Delivery and collection vehicle

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10384593-B2
Application number	US-201815869568-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 12, 2018
Priority date	Jan 12, 2018
Publication date	Aug 20, 2019
Grant date	Aug 20, 2019

Abstract

A vehicle includes a front end, a rear end, a driver's side, and a passenger's side, the vehicle defining a cargo compartment proximate the rear end; a partition wall movably disposed within the cargo compartment, the partition wall defining a partition such that the cargo compartment defines a delivery cargo compartment and a collection cargo compartment; a one delivery storage unit disposed within the delivery cargo compartment; and a collection system disposed within the collection cargo compartment.

First claim

That which is claimed is:

1. A vehicle comprising:
a front end, a rear end, a driver's side, and a passenger's side, the vehicle defining a cargo compartment proximate the rear end;
a partition wall movably disposed within the cargo compartment, the partition wall defining a partition such that the cargo compartment defines a delivery cargo compartment and a collection cargo compartment;
a delivery storage unit disposed within the delivery cargo compartment; and
a collection system disposed within the collection cargo compartment.

2. The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the collection system is connected to the partition wall.

3. The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the partition wall is connected to the vehicle along a floor track system connected to a floor of the cargo compartment and along a suspended track system connected to a ceiling of the vehicle.

4. The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the collection system comprises a collection bladder, the collection bladder being of variable volume.

5. The vehicle of claim 4 , wherein the collection system comprises a secured release mechanism, the secured release mechanism configured to releasably connect an end of the collection bladder to the partition wall.

6. The vehicle of claim 4 , wherein the collection bladder is made of mesh material.

7. The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the delivery storage unit comprises a shelving unit, the shelving unit comprising a plurality of shelves, wherein at least one of the shelves is collapsible.

8. The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the collection system is configured to move linearly in a direction toward and away from the driver's side and the passenger's side within the cargo compartment.

9. The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the collection system is configured to move linearly in a direction toward and away from front end and the rear end of the vehicle.

10. The vehicle of claim 9 , wherein a rear opening is defined by the vehicle proximate the rear end, wherein the collection system is configured to move linearly through the rear opening.

11. The vehicle of claim 10 further comprising a support leg connected to the partition wall, the support leg configured to move from a contracted position to an extended position when the partition wall is moved linearly through the rear opening.

12. An apparatus for connection to a vehicle, the apparatus comprising:
a partition wall, the partition wall comprising a first side and a second side;
a shelving unit connected to the first side of the partition wall;
a collection system connected to the second side of the partition wall; and
a linear track system connected to at least one end of the partition wall, the track system configured for connection to the vehicle.

13. The apparatus of claim 12 , wherein the collection system comprises a collection bladder, the collection bladder being of variable volume.

14. The apparatus of claim 13 , wherein the collection system comprises a secured release mechanism, the secured release mechanism configured to releasably connect an end of the collection bladder to the partition wall.

15. The apparatus of claim 13 , wherein the collection bladder is made of mesh material.

16. A method of delivering packages and collecting recovered materials, the method comprising the steps of:
obtaining a vehicle, the vehicle comprising
a front end, a rear end, a driver's side, and a passenger's side, the vehicle defining a cargo compartment proximate the rear end;
a partition wall movably disposed within the cargo compartment, the partition wall defining a partition such that the cargo compartment defines a delivery cargo compartment and a collection cargo compartment;
a delivery storage unit disposed within the delivery cargo compartment; and,
a collection system disposed within the collection cargo compartment, the vehicle arranged in an initial state and comprising packages arranged within the delivery cargo compartment;

removing at least one of the packages;
collecting a recovered material;
arranging the recovered material within the collection system; and,
linearly actuating the partition wall to alter the size of the delivery cargo compartment and the collection cargo compartment in response to the removal of the package and the collection of the recovered material.

17. The method of claim 16 , wherein the step of linearly actuating the partition wall comprises arranging the vehicle in an intermediate arrangement.

18. The method of claim 17 , further comprising the steps of
removing all packages;
collapsing the delivery storage unit; and,
linearly actuating the partition wall to further alter the size of the delivery cargo compartment and the collection cargo compartment such that the vehicle is arranged in a completed arrangement.

19. The method of claim 18 , further comprising the steps of
arranging the vehicle proximate a receptacle; and,
arranging the collection system beyond an opening defined in the rear end of the vehicle such that the vehicle is arranged in an extended arrangement.

20. The method of claim 19 , further comprising the steps of
actuating a secured release mechanism of the collection system such that recovered materials deposit within the receptacle; and
actuating the secured release mechanism to secure the collection system without recovered materials.

Assignees

• Pratt Corrugated Holdings Inc

Inventors

• Altobelli Michael

Classifications

• B65G67/02

  Loading or unloading land vehicles · CPC title

• B60R7/08

  Disposition of racks, clips {, holders, containers} or the like {for supporting specific articles (B60R7/005 takes precedence)} · CPC title

• B60P1/649

  Guiding means for the load-transporting element · CPC title

• B60P7/135

  Securing or supporting by load bracing means · CPC title

• B60R7/005

  Nets or elastic pockets tensioned against walls or backrests · CPC title