Abstract:
A storage or cargo container designed to fit into an air fairing of a ground traveling vehicle having a cab with mounting points with a latching system to which the cargo container is adapted to be attached. Use of the storage or cargo container more efficiently utilizes the space occupied by air fairings on cargo-carrying vehicles currently, and provides for Less Than full-Load capacity.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF INVENTION 
   This invention relates to a storage or cargo caddy system designed to fit into or supplant an air fairing of a ground traveling vehicle. Specifically, it is intended to be compatible with air fairings commonly used on trucks and semi-tractors, which function to present aerodynamic transition between the lesser height of the vehicle cab and the greater height of the cargo body or semi-trailer. The storage or cargo caddy system is modular in design, and is made to be easily inserted into and removed from the space defined by the air fairing. 
   SUMMARY 
   Mobile ground traveling vehicles are commonly configured either as a cargo-carrying trucks, or as highway tractors adapted to connect to and pull semi-trailers. The cargo-carrying truck variety of vehicle is typically provided with a separate cab and cargo section, both of which are attached to a chassis. Often, the cargo section of the vehicle is significantly taller than the cab section of the vehicle. In order to improve the aerodynamics of the vehicle, an air fairing is attached to the top of the cab section of the vehicle. This air fairing is sometimes integrated into the cab of the vehicle, so that the space that it contains is usable to the occupants of the vehicle cab. More often, however, it is merely attached to the top of the cab, and is hollow and open to the rear of the cab. The space that it defines in this configuration remains unoccupied. The invention disclosed herein is primarily concerned with the effective and efficient utilization of that space. 
   The highway tractor variety of vehicle is often provided with an air fairing as well. This is because the semi-trailer to which the highway tractor is adapted to be attached is often considerably taller than the cab of the highway tractor itself. In the same way as the air fairing of the cargo-carrying truck type of vehicle, the air fairing of the highway tractor is sometimes integrated into the cab of the vehicle, so that the space that it contains is usable to the occupants of the vehicle cab, and is sometimes merely attached to the top of the cab, being hollow and open to the rear of the cab. 
   Cargo-carrying trucks and highway tractors are primarily revenue-generating vehicles for the entities that purchase and maintain them. As a result, great effort is undertaken by the manufacturers of these vehicles to maximize their cargo carrying capacity within the constraints of weight, volume, fuel consumption, and vehicle cost. Additionally, the economic demand for efficient operation has essentially resulted in the preclusion of partial, or Less Than full-Load (LTL), shipping for operators other than parcel-delivery services. Yet in virtually all cargo-carrying trucks and highway tractors, the volume beneath the air fairing of the vehicle cab goes unoccupied. 
   The invention disclosed herein provides a way to more effectively use the volume defined by the vehicle cab air fairing by allowing for quick and easy insertion of a fitted, modular cargo container thereinto. Alternately, the vehicle cab air fairing may be entirely supplanted by an aerodynamic modular cargo container of substantially the same shape. In yet another form, the air fairing may be partially integrated into the cab, so that it is accessible to the occupants of the interior of the cab, and partially hollow and adapted to receive a fitted, modular cargo container. 
   When stowed, the cab air fairing cargo caddy system container latches securely to the top of the vehicle cab, so that it cannot separate from the vehicle cab in the event of an impact. Minimally, there are telltale indicators integrated into the latching system, so that it is readily apparent if the latching system is not in the locked-down state. The latching system may additionally have an interlock with the vehicle electrical system, so that the vehicle may not be driven unless the latching system is secured. 
   In order that the cab air fairing cargo caddy system container may be easily removed, several optional features may be present. In one embodiment, the cab air fairing cargo caddy system container has pockets for receiving fork-truck forks. In the case of the system involving the use of a fitted, modular cargo container within the vehicle cab air fairing intended to be removed by use of a fork-truck, means for egress is provided for the cab air fairing cargo caddy system container perpendicular to the vehicle, such as a door in the air fairing. In another embodiment, a means for the autonomous loading and unloading of the cab air fairing cargo caddy system container, such as a stanchion-crane, is utilized. 
   The cab air fairing cargo caddy system is intended for lightweight, small volume cargo, as compared to the cargo section of the truck or to the semi-trailer to which the highway tractor is adapted to be attached. It is naturally limited by the structure of the cab of the vehicle to which it is attached. It may be outfitted to receive miscellaneous light cargo, similar to the trunk of a passenger automobile, or it may be divided into sections, so that driver goods may be organized within. The cab air fairing cargo caddy system is water-resistant in order to keep goods within dry during inclement weather. It may be accessible when in the stowed position, either by means of a ladder located to the rear of the cab, or by means of a hatch in the top portion of the vehicle cab. 
