A multifunction securing mechanism for a compartment closable by a door and includes a key cylinder, a latching assembly which may be a two-point latching assembly movable between a latching and an unlatching position, a rotatable member configured for a lazy-cam function connecting the key cylinder and latching assembly, at least one catch located on a surface adjacent the outside of the door, and a bar pivotally mounted to the outside of the door and movable between a first closed position and a second opened position. A first release mechanism is located on an interior side of the door for changing a positon of the latching assembly, and a second release mechanism is located on the interior side of the door for changing a position of the bar, both for allowing a user to open a latched and secured door from the inside.

A merchandise container comprises a body having a longitudinal axis, which comprises a floor, a roof and a side wall, each comprising an exterior face and an interior face, and a plurality of bays in the side walls. A plurality of bay doors adapted to controllably closing the bays. A door opening system comprising a plurality of door axles each driving individually one of the plurality of bay doors between a closed position and an open position; an intermediate axle in driving arrangement with the plurality of door axles; and a motor connected in driving arrangement with the intermediate axle comprising a driving axle controls the position of the bay doors by driving the intermediate axle which in turn drives the plurality of door axles to move the plurality of bay doors between the closed position to the open position.

A merchandise container comprises a body having a longitudinal axis, which comprises a floor, a roof and a side wall, each comprising an exterior face and an interior face, and a plurality of bays in the side walls. A plurality of bay doors adapted to controllably closing the bays. A door opening system comprising a plurality of door axles each driving individually one of the plurality of bay doors between a closed position and an open position; an intermediate axle in driving arrangement with the plurality of door axles; and a motor connected in driving arrangement with the intermediate axle comprising a driving axle controls the position of the bay doors by driving the intermediate axle which in turn drives the plurality of door axles to move the plurality of bay doors between the closed position to the open position.

A transport vehicle that includes at least one seat to receive passengers thereon, the at least one seat being moveable between a non-stowed position permitting a passenger to sit thereon, and a space-saving stowed position to permit a transport of goods. A cover is provided and moveable between a non-operating position and an operating position to at least partially cover at least one side wall of the motor vehicle and also the at least one seat in the space-saving stowed position.

An accessory door panel for a utility vehicle provides a fabric door panel which can be quickly deployed and installed within a utility vehicle for emergency weather use where the utility vehicle has had the factory doors removed at the discretion of the driver. The fabric door panel is fitted to the contours of the door opening and may be stored from an overhead horizontal support member over the door or alternatively stored within a container mounted to the floor at the bottom of the door opening, the door being made of a flexible material that can be stretched across the door opening and anchored at several points along the door frame by independent anchors.

A roll up door assembly is mountable in two tracks laterally spaced from one another, each track including a catch, the roll up door assembly including a door sized to be mountable and slidable along the tracks between a closed position and an opened position, the door being a roll up door including a plurality of slats extending between the tracks, one of the slats being a locking slat having an outer surface and an inner surface and defining a passage therethrough between the outer surface and the inner surface. A housing is attached to the outer surface of the locking slat, the housing defining an opening therethrough aligned with the passage. A key cylinder extends through the passage and the opening. A two-point latching assembly has two latches for selectively engaging the catches and is rotatably driven by a rear portion of the key cylinder adjacent the inner surface of the locking slat. A fixing member threadedly engages an outer surface of the key cylinder to secure the key cylinder to the housing, the fixing member being annular and being configured with the housing and the locking slat so that the fixing member has an axial length at least as long as a distance between an inner surface of the housing and the outer surface of the locking slat when the fixing member is positioned to secure the key cylinder to the housing.

A roll up door assembly is mountable in two tracks laterally spaced from one another, each track including a catch, the roll up door assembly including a door sized to be mountable and slidable along the tracks between a closed position and an opened position, the door being a roll up door including a plurality of slats extending between the tracks, one of the slats being a locking slat having an outer surface and an inner surface and defining a passage therethrough between the outer surface and the inner surface. A housing is attached to the outer surface of the locking slat, the housing defining an opening therethrough aligned with the passage. A key cylinder extends through the passage and the opening. A two-point latching assembly has two latches for selectively engaging the catches and is rotatably driven by a rear portion of the key cylinder adjacent the inner surface of the locking slat. A fixing member threadedly engages an outer surface of the key cylinder to secure the key cylinder to the housing, the fixing member being annular and being configured with the housing and the locking slat so that the fixing member has an axial length at least as long as a distance between an inner surface of the housing and the outer surface of the locking slat when the fixing member is positioned to secure the key cylinder to the housing.

A door opening system for a merchandise container comprising a plurality of bay doors, the door opening system comprising a wheel in frictional contact with a bay door of the plurality of bay doors; and a motor connected in driving arrangement with the wheel. The motor drives the wheel to rotate and thereby to control a movement of the bay door of the plurality of bay doors between a closed position and an open position.

Methods of transporting a plurality of freight containers are disclosed, including stacking one or more containers on a transportation vehicle, where one or more of the stacked containers is a vertically collapsible container in a collapsed position, where at least one of the vertically collapsible containers includes: a frame assembly including: a plurality of rectangular frame members; a plurality of articulated vertical frame members disposed between the rectangular frame members; and where the articulated vertical frame members are positioned and arranged to retract to within the frame assembly; a lifting mechanism positioned and arranged to elevate the rectangular frame members from each other; and where the lifting mechanism is disposed between the uppermost rectangular frame member of the frame assembly and the lowermost rectangular frame member of the frame assembly.

Methods of transporting a plurality of freight containers are disclosed, including stacking one or more containers on a transportation vehicle, where one or more of the stacked containers is a vertically collapsible container in a collapsed position, where at least one of the vertically collapsible containers includes: a frame assembly including: a plurality of rectangular frame members; a plurality of articulated vertical frame members disposed between the rectangular frame members; and where the articulated vertical frame members are positioned and arranged to retract to within the frame assembly; a lifting mechanism positioned and arranged to elevate the rectangular frame members from each other; and where the lifting mechanism is disposed between the uppermost rectangular frame member of the frame assembly and the lowermost rectangular frame member of the frame assembly.