Material or article handling – Vehicle attached auxiliary carriers
Reexamination Certificate
2003-04-15
2004-12-07
Krizek, Janice L. (Department: 3652)
Material or article handling
Vehicle attached auxiliary carriers
C182S127000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06827541
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention deals with the field of devices for facilitating the storage of ladders and other elongated objects in a horizontal orientation with respect to vehicles and, in particular, emergency vehicles such as fire trucks, ambulances or other utility vehicles. Such vehicles often utilize a single piston and lifting arm for urging movement of a support bracket between an upper storage position above the vehicle and a lower access position adjacent the vehicle. The present invention provides a unique configuration where two separate support assemblies are included, one at the frontmost portion of the vehicle body and the other at the rearmost portion of the vehicle body which allows full use of compartments laterally along each side of such emergency vehicles. With emergency vehicles today storage of the many different types of equipment is an important aspect of vehicle design and utility and for this reason the present invention provides a means for maximizing use of such laterally located compartments.
2. Description of the Prior Art
There have been numerous prior art designs to facilitate storage of ladders and other rather large equipment with respect to utility and emergency vehicles such as shown in U.S. Pat. No. 5,009,350 patented Apr. 23, 1991 to J. M. Schill et al on “Retainer Assemblies For Elongated Objects”; and U.S. Pat. No. 5,048,641 patented Sep. 17, 1991 to J. N. Holcomb et al and assigned to Jack N. Holcomb on a “Van-Mounted Ladder Assembly With Concealed Radio Antennas”; and U.S. Pat. No. 5,058,791 patented Oct. 22, 1991 to K. R. Henriques et al and assigned to Slide-Out, Inc. on a “Vehicular Ladder Rack”; and U.S. Pat. No. 5,104,280 patented Apr. 14, 1992 to M. P. Ziaylek et al and assigned to Michael P. Ziaylek on “Apparatus For Use With An Emergency Vehicle For Storage And Retrieval Of Remotely Located Emergency Devices”; and U.S. Design Pat. No. D331,030 patented Nov. 17, 1992 to M. P. Ziaylek et al and assigned to Michael P. Ziaylek on a “Unit For Use With An Emergency Vehicle For Storage And Retrieval Of Remotely Located Emergency Devices”; and U.S. Pat. No. 5,172,952 patented Dec. 22, 1992 to R. Lasnetski on an “Overhead Storage Rack For Storing Ladders Or The Like”; and U.S. Pat. No. 5,297,912 patented Mar. 29, 1994 to A. Y. Levit and assigned to JAJ Products, Inc. on a “Ladder Rack For Motor Vehicles”; and U.S. Pat. No. 5,398,778 patented Mar. 21, 1995 to R. Sexton on a “Ladder Rack Securing And Release System”; and U.S. Pat. No. 5,469,933 patented Nov. 28, 1995 to J. Thomason on a “Vehicle Mounted Ladder”; and U.S. Pat. No. 5,518,357 patented May 21, 1996 to T. Ziaylek, Jr. et al and assigned to Theodore Ziaylek, Jr. and Michael P. Ziaylek on a “Retaining And Retrieval Apparatus For Storage Of A Ladder Upon A Vehicle Shelf Area”; and U.S. Pat. No. 5,791,857 patented Aug. 11, 1998 to Theodore Ziaylek, Jr. et al and assigned to Theodore Ziaylek, Jr. and Michael Paul Ziaylek on an “Automatic Ladder Lowering And Storage Device For Use With An Emergency Vehicle”; and U.S. Pat. No. 5,850,891 patented Dec. 22, 1998 to J. J. Olms et al and assigned to Trimble Navigation Limited on a “Motorized Rack System”; and U.S. Pat. No. 6,092,972 patented Jul. 25, 2000 to A. Y. Levi on a “Truck Mounted Ladder Rack”; and U.S. Pat. No. 6,105,720 patented Aug. 22, 2000 to D. A. Kumber et al on a “Multi-Position Ladder And Support Therefor”; and U.S. Pat. No. 6,179,543 patented Jan. 30, 2001 to D. Adame et al on a “Rack For Motor Vehicles”; and U.S. Pat. No. 6,257,534 patented Jul. 10, 2001 to A. L. Finley and assigned to Fibre Body Industries INC on a “Ladder Rack Assembly”; and U.S. Pat. No. 6,315,181 patented Nov. 13, 2001 to J. A. Bradley et al and assigned to Adrian Steel Company on a “Ladder Rack Apparatus And Method”; and U.S. Pat. No. 6,321,873 patented Nov. 27, 2001 to R. LaBrash and assigned to Tra-Lor-Mate, Inc. on a “Ladder Mounting System”; and U.S. Pat. No. 6,360,930 patented Mar. 26, 2002 to M. Flickenger and assigned to L & P Property Management Company on a “Vehicle Rack Assembly With Hydraulic Assist”.