Freight accommodation on freight carrier – Particular article accommodation – Grouped
Reexamination Certificate
2000-06-07
2001-08-07
Gordon, Stephen T. (Department: 3612)
Freight accommodation on freight carrier
Particular article accommodation
Grouped
C410S032000, C410S034000, C410S035000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06270299
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is directed to a portable carrier system for storing and transporting goods. In particular, the carrier system is directed to transporting and storing sheet-like articles.
BACKGROUND
The typical consumer of construction materials, such as lumber, plywood, and drywall is generally the average homeowner, builder, or remodeler. In most situations, the homeowner is not in a position to transport large quantities of these materials, as these materials are large, long, bulky, or the like. Usually the consumer resorts to having the lumber company or building supply company deliver the materials to the desired site; this transport generally is accomplished by flat bed truck.
As is often the situation, the delivery may include some defective or damaged pieces, be short a few pieces or have a few extra, have the wrong size or type of material, or the consumer may have miscalculated the number of pieces needed for the project. Any of these situations can require the consumer to return to or receive from the lumber yard or building supply company a few or several pieces of material.
Many consumers undertaking the task of a large building or remodeling project have access to a viable transport vehicle for the building materials; typically, the consumer has or can borrow a pick-up truck, trailer, or flat bed truck. In some cases, the only vehicle available is a typical sedan or station wagon. Nevertheless, rather than paying the lumber company or building supply company to haul a few pieces of building material, the consumer uses the transport vehicle available.
Transporting large items, such as plywood, drywall, and even framed windows, is typically done by laying these items flat on the transport surface, such as in the pick-up truck bed. Loading and unloading these material, which is done by sliding the material, can damage the corners and edges of the material. With some materials, the loads are tied down, which can further damage the materials. Also, while the vehicle is moving, the load can shift and slide; this is particularly common when the building materials do not conform to the size of the transport vehicle load area. A shifting load can be dangerous, both to the transport vehicle and to surrounding traffic; the materials may have to be retied or repositioned en route, reloaded differently, and any lost materials would have to be retrieved from the road where they fell. Any or all of these situations lead to lost time and money on the part of the consumer.
For example, a common size for a sheet of drywall or plywood is 4 feet by 8 feet. One common size pick-up truck bed is 4 feet by 6½ feet. In order to transport the building material in the truck bed, the tailgate must be left down or open; this often results in the material sliding out of the bed onto the road during transport. As another example, some building materials can have a size, for example, of 3 feet by 5 feet. When placed in the 4 by 6½ pick-up truck bed, these materials slide around in the bed, damaging edges and corners. Sliding of material can often occur in full-size pick-up beds, which are generally 4 feet by 8 feet.
What is desired is a better mode for transporting large items such as plywood sheets, drywall sheets, and the like.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is directed to a carrier system for supporting and securing a load of materials such a sheet goods including plywood, drywall, insulation, and other goods such as lumber, windows, doors, pipes, and the like. The carrier system can be used in a transport vehicle such as a pick-up truck or a trailer, or can be used on a support surface, such as a building site, to secure material.
In one aspect, the invention is directed to a carrier system comprising a lower transverse rail, and a bracket assembly moveably attached to the rail. The bracket assembly has a sill member constructed and adapted for releasable engagement with the first rail, a retaining member pivotally hinged to the sill member; and a brace member connecting the sill member and the retaining member. The retaining member can be pivotally hinged to a first end of the sill member and the brace member can be pivotally hinged to a second opposite end of the sill member.
In another aspect, the carrier system has two bracket assemblies, which are oppositely positioned on the rail, so that the two retaining members are opposed. At least one of these two bracket assemblies may be positionable and repositionable and the rail. In some embodiments, the two bracket assemblies are on a single rail, or, each bracket assembly is on a unique, individual rail. A load of materials is retained between the two retaining members. The load may sit on the rail.
In yet another aspect, the invention is directed to a carrier system having two rails and four bracket assemblies. In particular, the carrier system has a first rail and a second rail parallel to the first rail. A first bracket assembly, a second bracket assembly, a third bracket assembly, and a fourth bracket assembly are present. Each of the bracket assemblies comprises a sill member, a retaining member pivotally hinged to the sill member; and a brace member connecting the sill member and the retaining member. The first bracket assembly and the second bracket assembly are mounted on the first rail, and the third bracket assembly and the fourth bracket assembly are mounted on the second rail; the first bracket assembly and the third bracket assembly are moveably mounted on their respective rails.
In present invention is also directed at methods of loading and unloading material from the carrier system of the present invention.
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Gordon Stephen T.
Merchant & Gould P.C.
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