# US 12,214,977 B2 · Van cargo management system > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,214,977 B2 - Document ID: US12214977B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 18/689,698 - Filed: 2022-09-02 - Published: 2024-08-15 - Granted: 2025-02-04 - Earliest claimed: 2021-09-14 - Assignees: Multimatic Inc. - Applicants: Multimatic Inc. - Inventors: Rudolf Gruber; Michael Gordon Lehti; Robert Hadisutanto; Daniel James Gebbing - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12214977B2 ## CPC - B60P 1/435: {the ramp being attached to or making part of the side- or tailboards of the vehicle} - B65G 67/00: Loading or unloading vehicles (by means incorporated in the vehicles B60-B64, e.g., B60P1/00, B61D9/00, B63B27/00, B64D9/00; ground or aircraft-carrier-deck installations for aircraft B64F1/32) - B60P 7/00: Securing or covering of load on vehicles ({immobilising the load during lifting a loading platform B60P1/4457}; for railway vehicles B61D45/00) - B60P: VEHICLES ADAPTED FOR LOAD TRANSPORTATION OR TO TRANSPORT, TO CARRY, OR TO COMPRISE SPECIAL LOADS OR OBJECTS (vehicles with special provisions for transporting patients or disabled persons, or their personal conveyances A61G3/00) - B65G: TRANSPORT OR STORAGE DEVICES, e.g. CONVEYORS FOR LOADING OR TIPPING, SHOP CONVEYOR SYSTEMS OR PNEUMATIC TUBE CONVEYORS (packaging B65B; handling thin or filamentary materials, e.g. paper sheets or thread, B65H; cranes B66C; portable mobile or lifting or hauling appliances, e.g. hoists, B66D; devices for lifting or lowering goods for loading or unloading purposes, e.g. fork-lift trucks, B66F9/00; emptying bottles, jars, casks, barrels or similar containers, not otherwise provided for, B67C9/00; delivering or transferring liquids B67D; filling or discharging vessels for liquefied, solidified or compressed gases F17C; pipe-line systems for fluids F17D) ## Abstract A row of docking stations to stow containers or trolleys is provided along at least one side of a van cargo storage area and a corridor for loading and unloading containers or trolleys individually or in groups from the rear of the van is provided. Preferably, the docking stations are automated. Interference with the storage and removal of containers or trolleys by the wheel wells of the vans or other vehicles is eliminated. Motorized mechanisms capture and lift the containers or trolleys above the level of the wheel wells for stowage in the docking stations to maximize the available storage area beyond that available on the floor of the cargo area. Individual containers or trolleys may be maintained in docking stations until needed. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A van cargo management system comprising: a generally rectangular van cargo space with a floor and opposing side walls adapted to hold multiple containers; a rear opening providing ingress to and egress from the cargo space; at least one stowage mechanism adjacent one of the side walls and adapted to capture a selected container from the cargo space floor and to draw the container towards a side wall too one of a plurality of stowed positions adjacent said side wall at a distance above the floor and to return the selected container to the cargo space floor. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The van cargo management system of claim 1, wherein the at least one stowage mechanism is adapted to lift the selected container from the cargo space floor to a height above interior wheel wells in the cargo space and to stow the selected container at said height. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The van cargo management system of claim 2, wherein the at least one stowage mechanism comprises a stowage mechanism on each side of the cargo space. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1, 2, 3) The van cargo management system of any one of claims 1 to 3, further comprising a central corridor to facilitate loading and unloading of containers respectively into and out of the cargo space. ### Claim 5 (depends on 3) The van cargo management system of claim 3, further comprising multiple containers, wherein each stowage mechanism comprises multiple stowage mechanism modules, each stowage mechanism module adapted to stow and release one of the multiple containers. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The van cargo management system of claim 5, further comprising at least one locking mechanism and at least one linkage mechanism for each container adapted to move the container to a stowed position, to hold the container in the stowed position and to release the container from the stowed position. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The van cargo management system of claim 1, further comprising one of a ramp and an elevating platform mounted adjacent the rear opening to facilitate ingress and egress of containers respectively into and out of the cargo space. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The van cargo management system of claim 1, wherein the containers comprise wheeled trolleys. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The van cargo management system of claim 1, wherein the containers are provided with a wireless identification means to facilitate selection of a stowed container for release to the cargo space floor at a delivery location. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The van cargo management system of claim 9, wherein each container is individually and automatically selected for release by an arrival signal triggered by one or more of GPS data, and fixed electronic, magnetic or electromagnetic devices located along a standard delivery route. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The van cargo management system of claim 1, wherein the containers are adapted to hold packages. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The van cargo management system of claim 11, wherein the packages are provided with a wireless identification means to facilitate selection of a package in a stowed container for release. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The van cargo management system of claim 1, further comprising at least one rear door which may be closed and locked to prevent access to the cargo space from the exterior of the van and unlocked and opened to facilitate loading and unloading of containers. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The van cargo management system of claim 13, wherein the at least one rear door further functions as a ramp. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The van cargo management system of claim 1, further comprising a controller located on an interior of the van, mounted on an exterior of the van, hand-held or operated remotely to control the release from a stowed position of one or more containers comprising wheeled trolleys. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The van cargo management system of claim 1, wherein at least one container is automatically selected for release to the cargo space floor upon arrival at the delivery location. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) The van cargo management system of claim 1, further comprising floor guide means on the floor and corresponding container guide means on the containers which sense or communicate electromagnetically to facilitate location of the containers during ingress and egress of containers from the cargo van space. ### Claim 18 (depends on 1) The van cargo management system of claim 1, further comprising a safety interlock system comprising at least one of a requirement for a van park gear mode signal to permit release of containers from stowed positions, and a requirement for a signal that all containers are safely stowed to permit a van drive gear mode to be engaged.