CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS This application is a continuation of application of and claims priority to Ser. No. 10/877,416 filed on Jun. 25, 2004, the contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION As any parent or caretaker with small children knows, keeping your eyes on the road while operating a motor vehicle, and attending to the small children in the rear of the vehicle can be quite a taxing challenge. To that end, any parent or caretaker of a small child would be benefited with a system to assist moving items from the front of a vehicle to the rear of the vehicle with the minimal distraction.
Thus was born the Delivery System for Use in Motor Vehicles device. It is simple in concept and can be adapted to a wide variety of usages and configurations. The inventor initially installed two weighted stanchions in the front and rear or his van. Strung between the two stanchions was a simple “clothesline” like rope and pulley system. A basket was attached to the lower portion of the rope. When his children requested something from the front seat, such as juice boxes, snack or books the inventor simply put the requested item in the basket and let the children “pulley” it back to them where they could extricate the requested item.
Since that time many other methods of employing the device have been contemplated. For instance, one could employ a lead screw design and a molded plastic sheath for said lead screw that could be easily retrofitted to the roof of any vehicle. Other methods include a pneumatic tube, or chain drive, or belt drive, or other such means of delivery.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This is a device that is designed as a conveyance system for use in the interior of any type of vehicle. The conveyance system is anchored to the interior roofline of a vehicle; it has a conveyor such as a pulley, track or slide, a holding apparatus such as a basket or similar object for stowing items in, and a method of moving the conveying device and basket from the front of the vehicle to the rear of the vehicle.
The device is comprised of three major sub-assemblies. These include the power drive and electronic control box, the conveyor guide rail, and the saddle nut with hanging carrier. It is powered by the vehicle's electrical system and comprises an electronic control circuit that allows the safe operation of the device from one to several simple push button(s).
The device is designed to allow a person in the front seat of a vehicle to deliver items to the passengers in the rear seats, without having to reach back, get out of the vehicle, and most importantly take their attention away from driving the vehicle in a safe manner.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGSFIG. 1 depicts the entire device (although foreshortened), including a sample carrier, in a three dimensional, isometric view.
FIG. 2 depicts the underside of the conveyor track, including the Acme lead screw; the power drive and electronics control board uncovered and the travel limit switches.
FIG. 3 depicts a side view of the conveyor track including the guide rail end cap
FIG. 4 depicts the Acme lead screw, the power drive lead screw coupling, and the saddle nut follower and basket hanger.
FIG. 5 depicts the power drive motor, the power drive gear reduction box and the power drive motor shaft with Weldon coupling flat.
FIG. 6 depicts an example carrier and the basket hanging hooks.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The terminology used herein should be interpreted in its broadest reasonable manner, even though it is being utilized in conjunction with a detailed description of a certain specific preferred embodiment of the present invention. This is further emphasized below with respect to some particular terms used herein. Any terminology that the reader should interpret in any restricted manner will be overtly and specifically defined as such in this specification. The preferred embodiment of the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference characters designate like or similar parts throughout.
As mentioned in the Summary of Invention, the device is comprised of three major sub-assemblies. These include the power drive and electronics control box system (FIGS. 1, 3 and5), the conveyor guide rail system (FIGS. 1, 2, and3) and the saddle nut with hanging carrier system (FIGS. 1, 3 and4). Each sub-system will be described in kind.
Power Drive and Electronics Control Box System The power drive and electronics control box1 (as shown inFIGS. 1, 3) and the power drive and electronic control box cover5 (as shown inFIGS. 1, 2) house the power drive motor7 (as shown inFIGS. 2, 5), the gear reduction8 (as shown inFIGS. 2, 5) and the control circuit board9 (as shown inFIG. 2), which provides the operational logic for the device.
The control logic circuit board9 (as shown inFIG. 2) and the power drive motor7 (as shown inFIGS. 2, 5) and the gear reduction8 (as shown inFIGS. 2, 5) are located and attached to the inside of the power drive and electronics control box1 (as shown inFIGS. 1, 3).
