Automobile containerized shipment support kit
First Claim
1. A kit of assemblable component parts for loading and transporting automobiles as cargo within an enclosed, dry-cargo intermodal shipping container having a floor, respective sidewalls having opposed and spaced apart mounting tracks thereon and along substantially their respective lengths, a front wall, a top, and a rear doorway, said kit comprising apparatus for installing an elevated automobile track deck within said container comprising a plurality of manually installable and removable crossbeams respectively adapted for mounting on, and spanning between, opposed ones of said sidewall mounting tracks within said container, a plurality of automobile track sections adapted for mounting on said plurality of crossbeams when so installed to provide a pair of parallel, spaced apart wheel tracks extending longitudinally within said container for receiving an automobile moved thereon, at least some of said crossbeams and said automobile track sections being adapted by means thereon for connecting said track sections to said adapted crossbeams to substantially prevent vertical, longitudinal, and lateral movement of said track sections when so mounted on said installed crossbeams thereby to form said automobile track deck within said container, and a plurality of adjustable take-up strap means each adapted for connection to an automobile and for extending and connection to respective ones of said sidewall mounting tracks to substantially prevent movement of said automobile when the latter is on said automobile track deck.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A system and apparatus is described for loading and carrying automobiles as cargo in a standardized, enclosed, dry-freight intermodal shipping container. The apparatus is provided in the form of a kit of assemblable components for manual installation in such container and for complete removal therefrom without use of tools, by which a track deck is erected using crossbeams supported between opposed mounting tracks provided by conventional slotted sideposts along the interior sidewalls of the container, and track sections mounted, and retained by removable pins on such crossbeams. Automobiles are driven on to such track deck via a ramp extending from the loading dock to the track deck, which ramp may also be included in the kit. The cars are tied down against vertical or longitudinal movement on the tracks by nylon take-up straps extending from the cars to the sidepost mounting tracks. Automobiles are also carried below such track deck, on the container floor, additional crossbeams with specially adapted wheel chocking plates mounted thereon being also furnished as part of the kit for securing these cars against longitudinal and lateral movement on the container floor.
87 Citations
5 Claims
- 1. A kit of assemblable component parts for loading and transporting automobiles as cargo within an enclosed, dry-cargo intermodal shipping container having a floor, respective sidewalls having opposed and spaced apart mounting tracks thereon and along substantially their respective lengths, a front wall, a top, and a rear doorway, said kit comprising apparatus for installing an elevated automobile track deck within said container comprising a plurality of manually installable and removable crossbeams respectively adapted for mounting on, and spanning between, opposed ones of said sidewall mounting tracks within said container, a plurality of automobile track sections adapted for mounting on said plurality of crossbeams when so installed to provide a pair of parallel, spaced apart wheel tracks extending longitudinally within said container for receiving an automobile moved thereon, at least some of said crossbeams and said automobile track sections being adapted by means thereon for connecting said track sections to said adapted crossbeams to substantially prevent vertical, longitudinal, and lateral movement of said track sections when so mounted on said installed crossbeams thereby to form said automobile track deck within said container, and a plurality of adjustable take-up strap means each adapted for connection to an automobile and for extending and connection to respective ones of said sidewall mounting tracks to substantially prevent movement of said automobile when the latter is on said automobile track deck.
Specification