Abstract:
A vehicle having a driving cab and specialized frame extending rearward from the driving cab and a rear module body which can be easily exchanged on the specialized frame. The specialized frame has two rails, each with an incline, and the rear module body has two open bottom frame channels, which conform to the rails and the inclines. When lowered onto the specialized frame, interaction between the specialized frame and frame channels creates a forward push resulting in a tight fit of the rear module body to the rear of the driving cab. Sliding lock jack assemblies fasten the rear module body to the specialized frame and deploy to unfasten and then lift the rear module body free of the specialized frame. The slide lock jack assemblies conceal in compartments while fastening and rotate 90 degrees to lift.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     Not Applicable 
     STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
     Not Applicable 
     NAMES OF PARTIES TO A JOINT RESEARCH AGREEMENT 
     Not Applicable 
     INCORPORATION-BY-REFERENCE OF MATERIAL SUBMITTED ON A COMPACT DISC 
     Not Applicable 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to vehicles having rear module bodies; and in particular, the present invention relates to vehicles with driving cabs and frames, the vehicles having rear module bodies which may be quickly changed. 
     2. Description of Related Art 
     Not Applicable 
     SUMMARY 
     The present invention includes a base vehicle with a driving cab and a specialized frame extending rearward from behind the driving cab. The specialized frame has two rails, each with a top and sides and each rail has an inclined or slope segment. A rear module body for the base vehicle has two frame channels, each U-shaped and oriented with an open bottom and each of which contours to the top and sides of the rails of the frame. When the rear module body is lowered onto the base vehicle, the rails of the specialized frame and the frame channels of the rear module body interact to create a push forward and to slide the rear body forward and be joined into a tight fit with the driving cab of the base vehicle. 
     Four sliding lock jack assemblies, carried in side compartments of the rear module body, have locking tubes which extend through mounting holes or apertures in the frame channels and rails to fasten the rear module body to the vehicle in a fastened or locked, first position or condition, and disengage from the apertures to release the rear module body from the vehicle in a deployed or unlocked, second position or condition. The sliding lock jack assemblies have jacks attached to the locking tubes that may be used to lift the rear module body from the vehicle when deployed. The sliding lock jack assemblies may also carry a body panel to conceal the sliding lock jack assemblies in the side compartments when stowed and fastened in the first condition. The sliding lock jack assemblies may also be rotated 90 degrees about the locking tubes, with the attached jacks horizontally oriented in a stowed position for housing in the side compartments, and with the jacks oriented vertically in a deployed or unlocked position for lifting the rear module body from the base vehicle. The sliding lock jack assemblies may include a pump system to operate the jacks in lifting the rear module body which is powered with electricity supplied by the vehicle. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  schematically shows a side view of a base vehicle showing driving cab and showing exposed frame system. 
         FIG. 2  schematically shows a side view of the base vehicle of  FIG. 1  with the driving cab with rear module body attached and locking jacks in locked and stowed position. 
         FIG. 3  schematically shows a side view of the base vehicle of  FIG. 1  showing driving cab and rear module body readied for detachment of the rear module body by vertical lifting, with the locking jacks in vertical deployed position. 
         FIG. 4  schematically shows a side view of a free standing module body previously shown in  FIGS. 2 and 3  being supported by the sliding lock jacks. 
         FIG. 5  schematically shows a bottom view of a rear module body with emphasis upon the location of sliding lock jacks, pump system and frame channels. 
         FIG. 6  schematically shows a partial cross section view as suggested by  10 - 10  of  FIG. 2  of stowed sliding lock jack assembly, with the locking tube extending through mounting holes or apertures in a locked position, thereby locking the specialized frame of the base vehicle, rearward of the driving cab, to the frame channels on the rear module body. 
         FIG. 7  schematically shows a side view of rear module body of  FIG. 2  and showing frame channel and front sloping angle in outline. 
         FIG. 8  schematically shows a bottom view of rear module body of  FIG. 2  and showing frame channels and sliding lock jacks in stowed position. 
         FIG. 9  schematically shows a partial cross section at  9 - 9  of  FIG. 4  as a back view of rear module body and showing U-shaped frame channels. 
         FIG. 10  shows a cross section view at  10 - 10  of  FIG. 2  of sliding lock jacks, locking the rear module body to the specialized frame of the base vehicle rearward of the driving cab, as well as showing the manual locking lever. 
