IP Library Granted Patent US 11,548,566
Granted Patent B2
US 11,548,566 · App. 17/082,231 · Granted Jan 10, 2023

Cargo vehicle automation and construction features

Inventor: Douglas Lee Sagarsee (Elkhart, IN)
Assignee: The Shyft Group, Inc.
B62D25/2054B60P1/003
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,548,566
App. No.
17/082,231
Granted
Jan 10, 2023
Kind
B2
Abstract

An embodiment of the present disclosure provides a delivery vehicle having a driver compartment and a cargo compartment. The cargo compartment is located adjacent the driver compartment. An at least one riser extends along at least a portion of the cargo compartment. The at least one riser includes a plurality of holes disposed therein. Each of the plurality of holes disposed in the at least one riser are spaced apart from each other a predetermined distance. A flooring assembly is located in the cargo compartment and supported by the at least one riser. The flooring assembly includes: at least a plurality of floor planks; each floor plank of the at least the plurality of floor planks has a longitudinal extent, a width transverse to the longitudinal extent, a longitudinally extending tongue located at a first end of the width, and a longitudinally extending groove located at a second end of the width opposite the first end of the width; wherein the each floor plank of the at least the plurality of floor planks is fastened to one of the plurality of holes disposed in the at least one riser.

Claims (63)

1. A delivery vehicle comprising:

a driver compartment;

a cargo compartment located adjacent the driver compartment;

at least one riser extending along at least a portion of the cargo compartment;

wherein the at least one riser includes a plurality of holes disposed therein;

wherein each of the plurality of holes disposed in the at least one riser are spaced apart from each other a predetermined distance; and

a flooring assembly located in the cargo compartment and supported by the at least one riser;

wherein the flooring assembly includes:

at least a plurality of floor planks;

wherein each floor plank of the at least the plurality of floor planks has a longitudinal extent, a width transverse to the longitudinal extent, a longitudinally extending tongue located at a first end of the width, and a longitudinally extending groove located at a second end of the width opposite the first end of the width;

wherein at least one floor plank of the at least the plurality of floor planks has a width greater than a width of another floor plank of the at least the plurality of floor planks;

wherein the each floor plank of the at least the plurality of floor planks is positioned such that the tongue located at the first end of the width of the each floor plank of the at least the plurality of floor planks is positioned in the longitudinally extending groove of an adjacent floor plank of the at least the plurality of floor planks;

wherein a distance the tongue of a first floor plank of the at least the plurality of floor planks extends into the longitudinally extending groove of its adjacent floor plank of the at least the plurality of floor planks is not identical to a distance the tongue of a second floor plank of the at least the plurality of floor planks extends into the longitudinally extending groove of its adjacent floor plank of the at least the plurality of floor planks;

wherein the each floor plank of the at least the plurality of floor planks is fastened to one of the plurality of holes disposed in the at least one riser;

an end plank that includes a longitudinal extent, a width transverse to the longitudinal extent, a longitudinally extending tongue located at a first end of the width of the end plank, and a longitudinally extending channel located at a second end of the width of the end plank opposite the first end of the width of the end plank;

wherein the longitudinally extending tongue of the end plank extends into the longitudinally extending groove of its adjacent floor plank of the at least the plurality of floor planks; and

a threshold plank coupled to a rear section of the cargo compartment;

wherein the threshold plank has a longitudinal extent, a width transverse to the longitudinal extent of the threshold plank, and a longitudinally extending tongue bar located at a first end of the width of the threshold plank; and

wherein the longitudinally extending tongue bar of the threshold plank extends into the longitudinally extending channel of the end plank.

2. The delivery vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the longitudinally extending tongue bar of the threshold plank is wider than the longitudinally extending tongue of the each floor plank of the at least the plurality of floor planks.

3. The delivery vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the end plank located adjacent the threshold plank has a deeper longitudinally extending channel than the longitudinally extending groove of the each floor plank of the at least the plurality of floor planks.

4. The delivery vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the each of the plurality of holes disposed in the at least one riser spaced apart from each other the predetermined distance is equidistant between the each of the plurality of holes.

5. The delivery vehicle of claim 1 , wherein a depth to which the longitudinally extending tongue bar of the threshold plank extends into the longitudinally extending channel of the end plank is dependent on the width of the end plank.

6. The delivery vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the each floor plank of the at least the plurality of floor planks includes a base with at least one hole disposed therethrough.

7. The delivery vehicle of claim 6 , wherein the at least one hole disposed through the base aligns with the one of the plurality of holes disposed in the at least one riser.

8. The delivery vehicle of claim 7 , wherein the at least one hole in the base and the at least one hole in the at least one riser receives a fastener to secure the floor plank of the plurality of floor planks to the at least one riser.

9. The delivery vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the each floor plank of the at least the plurality of floor planks includes a foot member that supports the floor plank on the at least one riser.

10. The delivery vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the tongue bar of the threshold panel comprises a first panel and a second panel both located adjacent the end plank.

