Information
-
Patent Grant
-
6688818
-
Patent Number
6,688,818
-
Date Filed
Thursday, February 14, 200223 years ago
-
Date Issued
Tuesday, February 10, 200421 years ago
-
Inventors
-
Original Assignees
-
Examiners
Agents
-
CPC
-
US Classifications
Field of Search
US
- 410 4
- 410 24
- 410 26
- 414 298
- 211 192
- 211 195
- 211 208
- 211 858
- 220 15
-
International Classifications
-
Abstract
A collapsible assembly for loading and transporting vehicles in a cargo container having a roof, a floor, two elongate side walls, and front and rear walls, includes two pairs of spaced vertical posts, one pair being at the front end of the frame and another pair being at the rear end. Front and rear horizontally mounted crossbars support two ramps for carrying a vehicle when the assembly is in its open position. Each crossbar has two members of equal length rotatably and slideably attached to the posts and connected together by a hinge that allows each crossbar to be folded in half interiorly of the frame thus pulling the posts together in a collapsed closed position for storage purposes.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
Not Applicable.
STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT
Not Applicable.
REFERENCE TO A MICROFICHE APPENDIX
Not Applicable.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to stowage systems and methods for carrying vehicles in a container, and particularly to collapsible assemblies.
2. Description of Related Art
Several systems have been developed to transport vehicles in containers. Many systems are expensive and inefficient because they require auxiliary power units for electric, pneumatic, hydraulic, or forklift vehicle-handling apparatus.
The prior systems are cumbersome and take up a great deal of space even when disassembled. Moreover, the prior art systems are very complex and expensive and can require several people for setup and takedown.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In one aspect of the present invention there is provided a collapsible assembly for loading and transporting vehicles in a substantially rectangular container having a roof, a floor, two elongate side walls, an end wall and a door comprising a frame including a front end and a rear end, the frame further including two pairs of spaced vertical post members, one pair being at the front end of the frame and another pair being at the rear end of the frame. Each post member has an upper end portion and a lower end portion to which is mounted a respective front and rear horizontal crossbar by way of first means for mounting the crossbars horizontally between the post members. A ramp means having a rear end portion and a front end portion is removably mountable on the crossbars. Each crossbar includes a first and second crossbar member having first and second end portions and means for connecting the first end portion of the first crossbar member to the first end portion of the second crossbar member. The means for mounting the respective front and rear crossbar to respective post members includes means for mounting the second end portions of the crossbar members to respective post members.
The means for mounting the second end portions of the crossbar members includes means for rotatably mounting the crossbar members to respective front and rear post members and for slideably mounting the crossbar members to respective front and rear post members. The first and second crossbar members are of substantially equal length.
The assembly has an open position for carrying a vehicle on the ramp means and a closed position for storing the assembly, the frame defining an interior space when the assembly is in said open position. The means for connecting the first end portions of respective crossbar members includes hinge means for folding the crossbar members inwardly into the interior space when the assembly is moved from the open position to the closed position. The means for mounting the second end portions of respective crossbar members includes means for selectively adjusting the vertical position of the crossbar members for selectively controlling the angle and height of the ramp means secured to the crossbars.
In other aspects of the present invention there is provided a collapsible assembly for loading and transporting vehicles in a substantially rectangular container having a roof, a floor, two elongate side walls, an end wall and a door comprising a frame having a front end and a rear end, the frame including two pairs of spaced vertical post members, one pair being at the front end of the frame and another pair being at the rear end of the frame. Each post member has an upper end portion and a lower end portion. There are front and rear horizontal crossbars, and first means for mounting the front crossbar horizontally between the post members at the front end of the frame and second means for mounting the rear crossbar horizontally between the post members at the rear end of the frame. A ramp means is included having a rear end portion and a front end portion removably mountable on the crossbars. Each crossbar includes a first and second crossbar member having first and second end portions and hinge means for connecting the first end portion of the first crossbar member to the first end portion of the second crossbar member and the first and second means for mounting respective front and rear cross to respective front and rear post members incilding means for mounting the second end portions of the first and second crossbar members to respective front and rear post members. The means for mounting the second end portions of the first and second crossbar members includes means for rotatably and slideably mounting the first and second crossbar members to the respective front and rear post members.