The control logic circuit board9 (as shown inFIG. 2) is wired to the power drive motor7 (as shown inFIGS. 2, 5) and is connected to the vehicle's power system through a fused circuit. Additionally, the control logic circuit board9 (as shown inFIG. 2) is connected to the twolimit switches6,12 (as shown inFIGS. 1, 2) as well as the start/stop button, located elsewhere in the vehicle, for operational control input.
A removable power drive and electronics control box cover5 (as shown inFIG. 1) is attached to the bottom of the power drive and electronics control box1 (as shown inFIGS. 1, 3) with four counter sunk screws located in each corner. This seals the power drive electronic control box1 (as shown inFIGS. 1, 3) from all access and outside elements.
The power drive and electronics control box1 (as shown inFIGS. 1, 3) is mounted to the end of the conveyor track2 (as shown inFIGS. 1, 3) using counter sunk screws located inside the power drive and electronics control box wall, and provide proper registration of the power drive motor shaft17 (as shown inFIG. 5) with the lead screw coupling10 (as shown inFIGS. 2, 4).
Start/Stop Button There may be from one to several start/stop buttons provided. These buttons are simple normally open contact buttons used to either start or stop the operation of the device. The start/stop button is wired to the control logic circuit board9 (as shown inFIG. 2) located in the power drive and electronics control box1 (as shown inFIGS. 1, 3). When more then one button is used they are to be wired in parallel. As the name implies, this button, when pressed, will either start or stop the operation of the device.
Control Logic Circuit Board The control logic circuit board9 (as shown inFIG. 2) provides electronic circuitry that will control the operation of the power drive motor7 (as shown inFIGS. 2, 5) and gear reduction8 (as shown inFIGS. 2, 5) through the input from eitherlimit switches6,12 (as shown inFIGS. 1, 2) or start/stop buttons.
Both the limit switches6,12 (as shown inFIGS. 1, 2) and the start/stop buttons are wired to the control logic circuit board9 (as shown inFIG. 2). When either of thelimit switches6,12 (as shown inFIGS. 1, 2) or a start/stop button is closed, the control logic circuit board9 (as shown inFIG. 2) will stop the power drive motor7 (as shown inFIGS. 2, 5) and gear reduction8 (as shown inFIGS. 2, 5) if currently running. If the start/stop button is pressed while the power drive motor7 (as shown inFIGS. 2, 5) and gear reduction8 (as shown inFIGS. 2, 5) is stopped, the device will start and the saddle nut4 (as shown inFIGS. 1, 3,4) will move in the opposite direction it was last stopped in.
This allows the device to be started and stopped at any point in its travel as well as automatically stopping when the saddle nut4 (as shown inFIGS. 1, 3,4) arrives at eitherlimit switch6,12 (as shown inFIGS. 1, 2) located at the ends of the conveyor track2 (as shown inFIGS. 1, 3).
Conveyor Track System The conveyor track2 (as shown inFIGS. 1, 3) is the principal element in this design. It provides housing for the power drive Acme lead screw11 (as shown inFIGS. 2, 4) and saddle nut4 (as shown inFIGS. 1, 3,4). It also holds one of the twolimit switches6,12 (as shown inFIGS. 1, 2) used to stop the power drive7 (as shown inFIGS. 2, 5) and gear reduction8 (as shown inFIGS. 2, 5) when the saddle nut4 (as shown inFIGS. 1, 3,4) reaches the end of the conveyor track2 (as shown inFIGS. 1, 3). The conveyor track2 (as shown inFIGS. 1, 3) can be made from an extruded composite material that provides a minimum amount of conformity to irregular mounting surfaces. The Acme lead screw11 (as shown inFIGS. 2, 4) is comprised of a self-lubricating composite material such as Ultra High Molecular Weight Polyethylene (UHMW-PE). This material also allows the Acme lead screw11 (as shown inFIGS. 2, 4) to conform to irregular curves in the above-mentioned conveyor track2 (as shown inFIGS. 1, 3).
