Nano-enhanced modularly constructed container

Abstract

Methods, systems, and apparatuses are provided herein for a container that can include one or more functions, and is modular in construction. In embodiments, the container is assembled to be relatively lightweight, while being stiff, strong, flexible, and/or durable. The container may include one or more functional elements configured to perform functions, such as power generation, power storage, wireless communications capability, data storage, sensor functions, display functionality, and/or further functions. The container may be formed from one or more multilayered panels. Materials forming layers of the panels may be enhanced with micro-scale and/or nano-scale technologies/components.

1 . A container, comprising:
 a plurality of panels that form an enclosure having an internal cavity, each panel comprising a plurality of layers arranged in a stack;   a nanomaterial dispersed in a material of at least one layer of at least one panel of the plurality of panels; and   an attachment mechanism that attaches together a first panel and a second panel of the plurality of panels.   
   
   
       2 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the first panel includes a first flange and the second panel includes a second flange. 
   
   
       3 . The container of  claim 2 , wherein the attachment mechanism includes a clip that couples the first flange to the second flange to attach the first panel to the second panel. 
   
   
       4 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the nanomaterial is one or more of a nanowire, a nanotube, a nanorod, or a nanoparticle. 
   
   
       5 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein a layer of at least one panel includes at least one of a woven material, a ribbon, a cured foam material, a plurality of solid rods, or a plurality of hollow tubes. 
   
   
       6 . The container of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 an adhesive material between one or more layers in the stack of at least one panel.   
   
   
       7 . The container of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 at least one functional element included in a layer of at least one panel.   
   
   
       8 . The container of  claim 7 , wherein the at least one functional element includes at least one of a power generator, a storage device, a communication module, a heat generator, a display, a microcontroller, or a sensor. 
   
   
       9 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein at least one panel includes an outer layer that is configured to provide protection for the container. 
   
   
       10 . The container of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 an opening through a panel that opens to the internal cavity; and   a door coupled to the panel that is configured to enable access and disable access to the internal cavity through the opening.   
   
   
       11 . A method of forming a container, comprising:
 attaching together a plurality of panels to form an enclosure having an internal cavity, each panel comprising a plurality of layers arranged in a stack, and at least one panel of the plurality of panels including a nanomaterial.   
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 forming a layer of a panel of the plurality of panels, said forming including
 dispersing the nanomaterial in a material used to form the layer. 
   
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 1   1 , wherein a first panel of the plurality of panels includes a first flange and a second panel of the plurality of panels includes a second flange, wherein said attaching comprises:
 clipping the first flange to the second flange to attach the first panel to the second panel.   
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 forming a layer of a panel of the plurality of panels that includes at least one of a woven material, a ribbon, a plurality of parallel solid rods, or a plurality of parallel hollow tubes.   
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 inserting a resin material into a mold; and   adding a catalyst material to the resin material to cause a foam material to be produced that conforms to the shape of the mold to form a layer of a panel of the plurality of panels.   
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 forming a layer of a panel of the plurality of layers that includes at least one functional element.   
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 forming a coating on a surface of the container configured to provide protection from an external stimulus.   
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 1   1 , further comprising:
 forming an opening through a panel of the plurality of panels that opens to the internal cavity; and   coupling a door to the panel that is configured to enable access and disable access to the internal cavity through the opening.   
   
   
       19 . A container, comprising:
 a monolithically molded container that forms an enclosure having an internal cavity, wherein at least one wall of the container includes a plurality of layers arranged in a stack; and   a nanomaterial dispersed in a material of at least one layer of the plurality of layers.