The first and second crossbar members are of substantially equal length. The assembly has an open position for carrying a vehicle on the ramp means and a closed position for storing the assembly, the frame defining an interior space when the assembly is in the open position and a closed position for storing the assembly, the crossbar being folded inwardly about the hinge means in the closed position. There is also securing means for securing folded crossbars to the frame to inhibit movement of the folded crossbars when the assembly is in the closed position. Also included is securing means for removably affixing the ramp means to said assembly and for attaching the front end portion of the ramp means to the front crossbar. The means for mounting the second end portions of the respective crossbar members includes means for selectively locating each crossbar independently to the respective post member at a plurality of selectable heights above the floor of a container for selectively controlling the angle and height of the ramp means secured to the crossbars.
In a further aspect of the present invention there is provided a collapsible assembly for loading and transporting vehicles in a substantially rectangular container having a roof, a floor, two elongate side walls, an end wall and a door comprising a frame having a front end and a rear end, the frame including two pairs of spaced vertical post members, one pair being at the front end of the frame and another pair being at the rear end of the frame and each post member has an upper end portion and a lower end portion. A front and rear horizontal crossbar is included and there is first means for mounting the front crossbar horizontally between the post members at the front end of the frame and second means for mounting the rear crossbar horizontally between the post members at the rear end of the frame. The ramp means has a rear end portion and a front end portion and securing means is connected between one end portion of the ramp means and one crossbar for securing one end portion of the ramp means to one crossbar. The assembly has an open position for carrying a vehicle on the ramp means and a closed position for storing the assembly, and each crossbar includes a first and second crossbar member having first and second end portions and hinge means for connecting the first end portion of the first crossbar member to the first end portion of the second crossbar member. The crossbars are foldable about the hinge means when the assembly is in the closed position. Also included is first and second means for mounting the respective front and rear cross to the respective front and rear post members for rotatably and slideably mounting the second end portions of the first and second crossbar members to the respective front and rear post members. There is also means for securing the frame to a floor of a container.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING
The novel features which are believed to be characteristic of this invention are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, both as to its organization and method of operation, together with further objects and advantages thereof, may best be understood by reference to the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:
FIG. 1
is a side-elevation view of the collapsible assembly in accord with the present invention shown carrying a vehicle ramp;
FIG. 2
is a partial elevation of the rear securing apparatus for a ramp and the height adjustment apparatus used in
FIG. 1
;
FIG. 3
is a side elevation of the front securing apparatus for a ramp;
FIG. 4
is a rear elevation view of the rear crossbar showing the location of the vehicle ramps;
FIG. 5
is a front elevation of the front crossbar;
FIG. 6
is a top view of the crossbars of
FIGS. 4 and 5
shown partially closed and connected to the upper frame members;
FIG. 7
is a top view of the assembly shown in collapsed form;
FIG. 8
is a side view of the assembly in a closed position;
FIG. 9
is a detail of the center-hinged portion of a crossbar in the closed position of
FIG. 7
;
FIG. 10
is a detail of the top of the hinged portion of a crossbar in the open position;
FIG. 11
is a top view of the hinged portion of a crossbar with a partially closed position in broken line and a fully closed position in solid line.
FIG. 12
is a side view of the hinged portion of a crossbar in the open posi tion; and
FIG. 13
is a side view of an assembly in accord with the present invention mounted in a cargo container and carrying a vehicle.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
With respect now to the drawings, the collapsible assembly set up for use for carrying a vehicle is illustrated at numeral
10
in FIG.
1
. The assembly
10
is comprised of a frame having two spaced L-shaped lower frame members
11
and two spaced upper frame members
12
. Two spaced telescoping front post members
16
and two spaced telescoping rear post members
17
are rigidly connected between the end portions of the lower and upper members
11
and
12
respectively. Three pairs of spaced strut members
13
,
14
, and
15
provide additional rigidity and strength Cor assembly
10
.
An upper flange
18
and lower flange
19
provide a securing member for the respective rear and front hinge apparatus via members
20
,
21
and
22
,
23
respectively, as will be explained hereinbelow. Front
24
and rear
25
securing apparatus for a pair of spaced ramps
27
and height adjustment means
26
will also be described hereinbelow.
