Patent Abstract:
A collapsible assembly for loading and transporting vehicles in a cargo container having a roof, a floor, two elongate side walls, and front and rear walls, includes two pairs of spaced vertical posts, one pair being at the front end of the frame and another pair being at the rear end. Front and rear horizontally mounted crossbars support two ramps for carrying a vehicle when the assembly is in its open position. Each crossbar has two members of equal length rotatably and slideably attached to the posts and connected together by a hinge that allows each crossbar to be folded in half interiorly of the frame thus pulling the posts together in a collapsed closed position for storage purposes.

Full Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION  
         [0001]    Not Applicable.  
         STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT  
         [0002]    Not Applicable.  
         REFERENCE TO A MICROFICHE APPENDIX  
         [0003]    Not Applicable.  
         BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0004]    1. Field of the Invention  
           [0005]    The present invention relates to stowage systems and methods for carrying vehicles in a container, and particularly to collapsible assemblies.  
           [0006]    2. Description of Related Art  
           [0007]    Several systems have been developed to transport vehicles in containers. Many systems are expensive and inefficient because they require auxiliary power units for electric, pneumatic, hydraulic, or forklift vehicle-handling apparatus.  
           [0008]    The prior systems are cumbersome and take up a great deal of space even when disassembled. Moreover, the prior art systems are very complex and expensive and can require several people for setup and takedown.  
         BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0009]    In one aspect of the present invention there is provided a collapsible assembly for loading and transporting vehicles in a substantially rectangular container having a roof, a floor, two elongate side walls, an end wall and a door comprising a frame including a front end and a rear end, the frame further including two pairs of spaced vertical post members, one pair being at the front end of the frame and another pair being at the rear end of the frame. Each post member has an upper end portion and a lower end portion to which is mounted a respective front and rear horizontal crossbar by way of first means for mounting the crossbars horizontally between the post members. A ramp means having a rear end portion and a front end portion is removably mountable on the crossbars. Each crossbar includes a first and second crossbar member having first and second end portions and means for connecting the first end portion of the first crossbar member to the first end portion of the second crossbar member. The means for mounting the respective front and rear crossbar to respective post members includes means for mounting the second end portions of the crossbar members to respective post members.  
           [0010]    The means for mounting the second end portions of the crossbar members includes means for rotatably mounting the crossbar members to respective front and rear post members and for slideably mounting the crossbar members to respective front and rear post members. The first and second crossbar members are of substantially equal length.  
           [0011]    The assembly has an open position for carrying a vehicle on the ramp means and a closed position for storing the assembly, the frame defining an interior space when the assembly is in said open position. The means for connecting the first end portions of respective crossbar members includes hinge means for folding the crossbar members inwardly into the interior space when the assembly is moved from the open position to the closed position. The means for mounting the second end portions of respective crossbar members includes means for selectively adjusting the vertical position of the crossbar members for selectively controlling the angle and height of the ramp means secured to the crossbars.  
           [0012]    In other aspects of the present invention there is provided a collapsible assembly for loading and transporting vehicles in a substantially rectangular container having a roof, a floor, two elongate side walls, an end wall and a door comprising a frame having a front end and a rear end, the frame including two pairs of spaced vertical post members, one pair being at the front end of the frame and another pair being at the rear end of the frame. Each post member has an upper end portion and a lower end portion. There are front and rear horizontal crossbars, and first means for mounting the front crossbar horizontally between the post members at the front end of the frame and second means for mounting the rear crossbar horizontally between the post members at the rear end of the frame. A ramp means is included having a rear end portion and a front end portion removably mountable on the crossbars. Each crossbar includes a first and second crossbar member having first and second end portions and hinge means for connecting the first end portion of the first crossbar member to the first end portion of the second crossbar member and the first and second means for mounting respective front and rear cross to respective front and rear post members incilding means for mounting the second end portions of the first and second crossbar members to respective front and rear post members. The means for mounting the second end portions of the first and second crossbar members includes means for rotatably and slideably mounting the first and second crossbar members to the respective front and rear post members.  
           [0013]    The first and second crossbar members are of substantially equal length. The assembly has an open position for carrying a vehicle on the ramp means and a closed position for storing the assembly, the frame defining an interior space when the assembly is in the open position and a closed position for storing the assembly, the crossbar being folded inwardly about the hinge means in the closed position. There is also securing means for securing folded crossbars to the frame to inhibit movement of the folded crossbars when the assembly is in the closed position. Also included is securing means for removably affixing the ramp means to said assembly and for attaching the front end portion of the ramp means to the front crossbar. The means for mounting the second end portions of the respective crossbar members includes means for selectively locating each crossbar independently to the respective post member at a plurality of selectable heights above the floor of a container for selectively controlling the angle and height of the ramp means secured to the crossbars.  
