Land vehicles: bodies and tops – Bodies – Auxiliary article compartments
Reexamination Certificate
2000-03-21
2001-02-20
Pape, Joseph D. (Department: 3612)
Land vehicles: bodies and tops
Bodies
Auxiliary article compartments
C296S037100, C296S003000, C211S169000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06189945
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND
This version of the invention is concerned with the field of rack assemblies for vans. More specifically, this version of the invention is concerned with rack assemblies for vans that are pivotally or rotatably mounted within the rear portion of vans, said rack assemblies possessing the ability to be pivoted or rotated from the stowed or closed position during transportation and storage to the opened, working position at the rear opening of a van for use at a job site.
PRIOR ART
Motor vehicle vans that are used for commercial purposes frequently provide a dual function in that said vans transport the company owner or employee to the job site, along with the tools, equipment, and supplies that the company owner or employee needs in order to perform the duties associated with the particular trade or profession. These professions normally consist of electrical, mechanical, general construction, surveying, or associated trades in which it is necessary to have on-site access to a wide variety of specialized tools, equipment, and supplies. In most cases, the smaller and more numerous pieces of equipment and supplies, such as wire, various fasteners and conduits are stored in various storage compartments, boxes, and drawer boxes that are arranged and secured within the rear of the motor vehicle van in various configurations. Some of these storage devices may be secured to the sidewalls in the rear of a van or may be temporarily placed on the floor of said van. Some of these storage configurations take advantage of the shape and inner dimensions of the rear of the van so that the most efficient use of carrying space is ensured. As a result, it is common for a large variety and number of equipment and supplies to be stored within the relatively confined space of the rear of a motor vehicle van.
Despite the choice of storage devices and storage configurations, access to a particular storage entity, such as a drawer, box, or case is frequently hampered or obstructed by the relatively confined dimensions of the rear of a van and by the tendency of hand-held tools and other pieces of equipment to be stowed or placed over or in front of said drawers, boxes, or other storage devices, thereby blocking access. To gain access to these storage devices in such conditions, a worker must enter the rear of the van from the front or from the rear doors and walk hunched over or on the knees because of the limited height within the rear of the van to find and access a particular storage device and exit the rear of the van in the same manner. Assuming these positions repeatedly to access the storage devices within the rear of a van can impose health and safety risks, such as stress on the upper and lower back muscles and bumping and lacerating the head, arms, and legs, especially knees and hands.
What is needed then to avoid these injuries while allowing easy access to stowed equipment and supplies is the provision of a storage device or rack assembly that is fitted with a plurality of individual storage or holding bins, boxes, compartments, or containers, said device or assembly locked or fixed in place during transport to a job site and opened or otherwise made available for easy access to the individual storage containers at the entrance to the rear of the van. In this manner, the worker can access the individual pieces of equipment or supplies while standing upright on the same ground surface at that upon which the van rests. The individual storage containers can then be accessed from a natural, upright position, thereby obviating the need to walk hunched over, squat, or kneel within the rear of the van and risk injury.
DISCUSSION OF THE PRIOR ART
The existence of a storage device or rack assembly designed to be maintained within the rear of a van is unknown at the present time. For example, numerous designs for rack assemblies and cargo racks have been provided in the prior art. Even though these designs may be suitable for the specific individual purposes to which they address, they would not be suitable for the purposes of the present version of the invention. For instance:
U.S. Pat. No. 4,092,050, issued to Sobeck on May 30, 1978;
U.S. Pat. No. 4,221,425, issued to Welle et al. on Sep. 9, 1980;
U.S. Pat. No. 4,869,628, issued to Fletcher on Sep. 26, 1989; and
U.S. Pat. No. 5,127,697, issued to St. Marie on Jul. 7, 1992.
Sobeck discloses a rack assembly for a land vehicle that is designed primarily for crop harvesting, specifically hauling large round bales of hay, stray, and the like. This device, which it to be secured to a land vehicle chassis of the type commonly found in agricultural enterprises, consists of a pair of load-carrying racks pivotally mounted upon said land vehicle. Said racks are designed to transport and unload as needed various agricultural products as described previously.
A van attachment is disclosed by Welle et al. that is used primarily as a means to provide an attachment for a van-type motor vehicle. Said attachment adapts a van for outdoor excursions and functions by attaching to the rear aperture of a van to provide an overhead shelter to the rear of the van and to accommodate camping provisions and facilities.
Fletcher teaches a truck cargo rack that is designed primarily to work within the bed and sidewalls of pickup trucks and other trucks fitted with carrying beds. The rack functions by carrying and holding in place a fifty five gallon drum in a horizontal position so as to lower its center of gravity and thus more safely transport it.
St. Marie discloses an inconspicuous expandable van compartment device, which is comprised of a platform that can be cantilevered out from the vehicle body on an interlocking rail and bearing system. The platform can be mechanized using an electric motor and various gear drive systems and can be enclosed using side walls, a back wall, and a roof and thereby made weatherproof for use in combination with a camper vehicle.
As illustrated by the background art, efforts are continuously being made in an attempt to develop devices to improve or expand the carrying capacity of vans and trucks. No prior effort, however, provides the benefits attendant with the present invention. As such, it may be appreciated that there is a continuing need for a new and improved rack assembly for vans that is rotatably or pivotally secured to the interior of the rear of a van so that said rack can be closed in an unobtrusive position and maintained in an open position to allow easy access to items stored on the rack assembly. In these respects, the present version of the invention substantially departs from the conventional concepts and designs of the prior art, and in so doing provides an apparatus that substantially fulfills this need. Additionally, the prior patents and commercial techniques do not suggest the present inventive combination of component elements arranged and configured as disclosed herein.
The present invention achieves its intended purposes, objects, and advantages through a new, useful and unobvious combination of method steps and component elements, with the use of a minimum number of functioning parts, at a reasonable cost to manufacture, and by employing only readily available materials.
SUMMARY
The present version of the invention, which will be described in greater detail hereinafter, relates to the field of rack assemblies for vans. More specifically, this version of the invention is concerned with rack assemblies for vans that are pivotally or rotatably mounted within the rear portion of vans, said rack assemblies possessing the ability to be pivoted or rotated from the stowed or closed position during transportation and storage to the opened, working position at the rear opening of a van for use at a job site. My version of the invention overcomes all of the shortcomings listed previously, in addition to novel aspects that will be described in detail hereinafter.
Described briefly, according to a typical embodiment, the invention presents a rack assembly for motor vehicle vans that provides the means to store variou
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