Land vehicles: bodies and tops – Bodies – Variable capacity of body
Reexamination Certificate
1999-06-07
2001-07-10
Olszewski, Robert P. (Department: 3619)
Land vehicles: bodies and tops
Bodies
Variable capacity of body
C296S183100
Reexamination Certificate
active
06257639
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention pertains generally to the field of semitrailer trucks, and in particular to a rotatable deck for the tractor which converts the tractor into a cargo carrying vehicle.
BACKGROUND ART
Semitrailer trucks are utilized throughout the world to transport a variety of goods and materials. Tractors pull the semitrailers in which the goods and materials are loaded. The tractor is typically attached to the semitrailer by means of a fifth wheel on the tractor holding and supporting a kingpin on the semitrailer which permits articulation between the two vehicles.
A semitrailer truck has little difficulty traveling on highways and the wide streets of most cities. However, the narrow roads and streets typically found in residential neighborhoods and remote locations can present problems for the rather large and unmaneuverable semitrailer truck. If the semitrailer truck cannot negotiate a narrow road, the cargo has to be offloaded to a smaller vehicle such as a panel truck to effect delivery to its final destination. This is obviously disadvantageous from a cost standpoint in that two vehicles and two drivers are required to implement the cargo delivery.
The tractor of a semitrailer truck by itself can usually negotiate the narrow roads after the semitrailer is unlocked but the tractor has no cargo carrying capabilities. Tractors have been modified to lift and carry automobile over their cabs by using hydraulic lifts but these lifts are not for ordinary goods. Hydraulic platforms are commonly added to two axle cargo trucks to lift goods from the street to the beds of the trucks such as seen in U.S. Pat. No. 4,078,676. Similar lift platforms are often seen on semitrailers for the same purpose. However, such lift gates have no use on the tractor of a semitrailer truck because there is no platform on the truck to carry goods after they are lifted.
In view of the above, there exists a need to provide a better way to deliver cargo to a difficult location that is not able to receive a semitrailer truck. It is toward this goal that the inventive concepts of the present invention are directed.
DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION
The present invention is directed to a rotatable deck for the tractor of a semitrailer truck which converts the tractor into a cargo carrying vehicle. The present invention thereby solves the aforementioned problem of requiring the presence of two vehicles and two drivers to deliver cargo to sites located in areas having narrow or otherwise less accessible roads. Instead of offloading the cargo onto a second vehicle, the driver unhooks the semitrailer and drives around to the open doors at the side or back of the semitrailer. The rotatable deck of the tractor is lowered to a horizontal position until the deck rests upon the fifth wheel at substantially the elevation of the bed of the semitrailer. The cargo may then be offloaded onto the deck, and transported using several trips to the final destination by the tractor. By virtue of the present invention, the tractor is transformed into a smaller cargo carrying vehicle which is capable of negotiating narrow roads and streets. The need for a second vehicle and driver is eliminated and the cost of delivery resultantly decreased.
In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention, the cargo carrying apparatus for a tractor having a fifth wheel and a longitudinal axis includes a cargo deck having an end portion. The end portion is rotatably connected to the tractor and rotates around a pivot axis which is substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the tractor and located behind the cab of the tractor. In a preferred embodiment, the deck rests upon and is supported by the fifth wheel.
In accordance with an important aspect of the invention, the deck is rotatably connected to at least two spaced brackets which are connected to the tractor in front of the fifth wheel and behind the cab.
In accordance with an important feature of the invention, at least one variable length controller is connected between the deck and the tractor, and is used to move the deck between the vertical and horizontal positions.
In accordance with another important aspect of the invention, the deck is substantially rectangular and has a plurality of stake receiving slots.
In accordance with another important feature of the invention, a plurality of stakes are selectively installed in the stake receiving slots so that the deck is enclosed.
In accordance with another aspect of the invention, the tractor has a cab with a top. A rack is connected to the top for storing the stakes when the stakes are not in use.
In accordance with another feature of the invention, the deck has a main portion and an extension portion which is rotatably connected to the main portion. When the main portion is rotated to the horizontal orientation, the extension portion is rotated about the main portion to form a longer deck.
Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, which illustrate, by way of example, the principles of the invention.
REFERENCES:
patent: 2783080 (1957-02-01), Ringsby
patent: 4078818 (1978-03-01), Donnelly
patent: 4614477 (1986-09-01), Hagenbuch
patent: 4662670 (1987-05-01), Kemmer
patent: 4702510 (1987-10-01), Davis
patent: 4969690 (1990-11-01), Smith
patent: 5785485 (1998-07-01), Hall
Fischer Andrew J.
Freilich Hornbaker & Rosen
Masters Ted
Olszewski Robert P.
Tyson Timothy Thut
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