Back to results
US 7,802,958 B2Granted
Versatile trailer deck
AssigneeThe Boeing Company
InventorsAnibal Garcia, Myles Rohrlick, Thomas Reiner, Genevieve Gaspar
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The invention relates to versatile cargo trailer decks, and to methods for moving cargo onto such cargo trailer decks. In embodiment, a cargo trailer deck may have first and second moving apparatus attached to a deck member. The first moving apparatus may be adapted to move cargo between the back end of the deck member and the front end of the deck member, while the second moving apparatus may be adapted to rotate cargo from one orientation on the deck member to a second orientation on the deck member. The deck member may be adapted to move in backward, forward, left, right, vertical, and tilt directions, in order to align the deck member for loading and/or unloading cargo.
Claims21
A cargo trailer deck comprising:
- a frame member for attaching to a vehicle, wherein the frame member is adapted to pivot into varying positions;
- a deck member attached to the frame member, the deck member comprising a front end, a back end, a left side, a right side, a bottom side, and a top side, wherein the back end is tapered from the top side to the bottom side;
- a first moving apparatus attached to said deck member, wherein said first moving apparatus comprises a first plurality of rollers disposed in parallel, spaced-apart alignment between and parallel to the front and back ends of the deck member, wherein the first plurality of rollers are further disposed perpendicular to the left and the right sides of the deck member, and wherein the first plurality of rollers are for moving cargo between said back end of said deck member and said front end of said deck member;
- a second moving apparatus attached to said deck member, wherein said second moving apparatus comprises a second plurality of rollers, wherein at least two of the second plurality of rollers are disposed parallel to the first plurality of rollers and at least another two of the second plurality of rollers are disposed perpendicular to the first plurality of rollers, and wherein the second plurality of rollers are for rotating cargo from one orientation on said deck member to a second orientation on said deck member;
- a cable winch member disposed in an opening in said deck member extending from said front end to said second moving apparatus;
- and
- a rotatable and retractable turning member comprising a plate disposed between the at least two of the second plurality of rollers, and disposed between the at least another two of the second plurality of rollers, wherein each of the at least two of the second plurality of rollers, the at least another two of the second plurality of rollers, and the rotatable and retractable turning member are configured to completely retract within the deck member in one position, and to extend out of the deck member in another position.
4 more elements
A method of moving cargo on a trailer deck comprising:
- providing a trailer deck comprising:
- a frame member for attaching to a vehicle, wherein the frame member is adapted to pivot into varying positions;
- a deck member attached to the frame member, the deck member comprising a front end, a back end, a left side, a right side, a bottom side, and a top side, with the back end tapered from the top side to the bottom side;
- a first moving apparatus attached to said deck member, wherein the first moving apparatus comprises a first plurality of rollers disposed in parallel, spaced-apart alignment between and parallel to the front and back ends of the deck member, and the first plurality of rollers are further disposed perpendicular to the left and the right sides of the deck member;
- a second moving apparatus attached to said deck member, wherein the second moving apparatus comprises a second plurality of rollers, wherein at least two of the second plurality of rollers are disposed parallel to the first plurality of rollers and at least another two of the second plurality of rollers are disposed perpendicular to the first plurality of rollers;
- a cable winch member disposed in an opening in said deck member extending from said front end to said second moving apparatus;
- and a rotatable and retractable turning member comprising a plate disposed between the at least two of the second plurality of rollers, and disposed between the at least another two of the second plurality of rollers;
- moving cargo between the back end of the deck member and the front end of the deck member utilizing said first moving apparatus;
- extending the at least two of the second plurality of rollers, the at least another two of the second plurality of rollers, and the rotatable and retractable turning member from completely within the deck member to outside the deck member;
- and
- rotating said cargo from one orientation on said deck member to a second orientation on said deck member utilizing said second moving apparatus and said rotatable and retractable turning member.
8 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.