Apparatus for storing automobiles inside maritime containers
First Claim
1. An apparatus for double stacking wheeled vehicles in upper and lower levels inside a maritime container with a substantially rectangular floor plan having a floor, four top frame members, four bottom frame members and four corner posts, and said apparatus further including a removable ramp assembly, comprising:
- A. a continuous and rigid platform member having four corners extending substantially the entire length and width of said container and housed therein, said platform member having two long lateral sides and two short end sides and said platform member further including two parallel ramp ways that are kept in a spaced apart relationship that cooperatively receive said wheeled vehicles;
B. locking means for keeping said platform member suspended in a substantially horizontal plane above said floor and in cooperation with said ramp assembly for loading the vehicles on said upper level and said locking means including means for adjusting the separation of said platform member from said roof and said locking means being positioned at said corners of said platform member; and
C. mechanical crank jack members removably mounted to said platform member so that said platform member can be vertically raised and lowered.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An apparatus for storing four vehicles inside a maritime container using a platform (20) with locking mechanisms (40) for suspending it at a pre-determined distance from the floor of the container. Jack assemblies (60) are used to lower or raise the platform depending on the characteristics of the vehicle being loaded. Leaking fluid pans (32) are cooperatively and removably mounted to the platform (20) in order to prevent any damage to the vehicles on the lower level. The platform assembly (20) extends the entire span of the container where it is housed with the two parallel structural lateral members (24 and 24'"'"') kept in a spaced apart relationship by girder members (25) and spacer members (26). The vehicles are tied down during transportation to minimize movement.
27 Citations
21 Claims
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1. An apparatus for double stacking wheeled vehicles in upper and lower levels inside a maritime container with a substantially rectangular floor plan having a floor, four top frame members, four bottom frame members and four corner posts, and said apparatus further including a removable ramp assembly, comprising:
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A. a continuous and rigid platform member having four corners extending substantially the entire length and width of said container and housed therein, said platform member having two long lateral sides and two short end sides and said platform member further including two parallel ramp ways that are kept in a spaced apart relationship that cooperatively receive said wheeled vehicles; B. locking means for keeping said platform member suspended in a substantially horizontal plane above said floor and in cooperation with said ramp assembly for loading the vehicles on said upper level and said locking means including means for adjusting the separation of said platform member from said roof and said locking means being positioned at said corners of said platform member; and C. mechanical crank jack members removably mounted to said platform member so that said platform member can be vertically raised and lowered. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. An apparatus for double stacking wheeled vehicles in upper and lower levels inside a maritime container with a substantially rectangular floor plan having a floor, four top frame members, four bottom frame members and four corner posts, and said apparatus further including a removable ramp assembly, comprising:
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A. a continuous and rigid platform member having four corners extending substantially the entire length and width of said container and housed therein, said platform member having two long lateral sides and two short end sides and said platform member further including two parallel ramp ways that are kept in a spaced apart relationship that cooperatively receive said wheeled vehicles; B. locking means for keeping said platform member suspended in a substantially horizontal plane above said floor and in cooperation with said ramp assembly for loading the vehicles on said upper level and said locking means including means for adjusting the separation of said platform member from said roof and said locking means being positioned at said short end sides of said platform member; and C. a mechanical crank jack member removably mounted to said platform member so that said platform member can be vertically raised and lowered. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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Specification