As shown in FIG. 1, the top wall 11, the bottom wall 12, and
the surrounding wall 13 are made of durable but light weight
material to enclose the storage compartment 101. Accordingly, each
of the top and bottom walls 11, 12 has a rectangular shape forming
a roof and a floor of the portable work and storage container
respectively.
[0035] The surrounding wall 13 comprises a plurality of surrounding
panels 131 connecting edge-to-edge to enclose the storage
compartment 101. Every two neighboring surrounding panels 131 can
be detached with each other such that one of the surrounding panels
131 can be replaced by a door panel 131D or a window panel 131W to
re-configure the use of the portable work and storage container.
Accordingly, the portable work and storage container as shown in
FIG. 1 is configured as a storage cargo while the portable work and
storage container as shown in FIG. 7 is configured as a portable
office or a mobile home.
[0036] Each of the top and bottom retention frames 21, 22 has a
rectangular shape, wherein peripheral edges of the top and bottom
walls 11, 12 are encircled within the top and bottom retention
frames 21, 22. The top retention frame 21 has a plurality of
lifting slots spacedly formed thereat for a lifting machine to lift
up the portable work and storage container via a cable in a
suspended manner. The bottom retention frame 22 also has a
plurality of hoisting slots formed thereat for a hoisting machine
to lift up the portable work and storage container. In other words,
the portable work and storage container of the present invention
can be transported from one place to another place by the existing
machine.
[0037] As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the upper and lower joints 311,
312 are integrally and spacedly extended from the top and bottom
retention frames 21, 22 respectively to enhance the strength of
each of the upper and lower joints 311, 312. In particularly, the
upper and lower joints 311, 312 are integrally provided at corners
of the top and bottom retention frames 21, 22 respectively.
Furthermore, the opening of the upper socket 310 is facing
downwardly towards the lower joint 312 and the opening of the lower
socket 320 is facing upwardly towards the upper joint 311, wherein
the openings of the upper and lower sockets 310, 320 are aligned
with each other.
[0038] As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, each of the shaft holders 313 has
two end portions detachably coupling with the upper and lower
joints 311, 312 respectively such that the top and bottom
retentions 21, 22 are adapted to be disassembled when the shaft
holders 313 are detached from the upper and lower joints 311, 312.
It is worth to mention that when the end portions of each of the
shaft holders 313 are coupled with the respective upper and lower
joints 311, 312, the reinforcement channel 300 is formed from the
upper socket 310 to the lower socket 320 through the interior of
the shaft holder 313.
[0039] As it is mentioned, the conventional joint structure
includes movable joint parts that make the structure of the
container floppy. Since the upper and lower portions 321, 322 of
the reinforcing shaft 32 are received in the upper and lower joints
311, 312 while the mid-portion 323 received within the shaft holder
313, the joint structure 30 of the present invention does not
provide any unwanted movable movement once the end portions of each
of the shaft holders 313 are locked with the upper and lower joints
311, 312.
[0040] Each of the joint members 31 comprises a tubular sleeve 301
receiving the respective reinforcing shaft 32 therealong and two
joint panels 302 outwardly and integrally extended from the tubular
sleeve 301 to reinforce a structure of the tubular sleeve 301.
Accordingly, the cross section of each of the upper and lower
joints 311, 312 is the same as the cross section of the shaft
holder 313. In other words, an upper section of the tubular sleeve
301 is defined as the upper socket 310 of the upper joint 311, a
lower section of the tubular sleeve 301 is defined as the lower
socket 320 of the lower joint 312, and a mid-section of the tubular
sleeve 301 is defined as the interior of the shaft holder 313.
[0041] Accordingly, each of the tubular sleeves 301 is constructed
by the respective upper joint 311, the lower joint 312, and the
shaft holder 313 to form the reinforcement channel 300. In other
words, the reinforcement channel 300 is formed by the upper socket
310, the lower socket 320, and the interior of the shaft holder
313.
[0042] As shown in FIGS. 2 to 4, two joint panels 302 are
perpendicularly extended from each other to form a corner pillar of
the portable work and storage container. In addition, the tubular
sleeve 301 is integrally coupled at the corner of the joint panels
302 such that the structural configuration of the joint member 31
forms a triangular structure to evenly distribute the loading force
to the top and bottom retention frames 21, 22. It is worth to
mention that the tubular sleeve 301 is hidden behind the joint
panels 302 when the portable work and storage container is set up.
