# US 5,348,176 A · High-cube top lift cargo carrier structure > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 5,348,176 A - Document ID: US5348176A - Status: Granted - Kind: A - Application number: 08/127,307 - Filed: 1993-09-27 - Granted: 1994-09-20 - Earliest claimed: 1991-11-15 - Assignees: Rosby Corporation - Inventors: Howard J. Yurgevich; Thomas J. Rosby - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US5348176A ## CPC - B65D 90/0033: {Lifting means forming part of the container (B65D90/0006, B65D90/0026 take precedence; loading or unloading container on or from a truck B60P1/6418; lifting the container using a crane B66C1/663)} - B65D 88/121: {ISO containers} - B65D 90/028: {hollow-walled, e.g. double-walled with spacers (linings B65D90/04)} - Y10T 24/28: Freight container to freight container fastener - B65D: CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES - Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION ## Abstract A cargo carrier liftable by, a lift element of a vertical mover includes a floor, a roof, a pair of parallel side walls, and first and second end walls, at least one of the side walls and end walls including a opening to permit the entry and exit of cargo. A plurality of low profile floor supports extend between the side walls to increase container capacity without increasing exterior dimensions of the container. A plurality of lift pockets are fixed to the side walls adjacent the roof, each lift pocket including a back plate and a guide plate attached to lie in parallel contiguous relationship to the side wall and in spaced apart parallel relationship to the back plate to define a cavity therebetween. The guide plate includes an aperture therethrough to allow acceptance of the lift element, the guide plate aperture including opposing edges having upwardly converging linear segments for guiding the lift element into engagement with the lift pocket, the upper edge of the aperture defined by an arcuate segment intersecting the upwardly converging linear segments. The back plate lower portion is outwardly inclined for encouraging disengagement of the lift element from the guide plate aperture upon downward movement of the lift element with respect to the cargo carrier. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A cargo carrier liftable by a lift element of a vertical mover, the cargo carrier comprising a floor, a roof, a pair of parallel side walls, and first and second end walls, at least one of the side walls and end walls including a opening to permit the entry and exit of cargo, and a plurality of lift pockets fixed to said pair of parallel side walls, each lift pocket comprising a back plate positioned between the pair of sidewalls and attached to one of the sidewalls, a guide plate attached to lie in parallel contiguous relationship to the side wall in spaced apart parallel relationship to the back plate to define a cavity therebetween, the guide plate having a guide plate aperture therethrough to allow acceptance of the lift element, the guide plate aperture including opposing edges having upwardly converging linear segments for guiding the lift element into engagement with the lift pocket, the back plate further comprising a lower, outwardly inclined portion for encouraging disengagement of the lift element from the guide plate aperture upon downward movement of the lift element with respect to the cargo carrier. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) A cargo carrier according to claim 1 wherein each lift pocket further comprises an upper edge of the guide plate aperture defined by an arcuate segment intersecting the upwardly converging linear segments of the guide plate opposing edges. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) A cargo carrier according to claim 1 wherein said plurality of lift pockets are positioned bilaterally symmetric with respect to each other, with each lift pocket on one of the side walls being matched by a corresponding lift pocket on the other side wall. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) A cargo carrier according to claim 1 wherein pairs of said plurality of lift pockets are attached equivalent distances from a center of mass of the cargo carrier to facilitate even lifting of the cargo container. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) A cargo carrier according to claim 1 wherein the floor comprises a plurality of low profile floor supports extending between the side walls to increase container capacity without increasing exterior dimensions of the container. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) A cargo carrier according to claim 5 wherein the floor further comprises a pair of spaced parallel C-shaped channel members opening toward each other, the plurality of low profile floor supports extending between the side walls having ends received in the C-shaped channel members. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) A cargo carrier according to claim 6 wherein each of the C-shaped channel members is defined by a bight joining a pair of parallel legs, and wherein each of said side walls comprises a longitudinally extending base rail including a lower portion situated adjacent the bight of one of the C-shaped channel members, and means for joining the base rail lower portion to the bight of the adjacent C-shaped channel member. ### Claim 8 (depends on 5) A cargo carrier according to claim 5 wherein the plurality of low profile floor supports comprises a plurality of panels situated contiguously to each other in a common plane, each panel comprising a unitary member including a pattern of webs and flanges defining parallel ducts and channels. ### Claim 9 (depends on 5) A cargo carrier according to claim 5 wherein the floor further comprises a second layer situated immediately above the common plane of said plurality of low profile floor supports, the second layer comprising a plurality of elements fixed to the plurality of low profile floor supports, the plurality of elements extending longitudinally parallel to the C-shaped channel members. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) A cargo carrier according to claim 9 wherein the plurality of longitudinally extending elements comprise wood flooring strips. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) A cargo carrier according to claim 9 wherein the plurality of longitudinally extending elements comprise extruded aluminum members. ### Claim 12 (depends on 5) A cargo carrier according to claim 5 wherein said plurality of low profile floor supports each further comprise means extending along edges thereof for interlocking contiguous low profile floor supports together. ### Claim 13 (depends on 5) A cargo carrier according to claim 5 wherein said plurality of low profile floor supports each further comprise a pair of spaced apart vertical members having upper and lower ends, and a horizontal member connected to join the lower ends of the vertical members to form in cross section a U-shape, with vertical length of the vertical members being less than horizontal spacing between the vertical members of each floor support. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) A cargo carrier according to claim 13 further comprising an outwardly extending flange attached to an upper end of each vertical member of each low profile floor support. ### Claim 15 (depends on 13) A cargo carrier according to claim 13 further comprising reinforcing means for reinforcing the horizontal member of each low profile floor support to increase rigidity of the floor support. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) A cargo carrier according to claim 15 wherein said reinforcing means is unitary with the horizontal member. ### Claim 17 A cargo carrier liftable by a lift element of a vertical mover, the cargo carrier comprising a floor, a roof, a pair of parallel side walls, and first and second end walls, at least one of the side walls and end walls including a opening to permit the entry and exit of cargo, a plurality of low profile floor supports extending between the side walls to increase container capacity without increasing exterior dimensions of the container, and a plurality of lift pockets fixed to said pair of parallel side walls adjacent the roof, each lift pocket comprising a back plate positioned between the pair of sidewalls and attached to one of the sidewalls, a guide plate attached to lie in parallel contiguous relationship to the side wall in spaced apart parallel relationship to the back plate to define a cavity therebetween, the guide plate having a guide plate aperture therethrough to allow acceptance of the lift element, the guide plate aperture including opposing edges having upwardly converging linear segments for guiding the lift element into engagement with the lift pocket, and an upper edge of the guide plate aperture defined by an arcuate segment intersecting the upwardly converging linear segments, the back plate further comprising a lower, outwardly inclined portion for encouraging disengagement of the lift element from the guide plate aperture upon downward movement of the lift element with respect to the cargo carrier. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) A cargo carrier according to claim 17 wherein four of said lift pockets are positioned bilaterally symmetric with respect to each other, with two lift pockets on one of the side walls being matched by two corresponding lift pockets on the other side wall. ### Claim 19 (depends on 17) A cargo carrier according to claim 17 wherein the floor further comprises a second layer situated immediately above the common plane of said plurality of low profile floor supports, the second layer comprising a plurality of elements fixed to the plurality of low profile floor supports, the plurality of elements extending longitudinally parallel to the side walls of the cargo carrier. ### Claim 20 (depends on 17) A cargo carrier according to claim 17 further comprising a running gear including a pair of beams fixed to a bottom surface of said plurality of panels parallel to the U-shaped channel members and a wheel assembly including means for adjusting the position of the wheel assembly relative to the pair of beams.