Railways – Cable rails
Reexamination Certificate
1999-03-10
2001-02-20
Stormer, Russell D. (Department: 3617)
Railways
Cable rails
C104S117000, C104S173100, C104S126000, C212S179000, C182S073000, C182S084000, C254S390000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06189455
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
(1) Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to a material transfer apparatus and in particular to a portable and readily deployable device for moving goods or personnel along a generally horizontal pathway and/or a vertical pathway.
(2) Description of the Prior Art
Movement of materials between to locations has been previously accomplished by extending a rope or cable from one location to the other, and moving the objects along the rope or cable with a pulley supported on the rope or cable. Objects have also been lifted vertically by attaching a pulley to a bar or beam that extends over the object to be lifted, and running a rope or cable through the pulley and down to the object.
Prior art devices, however, are not suitable for some conditions where the transport of objects or personnel is necessary, either because the setup of the device is too time consuming, because the device is inadequate to support the weight of the goods being transported, or because the setup or design of the device would expose the operating personnel to undue risk.
For example, during urban warfare it is desirable to transport materials between elevated openings, e.g., windows or doors, of two buildings that are spaced apart by as much as 100 yards and occupied by friendly forces. Not only must the apparatus be easy to transport into the buildings, it must also be designed to be set up quickly, and be of sufficient durability to transport the desired materials over the distance between the buildings.
Also, the personnel operating the device must not be unduly exposed to hostile fire or environmental hazards during use of the device. These requirements also apply to devices used by other organizations, such as SWAT teams, and by fire and rescue personnel.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is directed to devices for use in transporting materials between two points, and in particular to collapsible devices that can be easily carried by an individual to the area of intended use. These devices can be used for substantially horizontal transport of materials, for vertical lifting or lowering of materials, or in combination for both purposes.
One device within the scope of the invention, described herein for convenience as the “primary device,” is a portable, collapsible device for transporting materials between two generally horizontal elevated locations. This primary device may also be configured for use as a vertical transport device, or combined with a separate vertical transport device, referred to herein for convenience as the “secondary device,” so that materials can be vertically lifted to a given position and then transported along an elevated, substantially horizontal pathway, or first transported horizontally and then lowered with the second device. The term “horizontal pathway” is intended to describe a pathway within about 30° of horizontal.
The primary device and its use will be described in the context of the transportation of materials between opening, e.g., windows or doors, on the facing sides of two adjacent multi-story buildings. It will be understood after reading of the description of the invention, however, that the primary device will find uses in other situations where there is a need to transfer materials between two elevated locations. Also, while the primary device and the secondary device are described in the context of transporting materials, it will be understood that the devices can also be used to transport personnel.
The primary device finds particular utility in hostile situations, such as those encountered by military personnel or SWAT teams, where there is a need to move materials between to elevated locations under circumstances where the personnel engaging in the transport ofthe materials could be fired upon by adversaries. The device also finds utility by firefighters in the moving of materials either to or from a burning building, or another building in the immediate vicinity of the burning building. Other uses will be apparent from a reading of the description.
The primary device is comprised of a sending assembly to be positioned at a first location, and a receiving assembly to be positioned at a second location. It will become apparent that the terms “sending” and “receiving” refers to the manner of deployment of the assemblies, and that material can be transported between the assemblies in either direction.
The sending assembly is comprised of a first collapsible framework to span the opening at the first location, and a cable-carrying winch supported on the framework. The receiving assembly is comprised of a second collapsible framework to span the opening at the second location, and an attachment means on the second framework for attachment of the distal end of a cable extending from the winch on the first assembly. In addition, the apparatus includes a snatch block pulley for use in supporting material along the cable, and lines attached to the pulley for pulling the pulley in either direction. Separate containers or bags are provided for packing and transport of the sending and receiving assemblies.
In order to be suitable for its intended purposes, the above device must meet certain requirements. First, each assembly must be easily transportable by one person, since it may be necessary to man-pack each unit up several stories of a building, often under adverse conditions.
Second, each assembly must be easily and quickly assembled, since time is likely to be of the essence, and the conditions under which the device is assembled are likely to be far less than ideal. Preferably, it should be possible to assembly each unit in less than two minutes. Third, the construction of the unit must be such that a load of up to about 300 pounds can be transported between two locations that are as much as 100 feet apart. Fourth, and of critical importance, the device must be constructed so that operating personnel are not exposed to danger during use.
The frameworks of the send and receive assemblies are ideally of the same construction for economic reasons, and for interchangeability of parts. Generally, each framework is comprised of a pair of brace members for placement on either side of an opening, e.g., a window, and a crossbar spanning the opening and joining the two brace members together.
The brace member is preferably of a triangular configuration, with a central base to be positioned against the inner face of a wall on one side of an opening, and first and second hinged legs at each end of the base. Each leg includes an inner end pivotally attached adjacent one end of the base, and an outer end.
Preferably, the inner end of one leg is attached, e.g., with a releasable pin, so that the leg can be folded against the base, with the other leg attached so that the leg can be folded against the exterior of the second leg. Thus, when the brace member is folded, the base and legs are adjacent each other and parallel, thereby forming a compact unit. One or both attachment pins can be readily removable for ease of assembling the brace member.
A connector cap is used to connect the outer ends of the legs. The cap preferably includes sockets into which the distal ends of the legs are fitted, with removable pins being inserted through the socket wall and each leg to hold the leg in the socket. The crossbar is preferably slidably inserted into an opening or bore in the cap. A removable pin is also used to hold the connecting member and brace member in the desired position.
The crossbar is basically a bar that is inserted through the connector caps of each brace member. The length of the bar is preferably longer than the width of the opening to be spanned. Since the assembly is likely to be used with openings of different size, the connecting member is slidable within the opening of the caps. The crossbar may be a one-piece bar, or two or more bars that are joined together at their adjacent ends by a connector to form a bar of the desired length. A telescoping bar formed of a plurality of nesting segments may also
JTA, Inc.
Jules Frantz F.
Rhodes & Mason PLLC
Stormer Russell D.
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