US4051968A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Load handling method and apparatus
Assignee: MAVERICK TRAILER SYSTEMS Inc
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Filing: 1976-03-29
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Granted: 1977-10-04
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Expires: 1996-03-29
Abstract
Abstract Apparatus and method for loading and unloading flat-bed trailers by means of a winch-driven cable attachable to the forward part of a slidably mounted wheel carriage assembly or, alternatively to the forward portion of a slidable load; the load and the wheel carriage assembly being connected by a linkage cable, so that actuation of the winch results in simultaneous movement of the wheel carriage assembly, and the load in opposite directions with reference to the longitudinal axis of the trailer.
Inventors
- 👤 Navarre Andre Massey
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 22:04
CPC Classifications
B; B60; B60P; B60P1/00; B60P1/64; B60P1/6418; B60P1/6454; B62; B62D; B62D53/00; B62D53/04; B62D53/06; B62D53/061; B62D53/062; B62D53/065
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 20
Claim 1
Independent Claim
145 words
In a flat bed trailer tiltably attachable to a hauling unit, comprising a flat bed platform provided, on its lower surface, with at least two longitudinal carriage guiderails, a movable wheel carriage assembly provided with rollers which engage the said carriage guiderails, the improvement which comprises: (1) a winch; (2) a winch cable engaged by the said winch and capable of being selectively connected to the forward lower edge of a load or to the forward part of the said wheel carriage assembly; (3) a linkage cable, one end of which is capable of being connected to the forward lower edge of the load, while the other end is capable of being connected to the rear part of the said wheel carriage assembly; (4) an idler sheave located at the rear of the said flat bed trailer, adapted to accept and guide said linkage cable.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
145 words
In a flat bed trailer tiltably attachable to a hauling unit, comprising a flat bed platform provided, on its lower surface, with at least two longitudinal carriage guiderails, a movable wheel carriage assembly provided with rollers which engage the said carriage guiderails, the improvement which comprises: (1) a winch; (2) a winch cable engaged by the said winch and capable of being selectively connected to the forward lower edge of a load or to the forward part of the said wheel carriage assembly; (3) a linkage cable, one end of which is capable of being connected to the forward lower edge of the load, while the other end is capable of being connected to the rear part of the said wheel carriage assembly; (4) an idler sheave located at the rear of the said flat bed trailer, adapted to accept and guide said linkage cable.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
40 words
A flat bed trailer of claim 1 wherein the said flat bed platform is provided, on its upper surface, with at least two longitudinal load guiderails adapted to be engaged by and to guide rollers affixed to the said load.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
62 words
A flat bed trailer of claim 2 wherein the said load is a container or pallet which is provided at its bottom surface with at least two sets of rollers, the said sets being separated by a distance equal to the distance between the load guiderails; the rollers of said sets being capable of engaging and moving along the said load guiderails.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
49 words
A flat bed trailer of claim 3 wherein said container or pallet is provided with vertically disposed alignment plates projecting forwardly from the lower lateral extremities of the forward face of the load and adapted to facilitate the alignment of the load with respect to said flat bed platform.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
18 words
A flat bed trailer of claim 1 wherein the said winch is affixed to said flat bed platform.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
21 words
A flat bed trailer of claim 5 wherein the said winch is driven by the power of the said hauling unit.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
44 words
A flat bed trailer of claim 1 wherein the said load is provided along its lower lateral edges with vertical supports capable of supporting the weight of the load and maintaining the lower surface of the said load at a clearance above level ground.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
32 words
A flat bed trailer of claim 7 wherein the transverse distance between said supports, is slightly greater than the maximum transverse dimension of the flat bed platform of the flat bed trailer.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
145 words
A method of loading containers, pallets and similar loads onto flat bed trailers having a wheel carriage which is mounted for sliding movement in the direction of movement of the trailer, comprising the steps of aligning the rear end of a trailer with the front end of the load, tilting the trailer bed downwardly at the rear by drawing the wheel carriage in the forward direction, attaching one end of a linkage cable to the rear part of said slidably mounted wheel carriage and attaching the other end of the said linkage cable to the lower forward part of said load, attaching a winch cable to the lower forward part of the said load, pulling the said load forward and onto the tilted trailer bed by means of said winch cable while simultaneously drawing said wheel carriage rearward by means of the said linkage cable.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
145 words