Accordingly, each of the joint panels 302 has three portions formed
at the upper joint 311, the lower joint 312 and the shaft holder
313. Therefore, when the shaft holder 313 is coupled between the
upper and lower joints 311, 312, the tubular sleeve 301 and the
joint panels 302 are formed between the top and bottom retention
frames 21, 22.
[0043] According to the preferred embodiment, the joint structure
30 further comprises a plurality of connecting panels 33 sidewardly
extended from the upper joints 311, the lower joints 312 and the
end portions of each of the shaft holders 313 respectively, and a
plurality of panel lockers 34 detachably coupling between two the
corresponding connecting panels 33 so as to detachably connect the
two end portions of the shaft holders 313 with the upper and lower
joints 311, 312 respectively.
[0044] As shown in FIGS. 2 to 4, two of the connecting panels 33
are sidewardly and integrally extended from the tubular sleeve 301
to the joint panels 302 at each of the upper joints 311, lower
joints 312, and the end portions of the shaft holder 313. It is
worth to mention that the joint panels 302, the tubular sleeve 301,
and the connecting panels 33 form a triangular reinforcing
structure of the joint member 31 to enhance the strength of the
joint member 31 as a pillar of the portable work and storage
container of the present invention.
[0045] As shown in FIG. 2, the two connecting panels 33 are
provided at the upper joint 311 at a position that the upper socket
310 is positioned between the two connecting panels 33. In
addition, another two connecting panels 33 are provided at the
upper end portion of the shaft holder 313, wherein the two
connecting panels 33 at the upper joint 311 are overlapped with the
two connecting panels 33 at the upper end portion of the shaft
holder 313 respectively to align the upper socket 310 with the
interior of the shaft holder 313, such that each of the panel
lockers 34 is detachably coupled the two overlapped connecting
panels 33 so as to detachably affix the upper end portion of the
shaft holder 313 with the upper joint 311.
[0046] Likewise, the two connecting panels 33 are provided at the
lower joint 312 at a position that the lower socket 320 is
positioned between the two connecting panels 33, as shown in FIG.
3. In addition, another two connecting panels 33 are provided at
the lower end portion of the shaft holder 313, wherein the two
connecting panels 33 at the lower joint 312 are overlapped with the
two connecting panels 33 at the lower end portion of the shaft
holder 313 respectively to align the lower socket 320 with the
interior of the shaft holder 313, such that each of the panel
lockers 34 is detachably coupled the two overlapped connecting
panels 33 so as to detachably affix the lower end portion of the
shaft holder 313 with the lower joint 312.
[0047] Once the upper and lower end portions of the shaft holder
313 are detachably affixed to the upper and lower joints 311, 312
respectively, the reinforcement channel 300 is formed from the
upper joint 311 to the lower joint 312 through the interior of the
shaft holder 313. It is worth to mention that when the upper and
lower end portions of the shaft holder 313 are unlocked from the
upper and lower joints 311, 312 respectively, the shaft holder 313
is detached from the top and bottom retention frames 21, 22 so as
to collapse the portable work and storage container of the present
invention.
[0048] As shown in FIGS. 2 to 4, each of the connecting panels 33,
having a mounting hole 331, is integrally, outwardly and
transversely extended from the tubular sleeve 301 such that when
the two corresponding connecting panels 33 are overlapped to align
the mounting holes 331 with each other, the respective panel locker
34 is detachably coupled with the connecting panels 33 through the
mounting holes 331.
[0049] Each of panel lockers 34 is an elongated screw having a
length longer than the total thickness of two overlapped connecting
panels 33, such that the panel locker 34 is extended through the
mounting holes 311 to detachably couple the two connecting panels
33 with each other. Accordingly, the assemble/disassemble operation
of the shaft holder 313 is relatively simple and easy by
screwing/unscrewing the panel locker 34 with the connecting panels
33.
[0050] According to the preferred embodiment, each of the
reinforcement channels 300 has a non-circular cross section,
wherein each of the reinforcement shafts 32 has a non-circular
cross section corresponding to the reinforcement channel 300 such
that when the reinforcement shaft 32 is disposed in the respective
reinforcement channel 300, the reinforcement shaft 32 is retained
to prevent a rotational movement within the reinforcement channel
300. As shown in FIGS. 2 to 4, each of the reinforcing channels 300
has a square cross section while each of the reinforcing shafts 32
also has the corresponding square cross section to fit into the
respective reinforce channel 300.
