Abstract:
The container transport system and method provides for the transport of portable storage units. The system includes a powered hand truck, a specially configured vehicle, and a pair of dolly wheel sets for installation to one end of the portable storage unit. The method comprises removal of the hand truck from the vehicle, fitting the dolly wheels to one end of the portable storage unit as needed, lifting the opposite end of the portable storage unit using the powered hand truck, maneuvering the portable storage unit onto the vehicle using the powered hand truck while simultaneously lifting the end of the portable storage unit supported by the hand truck to keep the portable storage unit level, and parking the powered hand truck on the rearward portion of the vehicle. The hand truck may be remotely controlled, and the dolly sets are preferably height adjustable.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 62/268,385, filed Dec. 16, 2015. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present invention relates generally to containerized freight handling systems, and particularly to a container transport system and method for loading, transporting, and depositing a portable storage unit or container. 
       DESCRIPTION OF THE RELATED ART 
       [0003]    Portable storage units (PSUs) or containers have become increasingly popular for the transport and storage of household goods and furniture, as well as relatively large quantities of other goods and material. Such storage units or containers have conventional dimensions of twelve to sixteen feet in length, and eight feet in width and height. Such containers have weights of several hundred pounds when empty, and of course can weigh perhaps a few thousand pounds when loaded, depending upon the contents. It will be seen that such PSUs or containers can be difficult to transport from place to place, given their sizes and potential weights and lack of wheels. 
         [0004]    One concern when moving and transporting such PSUs is the desirability of keeping the PSU, and thus its contents, level. Conventional loading of such PSUs onto a flatbed results in the forward end of the PSU, i.e., the end closest to the flatbed, rising as it travels up the ramp to the flatbed, while the opposite end remains at a lower level just clear of the ground. Tilting the PSU container may result in its contents tipping or falling and being damaged within the PSU, if those contents are not well secured. 
         [0005]    Accordingly, various devices and systems for transporting such PSUs or containers, as well as other large and heavy containers and storage units, have been developed in the past. An example of such is found in Chinese Patent Publication No. 201777179 published on Mar. 30, 2011 to Stanley Factory Israel Co. Ltd. This reference describes (according to the drawings, English Abstract, and machine translation) a portable storage container configured to fit into the cargo box of a conventional pickup truck. A channel is formed longitudinally in the bottom of the container, with a mating track installed in the floor of the cargo bed of the pickup truck. The track engages the channel to secure the container positively in place for transport. 
         [0006]    Thus a container transport system and method solving the aforementioned problems is desired. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0007]    The container transport system includes three basic components, i.e., a powered hand truck, a specially configured vehicle, such as a trailer or a truck, such as a flatbed truck, and a pair of dolly wheel sets for supporting one end of a portable storage unit (PSU) or container while the container is being maneuvered onto or from the vehicle. The method of loading the container onto the vehicle for transport includes (a) removal of the powered hand truck from the vehicle, (b) fitting the dolly wheel sets to one end of the container as necessary, (c) lifting the opposite end of the container using the powered hand truck to level the PSU just clear of the underlying surface, (d) maneuvering the end of the container supported by the dolly wheels onto the vehicle, (e) raising the end of the PSU supported by the powered hand truck to keep the PSU substantially level as the opposite end supported by the dolly wheels travels up the ramp and onto the vehicle, and (f) parking the powered hand truck and its supported end of the container in position on the rear of the vehicle. The method for offloading the container from the vehicle essentially reverses the above steps. 
         [0008]    The powered hand truck is preferably a device as described in U.S. Pat. No. 8,186,931 issued on May 29, 2012 to Steven Borntrager et al., incorporated herein by reference. The powered hand truck may be controlled directly by an operator manipulating the controls of the device, or may alternatively be controlled remotely. The vehicle includes a rearwardly disposed receptacle for securing the powered hand truck for transport and a sloping rearward ramp, with the rearmost portion of the ramp being hinged to fold upward in order to serve as a gate when raised. The dolly wheel sets are height adjustable. 
         [0009]    These and other features of the present invention will become readily apparent upon further review of the following specification and drawings. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0010]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a vehicle (trailer) and powered hand truck of a container transport system and method according to the present invention, illustrating various features thereof. 
           [0011]      FIG. 2  is a rear perspective view of the vehicle and powered hand truck of the container transport system and method according to the present invention, illustrating further details thereof. 
           [0012]      FIG. 3  is a side elevation view of the powered hand truck of the container transport system and method according to the present invention, showing the engagement with a portable storage container. 
