System for loading and transporting wheeled vehicles

• US 4,963,067 A
• Filed: 10/24/1988
• Issued: 10/16/1990
• Est. Priority Date: 12/18/1986
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: G & G Intellectual Properties Incorporated
• Original Assignee: G & G Intellectual Properties Incorporated
• Inventors: Gearin, Peter, Leech, Everett A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Bucci, David A.
• Application Number:
  US07/261,504
• Time in Patent Office: 722 Days
• Field of Search: 414/341, 414/343, 414/345, 414/352, 414/353, 414/389, 414/390, 414/395, 414/398-400, 414/495, 414/496, 414/498-500, 414/585, 414/679, 414/542, 414/786 , 414/143.2, 410/3, 410/4, 410/7-9, 410/13, 410/14, 410/16, 410/18, 410/24-26, 410/29.1, 410/30, 211/162, 211/175, 211/186
• US Class Current: 414/400
• CPC Class Codes: B60P 3/07 for carrying road vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60P 3/08 Multilevel-deck construction carrying vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B61D 3/18 for vehicles vehicles adapted to carry other vehicles, in general, B60P3/06
• CPC Class Codes: B61D 3/20 for forwarding containers
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2585/6867 automobiles
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 88/005 of variable capacity, e.g. with movable or adjustable walls or wall parts, modular
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 88/022 in multiple arrangement, e.g. stackable, nestable, connected or joined together side-by-side
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 88/121 ISO containers
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 88/123 open top
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 2201/0294 Vehicle bodies

Abstract

A system for loading and transporting wheeled vehicles on a transporting vehicle, such as a ship or rail car, comprises supporting a plurality of wheeled vehicles on each of a plurality of frames in vertically-spaced relation to each other and then inserting the respective frames and their supported vehicles matingly into respective enclosures. The enclosures, with their frames and vehicles inside, are loaded onto the transporting vehicle by compactly stacking the enclosures one atop the other in weather-exposed positions, the enclosures nevertheless serving to protect the vehicles from external hazards.

Claims

1. A system for transporting wheeled vehicles comprising:

(a) a transporting vehicle;

(b) an elongate three-dimensional frame;

(c) means for supporting a plurlaity of wheeled vehicles within said frame in a condition physically isolated from one another at multiple levels whereby certain vehicles are supported in an elevated condition and other vehicles are supported at levels below said certain vehicles;

(d) an elongate three-dimensional rectangular shaped general purpose cargo-carrying container separate and apart from said frame, said container having a closed top, bottom and surrounding wall, and a selectively openable and closable entry-way forming a weather-sealed enclosure when said entryway is closed;

(e) means for loading wheeled vehicles upon said frame while the frame is separate and apart from said container, and supporting said certain vehicles in elevated condition;

(f) power operated means for moving said frame, while loaded with vehicles, through said entryway and into matingly received condition within said container; and

(g) means for securing said container to the transporting vehicle.

2. A system for transporting wheeled vehicles comprising:

(a) a transporting vehicle;

(b) a plurality of elongate three-dimensional frames;

(c) means for supporting a plurality of wheeled vehicles within each of said frames in a condition physically isolated from one another at multiple levels whereby certain vehicles are supported in an elevated condition and other vehicles are supported at levels below said certain vehicles;

(d) elongate three-dimensional rectangular shaped general purpose cargo-carrying containers separate and apart from said frames, said containers each having a closed top, bottom and surrounding wall, and a selectively openable and closeable entryway forming a weather-sealed enclosure when said entryway is closed;

(e) means for loading wheeled vehicles upon said frames while the frames are separate and apart from said containers, and supporting said certain vehicles in elevated condition;

(f) power operated means for selectively moving each of said frames, while loaded with vehicles, through the entryway of each of said containers and into matingly received condition within the container;

(g) means for securing a first of said containers to the transporting vehicle;

(h) a hoist to lift a second of said containers into superimposed stacked relationship relative to the first container; and

(i) means to selectively secure the second container in stacked condition relative to the first container.