Variable length container

Abstract

A variable length container comprising a central member, a pair of wing members, and a support assembly. In some embodiments, the variable length container also comprises at least one intermediate member and sidewalls. The interconnectivity of the components permit the user to vary the length of the container as needed.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A variable length container comprising:
 a base formed from a central member, a first wing member, and a second wing member;
 said central member having a pair of external edges; 
 said first wing member and said second wing member each having an internal edge, said internal edge of each wing member being adapted to interlock with one of the external edges of said central member. 
   
     
     
         2 . The container of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one intermediate member interposed between at least one of said wing members and said central member. 
     
     
         3 . The container of  claim 2 , wherein each of said at least one intermediate member has an external edge and an opposing internal edge;
 said external edge of each said at least one intermediate member being configured identically to said external edges of the central member;   said internal edge of each said at least one intermediate member being adapted to interlock with an external edge of said central member and being adapted to interlock with said external edge of another of said at least one intermediate member.   
     
     
         4 . The container of  claim 1 , further comprising a first intermediate member and a second intermediate member;
 wherein the first intermediate member is interposed between said first wing member and said central member;   wherein the second intermediate member is interposed between said second wing member and said central member.   
     
     
         5 . The container of  claim 4 , wherein said first intermediate member and said second intermediate member each having an external edge and an opposing internal edge;
 said external edge of each said first and second intermediate member being configured identically to said external edges of the central member;   said internal edge of each said first and second intermediate member being adapted to interlock with an external edge of said central member.   
     
     
         6 . The container of  claim 5 , wherein the central member, the first wing member, the second wing member, the first intermediate member, and the second intermediate member each further comprise a middle section and a pair of opposing end sections;
 wherein said middle sections cooperate to form a floor of said container and said opposing end sections extend upward.   
     
     
         7 . The container of  claim 6 , wherein the base further comprises a first pair of opposing sides and a second pair of opposing sides;
 wherein the first pair of opposing sides are defined by an external edge of the first wing member and an external edge of the second wing member;   wherein the second pair of opposing sides are defined by said opposing end sections of the central member, the first wing member, the second wing member, the first intermediate member, and the second intermediate member.   
     
     
         8 . The container of  claim 7 , further comprising a first pair of opposing sidewalls and a second pair of opposing sidewalls. 
     
     
         9 . The container of  claim 8 , wherein said first pair of opposing sidewalls and said second pair of opposing sidewalls each define a bottom edge having a plurality of teeth;
 wherein said external edge of each wing member forms a plurality of receiving notches adapted to receive the plurality of teeth of the first pair of opposing sidewalls;   wherein said opposing end sections of the central member, the first wing member, the second member, the first intermediate member and the second intermediate member define a plurality of receiving notches adapted to receive the plurality of teeth of the second pair of opposing sidewalls.   
     
     
         10 . The container of  claim 9 , further comprising a support assembly having a central forkstrap, a first end forkstrap, a second end forkstrap, and a plurality of horizontal supports. 
     
     
         11 . The container of  claim 10 , wherein the central forkstrap comprises a middle component integrally connected to a pair of opposing end components, the end components each having opposing sides defining a series of tines, the central forkstrap being configured to be received in a bottom surface of the central member;
 wherein said first end forkstrap and said second end forkstrap each comprise a middle component integrally connected to a pair of opposing end components, the pair of opposing end components each having an internal side and an external side, the internal side defining a series of tines, said first end forkstrap and said second end forkstrap each being configured to be received in a bottom surface of one of the wing members;   wherein the central forkstrap, the first end forkstrap, and the second end forkstrap each have a length suitable to span a length of the middle sections.   
     
     
         12 . The container of  claim 11 , wherein the plurality of horizontal supports each comprise a rectangular shape having a pair of opposing ends, each of the opposing ends defining an aperture which is adapted to receive the series of tines of the central forkstrap and the series of tines of one of the end forkstraps. 
     
