US3776400A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Trailer construction
Assignee: Fruehauf Corp
•
Filing: 1972-06-12
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Granted: 1973-12-04
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Expires: 1992-06-12
Abstract
Abstract A trailer construction comprising a rear floor overlying and attached to the rear wheel bogie and a front floor, at least a portion of which is disposed for over-the-road hauling at a level vertically below the level of the rear floor to provide cargo space below the rear floor and forward of the bogie. The two floors are mounted on the trailer such that when the trailer is to be loaded or unloaded, the front floor portion may be elevated relative to the rear floor to cause the two floors to be brought into alignment and thereby provide a continuous interior floor surface over which fork lift trucks or other cargo handling equipment can be operated to load and unload cargo.
Inventors
- 👤 R Schwartz
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 23:06
CPC Classifications
B; B62; B62D; B62D53/00; B62D53/04; B62D53/06; B62D53/061; B62D53/062; B62D33/00; B62D33/04; B62D33/042
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 20
Claim 1
Independent Claim
193 words
In a trailer or semi-trailer having a cargo-carrying body and a rear wheel bogie supporting the rear of the body, the combination comprising a generally planar front floor and a generally planar rear floor, said rear floor being disposed vertically above said bogie and terminating in a transverse forward edge, said front floor having at least a portion thereof disposed for over-the-road hauling at a level vertically below the level of said rear floor and terminating in a transverse rear edge at a level vertically below the level of the transverse forward edge of the rear floor to provide cargo space below the level of the rear floor and forward of the bogie during over-theroad hauling and means for mounting the two floors on the body such that one of the two floors may be bodily moved relative to the other floor to cause the transverse rear edge of the front floor to be brought into alignment with the transverse forward edge of the rear floor to thereby provide a continuous transition between the two floors whereby mechanized cargo handling equipment may be operated over the two floors for unloading and loading cargo.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
193 words
In a trailer or semi-trailer having a cargo-carrying body and a rear wheel bogie supporting the rear of the body, the combination comprising a generally planar front floor and a generally planar rear floor, said rear floor being disposed vertically above said bogie and terminating in a transverse forward edge, said front floor having at least a portion thereof disposed for over-the-road hauling at a level vertically below the level of said rear floor and terminating in a transverse rear edge at a level vertically below the level of the transverse forward edge of the rear floor to provide cargo space below the level of the rear floor and forward of the bogie during over-theroad hauling and means for mounting the two floors on the body such that one of the two floors may be bodily moved relative to the other floor to cause the transverse rear edge of the front floor to be brought into alignment with the transverse forward edge of the rear floor to thereby provide a continuous transition between the two floors whereby mechanized cargo handling equipment may be operated over the two floors for unloading and loading cargo.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
32 words
The combination of claim 1 wherein the rear floor is mounted on the bogie, and the rear floor and the bogie are bodily movable as a unit relative to the front floor.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
19 words
The combination of claim 2 wherein the rear floor and the bogie are movable in a generally vertical direction.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
23 words
The combination of claim 1 wherein the rear floor lies in a generally horizontal plane when the trailer is arranged for over-the-road hauling.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
27 words
The combination of claim 4 wherein the transverse forward edge of the rear floor is disposed longitudinally rearwardly of the transverse rear edge of the front floor.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
25 words
The combination of claim 5 wherein the transverse forward edge of the rear floor and the transverse rear edge of the front floor are complementary.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
20 words
The combination of claim 1 further including actuating means operable for moving the two floors into and out of alignment.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
14 words
The combination of claim 7 wherein the actuating means is mounted on the body.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
13 words
The combination of claim 8 wherein the actuating means comprises power cylinder means.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
79 words
The combination of claim 9 wherein the power cylinder means comprises a power cylinder having a cylinder bore, means mounting the cylinder bore on the one floor, a piston movable within the bore in response to actuation of the power cylinder, means operatively connecting the piston with the other floor such that when the piston is displaced within the cylinder bore in response to actuation of the cylinder, the one floor is bodily moved relative to the other floor.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
13 words
The combination of claim 10 wherein the one floor is the front floor.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
20 words
The combination of claim 11 wherein the cylinder bore is mounted adjacent the transverse rear edge of the front floor.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
13 words
The combination of claim 12 wherein the cylinder bore is generally vertically mounted.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
17 words
The combination of claim 1 further including means for locking the two floors together for over-the-road operation.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
172 words
In a trailer or semi-trailer having a generally closed body comprising a top wall and a pair of transversely spaced side walls, said walls extending from the front to the rear of the trailer, the combination comprising a generally planar front floor extending from the front of the trailer to a location spaced forwardly of the rear of the trailer to thereby define an opening in the trailer floor, a rear floor and wheel bogie unit disposed within said opening, said unit comprising a rear wheel bogie and a generally planar rear floor overlying the bogie, and means for mounting the unit on the body such that the unit is movable into and out of the opening between an over-the-road operating position wherein the rear floor is disposed at a level vertically above at least a portion of the front floor and a load/unload position wherein the rear floor is substantially aligned with the front floor to thereby provide a continuous floor surface over which mechanized cargo handling equipment may be operated.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
172 words
In a trailer or semi-trailer having a generally closed body comprising a top wall and a pair of transversely spaced side walls, said walls extending from the front to the rear of the trailer, the combination comprising a generally planar front floor extending from the front of the trailer to a location spaced forwardly of the rear of the trailer to thereby define an opening in the trailer floor, a rear floor and wheel bogie unit disposed within said opening, said unit comprising a rear wheel bogie and a generally planar rear floor overlying the bogie, and means for mounting the unit on the body such that the unit is movable into and out of the opening between an over-the-road operating position wherein the rear floor is disposed at a level vertically above at least a portion of the front floor and a load/unload position wherein the rear floor is substantially aligned with the front floor to thereby provide a continuous floor surface over which mechanized cargo handling equipment may be operated.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
42 words
The combination of claim 15 wherein the front floor slopes downwardly in the rearward direction and terminates in a transverse rear edge disposed at a level vertically below the level of the rear floor when the trailer is arranged for over-the-road hauling.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
43 words
The combination of claim 16 wherein the rear floor is disposed in a generally horizontal plane when the trailer is arranged for over-the-road hauling and wherein the unit is mounted on the body for generally vertical movement into and out of the opening.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
33 words
The combination of claim 17 including actuating means on the trailer operatively connecting the front floor and the rear floor for causing the unit to be bodily displaced relative to the front floor.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US2835502A
Cited
US3661282A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-12-03 | 1977-06-04 | 1977-12-04 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-12-03 | 1981-06-04 | 1981-12-04 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-12-03 | 1985-06-04 | 1985-12-04 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |