U.S. patent application number 10/334156 was filed with the patent office on 2004-07-01 for module cradle for vehicle bed.
Invention is credited to Sanger, Wallace D..
Application Number | 20040126199 10/334156 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 32654947 |
Filed Date | 2004-07-01 |
United States Patent
Application |
20040126199 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Sanger, Wallace D. |
July 1, 2004 |
Module cradle for vehicle bed
Abstract
An apparatus for supporting and retaining a concrete building
module on a vehicle bed includes a module supporting structure for
placing onto a vehicle bed upper surface extending to at least the
extent of the module over the vehicle bed for supporting the
module; and at least two stop structures extending upwardly from
the module supporting structure adjacent to upright module surfaces
for retaining and obstructing movement of the module off the
supporting structure. The apparatus may additionally include a
module strap assembly for securing the module onto the supporting
structure and thus onto the vehicle bed. The supporting structure
preferably is an elongate member for placement onto a vehicle
bed.
Inventors: |
Sanger, Wallace D.;
(Wellington, FL) |
Correspondence
Address: |
FRANK L. KUBLER
13261 S.W. 54th Court
Miramar
FL
33027
US
|
Family ID: |
32654947 |
Appl. No.: |
10/334156 |
Filed: |
December 30, 2002 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
410/97 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B62D 25/2054
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
410/097 |
International
Class: |
B61D 045/00 |
Claims
I claim as my invention:
1. An apparatus for supporting and retaining a concrete building
module on a vehicle bed, comprising: a module supporting structure
for placing onto a vehicle bed upper surface extending to at least
the extent of the module over the vehicle bed for supporting the
module; and stop structures extending upwardly from the module
supporting structure substantially adjacent to upright module
surfaces for retaining and obstructing movement of the module off
the supporting structure.
2. The apparatus of claim 1, additionally comprising a module strap
assembly for securing the module onto said supporting structure and
thus onto the vehicle bed.
3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said supporting structure
comprises an elongate member for placement onto a vehicle bed.
4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said supporting structure
comprises an I-beam having an I-web portion interconnecting two
spaced apart I-end portions for orientation on a vehicle bed having
a vehicle bed upper surface such that said I-web portion is
substantially parallel to the vehicle bed upper surface, and such
that said I-end portions extend substantially upright from the
vehicle bed.
5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein said supporting structure
additionally comprises a cushion layer secured along the length of
said I-beam and against said I-end portions for providing a cushion
between said I-beam and a building module resting on said
supporting structure.
6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein said stop structures each
comprise an end portion plate secured to one of said I-beam
longitudinal ends such that each said stop structure extends
upwardly above said I-beam and upwardly above said cushion
layer.
7. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein said I-beam has a length
substantially matching the lateral extent of a module to be
transported.
8. The apparatus of claim 6, additionally comprising cushion layer
mounting means for mounting said cushion layer onto said I-beam,
said cushion layer mounting means comprising at least one cushion
layer mounting strut secured between said I-end portions generally
parallel to said I-web portion, registering holes in said cushion
layer and said at least one cushion layer mounting strut, a cushion
layer bolt extending through the registering holes and thereby
fastening said cushion layer to said I-beam.
9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein said I-beam, said end portion
plates and said mounting strut are formed of steel and said end
portion plates and said mounting strut are secured to said I-beam
with welds.
10. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein said cushion layer comprises
a wooden plank.
11. A module transport apparatus for transporting a concrete
building module, comprising: a vehicle having a vehicle bed; a
module supporting structure for placing onto a vehicle bed upper
surface to at least the extent of the module over the vehicle bed
for supporting the module; and stop structures extending upwardly
from the module supporting structure substantially adjacent to
upright module surfaces for retaining and obstructing movement of
the module off the supporting structure.
12. The apparatus of claim 11, additionally comprising a module
strap assembly for securing the module onto said supporting
structure and thus onto the vehicle bed.
13. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein said supporting structure
comprises an elongate member for placement onto a vehicle bed.
14. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein said supporting structure
comprises an I-beam having an I-web portion interconnecting two
spaced apart I-end portions for orientation on a vehicle bed having
a vehicle bed upper surface such that said I-web portion is
substantially parallel to the vehicle bed upper surface, and such
that said I-end portions extend substantially upright from the
vehicle bed.
