Apparatus and methods for carrying airborne cargo
First Claim
1. An apparatus for carrying airborne cargo, the apparatus comprising:
- (a) a support frame suspended from an aircraft and including a top panel;
(b) a retaining mechanism arranged on the support frame configured to engage a cargo carrier;
(c) a collapsible nose cone coupled to a front end of the support frame;
(d) a lower structural frame coupled to the nose cone;
(e) flexible side panels, each side panel being connected to corresponding sides of the support frame and lower structural frame and coupled to the nose cone; and
(f) a cargo door mounted on the lower structural frame,(g) wherein the nose cone, top panel, and side panels, when arranged with the nose cone collapsed, the side panels folded, and the cargo door open, enable the support frame and the cargo carrier to be relatively positioned in a secured-together fashion with the retaining mechanism engaged, and(h) wherein the nose cone, top panel, side panels, and cargo door, when arranged with the nose cone expanded, the side panels unfolded, and the cargo door closed, substantially envelop the cargo carrier secured to the support frame within an aerodynamic enclosure.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An airborne cargo-carrying apparatus includes support and lower structural frames; a retaining mechanism securing a cargo carrier to the support frame; collapsible nose and tail cones coupled to the frames; flexible side panels coupled to the cones and frames; and a cargo door mounted on the lower structural frame. The support frame includes a top panel. The cones and panels are arranged—with the cones collapsed, side panels folded, and cargo door open—to enable the support frame and the cargo carrier to be secured together with the retaining mechanism engaged. The cones, panels, and cargo door are arranged—with the cones expanded, side panels unfolded, and cargo door closed—to substantially envelop the cargo carrier secured to the support frame within an aerodynamic enclosure.
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Citations
19 Claims
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1. An apparatus for carrying airborne cargo, the apparatus comprising:
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(a) a support frame suspended from an aircraft and including a top panel; (b) a retaining mechanism arranged on the support frame configured to engage a cargo carrier; (c) a collapsible nose cone coupled to a front end of the support frame; (d) a lower structural frame coupled to the nose cone; (e) flexible side panels, each side panel being connected to corresponding sides of the support frame and lower structural frame and coupled to the nose cone; and (f) a cargo door mounted on the lower structural frame, (g) wherein the nose cone, top panel, and side panels, when arranged with the nose cone collapsed, the side panels folded, and the cargo door open, enable the support frame and the cargo carrier to be relatively positioned in a secured-together fashion with the retaining mechanism engaged, and (h) wherein the nose cone, top panel, side panels, and cargo door, when arranged with the nose cone expanded, the side panels unfolded, and the cargo door closed, substantially envelop the cargo carrier secured to the support frame within an aerodynamic enclosure. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A method for carrying airborne cargo, the method comprising:
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(a) positioning over a cargo carrier, a support frame with a collapsed collapsible nose cone, folded flexible side panels, and an open cargo door, (i) wherein the support frame is suspended from an aircraft and includes a top panel, (ii) wherein the nose cone is coupled to front ends of the support frame and a lower structural frame, (iii) wherein the side panels are connected to sides of the support and structural frames and coupled to the nose cone, and (iv) wherein the cargo door is mounted on the lower structural frame; (b) engaging a retaining mechanism on the support frame with a cargo carrier to secure the cargo carrier to the support frame; and (c) substantially enveloping within an aerodynamic enclosure the cargo carrier secured to the support frame, by expanding the nose cone, unfolding the flexible side panels, and closing the cargo door. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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Specification