Freight accommodation on freight carrier – Particular article accommodation – Grouped
Reexamination Certificate
2000-08-04
2001-09-04
Gordon, Stephen T. (Department: 3612)
Freight accommodation on freight carrier
Particular article accommodation
Grouped
C410S032000, C410S042000, C410S143000, C410S151000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06283688
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is generally directed to accessories for semi-trailers and, more particularly, a rack for load locks that can be mounted in a semi-trailer.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Over the years, there has been a growing dependency on the trucking industry to transport goods. This has resulted in development of more powerful and sophisticated tractors and associated trailers as well as accessories that facilitate the tasks of loading, transporting, and unloading goods when they reach their intended destination. In some instances, the development of accessories has led to the creation of problems that were previously unknown.
As but one example, load locks have been developed for securing a partial load in place during transport. A load lock comprises an adjustable length shaft having an integral bearing pad on each of opposite ends thereof Typically, a plurality of load locks will be utilized to secure a partial load in a semi-trailer.
Depending upon the size of the cartons or goods that are being hauled in a semi-trailer, there will be one or more load locks positioned vertically and one or more load locks positioned horizontally. They are usually placed in contact with, or in close proximity to, the rearward-most cartons or goods so as to extend between the floor and the roof of the semitrailer, i.e., vertically, as well as between the side walls of the semi-trailer, i.e., horizontally. By utilizing an adjustment mechanism associated with the shaft of the load lock, the bearing pads may be placed in tight interference fit with the respective ones of floor and roof or the side walls.
When the semi-trailer is to be unloaded, the load locks are released from their position of use within the semi-trailer. It is common for them to be laid on the floor of the semi-trailer or, alternatively, placed on the loading dock while the semi-trailer is unloaded. In either case, there is a reasonable likelihood that the load locks will either be damaged or lost in the course of unloading the semi-trailer.
For instance, if the load locks are placed on the floor of the semi-trailer, they may well be damaged by a forklift being utilized to facilitate the unloading process. The shaft, bearing pads, and/or adjustment mechanism typically cannot withstand the weight of a loaded forklift without being damaged, or possibly even destroyed. When this occurs, the load locks must be replaced, which means they may not be available when needed, and the replacement cost is a significant factor in operating costs.
Similarly, if the load locks are placed on the loading dock, they may well be left behind when the trucker leaves the area of the loading dock. It is common practice, once the truck is unloaded, for the trucker to pull away from the loading dock to close the tailgate which creates a natural tendency for the load locks to be forgotten. Once again, operating costs are increased to a degree that is undesirable due to the need to replace load locks that have been left behind.
The present invention is directed to overcoming one or more of the foregoing problems and achieving one or more of the resulting objects.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is therefore a principal object of the invention to provide a load lock rack for supporting one or more load locks in a semi-trailer. It is an additional object of the present invention to provide a load lock rack that is capable of supporting load locks during unloading of a semi-trailer as well as during transport of an unloaded semi-trailer. It is an additional object of the present invention to provide a load lock rack kit that incorporates a tie down for securing the load locks during transport.
Accordingly, the present invention is directed to a load lock rack comprising a generally planar shelf-like supporting surface having a front edge and a rear edge spaced therefrom and having at least one opening extending from the front edge to at least a point generally intermediate the front and rear edges. The opening serves to receive the shaft of a load lock, and it is formed such that a bearing pad on the end of the shaft cannot pass through the opening when the load lock is placed on the rack. Further, the load lock rack is formed so as to include suitable means for mounting the shelf-like supporting surface with the rear edge adjacent the side wall of a semi-trailer, and it is also formed so as to include suitable means for maintaining the load lock on the load lock rack during transport of the semi-trailer.
In an exemplary embodiment, the opening includes a neck portion extending from the front edge toward the rear edge of the shelf-like supporting surface, and the neck portion has a width at least as great as the diameter of the shaft of the load lock. It is also highly advantageous for the mounting means to include an upwardly extending plate generally coextensive and integral with the rear edge of the shelf-like supporting surface to be secured by fasteners to the side wall of the semi-trailer. Additionally, the load lock maintaining means preferably includes an upwardly extending lip formed on the front edge of the shelf-like supporting surface, and the upwardly extending lip preferably has a height at least as great as the thickness of the bearing pad on the load lock.
Still additionally, the load lock maintaining means preferably includes forming the load lock rack such that the front edge of the shelf-like supporting surface is elevated in relation to the rear edge when mounted adjacent the side wall of the semi-trailer. Furthermore, a pair of tie down fittings to be mounted to the side wall of the semi-trailer are advantageously provided wherein the tie down fittings are in horizontally spaced relation below the shelf-like supporting surface to cooperate with a strap extended across the shaft of the load lock.
In a highly preferred embodiment, the shelf-like supporting surface has a plurality of openings each extending from the front edge to at least a point generally intermediate the front and rear edges. The load lock rack is then adapted to support a plurality of load locks inasmuch as each of the openings can receive the shaft of an individual one of the load locks. It is also advantageous for the upwardly extending mounting plate to be disposed generally perpendicular to the shelf-like supporting surface. However, in a most highly preferred embodiment, the upwardly extending mounting plate is disposed at an acute angle to the shelf-like supporting surface, i.e., an angle which is less than 90°.
When a plurality of openings is provided, the openings in the shelf-like supporting surface preferably each include a neck portion, wider than the diameter of a load lock shaft, which extends from the front edge toward the rear edge of the shelf-like supporting surface. With this arrangement, the neck portions of the openings each advantageously extend to a circular-shaped enlarged central opening portion disposed at a point intermediate the front edge and the rear edge of the shelf-like supporting surface. Also, when a plurality of openings is provided, the upwardly extending lip along the front edge of the shelf-like supporting surface preferably comprises a plurality of generally vertical lip portions extending from and between the neck portions of the openings to permit the shafts of load locks to pass therethrough.
In another respect, the present invention is directed to a load lock rack kit for use with a semi-trailer having a floor, a roof, and a side wall extending substantially from the floor to the roof, and the kit comprises a load lock rack and a pair of tie down fittings. The load lock rack includes a generally planar shelf-like supporting surface and means for mounting the shelf-like supporting surface with the rear edge adjacent a side wall of the semi-trailer. It also includes means for maintaining the load lock on the load lock rack during transport of the semi-trailer. The tie down fittings each include a flange to be mounted in contact with the surface of the side wall of the semi-trailer and a body portion
Gordon Stephen T.
Marshall O'Toole Gerstein Murray & Borun
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