Abstract:
This invention describes a container that is easily collapsible and expandable mechanically according to the dimensions of the assets to be contained in it. Boxing a small asset into a large container proves very storage inefficient. It also contains an electromechanically controlled locker to prevent unauthorized access to the contained assets.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    This invention relates to supply-chain management systems in general, and in particular to design of an asset container that is mechanically expandable and electronically secured. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    Boxing a small asset into a large container proves very storage inefficient. This inefficiency can be overcome, if dimensions of asset containers can be adjusted dynamically based on the dimensions of the assets they are to be filled with. In this invention, design of a new asset container is described. The new asset container is mechanically expandable and collapsible. It also contains an electromechanically controlled locker to prevent unauthorized access to the assets in it. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0003]      FIG. 1  illustrates the asset container in collapsed and fully expanded forms according to the invention 
           [0004]      FIG. 2  shows the top and left side views of the expanded asset container according to the invention. 
           [0005]      FIG. 3  illustrates step by step how the asset container is converted from a collapsed form into a basis box 
           [0006]      FIG. 4  illustrates step by step how the basis box is expanded horizontally according to the invention 
           [0007]      FIG. 5  illustrates step by step how the basis box or its horizontally expanded form can be further expanded vertically 
           [0008]      FIG. 6  shows loaded asset container in various expansion levels 
           [0009]      FIG. 7  illustrates that multiple collapsed asset containers can be stacked-up. 
           [0010]      FIG. 8  denotes locking mechanism for the asset container according to the invention 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
       [0011]    This invention describes design of an asset container that is able to take a space saving collapsed form  100  and easily convertible to a box  110 . Beams  113  between the top  112  and bottom  111  panels of the box  120  provide structural support. The separation between beams should be shorter than dimensions of the smallest box that is to be stored in the container  110 .  FIG. 1  illustrates two cases: one case  110  in which only two beams are used on each side of the asset container for storage of large boxes and another case  120  in which four beams are used per side in the asset container for storage of relatively small size boxes. 
         [0012]      FIG. 2  shows the top view of the collapsed asset container  100 , and also side view of the basis frame  110  when fully expanded. Also as illustrated in  FIG. 2 , each asset container has wheels  200  to ease movement. The beams  210  at their shortest are used to hold multiple collapsed containers on top of each other tight preventing displacements of the stacked collapsed containers. 
         [0013]    The height and the width of the asset container can be adjusted according to the dimensions of the boxes to be stored. In  FIG. 3 , a single collapsed asset container  100  is shown on its horizontal expansion plane  301 . By unfolding the main side beams  300 , a first step  304  towards a standing container is made. Once all the side beams  300  are rectified, a second rectangular frame  320  can be pulled up. This second frame  320  serves as the top of the asset. The top rectangular frame  320  has an inner frame  330  that serves as cover for the frame  320  as illustrated in  308  in  FIG. 3 . 
         [0014]    Both the main top rectangular frame  320  and its inner frame  330  and the base frame  400  can be stretched outward on a two-dimensional plane in two directions to increase the dimensions of the asset container as shown in  410  and  411  of  FIG. 4 . As a result, a wider asset container is obtained. 
         [0015]    As illustrated in  FIG. 5 , it is also possible to enlarge the asset container  120  further when essential to store taller boxes. The side beams can be stretched forth  502  and the top rectangular frame  320  can be pulled up further to allow more space for bigger and taller boxes. This process is shown in  503  of  FIG. 5 . The base frame  400 , the top frame  320  and the inner part  330  of the top frame are shown in  504  of  FIG. 5  after the expansion process is completed Expansion can be performed on a need basis. Thus, it provides very high flexibility in adjusting the container dimensions and lowers underutilization of space.  FIG. 6  illustrates that the asset container is filled with assets  600 ,  601   603  and  604  incrementally until its full capacity is utilized. 
         [0016]    Multiple collapsed asset containers  210  can be easily arranged in stacks for space saving storage and carry as illustrated in  FIG. 7 . Each asset container  120  also contains an electromechanical locker  800  that fastens the inner frame  330  of the top rectangular frame to the body of main rectangular frame  320  to prevent unauthorized opening of the container. Locking and unlocking can be controlled via a smart card  801 . When the right card is swiped, authorization is granted and the locker unfastens. A traditional key based access would not be secure, because the key for the asset container locker can be easily duplicated, whereas it is not easy to duplicate smart cards. In another embodiment of the invention, an RF based switch can also be used for the asset container locker operations.