Apparatus and system for simultaneously transporting freight and passengers

• US 6,830,417 B2
• Filed: 09/29/2002
• Issued: 12/14/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 09/29/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Edward Deets
• Original Assignee: Edward Deets
• Inventors: Deets, Edward
• Primary Examiner(s): Dayoan, D. Glenn
• Assistant Examiner(s): GUTMAN, HILARY L
• Application Number:
  US10/256,688
• Publication Number:
  US 20040062620A1
• Time in Patent Office: 807 Days
• Field of Search: 410/4, 410/24, 410/26, 410/29.1, 296/203.01, 296/204, 296/178, 296/181, 296/182, 296/205, 296/182.01, 180/311, 180/14.1, 280/423.1, 280/424
• US Class Current: 410/4
• CPC Class Codes: B60P 3/08 Multilevel-deck construction carrying vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60P 3/42 convertible from one use to a different one vehicles capable of travelling in or on different media, rail-and-road vehicles B60F
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 21/03 transverse members providing body support
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 33/0612 Cabins with living accommodation, especially for long distance road vehicles, i.e. sleeping, cooking, or other facilities beds in general adapted to be used in vahicles A47C17/80; sanitation devices in vehicles in general B60R15/00; living accommodation in vehicles in general B60P3/32; passenger fittings in general B60N3/00

Abstract

In a first preferred embodiment, the present invention comprises a passenger truck cab unit which includes a body mounted to and supported by a truck chassis and a lower structure mounted to and supported by the truck chassis for additional support of the body; a freight transport unit; and a hitch mounted to and supported by the truck chassis for attaching the freight transport unit to the passenger truck cab unit. The body comprises a door opening extending into the lower structure for providing a vehicle operator entry and exit separate from a driver compartment door. The passenger truck cab unit tows the freight transport unit. In a second preferred embodiment, the hitch is removed and replaced by decking of sufficient strength to support and transport a load of freight. The present invention also includes the method of simultaneously transporting freight and at least one passenger, as well as the passenger truck cab unit used in simultaneously transporting the freight and at least one passenger.

Claims

1. A transport system for simultaneously transporting freight and at least one passenger comprising:

a passenger truck cab unit comprising a body mounted to and supported by a truck chassis and a lower structure mounted to, supported by and extending below the truck chassis for additional support of the body;

a freight transport unit for transporting the freight; and

a hitch mounted to and supported by the truck chassis for attaching the freight transport unit to the passenger truck cab unit,

wherein the truck chassis comprises a cab unit mounted to a truck frame and a plurality of axles mounted to the truck frame for receiving a plurality of wheels, wherein the hitch is mounted to the truck frame;

an engine is located in front of a driver; and

the body includes a door opening extending below the truck chassis into the lower structure for providing an entry and exit separate from a driver compartment door and the passenger truck cab unit tows the freight transport unit.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the freight is at least one vehicle.

3. The system of claim 2 wherein the at least one passenger is at least one vehicle operator.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein the body further comprises at least one window unit.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein the body further comprises seating for the at least one passenger.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein an attachment selected from the group consisting of air-conditioning units, heating units, HVAC units, luggage racks and combinations thereof is mounted to a body roof.

7. The system of claim 1 wherein the body further includes at least one amenity selected from the group consisting of a television monitor, a storage rack, a VCR, a DVD, a radio, and a lavatory.

8. The system of claim 1 wherein the lower structure comprises at least one compartment for storage.

9. A passenger truck cab unit for use in simultaneously transporting freight and at least one passenger comprising:

a body mounted to and supported by a truck chassis;

a lower structure mounted to, supported by and extending below the truck chassis for additional support of the body; and

a hitch mounted to and supported by the truck chassis for attaching a freight transport unit to the passenger truck cab unit,

wherein the truck chassis comprises a cab unit mounted to a truck frame having a main support beam and a plurality of axles mounted to the truck frame for receiving a plurality of wheels, wherein the hitch is mounted to the truck frame;

an engine is located in front of a driver; and

the body includes a door opening extending below the truck chassis into the lower structure for providing an entry and exit separate from a driver compartment door.