15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein said supporting structure
additionally comprises a cushion layer secured along the length of
said I-beam and against said I-end portions for providing a cushion
between said I-beam and a building module resting on said
supporting structure.
16. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein said stop structures each
comprise an end portion plate secured to one of said I-beam
longitudinal ends such that each said stop structure extends
upwardly above said I-beam and upwardly above said cushion
layer.
17. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein said I-beam has a length
substantially matching the lateral extent of a module to be
transported.
18. The apparatus of claim 15, additionally comprising cushion
layer mounting means for mounting said cushion layer onto said
I-beam, said cushion layer mounting means comprising at least one
cushion layer mounting strut secured between said I-end portions
generally parallel to said I-web portion, registering holes in said
cushion layer and said at least one cushion layer mounting strut, a
cushion layer bolt extending through the registering holes and
thereby fastening said cushion layer to said I-beam.
19. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein said I-beam, said end
portion plates and said mounting strut are formed of steel and said
end portion plates and said mounting strut are secured to said
I-beam with welds.
19. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein said cushion layer comprises
a wooden plank.
20. A module transport apparatus, comprising: a concrete building
module; a vehicle having a vehicle bed; a module supporting
structure for placing onto a vehicle bed upper surface to at least
the extent of the module over the vehicle bed for supporting the
module; and at least one stop structure extending upwardly from the
module supporting structure substantially adjacent to an upright
module surface for retaining and obstructing movement of the module
off the supporting structure.
21. A module transport apparatus, comprising: a concrete building
module; a vehicle having a vehicle bed; a module supporting
structure for placing onto a vehicle bed upper surface to at least
the extent of the module over the vehicle bed for supporting the
module; and at least two stop structures extending upwardly from
the module supporting structure substantially adjacent to upright
module surfaces for retaining and obstructing movement of the
module off the supporting structure.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The present invention relates generally to the field of
building module construction and transport. More specifically the
present invention relates to a module retaining and supporting
cradle apparatus for placement between a concrete building module
defining either a complete or partial building onto a vehicle bed
such as that of a tractor trailer or railroad car so that the
module is retained against laterally sliding off the vehicle bed
during transport and is supported along its entire width. The
cradle apparatus includes a module supporting structure for placing
laterally across a vehicle bed upper surface to at least the
lateral extent of the module across the vehicle bed for full module
support, stop structures extending upwardly from the module
supporting structure for abutting the upright module lateral
surfaces and retaining and obstructing movement of the module off
the supporting structure lateral ends, and includes a module strap
assembly for securing the module onto the supporting structure and
the vehicle bed. The supporting structure preferably is a steel
I-beam with a plank on top for cushioning the module and the stop
structures preferably are steel plates welded to the I-beam
longitudinal ends to extend upwardly above the I-beam and the
plank.
[0003] 2. Description of the Prior Art
[0004] Concrete building modules have been transported on tractor
trailer flat beds from forming sites to construction sites.
Typically these modules have rested directly on the trailer bed and
have been secured with straps. A problem with this prior approach
has been that the module is not well anchored to the trailer bed,
and because of the weight inherent in such a large concrete
structure the modules have tended to shift, often dangerously, on
the trailer bed. Another problem has been that lateral ends of the
modules extend well beyond the trailer bed sides without
support.
[0005] It is thus an object of the present invention to provide a
building module retaining and supporting cradle apparatus for
mounting a building module onto a vehicle flat bed so that the
module is braced against movement laterally across the vehicle
bed.
[0006] It is another object of the present invention to provide
such a cradle apparatus which supports module lateral ends
extending beyond the lateral edges of the vehicle bed.
[0007] It is still another object of the present invention to
provide such a cradle apparatus which can be provided in selectable
numbers and spacing along the vehicle bed to support modules of
different dimensions along the vehicle bed length and to support
modules of different weights, and which can be constructed in
several apparatus sizes corresponding to typical module lateral
extents for convenient selection to match the given module to be
transported.