A method of loading containers, pallets and similar loads onto flat bed trailers having a wheel carriage which is mounted for sliding movement in the direction of movement of the trailer, comprising the steps of aligning the rear end of a trailer with the front end of the load, tilting the trailer bed downwardly at the rear by drawing the wheel carriage in the forward direction, attaching one end of a linkage cable to the rear part of said slidably mounted wheel carriage and attaching the other end of the said linkage cable to the lower forward part of said load, attaching a winch cable to the lower forward part of the said load, pulling the said load forward and onto the tilted trailer bed by means of said winch cable while simultaneously drawing said wheel carriage rearward by means of the said linkage cable.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 9 wherein where the said linkage cable is guided through a sheave at the rear end of the said trailer bed.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
174 words
A method of unloading of containers, pallets or similar loads from flat bed trailers having a wheel carriage which is mounted for sliding movement in the direction of movement of the trailer, comprising the steps of attaching a winch cable to the forward part of the wheel carriage, attaching one end of a linkage cable to the rear part of said wheel carriage and attaching the other end of the said linkage cable to the forward lower part of a load, drawing said wheel carriage forward by means of said winch cable, while said load is simultaneously drawn downwardly at the rear by means of the said linkage cable, resulting in said trailer bed being tilted rearward and said load sliding and being drawn off the said trailer bed and, after a part of the said load comes into contact with and to rest off the trailer bed on a load bearing surface, disconnecting said linkage cable and driving the tilted flat bed trailer forward and from under the remainder of the said load.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
174 words
A method of unloading of containers, pallets or similar loads from flat bed trailers having a wheel carriage which is mounted for sliding movement in the direction of movement of the trailer, comprising the steps of attaching a winch cable to the forward part of the wheel carriage, attaching one end of a linkage cable to the rear part of said wheel carriage and attaching the other end of the said linkage cable to the forward lower part of a load, drawing said wheel carriage forward by means of said winch cable, while said load is simultaneously drawn downwardly at the rear by means of the said linkage cable, resulting in said trailer bed being tilted rearward and said load sliding and being drawn off the said trailer bed and, after a part of the said load comes into contact with and to rest off the trailer bed on a load bearing surface, disconnecting said linkage cable and driving the tilted flat bed trailer forward and from under the remainder of the said load.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 11, wherein said linkage cable is guided through a sheave at the rear end of said trailer bed.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
93 words
A method of loading of a load onto a tiltable flat bed trailer provided with a wheel carriage assembly which is mounted for sliding movement relative to the bed in the direction of travel of the trailer, and a single power means connectable to said wheel carriage assembly and said load, said method consisting of operating said power means drawing the said load forward and onto said trailer when it is tilted downwardly at the rear and, simultaneously, drawing said wheel carriage assembly rearward thus returning the said trailer to a horizontal position.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
93 words
A method of loading of a load onto a tiltable flat bed trailer provided with a wheel carriage assembly which is mounted for sliding movement relative to the bed in the direction of travel of the trailer, and a single power means connectable to said wheel carriage assembly and said load, said method consisting of operating said power means drawing the said load forward and onto said trailer when it is tilted downwardly at the rear and, simultaneously, drawing said wheel carriage assembly rearward thus returning the said trailer to a horizontal position.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
82 words
A method of unloading a load from a tiltable flat bed trailer provided with a wheel carriage assembly which is mounted for sliding movement relative to the bed in the direction of travel of the trailer and a single power means connectable to said wheel carriage assembly and said load, which method consists of operating said power means thus drawing the wheel carriage forward thus tilting the said flat bed trailer rearward, while, simultaneously, drawing said load rearwards and off said trailer.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
82 words
A method of unloading a load from a tiltable flat bed trailer provided with a wheel carriage assembly which is mounted for sliding movement relative to the bed in the direction of travel of the trailer and a single power means connectable to said wheel carriage assembly and said load, which method consists of operating said power means thus drawing the wheel carriage forward thus tilting the said flat bed trailer rearward, while, simultaneously, drawing said load rearwards and off said trailer.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 14 wherein the said wheel carriage is drawn forward by means of a winch-driven cable.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3624786A
Cited
US3934740A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1980-10-03 | 1981-04-04 | 1981-10-04 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1984-10-03 | 1985-04-04 | 1985-10-04 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1988-10-03 | 1989-04-04 | 1989-10-04 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |