US3896741A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Freight carrying device
Assignee: Evans Products Co
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Filing: 1973-07-06
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Granted: 1975-07-29
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Expires: 1993-07-06
Abstract
Abstract A freight carrying railway car embodying a plurality of doors mounted for pivotal movement about a horizontally disposed axis from an open, loading position to a closed, cargo carrying position. In the open position, the doors serve as ramps onto which one or more motor vehicles may be driven. As the doors are pivoted to their closed position the motor vehicles become suspended upon the doors. A locking arrangement is provided at the top and side of the doors for insuring that they are locked. Two different types of hold-downs are disclosed for holding the motor vehicles in position upon the closed doors. One of these hold-downs is manually operated and is disposed so that the doors cannot be closed unless the hold-down is in its locked position. The other embodiment of hold-down is automatically movable to its locked position when the door is closed.
Inventors
- 👤 Harvey W Chapman
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 08:12
CPC Classifications
B; B61; B61D; B61D47/00; B61D47/005; B60; B60P; B60P3/00; B60P3/06; B60P3/07
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
195 words
A freight carrying door pivotally supported about a horizontally disposed axis between a loading position in which said door forms a loading ramp onto which an automobile may be driven and a load carrying position in which the transported automobile is oriented in a substantially vertical position, a fixed member affixed to said door and adapted to cooperate with a cooperating member on the automobile for supporting the automobile upon said door when said door is in its load carrying position, hold-down means supported by said door for movement between a disengaged position in which an automobile may be driven onto or off of said door and an engaged position in which said hold-down means cooperates with said fixed member for precluding disengagement of said automobile from said fixed member, and means responsive to movement of said door for moving said hold-down means automatically from its disengaged position to its engaged position upon movement of said door from its loading position to its load carrying position and for automatically moving said hold-down means from its engaged position to its disengaged position upon movement of said door from its load carrying position to its loading position.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
195 words
A freight carrying door pivotally supported about a horizontally disposed axis between a loading position in which said door forms a loading ramp onto which an automobile may be driven and a load carrying position in which the transported automobile is oriented in a substantially vertical position, a fixed member affixed to said door and adapted to cooperate with a cooperating member on the automobile for supporting the automobile upon said door when said door is in its load carrying position, hold-down means supported by said door for movement between a disengaged position in which an automobile may be driven onto or off of said door and an engaged position in which said hold-down means cooperates with said fixed member for precluding disengagement of said automobile from said fixed member, and means responsive to movement of said door for moving said hold-down means automatically from its disengaged position to its engaged position upon movement of said door from its loading position to its load carrying position and for automatically moving said hold-down means from its engaged position to its disengaged position upon movement of said door from its load carrying position to its loading position.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
39 words
A freight carrying device as set forth in claim 1 wherein the last named means including a link pivotally connected at one end to a pivot point affixed relative to the pivot axis of the door but offset therefrom.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
140 words
A closure construction comprised of a closure member, means supporting said closure member for pivotal movement about a pivot axis between an opened position and a closed position, first latching means at the edge of said closure member remote from its pivot axis, saId first latching means movable between a latched position and a released position, means for moving said latching means between its positions, second latching means at an edge of said closure member angularly disposed relative to the first mentioned edge, said second latching means being movable between a latching position and a released position, means for moving said second latching means between its positions, and means for precluding movement of said second latching means from its released position to its latched position until said first latching means is moved from its released position to its latched position.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
140 words
A closure construction comprised of a closure member, means supporting said closure member for pivotal movement about a pivot axis between an opened position and a closed position, first latching means at the edge of said closure member remote from its pivot axis, saId first latching means movable between a latched position and a released position, means for moving said latching means between its positions, second latching means at an edge of said closure member angularly disposed relative to the first mentioned edge, said second latching means being movable between a latching position and a released position, means for moving said second latching means between its positions, and means for precluding movement of said second latching means from its released position to its latched position until said first latching means is moved from its released position to its latched position.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
96 words
A freight carrying device comprising a load carrying member movable between a loading position and a load carrying position, hold-down means for affixing a cargo to said load carrying member, said hold-down means being movable between a disengaged position in which cargo may be removed from or placed upon said load carrying member and an engaged position in which cargo is affixed relative to said load carrying member, and means for precluding movement of said load carrying member from said loading position into said load carrying position until said hold-down means is in its engaged position.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
96 words
A freight carrying device comprising a load carrying member movable between a loading position and a load carrying position, hold-down means for affixing a cargo to said load carrying member, said hold-down means being movable between a disengaged position in which cargo may be removed from or placed upon said load carrying member and an engaged position in which cargo is affixed relative to said load carrying member, and means for precluding movement of said load carrying member from said loading position into said load carrying position until said hold-down means is in its engaged position.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
83 words
A freight carrying device as set forth in claim 4 further including handle means operatively connected to a said hold-down means for moving said hold-down means between its positions, said handle means being positioned to protrude beyond the periphery of the load carrying member when said hold-down means is in its disengaged position for providing the means for precluding movement of said load carrying member from its loading position into its load carrying position until the hold-down means is in its engaged position.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
22 words
A freight carrying device as set forth in claim 4 wherein the load carrying member comprises a door supported for pivotal movement.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
83 words
A freight carrying device as set forth in claim 6 further including handle means operatively connected to a said hold-down means for moving said hold-down means between its positions, said handle means being positioned to protrude beyond the periphery of the load carrying member when said hold-down means is in its disengaged position for providing the means for precluding movement of said load carrying member from its loading position into its load carrying position until the hold-down means is in its engaged position.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
52 words
A freight carrying device as set forth in claim 6 wherein the door is pivotal about a horizontally disposed axis and forms a loading ramp in its loading position onto which motor vehicles may be driven for transit in a vertically disposed position when said door is in its load carrying position.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
28 words
A freight carrying device as set forth in claim 8 further including hooks affixed to the door and cooperating with the hold-down means for supporting the motor vehicle.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
44 words
A freight carrying device as set forth in claim 8 further including stop means affixed to the load carrying member and juxtaposed to the hold-down means when the hold-down means is in its engaged position for absorbing vertical loads applied to said hold-down means.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-07-28 | 1979-01-27 | 1979-07-29 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-07-28 | 1983-01-27 | 1983-07-29 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-07-28 | 1987-01-27 | 1987-07-29 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |