# US 7,607,874 B2 · System and method for partitioning cargo areas

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- Number: US 7,607,874 B2
- Document ID: US7607874B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 12/250,219
- Filed: 2008-10-13
- Published: 2009-02-12
- Granted: 2009-10-27
- Earliest claimed: 2000-07-20
- Assignees: FG Products, Inc.
- Inventors: Roger Nelson; Chad Nelson
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US7607874B2

## CPC

- B60P 3/205: {with means for dividing the interior volume, e.g. movable walls or intermediate floors}
- B61D 17/048: {Interior walls, e.g. separation walls between compartments (B61D17/06, B61D17/08, B61D17/18 take precedence)}
- G03G 15/757: {Drive mechanisms for photosensitive medium, e.g. gears}
- G03G 21/186: {Axial couplings}
- G03G 21/1864: {associated with a positioning function}
- G03G 21/1857: {for transmitting mechanical drive power to the process cartridge, drive mechanisms, gears, couplings, braking mechanisms}
- G03G 2221/1657: transmitting mechanical drive power
- B60P: VEHICLES ADAPTED FOR LOAD TRANSPORTATION OR TO TRANSPORT, TO CARRY, OR TO COMPRISE SPECIAL LOADS OR OBJECTS (vehicles with special provisions for transporting patients or disabled persons, or their personal conveyances A61G3/00)
- B61D: BODY DETAILS OR KINDS OF RAILWAY VEHICLES (vehicles in general B60; adaptation of vehicles to special systems B61B; underframes B61F)
- G03G: ELECTROGRAPHY; ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHY; MAGNETOGRAPHY

## Abstract

An improved bulkhead and partition system in which at least two panels are independently attached to mounting members such that each panel can be moved independently. In a preferred embodiment, two bulkheads or panels are slidably attached to separate pairs of ceiling-mounted rails in a refrigerated trailer such that each bulkhead or panel can be independently slid toward the front of a trailer or toward the rear of a trailer to define, in cooperation with a removable center partition wall, a plurality of different cargo areas to be maintained at different temperatures. Alternatively, two bulkheads or panels may advantageously operate without a partition wall such that the panels may be placed side-by-side and fastened together to make a full-width bulkhead.

## Claims

### Claim 1

An apparatus for separating spaces in a cargo trailer, comprising:
first and second half-width bulkhead panels that are mountable in an interior space of the trailer, wherein when the panels are mounted in the trailer, the first and second half-width bulkhead panels are releasably securable together in a side-by-side abutting configuration to form a full-width bulkhead that extends between opposing sidewalls of the trailer;
a plurality of straps and buckles arranged on rearward faces of the first and second half-width bulkhead panels so as to releasably secure the first and second panels together in the side-by-side abutting configuration when the panels are mounted in the trailer, the plurality of straps and buckles including at least one upper strap that engages an upper buckle and at least one lower strap that engages a lower buckle; and
a mounting system to movably support the first and second half-width bulkhead panels in the trailer, the mounting system attachable to at least one of a wall or a ceiling of the trailer, wherein when the panels are mounted in the trailer, the mounting system provides each of the first and second half-width bulkhead panels with a first degree of freedom to convey the panels in a longitudinal direction independently of one another and that provides each of the first and second panels with a second degree of freedom to raise the panels independently.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein when the first and second half-width bulkhead panels are releasably secured together in the side-by-side abutting configuration, the panels seal together along adjacent peripheral edges of the panels to define the full-width bulkhead.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the first and second panels comprise seal members arranged along the adjacent peripheral edges so that the first and second panels seal together along the adjacent peripheral edges when the first and second panels are releasably secured together in the side-by-side abutting configuration.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the mounting system permits the each of the first and second panels to be hingedly raised independently.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The apparatus of claim 4, wherein when the first and second panels are mounted in the trailer in a first operative position, the first and second panels extend in a substantially vertical direction in the trailer.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The apparatus of claim 5, wherein when the panels are mounted in the trailer in a second operative position, at least one of the panels is hingedly raised to extend in a substantially non-vertical direction in the trailer.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the mounting system further comprises:
a first trolley assembly engageable with a first set of two longitudinal rails mountable in the trailer, wherein the first panel is attachable to the first set of two longitudinal rails by the first trolley assembly,
a second trolley assembly engageable with a second set of two longitudinal rails mountable in the trailer, wherein the second panel is attachable to the second set of two longitudinal rails by the second trolley assembly, and
an end rail mountable proximate to rear ends of the first and second sets of longitudinal rails along the ceiling of the trailer to extend generally laterally between opposing sidewalls of the trailer.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The apparatus of claim 7, further comprising:
a first lift mechanism to raise a lower edge of the first panel toward the ceiling when the first and second panels are mounted in the trailer, at least a portion of the first lift mechanism being mountable to the end rail when the end rail is mounted along the ceiling of the trailer, the first lift mechanism being engageable with a first strap or rope that is coupled proximate to the lower edge of the first panel so as to raise the lower edge of the first panel when the first strap or rope is manually pulled, and
a second lift mechanism to raise a lower edge of the second panel toward the ceiling when the first and second panels are mounted in the trailer, at least a portion of the second lift mechanism being mountable to the end rail when the end rail is mounted along the ceiling of the trailer, the second lift mechanism being engageable with a second strap or rope that is coupled proximate to the lower edge of the second panel so as to raise the lower edge of the second panel when the second strap or rope is manually pulled.

