Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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l lTLE: MOVABLE PL~I FORM FOR STORI NG FREIGHT AND
AI~TOMO13 ~LES
II. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
l. Field of the Invention.
Ihe present invention relates to an apparatus for readily storing
freight and automobiles inside maritime containers.
2. Other Related Applications.
The present application is a continuation-in-part of pending PCT
Patent Application Serial No. PCT/US 89/01380, filed on April 4,1989,
wherein the United States has been designated and elected.
3. Description of the Related Art.
The closest prior art inclu~es the above mentioned parent
application which requires the use of removable jack assemblies for lifting
the platform. It has been found in practice that this is a time consuming
activity requiring an investment in said jack assemblies with the
consequent maintenance and storage problems.
III. SUMMARY OF THE INVE_TION
It is one of the main objects of the present invention to provide an
apparatus for storing freight and automobiles that can readily load and
unload its cargo safely in a minimum time.
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It is an(~t}ler objl-~ct o~ this invention to provide such an apparatus
that can be lifted an(~ lowe~?d with the use of readily available forklifts or
other lifting devices.
It is another object of this invention to provide such an apparatus
that can be stored, when not in use, in a volumetrically efficient manner.
It is yet another object of this present invention to provide such a
device that is inexpensive to manufachlre and maintain while retaining its
effectiveness.
Further objects of the invention will be brought out in the following
part of the specification, wherein detailed description is for the purpose of
fully disclosing the invention without placing lirnitations thereon.
IV. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
With the above and other related objects in view, the invention
consists in the details of construction and combination of parts as will be
more fully understood from the following description, when read in
conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:
Figure 1 represents a side elevational view of the interior of a
container equipped with the present invention with the first vehicle loaded
and ready to accept the second vehicle.
Figure 2 shows ~ side elevational view of the container shown in
figure ' with ~our a~ltomobiles lo~ded therein and showing where a
forklift engages the platform for raising ~nd lowering it when there are no
vehicles in the lower level
Figure 3 illustrates a top view of the container shown in figure 2,
without the automobiles, to schernatically represent platform used in the
preferred embodiment.
Figure 4 is a representation of a partial elevational view of one of
the vertical inner posts where a corner of the platform is pivotally
mounted.
Figure 5 illustrates an isometric view of the platform utilized in the
present invention and the respective vertical post assemblies for each
corner.
Figure 6 is an end elevational view, as seen from the entrance to the
container, showing two end vehicles secured for transportation.
Figure 7 shows a magnified detailed view of the guard rail on floor
of the container.
Figure 8 is a partial elevational view of the lowered platform ready
to admit vehicles for the upper level with the help of the ramp.
Figure 9 shows a detail view of the engagement between the ramp
and the platform.
Figure 10 shows a detailed view, in isometlic, of the upper end of the
rear post assembly.
Figure 11 depicts a partial isometric representation of the lower end
of the rear post assembly shown in figure 8.
Figure 12 illustrates how taller vehicles can be loaded in a container
using the present invention for its maximum volumetric utilization.
Figure 13 shows a platform assembly beir g transported from its
storage site to the container where it is going to be utilized.
Figure 14 is an end view from inside the container showing the
wheel and ski assemblies mounted to the front end of the platform.
Figure 15 is a detail view of the mechanism used in the preferred
embodiment to transversally fasten the platform assembly in place.
Figure 16 is a detail view of the mechanism used in the preferred
embodiment to longitudinally fasten the platform assembly in place.
Figure 17 shows a top view of the innermost, middle and outermost
(entrance to the container) sections of the chassis assembly.
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V. I~ETAII.ED DESCRIPTIC3N_C)~IH PREFERR~D EMBVDIMENT
Referring now to figures 1 through 3, where the present invention is
generally referred to with numeral 10, it can be observed that it basically
includes platform assembly 20, chassis assembly 25 with vertical
supporting front and rear post assemblies 40 and 140 collapsibly keeping
assemblies 20 and 25 in a spaced apart relationship and locking assemblies
190 associated with each one of said rear post assemblies 140.