In
FIG. 2
, a partial detail of one end of a crossbar
25
or
26
is illustrated. Crossbar member
30
is welded to a sleeve or collar member
34
that is slidable and rotatable. Sleeve member
34
is movable upwardly above stop
35
to allow a pin
33
′ to be inserted through aligned holes
33
and
34
′ to adjust the height of member
30
above stop
35
which is affixed to the lower portion of post
17
.
Pin
28
is used to secure a ramp
27
(shown only pictorially) to crossbar
26
. Pin
28
is shaped to pit into hole
31
and rest on top of ramp lip
29
. Gusset
32
provides for additional strength.
FIG. 3
illustrates how the lower end of a ram
27
is secured to front crossbar members
30
and
47
. Lock pin
38
is carried by bracket
36
and is biased via spring
37
. Pin
38
fits through a hole
45
in front crossbar
25
. Support plate
40
is welded to hinge
41
to which is also welded support plate
39
. Pin
38
fits through hole
42
in support plate
39
. Apparatus
24
allows for adjustments of the mounting angle between ramp
27
and front crossbar
25
as the height of the rear crossbar
26
is changed without removing a ramp
27
from the crossbars
25
,
26
.
In
FIG. 4
, rear crossbar
26
is shown from the rear mounted between rear posts
17
. Crossbar
26
includes two members
30
and
47
and hinge apparatus
46
that provides an articulated linkage means between the members
30
,
47
. Ramps
27
are shown only pictorially to illustrate their relative position.
FIG. 5
provides a front view of front crossbar
25
mounted between front posts
16
.
Preferably, crossbars
25
and
26
are identical. In addition, front posts
16
are identical. In addition, front posts
16
are preferably identical with rear posts
17
and include gusset
51
, sleeve portion
49
and stop
50
, otherwise identical to the height adjustment apparatus of posts
17
with the exception that the lower portion of each front post
16
is shorter than the lower portion of rear post
17
.
In
FIG. 6
a top view of the assembly
10
is shown partially collapsed. Each crossbar
25
,
26
folds via hinge apparatus
46
thus drawing the upper frame members
12
and lower frame members
11
closely together inwardly in a parallel manner with crossbars
25
,
26
essentially folded in half and positioned between the lower and upper members
11
and
12
.
FIG. 7
illustrates a top view of the assembly
10
that has been collapsed to a width of approximately
5
″ for storage purposes.
FIGS. 8 and 9
illustrate a side view of the assembly
10
that has been collapsed for storage
112
purposes. The hinge apparatus
46
is secured to a respective flange
18
,
19
by positioning a locking pin
38
through respective locking lock plate
20
and
22
via opening
61
(FIG.
9
).
FIGS. 9-12
illustrate the hinge apparatus used in the present invention. Each crossbar
25
,
26
has each end portion welded to a respective sleeve
34
. Medially of each crossbar
25
and
26
the two members
30
and
47
, having respective end portions
56
and
55
, which are of substantially equal length are connected via a hinge apparatus
46
. Hinge
54
provides for
1800
movement of member
30
while member
47
is simultaneously rotated
900
to collapse the assembly
10
to the position shown in
FIGS. 7 and 8
.
Hinge apparatus
46
includes a U-shaped channel member
57
into which fits an interior end portion
56
of crossbar member
30
when the crossbar
25
or
26
has been fully opened in order to use assembly
10
. The placement of end portion
56
into channel
57
provides strength for the crossbar
215
or
26
. Lock plate
62
is welded onto end portion
56
. Lock pin
58
, carried by bracket
59
and biased via spring
60
, is inserted through the opening
64
in plate
62
to secure end
56
in place via handle
63
. See also FIG.
12
.
FIG. 11
illustrates the movement of member
30
from the broken line position (shown in
FIG. 6
) to the completely closed position in solid line as indicated by arrow
65
where the member
30
is folded for securing as illustrated in FIG.
9
.
