Fully adjustable storage device for loading and transporting vehicles in containers

• US 5,344,266 A
• Filed: 04/16/1993
• Issued: 09/06/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 04/16/1993
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Peter W. Kolb
• Original Assignee: Peter W. Kolb
• Inventors: Kolb, Peter W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Huppert, Michael S.
• Assistant Examiner(s): MORSE, GREGORY ALLAN
• Application Number:
  US08/048,471
• Time in Patent Office: 508 Days
• Field of Search: 414/498, 410/4, 410/15, 410/24, 410/25, 410/26, 410/27, 410/28, 410/29.1, 410/30, 410/130, 410/140, 410/144, 410/145, 410/414, 410/410
• US Class Current: 410/26
• CPC Class Codes: B60P 3/08 Multilevel-deck construction carrying vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B61D 47/005 Loading or unloading devices combined with road vehicles carrying wagons, e.g. ramps, turntables, lifting means wagons for carrying road vehicles in general: B61D3/18
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2585/6867 automobiles
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 85/68 for machines, engines or vehicles in assembled or dismantled form
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 2201/0294 Vehicle bodies

Abstract

An adjustable storage device for loading and transporting vehicles in containers, including a deck for supporting a vehicle in an elevated position, at least two pairs of substantially vertical legs with a plurality of leg pegs positioned along the length of each of the legs; at least two substantially horizontal crossbars, a crosspiece of the crossbars bridging the pairs of legs; a hooking ring member encircling each of the legs and removably engaging one of the leg pegs and an arm peg on each of the arms of the crossbar; and at least two floor bars and a wall brace for securing the storage device to the wall of the container.

Claims

1. An adjustable storage device for loading and transporting vehicles in a substantially rectangular container having a roof, a floor, and four walls, comprising:

(a) a deck for supporting a vehicle in an elevated position comprising a substantially rectangular planar support capable of securely supporting a vehicle at various angled elevations relative to said floor of said container, said deck having a front end and a rear end;

(b) means for adjustably securing said deck in an elevated position comprising

(i) at least two pairs of substantially vertical legs, one pair positioned substantially adjacent said front end of said deck and one pair positioned substantially adjacent said rear end of said deck;

(ii) at least two substantially horizontal crossbars, a crosspiece of said crossbars bridging said pairs of legs;

(iii) means for adjustably securing each of said crossbars to each of said pairs of legs in said bridging relationship comprising

(A) a plurality of leg pegs positioned along the length of each of said legs and extending outwardly from each of said legs;

(B) an arm peg positioned on each of a first arm and a second arm, each of said arms perpendicularly abutting said crosspiece of said crossbar, and said arm pegs extending outwardly from said arms; and

(C) a hooking ring member encircling each of said legs and removably engaging one of said plurality of leg pegs on each of said legs, said hooking ring member also removably engaging said arm peg on each of said arms of said crossbar; and

(iv) means for removably fastening said deck to a top surface of each of said crossbars; and

(c) means for stabilizing said storage device within said container.

2. The storage device of claim 1, wherein said surface of said deck includes at least one row of substantially parallel rungs for guiding said vehicle onto said deck, said row of rungs including a front end and rear end corresponding to the front end and rear end of said deck.

3. The storage device of claim 1, wherein said stabilizing means comprises at least two floor bars removably mounted to said pairs of legs so as to join one leg of each of said pairs of legs together.

4. The storage device of claim 3, wherein said stabilizing means further comprises a wall brace for securing said storage device to said walls of said container, said wail brace mounted on said first end and second end of said crossbar and extending horizontally outwardly to firmly engage said walls of said container.

5. The storage device of claim 1, further comprising means for adjusting a width of said deck so as to enable vehicles of varying widths to be stored on said deck, said width adjusting means comprising at least one slideable collar element mounted to each of said crossbars of said deck.

6. An adjustable storage device for loading and transporting vehicles in a substantially rectangular container having a roof, a floor, and four walls, comprising:

(a) a deck for supporting a vehicle in an elevated position, said deck comprising a substantially rectangular planar support capable of securely supporting a vehicle at various angled elevations relative to said floor of said container, said deck having a front end and a rear end and including at least one row of substantially parallel rungs for guiding said vehicle onto said deck, said row of rungs including a front end and rear end corresponding to the front end and rear end of said deck;

(b) means for adjustably securing said deck in an elevated position, comprising;

(i) at least two pairs of substantially vertical legs, one pair positioned substantially adjacent said front end of said deck and one pair positioned substantially adjacent said rear end of said deck;

(ii) at least two substantially horizontal crossbars, a crosspiece of said crossbars bridging said pairs of legs;

(iii) means for adjustably securing each of said crossbars to each of said pairs of legs in said bridging relationship, comprising;

(A) a plurality of leg pegs positioned along the length of each of said legs and extending outwardly from each of said legs;

(B) an arm peg positioned on each of a first arm and a second arm, each of said arms perpendicularly abutting said crosspiece of said crossbar, and said arm pegs extending outwardly from said arms; and

(C) a hooking ring member attached to each of said legs and removably engaging one of said plurality of leg pegs on each of said legs, said hooking ring member also removably engaging said arm peg on said arms of said crossbar; and

(iv) means for removably fastening said deck to a top surface of each of said crossbars;

(c) means for stabilizing said storage device within said container, comprising at least two floor bars removably mounted to said pairs of legs so as to join one leg of each of said pairs of legs together, and further comprising a wall brace for securing said storage device to said walls of said container, said wall brace mounted on said first end and second end of said crossbar and extending horizontally outwardly to firmly engage said walls of said container; and

(d) means for adjusting the width of said deck so as to enable vehicles of varying widths to be stored on said deck, said width adjusting means comprising at least one slideable collar element mounted to each of said crossbars of said deck.