Conveyor Track The conveyor track2 (as shown inFIGS. 1, 3) provides the housing for the Acme lead screw11 (as shown inFIGS. 2, 4) and the saddle nut4 (as shown inFIGS. 1, 3,4). It also provides locations for thelimit switches6,12 (as shown inFIGS. 1, 2), limit switch end cap3 (as shown inFIGS. 1, 3), the power drive and electronics control box1 (as shown inFIGS. 1, 3) and device's mounting holes13 (as shown inFIGS. 1, 2).
An end cap3 (as shown inFIGS. 1, 2,3) is pressed into and attached to the opposite end of the conveyor track2 (as shown inFIGS. 1, 3) from the power drive and electronics control box1 (as shown inFIGS. 1, 3). This end cap3 (as shown inFIGS. 1, 2,3) also centers the Acme lead screw11 (as shown inFIGS. 2, 4) in the conveyor track2 (as shown inFIGS. 1, 3) as well as provides a mounting place for the end-limit switch assembly12 (as shown inFIGS. 1, 2).
There are twolimit switches6,12 (as shown inFIGS. 1, 2) used to automatically stop the movement of the saddle nut4 (as shown inFIGS. 1, 3,4) when it arrives at either end of the conveyor track2 (as shown inFIGS. 1, 2,3). Theselimit switches6,12 (as shown inFIGS. 1, 2) are wired to the control logic circuit board9 (as shown inFIG. 2) to provide for automatic stopping of the device.
Additionally, a traveler button spring12 (as shown inFIGS. 1, 3) is located in the limit switch end cap3 (as shown inFIGS. 1, 3) to provide a compressible action for the end-limit switch12 (as shown inFIGS. 1, 3). This traveler button spring12 (as shown inFIGS. 1, 3) provides relief between the switch closure12 (as shown inFIGS. 1, 2) and the stopping of the saddle nut4 (as shown inFIGS. 1, 3,4) movement.
Another limit switch6 (as shown inFIGS. 1, 2) is mounted into the conveyor track2 (as shown inFIGS. 1, 3) just short of the power drive and electronics control box1 (as shown inFIGS. 1, 3). This switch assembly6 (as shown inFIGS. 1, 2) consists of a traveler spring arm6 (as shown inFIGS. 1, 2) that passes through the channel that the saddle nut4 (as shown inFIGS. 1, 3,4) travels through. This traveler spring arm6 (as shown inFIGS. 1, 2) provides some timing relief between the switch closure6 (as shown inFIGS. 1, 2) and the stopping of the saddle nut4 (as shown inFIGS. 1, 3,4) movement.
Acme Lead Screw The Acme lead screw11 (as shown inFIGS. 2, 4) is affixed to the power drive motor shaft17 (as shown inFIG. 5) using a fixed coupling and a socket head setscrew located in the lead screw coupling10 (as shown inFIGS. 2, 4). This setscrew affixes the Acme lead screw11 (as shown inFIGS. 2, 4) to the power drive motor shaft17 (as shown inFIG. 5) by tightening to the surface of a Weldon flat located on one side of the power drive motor shaft17 (as shown inFIG. 5).
The Acme lead screw11 (as shown inFIGS. 2, 4) is captured inside the conveyor track cavity2 (as shown inFIGS. 1, 3) and held in place by the limit switch end cap3 (as shown inFIGS. 1, 3), power drive motor shaft17 (as shown inFIG. 5) and the saddle nut4 (as shown inFIGS. 1, 3,4). The Acme lead screw11 (as shown inFIGS. 2, 4) is driven in either direction by the power drive motor7 (as shown inFIGS. 2, 5) and gear reduction8 (as shown inFIGS. 2, 5) located in the power drive and electronics control logic box1 (as shown inFIGS. 1, 3).