FIG. 13
illustrates the use of an assembly
10
for carrying vehicle inside a cargo container. Container
66
has roof
69
, rear wall
68
and floor
67
. Vehicle
70
is driven onto ramps
27
using a temporarily used loading ramp (not shown) connected to the ramps
27
via loading ramp attachment
43
(
FIG. 3
) and secured via locking pin slot
44
as understood in the art. The space underneath ramps
27
and crossbars
25
,
26
allows for the storage of vehicle
71
(or other goods). The number of assemblies
10
used depends on the length of container
66
.
In the preferred embodiment, assembly
10
is 69 inches high and 7 feet 10½ inches long and 88½ inches wide (as measured between the centerlines of the front or rear posts). The maximum height of the rear crossbar
26
is 63 inches from the floor and the lowest position is 55 inches. The maximum height of front crossbar
25
is 32½ inches in normal use. Interior space
72
is defined by posts
16
,
17
and frame members
11
,
12
,
13
,
14
and
15
and is large enough to accommodate a vehicle and other apparatus that may be carried in container
66
. Front crossbar
25
is raised to upper hole
48
in order to provide for the loading of the lower vehicle
71
.
In summary, the assembly
10
is stored as shown in
FIGS. 7 and 8
. The assembly
10
is opened by releasing lock pins
58
from the respective lock plates
20
and
22
. The assembly
10
can then be pulled outwardly open to the position shown in FIG.
6
and then fully opened where pins
58
are inserted in the lock plate
62
(
FIGS. 10
,
12
). Crossbars
25
and
26
can then be positioned at the desired height via pins
34
′. Ramps
27
are then placed on the crossbars
25
,
26
at the locations indicated in
FIGS. 4 and 5
.
When installed in a cargo container
66
the assembly
10
can be secured in place by way of a means including a spaced series of bolts or driven nails through pre-drilled holes
11
′ in lower frame members
11
into the wood flooring of such container, as understood in the art.
Takedown of the assembly
10
is the reverse process. Pins
58
are removed from lock plates
62
and the crossbars
25
,
26
are then pulled and folded inwardly to collapse the assembly to the position illustrated in
FIGS. 7 and 8
.
While the invention has been described with respect to certain specific embodiments, it will be appreciated that many modifications and changes may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention. It is intended, therefore, by the appended claims to cover all such modifications and changes as fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention.
What is claimed as new and what it is desired to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:
Claims
- 1. A collapsible assembly for loading and transporting vehicles in a substantially rectangular container having a roof, a floor, two elongate side walls, an end wall and a door comprising a frame including a front end and a rear end, said frame further including two pairs of spaced vertical post members, one said pair being at said front end of said frame and another said pair being at said rear end of said frame, each said post member having an upper end portion and a lower end portion, a front and rear horizontal crossbar, first means for mounting said front crossbar horizontally between said post members at said front end of said frame, second means for mounting said rear crossbar horizontally between said post members at said rear end of said frame, ramp means having a rear end portion and a front end portion removably mountable on said crossbars, each said crossbar including a first and second crossbar member having first and second end portions and means for connecting said first end portion of said first crossbar member to said first end portion of said second crossbar member, said first and second means for mounting said respective front and rear crossbar to respective said front and rear post members including means for mounting said second end portions of said first and second crossbar members to respective said front and rear post members.
- 2. The assembly as defined in claim 1 wherein said means for mounting said second end portions of said first and second crossbar members includes means for rotatably mounting said first and second crossbar members to said respective front and rear post members.
- 3. The assembly as defined in claim 1 wherein said means for mounting said second end portions of said first and second crossbar members includes means for slideably mounting said first and second crossbar members to said respective front and rear post members.
- 4. The assembly as defined in claim 1 wherein said means for mounting said second end portions of said first and second crossbar members includes means for rotatably and slideably mounting said first and second crossbar members to said respective front and rear post members.
- 5. The assembly as defined in claim 1 wherein said first and second crossbar members are of substantially equal length.
- 6. The assembly as defined in claim 1 wherein said means for connecting said first and second portions of each respective first and second crossbar member includes hinge means.
- 7. The assembly as defined in claim 1 wherein said assembly has an open position for carrying a vehicle on said ramp means and a closed position for storing said assembly, said frame defining an interior space when said assembly is in said open position.
- 8. The assembly as defined in claim 7 wherein said means for connecting said first end portions of respective first and second crossbar members includes hinge means for folding said crossbar members inwardly into said interior space when said assembly is moved from said open position to said closed position.