         FIG. 11  shows a cross section view at  11 - 11  of  FIG. 3  of sliding lock jack deployed and also showing frame channels on the specialized frame of the base vehicle rearward of the driving cab. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     In a first embodiment, my invention is a quick changing rear module body vehicle  10 , schematically shown in  FIGS. 2 and 3 . The quick changing rear module body vehicle  10  has two primary components, a base vehicle  12  with a driving cab  14  and a specialized frame  18 , schematically shown in  FIG. 1 , and a rear module body  16 , schematically shown in  FIGS. 4 and 5 , which can be quickly changed upon the base vehicle  12 . The details of my invention starting at  FIG. 1  shows the base vehicle  12  with the driving cab  14  and with a specialized frame  18  consisting of two rectangular tubular frame rails extending rearward from the driving cab  14 . These two rectangular tubular frame rails would each have an upward slope segment starting in front of the rear axle  28  and leveling above the rear axle  28  to the rear of the frame  18 . Left frame rail  20  is shown in  FIG. 1  and slope segment  24  of left frame rail  20  is shown between a mid-segment  30  of left rectangular tubular frame rail  20  which extends rearward from the driving cab  14  to the left slope segment  24 , which in turn, is connected to a rear elevated segment  34 . The rear  38  of the driving cab  14  would be open to allow the rear module bodies  16 , which are also open to the front  40 , allowing both body sections  14  and  16  to be joined at a junction  42  as schematically depicted in  FIG. 2 . All rear module bodies  16  will have two frame channels  44  and  46  located on the bottom  17  of the rear modular body  16 . These frame channels  44  and  46  will be U-shaped as shown in  FIG. 9 , contouring precisely around the two rectangular tubular frame rails leaving only the bottom side open. This open frame channel design will allow for the lifting of the rear module bodies  16  off of the left rectangular tubular frame rail  20  and the right rectangular tubular frame rail of the specialized frame  18  extending rearward from the driving cab  14  of the base vehicle  12 . Each rectangular tubular frame rail  20  rearward of the driving cab  14  will have four mounting holes or apertures, two on the inside and two on the outside, corresponding with each other. In other words, mid-segment  30  of the left frame rail  20  has an outside aperture  48  and an inside aperture which are co-aligned and mid-segment of the right frame rail has an outside aperture and an inside aperture which are co-aligned; elevated rear segment  34  of left frame rail  20  has an outside aperture  56  and an inside aperture which are co-aligned and elevated rear segment of right frame rail has outside aperture and inside aperture which are co-aligned. These left outside mounting holes or apertures  48  and  56  would be located on the specialized frame  18  behind the driving cab  14  on left mid-segment  30  and behind the rear axle  28  on left elevated rear segment  34 . 
     The rear module bodies  16  will be fitted with four sliding lock jack assemblies  64 ,  66 ,  68 ,  70 , as shown in  FIG. 5 . The four sliding lock jacks  64 ,  66 ,  68 ,  70  each include locking tubes  72 ,  74 ,  76 ,  78 , respectively. These locking tubes, for example, left rear locking tube  74  of left rear sliding locking jack assembly  66  are shown in a locked position in  FIG. 10  in which the locking tube  74  goes completely thru the outside left rear aperture  56  and the inside left rear aperture of the elevated left rear segment  34  of the left frame rail  20  behind driving cab  14 , engaging and locking the specialized frame  18  and also completely through the rear module body frame channel  44 . The unlocked position, schematically depicted in  FIG. 11 , shows the locking tube  74  completely disengaged from the specialized frame  18  extending rearward from the driving cab  14 . These locking tubes  72 ,  74 ,  76 , and  78  are attached to the jacks  80 ,  82 ,  84 , and  86 , as schematically depicted in  FIG. 11 . Each locking tube  72 ,  74 ,  76 , and  78  on the sliding lock jack assemblies  64 ,  66 ,  68 , and  70  will serve four purposes. First is the locking of the rear module body  16  to the specialized frame  18  as depicted schematically in  FIG. 6  which is showing the locking tubes  80 ,  82 ,  84 , and  86  extending thru both the frame channels  44  and  46  on the rear module body  16  and the specialized frame  18 . Shown in  FIG. 6  is the frame channel  44  and  66  in the rear module body  16  and the specialized frame  18  rearward of the driving cab  14 . Second, is to allow a 90 degree rotation of the jack  80 ,  82 ,  84 , and  86  from the horizontally stowed position shown in  FIG. 2 , to the vertically deployed position shown in  FIG. 3  which would allow the jacks  80 ,  82 ,  84 , and  86  to lift the rear module bodies  16  from the specialized frame  18 . Third, is to create a clearance  90 , as shown in  FIG. 11 , from the rear wheels. The fourth purpose would allow supporting of weight of the rear module body  16  when detached from the specialized frame  18 . This would allow for free standing of the rear module body  16  as schematically depicted in  FIG. 4 . After the rear module body  16  is detached from the specialized frame  18  behind the driving cab  14 , the base vehicle  12 , including the driving cab  14  can be driven away to another free standing rear module body  16 . 