Carrier SystemSaddle Nut The functional mechanism of the device is the saddle nut4 (as shown inFIGS. 1, 3,4), which rides along an Acme lead screw11 (as shown inFIGS. 2, 4). The saddle nut4 (as shown inFIGS. 1, 3,4) is threaded onto the Acme lead screw11 (as shown inFIGS. 2, 4) and travels the length of the Acme lead screw11 (as shown inFIGS. 2, 4) until contact with eitherlimit switch6,12 (as shown inFIGS. 1, 2) located in the conveyor track2 (as shown inFIGS. 1, 3) or in the limit switch end cap3 (as shown inFIGS. 1, 3). Using a Acme lead screw11 (as shown inFIGS. 2, 4) and a saddle nut (as shown inFIGS. 1, 3,4) allows the reduction in the RPM of a motor to a more useful rotational speed and provides an increased amount of torque.
The saddle nut4 (as shown inFIGS. 1, 3,4) is captured between the inside cavity of the conveyor track2 (as shown inFIGS. 1, 3) and the Acme lead screw11 (as shown inFIGS. 2, 4). A saddle nut flange4 (as shown inFIGS. 1, 3,4) is allowed to protrude through a slot, which runs the length of the conveyor track2 (as shown inFIGS. 1, 3), and provides access between the Acme lead screw11 (as shown inFIGS. 2, 4) cavity and the outside hanger hook holes4 (as shown inFIGS. 1, 3,4).
Basket and Hanger The carrier14 (as shown inFIGS. 1, 6) is a simple wire framed basket outfitted with two hanger hooks15 (as shown inFIG. 6) that allow it to be hung from the saddle nut4 (as shown inFIGS. 1, 3,4). The carrier14 (as shown inFIGS. 1, 6) is used to transport items from one end of the device to the other. This is only one of many types of containers that may be affixed to the device saddle nut. Other types may include coat hangers, mesh bags with drawstrings, or carabineers attached to any type of container whose contents weighs a minimal amount.
The basket14 (as shown inFIGS. 1, 6) is made from a wire mesh and comprises a pair of hanger handles, which capture a pair of hanger hooks15 (as shown inFIG. 6).
The two basket hanger hooks are placed through two hanger hook holes located in the sides of the saddle nut flange4 (as shown inFIGS. 1, 3,4).
Theory of Operation The operational control of the device is identical to that of a common garage door opener. Pushing any of the start/stop buttons will initiate the device to move the carrier and its contents in the direction away from either end of the conveyor track2 (as shown inFIGS. 1, 3). When the carrier14 (as shown inFIGS. 1, 6) reaches the opposite end of the conveyor track the device will automatically stop. Upon pressing the start/stop button the carrier14 (as shown inFIGS. 1, 6) will move back to the opposite end of the conveyor track2 (as shown inFIGS. 1, 3). The start/stop button may also be used to stop the travel of the carrier14 (as shown inFIGS. 1, 6) at any point in its cycle. When pressed again after stopping, it will resume in the opposite direction and return back to its starting point unless the start/stop button is yet again pressed.
Installation of the device is simple. The device is affixed to the roof liner of the vehicle using small screws located at the rib points in the vehicles roof. Power for the device may be obtained from the vehicles electrical system by tapping into the fuse box. The device may share the same fuse with the vehicles widow wipers or other comparable systems that use a fused circuit.
The device is also designed such that it may be customized to the correct length as needed in any given vehicle by removing the guide rail limit switch end cap3 (as shown inFIGS. 1, 3) and trimming the non-power drive end of the conveyor track2 (as shown inFIGS. 1, 3) and Acme lead screw11 (as shown inFIGS. 2, 4).
The foregoing description details certain preferred embodiments of the present invention and describes the best mode contemplated. It will be appreciated, however, that no matter how detailed the foregoing description appears, the invention can be practiced in many ways without departing from the spirit of the invention. Therefore, the description contained in this specification is to be considered exemplary, rather than limiting, and the true scope of the invention is only limited by the following claims and any equivalents thereof.