Warehouse truck attachment and method for the transportation and storage of compressible items

An apparatus for the transportation and storage of items in a compressed state, said apparatus comprising:

• (a) a lower member, said lower member comprising a floor lying in a substantially horizontal plane;
• (b) an upper member, said upper member comprising a roof lying in a substantially horizontal plane above said floor, and said upper member being slidably connected to said lower member such that said roof may rise and fall with respect to said floor;
• (c) a platform assembly, said platform assembly comprising:
• (i) at least one collapsible tube aligned vertically and connected to said upper member and said lower member;
• (ii) a platform, said platform lying in a horizontal plane between said floor and said roof, and said platform being slidably connected to said at least one collapsible tube;
• (d) at least one rotational expulsion means, said at least one rotational expulsion means attached to at least one of said lower member, said upper member, and said platform, the rotation of said rotational expulsion means causing the expulsion of items from said apparatus;
• (e) an attachment point on said apparatus behind said floor, said roof, and said platform, said attachment point facilitating the connection of said apparatus to a vehicle.

A method for the transportation and storage of items in a compressed state, utilizing an apparatus comprised of a floor, roof, platform, and rotational expulsion means, all of said floor, roof, and platform lying in parallel planes, said floor lying below said roof, said platform lying between said floor and said roof, and said rotational expulsion means attached to at least one of said floor, said roof, and said platform, said method comprising the steps of:

• (a) loading a first group of items into a first space between said platform and said roof;
• (b) raising said platform;
• (c) loading a second group of items into a second space between said floor and said platform;
• (d) lowering said roof;
• and
• (e) expelling said items from said apparatus by rotating said rotational expulsion means.