Abstract:
A transportable storage container for securely storing construction tools that is readily moved around the job site by a single person and is readily towed behind a vehicle without the need to load and unload the storage container prior to and after transportation.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Field of Invention 
   This invention generally relates to a transportable storage container. More particularly, the present invention allows a single person to easily store and transport tools and equipment and to easily move the storage container throughout a job-site. 
   2. Description of the Related Art 
   Most construction workers are intimately familiar with “gang boxes.” Gang boxes are storage containers that, typically, are durable, secure, and heavy—particularly when loaded. Typically, each trade, or even foreman, at a construction project will have a gang box that is used to store tools, consumable materials, project drawings and plans, and other items that are required to be secured and safeguarded during the period that the gang box remains on the job-site while the gang box&#39;s owner is away from the job-site. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 3,838,586 to Tennison discloses an electrician&#39;s gang box that includes box structure which renders the box inaccessible to malefactors for the purpose of destroying the padlock. 
   However, a significant disadvantage of gang boxes like the one disclosed in the Tennison patent is that such boxes are heavy and difficult to transport. For example, a typical gang box is constructed of metal and is between 5 and 6 feet long, 3 feet wide and 3 to 4 feet tall. The gang box is then typically filled with tools and equipment that can easily weigh hundreds of pounds. To move a gang box from one job-site to another, or, to or from a construction company&#39;s office, requires the following process: 1) the gang box is unloaded of tools and equipment; 2) the box is physically lifted by three to four persons into the back of an appropriate vehicle; and 3) the tools and equipment are reloaded into the gang box. Upon arrival at the new destination, this process must be reversed. Obviously, this process is time and labor intensive. 
   Additionally, once on a jobsite, moving a typical gang box between locations at the jobsite, or to different floors of a building, involves a similar process of unloading the gang box, moving the gang box, and then reloading the gang box. Moreover, on many jobsites it is not possible to move gang boxes around the job site because typical gang boxes are too wide to fit through many standard door openings. 
   Given these inefficiencies, there is a need for a more efficient system that is of simple design and construction, that is inexpensive to manufacture, and that allows for the secure storage of tools and other valuables on the job site while providing a storage device that is easily transported, manageable by one person, and able to easily move to different locations on a job site. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     There are presently shown in the drawing embodiments of which are presently preferred, it being understood, however, that the invention is not so limited to the precise arrangements and instrumentalities shown, wherein: 
       FIG. 1  is an isometric view of the transportable storage container of the present invention; 
       FIG. 2  is a side view of the transportable storage container of the present invention; and 
       FIG. 3  is a bottom view of the transportable storage container of the present invention. 
   

   The below table summarizes the reference numbers and associated elements shown in the above drawings: 
   
     
       
             
             
             
           
         
             
                 
                 
             
           
           
             
                 
               100 
               storage container 
             
             
                 
               101 
               top 
             
             
                 
               102 
               frame extension 
             
             
                 
               103 
               front wall 
             
             
                 
               104 
               side wall 
             
             
                 
               105 
               rear wall 
             
             
                 
               106 
               hinge 
             
             
                 
               107 
               pin 
             
             
                 
               108 
               coupler 
             
             
                 
               109 
               bottom 
             
             
                 
               201 
               suspension 
             
             
                 
               202A 
               first wheel well 
             
             
                 
               202B 
               second wheel well 
             
             
                 
               203 
               lock pocket 
             
             
                 
               204A 
               first castor 
             
             
                 
               204B 
               second castor 
             
             
                 
               205 
               castor leg 
             
             
                 
               206 
               castor leg receiver 
             
             
                 
               207 
               lock tab 
             
             
                 
               208 
               wheel system 
             
             
                 
               209 
               shackle 
             
             
                 
               210 
               castor assembly 
             
             
                 
               300 
               frame 
             
             
                 
               301A 
               first wheel 
             
             
                 
               301B 
               second wheel 
             
             
                 
               302A 
               first longitudinal member 
             
             
                 
               302B 
               second longitudinal member 
             
             
                 
               303 
               second transverse member 
             
             
                 
               304 
               first transverse member 
             
             
                 
               305 
               axle 
             
             
                 
               306 
               third longitudinal member 
             
             
                 
                 
             
           
        
       
     
