Automotive vehicle container handling system
View Patent ↗A number of variations may include a container handling system for an automotive vehicle having a generally horizontal cargo bed area including a container for holding cargo. The container may have an alignment surface. A power unit for imparting vertical and horizontal movement to the container may also be provided. The power unit may be connected on the vehicle. A latching mechanism connecting the power unit with the container may be provided. A guide structure connected on the vehicle may guide vertical and horizontal movement of the container by interacting with the container alignment surface.
1. A product comprising:
container handling system for an automotive vehicle having a generally horizontal cargo bed area comprising:
a container structure for holding cargo, said container structure having an alignment surface, and the container structure having a first wheel having a pivotal caster connected to the container structure;
a power unit for imparting vertical and horizontal movement to said container structure, said power unit being connected on said vehicle;
a latching mechanism for connecting said power unit with said container structure; and
a guide structure connected on said vehicle for guiding vertical and horizontal movement of said container structure by interacting with said container structure alignment surface, wherein the guide structure includes a horizontal section of rail and a vertical section of rail.
2. A product as described in claim 1 wherein said alignment surface is provided by at least one out board extending roller.
3. A product as described in claim 1 wherein said power unit includes a motor powering a flexible torsional force member and said latching mechanism includes a hook connected with said flexible torsional force member and a shackle connected with said container structure and wherein said container structure is wheeled.
4. A product as described in claim 1 wherein said power unit includes a motor powering a flexible torsional force member comprising a continuous loop belt.
5. A product as described in claim 1 wherein the guide structure includes a rail and said rail and said power unit extend underneath said container structure when said container structure is on the cargo bed.
6. A product as described in claim 1 wherein there are two rails juxtaposed by said power unit, each rail engaging with a separate alignment surface of said container structure.
7. A product as set forth in claim 1 wherein the guide structure further comprises a transition section of rail between the horizontal section of rail and the vertical section of rail.
8. A product as set forth in claim 7 wherein the transition section of rail is curved.
9. A product as set forth in claim 1 wherein said alignment surface is provided by a pair of out board extending rollers.
10. A product as set forth in claim 1 wherein the container structure includes a second wheel having a pivotal caster connected to the container structure.
11. A product as set forth in claim 1 wherein the first wheel is a front wheel, and further comprising a rear wheel having a pivotal caster connected to the container structure.
12. A product as set forth in claim 1 wherein the container structure comprises sliding doors to allow access for the loading or removal of associated cargo.
13. A product as set forth in claim 1 wherein the container structure has a horizontal length equal to the cargo bed of the vehicle.
14. A product as set forth in claim 1 wherein the container structure has a horizontal length equal a half of the transverse length of the cargo bed provided for the vehicle.
15. A product for an automotive vehicle having a generally horizontal cargo bed area comprising:
a wheeled container structure for holding cargo, said container structure having a shackle and laterally spaced alignment rollers, said rollers being at a different elevation of said container structure than said shackle, wherein wheeled container structure comprises a first wheel having a pivotal caster connected to the wheeled container structure;
a pulley driven continuous loop belt with a pivotally connected hook for engagement with said shackle, said belt imparting vertical movement and horizontal movement to said container structure, said pulley driven belt being connected on said vehicle; and
laterally spaced apart rails connected on said vehicle for guiding vertical movement and for guiding horizontal movement of said container structure by interacting with said alignment rollers.
16. A method as set forth in claim 15 wherein the rails include a horizontal section of rail and a vertical section of rail.
17. A product as set forth in claim 16 wherein the rails further comprise a transition section of rail between the horizontal section of rail and the vertical section of rail.
18. A product as set forth in claim 17 wherein the transition section of rail is curved.
19. A product as set forth in claim 15 wherein said alignment surface is provided by a pair of out board extending rollers.
20. A product as set forth in claim 15 wherein the container structure includes a second wheel having a pivotal caster connected to the container structure.
21. A product as set forth in claim 20 wherein the first wheel is a front wheel, and further comprising a rear wheel having a pivotal caster connected to the container structure.