US 2003/0190221 A1Published application

Container transport apparatus

AssigneeAllstate Storage, Inc.

InventorAdam Whitley

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Abstract

A container transport apparatus for transporting a shipping container between two locations, such as between residences or business locations, includes a front unit and a separate rear unit for supporting the respective forward and rear ends of the shipping container. The front and rear units each include a frame structure with upper and lower hydraulically extendible vertical arm members. Locking pins on the vertical arm members engage sockets on the corners of the shipping container to facilitate vertical lifting and support of the container above the ground without tilting the container, thereby preventing damage to articles packed in the container. A forwardly extending trailer tongue on the front unit attaches to a hitch of a towing vehicle. The rear unit is provided with drive wheels and steering wheels for maneuvering the rear unit into position against the rear end of the container. The rear unit is also provided with inflated road tires to enable towing of the apparatus by a motor vehicle with or without a storage container supported between the front and rear units.

Claims7

Dependent claims

An transport apparatus pulled by a towing vehicle for transporting a shipping container having a forward end and a rear end, and wherein the forward and rear ends of the shipping container are provided with corner sockets on four corners, including two upper corners and two lower corners, said apparatus comprising:

a front unit including a frame structure;
a rear unit including a frame structure;
first locking means movably supported on said frame structure of said front unit for interlocking engagement with at least two of the corner sockets on the front end of the shipping container;
second locking means movably supported on said frame structure of said rear unit for interlocking engagement with at least two of the corner sockets on the rear end of the shipping container;
first lift means on said front unit for lifting said first locking means and the front end of the shipping container when attached thereto;
second lift means on said rear unit for lifting said second locking means and the rear end of the shipping container when attached thereto;
hitch means on said front unit for connecting the front unit to the towing vehicle;
and
ground-engaging tires supported on said rear unit for permitting towed transport of said rear unit.

6 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.