           [0014]    In a further aspect of the present invention there is provided a collapsible assembly for loading and transporting vehicles in a substantially rectangular container having a roof, a floor, two elongate side walls, an end wall and a door comprising a frame having a front end and a rear end, the frame including two pairs of spaced vertical post members, one pair being at the front end of the frame and another pair being at the rear end of the frame and each post member has an upper end portion and a lower end portion. A front and rear horizontal crossbar is included and there is first means for mounting the front crossbar horizontally between the post members at the front end of the frame and second means for mounting the rear crossbar horizontally between the post members at the rear end of the frame. The ramp means has a rear end portion and a front end portion and securing means is connected between one end portion of the ramp means and one crossbar for securing one end portion of the ramp means to one crossbar. The assembly has an open position for carrying a vehicle on the ramp means and a closed position for storing the assembly, and each crossbar includes a first and second crossbar member having first and second end portions and hinge means for connecting the first end portion of the first crossbar member to the first end portion of the second crossbar member. The crossbars are foldable about the hinge means when the assembly is in the closed position. Also included is first and second means for mounting the respective front and rear cross to the respective front and rear post members for rotatably and slideably mounting the second end portions of the first and second crossbar members to the respective front and rear post members. There is also means for securing the frame to a floor of a container. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING  
       [0015]    The novel features which are believed to be characteristic of this invention are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, both as to its organization and method of operation, together with further objects and advantages thereof, may best be understood by reference to the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:  
         [0016]    [0016]FIG. 1 is a side-elevation view of the collapsible assembly in accord with the present invention shown carrying a vehicle ramp;  
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 2 is a partial elevation of the rear securing apparatus for a ramp and the height adjustment apparatus used in FIG. 1;  
         [0018]    [0018]FIG. 3 is a side elevation of the front securing apparatus for a ramp;  
         [0019]    [0019]FIG. 4 is a rear elevation view of the rear crossbar showing the location of the vehicle ramps;  
         [0020]    [0020]FIG. 5 is a front elevation of the front crossbar;  
         [0021]    [0021]FIG. 6 is a top view of the crossbars of FIGS. 4 and 5 shown partially closed and connected to the upper frame members;  
         [0022]    [0022]FIG. 7 is a top view of the assembly shown in collapsed form;  
         [0023]    [0023]FIG. 8 is a side view of the assembly in a closed position;  
         [0024]    [0024]FIG. 9 is a detail of the center-hinged portion of a crossbar in the closed position of FIG. 7;  
         [0025]    [0025]FIG. 10 is a detail of the top of the hinged portion of a crossbar in the open position;  
         [0026]    [0026]FIG. 11 is a top view of the hinged portion of a crossbar with a partially closed position in broken line and a fully closed position in solid line.  
         [0027]    [0027]FIG. 12 is a side view of the hinged portion of a crossbar in the open posi tion; and  
         [0028]    [0028]FIG. 13 is a side view of an assembly in accord with the present invention mounted in a cargo container and carrying a vehicle. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0029]    With respect now to the drawings, the collapsible assembly set up for use for carrying a vehicle is illustrated at numeral  10  in FIG. 1. The assembly  10  is comprised of a frame having two spaced L-shaped lower frame members  11  and two spaced upper frame members  12 . Two spaced telescoping front post members  16  and two spaced telescoping rear post members  17  are rigidly connected between the end portions of the lower and upper members  11  and  12  respectively. Three pairs of spaced strut members  13 ,  14 , and  15  provide additional rigidity and strength Cor assembly  10 .  
         [0030]    An upper flange  18  and lower flange  19  provide a securing member for the respective rear and front hinge apparatus via members  20 ,  21  and  22 ,  23  respectively, as will be explained hereinbelow. Front  24  and rear  25  securing apparatus for a pair of spaced ramps  27  and height adjustment means  26  will also be described hereinbelow.  
         [0031]    In FIG. 2, a partial detail of one end of a crossbar  25  or  26  is illustrated. Crossbar member  30  is welded to a sleeve or collar member  34  that is slidable and rotatable. Sleeve member  34  is movable upwardly above stop  35  to allow a pin  33 ′ to be inserted through aligned holes  33  and  34 ′ to adjust the height of member  30  above stop  35  which is affixed to the lower portion of post  17 .  
         [0032]    Pin  28  is used to secure a ramp  27  (shown only pictorially) to crossbar  26 . Pin  28  is shaped to pit into hole  31  and rest on top of ramp lip  29 . Gusset  32  provides for additional strength.  
         [0033]    [0033]FIG. 3 illustrates how the lower end of a ramp  27  is secured to front crossbar members  30  and  47 . Lock pin  38  is carried by bracket  36  and is biased via spring  37 . Pin  38  fits through a hole  45  in front crossbar  25 . Support plate  40  is welded to hinge  41  to which is also welded support plate  39 . Pin  38  fits through hole  42  in support plate  39 . Apparatus  24  allows for adjustments of the mounting angle between ramp  27  and front crossbar  25  as the height of the rear crossbar  26  is changed without removing a ramp  27  from the crossbars  25 ,  26 .  