[0051] Accordingly, each of the reinforcing shafts 32 is made of
rigid material such as steel or even concrete, wherein each of the
reinforcing shafts 32 form the main supporting pillar of the
portable work and storage container of the present invention. Each
of the reinforcing shafts 32 can be a hollow shaft or a solid
shaft. As shown in FIG. 5, a top side of each of the reinforcing
shafts 32 is biased against the top retention frame 21 when the
upper portion 321 of the reinforcing shaft 32 is received in the
upper socket 310 of the upper joint 311. Likewise, a bottom side of
each of the reinforcing shafts 32 is biased against the bottom
retention frame 22 when the lower portion 322 of the reinforcing
shaft 32 is received in the lower socket 320 of the lower joint
312. Therefore, each of the reinforcing shafts 32 is formed the
main pillar to support between the top and bottom retention frames
21, 22 and is held within the respective reinforcement channel
300.
[0052] It is worth to mention that when the top and bottom
retention frames 21, 22 are coupled via the joint structure 30, the
reinforcing shafts 32 are rigidly supported between the top and
bottom retention frames 21, 22 to enhance the strength of the
portable work and storage container. In addition, the top and
bottom retention frames 21, 22 can be detached from each other via
the joint structure 30 such that the portable work and storage
container can be collapsed to form an impact size as shown in FIG.
5.
[0053] As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the portable work and storage
container further comprises a panel guide 40 for guiding the
surrounding wall 13 between the top and bottom retention frames 21,
22, wherein the panel guide 40 comprises two longitudinal guiders
41 attaching to peripheral edge portions of the top and bottom
walls 11, 12 respectively and a transverse guider 42 outwardly and
integrally extended from each of the joint members 31 such that
peripheral edge of the surrounding wall 13 is sandwiched between
the longitudinal and transverse guiders 41, 42 to retain the
surrounding wall 13 in position.
[0054] As shown in FIG. 1, each of the longitudinal guiders 41,
having a L-shaped cross section, is affixed to the peripheral edge
portion of each of the top and bottom walls 11, 12 to bias against
an inner side of the surrounding wall. It is worth to mention that
the longitudinal guiders 41 at the top wall 11 is arranged to guide
the upper longitudinal edge of surrounding wall 13 at the inner
side thereof while the longitudinal guiders 41 at the bottom wall
12 is arranged to guide the lower longitudinal edge of surrounding
wall 13 at the inner side thereof.
[0055] As shown in FIG. 4, the transverse guider 42 is outwardly
and integrally extended from the connecting panel 33 to bias
against an outer side of the surrounding wall. As shown in FIGS. 2
to 3, the transverse guider 42 is arranged to guide the side
transverse edge of the surrounding wall 13 at the outer side
thereof. Accordingly, a gap between the longitudinal guider 41 and
the transverse guider 42 must be at least larger than a thickness
of the surrounding wall 13. Therefore, the surrounding wall 13 can
be securely held between the top and bottom retention frames 21, 22
by holding the upper longitudinal edges of surrounding wall 13 at
the inner side via the longitudinal guiders 41 and the side
transverse edges of the surrounding wall 13 at the outer side
thereof via the transverse guiders 42.
[0056] In order to assemble the container of the present invention,
the user is able to couple the joint structure 30 between the top
and bottom retention frames 21, 22 by disposing the reinforcing
shafts 32 within the reinforcement channels 300 respectively and
detachably coupling the shaft holders 313 with the upper and lower
joints 311, 312. When the container is needed to be disassembled,
the user is able to detach the shaft holders 313 from the upper and
lower joints 311, 312 and remove the reinforcing shafts 32 from the
reinforcement channels 300, such that the container can be
collapsed into an impact size for storage or transportation, as
shown in FIG. 6.
[0057] One skilled in the art will understand that the embodiment
of the present invention as shown in the drawings and described
above is exemplary only and not intended to be limiting.
[0058] It will thus be seen that the objects of the present
invention have been fully and effectively accomplished. It
embodiments have been shown and described for the purposes of
illustrating the functional and structural principles of the
present invention and is subject to change without departure from
such principles. Therefore, this invention includes all
modifications encompassed within the spirit and scope of the
following claims.
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