Freight accommodation on freight carrier – Particular article accommodation – Wheeled vehicle
Reexamination Certificate
2000-03-16
2001-09-11
Gordon, Stephen T. (Department: 3612)
Freight accommodation on freight carrier
Particular article accommodation
Wheeled vehicle
C410S024000, C410S028100
Reexamination Certificate
active
06287061
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to trailer devices and more specifically it relates to a flatbed vehicle transport system for increasing the total number of vehicles that can be transported upon a conventional flatbed trailer.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Flatbed trailers have been in use for years. Typically, a flatbed trailer includes a frame structure, an elongated deck, an upper deck, a plurality of wheels rotatably supporting the frame structure, and a hitch portion for allowing attachment to a tractor.
Flatbed trailers are acceptable for hauling large objects. However, when utilized to transport vehicles, such as cars and pickups, flatbed trailers are generally capable of only transporting three vehicles. It is very inefficient and costly for the driver of a semi-tractor to transport only three vehicles when considering fuel costs and repairs.
Examples of patented vehicle trailers include U.S. Pat. No. 5,415,505 to Halpin et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 4,343,401 to Paulyson; U.S. Pat. No. 4,738,575 to Blodgett et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 5,051,046 to Oren; U.S. Pat. No. 5,253,975 to Takaguchi; U.S. Pat. No. 5,286,149 to Seay et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 5,536,132 to Knott; U.S. Pat. No. 4,701,086 to Thomdyke which are all illustrative of such prior art.
While these devices may be suitable for the particular purpose to which they address, they are not as suitable for increasing the total number of vehicles that can be transported upon a conventional flatbed trailer. Conventional flatbed trailers are not suited for transporting a plurality of smaller vehicles such as cars and pickups.
In these respects, the flatbed vehicle transport system according to the present invention substantially departs from the conventional concepts and designs of the prior art, and in so doing provides an apparatus primarily developed for the purpose of increasing the total number of vehicles that can be transported upon a conventional flatbed trailer.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known types of trailers now present in the prior art, the present invention provides a new flatbed vehicle transport system construction wherein the same can be utilized for increasing the total number of vehicles that can be transported upon a conventional flatbed trailer.
The general purpose of the present invention, which will be described subsequently in greater detail, is to provide a new flatbed vehicle transport system that has many of the advantages of the trailers mentioned heretofore and many novel features that result in a new flatbed vehicle transport system which is not anticipated, rendered obvious, suggested, or even implied by any of the prior art trailers, either alone or in any combination thereof.
To attain this, the present invention generally comprises a plurality of support members that are positionable within apertures within a trailer, a plurality of cross members insertable into the support members, a plurality of ramp members attached across the cross members, and a loading ramp for loading vehicles upon the trailer. A plurality of chains are preferably secured to one or more support members to prevent longitudinal movement of the structure while loaded.
There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the invention in order that the detailed description thereof may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are additional features of the invention that will be described hereinafter and that will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto.
In this respect, before explaining at least one embodiment of the invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and to the arrangements of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of the description and should not be regarded as limiting.
A primary object of the present invention is to provide a flatbed vehicle transport system that will overcome the shortcomings of the prior art devices.
A second object is to provide a flatbed vehicle transport system for increasing the total number of vehicles that can be transported upon a conventional flatbed trailer.
Another object is to provide a flatbed vehicle transport system that converts a conventional flatbed trailer into a multi-layered vehicle transport trailer.
An additional object is to provide a flatbed vehicle transport system that can be easily disassembled and assembled upon a conventional flatbed trailer.
A further object is to provide a flatbed vehicle transport system that allows a conventional flatbed trailer to be utilized as a conventional step-deck and an auto transport.
Another object is to provide a flatbed vehicle transport system that can be disassembled into a compact structure and stored under the flatbed trailer out of sight.
Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become obvious to the reader and it is intended that these objects and advantages are within the scope of the present invention.
To the accomplishment of the above and related objects, this invention may be embodied in the form illustrated in the accompanying drawings, attention being called to the fact, however, that the drawings are illustrative only, and that changes may be made in the specific construction illustrated and described within the scope of the appended claims.
REFERENCES:
patent: 1282764 (1918-10-01), Daly
patent: 2883231 (1959-04-01), Dawson
patent: 4089555 (1978-05-01), Allen
patent: 4343401 (1982-08-01), Paulyson
patent: 4898418 (1990-02-01), Lind, Sr. et al.
patent: 5106246 (1992-04-01), Chance
patent: 5213458 (1993-05-01), Preller et al.
patent: 5344266 (1994-09-01), Kolb
patent: 5427485 (1995-06-01), Henderson et al.
patent: 5806905 (1998-09-01), Moore
patent: 5924248 (1999-07-01), Cox et al.
patent: 6010285 (2000-01-01), Cox et al.
Gordon Stephen T.
Neustel Michael S.
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