# US 11,993,329 B1 · Rapid underbody kit deployment crate

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- Number: US 11,993,329 B1
- Document ID: US11993329B1
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B1
- Application number: 17/375,330
- Filed: 2021-07-14
- Granted: 2024-05-28
- Earliest claimed: 2021-07-14
- Assignees: The Government of the United States, as represented by the Secretary of the Army
- Applicants: United States of America, as represented by the Secretary of the Army
- Inventors: Victor Wilhelm Burguess; Frederick Carl Rickert, II
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11993329B1

## CPC

- B62D 65/024: {Positioning of sub-units or components with respect to body shell or other sub-units or components}
- B66F 3/35: Inflatable flexible elements, e.g. bellows (inflatable load-engaging elements B66F3/40; connection of valves to inflatable elastic bodies B60C29/00)
- B66F 3/36: Load-engaging elements
- B62D 21/155: {Sub-frames or underguards}
- B62D 25/2072: {Floor protection, e.g. from corrosion or scratching (floor mats B60N3/04, armour F41H7/042, insulation B60R13/08, streamlining B62D35/02)}
- B62D: MOTOR VEHICLES; TRAILERS (steering, or guiding on a desired track, of agricultural machines or implements A01B69/00; wheels, castors, axles, increasing wheel adhesion B60B; vehicle tyres, tyre inflation or tyre changing B60C; connections between vehicles of a train or the like B60D; vehicles for use on rail and road, amphibious or convertible vehicles B60F; suspension arrangements B60G; heating, cooling, ventilating or other air treating devices B60H; windows, windscreens, non-fixed roofs, doors or similar devices, protective coverings for vehicles not in use B60J; propulsion plant arrangements, auxiliary drives, transmissions, controls, instrumentation or dashboards B60K; electric equipment or propulsion of electrically-propelled vehicles B60L; power supply for electrically-propelled vehicles B60M; passenger accommodation not otherwise provided for B60N; adaptations for load transportation or to carry special loads or objects B60P; arrangement of signalling or lighting devices, the mounting or supporting thereof or circuits therefor, for vehicles in general B60Q; vehicles, vehicle fittings or vehicle parts not otherwise provided for B60R; servicing, cleaning, repairing, supporting, lifting, or manoeuvring, not otherwise provided for, B60S; brake arrangements, brake control systems or parts thereof B60T; air-cushion vehicles B60V; motor-cycles, accessories therefor B62J, B62K; testing of vehicles G01M)
- B66F: HOISTING, LIFTING, HAULING OR PUSHING, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR, e.g. DEVICES WHICH APPLY A LIFTING OR PUSHING FORCE DIRECTLY TO THE SURFACE OF A LOAD ({invalid lifting devices A61G7/10; } mounting artificial islands on piles or like supports E02B17/00; scaffolding combined with lifting devices E04G1/22; lifting devices for sliding forms E04G11/24; lifting of buildings E04G23/06; shores or struts E04G25/00; lifts or other hoisting devices on ladders E06C7/12; props for mining E21D15/00)

## Abstract

An rapid underbody kit deployment crate including a pallet, at least one inflatable bladder, and at least one cover, wherein the underbody lift kit is constructed and arranged to store, ship, and vertically lift and lower an underbody kit for installation and removal of an underbody kit to and from a vehicle.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A rapid underbody kit deployment crate comprising:
a pallet constructed and arranged to accommodate an underbody kit, wherein the pallet further comprises a floor having a first face, a second face opposite of the first face, a first end surface, a second end surface opposite of the first end surface, a first side surface, and a second side surface opposite of the first side surface, a first support beam attached to the first face of the floor adjacent the first side surface of the floor, a second support beam attached to the first face of the floor adjacent the second side surface of the floor, a third support beam attached to the first face of the floor adjacent the first end surface of the floor, and a fourth support beam attached to the first face of the floor adjacent the second end surface of the floor, and a plurality of skids attached to and spaced apart along the second face of the floor, and wherein the floor further comprises a plurality of first beams and a plurality of second beams interposed between the plurality of first beams, wherein a height of each of the plurality of first beams is less than a height of each of the plurality of second beams;
at least one inflatable bladder attached to the pallet, wherein the at least one inflatable bladder is constructed and arranged to vertically lift and lower the underbody kit; and
at least one cover constructed and arranged to enclose the underbody kit and at least a portion of the pallet.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The rapid underbody kit deployment crate of claim 1, wherein the at least one inflatable bladder is constructed and arranged to inflate when a fluid is supplied to the at least one inflatable bladder and to deflate when the fluid is removed from the at least one inflatable bladder.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The rapid underbody kit deployment crate of claim 1, wherein the rapid underbody kit deployment crate is constructed and arranged to ship and store the underbody kit.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The rapid underbody kit deployment crate of claim 1, wherein the pallet further includes a plurality of rubbing strips attached to each of the plurality of skids.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The rapid underbody kit deployment crate of claim 1, wherein the at least one cover comprises at least one panel, a first end wall extending downward from the at least one panel, a second end wall extending downward from the at least one panel, opposite of the first end wall, at least one first side wall extending downward from the at least one panel between the first end wall and the second end wall, and at least one second side wall extending downward from the at least one panel between the first end wall and the second end wall, opposite of the at least one first side wall.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The rapid underbody kit deployment crate of claim 1, wherein the at least one cover comprises a first cover segment and a second cover segment.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The rapid underbody kit deployment crate of claim 6, wherein the first cover segment and the second cover segment each comprise a rectangular panel having a first face, a second face opposite of the first face, a first end surface, a second end surface opposite of the first end surface, a first side surface, and a second side surface opposite of the first side surface, a first side wall extending perpendicularly from the second face of the rectangular panel adjacent the first side surface of the rectangular panel, a second side wall extending perpendicularly from the second face of the rectangular panel adjacent the second side surface of the rectangular panel, and a third side wall extending perpendicularly from the second face of the rectangular panel adjacent the first end surface of the rectangular panel.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The rapid underbody kit deployment crate of claim 1, wherein the at least one inflatable bladder comprises a first inflatable bladder and a second inflatable bladder spaced a distance from the first inflatable bladder.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The rapid underbody kit deployment crate of claim 1, wherein a width of the pallet is approximately equal to a distance between a first inner surface of a first vehicle tire or track and a second inner surface of a second vehicle tire or track opposite of the first vehicle tire or track.