Movable bulkhead
AssigneeMillis Transfer, Inc.
InventorJoseph A. Pradovic
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A movable bulkhead for a cargo carrying container includes a fixed panel and one or move movable panels. The movable panels are movable between a first position in which they are coplanar with the fixed panel so as to define a maximum cargo volume within the container, and a second position in which the movable panels are spaced from the fixed panel to thereby reduce the cargo volume within the container. Load bars are adapted for engagement with the side walls of the container for bracing the movable panels against movement when such panels are in their second position, and are adapted for storage behind the movable panels when such panels are in their first position and the load bars are not in use.
Claims14
A cargo compartment for a vehicle, comprising:
- a bottom wall;
- a pair of spaced side walls extending upwardly from spaced sides of said bottom wall;
- an upstanding bulkhead wall extending between said side walls, said bulkhead wall including a stationary panel and at least one movable panel which is movable between a first position wherein said movable panel is substantially coplanar with said stationary panel to define a maximum cargo volume within said cargo compartment, and a second position spaced from said bulkhead wall to define a cargo volume less than said maximum cargo volume;
- and
- bracing means for bracing said movable bulkhead panel against movement when said movable panel is in its second position, said bracing means extending between and connectable to said spaced side walls of said compartment for bracing said movable bulkhead panel against movement, said bracing means being adapted for storage behind said movable panel when said movable panel is in its first position and said bracing means is not in use.
A cargo compartment for a vehicle, comprising:
- a bottom wall;
- a pair of spaced side walls extending upwardly from spaced sides of said bottom wall;
- an upstanding bulkhead wall extending between said side walls, said bulkhead wall including a stationary panel and at least one movable panel which is movable between a first position wherein said movable panel is substantially coplanar with said stationary panel to define a maximum cargo volume within said cargo compartment, and a second position spaced from said bulkhead wall to define a cargo volume less than said maximum cargo volume, said movable bulkhead panel being movable to a plurality of positions for varying the space between said movable bulkhead panel and said stationary bulkhead panel to provide varying cargo volumes of said cargo compartment less than said maximum cargo volume;
- and
- bracing means for bracing said movable bulkhead panel against movement when said movable panel is in a position other than said first position, said bracing means being adapted for storage behind said movable panel when said movable panel is in its first position and said bracing means is not in use, said bracing means comprising one or more load bars to which said movable panel is mountable, said one or more load bars being adapted to extend between spaced surfaces of said cargo compartment, each said spaced surface being provided with engagement means for engaging an end of a load bar at a plurality of locations spaced from said stationary bulkhead panel.
In a cargo container including a bottom wall, a pair of spaced side walls extending upwardly from spaced sides of said bottom wall, and a bulkhead wall extending upwardly from said bottom wall, said bulkhead wall including a stationary fixed panel, the improvement comprising a movable panel associated with said bulkhead wall and disposed adjacent said stationary fixed panel, said movable panel being movable between a first position wherein said movable panel is substantially coplanar with said fixed panel to define a maximum cargo volume in said container, and a second position wherein said movable panel is spaced from said fixed panel of said bulkhead wall to define a cargo volume less than said maximum cargo volume, wherein said stationary fixed panel extends less than the full height of said bulkhead wall, and wherein said movable bulkhead panel extends the remainder of the height of said bulkhead wall, and further comprising bracing means for bracing said movable bulkhead panel against movement when said movable panel is in its second position, said bracing means being adapted for storage behind said movable panel when said movable panel is in its first position and said bracing means is not in use.
In a cargo container including a bottom wall, a pair of spaced side walls extending upwardly from spaced sides of said bottom wall, and a bulkhead wall extending upwardly from said bottom wall, said bulkhead wall including a stationary fixed panel, the improvement comprising a movable panel associated with said bulkhead wall and disposed adjacent said stationary fixed panel, said movable panel being movable between a first position wherein said movable panel is substantially coplanar with said fixed panel to define a maximum cargo volume in said container, and a second position wherein said movable panel is spaced from said fixed panel of said bulkhead wall to define a cargo volume less than said maximum cargo volume, wherein said movble bulkhead panel is movable to a plurality of positions for varying the space between said movable panel and said stationary fixed panel to provide varying cargo volumes for said cargo container less than said maximum cargo volume.
An apparatus for providing a movable bulkhead for a cargo container, said container including a floor, a pair of spaced side walls extending upwardly from said floor, and an upstanding bulkhead wall extending between said side walls, said bulkhead wall including a fixed panel extending between said side walls less than the full height of said bulkhead wall, said apparatus comprising:
- at least one movable bulkhead panel, said movable bulkhead panel being movable between a first position in which said movable panel is substantially coplanar with said fixed bulkhead panel to define a maximum cargo volume, and a second position in which said movable panel is spaced from said fixed panel to define a cargo volume less than said maximum volume;
- and
- bracing means for maintaining said movable bulkhead panel in said one or more second positions, said bracing means being adapted for storage behind said movable bulkhead panel when said movable panel is in its first position and said bracing means is not in use.
A method of varying the cargo volume of a cargo container, said container including a floor, a pair of spaced side walls extending upwardly from said floor, and an upstanding bulkhead wall spaced from said end wall and extending between said side walls, comprising the steps of:
- providing a fixed panel forming a portion of said bulkhead wall, said fixed panel extending less than the full height of said bulkhead wall;
- providing a movable panel forming the remainder of the height of said bulkhead wall, said movable panel being movable between a first position in which said movable panel is substantially coplanar with said fixed bulkhead panel so as to provide a maximum cargo volume within said container, and a second position in which said movable panel is spaced from said fixed panel so as to provide a cargo volume less than said maximum cargo volume;
- providing a bracing means for bracing said movable panel against movement when said movable panel is in its second position;
- and
- storing said bracing means behind said movable panel when said movable panel is in its first position and said bracing means is not in use.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.