Folding and extendable beam assembly for use in a cargo compartment
AssigneeAncra International LLC
InventorsGregory Kauffman, Jerome Jones
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A beam and a beam storage assembly for a trailer (or other cargo compartment) can include various elements. For example, the beam storage assembly can include a first track assembly configured to attach to a first sidewall of the cargo compartment. The first track assembly can include a housing for storing the beam in a vertical orientation. In addition the beam can move from the stored state to a deployed state, in which the beam attaches to a second track assembly on the opposing second sidewall.
Claims20
A beam-storage system for a cargo compartment, the system comprising:
- a first track assembly configured to attach to a first sidewall of the cargo compartment;
- a second track assembly configured to attach to a second sidewall of the cargo compartment and opposite the first track assembly;
- and
- a beam assembly comprising:
- a first end assembly configured to be secured to the first track assembly;
- and a second end assembly configured to be removably secured to and slidably engaged with the second track assembly;
- wherein the beam assembly comprises a storage state in which the second end assembly is detached from the second track assembly and both the first and second end assemblies are disposed adjacent to the first sidewall, and
- wherein the beam assembly comprises a deployed state in which the first end assembly is attached to and slidably engaged with the first track assembly and the second end assembly is attached to and slidably engaged with the second track assembly.
A beam-storage system for a cargo compartment, the system comprising:
- a first track assembly comprising a housing and a first track positioned within the housing;
- the housing comprising a forward guard, a rearward guard, and a back wall, with the first track being disposed on the back wall and in an axial space between the forward guard and the rearward guard;
- and
- a beam assembly comprising a first end assembly having a carriage configured to be slidably secured to the first track, wherein the beam assembly is rotatable relative to the carriage to move between a stored state, in which the beam assembly is positioned in the axial space, and a deployed state, in which the beam assembly is substantially perpendicular relative to the first track;
- and
- a second end assembly configured to be removably coupled to and slidably engaged with a second track when the beam assembly is in the deployed state.
A method comprising:
- providing a first track assembly positioned on a first sidewall of a cargo compartment;
- providing a second track assembly positioned on a second sidewall of the cargo compartment;
- providing a beam assembly comprising a first end assembly configured to be secured to the first track assembly and a second end assembly configured to be removably secured and slidably engaged to the second track assembly;
- positioning the beam assembly in a storage state in which both the first and second end assemblies are disposed adjacent to the first sidewall;
- and
- moving the beam assembly to a deployed state in which the beam assembly extends across the cargo compartment from the first sidewall to the second sidewall.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.