           [0013]      FIG. 4  is a side elevation view of one of the two dolly wheel sets of the container transport system and method according to the present invention, showing its engagement with a portable storage container. 
           [0014]      FIG. 5  is a right side perspective view of the powered hand truck of the container transport system and method according to the present invention, showing the truck lifting and maneuvering one end of a portable storage container. 
           [0015]      FIG. 6  is a front perspective view of a portable storage container supported by a pair of dolly wheel sets of the container transport system and method according to the present invention, approaching the rear ramp of the vehicle for loading thereon. 
           [0016]      FIG. 7  is a right side perspective view of the powered hand truck loading a portable storage container onto the vehicle of the container transport system and method according to the present invention, with the container positioned partially onboard the vehicle. 
           [0017]      FIG. 8  is a right side and rear perspective view of the powered hand truck loading a portable storage container onto the vehicle of the container transport system and method according to the present invention, with the container positioned approximately half way onboard the vehicle. 
           [0018]      FIG. 9  is a right side and rear perspective view of the powered hand truck loading a portable storage container onto the vehicle of the container transport system and method according to the present invention, with the container completely aboard the vehicle. 
           [0019]      FIG. 10  is a rear perspective view of the portable storage container and powered hand truck loaded onto the vehicle of the container transport system and method according to the present invention, with the rear ramp and gate of the vehicle raised. 
           [0020]      FIG. 11  is a side view of the portable storage container and powered hand truck loaded onto the vehicle (truck) of the container transport system and method according to the present invention, with the rear ramp and gate of the vehicle raised. 
       
    
    
       [0021]    Similar reference characters denote corresponding features consistently throughout the attached drawings. 
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0022]    The container transport system and method provides for the transport and handling of large portable storage units (PSUs), often used for the transport and storage of household goods and other materials, as well as other types of containers, such as shipping containers, that can have any suitable length, such as a length of up to 40 ft. Given their size and weight, particularly when loaded, and lack of wheels, such containers are not amenable to manual handling and some form of power equipment and machinery must be used for handling such PSUs. 
         [0023]    The container transport system can include a powered hand truck  10 , illustrated in  FIGS. 1-3, 5, and 7-10 . The powered hand truck  10  can be a machine generally as described in U.S. Pat. No. 8,186,931 issued on May 29, 2012 to Steven Borntrager et al., incorporated herein by reference. The powered hand truck  10  includes a chassis  12  having a drive axle end  14  and an opposite caster wheel end  16 , most clearly shown in  FIG. 3  of the drawings. A single axle extends laterally across the drive axle end  14  of the chassis  12 , with the axle having opposed first and second ends. Only the second end  18  of the axle is shown in the drawing Figs., but it will be seen that the first and second drive wheels  20  and  22  extend from the respective first and second ends of the axle, as in the structure described in the Borntrager et al. &#39;931 U.S. patent cited further above. 
         [0024]    A forklift height adjustment mechanism  24  extends from the drive axle end  14  of the chassis  12 , with a fork attachment arm  26  extending laterally across the lower portion of the mechanism  24 . A pair of laterally spaced fork tines including first and second tines extends from the fork attachment arm  26 . As in the case of the first and second axle ends, only the second tine  28  is illustrated in the drawing Figs., but the powered hand truck  10  includes two such tines as described in the &#39;931 U.S. patent. 
         [0025]    A prime mover  30 , e.g., an internal combustion engine, electric motor, etc., is installed generally medially on the chassis  12 , to drive the two drive wheels  20 ,  22  and the forklift height adjustment mechanism  24 . A control system  32 , located on a pedestal adjacent the caster wheel end  16  of the chassis  12 , enables an operator to control the prime mover  30 , the first and second drive wheels  20  and  22 , and the forklift height adjustment mechanism  24 , as described in the &#39;931 U.S. patent cited further above. The operator may stand upon a platform at the caster wheel end  16  of the chassis  12  and operate the control system  32  therefrom, or may alternatively operate the powered hand truck  10  remotely, as provided in the cited &#39;931 U.S. patent. 
