Vehicle transportation module
AssigneeTrailer Bridge, Inc.
InventorsRALPH W. HEIM, J. EDWARD MORLEY, P. W. SHAHANI
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A module for receiving motorized vehicles for transportation. The module includes a driver-side side wall, a passenger-side side wall parallel to and laterally spaced from the driver-side side wall, and a bottom support structure extending between the side walls for supporting at least one vehicle located thereon. The module further includes a roof spaced from the bottom support structure such that the roof and the bottom support structure are arranged to closely receive a single layer of vehicles therebetween.
Claims37
A module for receiving motorized vehicles for transportation comprising:
- a driver-side side wall;
- a passenger-side side wall parallel to and laterally spaced from said driver-side side wall;
- a bottom support structure extending between said side walls, said bottom support structure being reinforced sufficiently to support at least one motor vehicle located thereon;
- and
- a roof spaced from said bottom support structure such that the distance between said roof and the top of a motor vehicle located on said bottom support structure in said module is less than about 1 foot.
A module for receiving and transporting motorized vehicles comprising an enclosure having a roof, a generally rectangular cross section and a central space for receiving at least one motorized vehicle therein, said enclosure having an end opening providing access to said central space, said enclosure being sized to closely receive a predetermined number of vehicles in a single layer therein such that the space between said roof of said enclosure and the top of said at least one vehicle is less than about 1 foot.
A module for receiving motorized vehicles for transportation comprising:
- a driver-side side wall;
- a passenger-side side wall parallel to and laterally spaced from said driver-side side wall;
- a bottom support structure extending between said side walls, said bottom support structure being reinforced sufficiently to support at least one motor vehicle located thereon;
- an internal ramp for guiding said motor vehicles onto said bottom support structure;
- and
- a roof spaced from said bottom support structure such that said roof and said bottom support structure are arranged to closely receive a single layer of vehicles therebetween.
A module for receiving motorized vehicles for transportation comprising:
- a driver-side side wall;
- a passenger-side side wall parallel to and laterally spaced from said driver-side side wall;
- a bottom support structure extending between said side walls, said bottom support structure being reinforced sufficiently to support at least one motor vehicle located thereon;
- and
- a roof spaced from said bottom support structure to closely receive a single layer of vehicles therebetween, said module having a height of less than about 8 feet.
A method for loading vehicles for transportation comprising the steps of:
- providing a module including a driver-side side wall, a passenger-side side wall parallel to and laterally spaced from said driver-side side wall, a bottom support structure extending between said side walls for supporting at least one vehicle located thereon, and a roof spaced from said bottom support structure such that said roof and said bottom support structure are arranged to closely receive a single layer of vehicles therebetween;
- locating said module on an external surface;
- driving said vehicles from said external surface onto said bottom support structure in said module;
- and
- securing said vehicles in said module.
A method of transporting vehicles comprising the steps of:
- providing a first module and a second module, each module having a driver-side side wall and a passenger-side side wall, each driver-side side wall having a plurality of openings formed therein;
- driving a predetermined number of vehicles into each module such that a front driver-side door of each vehicle is located adjacent one of said openings in the associated driver-side side wall;
- and
- arranging said first and second modules such that said driver-side side walls of each module are adjacent each other such that said openings are generally shielded from external elements.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.