US3896946A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Transportation apparatus
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1972-10-02
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Granted: 1975-07-29
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Expires: 1992-10-02
Abstract
Abstract Transportation Apparatus is disclosed herein involving a system whereby smalll self driven vehicles are carried in a transporter vehicle. A loader is movably mounted on the transporter for loading and unloading the small vehicles onto the transporter in selected storage spaces. Each small vehicle is provided with a telescoping frame for shortening the wheelbase for storage purposes and for extending the wheelbase for independent vehicle operation on surface roadways. The transporter vehicle and small self driven passenger vehicles are adapted to operate combined on, or independently use in common, traffic arteries such as highways or expressways and surface streets.
Inventors
- 👤 Robert W Forsyth
- 👤 John P Forsyth
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 04:14
CPC Classifications
B; B60; B60P; B60P3/00; B60P3/06; B60P3/07
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim
328 words
In a carrier apparatus for transportation of a plurality of passenger vehicles or the like comprising the combination of: a roadable vehicle including an elongated deck having a cab disposed on the forward end thereof and a storage compartment disposed immediately behind said cab and extending to the aft end thereof; loading means carried on the side of said deck including a pair of spaced-apart vertical members movably carried on a pair of longitudinally disposed vertically spaced-apart side rails depending from said deck; a platform pivotally carried on said vertical members; powered means for extending said platform outward so as to cantilever from said vertical members and for folding said platform so as to be adjacent said vertical members; means operatively carried beneath said deck for moving said loading means along said deck adjacent said storage compartment; means operably carried on said loading means for elevating said loading means from ground level to the level of said deck; said storage compartment includes a curb extending the full length of said storage compartment of said deck dividing said compartment into a pair of storage areas and wherein each storage area includes a plurality of laterally elongated storage spaces; said moving means includes means for aligning said loading means with a selected one of said storage spaces for accommodating transfer of a load from said loading means to said selected storage space; said load constitutes said passenger vehicle and wherein said vehicle includes means for extending and shortening its overall length of said selected storage space; said last mentioned means includes a front extendable portion of said passenger vehicle having steered wheels mounted thereon and a rear non-movable portion having a steering wheel mounted thereon; a slidable connection means operable between said steering wheel and said steered wheels allowing steering at any position of said front steered wheels; means for limiting the extension and retraction of said front portion; and said limiting means being shearable under excessive predetermined load impact.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
328 words
In a carrier apparatus for transportation of a plurality of passenger vehicles or the like comprising the combination of: a roadable vehicle including an elongated deck having a cab disposed on the forward end thereof and a storage compartment disposed immediately behind said cab and extending to the aft end thereof; loading means carried on the side of said deck including a pair of spaced-apart vertical members movably carried on a pair of longitudinally disposed vertically spaced-apart side rails depending from said deck; a platform pivotally carried on said vertical members; powered means for extending said platform outward so as to cantilever from said vertical members and for folding said platform so as to be adjacent said vertical members; means operatively carried beneath said deck for moving said loading means along said deck adjacent said storage compartment; means operably carried on said loading means for elevating said loading means from ground level to the level of said deck; said storage compartment includes a curb extending the full length of said storage compartment of said deck dividing said compartment into a pair of storage areas and wherein each storage area includes a plurality of laterally elongated storage spaces; said moving means includes means for aligning said loading means with a selected one of said storage spaces for accommodating transfer of a load from said loading means to said selected storage space; said load constitutes said passenger vehicle and wherein said vehicle includes means for extending and shortening its overall length of said selected storage space; said last mentioned means includes a front extendable portion of said passenger vehicle having steered wheels mounted thereon and a rear non-movable portion having a steering wheel mounted thereon; a slidable connection means operable between said steering wheel and said steered wheels allowing steering at any position of said front steered wheels; means for limiting the extension and retraction of said front portion; and said limiting means being shearable under excessive predetermined load impact.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
280 words
A transportation system adapted to use combined or independently in common existing highways, freeways, expressways, and surface streets comprising the combination of: a self-propelled, self-loading carrier apparatus adapted to the transportation of a plurality of variable-wheelbase passenger vehicles including the occupants thereof; said self-propelled, variable-wheelbase passenger vehicles adapted to independent operation and to conveyance with their occupants in a combined grouping on said carrier apparatus; said self-propelled, self-loading carrier apparatus comprises the combination of: a roadable vehicle including an elongated deck having an operator''s cab disposed on the forward end thereof and a storage compartment disposed immediately behind said cab and extending to the aft end of said deck; loading means carried on the side of said deck; means operatively carried beneath said deck for moving said loading means along aforesaid deck adjacent said storage compartment; and means operably carried on said loading means for elevating said loading means from ground level to the level of said deck; and one of said self-propelled, variable-wheelbase passenger vehicles adapted to be loaded and carried on said selfpropelled, self-loading carrier apparatus comprising the combination of: a roadable vehicle including an elongated frame having an enclosed passenger space disposed thereupon and wheels depended therefrom; said elongated frame having rear portion operably supporting the rear pair of said wheels of said vehicle and a movable forward portion operably supporting the front pair of said wheels of said vehicle; and power means operably interconnected between said rear portion and said forward porTion of said elongated frame of said vehicle for selectively moving said forward portion away from and toward said rear portion so as to extend and shorten the wheelbase and overall length of said vehicle.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
