Patent Publication Number: US-2021188532-A1

Title: Telescoping container system

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     Pursuant to 35 U.S.C. § 119(e), this application claims the benefit of U.S. Patent Application No. 62/952,407 filed on Dec. 22, 2019, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates generally to the field of intermodal containers, and more particularly, to a telescoping container system in which a smaller container is telescopically contained within a larger container. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     The present invention provides a telescoping container system in which one container is slidably coupled with another in a manner that allows a smaller container to slide into and out of a larger container while maintaining a seal between the two containers. Two pairs of guide wheels, one pair of which is a set of pivoting guide wheels, enable the seal mechanism to function effectively. The present invention also incorporates the telescoping frame system disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 9,555,558, 8,959,843 and 8,844,212. Although the inventions discussed below deal generally with telescoping compartments or living quarters, none of these inventions includes the pivoting guide wheel and gasket features of the present invention. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 6,108,983 (Dewald, Jr. et al., 2000) discloses a retractable room for mobile living quarters with a linkage that operates a riser mechanism to raise and lower the floors as the room is extended and retracted. According to the inventors, the riser mechanism is operated by a lever that pivots in response to movement of the floor to a predetermined position relative to the main living quarters. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 6,325,437 (Hiebert et al., 2001) provides a slide-out compartment for a vehicle in which a first vehicle compartment is mounted to a second vehicle compartment, and a follower is slidably mounted within a channel in the second vehicle compartment. The follower is also mounted to the distal end of the actuator, which causes the first compartment to move relative to the second compartment. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 6,598,354 (McManus et al., 2003) discloses a retractable room system with a main frame supporting a main living area and a slide-out room that slides between an extended position and a retracted position relative to the main living area. An extendable member mounted on the main frame is rigidly connected to the slide-out room floor so that the weight of the slide-out room is transferred from the floor of the main living room to the extendable member as the slide-out room moves from a retracted to an extended position. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 6,851,734 (Findley, 2005) provides a trailer or portable building with two telescoping open span box shells and a glide-over box shell section. Twin overhead “T” beams captivate a combination double foam weather seal and travel stop during extension. A suspension attached near the floor and near the ceiling allows walk-through floor space between the wheels when the trailer floor is in the drop-down mode. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 7,418,802 (Sarine et al., 2008) discloses an expandable shelter system having a transport mode in which a side expandable section is completely nested within an International Organization for Standardization (ISO)-style container and a deployment mode in which the side expandable section is completely protracted from the main shelter system. The flooring structure has a hinged flooring panel assembly with at least two floor panels that are hinged together so that they can be stacked compactly in a vertical direction when the side expandable section is nested within the main shelter section. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 9,103,111 (Nakajima et al., 2015) provides a deployment shelter with movable roof, floor, side and end panels, all of which are driven by actuators. The floor panel is coupled to the roof panel with four poles, which are also attached to the movable end panels. All of the movable panels are configured to move between an open and a closed position. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 10,219,447 (DeCarli et al., 1029) discloses a container system for use in farming. The container includes components and tools for assisting communities in conducting agricultural activities for off-grid localized food production. In one embodiment, the invention comprises a first container that is configured to fit within a second container. The second container has an open side with a wall section that is associated with the top of the second container and extends toward the top of the first container to close the space between the top of the second container and the top of the primary container when the system is in transport mode. The closed side of the first container forms one of the sides of the second container when positioned inside of the second containers, and a movement mechanism that is positioned between the first and second containers moves the first container into and out of the second container. 
     U.S. Patent Application Pub. Nos. 20120006369 and 20120151851 (Cantin et al.) provide an expandable shelter with the approximate dimensions of an ISO freight container. The expandable shelter has first and second substantially parallel corner posts disposed at a first end of the shelter and a ramp coupled with hinges that is disposed between the first and second corner posts when in a closed position. In one embodiment, the expandable shelter includes first and second expandable modules. A side wall of the container pivots downwardly about hinges to serve as a floor panel for the module. This panel may include a flange with a gasket that seals the interior of the shelter when in a deployed position. 