Platform assernbly ~0 extends substantially along the entire length of
container C which is typically 12 meters in length. Container C has a
substantially rectangular floor plan and include a floor, four top frame
members, four bottom frame members and four corner container posts.
Platform assembly 20 has substantially a rectangular projected shape with
two lateral sides 22 and 23 longer than its two end sides 24 and 25, as best
seen in figure 5. 3ne of the end sides of platform 20 is denominated inner
side 24 and it is pivotally mounted to the upper sections of front post
assemblies 40 which are located substantially adjacent to the inner end
wall I of container C. The other end side is denominated outer end side 25
of platform assembly 20 and includes pockets 26 that receive the forlc
member of conventional forklift F. In this manner, outer end side end 26
can be lifted and lowered by forklift F. Once in the desired position, it is
locked in place on supporting rear post assemblies 140 and locking
assemblies l90, which includes locking pin 60 and 61, as best seen in figure
8.
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As seeII in figures 3 and 5, plates ~8 and ~,' are adapted to exert
transversal forces ag~in~t tlle contain~r's side v~alls S1 and S2, thereby
keeping ~nner side 2~ of platform 20 rigidly in place. Plate 48 is mounted to
one end of spacer member 5() through threaded shafts 49 and 49' which
pass through built-in threaded pieces 43 and 43'. When shafts 49 and 49'
are rotated: they cause plates 48 and 48' to move towards or away from
side walls S1 and S2, as seen in figures 3 and 15. Transversal member 50
is perpendicularly and ~gi(lly mounted to slidable members 52 and 52'
which cause elongated member 50 to travel towards and away from
member 42 and locked in place through a locking mechanism which
includes, in this preferred embocliment, tubular section 59 and pin 57 that is
insertable through openings 56 and 58. Members 50 and 50' permit inner
post assemblies 40 to be lcept at a spaced apart relationship with respect to
inner wall I.
Figure 5 shows, primarily, platform assembly 20 suspended in a
spaced apart relationship with respect to chassis assembly 25, which is
partially shown. Also, shown in this figure are wheel well covers 27 that
are hingedly mounted to wheel wells 125 of platform 20 so that the
underside of vehicles that are low (Jaguars, Porches, etc.) can not come in
contact with p!atform assembly 20. Also, by closing wheel wells 125 with
covers 27, the inventor has been able to accommodate up to six smaller
vehicles in a 12 meter container. In the preferred embodiment, wheel well
covers 27 are rigidly mounted to platform assembly 20 and in cooperative
a~rangement to cover wheel wells 125 when lowered. Oil pan 28 is
intended to collect any possible leaking oil from a vehicle loaded on the
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inner end of pkltfoI m 20 ~nd the same function is intended for spring
loaded rolled sheet 29 th~t includes hook 29' tG keep it in distension.
In figure 6, a rear view shows how vehicles V are secured to
platform 20 through f~stening mech~nisms 70. Fastening mechanism 70
includes a flexible cord or b~nd 72 preferably made of a nylon material that
is passed through a fixed point iII platform assembly 20. Ratchet assembly
74 permits the tight adjustment of band 72 forcing vehicle V downward.
One of the front post assemblies 40 is shown in greater detail in
figure 4. Front elongated post member 42 extends vertically from lower
longitudinal chassis member 21 of chassis assembly 25 to slightly more
than one half of the height of roof R with respect to bottom B. The lower
end of member 42 is pivotally and perpendicularly secured to structural
member 21, as best seen in figure 4; 5 and 17. The upper end 47 of member
42 is pivotally and removable secured platform assembly 20 through upper
C-shape plate 51 and removably to pin 53. When apparatus 10 is in use,
post member 42 is vertically disposed through the action of lower C-shape
plate 45 and pins 43. Reinforcing member 19 is designed to counteract any
load forces and it is also pivotally mounted to member 21 of chassis
assembly 25.
