US3786947A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Movable shelf apparatus
Assignee: Coca-Cola Co
•
Filing: 1972-06-12
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Granted: 1974-01-22
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Expires: 1992-06-12
Abstract
Abstract A movable shelf apparatus is described which is capable of being adjustably positioned within a bay of a truck or trailer body for article separation purposes and for supporting, handling, and transporting stacked articles during transit from manufacturing points to sales points. The movable shelf apparatus includes a shelf that is supported within the bay by four roller chains that are recessed within the divider bay walls of the truck or trailer body. The shelf is inclined towards the center of the truck or trailer body to minimize slippage of the articles during transit. The roller chains are driven by a rachet and gear arrangement that is positioned below the compartment floor line of the truck or trailer body so as not to interfere with the interior of the bays and any forklift pallet interface.
Inventors
- 👤 J Craft
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 02:52
CPC Classifications
B; B60; B60P; B60P3/00; B60P3/055
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
183 words
A vehicle having an A-frame body and a plurality of bay portions on opposite sides of the longitudinal center of said vehicle for the transportation of stacked articles on pallet members within the bay portions, each bay portion including a back bay wall and a pair of spaced divider walls shelf means provided in each bay portion of the vehicle so as to divide the bay into adjustable proportions and wherein different sizes of stacked articles may be supported, handled and transported by said shelf means, said shelf means being maintained during its vertical movement in a relative position within the bay of said A-frame body vehicle so as to be parallel to the bay compartment floor and perpendicular to the back bay wall, said shelf means being inclined towards the center of the vehicle body to minimize slippage of articles during transit, and elevating means provided in association with the bay divider walls for permanently positioning the shelf means at any location during its vertical movement in the bay portion, and activating means provided for applying a torque to the elevating means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
183 words
A vehicle having an A-frame body and a plurality of bay portions on opposite sides of the longitudinal center of said vehicle for the transportation of stacked articles on pallet members within the bay portions, each bay portion including a back bay wall and a pair of spaced divider walls shelf means provided in each bay portion of the vehicle so as to divide the bay into adjustable proportions and wherein different sizes of stacked articles may be supported, handled and transported by said shelf means, said shelf means being maintained during its vertical movement in a relative position within the bay of said A-frame body vehicle so as to be parallel to the bay compartment floor and perpendicular to the back bay wall, said shelf means being inclined towards the center of the vehicle body to minimize slippage of articles during transit, and elevating means provided in association with the bay divider walls for permanently positioning the shelf means at any location during its vertical movement in the bay portion, and activating means provided for applying a torque to the elevating means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
45 words
A vehicle as defined in claim 1, wherein independent elevating means and activating means is associated with each shelf means so as to enable each bay to be divided into adjustable proportions for article separation purposes upon the independent operation of each respective activating means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
23 words
A vehicle, as defined in claim 14, wherein the activating means comprises a motor means for applying the torque to the elevating means.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
41 words
A vehicle, as defined in claim 1, wherein the elevating means comprises an adjustable support means on the bay divider walls and attached to opposite sides of the shelf and wherein the activating means are positioned beneath the bay compartment floors.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
96 words
A vehicle as defined in claim 4, wherein the adjustable support means comprises a pair of chains, each chain being connected to the shelf by an attaching link and bracket member, said chains forming a continuous loop between upper and lower corresponding sprocket members that are in turn interconnected through the activating means for vertical movement of the shelf, all of said chains and sprocket members being recessed into the bay divider walls so as not to interfere or otherwise obstruct the expeditious loading and unloading of the stacked articles on pallets by a pallet forklift.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
66 words
A vehicle as defined in claim 5, wherein: A pair of parallel cross shafts are interconnected to the chains through the sprocket members, and wherein the cross shafts are connected together by a drive shaft which is located at a point between the two ends of each cross shaft and which is connected to the cross shafts by virtue of a worm and worm gear mechanism.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
55 words
A vehicle as defined in claim 6, wherein a crank handle means are connected to the drive shaft for mechanically activating the elevating means, and further wherein a ratchet shaft release mechanism is associated with a ratchet gear on the drive shaft so as to only allow rotation of the drive shaft in one direction.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
68 words
A vehicle as defined in claim 4, wherein the adjustable support means comprises four chains, each chain being connected to one of the four respective corners of the shelf means by an attaching link and bracket member, said chains forming four continuous loops between upper and lower corresponding sprocket members that are in turn interconnected through the activating mean for vertical movement of the shelf within said bay.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
66 words
A vehicle as defined in claim 18, wherein: a pair of parallel cross shafts are interconnected to the chains through the sprocket members, and wherein the cross shafts are connected together by a drive shaft which is located at a point between the tWo ends of each cross shaft and which is connected to the cross shafts by virtue of a worm and worm gear mechanism.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
182 words
A vehicle having a plurality of bay portions on opposite sides of the longitudinal center of said vehicle for the transportation of stacked articles on pallet members within the bay portions, each bay portion including a back bay wall and a pair of spaced divider walls shelf means provided in each bay portion of the vehicle so as to divide the bay into adjustable proportions and wherein different sizes of stacked articles may be supported, handled and transported by said shelf means, said shelf means being maintained during its vertical movement in a relative position within the bay of said vehicle between the bay divider walls so as to be parallel to the bay compartment floor and perpendicular to the bay divider walls and back bay wall, said back bay wall being inclined towards the longitudinal center of the vehicle body, and elevating means provided in association with the bay divider walls for permanently positioning the shelf means at any desired location during its vertical movement in the bay portion, and activating means provided for applying a torque to the elevating means.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
182 words
A vehicle having a plurality of bay portions on opposite sides of the longitudinal center of said vehicle for the transportation of stacked articles on pallet members within the bay portions, each bay portion including a back bay wall and a pair of spaced divider walls shelf means provided in each bay portion of the vehicle so as to divide the bay into adjustable proportions and wherein different sizes of stacked articles may be supported, handled and transported by said shelf means, said shelf means being maintained during its vertical movement in a relative position within the bay of said vehicle between the bay divider walls so as to be parallel to the bay compartment floor and perpendicular to the bay divider walls and back bay wall, said back bay wall being inclined towards the longitudinal center of the vehicle body, and elevating means provided in association with the bay divider walls for permanently positioning the shelf means at any desired location during its vertical movement in the bay portion, and activating means provided for applying a torque to the elevating means.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
97 words
A vehicle as defined in claim 10, wherein the elevating means comprises a pair of chains, each chain being connected to the shelf means by an attaching link and bracket member, said chains forming a continuous loop between upper and lower corresponding sprocket members that are in turn interconnected through the activating means for vertical movement of the shelf means, all of said chains and sprocket members being recessed into the bay divider walls so as not to interfere or otherwise obstruct the expeditious loading and unloading of the stacked articles on pallets by a pallet forklift.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-01-21 | 1977-07-23 | 1978-01-22 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-01-21 | 1981-07-23 | 1982-01-22 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-01-21 | 1985-07-23 | 1986-01-22 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |