Container, assemblies, and methods for operating the same

Abstract

A container is disclosed. The container includes a base portion and a support portion removably-connected to the base portion. Each of the base portion and the support portion includes a plurality of panels and members. Some of the plurality of panels and members of the base portion forms at least one cavity. The at least one cavity defines a first cavity portion in fluid communication with a second cavity portion. The support portion is arrangable in one of: a stowed orientation within the first cavity portion of the at least one cavity of the base portion; and a deployed orientation outside of the second cavity portion of the at least one cavity of the base portion. An assembly is also disclosed. The assembly includes the container and at least one item supported by the support portion of the container.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A container comprising:
 a base portion; and   a support portion movably-connected to the base portion, wherein each of the base portion and the support portion includes a plurality of panels and members,   wherein some of the plurality of panels and members of the base portion forms at least one cavity,   wherein the at least one cavity defines a first cavity portion in fluid communication with a second cavity portion,   wherein the support portion is arrangable in one of:
 a stowed orientation within at least the first cavity portion of the at least one cavity of the base portion; and 
 a deployed orientation outside of the first cavity portion of the at least one cavity of the base portion. 
   
     
     
         2 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the first cavity portion of the at least one cavity is in fluid communication with surrounding atmosphere. 
     
     
         3 . The container of  claim 2 , wherein the plurality of panels and members of the base portion include:
 a first side panel member;   a second side panel member; and   a shelf panel member ( 22 ,  922 ) connecting the first side panel member to the second side panel member,   wherein the shelf panel member divides the at least one cavity for defining a lower cavity and an upper cavity,   wherein the first cavity portion in fluid communication with the second cavity portion defines the lower cavity.   
     
     
         4 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one cavity is defined by a cavity height, and wherein some of the plurality of panels and members of the base portion include at least one front closure panel member. 
     
     
         5 . The container of  claim 4 , wherein the at least one front closure panel member is defined by a closure height that is less than the cavity height. 
     
     
         6 . The container of  claim 3 , wherein the at least one closure panel member is defined by a first front closure panel member and a second front closure panel member. 
     
     
         7 . The container of  claim 6 , wherein the first front closure panel member is hingedly-secured to an inner side surface of the first side panel member by at least one first hinge bracket, wherein the second front closure panel member is hingedly-secured to an inner side surface of the second side panel member by at least one second hinge bracket 
     
     
         8 . The container of  claim 7 , wherein at least one of the first front closure panel member and the second front closure panel member of the first pair of front closure panel members is permitted to pivot from a fully closed orientation to a fully open orientation at a pivot angle equal to approximately 180°. 
     
     
         9 . The container of  claim 5 , wherein the cavity height of cavity includes a first cavity height portion of the first cavity portion of the at least one cavity and a second cavity height portion of the second cavity portion of the at least one cavity, wherein the closure height is approximately equal to the second cavity height portion of the second cavity portion of the at least one cavity, and wherein the at least one front closure panel member is configured to selectively conceal the second cavity portion of the at least one cavity. 
     
     
         10 . The container of  claim 5 , wherein the at least one front closure panel member does not extend across the first cavity portion of the at least one cavity. 
     
     
         11 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the support portion is slidably-connected to the base portion. 
     
     
         12 . The container of  claim 11 , wherein the support portion is slidably-connected to the base portion by a pair of slide brackets having:
 a first bracket portion fixedly-mounted to an outer side surface of each of a first side panel and a second side panel of the support portion; and   a second bracket portion fixedly-mounted to an inner side surface of each of the first side panel member and the second side panel member.   
     
     
         13 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the support portion includes a first side panel and a second side panel, wherein at least one of the first side panel and the second side panel is defined by an L-shape including a first segment and a second segment extending substantially perpendicularly from the first segment. 
     
     
         14 . The container of  claim 13 , wherein both of the first side panel and the second side panel each are defined by the L-shape. 
     
     
         15 . The container of  claim 14 , wherein the support portion further includes a handle ( 944 ) extending between and connecting the first side panel to the second side panel. 
     
     
         16 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein a ramp portion is connected to the support portion. 
     
     
         17 . An assembly comprising:
 a container including a base portion and a support portion movably-connected to the base portion, wherein each of the base portion and the support portion include a plurality of panels and members, wherein some of the plurality of panels and members of the base portion ( 12 ,  912 ) forms at least one cavity, wherein the at least one cavity defines a first cavity portion in fluid communication with a second cavity portion, wherein the support portion is arrangable in one of:
 a stowed orientation within at least the first cavity portion of the at least one cavity of the base portion; and 
 a deployed orientation outside of the first cavity portion of the at least one cavity of the base portion; and 
   at least one item supported by the support portion.   
     
     
         18 . The assembly of  claim 17 , wherein the at least one item includes:
 a docking station, wherein the docking station includes a docking portion and a tower portion that is connected to and extends away from the docking portion.   
     
     
         19 . The assembly of  claim 18 , wherein the docking portion is arranged within the first cavity portion of the at least one cavity of the base portion, wherein the tower portion is arranged within the second cavity portion of the at least one cavity of the base portion. 
     
     
         20 . The assembly of  claim 19 , wherein the at least one item further includes:
 a floor-engaging mobile device, wherein the floor-engaging mobile device is selectively-connected to the docking portion in one of:   a docked orientation within the first cavity portion of at least one cavity of the base portion; and   an undocked orientation outside of the first cavity portion of at least one cavity of the base portion.   
     
     
         21 . The assembly of  claim 17 , wherein some of the plurality of panels and members of the base portion include at least one front closure panel member. 
     
     
         22 . The assembly of  claim 21 , wherein the least one front closure panel member is defined by a first front closure panel member and a second front closure panel member. 
     
     
         23 . The assembly of  claim 21 , wherein the at least one front closure panel member is configured to selectively conceal the second cavity portion of the at least one cavity. 
     
     
         24 . The assembly of  claim 17 , wherein the first cavity portion of the at least one cavity is in fluid communication with surrounding atmosphere. 
     
     
         25 . The assembly of  claim 18 , wherein the support portion is slidably-connected to the base portion for selectively arranging the docking station in one of:
 a stowed orientation within the first cavity portion and the second cavity portion of the at least one cavity of the base portion; and   a deployed orientation outside of the first cavity portion and the second cavity portion of the at least one cavity of the base portion.