Abstract:
This is a device that is designed as a conveyance system for use in the interior of any type of vehicle and other myriad uses such as a home, warehouse, closet, etc. The conveyance system is anchored to the interior roofline of a vehicle; it has a conveyor such as a pulley, track or slide, a holding apparatus such as a basket or similar object for stowing items in, and a method of moving the conveying device and basket from the front of the vehicle to the rear of the vehicle.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     As any parent or caretaker with small children knows, keeping your eyes on the road while operating a motor vehicle, and attending to the small children in the rear of the vehicle can be quite a taxing challenge. To that end, any parent or caretaker of a small child would be benefited with a system to assist moving items from the front of a vehicle to the rear of the vehicle with the minimal distraction.  
         [0002]     Thus was born the TDS device. It is simple in concept and can be adapted to a wide variety of usages and configurations. The inventor initially installed two weighted stanchions in the front and rear or his van. Strung between the two stanchions was a simple “clothesline” like rope and pulley system. A basket was attached to the lower portion of the rope. When his children requested something from the front seat, such as juice boxes, snack or books the inventor simply put the requested item in the basket and let the children “pulley” it back to them where they could extricate the requested item. Since that time many other methods of employing the TDS device have been contemplated. For instance, one could employ a lead screw design and a molded plastic sheath for said lead screw that could be easily retrofitted to the roof of any vehicle. Other methods include a pneumatic tube, or chain drive, or belt drive, or other such means of delivery.  
       PRIOR ART  
       [0003]     There are no devices that allow the conveyance of articles between the front and back of a vehicle in the prior art. The closet patent to this present invention is as follows:  
         [0004]     U.S. Pat. No. 6,682,291 by inventor Schatzler teaches the use of a Transport Device for loading and unloading a trunk space  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0005]     This is a device that is designed as a conveyance system for use in the interior of any type of vehicle. The conveyance system is anchored to the interior roofline of a vehicle; it has a conveyor such as a pulley, track or slide, a holding apparatus such as a basket or similar object for stowing items in, and a method of moving the conveying device and basket from the front of the vehicle to the rear of the vehicle.  
         [0006]     The TDS is comprised of three major sub-assemblies. These include the power drive and electronic control box, the conveyor guide rail, and the saddle nut with hanging carrier. It is powered by the vehicle&#39;s electrical system and comprises an electronic control circuit that allows the safe operation of the device from one to several simple push button(s).  
         [0007]     The TDS device is designed to allow a person in the front seat of a vehicle to deliver items to the passengers in the rear seats, without having to reach back, get out of the vehicle, and most importantly take their attention away from driving the vehicle in a safe manner. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0008]      FIG. 1  depicts the entire TDS (although foreshortened), including a sample carrier, in a three dimensional, isometric view.  
         [0009]      FIG. 2  depicts the underside of the conveyor guide rail, including the Acme lead screw; the power drive and electronics control board uncovered and the travel limit switches.  
         [0010]      FIG. 3  depicts a side view of the conveyor guide rail including the guide rail end cap  
         [0011]      FIG. 4  depicts the Acme lead screw, the power drive lead screw coupling, and the saddle nut follower and basket hanger.  
         [0012]      FIG. 5  depicts the power drive motor, the power drive gear reduction box and the power drive motor shaft with Weldon coupling flat.  
         [0013]      FIG. 6  depicts an example carrier and the basket hanging hooks. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0014]     The terminology used herein should be interpreted in its broadest reasonable manner, even though it is being utilized in conjunction with a detailed description of a certain specific preferred embodiment of the present invention. This is further emphasized below with respect to some particular terms used herein. Any terminology that the reader should interpret in any restricted manner will be overtly and specifically defined as such in this specification. The preferred embodiment of the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference characters designate like or similar parts throughout.  
         [0015]     As mentioned in the Summary of Invention, the TDS is comprised of three major sub-assemblies. These include the power drive and electronics control box system ( FIGS. 1, 3  and  5 ), the conveyor guide rail system ( FIGS. 1, 2 , and  3 ) and the saddle nut with hanging carrier system ( FIGS. 1, 3  and  4 ). Each sub-system will be described in kind.  
       Power Drive and Electronics Control Box System  
       [0016]     The power drive and electronics control box  1  (as shown in  FIGS. 1, 3 ) and the power drive and electronic control box cover  5  (as shown in  FIGS. 1, 2 ) house the power drive motor  7  (as shown in  FIGS. 2, 5 ), the gear reduction  8  (as shown in  FIGS. 2, 5 ) and the control circuit board  9  (as shown in  FIGS. 2 ), which provides the operational logic for the device.  
