Material transport cage and methods of using the same

A stackable apparatus, comprising:

• at least one vertically or horizontally stackable hollow containers (15), each container having the shape of six rectangular sides, each adjacent side forming a right angle where the adjacent sides join, comprising:
• first and second lateral sides (18, 21),
• wherein a top portion (38) of the first lateral side (18) comprises an open slot groove (130),
• wherein a top portion (41) of the second lateral side (21) comprises an open slot groove (131) and a bottom portion (53) of the second lateral side comprises an open slot groove (135);
• a front side (24),
• wherein a top portion (44) of the front side (24) comprises an open slot groove (89) and a bottom portion (56) of the front side (24) comprises an open slot groove (85) and an open slot groove (88) in the front proximal and front distal edges (65, 71) of a wall (62) of the container (15);
• a rear side (27);
• wherein a top portion (47) of the rear side (27) comprises an open slot groove (90) and a bottom portion (59) of the rear side (27) comprises an open slot groove (86) in the rear proximal edge (68) and an open slot groove (87) in the rear distal edge 74) of a wall (62) of the container (15);
• and
• a bottom side (33),
• wherein the bottom side (33) comprises a recessed groove (34) that runs along the perimeter of the bottom side (33);
• an open top (30),
• wherein the first and second lateral sides, the front side, and the rear side run along a longitudinal axis of the container,
• wherein the bottom side (33) and an opening in the top are each in a plane orthogonal to the longitudinal axis,
• wherein adjacent sides of each container are operably coupled to form the wall (62) of the container,
• wherein the wall includes front and rear proximal edges and front and rear distal edges,
• wherein a proximal edge is defined as being closer to a longitudinal axis running along the center of a vehicle (83), by which the container is transported, than a distal edge,
• wherein the front and rear proximal edges are formed by coupling a first lateral side to the front and rear sides, respectively, and the front and rear distal edges are formed by coupling the second lateral side to the front and rear sides, respectively;
• interlocking spacers running along a longitudinal axis of the container that are orthogonal to the bottom side of the container;
• and
• at least one cylinder(s) inserted between the spacers;
• a removable lid having oppositely facing first and second surfaces,
• wherein a recessed groove forms the perimeter of the second surface facing and adjacent to the top portions of the first and second lateral sides, the front side, and the rear side respectively, so the second surface facing and adjacent to the top portions of the first and second lateral sides, the front side, and the rear side respectively is operably coupled to the top portions of the first and second lateral sides, the front side, and the rear side, of the wall of the container(s);
• a locking means embedded in a recess of the second surface of the lid,
• wherein the locking means comprises a handle and a latch;
• and
• at least one cylinder is secured in the container by rotating the handle of the locking means so the latch of the locking means engages a closed slot groove in the top portions of the front and rear sides.