         [0026]    Both the PSU and the powered hand truck  10  can be mounted upon a flat bed  102  of a vehicle  100 , such as a truck or trailer. If mounted on the flat bed  102  of a trailer, the trailer can in turn be towed by a suitable vehicle, e.g., a light truck T or the like as shown in broken lines in  FIGS. 1 and 8 .  FIG. 11  shows the PSU mounted on the flat bed  102  of a truck. The flat bed  102  can have a forward or hitch end  104  and an opposite rear or ramp end  106 . A downward and rearward sloping ramp  108  extends from the ramp end  106  of the flat bed  102 . The ramp  108  has a rearward end  110 , with a rearward ramp extension and gate  112  hingedly attached to the rearward end  110  of the ramp  108 . 
         [0027]    The flat bed  102  includes a powered hand truck receptacle  114  disposed therein, adjacent to the ramp end  106  of the flat bed  102 . The ramp  108  includes a central area  116  having a rearward end  118  that is aligned or contiguous with the rearward end  110  of the ramp  108 , and an opposite forward end  120  that is aligned or contiguous with the floor of the receptacle  114 . This configuration results in the plane of the central area  116  of the ramp  108  and the plane of the powered hand truck receptacle  114  being essentially parallel to the flat bed  102 , with the receptacle  114  disposed below the plane of the flat bed  102  (e.g., below the plane of a remaining portion of the flat bed  102 ) due to the forward and upward slope of the ramp  108  to the rearward or ramp end  106  of the flat bed  102 . Thus, the powered hand truck receptacle  114  may be considered as a forward portion of the central area  116  of the ramp  108  or to extend to the rear end  110  of the ramp  108 , or in other words, the central area  116  of the ramp  108  may be seen as a rearward extension of the powered hand truck receptacle  114 . 
         [0028]    The third major component of the system comprises a pair of container support dolly sets  200  that are used to support one end of the PSU or container during the transfer operation to and from the vehicle  100 , as shown in  FIGS. 4 through 8 . Each of the dolly sets  200  includes a pair of closely spaced wheels  202  with a single fork tine  204  extending from between the wheels  202 . An upright member  206  extends upward from between the two wheels  202 , with the base of the fork tine  204  being adjustably attached to the base of the upright  206 . The upright  206  provides for the adjustment of the height of the single fork tine  204 , e.g., a conventional screw jack mechanism within the upright  206 , or other means as desired. A crank  208  extends from the top of the upright  206  for operation of the screw jack mechanism. 
         [0029]    The method of placing a PSU or container on the vehicle  100  is illustrated generally in sequence in the drawing Figs. As the conventional PSU is not equipped with wheels, some form of wheeled mechanism or mechanisms must be provided for moving the PSU on the surface. Accordingly, the vehicle  100  is transported to the site of the PSU to convey the PSU after it is loaded onto the vehicle  100 . The powered hand truck  10  and the container support dolly sets  200  can be carried to the site by the vehicle  100 . When the vehicle  100  has arrived at the site of the PSU, the rear ramp extension and gate  112  is lowered to enable the powered hand truck  10  to be driven off the vehicle  100  from its receptacle  114 , generally as shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2  of the drawings. 
         [0030]    Once the powered hand truck  10  has been removed from the vehicle  100 , it is maneuvered to align its fork tines with the corresponding fork tine pockets P at one end of the PSU, generally as shown in  FIG. 3  of the drawings. The height of the two fork tines is adjusted for insertion into the tine pockets P, as shown by the right tine  28  in  FIG. 3 , and the powered hand truck  10  is driven toward the PSU (either directly by an on-board operator, or by remote control) to insert the two tines into the pockets P of the PSU. The forklift height adjustment mechanism  28  of the powered hand truck  10  is operated (again, either directly or remotely) to lift that end of the PSU just clear of the underlying surface, with support of that end of the PSU being solely by the two drive wheels  20  and  22  of the powered hand truck  10 . 
         [0031]    At this point, the the two container support dolly sets  200  may be positioned to support the opposite end of the PSU, generally as shown in  FIG. 4  of the drawings. Such PSUs conventionally include fork tine pockets P at each end thereof. The height of the fork tine  204  of each dolly  200  is adjusted as required to engage the fork tine pockets P at one end of the PSU and the two dollies  200  are maneuvered to insert their tines  204  into the corresponding tine pockets P at one end of the PSU, generally as shown in  FIG. 4  of the drawings. The hand cranks  208  (or other tine lifting mechanism as may be installed in the dollies  200 ) are manipulated to raise the dolly tines  204 , thus lifting that end of the PSU just clear of the underlying surface and level with the opposite raised end, with sole support of that end of the PSU being by means of the four wheels  202  of the two dollies  200 . Thus, the entire PSU is supported in a substantially level elevation, clear of the underlying surface at this point, by the two drive wheels  20  and  22  of the powered hand truck  10  and the four wheels  202  of the two container support dollies  200 , generally as shown in  FIG. 5  of the drawings. Alternatively, the two dolly sets  200  can be engaged with the tine pockets of the PSU prior to engaging the powered hand truck  10  with the PSU. 