   Whether applied to a cargo-carrying truck type of vehicle, or to a highway tractor type of vehicle, and whether embodied as a fitted, modular container insertable into an air fairing or as an aerodynamic modular cargo container intended to entirely supplant the air fairing, the cab air fairing cargo caddy system is designed to be interchangeable between vehicles. The cab air fairing cargo caddy system containers are inexpensively produced, possibly utilizing such techniques as Reaction Injection Molding, or vacuum molding. In this way, the containers may be rapidly interchanged, resulting in increased vehicle productivity. 
   The invention as presented is a solution to the problem of providing additional storage and a certain amount of Less Than full-Load (LTL) capability to cargo-carrying trucks and highway tractors. It is easy to remove and easy to stow. The latching system is secure and provides positive feedback so that the danger of it becoming detached while the vehicle is underway is eliminated. It is fully interchangeable with other vehicles so equipped, and provides a low-cost way to store and transport small, lightweight items. 
   The figures listed illustrate a vehicle with a cab air fairing cargo caddy system. Various embodiments of the cab air fairing cargo caddy system are shown, including a cargo container situated within an air fairing, an aerodynamic cargo container in lieu of an air fairing, and an air fairing partially open to the cab interior and partially adapted to receive a cargo container. 

   
     DRAWINGS 
     FIG.  1 —A side view of a cargo-carrying truck having an air fairing. 
     FIG.  2 —A side view of a highway tractor adapted to be attached to a semi-trailer, the highway tractor having an air fairing. 
     FIG.  3 —A view of a first embodiment of the invention. 
     FIG.  4 —A view of a second embodiment of the invention. 
     FIG.  5 —A view of a third embodiment of the invention. 
     FIG.  6 —A view of a fourth embodiment of the invention. 
     FIG.  7 —A view of a fifth embodiment of the invention. 
     FIG.  8 —A view of a sixth embodiment of the invention. 
     FIG.  9 —A view of a seventh embodiment of the invention. 
     FIG.  10 —A view of an eighth embodiment of the invention. 
     FIG.  11 —A view of a ninth embodiment of the invention. 
     FIG.  12 —A view of a tenth embodiment of the invention. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
   The vehicle  101  shown in  FIG. 1  has a cab  102  and a cargo-carrying body section  104  attached to a chassis  103 . The cab  102  is provided with an aerodynamic air fairing  105  in order to improve the airflow over and around the upper portion of the cargo-carrying body  104 . 
   The vehicle  101  shown in  FIG. 2  has a cab  102  attached to a chassis  103 , and is adapted to pull a semi-trailer  106 . Similar to the vehicle  101  in  FIG. 1 , the cab  102  of the vehicle  101  in  FIG. 2  is provided with an aerodynamic air fairing  105  in order to improve the airflow over and around the upper portion of the semi-trailer  106 . 
     FIG. 3  shows a partial view of a cab  102  having an aerodynamic air fairing  105  and at least one cargo container mounting point  139 . An air fairing cargo container  108 , having an overall shape that is nestable within the aerodynamic air fairing  105 , is shown projected from the cavity  107  formed by the aerodynamic air fairing  105  and the cab  102 , into which cavity  107  the air fairing cargo container  108  is insertable. The air fairing cargo container  108  is provided with a hatch  109  by which access is provided to the interior thereof. 
   The vehicle  101  shown in  FIG. 4  has a cab  102  attached to a chassis  103 . In lieu of the aerodynamic air fairing  105 , the cab  102  is provided with an aerodynamic cargo container  110 . The aerodynamic cargo container  110  is removably attached to the cab  102  at forward mounting points  111  and rearward mounting points  112 . The aerodynamic cargo container  110  is further provided with fork pockets  113 , so that it may be easily removed from the cab  102  by use of a fork-truck. The aerodynamic cargo container  110  also possesses a hatch  109 , similar to the air fairing cargo container  108  shown in  FIG. 3 . 
     FIG. 5  shows a cutaway view of a cab  102  having a partially integrated air fairing  114 , the forward section  115  of which is open to the cab interior  117 , and the rearward section  116  of which forms the air fairing cavity  107 . An air fairing cargo container  108  is detachably mounted within the air fairing cavity  107 , utilizing forward mounting points  111  and rearward mounting points  112 . 
     FIG. 6  shows a partial view of a cab  102  having an aerodynamic air fairing  105  which is provided with a door  118  attached by means of hinges  119 , said door being further provided with a latch mechanism  120  for releasably retaining it in the closed position. The door  118  allows access to the air fairing cavity  107 , and allows the air fairing cargo container  108  to be removed perpendicular to the cab  102 . In this way, the air fairing cargo container  108  may be inserted and removed upon a vehicle having a cargo-carrying body, or upon a highway tractor without requiring detachment of the semi-trailer. The air fairing cargo container  108  is again provided with a hatch  109  and fork pockets  113 . 