     U.S. Patent Application Pub. No. 20120261407 (Cross et al.) discloses a sea-land shipping container slideout conversion system in which the slideout unit has a floor, three walls and a roof. The slideout unit is mounted on a pair of vertically parallel slidable elevation members, which are slidably attached to two parallel horizontal sliding rails. The side of the container is cut out for the slideout unit, and a ridged steel frame is welded into the cut-out. A plurality of seals disposed about the slideout unit seal the slideout unit to the container both in an open and in a closed position. When the slideout unit is slid out of the container and lowered, it is locked in place outside of the container so that the floor of the slideout unit is level with the floor of the container. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention is a telescoping container system comprising: a first container having a top panel, a floor, a first side wall, a second side wall, a rear wall, and two front corner posts; a second container having a top panel, a floor, a first side wall, a second side wall, a front wall and two front corner posts, the second container being configured to slide into and out of the first container; a first non-pivoting guide wheel and a second non-pivoting guide wheel; a first pivoting guide wheel assembly and a second pivoting guide wheel assembly, each pivoting guide wheel assembly comprising a hinge, a front pivoting wheel plate, a rear pivoting wheel plate, and a wheel, the front and rear pivoting wheel plate both being pivotally attached to the hinge; two first elongated gaskets, a second elongated gasket, and two third elongated gaskets; and a front top rail that extends across a front edge of the top panel of the first container; wherein each of the first elongated gaskets is supported by a vertical gasket plate that extends laterally outward from the rear wall of the second container; wherein the second elongated gasket is situated along a horizontal gasket plate that extends across a top of the rear wall of the second container; wherein both of the first elongated gaskets are oriented perpendicularly relative to the second elongated gasket; wherein each of the first elongated gaskets is situated between one of the two side walls of the second container and one of the two sides walls of the first container; wherein the second elongated gasket is situated between the top panel of the second container and the top panel of the first container; wherein the second container has two rear corners, and each of the first and second non-pivoting guide wheels is situated at a top of one of the two rear corners of the second container; wherein each of the pivoting guide wheel assembles is situated on a wing that extends inwardly from one of the two front corner posts of the first container; wherein each of the first elongated gaskets is configured to create a seal between one of the two vertical gasket plates and a back surface of one of the wings when the invention is in an open position; wherein the second elongated gasket is configured to create a seal between the horizontal gasket plate and a rear surface of the front top rail when the invention is in an open position; wherein each of the third elongated gaskets extends vertically along a back surface of each of the front corner posts of the second container; and wherein each of the third elongated gaskets is configured to create a seal between each of the front corner posts of the second container and a front surface of each of the wings when the invention is in a closed position. 
     In a preferred embodiment, the invention further comprises a wiper seal that extends downwardly from a bar that is situated underneath the front top rail; wherein the top panel of the second container has a width, and wherein the wiper seal is at least as long as the width of the top panel of the second container; and wherein the wiper seal is configured to create a seal between the top panel of the second container and a front edge of the top panel of the first container. In another preferred embodiment, when the second container is situated inside of the first container, there is a certain distance between the side walls of the first container and the side walls of the second container; wherein the horizontal gasket plate extends beyond each of the first and second side walls of the second container for a distance that is less than the distance between the side walls of the first container and the side walls of the second container; wherein the horizontal gasket plate has a length, the rear wall of the second container has a width, and the length of the horizontal gasket plate is greater than the width of the rear wall of the second container; wherein the first non-pivoting guide wheel is connected to a first distal end of the horizontal gasket plate via a first bracket; wherein the second non-pivoting guide wheel is connected to a second distal end of the horizontal gasket plate via a second bracket; and wherein the first non-pivoting guide wheel is configured to be proximate to a corner bracket of the first container when the invention is in a closed position. 
     In yet another preferred embodiment, the first elongated gasket has a length, the second container has a height, and the length of the first elongated gasket is approximately equal to the height of the second container; and wherein the second elongated gasket has a length, the horizontal gasket plate has a length, and the length of the second elongated gasket is approximately equal to the length of the horizontal gasket plate. Preferably, the second elongated gasket is situated on top of the top panel of the second container; and the horizontal gasket plate is situated above the top panel of the second container. Each of the first elongated gaskets preferably has a top end; wherein the top end of each of the first elongated gaskets is lower than the non-pivoting guide wheel; and wherein the non-pivoting guide wheel is situated on a same horizontal plane as the second elongated gasket. 
     In a preferred embodiment, each of the front corner posts of the first container has a top and a bottom, and each wing extends from the top to the bottom of the front corner post; wherein each of the wings has a width, wherein there is a certain distance between the side walls of the first container and the side walls of the second container, and wherein the width of each wing is less than the distance between the first and second containers; wherein the vertical gasket plate has a width, and wherein the width of each wing is approximately equal to the width of the vertical gasket plate; and wherein a top end of each wing is situated underneath the top front rail. Preferably, each wing comprises a cutout that is situated behind and beneath the wiper seal; and each of the pivoting guide wheel assemblies is situated within the cutout in one of the two wings. In a preferred embodiment, the wheel is attached via a pin to a bracket that is pivotally attached to the hinge, and the bracket is longer than the front and rear pivoting wheel plates so that the wheel is not surrounded by the plates. 