         [0017]     The control logic circuit board  9  (as shown in  FIG. 2 ) and the power drive motor  7  (as shown in  FIGS. 2, 5 ) and the gear reduction  8  (as shown in  FIGS. 2, 5 ) are located and attached to the inside of the power drive and electronics control box  1  (as shown in FIGS.  1 ,  3 ).  
         [0018]     The control logic circuit board  9  (as shown in  FIG. 2 ) is wired to the power drive motor  7  (as shown in  FIGS. 2,5 ) and is connected to the vehicle&#39;s power system through a fused circuit. Additionally, the control logic circuit board  9  (as shown in  FIG. 2 ) is connected to the two limit switches  6 , 12  (as shown in  FIGS. 1, 2 ) as well as the start/stop button, located elsewhere in the vehicle, for operational control input.  
         [0019]     A removable power drive and electronics control box cover  5  (as shown in  FIGS. 1 ) is attached to the bottom of the power drive and electronics control box  1  (as shown in  FIGS. 1, 3 ) with four counter sunk screws located in each corner. This seals the power drive electronic control box  1  (as shown in  FIGS. 1, 3 ) from all access and outside elements.  
         [0020]     The power drive and electronics control box  1  (as shown in  FIGS. 1, 3 ) is mounted to the end of the conveyor guide rail  2  (as shown in  FIGS. 1, 3 ) using counter sunk screws located inside the power drive and electronics control box wall, and provide proper registration of the power drive motor shaft  17  (as shown in  FIG. 5 ) with the lead screw coupling  10  (as shown in  FIGS. 2, 4 ).  
       Start/Stop Button  
       [0021]     There may be from one to several start/stop buttons provided. These buttons are simple normally open contact buttons used to either start or stop the operation of the TDS device. The start/stop button is wired to the control logic circuit board  9  (as shown in  FIG. 2 ) located in the power drive and electronics control box  1  (as shown in  FIGS. 1, 3 ). When more then one button is used they are to be wired in parallel. As the name implies, this button, when pressed, will either start or stop the operation of the TDS device.  
       Control Logic Circuit Board  
       [0022]     The control logic circuit board  9  (as shown in  FIG. 2 ) provides electronic circuitry that will control the operation of the power drive motor  7  (as shown in  FIGS. 2, 5 ) and gear reduction  8  (as shown in  FIGS. 2, 5 ) through the input from either limit switches  6 ,  12  (as shown in  FIGS. 1, 2 ) or start/stop buttons.  
         [0023]     Both the limit switches  6 ,  12  (as shown in  FIGS. 1, 2 ) and the start/stop buttons are wired to the control logic circuit board  9  (as shown in  FIG. 2 ). When either of the limit switches  6 ,  12  (as shown in  FIGS. 1, 2 ) or a start/stop button is closed, the control logic circuit board  9  (as shown in  FIG. 2 ) will stop the power drive motor  7  (as shown in  FIGS. 2, 5 ) and gear reduction  8  (as shown in  FIGS. 2, 5 ) if currently running. If the start/stop button is pressed while the power drive motor  7  (as shown in  FIGS. 2, 5 ) and gear reduction  8  (as shown in  FIGS. 2, 5 ) is stopped, the device will start and the saddle nut  4  (as shown in  FIGS. 1, 3 ,  4 ) will move in the opposite direction it was last stopped in.  
         [0024]     This allows the TDS device to be started and stopped at any point in its travel as well as automatically stopping when the saddle nut  4  (as shown in  FIGS. 1, 3 ,  4 ) arrives at either limit switch  6 ,  12  (as shown in  FIGS. 1, 2 ) located at the ends of the conveyor guide rail  2  (as shown in  FIGS. 1, 3 ).  
       Conveyor Guide Rail System  
       [0025]     The conveyor guide rail  2  (as shown in  FIGS. 1, 3 ) is the principal element in this design. It provides housing for the power drive Acme lead screw  11  (as shown in  FIGS. 2, 4 ) and saddle nut  4  (as shown in  FIGS. 1, 3 ,  4 ). It also holds one of the two limit switches  6 ,  12  (as shown in  FIGS. 1, 2 ) used to stop the power drive  7  (as shown in  FIGS. 2, 5 ) and gear reduction  8  (as shown in  FIGS. 2, 5 ) when the saddle nut  4  (as shown in  FIGS. 1, 3 ,  4 ) reaches the end of the conveyor guide rail  2  (as shown in  FIGS. 1, 3 ). The conveyor guide rail  2  (as shown in  FIGS. 1, 3 ) can be made from an extruded composite material that provides a minimum amount of conformity to irregular mounting surfaces. The Acme lead screw  11  (as shown in  FIGS. 2, 4 ) is comprised of a self-lubricating composite material such as Ultra High Molecular Weight Polyethylene (UHMW-PE). This material also allows the Acme lead screw  11  (as shown in  FIGS. 2, 4 ) to conform to irregular curves in the above-mentioned conveyor guide rail  2  (as shown in  FIGS. 1, 3 ).  