The other side of chassis assembly 25 includes member 21' that
extends longitudinally like member 21 but not the entire length. Member
21' is rigidly mounted to tire guiding member 122 that extends
longitudinally the entire length of the container. Spacer member 130 is
rigidly mounted to tire guiding member 122, approximately around its
center, and CO-clCtS Wit~l a ~ justable space mechanism substantially
opposite to member 130. Tire guiding members 122, 124 and 126 insure
that vehicle V is parked in the right place wl~ile at the same time it provides
a structural function to the chassis assembly. Spacer mechanism 140
insures, ~vith member 130, that the chassis assembly 25 does not move
around during transportation. Another spacer mechanism 150 mounted to
chassis assembly 25 lceeps the latter at a predetermined spaced apart
relationship with respect to inner wall I.
In figure 7, the rel~tive position of a tire of vehicle V loaded on
chassis àssembly 20 is shown. Also, rear post member 162is received by
rear C-shape member 164 that is, in hlrn, rigidly mounted to lower
longitudinal structural member 21.
Figure 8 shows an elevational view of the rear portion of platform
assembly 20 in its lowered position and ramp assembly 80 mounted
thereon. Rear post assembly 160 includes rear elongated post mem~er 162
that extends vertically from roof R down to bottom surface B of container
C. The lowermost end of member 162 rests on plate 41 that in turn rests on
bottom surface B, as best seen in figures 6,7 and 11. The upper end of
members 162 include plates 41' that are adjustable along the longitudinal
axis of member 162 through rotation of threaded pin 141', as best seen in
figures 8 and 10. A portion 145 in member 162 has been reduced in width to
facilitate avoiding contact with the exterior mirrors of automobiles that
are loaded and unloaded from container C.
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Figure 9 sho~s in gr~t~r detail the engagement of ramp assembly
80 wit~l platform assembly 2n. Basically, this engagement is intended to
effectively prevent the sep~ration of these two assemblies when the
vehicles are loaded and unloadecl from platform assembly 20.
Also, in figure 11, we can see that when platform 20 is lowered then
lower portion 151 of guiding loop 150 rests on stopper member 152 that
further insures that platform 20 will not be lowered past a predetermined
point. Stopper member 152 is, in the preferred embodiment, rigidly
mounted to a predetermined position at the lower end of member 162 so
that platform 20 does not come in contact with the bottom. This is
desirable because only the corners will carry the stress and weight of the
vehicles. Guiding loop 1~0 has a limited pivotal movement and it is
enough to permit its alignment with protruberance 156 and insertion of pin
161. As another safety feature, hook 174 can be removably hooked to pin
171. Hook 174 is rigidly attached to steel wire 175 on one end and the other
end of steel wire 175 can be tied to a fixed position, such as shown in figure
10. In the event that the lifting device (forklift) does not function properly
when the platform is being raised or lowered, steel wire 175 can
withs~and the weight of platform assembly 20, at least temporarily,
thereby preventing an accident.
In figure 12, a rather large vehicle VL is shown occupying the space
of tow vehicles and this is accomplished by leaving platform assembly 20
down. After the vehicles loaded on platform assembly 20 are unloaded,
the vehicle on the left on buttorn surfac~ B is unloaded after platform
assembly 20 is lifted and locked in pk~ce.
In figure 13, it can be seen how forklift F hauls platform assembly 20
that includes ski member 100 over which the inner end rests. The weight is
preferably shared with wheel assemblies 102. Wheel assemblies 102 are
removably mounted to the inner end of platforrn assembly 20 through
removable pin members 104 passed through hole 108, as best seen in figure
14. Wheel assemblies 102 include wheel 106 that supports the weight of
apparatus 10.
It is believed the foregoing description conveys the best
understanding of the objects and advantages of the present invention.
Different embodiments may be made of the inventive concept of this
invention. It is to be understood that all matter disclosed herein is to be
interpreted merely as illustrative, and not in a limiting sense.
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