WO2002053412A1

WO2002053412A1 - Vehicle unloader

Info

Publication number: WO2002053412A1
Application number: PCT/GB2001/000046
Authority: WO
Inventors: Tony Mundy
Original assignee: Tony Mundy
Priority date: 2001-01-05
Filing date: 2001-01-05
Publication date: 2002-07-11

Abstract

A vehicle unloader allows such as cement, sand and irregular shaped loads to be unloaded from a multitude of load carrying vehicles. The vehicle unloader comprises of a single piece of PVC plastic coated Polyester of relevant length and thickness, with heat welded sleeves (7) running the entire length of the material, these sleeves will contain webbing (6) in a continuous loop. Attached to the webbing at either end will be free running metal hoops (8) that in turn will attach to relevant strength ropes (9). The vehicle unloader is laid flat around the internal side perimeter of the vehicle with the tongue extension (5) laying flat on the load bed of the vehicle, then the load is put on. The vehicle is then placed exactly where the load is needed. The extension ropes (9) are attached to a stationary object and the vehicle is slowly driven in the opposite direction to the stationary object. The vehicle unloader will then maintain the position of the load leaving it in the exact location previously occupied by the vehicle.

Description

Vehicle Unloader

"Technical Field"

This invention relates to a device which enables the unloading of vans, pickups, trucks or any other load carrying vehicle that do not have tipper facilities. The invention will take up minimal space and requires no additional mechanical parts.

"Background Art,"

At present unless the vehicle has an in built tipper the process for unloading such vehicles needs to be done manually. This is very time consuming and strenuous especially when dealing with irregular size loads.

An object of this invention is to provide the facility to unload relevant vehicles with limited time and effort. Especially when dealing with irregular loads, excluding the need for additional mechanical parts and without a significant decrease in load capacity. When the invention is placed around the internal perimeter of the vehicle it will lay flat against the sides.

"Disclosure of Invention,"

This invention provides a single length of relevant strength, thickness and width material. The material is placed around the internal perimeter of the vehicle prior to loading. The vehicle is then placed at the location where you wish to unload. The material is attached to a stationary object at the time of unloading and the vehicle is slowly driven in the opposite direction to the object. The invention will then maintain the position of the load as the vehicle pulls away, the load will be dropped in the position previously occupied by the vehicle in the required location, using only the power of the vehicle.

The invention provides a simple, yet effective way of unloading and emptying vehicles, primarily vans, pickups or trucks, yet can be adapted for virtually any vehicle.

The material is preferably made from strong Nylon or Polyester, however any strong material can be used. The invention preferably has a tongue expansion at the centre of the material or the entire length of the material, which is placed across the back of the vehicle to aid in the unloading, but it may instead comprise of a single width piece of material thinning down to ends which can then be tied.

Alternatively the material may be attached to ropes at the point of thinning to tie to stationary- objects, or the ropes may be replaced with some other form of relevant strength item for securing purposes. The connection of the material to the ropes is preferably done via three reinforced ringlets weaving into a single rope, however there are a combination of ways to attach the material and ropes.

Alternatively the invention may have sleeves throughout the length of the material enabling webbing, ropes or other relevant strength material to be threaded throughout it's construction in a continuous loop, this loop will then be attached to ropes via a non or low friction attachment or simply tied. The ends of the ropes may be tied around or to a stationary object or indeed some form of attachment device may be used to attach the ropes or material around or to a stationary object.

"Brief Description of Drawings"

Figure 1 shows an aerial view of the invention lying flat. Ropes (2) are attached via three ringlets (3) weaving into a single rope. At the center is an expansion tongue (1).

Figure 2 shows the identical ends of the material attaching to ropes.

Figure 3 shows the same view as a single piece of material thinning to ends (4) without the need for ropes.

Figure 4 shows an aerial view of the invention lying flat, with a tongue the entire length of the invention (5) and webbing (6) threaded through encased sleeves (7) attached via metal hoops (8) to ropes (9) for securing purposes.

"Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention"

As shown in Figure 4 the best mode for this invention is a single piece of PNC plastic coated Polyester of relevant length and thickness, with heat welded sleeves running the entire length of the material, these sleeves will contain webbing in a continuous loop. Attached to the webbing at either end will be free running metal hoops that in turn will attach to relevant strength ropes. The invention is then laid around the internal perimeter of the vehicle, the load is then put on. To unload the ropes are attached to a stationary object, capable of withstanding the weight of the load and the vehicle is slowly driven away from the stationary object.

"Industrial Applicability"

The vehicle unloader is well suited for providing a cost effective solution to the current manual unloading of vehicles, saving time, energy and the possibility of injury. Vehicles of this nature are present in every corner of the world and only a small percentage of them have tipper facilities. Due to the versatile nature of this invention it can be utilised on any load- carrying vehicle. Due to the simplicity of the design it can also be manufactured easily in every corner of the world, this enables access to an already huge and still growing worldwide market.

For the above, and other, reasons, it is expected that the vehicle unloader of the present invention will have widespread industrial applicability. Therefore, it is expected that the commercial utility of the present invention will be extensive and long lasting.

Claims

At present unless the vehicle has an in built tipper, the process for unloading such vehicle needs to be done manually. This is very time consuming and strenuous especially when dealing with irregular size loads. An object of this invention is to provide the facility to unload relevant vehicles with limited time and effort. Especially when dealing with irregular loads, excluding the need for additional mechanical parts and without a significant decrease in load capacity. When the invention is placed around the internal perimeter of the vehicle it will lay flat against the sides.

The vehicle unloader enables the unloading of vans, pickups, tracks or any other load carrying vehicle. The vehicle unloader provides a single length of relevant strength, thickness and width material. The material is placed around the internal side perimeter of the vehicle prior to loading. The vehicle is then placed at the location where you wish to unload. The material is attached via ropes or other attachments to a stationary object at the time of unloading and vehicle is slowly driven in the opposite direction to the object. The invention will then maintain the position of the load as the vehicle pulls away, the load will be dropped in the position previously occupied by the vehicle in the required location, using only the power of the vehicle.

A further claim is based on the ability of the unloader to drag, tow or pull debris and loose or uneven material short distances over the ground simply by wrapping the unloader around the material, tieing the ends to a tow bar and pulling it.