- 9. The assembly as defined in claim 1 wherein said means for mounting said second end portions of respective said crossbar members includes means for selectively adjusting the vertical position of said crossbar members for selectively controlling the angle and height of said ramp means secured to said crossbars.
- 10. A collapsible assembly for loading and transporting vehicles in a substantially rectangular container having a roof, a floor, two elongate side walls, an end wall and a door comprising a frame having a front end and a rear end, said frame including two pairs of spaced vertical post members, one said pair being at said front end of said frame and another said pair being at said rear end of said frame, each said post member having an upper end portion and a lower end portion, a front and rear horizontal crossbar, first means for mounting said front crossbar horizontally between said post members at said front end of said frame, second means for mounting said rear crossbar horizontally between said post members at said rear end of said frame, ramp means having a rear end portion and a front end portion removably mountable on said crossbars, each said crossbar including a first and second crossbar member having first and second end portions and hinge means for connecting said first end portion of said first crossbar member to said first end portion of said second crossbar member, said first and second means for mounting said respective front and rear crossbars to respective said front and rear post members including means for mounting said second end portions of said first and second crossbar members to respective said front and rear post members.
- 11. The assembly as defined in claim 10 wherein said means for mounting said second end portions of said first and second crossbar members includes means for rotatably and slideably mounting said first and second crossbar members to said respective front and rear post members.
- 12. The assembly as defined in claim 10 wherein said first and second crossbar members are of substantially equal length.
- 13. The assembly as defined in claim 10 wherein said assembly has an open position for carrying a vehicle on said ramp means and a closed position for storing said assembly, said frame defining an interior space when said assembly is in said open position and a closed position for storing the assembly, each said crossbar being folded inwardly about said hinge means in said closed position.
- 14. The assembly as defined in claim 13 further including securing means for securing folded said crossbars to said frame to inhibit movement of said folded crossbars when said assembly is in said closed position.
- 15. The assembly as defined in claim 10 further including securing means for removably affixing said ramp means to said assembly.
- 16. The assembly as defined in claim 15 wherein said securing means includes attaching means for attaching said front end portion of said ramp means to said front crossbar.
- 17. The assembly as defined in claim 10 wherein said means for mounting said second end portions of respective said crossbar members includes means for selectively locating each said crossbar independently to a respective said post member at a plurality of selectable heights above the floor of a container for selectively controlling the angle and height of said ramp means secured to said crossbars.
- 18. A collapsible assembly for loading and transporting vehicles in a substantially rectangular container having a roof, a floor, two elongate side walls, an end wall and a door comprising a frame having a front end and a rear end, said frame including two pairs of spaced vertical post members, one said pair being at said front end of said frame and another said pair being at said rear end of said frame, each said post member having an upper end portion and a lower end portion, a front and rear horizontal crossbar, first means for mounting said front crossbar horizontally between said post members at said front end of said frame, second means for mounting said rear crossbar horizontally between said post members at said front end of said frame, second means for mounting said rear crossbar horizontally between said post members at said rear end of said frame, ramp means having a rear end portion and a front end portion, securing means connected between one said end portion of said ramp means and one said crossbar for securing said one end portion of said ramp means to said one crossbar, said assembly having an open position for carrying a vehicle on said ramp means to said one crossbar, said assembly having an open position for carrying a vehicle on said ramp means and a closed position for storing said assembly, each said crossbar including a first and second crossbar member having first and second end portions and hinge means for connecting said first end portion of said first crossbar member to said first end portion of said second crossbar member, said crossbars being foldable about said hinge means when said assembly is in said closed position, said first and second means for mounting said respective front and rear crossbars to respective said front and rear post members including means for rotatably and slideably mounting said second end portions of said first and second crossbar members to respective said front and rear post members.
- 19. The assembly as defined in claim 18 further including means for securing said frame to a floor of a container.
- 20. The assembly as defined in claim 16 wherein said securing means includes a hinge attached to respective said ramp means to permit upward and downward movement of said front crossbar without removal of said ramp means.
US Referenced Citations (13)
Foreign Referenced Citations (1)
Number |
Date |
Country |
4019-011 |
Dec 1991 |
DE |