         [0034]    In FIG. 4, rear crossbar  26  is shown from the rear mounted between rear posts  17 . Crossbar  26  includes two members  30  and  47  and hinge apparatus  46  that provides an articulated linkage means between the members  30 ,  47 . Ramps  27  are shown only pictorially to illustrate their relative position.  
         [0035]    [0035]FIG. 5 provides a front view of front crossbar  25  mounted between front posts  16 .  
         [0036]    Preferably, crossbars  25  and  26  are identical. In addition, front posts  16  are identical. In addition, front posts  16  are preferably identical with rear posts  17  with the exception that the lower portion of each front post  16  is shorter than the lower portion of rear post  17 .  
         [0037]    In FIG. 6 a top view of the assembly  10  is shown partially collapsed. Each crossbar  25 ,  26  folds via hinge apparatus  46  thus drawing the upper frame members  12  and lower frame members  11  closely together inwardly in a parallel manner with crossbars  25 ,  26  essentially folded in half and positioned between the lower and upper members  11  and  12 .  
         [0038]    [0038]FIG. 7 illustrates a top view of the assembly  10  that has been collapsed to a width of approximately  5 ″ for storage purposes.  
         [0039]    [0039]FIGS. 8 and 9 illustrate a side view of the assembly  10  that has been collapsed for storage purposes. The hinge apparatus  46  is secured to a respective flange  18 ,  19  by positioning a locking pin  38  through respective locking lock plate  20  and  22  (FIG. 9).  
         [0040]    FIGS.  9 - 12  illustrate the hinge apparatus used in the present invention. Each crossbar  25 ,  26  has each end portion welded to a respective sleeve  34 . Medially of each crossbar  25  and  26  the two members  30  and  47 , which are of substantially equal length are connected via a hinge apparatus  46 . Hinge  54  provides for 180° movement of member  30  while member  47  is simultaneously rotated 90° to collapse the assembly  10  to the position shown in FIGS. 7 and 8.  
         [0041]    Hinge apparatus  46  includes a U-shaped channel member  57  into which fits an interior end portion  56  of crossbar member  30  when the crossbar  25  or  26  has been fully opened in order to use assembly  10 . The placement of end portion  56  into channel  57  provides strength for the crossbar  25  or  26 . Lock plate  62  is welded onto end portion  56 . Lock pin  58  is inserted through opening  64  in plate  62  to secure end  56  in place. See also FIG. 12.  
         [0042]    [0042]FIG. 11 illustrates the movement of member  30  from the broken line position (shown in FIG. 6) to the completely closed position in solid line as indicated by arrow  65  where the member  30  is folded for securing as illustrated in FIG. 9.  
         [0043]    [0043]FIG. 13 illustrates the use of an assembly  10  for carrying vehicle inside a cargo container. Container  66  has roof  69 , rear wall  68  and floor  67 . Vehicle  70  is driven onto ramps  27  using a temporarily used loading ramp (not shown) connected to the ramps  27  via loading ramp attachment  43  (FIG. 3). The space underneath ramps  27  and crossbars  25 ,  26  allows for the storage of vehicle  71  (or other goods). The number of assemblies  10  used depends on the length of container  66 .  
         [0044]    In the preferred embodiment, assembly  10  is 69 inches high and 7 feet 10½ inches long and 88½ inches wide (as measured between the centerlines of the front or rear posts). The maximum height of the rear crossbar  26  is 63 inches from the floor and the lowest position is 55 inches. The maximum height of front crossbar  25  is 32½ inches in normal use. Interior space  72  is defined by posts  16 ,  17  and frame members  11 ,  12 ,  13 ,  14  and  15  and is large enough to accommodate a vehicle and other apparatus that may be carried in container  66 . Front crossbar  25  is raised to upper hole  48  in order to provide for the loading of the lower vehicle  71 .  
         [0045]    In summary, the assembly  10  is stored as shown in FIGS. 7 and 8. The assembly  10  is opened by releasing lock pins  58  from the respective lock plates  20  and  22 . The assembly  10  can then be pulled outwardly open to the position shown in FIG. 6 and then fully opened where pins  58  are inserted in the lock plate  62  (FIGS. 10, 12). Crossbars  25  and  26  can then be positioned at the desired height via pins  34 ′. Ramps  27  are then placed on the crossbars  25 ,  26  at the locations indicated in FIGS. 4 and 5.  
         [0046]    When installed in a cargo container  66  the assembly  10  can be secured in place by way of a means including a spaced series of bolts or driven nails through pre-drilled holes  11 ′ in lower frame members  11  into the wood flooring of such container, as understood in the art.  
         [0047]    Takedown of the assembly  10  is the reverse process. Pins  58  are removed from lock plates  62  and the crossbars  25 ,  26  are then pulled and folded inwardly to collapse the assembly to the position illustrated in FIGS. 7 and 8.  
         [0048]    While the invention has been described with respect to certain specific embodiments, it will be appreciated that many modifications and changes may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention. It is intended, therefore, by the appended claims to cover all such modifications and changes as fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention.  
         [0049]    What is claimed as new and what it is desired to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

Technology Classification (CPC): 1