10. The system of claim 9 wherein the freight is at least one vehicle.

11. The system of claim 10 wherein the at least one passenger is at least one vehicle operator.

12. The passenger truck cab unit of claim 9 wherein the body further comprises at least one window unit.

13. The passenger truck cab unit of claim 9 wherein the body further comprises seating for the at least one passenger.

14. The passenger truck cab unit of claim 9 wherein the door opening further includes a stairway.

15. The passenger truck cab unit of claim 9 wherein an attachment selected from the group consisting of an air-conditioning unit, heating unit, HVAC unit, luggage rack and combinations thereof is mounted to a body roof.

16. The passenger truck cab unit of claim 9 wherein the body further includes at least one amenity selected from the group consisting of a television monitor, a storage rack, a VCR, a DVD, a radio, and a lavatory.

17. The passenger truck cab unit of claim 9 wherein the truck chassis further comprises a filler attached to the main frame support beam, the filler dimensionally sized to effectively raise the body so that a body floor mates to a driver compartment floor at substantially the same height, thereby forming a substantially step-less transition.

18. The passenger truck cab unit of claim 17 further comprising a cross member mounted to the filler, the cross member serving as a structural component of the lower structure, thereby securing the lower structure to the truck chassis.

19. The passenger truck cab unit of claim 9 whereby the lower structure comprises at least one compartment for storage.

20. The passenger truck cab unit of claim 19 wherein the at least one compartment is a baggage compartment.

21. A method for simultaneously transporting freight and at least one passenger comprising the steps of:

loading freight onto a freight transport unit at a first location;

attaching the freight transport unit to a passenger truck cab unit;

loading at least one passenger on the passenger truck cab unit;

driving the passenger truck cab unit to a second location; and

off loading the freight and the at least one passenger;

wherein the passenger truck cab unit comprises

a body mounted to and supported by a truck chassis;

a lower structure mounted to, supported by and extending below the truck chassis for additional support of the body; and

a hitch for attaching the freight transport unit to the passenger truck cab unit,

wherein the truck chassis comprises a cab unit mounted to a truck frame and a plurality of axles mounted to the truck frame for receiving a plurality of wheels, wherein the hitch is mounted to the truck frame;

an engine is located in front of a driver; and

the body includes a door opening extending below the truck chassis into the lower structure for providing an entry and exit separate from a driver compartment door.

22. The method of claim 21 wherein the freight is at least one vehicle.

23. The method of claim 22 wherein the at least one passenger is at least one vehicle operator.

24. A passenger truck cab unit for use in simultaneously transporting freight and at least one passenger comprising:

a body mounted to and supported by a truck chassis;

a lower structure mounted to and supported by the truck chassis for additional support of the body; and

a hitch mounted to and supported by the truck chassis for attaching a freight transport unit to the passenger truck cab unit,

wherein the truck chassis comprises a cab unit mounted to a truck frame and a plurality of axles mounted to the truck frame for receiving a plurality of wheels, wherein the hitch is mounted to the truck frame;

the truck chassis further comprises a filler attached to the main frame support beam, the filler dimensionally sized to effectively raise the body so that a body floor mates to a driver compartment floor at substantially the same height, thereby forming a substantially step-less transition; and

the body includes a door opening extending into the lower structure for providing an entry and exit separate from a driver compartment door.

25. The passenger truck cab unit of claim 24 further comprising a cross member mounted to the filler, the cross member serving as a structural component of the lower structure, thereby securing the lower structure to the truck chassis.

26. The passenger truck cab unit of claim 24 wherein the freight is at least one vehicle.

27. The passenger truck cab unit of claim 24 wherein the body further comprises at least one window unit.

28. The passenger truck cab unit of claim 24 wherein an engine is located in front of a driver.

29. The passenger truck cab unit of claim 24 wherein the truck frame comprises a main frame support beam.