Patent ID: 7658037
Filing Date: 2010-02-09
Classification: E04B

Abstract:
1. Variable volume container comprising: a basic unit having a bottom panel and a roof panel; at least one hinged side panel associated with the basic unit and rotateable about a horizontal axis; at least one expansion element arranged to be telescoped out of the basic unit and having a bottom panel, a side open toward a front of the basic unit and a front panel opposite the open side, whereby the at least one expansion element is open toward the top and, in a telescoped state, the roof panel is formed by a raised side panel of the basic unit; and at least one hoisting device operatively associated with each of the at least one expansion element and with which the expansion element is lowered so that, after the at least one expansion element is telescoped out, the bottom panels of the at least one expansion element and of the basic unit are at the same height and also so that the at least one expansion element is arranged to be inserted back into the basic unit after being lowered, wherein the hoisting device is configured to cooperate with and lower the hinged side panel to lower and raise the at least one expansion element, and wherein the at least one expansion element has a plurality of upper and multiple lower sliding or rolling elements on an interior end thereof, and the basic unit has a plurality of guide elements operatively associated with the upper sliding or rolling elements, ramps sloping downward toward the at least one expansion element on an end thereof neighboring the at least one expansion element, and a plurality of lower stops operatively associated with the lower sliding or rolling elements, on another end thereof neighboring the at least one expansion element whereby, when the at least one expansion element is completely telescoped out of the basic container, it assumes a statically fixed starting position in which the lower sliding or rolling elements stop on a lower stop and the upper sliding or rolling elements lie on a guide element ramp.