     In a preferred embodiment, the first elongated gasket is configured to abut up against the rear pivoting wheel plate when the second container is moved fully forward. Preferably, each of the pivoting guide wheel assemblies is situated lower than each of the non-pivoting guide wheels relative to the top panel of the first container. Each of the pivoting guide wheel assemblies is preferably situated beneath the wiper seal and at or below a level of the top panel of the second container. 
     In a preferred embodiment, the wheel of each of the pivoting guide wheel assemblies is configured to be proximate to a rear corner post of the second container when the second container is in a fully extended position. Preferably, the top end of the first elongated gasket is configured to abut up against the rear pivoting wheel plate, thereby causing the pivoting guide wheel assembly to pivot forward, when the second container is moved fully forward. Preferably, the third elongated gasket is configured to come into contact with the front pivoting wheel plate of the pivoting guide wheel assembly, thereby causing the pivoting guide wheel assembly to pivot rearward, when the invention is in a closed position. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a front perspective view of the present invention shown in a closed position. 
         FIG. 2  is a front view of the present invention shown in a closed position. 
         FIG. 3  is a front perspective view of the present invention shown in an open position. 
         FIG. 4  is a front perspective view of the present invention shown in an open position with the top panel of the first container removed. 
         FIG. 5  is a rear perspective view of the present invention shown in an open position with the top panels of the first and second containers removed. 
         FIG. 6  is a rear perspective view of the present invention shown in a closed position with the top panel of the first container removed. 
         FIG. 7  is a top rear perspective detail view of the non-pivoting guide wheel shown with the present invention in a closed position. 
         FIG. 8  is top front perspective detail view of the non-pivoting guide wheel shown with the present invention in a closed position. 
         FIG. 9  is a top rear perspective detail view of the pivoting guide wheel shown with the present invention in a closed position. 
         FIG. 10  is a top rear perspective detail view of the non-pivoting guide wheel shown with the present invention in an open position. 
         FIG. 11  is top front perspective view of the pivoting and non-pivoting guide wheels shown with the invention in an open position. 
         FIG. 12  is a top perspective view of the pivoting and non-pivoting guide wheels shown with the invention in an open position. 
         FIG. 13  is a detail perspective view of the front top left corner of the present invention shown in an open position. 
         FIG. 14  is a section view of the present invention taken from the line shown in  FIG. 3 . 
         FIG. 15  is a section view of the present invention taken from the line shown in 
         FIG. 2 . 
     
    
    
     REFERENCE NUMBERS 
       1  First container 
       1   a  Top panel (of first container) 
       1   b  Floor (of first container) 
       1   c  Side wall (of first container) 
       1   d  Rear wall (of first container) 
       2  Second container 
       2   a  Top panel (of second container) 
       2   b  Floor (of second container) 
       2   c  Side wall (of second container) 
       2   d  Front wall (of second container) 
       3  Telescoping frame system 
       4  Front top rail (of first container) 
       5  Wiper seal 
       6  Bar 
       7  Non-pivoting guide wheel 
       8  Horizontal gasket plate 
       9  Bracket 
       10  Corner bracket 
       11  Vertical gasket plate 
       12  First elongated gasket 
       13  Second elongated gasket 
       14  Front corner post (of first container) 
       14   a  Wing (of front corner post) 
       14   b  Cutout/window (in wing) 
       14   c  Cap (on front corner post) 
       15  Pivoting guide wheel assembly 
       15   a  Front pivoting wheel plate 
       15   b  Rear pivoting wheel plate 
       15   c  Wheel 
       15   d  Pin 
       15   e  Bracket 
       16  Hinge 
       17  Front corner post (of second container) 
       18  Third elongated gasket 
       19  Rear corner post (of second container) 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF INVENTION 
       FIG. 1  is a front perspective view of the present invention shown in a closed position. As shown in this figure ,the present invention comprises a first container  1  and a second container  2 . The first container is preferably a standard ISO container with the front panel removed. The second container  2  is configured to slide into and out of the first container  1 . In this figure, the second container  2  is in a fully retracted position. Underlying the first and second containers is a telescoping frame system similar or identical to the one described in U.S. Pat. No. 8,555,558 (Trout et al., 2013), U.S. Pat. No. 8,844,212 (Trout et al., 2014), and U.S. Pat. No. 8,959,843 (Trout et al., 2015). The present invention pertains not to the underlying frame system but rather to a set of pivoting and non-pivoting guide wheels situated at the top of the first and second containers that facilitates the sliding of the second container into and out of the first container. 
