Land vehicles: bodies and tops – Bodies – Enclosed compartment
Reexamination Certificate
2000-01-21
2001-06-19
Pape, Joseph D. (Department: 3612)
Land vehicles: bodies and tops
Bodies
Enclosed compartment
C410S130000, C410S131000, C410S135000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06247740
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates, generally, to portable partitions and, more particularly, to portable insulating partitions positionable along the length of refrigerated truck trailers to partition and insulate the trailers.
To preserve the quality and character of refrigerated goods, such as fresh or frozen food products, during transportation, truck trailers are equipped with refrigeration units or other means for cooling the air in the trailers. If these perishable goods are allowed to warm they can become contaminated with bacteria or mold and be damaged during refreezing. When possible, once the trailer doors are closed, they remain closed until the goods are unloaded, and thus, the trailer's refrigeration system does not work extra to compensate for the loss of cooled air which occurs when the trailer doors are opened. Therefore, when a trailer is fully loaded at a single loading site, then transported to an unloading site where it is fully unloaded, it is usually easy to maintain a sufficiently cool temperature.
Frequently however, a single refrigerated trailer may contain goods which are loaded at separate sites and/or for which are intended to be unloaded at separate sites. If, for example, a single truck is used to deliver refrigerated cargo to a number of purchasers, the typical practice is to load the trailer such that the last load to be delivered is loaded first at the front of the trailer. Succeeding loads can be stacked thereafter in the reverse order in which they are to be delivered. As delivery proceeds, the truck trailer becomes partially emptied. Thus, the refrigeration unit is now cooling the remaining cargo and the empty portion of the trailer as well. Each time the trailer doors are opened and cargo is removed, air cooled by the refrigeration system is lost and warmer air replaces it. The warmer air must then be cooled in order to protect the remaining cargo, thereby increasing transportation costs.
To efficiently maintain the desired temperature, trailers have been provided with movable partitions or bulkheads, which can be repositioned along the length of the trailer. In this manner, the partitions are used to close off portions of the trailers which still retain goods. However, these partitions obstruct and slow the loading process. To minimize obstruction, the partitions have been designed to swing upwardly to a stored position adjacent to the ceiling. This stored position against the ceiling is especially convenient for loading the trailer with a forklift. Other known partitions swing relative to a vertical axis leaving door-like openings between the partitions and the wall. Such door-type partitions are especially suited for loading trailers by hand with dollies. However, no previously available partition is capable of both swinging up to the ceiling and opening like a door.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
There is, therefore, provided in the practice of the invention a novel double axis hinge assembly for use in trucks, which assembly allows a partition to swing up to the ceiling or to pivot horizontally, in the manner of a conventional door, for convenient loading of a freight vehicle by both hand and forklift. The double axis hinge assembly includes a support surface mounting member and a hinge shaft pivotally coupled with the mounting member. The hinge shaft pivots about a first, vertical axis to permit the partition to open like a door. A hinge pipe receives the hinge shaft therein to pivotally couple the hinge pipe and the shaft, and the hinge pipe pivots about a second, horizontal axis, permitting upward swinging of the partition.
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an improved wall divider system, which allows convenient loading by hand and by forklift.
In furtherance of this object, the invention is, briefly, a double axis hinge assembly in which the first and second axes define a generally vertical plane perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the freight vehicle when the partition is in the closed position. A hinge bracket is attached to the mounting member, and the hinge shaft is coupled to the mounting member by the hinge bracket and a hinge pin. Track wheels are preferably provided on the mounting member to permit the hinge assembly to move along a track, and a partition mounting bracket is attached to the hinge pipe. The partition mounting bracket is used to secure a partition on the hinge assembly. A coupler bolt is slidably received in the hinge pipe opposite the hinge shaft. The coupler bolt slides between extended and retracted positions to selectively couple and decouple, respectively, the hinge assembly with another hinge assembly.
It is further contemplated in the practice of the invention that the double axis hinge is used in a wall divider system, which system includes at least one track wheel rotatably received in a track mounting member mounted in a freight vehicle or other large, storage enclosure. The hinge is joined with the track wheel for moving the hinge and a partition attached to the hinge along the track mounting member, along at least a portion of the length of the freight vehicle.
The invention is further, briefly, a truck wall divider system in which a second hinge and partition are joined with the first hinge and partition by a coupler bolt. The hinges operate to pivot the respective partitions about a first axis from a vehicle loaded position, in which the height axis is substantially vertical and the width axis is substantially perpendicular to a freight vehicle longitudinal axis, to a forklift loading position. In the forklift loading position the height axis is substantially horizontal and parallel to the longitudinal axis of the truck and the width axis is substantially perpendicular to the freight vehicle longitudinal axis. The hinges are also operative to pivot the partition about a second axis from the loaded position to a hand loading position, in which the height axis is substantially vertical and the width axis is non-perpendicular to the freight vehicle longitudinal axis. A lift support assembly having a pull rope, hook, and pulley, removably hooks onto the partition to hold it in the forklift loading position.
It is still further contemplated in the practice of the invention that the wall divider system is incorporated in a freight vehicle used to transport products. The freight vehicle has a body including a floor, ceiling, and opposed side walls. A plurality of vehicle wheels support the vehicle body above the ground for movement over the ground. Two of the track mounting members are mounted on the opposed side walls adjacent the ceiling of the freight vehicle, and two hinge assemblies, with attached partitions are movably mounted on the tracks.
These and other goals and advantages of the invention will be in part apparent and in part pointed out herein below.
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The Loadmaker brochure, 1999.
Blackwell Sanders Peper Martin, LLP.
Pape Joseph D.
R.O.M. Corporation
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