         [0032]    The powered hand truck  10  is then operated to maneuver the end of the PSU supported by the support dollies  200  to the distal end of the deployed ramp extension  112  of the vehicle  100 , generally as shown in  FIG. 6  of the drawings. The powered hand truck  10  is driven forward further, i.e., toward the vehicle  100 , to roll the two support dollies  200  up the ramp extension  112  and further up the ramp  108  of the vehicle  100 , generally as shown in  FIG. 7  of the drawings. A major advantage provided by the powered hand truck  10  is that the forklift height adjustment mechanism  28  can be operated to lift its supported end of the PSU as the opposite dolly supported end rises up the ramp extension  112  and ramp  108  of the vehicle  100 . In this manner, the PSU and its contents can be maintained at a level orientation at all times. 
         [0033]    The powered hand truck  10  is driven further forward, i.e., toward the rear of the vehicle  100 , with the wheels  202  of the two container support dolly sets  200  rolling onto the flat bed  102  of the vehicle  100 . As the powered hand truck  10  is still on the surface below the level of the flat bed  102 , the fork height adjustment mechanism  28  of the powered hand truck  10  is adjusted as required to lift the two fork tines, and thus the corresponding end of the PSU, to maintain the PSU at a level elevation or orientation, generally as illustrated in  FIGS. 7 and 8  of the drawings. 
         [0034]    It will be seen in  FIG. 9  that once the powered hand truck  10  advances beyond the rearward end  110  of the ramp  108 , it is traveling on the substantially level central area  116  of the ramp  108 . The plane of this central area  116  of the ramp  108  is parallel to the plane of the flat bed  102 , but at a lower level. Thus, the height of the forklift tines of the powered hand truck  10 , and the PSU or container, can be maintained at a constant level as this step of the operation is accomplished. 
         [0035]    Finally, the forward end of the PSU, i.e., the end supported by the two container support dolly sets  200 , is advanced to a point adjacent the forward or hitch end  104  of the flat bed  102 , generally as shown in  FIG. 10  of the drawings. The two dolly sets  200  remain in position with their fork tines engaged with the tine pockets of the PSU, but the tines can be lowered using the height adjustment mechanisms of the dolly sets in order to relieve the loads on the dolly sets and rest the bottom of the PSU directly upon the underlying flat bed  102 . The fork tines of the powered hand truck  10  are lowered correspondingly. 
         [0036]    The length of the flat bed  102  between its forward or hitch end  104  and ramp end  106  is established to be at least approximately equal to the length of a standard PSU, i.e., about sixteen feet. (This length may be adjusted as required for different PSUs.) This positions the rearward end of the PSU at the rear or ramp end  106  of the flat bed  102  with the powered hand truck  10  positioned within the central area  116  of the ramp  108 , generally as shown in  FIG. 10 . It will be seen that the powered hand truck receptacle  114  is disposed to the forward end of this ramp central area  116 , but may be considered to encompass the entire ramp central area  116  as well. This permits the powered hand truck  10  to be driven forward into the powered hand truck receptacle  114  when shorter PSUs are carried on board the vehicle  100 . In any event, sufficient room is provided for the carriage of the powered hand truck  10  completely on the ramp central area  116  or the receptacle  114 , thus permitting the ramp extension and gate  112  to be raised and secured as shown in  FIG. 10  of the drawings. The fork lift mechanism  24  of the powered hand truck  10  is lowered to relieve the strain on the mechanism, and to seat the bottom of the PSU directly upon the underlying flat bed  102 . 
         [0037]    At this point, the vehicle  100  with its load of the PSU, powered hand truck  10 , and the two container support dolly sets  200  is ready for transport for carriage of the PSU to whatever location may be required. When the vehicle  100  and its cargo arrive at the desired location, the above-described procedure is reversed to unload the PSU from the vehicle  100 , and to position the PSU as desired at its new location. It is to be understood that the powered hand truck  10  can be easily moved and maneuvered to transport the PSU to and from narrow spaces or wet locations. 
         [0038]    It is to be understood that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, but encompasses any and all embodiments within the scope of the following claims.