Convertible shipping container

Abstract

A convertible shipping container including a container body including a floor, roof, and first and second end walls, a sidewall hingedly attached to the container moveable between a first position perpendicular to the floor and a second position coplanar with the floor, an awning hingedly attached to the container moveable between a first position perpendicular to the roof and a second position at an angle with respect to the roof, and at least one awning support member, wherein the awning is extendable in at least one direction and wherein the hingedly attached edge of the awning is elevated with respect to the roof and overlies a portion of the roof when the awning is in the second position.

1 . A convertible shipping container, comprising:
 a container body including a floor, a roof, and first and second opposing end walls collectively defining a rectangular box;   a sidewall hingedly attached along one edge thereof to the container body about the floor such that the sidewall is selectively moveable between a first position perpendicular to the floor and a second position coplanar with the floor;   an awning hingedly attached along one edge thereof to the container body about the roof such that the awning is selectively moveable between a first position perpendicular to the roof and a second position at an angle with respect to the roof, wherein the awning is extendable in at least one direction and wherein the edge of the awning hingedly attached to the container body is elevated with respect to the roof and overlies a portion of the roof when the awning is in the second position; and   at least one support member adjustable in length attached to the awning for supporting the awning in the second position.   
     
     
         2 . The convertible shipping container according to  claim 1 , wherein the container body further comprises open ended tubular corner posts and a flange extending upward in a direction away from the roof for providing a drip edge such that water collected on the roof drains through the corner posts. 
     
     
         3 . The convertible shipping container according to  claim 1 , wherein the awning is extendible in a direction perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the container body. 
     
     
         4 . The convertible shipping container according to  claim 1 , wherein a free edge of the awning is vertically elevated with respect to the hingedly attached edge of the awning when the awning is in the second position such that the awning slopes toward the roof. 
     
     
         5 . The convertible shipping container according to  claim 1 , wherein the awning lies flush against the sidewall when the shipping container is in a closed configuration. 
     
     
         6 . The convertible shipping container according to  claim 1 , further comprising a mechanicals closet accessible through one of the first and second end walls. 
     
     
         7 . The convertible shipping container according to  claim 6 , further comprising a winch disposed in the mechanicals closet and associated cabling for moving the sidewall between the first and second positions. 
     
     
         8 . The convertible shipping container according to  claim 1 , further comprising a bracket positioned about a free edge of the sidewall for engaging the at least one support member when the awning is in the second position. 
     
     
         9 . The convertible shipping container according to  claim 1 , further comprising a removable floor section filling a gap between the sidewall and the floor when the sidewall is in the second position coplanar with the floor. 
     
     
         10 . A convertible shipping container, comprising:
 a container body including a floor, a roof, and first and second opposing end walls;   a sidewall hingedly attached along one edge thereof to the container body such that the sidewall is selectively moveable between a first position perpendicular to the floor and a second position coplanar with the floor;   an awning hingedly attached along one edge thereof to the container body such that the awning is selectively moveable between a first position perpendicular to the roof and a second position in which a free edge of the awning is at a position vertically elevated with respect to the hingedly attached edge such that the awning slopes in the direction toward the roof, and wherein the edge of the awning hingedly attached to the roof overlies a portion of the roof when the awning is in the second position; and   at least one support member adjustable in length attached to the awning for supporting the awning in the second position.   
     
     
         11 . The convertible shipping container according to  claim 10 , wherein the container body further comprises open ended tubular corner posts and a flange extending upward in a direction away from the roof for providing a drip edge such that water collected on the roof drains through the corner posts. 
     
     
         12 . The convertible shipping container according to  claim 10 , wherein the awning is extendible in a direction perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the container body. 
     
     
         13 . The convertible shipping container according to  claim 10 , wherein the awning lies flush against the sidewall when the shipping container is in a closed configuration. 
     
     
         14 . The convertible shipping container according to  claim 10 , further comprising a mechanicals closet accessible through one of the first and second end walls. 
     
     
         15 . The convertible shipping container according to  claim 14 , further comprising a winch disposed in the mechanicals closet and associated cabling for moving the sidewall between the first and second positions. 
     
     
         16 . The convertible shipping container according to  claim 10 , further comprising a bracket positioned about a free edge of the sidewall for engaging the at least one support member when the awning is in the second position. 
     
     
         17 . The convertible shipping container according to  claim 10 , further comprising a removable floor section filling a gap between the sidewall and the floor when the sidewall is in the second position coplanar with the floor.