Abstract:
A plurality of aluminum or steel walls readily assemblable on a pair of support legs, rotatable to close and lock as a container for storage, unlockable to open as a self-contained eating table, and easily disassemblable into its individual parts for transporting about.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT  
         [0001]    Research and development of this invention and Application have not been federally sponsored, and no rights are given under any Federal program.  
         REFERENCE TO A MICROFICHE APPENDIX  
         [0002]    NOT APPLICABLE  
         BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0003]    1. Field of the Invention  
           [0004]    This invention relates to recreational camping in the great outdoors, in general, and to long-term camping in the deep wilderness, in particular.  
           [0005]    2. Description of the Related Art  
           [0006]    As is well known and understood, one of the perils in long-term camping in the wilderness is that associated with marauding bears. Although generally not a threat to humans, such animals pose a significant danger to the stores of food required to address the needs of the individual campers over time. While bear-proof boxes and containers are known, they are conventionally of a type that are flown into the back country by helicopter. Obviously, this limits the camping to locales where helicopters can be flown in and out, and to regions where such service is available. Clearly, if bear-proof containers could be easily assembled in the wilderness upon arrival, and then disassembled upon departure, that would be of a great advantage—especially if manufactured of a weight of the order of 75-100 pounds, so that they can easily be transported individually or as pairs by horse or mule.  
           [0007]    As will become clear from the following description, the bear-proof storage container of the present invention consists of only six aluminum or steel panels which can be stacked for carrying, and then easily assembled at the campsite. When mounted on a pair of legs capable of being carried along as well, a self-contained eating compartment for two can be formed—which can then be closed up after a meal has been finished, to serve as the protected storage container. A “peg” or similar type of system can be employed in fitting the panels together in manner similar to a “tongue-and-groove” construction. The arrangement can then stand as an eating table when desired, or as a storage container at all other times.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0008]    As will be seen below, the easily disassemblable bear-proof storage container of the invention includes opposing front and rear, top and bottom, and left and right side panels or walls. First means are provided for alternately rotating the side walls closed against the front and rear walls and against the top and bottom walls, and for rotating the side walls away from the front and rear walls and from the top and bottom walls respectively—and, in such manner, closing or opening the container. Second means are included for securing the side walls with the top wall when rotated against the front and rear walls once the container is closed. And, in accordance with the invention, a bottom edge of each of the front and rear walls are notched so as to receive a bottom edge of each of the side walls when rotated away from the front and rear walls in opening the container for service as an eating table. As will also be seen, the side walls include pairs of trays press fitted between their inside edges so as to be held in place there, to receive plates, cup and various utensils when dining.  
           [0009]    As will also become clear from the following description, various braces, locks, and chains are included for purposes of securing the walls closed when a bear-proof storage is in order, and in holding the side walls in place when they are outwardly rotated to the eating position. When constructed of an aluminum or steel composition, preliminary testing and analysis has shown that even the biggest, toughest bear is unable to open the closed container when used for storage. Releasing the peg and other securements after the camping experience has ended allows for the stacking of the individual panel walls and legs once again, to allow for horse or mule transportation back to civilization from the deep wilderness. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0010]    These and other features of the present invention will be more clearly understood from a consideration of FIGS. 1-6 of the Drawings which pictorially illustrate the component parts of the bear-proof container helpful in an understanding of its closure for storage and opening for dining. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0011]    In the Drawings, the bear-proof container  10  is shown as having opposing front and rear walls  12 ,  14 , opposing top and bottom walls  16 ,  18 , and opposing left and right side walls  20 ,  22 . In erecting the container for storage, carriage or other type bolts  25  ( 4  in number) connect the top wall  16  with each of the front and rear walls  12 ,  14 , and similar such bolts connect the bottom wall  18  in like manner with the front and rear walls  12 ,  14 . When the container  10  is to additional serve as a dining table, a pair of legs  24 ,  26  are employed to connect with the bolts joining the front and rear walls  12 ,  14  together with the bottom wall  18 , as illustrated. These four walls  12 ,  14 ,  16  and  18  may each be constructed of aluminum or steel composition, as are the legs  24 ,  26 .  
         [0012]    The container of FIGS. 1-6 also include means for rotating the left and right side walls  20 ,  22  closed against the front and rear walls  12 ,  14  and against the top and bottom walls  16 ,  18  for closing the container—and alternately for rotating the left and right side walls  20 ,  22  away from the front and rear walls  12 ,  14  and away from the top and bottom walls  16 ,  18  to open the container in permitting the construction to serve as an eating or dining table. In the Drawings, such means include pairs of chain links  28 ,  30  and  32 ,  34 , each having clips  36  at their respective ends—one of which couples with a series of predeterminedly placed apertures  38  along edge surfaces  40  of the left and right side walls  20 ,  22 , and the other of which is coupled within an aperture  42  on intersecting cross braces  44  on facing inside surfaces of the front and rear walls  12 ,  14 . As will be appreciated, the degree of rotative opening of the left and right side walls  20 ,  22  then becomes dependent upon the length of the chain link employed, and on the positioning into which of the apertures  38  the coupling clip is connected with.  
         [0013]    The Drawings also illustrate first and second trays  46  press fitted between the inside edges of the side walls  20 ,  22  to be held in place there for eating purposes, or formed as part of the side walls. As with the walls  12 ,  14 ,  16  and  18 , the left and right side walls  20 ,  22  may each be constructed of an aluminum or steel composition. To further hold the side walls  20 ,  22  with the bottom wall  18  when the container is opened, means are also included in joining them together. In effectuating this, one or more lengths of channel guides  48  are utilized to overlie the abutting edges of the side and bottom walls, each with its own plurality of apertures to accept inserted pegs or bolts, etc. at desired locations in strengthening the join, such apertures being shown at  50 .  
         [0014]    Internal stops are provided on the inside of the front and rear walls  12 ,  14  against which the edge surfaces  40  of the left and right side walls  20 ,  22  bear when rotating the side walls  20 ,  22  to their closed position. Shown at  52 , such stops restrict further closure of the side walls  20 ,  22  in forming the storage container. Similar such stops  54  extend downwardly from the top wall  16  to restrict further inward closure of the side walls  20 ,  22 —and also serve as closure locks when receiving rotatable twist projections  56  situated at the outside edges  58  of the left and right side walls  20 ,  22 . To facilitate the rotational closing of the side walls  20 ,  22 , the bottom edges of each of the front and rear walls  12 ,  14  are provided with a notch  60  to receive a bottom edge of each of the side walls in allowing the side walls  20 ,  22  to close within the confines between the front and rear walls  12 ,  14  and to easily open therebetween once the twist projections  56  are rotated away from the stops  54  in opening the storage container for use as a table. As will be appreciated, by unclipping the chain links  28 ,  30  and  32 ,  34 , by removing the channel guides  48 , and by releasing the bolts  25 , the container  10  can easily be disassembled, and released from the legs  24 ,  26  where employed. The panel walls of the container, along with the legs  24 ,  26  could then once again be packed for transportation on a horse or mule back out of the wilderness towards civilization.  
         [0015]    When constructed of aluminum or steel in the manner described above, a resulting weight of some 75 pounds or so could easily be carried by the pack animal singly, or in groups of two sets. And, as will be appreciated, when constructed of the aluminum or steel composition set out, the container  10 , once assembled, will essentially be “bear-proof” though easily disassemblable for removal, or when not needed.  
         [0016]    While there have been described what are considered to be preferred embodiments of the present invention, it will be readily appreciated by those skilled in the art that modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the teachings herein. For at least such reason, therefore, resort should be had to the claims appended hereto for a true understanding of the scope of the invention.