     When attaching the rear module bodies  16  to the driving cab  14  with specialized frame  18 , the frame channels  44  and  46  on the rear module body  16  and the specialized frame  18  on the driving cab  14  will first be aligned. Then second when lowering rear module bodies  16  onto the specialized frame  18 , the slope segment  24  of the left rail  20  and the slope segment of the right rail of the specialized frame  18  in front of the rear axle  28  will create a forward push on the rear module body  16  towards the driving cab  14 , allowing for a tight fit between the rear module body  16  and the driving cab  14  at junction  42 . The rear  38  of the driving cab  14  will have a slight angle “A” going forward from bottom to top as depicted in  FIG. 1  this angle “A” will match the angle “B” on the front  40  of the rear module body  16 . This would ease friction between the weather-stripping while engaging and disengaging the rear module bodies from the drive cab  14 . 
     The rear module bodies  16  will have four compartments  92 ,  94 ,  96 , and  98  which will each house one of the sliding lock jack assemblies  64 ,  66 ,  68  and  70 . The sliding lock jack assemblies  64 ,  66 ,  68 , and  70  will each have body panels  102 ,  104 ,  106 , and  108  attached on the outside as depicted in  FIG. 3 . Which body panels  102 ,  104 ,  106 , and  108  when closed as schematically depicted in  FIG. 2  will conceal the compartments  92 ,  94 ,  96 , and  98  and remainder of the sliding lock jack assemblies  64 ,  66 ,  68 , and  70 . On the insides of the compartments  92 ,  94 ,  96 , and  98  there will be manual lever mechanisms, such as manual locking mechanism  114 , as schematically depicted in  FIG. 6 , that locks and unlocks the locking tubes  72 ,  74 ,  76 ,  78  of the sliding lock jack assemblies  64 ,  66 ,  68 , and  70 . 
     This invention includes a base vehicle  12  with a driving cab  14  and with a specialized frame  18  together forming part of a system that would allow fast and easy removal of rear module bodies  16  configured to fit thereon. There would be no tools necessary for removal or attachment of rear module bodies  16 . The invention is simple enough for a person with little mechanical knowledge to use the sliding lock jack assemblies  64 ,  66 ,  68 , and  70 . He/She can transform the quick changing rear module body vehicle  10  from one type to another, ie: regular cab pickup truck, extended cab pickup, crew cab pickup, flat bed truck, suv, van, crossover, camper, ect. in just minutes. 
     The present invention, in a preferred embodiment, is an interchangeable rear modular body vehicle  10 . This invention would have a base vehicle  12  including a driving cab  14  and also including everything needed to drive the base vehicle  12 , at least an engine, at least four wheels and a gas tank. The rear  38  of the driving cab  14  behind the driver and passenger doors  15  would be open to the back allowing many different rear body configurations or variations of the rear module bodies  16  to be attached to the specialized frame  18  behind the driving cab  14 . This invention with the specialized frame  18  and various designs for rear module bodies  16  would allow for fast and easy attachment and removal of rear modular bodies  16 . This embodiment preferably includes four sliding lock jack assemblies  64 ,  66 ,  68 , and  70  which will be attached to the rear module bodies  16  that will allow these rear module bodies  16  to be removed and or attached to the specialized frame  18 . Jacks  80 ,  82 ,  84 , and  86 , which are part of the sliding lock jack assemblies  64 ,  66 ,  68 , and  70  will manually deploy from compartments  92 ,  94 ,  96 , and  98  in the rear module bodies  16  by pulling out and disconnecting the rear module body  16  from the specialized frame  18  then rotating 90 degrees allowing jacks  80 ,  82 ,  84 , and  86  to lift the rear module body  16  off of the specialized frame  18 . In a preferred embodiment, jacks  80 ,  82 ,  84 , and  86  will be electrically powered with a control switch located in one of the compartments  92 ,  94 ,  96 , and  98 . Once the rear body module  16  and the specialized frame  18  are separated the electrical power will need to be disconnected using a quick disconnect feature. After the electrical power is disconnected, the driving cab  14  is used to drive the base vehicle  12  to another rear module body  16 . To reattach another rear module body  16 , position the base vehicle  12  under the another rear module body  16  aligning the specialized frame  18  with the frame channels  44  and  46 . Connect electric power and retract jacks  80 ,  82 ,  84 , and  86  which will lower the rear module body  16  onto the specialized frame  18 . Once jacks  80 ,  82 ,  84 , and  86  are fully retracted, the rear module body  16  will need to be locked to the specialized frame  18  rearward of the driving cab  14  by manually rotating jacks  80 ,  82 ,  84 ,  86  by 90 degrees to place them in a horizontal condition for stowing, and suitable for movement into their respective compartments  92 ,  94 ,  96 , and  98  and by pushing jacks  80 ,  82 ,  84 , and  86  back into stored position which also locks the rear module body  16  to the specialized frame  18 . 
     The present invention has been described in connection with certain embodiments. It is to be understood, however, that the description given herein has been given for the purpose of explaining and illustrating the invention and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. It is to be further understood that changes and modifications to the descriptions given herein will occur to those skilled in the art. Therefore, the scope of the invention should be limited only by the scope of the following claims and their legal equivalents.