Cargo container for storing and transporting cargo

Abstract

The present invention provides a cargo container that is light weight, strong, which forms an ultraviolet light, weather/dust particle barrier and which controls the climate inside the cargo container to protect the integrity of the cargo.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A container comprising:
 an assembly of a base, a top and at least two wall structures, each of said wall structures having an inside surface, an outside surface, a thickness joining the inside and outside surfaces, and four inside edges and four outside edges, a first of said outside edges of said wall structure having an interface feature comprising an extension, said extension having a thickness and a wrapping portion that wraps at a substantially 90° angle about a portion of said corresponding first inside edge, forming a channel therebetween the inside and outside surface.   
     
     
         2 . The container of  claim 1  wherein a second of said inside edges having an interface feature that extends beyond said second outside edge, said interface feature having a thickness for mating with said channel formed by said wrapping portion of an adjacent wall. 
     
     
         3 . The container of  claim 1  wherein said wrapping portion has a rounded outside surface. 
     
     
         4 . The container of  claim 2  wherein said wrapping portion comprises a shape such that mating of adjacent walls generates a rounded, chamfered and/or otherwise shaped corner of the container. 
     
     
         5 . The container of  claim 1  wherein said base having a top surface, a bottom surface with a thickness joining the top and bottom surfaces, said top surface comprises a platform portion, a circumferential edge portion, and an interface feature disposed between said platform portion and said circumferential edge portion, said interface feature comprises a groove, a channel, a protrusion, a ridge, a step edge configuration or combinations thereof. 
     
     
         6 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein said base, top and wall structures interfaced together with features comprising respective depression, channels, ridges, protrusion and extensions having wrapping portions matting to form an enclosure without any aid from any component that is not part of the base, top or wall structures that form the container. 
     
     
         7 . The container of  claim 6 , further comprising slots formed or molded onto the inside surface of at least three of the base, and wall structures for locating at least one divider to form multiple compartments inside the enclosure. 
     
     
         8 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein each of said at least two wall structures comprises two wall components integrally formed together to form a substantially L-shape half. 
     
     
         9 . The container of  claim 1 , further comprising a pocket on the inside surface of any of the wall structures and top surface of the base for containing a phase change material. 
     
     
         10 . A container for loading and transporting a cargo item comprising:
 a base structure having a top surface and a bottom surface joined by a thickness, said top surface having a main platform portion, an interface feature surrounding the main platform portion, and an outer edge portion surrounding the interface feature; and   two identical wall structures, each of said wall structures having an inside surface, an outside surface, a thickness joining the inside and outside surfaces, four inside edges and four outside edges; wherein each wall structure having an interface feature for mating with said interface feature of said base and an interface feature for mating with an interface feature of an adjacent wall to form an enclosure;   
       wherein a first of said outside edges of each of said wall structures having an interface feature comprising an extension, said extension having a thickness and a wrapping portion that wraps at a substantially 90° angle about a portion of said corresponding inside edges, forming a channel therebetween the inside and outside surface for receiving a corresponding mating interface feature of one of other said edges of an adjacent wall structure. 
     
     
         11 . The container of  claim 10 , wherein said interface feature of one of the other edges of said adjacent wall structure comprises a protrusion or ridge. 
     
     
         12 . The container of  claim 10 , wherein any of the surfaces has antimicrobial properties. 
     
     
         13 . The container of  claim 10  wherein said interface feature of said base comprises a protrusion, a ridge, a channel, or a groove. 
     
     
         13 . The container of  claim 10 , wherein each of said wall structures comprises two wall components integrally formed together to form a substantially L-shape half. 
     
     
         14 . The container of  claim 10 , further comprising one or more Radio Frequency IDentification (RFID) tags affixed on or embedded in any of the base, or wall structures. 
     
     
         15 . The container of  claim 14  further comprising a RFID reader able to read one or more RFID tags in the vicinity, wherein the processor can transmit to a base station one or more parameters selected from the group consisting of one or more RFID tag location, one or more RFID tag identification code, cargo information, cargo condition, cargo container condition and time stamp. 
     
     
         16 . A container for loading and transporting a cargo item in a volume comprising:
 a base structure having a top surface and a bottom surface joined by a thickness, said top surface having a main platform portion, an interface feature surrounding the main platform portion, and an outer edge portion surrounding the interface feature;   four identical wall structures, each of said wall structures having an inside surface, an outside surface, a thickness joining the inside and outside surfaces, four inside edges and four outside edges; wherein each wall structure having an interface feature for mating with said interface feature of said base and an interface feature for mating with an interface feature of an adjacent wall to form an enclosure; and   a plurality of supports extending from the bottom surface of said base structure;   
       wherein a first of said outside edges of each of said wall structures having an interface feature comprising an extension, said extension having a thickness and a wrapping portion that wraps at a substantially 90° angle about a portion of said corresponding inside edge, forming a channel therebetween the inside and outside surface for receiving a corresponding mating interface feature of one of other said edges of an adjacent wall structure. 
     
     
         17 . The container of  claim 16 , wherein a plurality of runners are affixed to the plurality of supports. 
     
     
         18 . The container of  claim 16 , further comprising a pocket on the inside surface of any of the base and wall structures for containing a phase change material. 
     
     
         19 . The container of  claim 16 , further comprising a bag-like enclosure covering said container for facilitating airport security check. 
     
     
         20 . The container of  claim 16 , wherein at least one of the surfaces has antimicrobial properties.