Freight accommodation on freight carrier – Particular article accommodation – Wheeled vehicle
Reexamination Certificate
1999-12-22
2002-04-09
Gordon, Stephen T. (Department: 3612)
Freight accommodation on freight carrier
Particular article accommodation
Wheeled vehicle
C410S014000, C410S024000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06368034
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an apparatus for supporting loads for transport by a wheeled vehicle during over-the-road travel and, more particularly, to an apparatus configurable to support different types of loads on a wheeled vehicle during over-the-road travel.
Tractor-trailer combinations, commonly known as semi-trailers, are well known for transporting loads over-the-road and have been available for many years. The trailer includes an elongate box-like load supporting compartment mounted on a wheeled chassis, the wheeled chassis being connected in an articulated manner to a self-propelled tractor. One typical version of the tractor-trailer combination includes an enclosed, box-like compartment for hauling conventional loads. Another version of the tractor-trailer combination basically includes a load supporting compartment defined within a metal framework with the load being substantially open to the elements. Common examples of this version of the tractor-trailer combination are the various commercially available trailers for transporting automobiles which typically include a lower support surface for supporting one tier of automobiles and an upper support surface supported by the metal framework at a clearance above the first tier of automobiles for supporting a second tier of automobiles thereon, the upper support surface being accessible by hydraulically operated ramps which can be selectively inclined to provide a ramp for individually driving the automobiles onto the upper support surface.
Tractor-trailer combinations similar to the automobile tractor-trailer combinations have also been adapted for transport of specialized loads, such as self-propelled golf carts. Such golf cart trailers typically include an enclosed load supporting compartment and are basically configured similarly to the automobile metal framework trailers for providing the capability to load the golf carts thereon in rows and columns. However, the tractor-trailer combinations including such metal framework are not well-suited for transporting other types of loads which are commonly carried by the conventional box-like closed compartment type trailers. Thus, the versatility of the trailers adapted for transporting golf carts is limited because the trailer is not capable of hauling conventional loads when it is not being used for transporting golf carts. This limitation is particularly disadvantageous because golf carts are typically transported in one direction only such as, e.g., from the golf cart manufacturer to the buyer, and the trailer must make an empty or non-load transporting return trip instead of hauling conventional loads upon its return to its origin.
The present invention is specifically directed to a modification of the type of trailer generally described in my U.S. Pat. No. 4,966,510, entitled “Trailer for Transporting Golf arts and the Like” issued Oct. 30, 1990 which is an improvement over the prior art trailers for transporting golf carts and the like. Specifically, my U.S. Pat. No. 4,966,510 for supporting different types of loads on a wheeled vehicle during over-the-road travel includes a substantially enclosed compartment, an intermediate support shelf disposed interiorly of the compartment for relative movement therein and a control system for selectively moving the intermediate support shelf between a transport position for supporting a first plurality of golf carts and the like thereon for transport thereof and a storage position flush with the ceiling of the enclosed compartment. The support shelf extends substantially the entire length of the compartment and includes a front portion and a back portion interconnected to one another by a coupling device which permits movement of the front and back portions relative to one another. The control system includes a cable winch and a plurality of cables connected to the cable winch and to the shelf. The cable winch is operable to selectively wind and unwind the cables to effect movement of the shelf means. In use, the control system is operable to move the shelf to a loading position for loading the golf carts and the like thereon at which the front shelf portion is disposed intermediate the ceiling and the floor and generally parallel thereto, and the back shelf portion is disposed generally downwardly inclined from the front shelf portion toward the floor. Additionally, the control system is operable to move the shelf between a transport position for supporting golf carts and the like during transport thereof at which both the front and back shelf portions are disposed intermediate the ceiling and the floor and generally parallel thereto, and a storage position at which the front and back shelf portions are disposed in substantially flush relation with either the ceiling or the floor of the compartment.
My U.S. Pat. No. 4,966,510 also includes an auxiliary loading supporting structure for supporting at least one additional golf cart and the like in the clearance between the enclosed compartment and the road and includes a frame movably mounted to the over-the-road vehicle selectively movable between an inclined position for rolling the additional golf cart or the like between the road and the frame and a transport position in which the additional golf cart and the like is supported at a height sufficiently above the road for normal traveling operation of the over-the-road vehicle. In addition, pivoted ramps are provided for selective positioning to load and unload the golf cars and the like into the over-the-road vehicle.
While my U.S. Pat. No. 4,966,510 addresses many of the disadvantages of the prior art load transport apparatuses, one drawback is that the full capacity of the enclosed compartment of the trailer may not be used when hauling conventional type loads. Although the intermediate support shelf can moved to a storage position flush with the ceiling of the closed compartment when not transporting golf carts, my prior invention does not allow an operator to simultaneously use a portion of the enclosed compartment for transporting golf carts and use a remaining portion of the enclosed compartment for other purposes. Thus, an operator may not build out a portion of the trailer for hauling conventional-type loads while simultaneously transporting golf carts. Moreover, although the entire compartment is substantially empty when the intermediate shelf is moved to its storage position, the vertical capacity of entire compartment is reduced due to the space occupied by the support shelf stored adjacent to the ceiling of the compartment.
Therefore, there is a need for a tractor-trailer combination which provides for transporting golf carts in a portion of the trailer while allowing the use of the full capacity of another portion of the trailer for other purposes.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is directed to a multi-use trailer for transporting golf carts and the like in a vehicle of the type having a chassis and including a substantially enclosed compartment mounted on the vehicle chassis, an intermediate support disposed interiorly of the compartment and pivotably supported by a mounting means, and an arrangement for selectively moving the intermediate support means. The intermediate support of the multi-use trailer is specifically designed to extend across only a portion of the length of the enclosed compartment for utilizing such portion for transporting golf carts and the like, while simultaneously reserving and making available the full capacity of the remaining portion of the compartment for other uses. Because the intermediate support does not extend across the full length of the compartment, the multi-use trailer of the present invention is less costly to construct and allows the operator to utilize the fall capacity of a portion of the compartment for hauling bulk materials or conventional-type loads while simultaneously transporting golf carts, vehicles or the like to their destination, and further provides the use of substantially the full capacity of the entire co
Innovative Transportation Service, Inc.
Kennedy Covington Lobdell & Hickman LLP
LandOfFree
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