### Claim 9 (depends on 7)

The apparatus of claim 7:
wherein the first trolley assembly comprises two trolleys movably mountable to the first set of two longitudinal rails, a hinge rod extending between the two trolleys, and hinge plates that engage the hinge rod and are attachable to the first panel, and
wherein the second trolley assembly comprises two trolleys movably mountable to the second set of two longitudinal rails, a hinge rod extending between the two trolleys of the second trolley assembly, and hinge plates that engage the hinge rod of the second trolley assembly and are attachable to the second panel.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:
a first lift mechanism to raise the first panel to a stowed position proximate the ceiling when the first and second panels are mounted in the trailer, the first lift mechanism comprising a movable cam to engage a first strap or rope coupled to the first panel, and
a second lift mechanism to raise the second panel to a stowed position proximate the ceiling when the first and second panels are mounted in the trailer, the second lift mechanism comprising a movable cam to engage a second strap or rope coupled to the second panel.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

The apparatus of claim 10, further comprising a first safety restraint attachable between the mounting system and the first panel to secure the first panel is in its stowed position when the first and second panels are mounted in the trailer, the first safety restraint being different from the first lift mechanism.

### Claim 12 (depends on 11)

The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the first safety restraint comprises a safety chain mountable to at least one rail of the mounting system.

### Claim 13 (depends on 11)

The apparatus of claim 11, further comprising a second safety restraint attachable between the mounting system and the second panel to secure the second panel is in its stowed position when the first and second panels are mounted in the trailer, the second safety restraint being different from the second lift mechanism.

### Claim 14 (depends on 13)

The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the second safety restraint comprises a safety chain mountable to at least one rail of the mounting system.

### Claim 15 (depends on 10)

The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the movable cam of the first lift mechanism is adjustable to lock the first strap or rope in a fixed position to thereby secure the first panel in its stowed position when the first and second panels are mounted in the trailer.

### Claim 16 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein when the first and second half-width bulkhead panels are mounted in the trailer, an upper edge of the first half-width bulkhead panel is movable forwardly in the trailer as a lower edge of the first half-width bulkhead panel is hingedly moved rearwardly in the trailer.

### Claim 17 (depends on 8)

The apparatus of claim 8, further comprising a first safety restraint attachable between the mounting system and the first panel to secure the first panel is in a stowed position proximate to the end rail when the first and second panels are mounted in the trailer, the first safety restraint being different from the first lift mechanism.

### Claim 18 (depends on 17)

The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the first safety restraint comprises a safety chain mountable to at least one rail of the mounting system.

### Claim 19 (depends on 17)

The apparatus of claim 17, further comprising a second safety restraint attachable between the mounting system and the second panel to secure the second panel is in a stowed position proximate to the end rail when the first and second panels are mounted in the trailer, the second safety restraint being different from the second lift mechanism.

### Claim 20 (depends on 19)

The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the second safety restraint comprises a safety chain mountable to at least one rail of the mounting system.