       Conveyor Guide Rail  
       [0026]     The conveyor guide rail  2  (as shown in  FIGS. 1, 3 ) provides the housing for the Acme lead screw  11  (as shown in  FIGS. 2, 4 ) and the saddle nut  4  (as shown in  FIGS. 1, 3 ,  4 ). It also provides locations for the limit switches  6 ,  12  (as shown in  FIGS. 1, 2 ), limit switch end cap  3  (as shown in  FIGS. 1, 3 ), the power drive and electronics control box  1  (as shown in  FIGS. 1, 3 ) and device&#39;s mounting holes  13  (as shown in  FIGS. 1, 2 ).  
         [0027]     An end cap  3  (as shown in  FIGS. 1, 2 ,  3 ) is pressed into and attached to the opposite end of the conveyor guide rail  2  (as shown in  FIGS. 1, 3 ) from the power drive and electronics control box  1  (as shown in  FIGS. 1, 3 ). This end cap  3  (as shown in  FIGS. 1, 2 ,  3 ) also centers the Acme lead screw  11  (as shown in  FIGS. 2, 4 ) in the conveyor guide rail  2  (as shown in  FIGS. 1, 3 ) as well as provides a mounting place for the end-limit switch assembly  12  (as shown in  FIGS. 1, 2 ).  
         [0028]     There are two limit switches  6 ,  12  (as shown in  FIGS. 1, 2 ) used to automatically stop the movement of the saddle nut  4  (as shown in  FIGS. 1, 3 ,  4 ) when it arrives at either end of the conveyor guide rail  2  (as shown in  FIGS. 1, 2 ,  3 ). These limit switches  6 ,  12  (as shown in  FIGS. 1, 2 ) are wired to the control logic circuit board  9  (as shown in  FIG. 2 ) to provide for automatic stopping of the device.  
         [0029]     Additionally, a traveler button spring  12  (as shown in  FIGS. 1,3 ) is located in the limit switch end cap  3  (as shown in  FIGS. 1, 3 ) to provide a compressible action for the end-limit switch  12  (as shown in  FIGS. 1,3 ). This traveler button spring  12  (as shown in  FIGS. 1,3 ) provides relief between the switch closure  12  (as shown in  FIGS. 1, 2 ) and the stopping of the saddle nut  4  (as shown in  FIGS. 1, 3 ,  4 ) movement.  
         [0030]     Another limit switch  6  (as shown in  FIGS. 1, 2 ) is mounted into the conveyor guide rail  2  (as shown in  FIGS. 1, 3 ) just short of the power drive and electronics control box  1  (as shown in  FIGS. 1, 3 ). This switch assembly  6  (as shown in  FIGS. 1, 2 ) consists of a traveler spring arm  6  (as shown in  FIGS. 1,2 ) that passes through the channel that the saddle nut  4  (as shown in  FIGS. 1, 3 ,  4 ) travels through. This traveler spring arm  6  (as shown in  FIGS. 1, 2 ) provides some timing relief between the switch closure  6  (as shown in  FIGS. 1, 2 ) and the stopping of the saddle nut  4  (as shown in  FIGS. 1, 3 ,  4 ) movement.  
       Acme Lead Screw  
       [0031]     The Acme lead screw  11  (as shown in  FIGS. 2, 4 ) is affixed to the power drive motor shaft  17  (as shown in  FIG. 5 ) using a fixed coupling and a socket head setscrew located in the lead screw coupling  10  (as shown in  FIGS. 2, 4 ). This setscrew affixes the Acme lead screw  11  (as shown in  FIGS. 2, 4 ) to the power drive motor shaft  17  (as shown in  FIG. 5 ) by tightening to the surface of a Weldon flat located on one side of the power drive motor shaft  17  (as shown in  FIG. 5 ).  
         [0032]     The Acme lead screw  11  (as shown in  FIGS. 2, 4 ) is captured inside the conveyor guide rail cavity  2  (as shown in  FIGS. 1, 3 ) and held in place by the limit switch end cap  3  (as shown in  FIGS. 1, 3 ), power drive motor shaft  17  (as shown in  FIG. 5 ) and the saddle nut  4  (as shown in  FIGS. 1, 3 ,  4 ). The Acme lead screw  11  (as shown in  FIGS. 2, 4 ) is driven in either direction by the power drive motor  7  (as shown in  FIGS. 2, 5 ) and gear reduction  8  (as shown in  FIGS. 2, 5 ) located in the power drive and electronics control logic box  1  (as shown in  FIGS. 1, 3 ).  
