Material or article handling – Self-loading or unloading vehicles – Conveyor
Reexamination Certificate
2002-10-07
2004-06-01
Ridley, Richard (Department: 3651)
Material or article handling
Self-loading or unloading vehicles
Conveyor
C296S037600
Reexamination Certificate
active
06742979
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a retractable cargo box for use in connection with baggage compartments located in buses, recreational vehicles, aircraft, trains, trucks, and other types of vehicles and equipment. The retractable cargo bin has particular utility in connection with minimizing the amount of strain placed on the body, especially the back and shoulders, when loading and unloading baggage from these compartments.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Improper lifting of heavy cargo can cause medical problems such as back and neck injuries. Large storage compartments in buses, planes, trains, and other vehicles tend to be long and narrow, prohibiting workers from being able to stand in the proper position to stow or retrieve baggage and other cargo. Retractable cargo bins are desirable for providing easy access to baggage especially that stored in the back of the storage compartment. In this way, unnecessary loads on one's back and legs due to heavy lifting at unusual angles can be avoided. In addition to alleviating undue stress on an individual's body while stowing and retrieving baggage, cargo bins can help cargo maintain its original placement while in transit, reducing the risk of damage to both the cargo and the vehicle due to shifting cargo.
The use of retractable cargo bins is known in the prior art. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,022,181 to Niclas E. Wolterstorff and Bruce E. Leonard discloses a toploading and retractable passenger bus cargo handling system. However, the Wolterstorff, et al. '181 patent does not provide either a rear or front wall for the cargo system, which could lead to items falling from or inadvertently being pushed off the back end of the device during storage and retrieval of cargo. Additionally, an item that was accidentally pushed off the back end of the device while cargo was being stowed could be caught between the cargo box and the wall of the bus when the cargo box is fully inserted into the bus, leading to damaged luggage as well as broken or damaged items within the luggage.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,564,767 to John E. Strepek discloses a motorized extendable drawer apparatus for a vehicle. However, the Strepek, et al. '767 patent does not provide a wall on the rearward end of the cargo box, which could lead to baggage shifting or falling off when the device is pulled out from the vehicle. Furthermore, the Strepek, et al.'767 device is motorized, leading to a more complex manufacturing process and a higher cost.
Similarly, U.S. Pat. No. 4,681,360 to Richard E. Peters and Larry J. Parlette discloses a combination access box and bed liner for vehicles. However, the Peters, et al. '360 patent does not provide a wall on the rearward end of the cargo box, which could lead to baggage shifting or falling off when the device is extended from the vehicle.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,095,585 to Stig Pilhall discloses a sliding cargo floor for use in larger vehicles such as station wagons, vans, and sports utility vehicles. However, the Pilhall '585 patent does not provide any walls to retain the cargo in its original position, which could lead to possible injury or damage to stored items due to cargo falling off the device once it is extended from the vehicle. Additionally the Pilhall '585 device does not provide a locking mechanism for the cargo floor, thus it could inadvertently slide out of the vehicle, once again causing injury or damage to cargo, especially if the vehicle were not parked on a flat surface.
Likewise, U.S. Pat. No. 5,931,632 to Craig Dongilli and Jeanette Dongilli discloses a slideable and removable truck bed multi-compartment system. While the Dongilli, et al. '632 patent provides a sliding mechanism for the compartment, it does not provide a means for opening the end of the compartment, requiring an individual to lift cargo up and over the edges of the compartment. This could lead to additional strain on a worker lifting heavy bags and boxes on a continuous basis. Additionally, the Dongilli, et al. '632 device does not provide a locking mechanism for holding the compartment in place while the vehicle is moving, instead relying on the tailgate of the truck to keep the unit for sliding. When the storage hatch for a bus was opened, the compartment might slide forward, injuring a worker or bystander.
U.S. Pat. No. Des. 425,825 to Thomas Allan Shambeau and Loren Fredrick Hansen discloses the ornamental design for a cargo box. Although, the Shambeau, et al. '825 patent has four sides to maintain the placement of any baggage it contains, the Shambeau, et al. '825 makes no provision for the cargo box to be retractable. Therefore, it would still require a worker to reach to the back of the compartment and lift heavy pieces at an awkward angle, placing his back and shoulder under an unnatural amount of strain.
Lastly, U.S. Pat. No. 5,125,710 to Angelo Gianelo discloses an under-platform drawer for trucks that is mounted under the truck bed. However, the Gianelo '710 patent would not be useful for buses and other vehicles that do not have sufficient space under the body of the vehicle for such a device. Additionally, since the Gianelo '710 device is suspended from a pair of guide rails, it would be impractical to load large amounts of baggage in it since it would be under an undue amount of stress.
While the above-described devices fulfill their respective, particular objectives and requirements, the aforementioned patents do not describe a retractable cargo box that allows safe, easy, and convenient storage and retrieval of all baggage stored in a luggage compartment. The Wolterstorff, et al. '181, Strepek, et al. '767, Peters, et al. '360, and Pilhall '585 patents each lack a four wall system for holding the cargo. The Wolterstorff, et al. '181 patent does not provide either a rear or front wall for the cargo system, leading to the possibility that an item could be damaged if it fell or was pushed off the device during storage and retrieval of cargo. Additionally, an item that was accidentally pushed off the back end of the Wolterstorff, et al. '181 device while cargo was being stowed could be caught between the cargo box and the wall of the bus when the cargo box was fully inserted into the bus, leading to damaged luggage as well as broken or damaged items within the luggage. The Strepek, et al. '767 and the Peters, et al. '3.60 patents do not provide a wall on the rearward end of the cargo box, which could lead to baggage shifting or falling when the device is pulled out from the vehicle. The Pilhall '585 patent does not provide any walls to retain the cargo in its original position, which could lead to possible injury or damage to stored items due to cargo falling off the device once it is extended out of the vehicle. Neither the Pilhall '585 nor the Dongilli, et al. '632 device provides a locking mechanism for the cargo floor, thus it could inadvertently slide out of the vehicle, once again causing injury or damage to cargo, especially if the vehicle were not parked on a flat surface. Furthermore, the Dongilli, et al. '632 patent does not provide a means for opening the end of the compartment, requiring an individual to lift cargo up and over the edges of the compartment. This could lead to additional strain on a worker lifting heavy bags and boxes on a continuous basis. Additionally, the Strepek, et al. '767 device is motorized, leading to a more complex manufacturing process and a higher cost. The Shambeau, et al. '825 makes no provision for the cargo box to be retractable; therefore, it would still require a worker to reach to the back of the compartment and lift heavy pieces at an awkward angle, placing his back and shoulder under an unnatural amount of strain. Finally, the Gianelo '710 patent would not be useful for buses and other vehicles that do not have sufficient space under the body of the vehicle for such a device, especially because the de
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