[0008] It is finally an object of the present invention to provide
such a cradle apparatus which is highly inexpensive and easy to
manufacture, and which is sturdy, reliable and durable for repeated
use.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0009] The present invention accomplishes the above-stated
objectives, as well as others, as may be determined by a fair
reading and interpretation of the entire specification.
[0010] An apparatus is provided for supporting and retaining a
concrete building module on a vehicle bed, including a module
supporting structure for placing onto a vehicle bed upper surface
extending to at least the extent of the module over the vehicle bed
for supporting the module; and at least two stop structures
extending upwardly from the module supporting structure
substantially adjacent to upright module surfaces for retaining and
obstructing movement of the module off the supporting
structure.
[0011] The apparatus preferably additionally includes a module
strap assembly for securing the module onto the supporting
structure and thus onto the vehicle bed. The supporting structure
preferably includes an elongate member for placement onto a vehicle
bed.
[0012] The supporting structure preferably includes an I-beam
having an I-web portion interconnecting two spaced apart I-end
portions for orientation on a vehicle bed having a vehicle bed
upper surface so that the I-web portion is substantially parallel
to the vehicle bed upper surface, and so that the I-end portions
extend substantially upright from the vehicle bed. The supporting
structure preferably additionally includes a cushion layer secured
along the length of the I-beam and against the I-end portions for
providing a cushion between the I-beam and a building module
resting on the supporting structure. The stop structures preferably
each include an end portion plate secured to one of the I-beam
longitudinal ends so that each stop structure extends upwardly
above the I-beam and upwardly above the cushion layer. The I-beam
preferably has a length substantially matching the lateral extent
of a module to be transported. The apparatus preferably
additionally includes a cushion layer mounting structure for
mounting the cushion layer onto the I-beam, the cushion layer
mounting structure including at least one cushion layer mounting
strut secured between the I-end portions generally parallel to the
I-web portion, registering holes in the cushion layer and the at
least one cushion layer mounting strut, a cushion layer bolt
extending through the registering holes and thereby fastening the
cushion layer to the I-beam. The I-beam, the end portion plates and
the mounting strut preferably are formed of steel and the end
portion plates and the mounting strut preferably are secured to the
I-beam with welds. The cushion layer preferably includes a wooden
plank.
[0013] A module transport apparatus is provided for transporting a
concrete building module, including a vehicle having a vehicle bed;
a module supporting structure for placing onto a vehicle bed upper
surface to at least the extent of the module over the vehicle bed
for supporting the module; and at least two stop structures
extending upwardly from the module supporting structure
substantially adjacent to upright module surfaces for retaining and
obstructing movement of the module off the supporting
structure.
[0014] A module transport apparatus is further provided, including
a concrete building module; a vehicle having a vehicle bed; a
module supporting structure for placing onto a vehicle bed upper
surface to at least the extent of the module over the vehicle bed
for supporting the module; and at least one stop structure
extending upwardly from the module supporting structure
substantially adjacent to an upright module surface for retaining
and obstructing movement of the module off the supporting
structure.
[0015] A module transport apparatus is yet further provided,
including a concrete building module; a vehicle having a vehicle
bed; a module supporting structure for placing onto a vehicle bed
upper surface to at least the extent of the module over the vehicle
bed for supporting the module; and at least two stop structures
extending upwardly from the module supporting structure
substantially adjacent to upright module surfaces for retaining and
obstructing movement of the module off the supporting
structure.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0016] Various other objects, advantages, and features of the
invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the
following discussion taken in conjunction with the following
drawings, in which:
[0017] FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a vehicle bed, in this
instance of a truck bed, showing one embodiment of the module
retaining and supporting cradle apparatus resting on the bed upper
surface and retaining and supporting a building module, indicated
in broken lines.
[0018] FIG. 2 is broken away perspective view of a vehicle bed on
which two of the cradle apparatus rest in spaced apart relation as
would be typical in supporting a building module.
[0019] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a vehicle bed and the rear
portion of a vehicle towing the vehicle bed, and of two of the
cradle apparatus retaining and supporting a module on the vehicle
bed.
[0020] FIG. 4 is a perspective exploded view of the cradle
apparatus showing the various elements making up the preferred
embodiment.
