US 12,077,371 B2
Transformable cargo containers
Robert E. Grip, Rancho Palos Verdes, CA (US); Ted K. Rothaupt, Chicago, IL (US); and Alan C. Simonini, Chicago, IL (US)
Assigned to The Boeing Company, Arlington, VA (US)
Filed by The Boeing Company, Chicago, IL (US)
Filed on Jan. 20, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/580,064.
Prior Publication US 2023/0227245 A1, Jul. 20, 2023
Int. Cl. B65D 88/00 (2006.01); B65D 88/74 (2006.01); F25D 11/00 (2006.01)
CPC B65D 88/005 (2013.01) [B65D 88/745 (2013.01); F25D 11/003 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A transformable cargo container for use with ground and air transportation vehicles, the transformable cargo container comprising:
a main container body defining a storage chamber therein; and
a transformable assembly coupled to the main container body and positioned at an exterior of the main container body, wherein:
the main container body comprises a track disposed on a longitudinal sidewall of the main container body,
the transformable assembly comprises one or more supplemental containers and is configured to be movable between an aircraft configuration and a ground configuration,
the one or more supplemental containers comprises a fulcrum box positioned at a lateral sidewall of the main container body,
the fulcrum box is slidably and pivotably coupled to the track of the main container body,
based on the transformable assembly being in the aircraft configuration, the transformable cargo container has a non-rectangular cross-sectional area and is configured to occupy a partially-circular cross-sectional storage area of a fuselage of an aircraft, and
based on the transformable assembly being in the ground configuration, the transformable cargo container is configured to occupy a rectangular cross-sectional storage area on a ground transportation vehicle.