Patent ID: 8117670

Claim:
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 rotatable 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 hoisting device is a longitudinally adjustable support, wherein an equalizing device is operatively arranged so that a vertical change in position of an exterior end of the at least one expansion element is compensated by preferably equal vertical change in position to an interior end of the at least one expansion element adjacent the basic unit, wherein guide rails are arranged on the at least one hinged side panel such that the at least one expansion element is guided in the guide rails when being telescoped out of or retracted into the basic unit, wherein the guide rails comprise first and second hinged sections, wherein in a raised position of the hinged side panel the second hinged section is located adjacent to the basic unit and the first hinged section is located distant from the basic unit, with the first section being rigidly connected to the hinged side panel and the second section being foldable down from the hinged side panel.