   
   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
   A first embodiment of a transportable storage container  100  is shown in a side perspective view in  FIG. 1 . The transportable storage container  100  includes a front wall  103 , a rear wall  105 , two side walls  104 , and a top  101 . It also includes a bottom  109  which is not shown in this view. Top  101  is shown in a partially open position and is hingedly connected to rear wall  105  via hinge  106 . Hinge  106  may include any appropriate means for allowing top  101  to move from a closed position, where lock tabs  207  are inserted into lock pockets  203 , to an open position, where full access to the interior of transportable storage container  100  is allowed. Such means may include a single strap or piano hinge, or multiple hinges as shown in  FIG. 1 . In the closed position, lock tabs  207  are engaged into lock pockets  203  such that a padlock, or other locking device (not shown), may secure top  101  to front wall  103  in such a manner that the locking device is protected from bolt cutters, thus enhancing the security of the transportable storage container  100 . 
   Front wall  103 , rear wall  105 , side walls  104 , top  101 , and bottom  109  may be constructed of any durable, strong, sturdy, material. In one embodiment, these components are constructed of 10 gauge sheet metal. A sufficiently rigid and dense plastic material could also be used for these components. 
     FIG. 3  is a bottom view of frame  300  that supports transportable storage container  100 . In this embodiment, frame  300  is composed of two longitudinal members  302 , a first transverse member  304 , and a second transverse member  303 . Longitudinal members  302  are connected to first transverse member  304  and second transverse member  303  by welding or by a mechanical connection such as screws, nails, nuts and bolts, or rivets. Transportable storage container  100  is attached to frame  300  by any suitable means such as welding, or by the use of mechanical connections such as screws, nails, nuts and bolts, or rivets. In the embodiment shown, transportable storage container  100  is welded to frame  300 , and frame  300  is itself a welded assembly; also, longitudinal members  302  are constructed of tube steel and first transverse member  304  and second transverse member  303  are constructed of angle iron. 
   As used herein, the term “perimeter” refers to the outside edges of the area defined by the length and width of transportable storage container  100 . Third longitudinal member  306  is connected to first transverse member  304  intermediate to the connections of longitudinal members  302  to first transverse member  304 . Third longitudinal member  306  may also be constructed of tube steel. Frame  300  is constructed such that first longitudinal members  302 A is disposed sufficiently inward along first transverse member  304  and second transverse member  303  that first wheel  301 A is recessed within the perimeter created by portable storage container  100 . Similarly, Frame  300  is constructed such that second longitudinal members  302 B is disposed sufficiently inward along first transverse member  304  and second transverse member  303  that second wheel  301 B is recessed within the perimeter created by portable storage container  100 . First castor  204 A and second castor  204 B are similarly located within the perimeter created by portable storage container  100 . Thus, the effective rolling width of transportable storage container  100  is defined by its perimeter as no components extend beyond the width of transportable storage container  100 . 
   Referring to  FIG. 2 , wheel system  208  can be seen. Wheel system  208  is comprised of wheel  301  and suspension  201 . In this embodiment, wheel  301  is a standard boat trailer wheel and suspension  201  is a single leaf spring. Shackles  209  are attached to frame  300 . Suspension  201  is connected to shackles  209 . As is known to those skilled in the art, alternative suspension systems may be employed such as coil spring systems. Alternatively, the suspension system may be omitted; however, omitting suspension  201  will result in decreased ride quality and shock absorption when transportable storage container  100  is being towed by a vehicle. 
   As shown in  FIG. 3 , first wheel  301 A is connected to second wheel  301 B by axle  305 . In this embodiment, axle  305  is constructed of tube steel, but may also be constructed from any suitable structural material such as metal pipe, wood, or a composite material. Axle  305  is connected to suspension  201  at wheels  301 A and  301 B. 
   Referring back to  FIG. 1 , frame extension  102  can be seen connected to frame  300 . In this embodiment, frame extension  102  is constructed of tube steel of a size that allows a slip fit connection between frame extension  102  and first longitudinal member  302 A, second longitudinal member  302 B, and third longitudinal member  306 . These slip fit connections are secured by pins  107 . Coupler  108  is attached to the outboard end of frame extension  102 , and is adaptable to allow connection to any standard trailer hitch configuration. 
   Referring back to  FIG. 2 , castor assembly  210  can be seen. Castor assembly  210  is comprised of castor  204 , castor leg  205 , and castor leg receiver  206 . In this embodiment, castor leg  205  is constructed of tube steel with a flat plate welded to the outboard end of castor leg  205 . Castor leg  205  is adapted to allow mounting of castor  204  to the flat plate at its outboard end, and to provide a removable, slip fit connection with castor leg receiver  206  at its inboard end. As also can be seen in  FIG. 2 , castor assembly  210  is designed such that, once it is in place, transportable storage container  100  is level. In this embodiment, there are two castor assemblies  210 . 
   As can be seen in  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 2 , wheel system  208  fits within wheelwell  202 . Wheelwell  202  is recessed into transportable storage container  100  and is sized to be at least as wide as wheel  301  and at least as tall as the amount of suspension travel provided by suspension  201 . 
   In operation, transportable storage container  100  may be towed behind a truck or other suitable vehicle with a standard trailer hitch. Coupler  108  is adaptable to connect transportable storage container  100  to standard trailer hitch configurations. Once transportable storage container  100  has been towed to the desired destination, transportable storage container  100  is de-coupled from the tow vehicle, and two castor assemblies  210  are connected to transportable storage container  100 . Frame extension  102  can then be disconnected from frame  300 . At this point, transportable storage container  100  is easily rolled by a single person to the desired work location. Further, transportable storage container  100  is designed to be narrow enough to fit through standard door openings, and because wheel systems  203  and castor assemblies  210  do not increase the rolling width of transportable storage container  100 , the width of transportable storage container  100  may be maximized, thereby increasing the available storage capacity, without sacrificing the ability to easily move transportable storage container  100  around a job site. Because wheel systems  208  do not have to be removed or installed to transition transportable storage container  100  from jobsite mode to transportation mode, the process of changing between these modes is greatly simplified. 
   While exemplary systems and methods embodying the present invention are shown by way of example, it should be understood that the invention is not limited to these embodiments. Modifications can be made by those skilled in the art, particularly in light of the foregoing teachings. For example, each of the elements of the aforementioned embodiments may be utilized alone or in combination with elements of other embodiments.