Delivery and collection vehicle

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11014483-B2
Application number	US-201916453304-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 26, 2019
Priority date	Jan 12, 2018
Publication date	May 25, 2021
Grant date	May 25, 2021

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, the cargo compartment comprising a delivery cargo compartment and a collection cargo compartment; a delivery storage unit disposed within at least a portion of the delivery cargo compartment; and a collection system disposed within at least a portion of 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, the cargo compartment comprising a delivery cargo compartment and a collection cargo compartment;
a delivery storage unit disposed within at least a portion of the delivery cargo compartment; and
a collection system disposed within at least a portion of the collection cargo compartment,
wherein the collection system is configured to move linearly in a direction toward and away from the front end and the rear end of the vehicle, and
wherein a rear opening is defined by the vehicle proximate the rear end, and wherein the collection system is configured to move linearly through the rear opening.

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

3. The vehicle of claim 2 , wherein the collection system comprises a secured release mechanism, the secured release mechanism configured to releasably connect an end of the collection bladder to a mount on the vehicle.

4. The vehicle of claim 2 , wherein the collection bladder is made of mesh material.

5. The vehicle of claim 2 , wherein the collection bladder is made of a flexible material.

6. The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the delivery storage unit comprises a shelving unit, the shelving unit comprising a plurality of shelves.

7. The vehicle of claim 6 , 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. A method of connecting an apparatus to a vehicle, the method comprising:
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, wherein a rear opening is defined by the vehicle proximate the rear end;

obtaining an apparatus, the apparatus comprising:
a delivery storage unit, and
a collection system; and

connecting the apparatus to an inside of the vehicle such that the collection system is configured to move linearly in a direction toward and away from the front end and the rear end of the vehicle and such that the collection system is configured to move linearly through the rear opening.

10. The method of claim 9 , wherein the step of connecting the apparatus to the inside of the vehicle comprises connecting at least one of the delivery storage unit and the collection system to a partition wall.

11. The method of claim 10 , wherein the step of connecting the apparatus to the inside of the vehicle comprises removably connecting the collection system to the partition wall.

12. The method of claim 10 , wherein the step of connecting the apparatus to the inside of the vehicle comprises connecting the delivery storage unit to the partition wall by connecting at least one shelf to the partition wall.

13. The method of claim 12 , wherein at least one shelf is collapsible.

Assignees

• Pratt Corrugated Holdings Inc

Inventors

• Altobelli Michael

Classifications

• B60P3/007 Primary

  for delivery of small articles, e.g. milk, frozen articles · CPC title

• B65G67/02

  Loading or unloading land vehicles · CPC title

• B60P7/135

  Securing or supporting by load bracing means · CPC title

• B60R7/02

  in separate luggage compartment {(B60R7/005 takes precedence)} · CPC title

• B60P1/6427 Primary

  the load-transporting element being shifted horizontally in a fore and aft direction, combined or not with a vertical displacement · CPC title