Freight accommodation on freight carrier – Particular article accommodation – Grouped
Reexamination Certificate
2000-05-23
2001-04-03
Gordon, Stephen T. (Department: 3612)
Freight accommodation on freight carrier
Particular article accommodation
Grouped
C410S046000, C410S072000, C410S082000, C410S083000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06210088
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates generally to freight accommodation devices and, more particularly, to load retainers having twist locks.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Box-like containers are typically used to transport goods in interstate commerce. To ease burdens required in moving these containers by ship, train, truck, etc., the International Standards Organization (ISO) has required uniform dimensions. While many standard sizes have been approved by the ISO, containers having lengths of twenty feet and forty feet have gained widespread acceptance in the United States since they can be most easily and economically hauled over-the-road on trailers.
Commonly used to haul 40′ ISO containers are trailers having a 40′ gooseneck-type chassis with an elevated forward portions to accommodate the 5
th
wheel couplers of towing tractors. The elevated forward portion of the chassis carries a pair of rearwardly directed pins for attachment to specialized castings at the front of a 40′ ISO container and the rearward portion of the chassis has a pair of vertically oriented twist locks for attachment to castings at the rear of the container. Unfortunately, this container attachment system does not permit a pair of 20′ ISO containers positioned in tandem to be attached to the chassis thereby limiting its utility.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In light of the problems associated with the known trailers for hauling ISO containers, it is a principal object of the invention to provide a device that is easily attached to the top of a gooseneck-type chassis that will convert it to one capable of hauling a single 40′ ISO container or a pair of 20′ ISO containers. In either hauling situation, operation of a gooseneck-type chassis carrying the inventive device along with one or more ISO containers will be in conformity with current highway regulations.
It is another object of the invention to provide a chassis conversion device of the type described that can be rapidly installed upon a gooseneck-type chassis without prolonged periods of instruction, without specialized tools, and without resort to modifying the chassis in any way. The chassis conversion device can also be installed upon gooseneck-type chassis of various makes and models.
It is a further object of the invention to provide a chassis conversion device that can be easily detached from a chassis when its use is not required. Lifting the device from a chassis is easily accomplished by means of a conventional forklift. The forklift may be utilized to safely stack a plurality of chassis conversion devices atop one another to conserve space when use of the devices is not required.
It is an object of the invention to provide improved elements and arrangements thereof in a chassis conversion device for the purposes described that is lightweight in construction, inexpensive to manufacture, and dependable in use.
Briefly, the chassis conversion device in accordance with this invention achieves the intended objects by featuring an elongated frame with a pair of ISO corner castings affixed to each of its front and rear ends. A pair of twist locks is affixed to both the front and rear ends of the frame. Two additional pairs of twist locks are affixed to the frame adjacent its midpoint. The latter two pairs of twist locks are selectively retractable so that they may be lowered beneath the top of the frame. The frame also includes a pair of lateral conduits for slidably receiving the projecting prongs of a forklift.
The foregoing and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become readily apparent upon further review of the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
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Gordon Stephen T.
Greiner Stephen R.
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