Frances J Langston

US Patent:

61930431, Feb 27, 2001

Filed:

May 17, 1999

Appl. No.:

9/313310

Inventors:

Frances J. Langston - Long Beach CA
Michael Graf - Lomita CA

Assignee:

Ancra International LLC - Hawthorne CA

International Classification:

B65G 1300

US Classification:

193 35SS

Abstract:

A retractable roller system has a main channel mounted on the floor of a vehicle into which cargo is to be loaded. A pneumatically actuated bladder is mounted along the bottom of the channel and a roller tray on which a plurality of roller members are rotatably supported is mounted in the channel above the bladder. Flange members extend inwardly from the side walls of the channel at different vertical levels. Flange members extend outwardly at different vertical levels from the opposing side walls of the roller tray. The rollers are raised to handle the loading of cargo by inflating the bladder and lowered to recess the rollers below the level of a cover plate to keep the cargo in a desired location. The cover plate utilizes a minimum number of screws in conjunction with a mating coupler plate and slots and for adjacent units which engage pins on the channel to provide secure retention of the plate yet facilitating ready removal when the roller tray needs to be removed for repair or replacement. Such removal can be readily accomplished by tilting the roller tray sideways to permit the side flanges of the roller tray to clear the side flanges of the channel.

US Patent:

60741430, Jun 13, 2000

Filed:

Apr 27, 1999

Appl. No.:

9/300049

Inventors:

Frances J. Langston - Long Beach CA
Ward C. Burrows - Pasadena CA

Assignee:

Ancra International LLC - Hawthorne CA

International Classification:

B60P 708

US Classification:

410 89

Abstract:

A beam assembly is formed from a hollow beam member which has a pair of slidable channel units installed therein and extend from the opposite ends thereof. The ends of the channel units have guide shoes forming latching assemblies pivotally supported thereon, each guide shoe having a spring loaded lock key mounted pivotally mounted thereon. A pair of tracks are spaced from each other in opposing relationship by a distance equal to the longitudinal extent of the beam member. The tracks have a plurality of aligned apertures and C-shaped runners running along their longitudinal extent. The lock keys of the beam member each has a pair of fingers extending therefrom which fit into a pair of adjacent track apertures. The fingers may be locked in place in the opposing track apertures by the spring action of their associated springs and may be withdrawn from the apertures by way of a tab formed thereon. The guide shoes further have T-shaped portions which engage the C-shaped runners of the tracks to retain the guide shoes on the tracks for vertical movement.