       FIG. 2  is a front view of the present invention shown in a closed position. This figure shows the underlying frame system  3 , which is described in detail in the above-referenced patents. The first container  1  comprises a top panel  1   a , a floor  1   b , two side walls  1   c , and a rear wall  1   d . The second container comprises a top panel  2   a,  a floor  2   b , two side walls  2   c,  and a front wall  2   d.  The first container does not have a front wall, and the second container does not have a rear wall. 
       FIG. 3  is a front perspective view of the present invention shown in an open position. In this figure, the second container  2  is in a fully extended position. A front top rail  4  extends across the front edge of the top panel  1   a , and a wiper seal  5  extends downwardly from a bar  6  that is situated directly underneath the front top rail  4 . The wiper seal  4  is at least as long (and preferably longer) than the width of the top panel  2   a  of the second container  2 . The wiper seal  4  is configured to create a seal between the top panel  2   a  of the second container  2  and the front edge of the top panel  1   a  of the first container  1 . 
       FIG. 4  is a front perspective view of the present invention shown in an open position with the top panel of the first container removed. The area designed as “X” in  FIG. 4  is the area shown in detail in  FIGS. 10, 11, 12 and 14 . 
       FIG. 5  is a rear perspective view of the present invention shown in an open position with the top panels of the first and second containers removed. In this figure, the top panel  2   a  of the second container  2  has been omitted so that the floor  2   b  of the second container  2  is visible. 
       FIG. 6  is a rear perspective view of the present invention shown in a closed position with the top panel of the first container removed. The area designed as “Y” in  FIG. 6  is the area shown in detail in  FIGS. 7 and 8 , and the area designated as “Z” in  FIG. 6  is the area shown in detail in  FIG. 9 . 
       FIG. 7  is a top rear perspective detail view of the non-pivoting guide wheel shown with the present invention in a closed position. The present invention comprises two non-pivoting guide wheels  7 , each of which is situated at the top of one of the two rear corners of the second container  2 . As shown in  FIG. 7 , a horizontal gasket plate  8  extends across the top of the rear wall of the second container and beyond each of the two side walls of the second container for a certain distance that is less than the distance between the first and second containers. The overall length of the horizontal gasket plate  8  is greater than the width of the rear wall  2   c  of the second container  2 . The non-pivoting guide wheel  7  is connected to a first distal end of the horizontal gasket plate  8  via a bracket  9 . The purpose of the non-pivoting guide wheel  7  is to facilitate the sliding of the second container  2  into and out of the first container  1 . The non-pivoting guide wheel is preferably configured so that it is proximate to the corner bracket  10  of the first container  1  when the invention is in a closed position. 
       FIG. 8  is top front perspective detail view of the non-pivoting guide wheel shown with the present invention in a closed position. This figure is taken with the present invention in the same position as is shown in  FIG. 7 , except from the front perspective rather than the rear perspective. As shown in this figure, the invention further comprises a vertical gasket plate  11  that extends laterally outward from the rear wall  2   c  of the second container  2  for the full height of the second container. The vertical gasket plate  11  supports a first elongated gasket  12  that is situated along the outermost edge of the vertical gasket plate  11 . The invention further comprises a second elongated gasket  13  that is supported by the horizontal gasket plate  8 . The second elongated gasket  13  is situated along the uppermost edge of the horizontal gasket plate  8 . The length of the first elongated gasket  12  is preferably approximately equal to the height of the second container  2 , and the length of the second elongated gasket  13  is preferably equal to the length of the horizontal gasket plate  8 . The first and second elongated gaskets  12 ,  13 , are oriented perpendicularly to each other. The second elongated gasket  13  is situated on top of (that is, higher than) the top panel  2   a  of the second container  2 . The horizontal gasket plate  8  also extends higher than the top panel  2   a  of the second container  2 , as shown. The first elongated gasket  12  is situated between the side wall  2   c  of the second container  2  and the side wall  1   c  of the first container. The second elongated gasket  13  is situated between the top panel  2   a  of the second container  2  and the top panel  1   a  (not shown) of the first container. Note that the top end of the first elongated gasket  12  is lower than the non-pivoting guide wheel  7 , and the non-pivoting guide wheel  7  is situated on the same horizontal plane as the second elongated gasket  13  (see also  FIG. 7 ). 