280 words
A transportation system adapted to use combined or independently in common existing highways, freeways, expressways, and surface streets comprising the combination of: a self-propelled, self-loading carrier apparatus adapted to the transportation of a plurality of variable-wheelbase passenger vehicles including the occupants thereof; said self-propelled, variable-wheelbase passenger vehicles adapted to independent operation and to conveyance with their occupants in a combined grouping on said carrier apparatus; said self-propelled, self-loading carrier apparatus comprises the combination of: a roadable vehicle including an elongated deck having an operator''s cab disposed on the forward end thereof and a storage compartment disposed immediately behind said cab and extending to the aft end of said deck; loading means carried on the side of said deck; means operatively carried beneath said deck for moving said loading means along aforesaid deck adjacent said storage compartment; and means operably carried on said loading means for elevating said loading means from ground level to the level of said deck; and one of said self-propelled, variable-wheelbase passenger vehicles adapted to be loaded and carried on said selfpropelled, self-loading carrier apparatus comprising the combination of: a roadable vehicle including an elongated frame having an enclosed passenger space disposed thereupon and wheels depended therefrom; said elongated frame having rear portion operably supporting the rear pair of said wheels of said vehicle and a movable forward portion operably supporting the front pair of said wheels of said vehicle; and power means operably interconnected between said rear portion and said forward porTion of said elongated frame of said vehicle for selectively moving said forward portion away from and toward said rear portion so as to extend and shorten the wheelbase and overall length of said vehicle.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
82 words
The invention as defined in claim 2 wherein said loading means carried on said self-propelled, self-loading carrier apparatus includes a pair of spaced-apart vertical members movably carried on a pair of longitudinally disposed vertically spaced-apart side rails depending from said deck; and a platform pivotally carried on said vertical members and so proportioned as to cooperate dimensionally with said self-propelled, variable-wheelbase passenger vehicle when said vehicle is in a configuration such that its wheelbase is shortened and its overall length is reduced.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
40 words
The invention as defined in claim 3 wherein said loading means includes powered means for extending said platform outward so as to cantilever from said vertical members and for folding said platform so as to be adjacent said vertical members.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
82 words
The invention as defined in claim 4 wherein said storage compartment includes a raised divider curb extending the full length of said storage compartment of said deck separating said compartment into a pair of storage areas and wherein each storage area includes a plurality of longitudinally disposed, laterally elongated storage spaces so proportioned as to cooperate dimensionally with said self-propelled, variable-wheelbase passenger vehicle when said vehicle is in a configuration such that its wheelbase is shortened and its overall length is reduced.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
54 words
The invention as defined in claim 5 wherein said moving means includes means for aligning said loading means with a selected one of said storage spaces on said deck of said self-propelled, self-loading carrier apparatus to accommodate the transfer of said self-propelled, variable-wheelbase passenger vehicle from said loading means to aforesaid selected storage space.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
46 words
The invention as defined in claim 6 wherein said means for moving said loading means along said deck and for aligning said loading means with selected ones of said storage spaces is remotely controlled and sequenced from said operator''s cab of said self-propelled, self-loading carrier apparatus.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
62 words
The invention as defined in claim 6 wherein said self-propelled, variable-wheelbase passenger vehicle includes means for extending its wheelbase and overall length for independent travel and wherein same said means function to shorten the wheelbase and overall length of aforesaid vehicle to enable its accommodation within the length of said selected storage space on said deck of said self-propelled, self-loading carrier apparatus.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
66 words
The invention as defined in claim 8 wherein said last mentioned means includes said elongated frame of said vehicle having said moveable forward portion telescopingly carried on said rear portion to enable said power means operably interconnected between said forward portion and said rear portion of said frame to move said forward portion away from and toward said rear portion in a guided and controlled manner.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
57 words
The invention as defined in claim 9 wherein means are incorporated in said enclosed passenger space of said self-propelled, variable-wheelbase passenger vehicle to selectively actuate said power means to move said forward portion away from and toward said rear portion of said frame so as to extend and shorten the wheelbase and overall length of said vehicle.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
53 words
The invention as defined in claim 9 wherein said enclosed passenger space disposed upon said rear portion of said frame of said self-propelled, variable-wheelbase passenger vehicle incorporates a steering control operably interconnected with a steering mechanism connected to said front pair of wheels operably depended from said moveable forward portion of said frame.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
54 words
The invention as defined in claim 11 wherein said operable interconnection of said steering coNtrol and said steering mechanism is configured so as to cooperate with and facilitate said means for moving said forward portion of said frame away from and toward said rear portion of said frame of said self-propelled, variable-wheelbase passenger vehicle.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
57 words
The invention as defined in claim 9 wherein said telescopic carriage of said forward portion of said frame within said rear portion of said frame of said vehicle includes means interconnecting said forward portion with said rear portion to limit the extension and retraction of said forward portion with respect to said rear portion of said frame.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
28 words
The invention as defined in claim 13 wherein said limiting means are shearable under excessive impact loads to function as a collision shock absorption system in said vehicle.
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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) | 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 |