[0021] FIG. 5 is a view generally as in FIG. 4 except that the
apparatus is assembled except for attachment of the wood plank
cushion layer.
[0022] FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the cradle apparatus of FIG.
4 fully assembled.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0023] As required, detailed embodiments of the present invention
are disclosed herein; however, it is to be understood that the
disclosed embodiments are merely exemplary of the invention which
may be embodied in various forms. Therefore, specific structural
and functional details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted
as limiting, but merely as a basis for the claims and as a
representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to
variously employ the present invention in virtually any
appropriately detailed structure.
[0024] Reference is now made to the drawings, wherein like
characteristics and features of the present invention shown in the
various FIGURES are designated by the same reference numerals.
First Preferred Embodiment
[0025] Referring to FIGS. 1-6, a module retaining and supporting
cradle apparatus 10 is disclosed for placing across the vehicle bed
100 of a vehicle 110, such as of a tractor trailer or of a railroad
flat car, so that a concrete building module 200 is supported along
its entire width and does not slide off the vehicle bed 100 during
transport. The cradle apparatus 10 includes a module supporting
structure 20 for placing across or along a vehicle bed 100 upper
surface to at least the lateral or longitudinal extent of the
module 200 across or along the vehicle bed 100 for fully supporting
the module 200, at least two stop structures 40 extending upwardly
from the module supporting structure 20 adjacent to and preferably
abutting upright module lateral surfaces 202 for retaining and
obstructing movement of the module 200 off the supporting structure
20 lateral or longitudinal ends, and includes a module strap
assembly 60 of conventional design including retaining straps or
cables 62 and tightening and release means 64 for securing the
module 200 onto the supporting structure 20 and thus onto the
vehicle bed 100.
[0026] The supporting structure 20 preferably includes an elongate
member including an I-beam 22 formed of steel and having a length
substantially matching the lateral or longitudinal extent of the
module 200. Supporting structure 20 is preferably oriented on the
vehicle bed 100 so that the I-web portion 24 of I-beam 22
interconnecting the I-end portions 26 is substantially parallel to
the vehicle bed 100, and so that the I-end portions 26 rest on and
extend substantially upright from the vehicle bed 100 to provide
double support for at least a portion of the weight of the module
200. Supporting structure 20 preferably further includes a cushion
layer 30 secured along the length of the I-beam 22 and extending
across the tops of I-end portions 26 to provide a cushion effect
between the I-beam 22 and the module 200, the cushion layer 30
preferably taking the form of a plank of wood or other material of
similar mechanical characteristics. The stop structures 40
preferably are steel plates welded to the I-beam 22 longitudinal
ends to extend upwardly above the I-beam 22 and above the cushion
layer 30. The cushion layer 30 preferably is mounted to the I-beam
22 by a cushion layer mounting structure 32 including metal cushion
layer mounting struts 34 welded between the I-end portions 26
generally parallel to the I-web portion 24, registering holes 36 in
the cushion layer 30 and struts 34, and cushion layer bolts 38
extending through the registering holes 36 and thereby fastening
cushion layer 30 to I-beam 32. Support structure 20 optionally
includes bed abutment stop structures 42 as shown in FIG. 1
protruding downwardly adjacent either opposing side of the vehicle
bed 100 to brace the support structure 20 against sliding relative
to the vehicle bed 100, although friction alone is normally
sufficient without bed abutment stop structures 42.
[0027] At least two spaced apart cradle apparatus 10 of this
embodiment typically would be used to support module 200, although
a larger number of apparatus 10 preferably are used for support
larger or heavier modules 200. Other supporting structure 20
configurations are contemplated, such as one which extends both
laterally and longitudinally to forward and rearward upright module
100 surfaces. It is contemplated that items other than building
modules 200 may be transported using one or more of the cradle
apparatus 10 on a vehicle bed 100.
[0028] While the invention has been described, disclosed,
illustrated and shown in various terms or certain embodiments or
modifications which it has assumed in practice, the scope of the
invention is not intended to be, nor should it be deemed to be,
limited thereby and such other modifications or embodiments as may
be suggested by the teachings herein are particularly reserved
especially as they fall within the breadth and scope of the claims
here appended.
* * * * *