RAILCARS FOR PERSONAL VEHICLES SYSTEMS

• US 20110083579A1
• Filed: 10/14/2010
• Published: 04/14/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 10/14/2009
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: John Williams
• Original Assignee: John Williams
• Inventors: Williams, John
• Application Number:
  US12/904,160
• Publication Number:
  US 20110083579A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 105/355
• CPC Class Codes: B61D 3/02 with multiple deck arrangements for carrying vehicles B61D3/18
• CPC Class Codes: B61D 3/18 for vehicles vehicles adapted to carry other vehicles, in general, B60P3/06

Abstract

Railcars for personal vehicles provides train passengers with a method for bringing their automobile with them as they travel. This system utilizes pallets and fork-lifts specially designed to hold automobiles. Vehicles can be loaded and unloaded from both sides of a railcar making for fast and easy loading. This system allows travelers and commuters to ride on public transportation with the convenience of having their own vehicle for transportation one they have reached their destination.

Claims

1. A railcar for personal vehicle transport system comprising:

a multi-level railcar having inner-spaced floor wheel slots located in an upper level and a lower level;

a lifter;

at least one restrainer-securer assembly;

a personal vehicle molded pallet;

wherein said multi-level railcar provides transportation for both a commuter and a private transporter for said commuter;

wherein said private transporter is coupled to said personal vehicle molded pallet, lifted into said multi-level railcar via said lifter;

wherein said private transporter coupled to said personal vehicle molded pallet is suitably placed and secured in stasis in said inner-spaced floor wheel slots in said multi-level railcar via said at least one restrainer-securer assembly;

wherein said railcar for personal vehicle transport system transports said commuter and said private transporter to a destination such that said commuter is able to use said private transporter at said destination once said private transporter is unloaded.

2. The railcar for personal vehicle transport system of claim 1 wherein said inner-spaced floor wheel slots allow said personal vehicle molded pallet to be positioned forward or backwards relative to front of said multi-level railcar.

3. The railcar for personal vehicle transport system of claim 1 wherein lighter versions of said private transporter are stored on said upper level.

4. The railcar for personal vehicle transport system of claim 1 wherein heavier versions of said private transporter are stored on said lower level.

5. The railcar for personal vehicle transport system of claim 1 wherein said inner-spaced floor wheel slots located in said upper level comprise a wheelbase spacing less than said inner-spaced floor wheel slots located in said lower level.

6. The railcar for personal vehicle transport system of claim 1 wherein said inner-spaced floor wheel slots located in said upper level comprise a track spacing narrower than said inner-spaced floor wheel slots located in said lower level.

7. The railcar for personal vehicle transport system of claim 1 wherein said multi-level railcar comprises at least one side door.

8. The railcar for personal vehicle transport system of claim 7 wherein said at least one side door comprises a first side door located on a first side of said multi-level railcar.

9. The railcar for personal vehicle transport system of claim 7 wherein said at least one side door comprises a second side door located on a second side of said multi-level railcar.

10. The railcar for personal vehicle transport system of claim 7 wherein said a second side door is located in an opposed position to a first side door on said multi-level railcar.

11. The railcar for personal vehicle transport system of claim 10 wherein said private transporter is unloadable through said first side door or second side door on said multi-level railcar.

12. The railcar for personal vehicle transport system of claim 1 wherein said at least one restrainer-securer assembly comprises hooked tie-down straps.

13. The railcar for personal vehicle transport system of claim 1 wherein said at least one restrainer-securer assembly comprises chains with hooks.

14. The railcar for personal vehicle transport system of claim 1 wherein said at least one restrainer-securer assembly comprises clamps.

15. The railcar for personal vehicle transport system of claim 1 wherein said lifter comprises a forklift loader.

16. The railcar for personal vehicle transport system of claim 1 wherein said lifter is integral with said multi-level railcar.

17. The railcar for personal vehicle transport system of claim 1 wherein said personal vehicle molded pallet comprises a skid.

18. The railcar for personal vehicle transport system of claim 17 wherein said skid comprises rotatable devises.

19. A method of using a railcar for personal vehicle transport system comprising the steps of:

loading at least one private transporter for a commuter on a multi-level railcar;

boarding said commuter on a passenger railcar directly or indirectly hooked to said multi-level railcar;

wherein said passenger railcar and said multi-level railcar travel to a final destination such that when said passenger railcar and said multi-level railcar arrive at said final destination said private transporter is unloaded so that said commuter is able to drive said private transporter from said final destination.

20. The method of claim 19 wherein said loading may comprise said private transporter being loaded into said multi-level railcar through a first side door or a second side door via a lifter.