     FIG. 7  shows a view of a cab  102  having forward mounting points  111  and rearward mounting points  112  for receiving either the air fairing cargo container  108  (not shown), or the aerodynamic cargo container  110  (not shown). The forward mounting points  111  and the rearward mounting points  112  are further provided with a latching mechanism  121 , which is connected to a latching mechanism lever  123  by means of a latching mechanism linkage  122 . A latching mechanism tell-tale  124  is attached to the latching mechanism lever  123  in such a way that it is displayed when the latching mechanism  121  is disengaged, and hidden when the latching mechanism  121  is engaged. Further, the latching mechanism  121  is configured in such a way that it will not move into the engaged position unless the air fairing cargo container  108  (not shown) or the aerodynamic cargo container  110  (not shown) is in the installed position. In this way, the latching mechanism tell-tale  124  provides positive feedback when the air fairing cargo container  108  (not shown) or the aerodynamic cargo container  110  (not shown) is secured. 
     FIG. 8  shows a partial view of a cab  102  having an aerodynamic air fairing  105  which is itself shown cutaway. An air fairing cargo container  108 , having an overall shape that is nestable within the aerodynamic air fairing  105 , similar to the air fairing cargo container  108  shown in  FIG. 3 , is shown projected from the cavity  107  formed by the aerodynamic air fairing  105  and the cab  102 , into which cavity  107  the air fairing cargo container  108  is insertable. The air fairing cargo container  108  in  FIG. 8  is shown with a forward hatch  125  and a rearward hatch  126 , by means of which access is provided to the interior of the air fairing cargo container  108 . Further, the cab  102  is provided with a ladder  127 , by means of which access to the rearward hatch  126  is possible from the exterior of the cab  129  when the air fairing cargo container  108  is in the installed position, and a cab top hatch  128 , by means of which access to the forward hatch  125  is possible from the cab interior  117  when the air fairing cargo container  108  is in the installed position. The cab  102  and the air fairing cargo container  108  may be provided with either the ladder  127  and the rearward hatch  126  respectively, the cab top hatch  128  and the forward hatch  125  respectively, or both the ladder  127  and the rearward hatch  126 , and the cab top hatch  128  and the forward hatch  125 . 
   The vehicle  101  shown in  FIG. 9  has a cab  102  attached to a chassis  103 , which cab  102  is provided with an aerodynamic air fairing  105 . Similar to the foregoing embodiments, the vehicle  101  has an air fairing cargo container  108  having a hatch  109  and an overall shape that is nestable within the air fairing cavity  107  formed by the cab  102  and the aerodynamic air fairing  105 . In order to allow for the autonomous loading and unloading of the air fairing cargo container  108 , the vehicle  101  is further provided with a crane  130  attached to the chassis  103 . The crane  130  is sized and located in such a way that it can position the air fairing cargo container  108  within the air fairing cavity  107 , and yet is able to project the air fairing cargo container  108  away from the chassis  103  sufficiently that the air fairing cargo container  108  may be lowered to the ground. In a common manner, the crane  130  has a winch mechanism  131 , pulleys  133 , a cable  132 , and a hook  134 . The air fairing cargo container  108  is provided with a lifting eye  135  to be engaged with the hook  134 , whereby the air fairing cargo container  108  may be lifted. 
     FIG. 10  is a composite cutaway view of an air fairing cargo container  108 , showing two representative configurations of the interior thereof. The air fairing cargo container  108  is essentially split into two halves for conceptual purposes, the nearer half displaying the air fairing cargo container  108  having only a cargo floor  136  and tie-downs  137 . In this configuration, the air fairing cargo container  108  is designed for general cargo stowage. The farther half of the cargo container  108  shown in  FIG. 10  is provided with drawers  138 . In the configuration with drawers  138 , the air fairing cargo container  108  is designed for storage of driver&#39;s items, such as clothing and the like. 
     FIG. 11  shows a view of a cab  102  having an aerodynamic air fairing  105 , and at least one cargo container mounting point  139 . An air fairing cargo container  108 , having an overall shape that is nestable within the aerodynamic air fairing  105 , is shown within the cavity  107  formed by the aerodynamic air fairing  105  and the cab  102 , and is removably attached to the at least one cargo container mounting point  139 , and thereby to the cab  102 . The air fairing cargo container  108  is retained to the at least one cargo container mounting point  139  by a latching system  140 . 
   The vehicle  101  shown in  FIG. 12  has a cab  102  attached to a chassis  103 . The cab  102  is provided with an aerodynamic air fairing  105 . Two interchangeable cargo containers  108  are shown. One interchangeable cargo container  108  is completely detached and removed from the vehicle  101 . The other interchangeable cargo container  108  is in the process of being inserted into the cavity  107  formed by the aerodynamic air fairing  105  and the cab  102 , in order that the interchangeable cargo container  108  may be attached to the at least one cargo container mounting point  139 . 
   Other permutations of the invention are possible without departing from the teachings disclosed herein, provided that the function of the invention is to provide for additional cargo capacity within the space defined by a vehicle&#39;s air fairing and its cab, or alternately, by supplanting the vehicle air fairing with a substantially aerodynamic cargo container. Other advantages to a vehicle  101  equipped with an air fairing cargo container may also be inherent in the invention, without having been described above.