       Carrier System  
     Saddle Nut  
       [0033]     The functional mechanism of the TDS is the saddle nut  4  (as shown in  FIGS. 1, 3 ,  4 ), which rides along an Acme lead screw  11  (as shown in  FIGS. 2, 4 ). The saddle nut  4  (as shown in  FIGS. 1, 3 ,  4 ) is threaded onto the Acme lead screw  11  (as shown in  FIGS. 2, 4 ) and travels the length of the Acme lead screw  11  (as shown in  FIGS. 2, 4 ) until contact with either limit switch  6 ,  12  (as shown in  FIGS. 1, 2 ) located in the conveyor guide rail  2  (as shown in  FIGS. 1, 3 ) or in the limit switch end cap  3  (as shown in  FIGS. 1, 3 ). Using a Acme lead screw  11  (as shown in  FIGS. 2,4 ) and a saddle nut (as shown in  FIGS. 1, 3 ,  4 ) allows the reduction in the RPM of a motor to a more useful rotational speed and provides an increased amount of torque.  
         [0034]     The saddle nut  4  (as shown in  FIGS. 1, 3 ,  4 ) is captured between the inside cavity of the conveyor guide rail  2  (as shown in  FIGS. 1, 3 ) and the Acme lead screw  11  (as shown in  FIGS. 2, 4 ). A saddle nut flange  4  (as shown in  FIGS. 1, 3 ,  4 ) is allowed to protrude through a slot, which runs the length of the conveyor guide rail  2  (as shown in  FIGS. 1,3 ), and provides access between the Acme lead screw  11  (as shown in  FIGS. 2, 4 ) cavity and the outside hanger hook holes  4  (as shown in  FIGS. 1, 3 ,  4 ).  
       Basket and Hanger  
       [0035]     The carrier  14  (as shown in  FIGS. 1, 6 ) is a simple wire framed basket outfitted with two hanger hooks  15  (as shown in  FIG. 6 ) that allow it to be hung from the saddle nut  4  (as shown in  FIGS. 1, 3 ,  4 ). The carrier  14  (as shown in  FIGS. 1, 6 ) is used to transport items from one end of the TDS to the other. This is only one of many types of containers that may be affixed to the TDS saddle nut. Other types may include coat hangers, mesh bags with drawstrings, or carabineers attached to any type of container whose contents weighs a minimal amount.  
         [0036]     The basket  14  (as shown in  FIGS. 1, 6 ) is made from a wire mesh and comprises a pair of hanger handles, which capture a pair of hanger hooks  15  (as shown in  FIG. 6 ).  
         [0037]     The two basket hanger hooks are placed through two hanger hook holes located in the sides of the saddle nut flange  4  (as shown in  FIGS. 1, 3 ,  4 ).  
       Theory of Operation  
       [0038]     The operational control of the TDS is identical to that of a common garage door opener. Pushing any of the start/stop buttons will initiate the TDS to move the carrier and its contents in the direction away from either end of the conveyor guide rail  2  (as shown in  FIGS. 1, 3 ). When the carrier  14  (as shown in  FIGS. 1, 6 ) reaches the opposite end of the conveyor guide rail the device will automatically stop. Upon pressing the start/stop button the carrier  14  (as shown in  FIGS. 1, 6 ) will move back to the opposite end of the conveyor guide rail  2  (as shown in  FIGS. 1, 3 ). The start/stop button may also be used to stop the travel of the carrier  14  (as shown in  FIGS. 1, 6 ) at any point in its cycle. When pressed again after stopping, it will resume in the opposite direction and return back to its starting point unless the start/stop button is yet again pressed.  
         [0039]     Installation of the TDS is simple. The TDS is affixed to the roof liner of the vehicle using small screws located at the rib points in the vehicles roof. Power for the TDS may be obtained from the vehicles electrical system by tapping into the fuse box. The TDS may share the same fuse with the vehicles widow wipers or other comparable systems that use a fused circuit.  
         [0040]     The TDS is also designed such that it may be customized to the correct length as needed in any given vehicle by removing the guide rail limit switch end cap  3  (as shown in  FIGS. 1, 3 ) and trimming the non-power drive end of the conveyor guide rail  2  (as shown in  FIGS. 1, 3 ) and Acme lead screw  11  (as shown in  FIGS. 2, 4 ).  
         [0041]     The foregoing description details certain preferred embodiments of the present invention and describes the best mode contemplated. It will be appreciated, however, that no matter how detailed the foregoing description appears, the invention can be practiced in many ways without departing from the spirit of the invention. Therefore, the description contained in this specification is to be considered exemplary, rather than limiting, and the true scope of the invention is only limited by the following claims and any equivalents thereof.