11. The delivery vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the end plank is fastened to the at least one riser.

12. A delivery vehicle comprising:

a driver compartment;

a cargo compartment located adjacent the driver compartment;

at least one riser extending along at least a portion of the cargo compartment;

wherein the at least one riser includes a plurality of holes disposed therein;

wherein each of the plurality of holes disposed in the at least one riser are spaced apart from each other a predetermined distance; and

a flooring assembly located in the cargo compartment and supported by the at least one riser;

wherein the flooring assembly includes:

at least a plurality of floor planks;

wherein each floor plank of the at least the plurality of floor planks has a longitudinal extent, a width transverse to the longitudinal extent, a longitudinally extending tongue located at a first end of the width, and a longitudinally extending groove located at a second end of the width opposite the first end of the width;

wherein the each floor plank of the at least the plurality of floor planks is fastened to one of the plurality of holes disposed in the at least one riser;

wherein the each floor plank of the at least the plurality of floor planks is positioned such that the tongue located at the first end of the width of the each floor plank is positioned in the longitudinally extending groove of an adjacent floor plank of the at least the plurality of floor planks; and

wherein at least one floor plank of the at least the plurality of floor planks has a width greater than a width of another floor plank of the at least the plurality of floor planks.

13. The delivery vehicle of claim 12 , wherein a distance the tongue of a first floor plank of the at least the plurality of floor planks extends into the longitudinally extending groove of its adjacent floor plank of the at least the plurality of floor planks is not identical to a distance the tongue of a second floor plank of the at least the plurality of floor planks extends into the longitudinally extending groove of its adjacent floor plank of the at least the plurality of floor planks.

14. The delivery vehicle of claim 12 , wherein an end plank that includes a longitudinal extent, a width transverse to the longitudinal extent, a longitudinally extending tongue located at a first end of the width of the end plank, and a longitudinally extending channel located at a second end of the width of the end plank opposite the first end of the width of the end plank, wherein the longitudinally extending channel has a depth greater than a depth of the longitudinally extending groove of the each floor plank of the plurality of floor planks.

15. The delivery vehicle of claim 14 , wherein the longitudinally extending tongue of the end plank extends into the longitudinally extending groove of its adjacent floor plank of the at least the plurality of floor planks.

16. The delivery vehicle of claim 14 , further comprising a threshold plank coupled to a rear section of the cargo compartment.

17. The delivery vehicle of claim 16 , wherein the threshold plank has a longitudinal extent, a width transverse to the longitudinal extent of the threshold plank, and a longitudinally extending tongue bar located at a first end of the width of the threshold plank.

18. The delivery vehicle of claim 17 , wherein the longitudinally extending tongue bar of the threshold plank extends into the longitudinally extending channel of the end plank.

19. A delivery vehicle comprising:

a driver compartment;

a cargo compartment located adjacent the driver compartment; and

a flooring assembly located in the cargo compartment;

wherein the flooring assembly includes:

at least a plurality of floor planks;

wherein each floor plank of the at least the plurality of floor planks has a longitudinal extent, a width transverse to the longitudinal extent, a longitudinally extending tongue located at a first end of the width, and a longitudinally extending groove located at a second end of the width opposite the first end of the width;

wherein at least one floor plank of the at least the plurality of floor planks has a width greater than a width of another floor plank of the at least the plurality of floor planks;

wherein the each floor plank of the at least the plurality of floor planks is positioned such that the tongue located at the first end of the width of the each floor plank is positioned in the longitudinally extending groove of an adjacent floor plank of the at least the plurality of floor planks;

wherein a distance the tongue of a first floor plank of the at least the plurality of floor planks extends into the longitudinally extending groove of its adjacent floor plank of the at least the plurality of floor planks is not identical to a distance the tongue of a second floor plank of the at least the plurality of floor planks extends into the longitudinally extending groove of its adjacent floor plank of the at least the plurality of floor planks;

an end plank that includes a longitudinal extent, a width transverse to the longitudinal extent, a longitudinally extending tongue located at a first end of the width of the end plank, and a longitudinally extending channel located at a second end of the width of the end plank opposite the first end of the width of the end plank;

wherein the longitudinally extending tongue of the end plank extends into the longitudinally extending groove of its adjacent floor plank of the at least the plurality of floor planks; and

a threshold plank coupled to a rear section of the cargo compartment;

wherein the threshold plank has a longitudinal extent, a width transverse to the longitudinal extent of the threshold plank, and a longitudinally extending tongue bar located at a first end of the width of the threshold plank; and

wherein the longitudinally extending tongue bar of the threshold plank extends into the longitudinally extending channel of the end plank.

Assignments (3)
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jul 1, 2025
From: WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
To: THE SHYFT GROUP, INC.
Reel/Frame 071583/0758 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Dec 1, 2021
From: THE SHYFT GROUP, INC.
To: WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 058254/0355 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 15, 2021
From: SAGARSEE, DOUGLAS LEE
To: THE SHYFT GROUP, INC.
Reel/Frame 054933/0680 →