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides an apparatus for holding elongated objects in a horizontal orientation adjacent to a vehicular body. The apparatus is designed to move the horizontally oriented elongated object such as a ladder or the like between an upper storage position and a lower access position. At the upper storage position the object is stored and provides full access to all compartments on both sides of the vehicle body whereas at the lower access position the object can be removed therefrom for usage or secured thereto for movement to the storage position.
The apparatus preferably includes a forward support assembly which can be secured with respect to the vehicle body such as a truck body or the like. This support assembly preferably includes a forward driveshaft extending through the truck body such as to be rotatably movable. The forward driveshaft preferably includes an inner forward driveshaft section positioned within the vehicle body and an outer forward driveshaft section positioned outside of the vehicle body. Each section of the forward driveshaft is movable simultaneously.
The forward support assembly includes a forward drive arm pivotally mounted to the inner forward driveshaft section which extends outwardly therefrom for facilitating the powering of pivotal movement thereof. A forward longitudinally extendable device such as a forward hydraulic cylinder and piston respectively pivotally mounted with respect to the truck body and is pivotally secured with respect to the forward drive arm for the purpose of causing driving movement thereof between the storage and access positions responsive to longitudinal movement of the piston within the cylinder.
A forward lifting arm is also included fixedly secured to the outer forward driveshaft section and being rotatably movable therewith. This forward drive arm and the forward longitudinally extendable hydraulic cylinder and piston device are oriented at a position approximately perpendicularly or in any case between 60 and 90 degrees with respect to one another. In this manner whenever the forward lifting arm is adjacent the access position maximum power will be applied through the moment arm of force directed on the forward drive arm thereby. In this manner power will be enhanced for the rotational movement of the forward driveshaft responsive to the forward lifting arm being positioned at a location adjacent the lower access position thereof.
A forward support device is also fixedly securable to the forward lifting arm and is adapted to receive an object detachably secured thereto. The forward support arm is preferably movable between an upper storage position and a lower access position. A forward securement device is also included which is capable of securing an object detachably with respect to the forward support device to facilitate movement of the secured object between the upper storage position for storage thereof and the lower access position for providing access thereto.
A forward mounting bracket is also included fixedly secured to the vehicular body at a position within the body itself. The inner forward driveshaft section of the forward driveshaft is preferably rotatably mounted within the forward mounting bracket for the purpose of facilitating urging of selective movement of the forward lifting arm between the upper storage position and lower access position. A forward bearing is also included with the forward driveshaft extending therethrough to facilitate rotational movement thereof.
A rear support assembly is also included secured with respect to the vehicular body at a position spatially distant from the location of the forward support assembly. This spacing provides additional support for the mounting of elongated objects thereto and secure movement thereof between the upper storage position and the lower access position. The rear support assembly and the forward support assembly bot
Ziaylek Michael Paul
Ziaylek Theodore P.
Ziaylek Jr. Theodore
Krizek Janice L.
Sperry, Zoda & Kane
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