US4475740A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Articulated truck/trailer combination
Assignee: MARIAN ASSET MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE
•
Filing: 1981-04-27
•
Granted: 1984-10-09
•
Expires: 2001-04-27
Abstract
Abstract An articulated vehicle for carrying cargo. The vehicle includes a truck in the form of a tractor having a cab mounted on a chassis and supported on small diameter wheels. A first body is releasably, but stationarily, secured to the chassis by an elevatable fifth wheel assembly. A trailer, which is mounted on identical diameter wheels, is connected to the truck body, via a tow bar-pintle hook connection. The connection is located approximately 8 feet (2.44 m) forward of the end of the truck body. The trailer is separated from the truck body by approximately 1 foot (30.5 cm) so that it is enabled to pivot with respect to the truck through a long swing angle to enable the vehicle to safely negotiate corners and curves. The fifth wheel assembly is elevatable to enable the tractor, when the body is removed therefrom, to be used with conventional trailers. Each body includes at least one, externally mounted roll-up door assembly and jacking means for raising the height of the body to that of a conventional loading dock.
Inventors
- 👤 Leonard Strick
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-06 17:45
CPC Classifications
B; B62; B62D; B62D53/00; B62D53/04; B62D53/08; B62D53/0807; B62D53/0821
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim
249 words
An articulated vehicle for carrying cargo comprising a tractor having a cab and a frame including a pair of rear wheels fixedly mounted thereon; a first cargo-carrying bed releasably mounted on said frame; a trailer having a second cargo-carrying bed mounted on at least one pair of wheels and coupled to said first bed by an articulated connection comprised of first and second coupling means; said first bed having a forward end and a rear end, said first coupling means being fixedly mounted to the lower surface of said first bed forwardly of the rear end thereof a first predetermined distance from said rear end of said first bed, said first coupling means being mounted to said bed behind said rear wheels and extending downwardly below the top of said rear wheels; said second bed having a forward end and a rear end and having said second coupling means fixedly mounted thereon and extending a second predetermined distance forwardly of said forward end of said second bed for pivoting engagement with said first coupling means so that said first and second beds can pivot with respect to each other through an arc whose radius is equal to said second predetermined distance, said first predetermined distance being slightly less than said second predetermined distance so that said first and second beds are closely spaced to one another but do not impede the pivoting action of said beds through said arc so that said vehicle can negotiate corners and turns easily.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
249 words
An articulated vehicle for carrying cargo comprising a tractor having a cab and a frame including a pair of rear wheels fixedly mounted thereon; a first cargo-carrying bed releasably mounted on said frame; a trailer having a second cargo-carrying bed mounted on at least one pair of wheels and coupled to said first bed by an articulated connection comprised of first and second coupling means; said first bed having a forward end and a rear end, said first coupling means being fixedly mounted to the lower surface of said first bed forwardly of the rear end thereof a first predetermined distance from said rear end of said first bed, said first coupling means being mounted to said bed behind said rear wheels and extending downwardly below the top of said rear wheels; said second bed having a forward end and a rear end and having said second coupling means fixedly mounted thereon and extending a second predetermined distance forwardly of said forward end of said second bed for pivoting engagement with said first coupling means so that said first and second beds can pivot with respect to each other through an arc whose radius is equal to said second predetermined distance, said first predetermined distance being slightly less than said second predetermined distance so that said first and second beds are closely spaced to one another but do not impede the pivoting action of said beds through said arc so that said vehicle can negotiate corners and turns easily.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
43 words
The vehicle of claim 1 wherein said second predetermined distance is approximately 9 feet (2.75 m) and wherein said first predetermined distance is approximately 8 feet (2.44 m), with the spacing between said first and second beds being approximately 1 foot (30.5 cm).
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
23 words
The vehicle of claim 2 wherein said first and second beds each include a floor approximately 33 inches (0.84 m) above the ground.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
16 words
The vehicle of claim 3 wherein the wheels of said vehicle includes 750×15 tires mounted thereon.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
28 words
The vehicle of claim 1 wherein said first bed comprises an enclosed body having a door and wherein said second bed comprises an enclosed body having a door.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
32 words
The vehicle of claim 5 wherein the door on the first body is at the rear end thereof and wherein the door on the second body is at the rear end thereof.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
18 words
The vehicle of claim 6 wherein said second body comprises a second door at the forward end thereof.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
14 words
The vehicle of claim 1 wherein said second coupling means comprises a tow bar.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
23 words
The vehicle of claim 8 wherein said tow bar and said first coupling means are pivotably connected by cooperating hook and loop means.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
43 words
The vehicle of claim 9 wherein said second predetermined distance is approximately 9 feet (2.75 m) and wherein said first predetermined distance is approximately 8 feet (2.44 m), with the spacing between said first and second beds being approximately 1 foot (30.5 cm).
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
24 words
The vehicle of claim 10 wherein said first and second beds each include a floor disposed approximately 33 inches (0.84 m) above the ground.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
16 words
The vehicle of claim 11 wherein the wheels of said vehicle includes 750×15 tires mounted thereon.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
37 words
The vehicle of claim 1 wherein said first bed includes a floor and is releasably mounted on said frame, via a fifth wheel assembly, with the floor being disposed approximately 33 inches (0.84 m) above the ground.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
24 words
The vehicle of claim 13 wherein said fifth wheel assembly is elevatable to accommodate trailers having a floor height of 48 inches (1.22 m).
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
43 words
The vehicle of claim 14 wherein said second predetermined distance is approximately 9 feet (2.75 m) and wherein said first predetermined distance is approximately 8 feet (2.44 m), with the spacing between said first and second beds being approximately 1 foot (30.5 cm).
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3163306A
Cited
US3105703A
Cited
US3237966A
Cited
US3401955A
Cited
US3484852A
Cited
US3841511A
Cited
US4303258A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1987-10-09 | 1988-04-09 | 1988-10-09 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1991-10-09 | 1992-04-09 | 1992-10-09 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1995-10-09 | 1996-04-09 | 1996-10-09 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |