Adjustable length container

Abstract

An adjustable length container that includes an inner container section and an outer container section that fit telescopically together to enable the length of the container to be adjusted. The bottom and side walls of the outer container section include at least two sections so that one of the sections can be removed to shorten the total length of the container. The container optionally includes a removable end wall on the outer container section, a removable and length-adjustable partition in the inner container section and complementary features that permit multiple containers to be securely stacked.

I claim: 
     
         1 . An adjustable length container, comprising:
 (a) an inner container section having first and second laterally spaced-apart inner side walls and an end wall having a predetermined dimensioned length, width, and height, and a bottom connected to the first and second spaced-apart inner side walls and end wall;   (b) a pair of upper rails positioned adjacent and extending along the first and second spaced-apart inner side walls of the inner container section;   (c) an outer container section having first and second laterally spaced-apart outer side walls and an end wall defining a predetermined dimensioned length, width, and height, and a bottom connected to the first and second spaced-apart inner side walls and bottom, the predetermined dimensional length, width and height of the outer container section having dimensions adapted to telescopically receive the inner container section in a predetermined overlapping configuration relative to the outer container section;   (d) the first and second laterally spaced-apart outer side walls each comprising first and second side wall panels attached on adjacent side edges;   (e) the bottom comprising first and second bottom panels attached on adjacent end edges;   (f) a pair of upper rails positioned adjacent to and extending along the first and second laterally spaced-apart outer side walls of the outer container section and dimensioned to telescopically receive the pair of upper rails of the inner section therein; and   (g) the pair of upper rails of the inner container section and the pair of upper rails of the outer container section having complementary inner and outer locking elements for locking the inner and outer container sections in the predetermined telescopically overlapping configuration defining a storage area.   
     
     
         2 . The adjustable length container according to  claim 1 , wherein the first and second side wall panels of the first and second laterally spaced-apart outer side walls are attached on adjacent side edges by complementary dovetails. 
     
     
         3 . The adjustable length container according to  claim 1 , wherein the first and second bottom panels are attached on adjacent end edges by complementary dovetails. 
     
     
         4 . The adjustable length container according to  claim 1 , wherein at least one pin-receiving hole is provided along a length of the inner pair of upper rails and adapted to lock the inner and outer container sections in the predetermined telescopically overlapping configuration. 
     
     
         5 . The adjustable length container according to  claim 1 , and including:
 (a) an inner pair of lower rails positioned adjacent and extending along parallel lengthwise side walls of the inner container section;   (b) an outer pair of lower rails positioned adjacent to and extending along parallel lengthwise side walls of the outer container section, dimensioned to telescopically receive the inner pair of lower rails therein; and   (c) the inner pair of lower rails and the outer pair of lower rails having complementary inner and outer locking elements for locking the inner and outer container sections in the predetermined telescopically overlapping configuration.   
     
     
         6 . The adjustable length container according to  claim 5 , wherein the complementary inner and outer locking elements comprise at least one pin-receiving hole formed in each of the inner pair of lower rails and adapted to receive a removable locking pin therein. 
     
     
         7 . The adjustable length container according to  claim 6 , wherein the at least one pin-receiving hole comprises a plurality of pin-receiving holes spaced along a length of the inner pair of lower rails. 
     
     
         8 . The adjustable length container according to  claim 1 , wherein the end wall is removable. 
     
     
         9 . The adjustable length container according to  claim 1 , and including an adjustable, laterally extending partition positioned within the container for dividing the storage area within the container into two separate zones. 
     
     
         10 . The adjustable length container according to  claim 9 , wherein the adjustable, laterally extending partition is positioned within the inner container section. 
     
     
         11 . The adjustable length container according to  claim 1 , and including a pair of laterally spaced-apart casters positioned on one or another of the inner or outer container sections. 
     
     
         12 . The adjustable length container according to  claim 1 , wherein the rails are tubular with an inside dimension of the inner pair of upper and lower rails dimensioned to be telescopically received in the outer pair of upper and lower rails. 
     
     
         13 . An adjustable length container, comprising:
 (a) an inner container section having first and second laterally spaced-apart inner side walls and an end wall having a predetermined dimensioned length, width, and height, and a bottom connected to the first and second spaced-apart inner side walls and end wall;   (b) a pair of upper rails positioned adjacent and extending along the first and second spaced-apart inner side walls of the inner container section;   (c) an outer container section having first and second laterally spaced-apart outer side walls and an end wall defining a predetermined dimensioned length, width, and height, and a bottom connected to the first and second spaced-apart inner side walls and bottom, the predetermined dimensional length, width and height of the outer container section having dimensions adapted to telescopically receive the inner container section in a predetermined overlapping configuration relative to the outer container section;   (d) the first and second laterally spaced-apart outer side walls each comprising first and second side wall panels attached on adjacent side edges by complementary dovetails;   (e) the bottom comprising first and second bottom panels attached on adjacent end edges by complementary dovetails;   (f) a pair of upper rails positioned adjacent to and extending along the first and second laterally spaced-apart outer side walls of the outer container section and dimensioned to telescopically receive the pair of upper rails of the inner section therein;   (g) the pair of upper rails of the inner container section and the pair of upper rails of the outer container section having complementary inner and outer locking elements for locking the inner and outer container sections in the predetermined telescopically overlapping configuration defining a storage area;   (h) wherein at least one pin-receiving hole is provided along a length of the inner pair of upper rails and adapted to lock the inner and outer container sections in the predetermined telescopically overlapping configuration;   (i) an inner pair of lower rails positioned adjacent and extending along parallel lengthwise side walls of the inner container section;   (j) an outer pair of lower rails positioned adjacent to and extending along parallel lengthwise side walls of the outer container section, dimensioned to telescopically receive the inner pair of lower rails therein; and   (k) the inner pair of lower rails and the outer pair of lower rails having complementary inner and outer locking elements for locking the inner and outer container sections in the predetermined telescopically overlapping configuration.   
     
     
         14 . The adjustable length container according to  claim 13 , and including guide channels formed in the interconnected side walls of the inner container section for cooperating with pins carried by the outer container section and positioned in the guide channels. 
     
     
         15 . The adjustable length container according to  claim 13 , and including guide channels formed in the interconnected side walls and the bottom of the inner container section for cooperating with pins carried by interconnected side walls and bottom of the outer container section and positioned in the guide channels. 
     
     
         16 . The adjustable length container according to  claim 13 , and including upwardly-extending stubs positioned on first, second, third and fourth corners of the container in vertical alignment with tubular corner members vertically positioned on first, second, third and fourth corners of the container, the stubs of the container adapted to fit into the tubular corner members of a second like container stacked on the container. 
     
     
         17 . The adjustable length container according to  claim 16 , and including tubular side members mounted on and extending downwardly from the lower rails of the outer container section of the container intermediate the first, second, third and fourth tubular corner members of the container and adapted to fit over locking elements of the upper rails of a second like container stacked on the container. 
     
     
         18 . The adjustable length container according to  claim 13 , and including an adjustable, laterally extending partition positioned within the container for dividing the storage area within the container into two separate zones. 
     
     
         19 . The adjustable length container according to  claim 18 , wherein the adjustable, laterally extending partition is positioned within the inner container section. 
     
     
         20 . The adjustable length container according to  claim 13 , and including first and second tubular reinforcing bars extending longitudinally along an underside of the container, the tubular reinforcing bars of the outer container section being dimensioned to telescopically receive the tubular reinforcing bars of the inner container section therein.