       FIG. 9  is a top rear perspective detail view of the pivoting guide wheel shown with the present invention in a closed position. As shown in this figure, the first container  1  comprises two front corner posts  14 , each of which comprises a wing  14   a  that extends inwardly from the front corner post at the front of the first container  1  and from the top to the bottom of the front corner post  14 . The width of each wing  14   a  is less than the distance between the first and second containers. In fact, the width of the wing  14   a  is preferably the same as the width of the vertical gasket plate  11 . The top end of the wing  14   a  is situated directly underneath the front top rail  4 . The top part of the wing  14   a  comprises a cutout or window  14   b.  This window  14   b  is situated behind and beneath the wiper seal  5 . The wiper seal  5  is situated at the front of the front top rail  4 , whereas the wing  14   a  is situated at the back of the front top rail  4 , thereby leaving a space between the wiper seal  5  and the wing  14   a.  The front corner post comprises a cap  14   a.    
     The pivoting guide wheel assembly  15  is situated in the window  14   b  in the wing  14   a.  A hinge (not shown)  16  is situated on the front side of the wing  14   a,  and the pivoting guide wheel assembly  15  pivots on this hinge. A front pivoting wheel plate  15   a  (not shown) and a rear pivoting wheel plate  15   b,  situated on the front and rear sides of the pivoting rear assembly, respectively, are both pivotally attached to the hinge  16 . The wheel  15   c  is attached via a pin  15   d  to a bracket  15   e,  which is also pivotally attached to the hinge  16 . The bracket  15   e  is longer than the front and rear pivoting wheel plates  15   a ,  15   b  so that the wheel  15   c  is not surrounded by the plates. In this manner, the pivoting guide wheel assembly  15  is configured to pivot or rotate from front to back and back to front within the window  14   b.    
       FIG. 10  is a top rear perspective detail view of the non-pivoting guide wheel shown with the present invention in an open position. In this figure, the second compartment  2  has been moved fully forward into the position shown in  FIG. 3 . As shown, the non-pivoting guide wheel moves forward until it is proximate to the front corner post.  14 . 
       FIG. 11  is top front perspective view of the pivoting and non-pivoting guide wheels shown with the invention in an open position. When the second container  2  is moved fully forward, the top end of the first elongated gasket  12  abuts up against the rear pivoting wheel plate  15   b,  thereby causing the pivoting guide wheel assembly  15  to pivot forward to the position shown in this figure. The second elongated gasket  13  creates a seal between the horizontal gasket plate  8  and the front top rail  4 , which has been omitted form this figure for clarity. 
       FIG. 12  is a top perspective view of the pivoting and non-pivoting guide wheels shown with the invention in an open position. Note that the front top rail  4  has been removed from this figure for clarity. This figure clearly illustrates that the pivoting guide wheel assembly  15  is situated lower than the non-pivoting guide wheel  7 . The non-pivoting guide wheel  7  is situated on the distal end of the horizontal gasket plate  8 , which is situated above the top panel  2  of the second container  2 . The pivoting guide wheel assembly  15  is situated beneath the wiper seal and at or slightly below the level of the top panel  2   a  of the second container  2  (see  FIG. 13 ). 
       FIG. 14  is a section view of the present invention taken from the line shown in  FIG. 3 . As shown in this figure, the wheel  15   c  of the pivoting guide wheel assembly  15  is configured so that it comes into contact with the rear corner post  19  of the second container when the second container is fully extended (see also  FIG. 11 ). 
       FIG. 15  is a section view of the present invention taken from the line shown in  FIG. 2 . As shown in this figure, the second container comprises two front corner posts  17 , each of which has a back surface. A third elongated gasket  18  extends vertically along the outer edge of the back surface of each of the front corner posts  17  (see  FIG. 5 ). When the invention is in a closed position, the third elongated gasket  18  comes into contact with the front pivoting wheel plate  15   a  of the pivoting guide wheel assembly  15 , thereby causing the pivoting guide wheel assembly  15  to pivot rearward to the position shown. The third elongated gasket  18  creates a seal between the front corner post  17  and the wing  14   b  when the invention is in a closed position. The first elongated gasket  12  (which is also vertically oriented) creates a seal between the vertical gasket plate  11  and the wing  14   b  when the invention is in an open position (see  FIG. 14 ). 
     Although the preferred embodiment of the present invention has been shown and described, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that many changes and modifications may be made without departing from the invention in its broader aspects. The appended claims are therefore intended to cover all such changes and modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention.