Adjustable basket for storing and transporting cargo

Abstract

An adjustable basket for storing and transporting elongate cargo is provided. A central basket member has a substantially rectangular base and vertical walls along both long sides of the base. A first end member is slidably received within the central basket member at one end of the central basket member. A second end member is slidably received within the central basket member at the opposite end of the central basket member. Once set, the slidable first and second ends of the adjustable basket of the present invention can be locked in a desired position.

Description

CROSS REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] NONE STATEMENTS AS TO RIGHTS TO INVENTIONS MADE UNDER FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT [0002] NONE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0003] 1. Field of the Invention [0004] The present invention relates generally to an apparatus for storing and transporting cargo. More specifically, the present invention relates to an adjustable basket for storing and transporting elongate cargo, such as tubing or pipe. More specifically, the present invention relates to an adjustable basket for storing and transporting elongate cargo, wherein the length of said basket can be selectively extended or collapsed. [0005] 2. Description of the Prior Art [0006] Various types of elongate members including, but not limited to, pipes and tubing are commonly used in construction projects and other activities, such as the drilling of oil and gas wells. Frequently, large amounts of drill pipe are used to drill oil and / or gas wells, while large amounts of cas...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0013] The overall length of the basket of the present invention in general, and the cargo-supporting area in particular, are adjustable. Specifically, said basket can be extended, as desired, to accommodate multiple different types or sizes of cargo having variable lengths. Once such cargo is removed, the basket of the present invention can be collapsed to make storage and transportation of said (empty) basket more efficient.

[0015] During storage, such as after all elongate cargo has been removed from the basket, said first and second end members can be fully collapsed, that is, retracted, within said central basket member. In such fully collapsed position, the overall length of the basket of the present invention is substantially reduced. As a result, storage and handling of said basket is typically much easier than when the adjustable basket is fully extended.

[0017] Once the basket and cargo have been transported to a desired location and the elongate cargo has been completely removed from the basket, the first and second end members can be fully collapsed to reduce the overall length of the basket. Such reduction in the length of the basket permits easy storage of said basket, as well as return transportation of said basket to its point of origin.

Problems solved by technology

Frequently, large amounts of drill pipe are used to drill oil and / or gas wells, while large amounts of casing and production tubing are often required to equip such wells for production.

Rough seas can cause such vessels to rock, which in turn can cause such tubular goods to roll around in an uncontrolled manner.

Because such tubular goods can be very heavy, rolling pipe can present a safety hazard to such vessels and personnel situated thereon.

However, although such baskets serve to secure such pipe and permit efficient transportation of same, said baskets are not without drawbacks.

Notably, after pipe and / or other elongate cargo have been removed from such baskets, the empty baskets take up virtually the same amount of space as fully loaded baskets.

As a result, such empty baskets can take up significant space on the deck of a platform, rig or work boat, where space is typically at a premium.

Similarly, such empty baskets can also take up significant space on the bed of a truck, such as when said empty baskets are being returned to a pipe yard or manufacturing facility.

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