     
         13 . The container of  claim 12 , wherein the plurality of horizontal supports each have a length suitable to engage both the central forkstrap and one of the end forkstraps. 
     
     
         14 . A variable length container comprising:
 a base formed from a central member, a first wing member, and a second wing member;
 said central member having a pair of external edges, a middle section, and a pair of opposing end sections, each of said pair of opposing end sections of said central member being positioned perpendicular to and extending vertically from the middle section of said central member; 
 said first wing member and said second wing member each having an internal edge, an opposing external edge, a middle section, and a pair of opposing end sections, said pair of opposing end sections of each wing member being positioned perpendicular to and extending vertically from the middle section of each wing member, said internal edge of each wing member being adapted to interlock with one of the external edges of said central member. 
   
     
     
         15 . The container of  claim 14 , further comprising an at least one intermediate member interposed between at least one of said wing members and said central member;
 wherein each of said at least one intermediate member has an external edge, an opposing internal edge, a middle section, and a pair of opposing end sections, each of said pair of opposing end sections of said at least on intermediate member being positioned perpendicular to and extending vertically from the middle section of said at least one intermediate member;   said external edge of each said at least one intermediate member being configured identically to said external edges of the central member;   said internal edge of each said at least one intermediate member being adapted to interlock with an external edge of said central member and being adapted to interlock with said external edge of another of said at least one intermediate member.   
     
     
         16 . The container of  claim 15 , wherein said middle sections of said central member, said wing members, and said at least one intermediate member cooperate to form a floor of said container. 
     
     
         17 . The container of  claim 16 , wherein the base further comprises a first pair of opposing sides and a second pair of opposing sides;
 wherein the first pair of opposing sides are defined by the external edge of the first wing member and the external edge of the second wing member, said first pair of opposing sides defining a pair of edges having a plurality of receiving notches;   wherein the second pair of opposing sides are defined by said opposing end sections of the central member, the first wing member, the second wing member, and the at least one intermediate member, said second pair of opposing sides defining a pair of edges having a plurality of receiving notches.   
     
     
         18 . The container of  claim 17 , further comprising a first pair of opposing sidewalls and a second pair of opposing sidewalls;
 wherein said first pair of opposing sidewalls define a bottom edge having a plurality of teeth, said plurality of teeth being adapted to be received in the plurality of receiving notches of the first pair of opposing sides;   wherein said second pair of opposing sidewalls define a bottom edge having a plurality of teeth, said plurality of teeth being adapted to be received in the plurality of receiving notches of the second pair of opposing sides.   
     
     
         19 . A variable length container comprising:
 a base formed from a central member, a first wing member, a second wing member, a first intermediate member, and a second intermediate member;   said central member having a pair of external edges, a middle section, and a pair of opposing end sections, each of said pair of opposing end sections of said central member being positioned perpendicular to and extending vertically from the middle section of said central member;   said first wing member and said second wing member each having an internal edge, an opposing external edge, a middle section, and a pair of opposing end sections, said pair of opposing end sections of each wing member being positioned perpendicular to and extending vertically from the middle section of each wing member, said internal edge of each wing member being adapted to interlock with one of the external edges of said central member;   said first intermediate member and said second intermediate member each having an external edge, an opposing internal edge, a middle section, and a pair of opposing end sections, said pair of opposing end sections of each intermediate member being positioned perpendicular to and extending vertically from the middle section of each intermediate member, the first intermediate member being interposed between said first wing member and said central member, the second intermediate member being interposed between said second wing member and said central member, said external edge of each said first and second intermediate members being configured identically to said external edges of the central member, said internal edge of each said first and second intermediate members being adapted to interlock with an external edge of said central member.   
     
     
         20 . The container of  claim 19 , further comprising at least three intermediate members each having an external edge and an opposing internal edges;
 said external edge of each said at least three intermediate members being configured identically to said external edges of the central member;   said internal edge of each said at least three intermediate members being adapted to interlock with an external edge of said central member and being adapted to interlock with said external edge of another of said at least three intermediate members.