FORM 2
THE PATENTS ACT 1970
(39 of 1970)
&
THE PATENTS RULES, 2003
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION
(See Section 10; rule 13)


TITLE OF THE INVENTION
Multipurpose Cargo carrier structure
APPLICANTS
TATA MOTORS LIMITED, an Indian company
Having its registered office at Bombay House,
24 Homi Mody Street, Hutatma Chowk,
Mumbai 400 001 Maharashtra, India
INVENTORS
Mr. Sourabh Karmakar, Ms. Priya Kumari, Mr. Manish Mahna
Indian National of TATA MOTORS LIMITED,
nn Indian company having its registered office
at Bombay House, 24 Homi Mody Street, Hutatma Chowk,
Mumbai 400 001 Maharashtra, India
PREAMBLE TO THE DESCRIPTION
The following specification particularly describes the invention and the manner in which it is to be performed.


FIELD OF INVENTION
This invention relates to a multipurpose cargo carrier for carrying automobiles and cargo.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Generally body of vehicle carriers is designed to carry the vehicle from manufacturing plant to different location to the dealers point. In normal vehicle carriers, the upper deck is hinged at one end and the rear end moves up and down providing movement of said upper deck like a scissor blade motion movement. This scissor blade movement facilitates the loading and unloading of a vehicle on said upper deck.
The said cargo body is designed for special purposes and to carry multiple cars at a time and the body is robust and heavy. When vehicle reaches to the destination, the vehicles are unloaded. One of the major disadvantage of this kind of specially designed vehicle carrier is that after unloading at the destination point, the vehicle carrier has to come back to the manufacturing plant in empty condition for reloading. Carrying such a big dead weight for its own body without any visible benefit adds up an undesired cost to the total process.
OBJECTS OF INVENTION
The main object of the present invention is to provide cargo body for carrying automobile.
Another object of the present invention is to provide cargo body for carrying automobile which is versatile.
2

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide cargo body for carrying automobile which is robust and heavy.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In accordance with this invention, cargo body for carrying automobile, said cargo body comprises;
lower deck (1) fixed to the vehicle frame , upper deck (T), said upper deck (V) includes fixed deck portion (2) and movable upper deck portion (3), at least four hydraulic cylinders (4) for facilitating the vertical movement of said movable upper deck, wherein said movable upper deck portion comprises resting pads(5), at least four latching means (6)for latching two wheeler in loaded conditions, first guide rollers (7) and second guide rollers (8) for guiding vertical movement of the said movable upper deck , wheel choke arrangement (9) for choking wheels of four wheeler in loaded conditions, seat jammer locking means(lO) for jamming seats of two wheelers in loaded condition.
Said lower deck and upper deck platforms are capable of carrying two wheelers or soft goods which are packed in rectangular shaped cartons. In all the cases, no modification is required; the cargo body for carrying the items or goods in each case are obtained with a little change in their position / orientation to load and carry the other type of items.
Accordingly, the present invention relates to a multipurpose cargo body for carrying automobiles and cargo, said cargo body comprising: a lower deck fixed to a vehicle frame; an upper deck consisting of: a fixed upper deck portion; and a vertically movable upper deck portion comprising: first guide rollers provided to move on vertical frame on said cargo body for smooth vertical movement of said movable deck; second guide rollers provided for preventing lateral displacement of said movable upper deck when moved vertically upwards; plurality of latching and
3

locking arrangements for arresting movements of vehicles loaded on said upper and lower decks; said lower and upper deck provided to carry four-wheelers, two-wheelers and/or soft goods packed in cartons.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
As per the present invention,
Figure-01 shows isometric view of lower and upper decks of cargo carrier structure
in loaded condition.
Figure-02 shows isometric view of upper movable deck in unloaded condition
Figure-03 shows the latching means in latched condition.
Figure-04 shows the latching means in unlatched and folded condition.
Figure-05 shows the details of the first guide rollers
Figure-06 shows the details of wheel choke arrangement.
Figure-07 shows the details seat jammer locking means.
Figure-08 shows isometric view of the movable deck.
Figure-09 shows the details of the second guide rollers.
Figure-10 shows the movable deck in loaded locked condition with second guide
rollers in engaged conditions.
Figure-11 shows the connection of hydraulic cylinder with movable deck.
Figure-12 shows seat jamming long member in loaded and unloaded condition.
Figure-13 shows wheel choke arrangement in choke position or loaded position
Figure-14 shows isometric view of the cargo body.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Referring now to the drawings wherein the showings are for the purpose of illustrating a preferred embodiment of the invention only, and not for the purpose of limiting the same,
4

Now referring to figure-01 to 11, In accordance with this invention, cargo carrier structure for carrying automobile, said cargo carrier comprises; lower deck(l) fixed to the vehicle frame , upper deck, said upper deck includes fixed deck portion(2) and movable upper deck portion(3), at least four hydraulic cylinders (4) mounted on mounting means (4') for facilitating the vertical movement of said movable upper deck, wherein said movable upper deck portion comprises resting pads(5), at least four latching means(6) for latching two wheeler in loaded conditions, first guide rollers(7) and second guide rollers (8) for guiding vertical movement of the said movable upper deck , wheel choke arrangement (9) for choking wheels of four wheeler in loaded conditions, seat jammer locking means (10) for jamming seats of two wheelers in loaded condition.
Said upper deck comprises two portions namely fixed upper deck portion (2) and movable upper deck portion (3). Said fixed upper deck portion (2) is fixedly attached at the front side to the cargo body of vehicle. Whereas said movable upper deck portion (3) is vertically movable for loading and unloading the goods and automobile and is disposed at the rear side of the cargo body adjacent to the said fixed upper deck portion.
Said movable upper deck portion (3), when in loaded conditions or loaded with goods or automobile remains inline with the said fixed upper deck portion (2) which is fixed to cargo body.
At least four hydraulic cylinders (4) are mounted to movable deck portion with the help of mounting means (4') for facilitating the up and down movement. Said hydraulic cylinders are attached to the edge of said movable upper deck.
Said movable upper deck portion comprises resting pads (5) at the bottom side and rear end of said movable upper deck portion (3) which provides resting means for said movable upper deck when it is in unloaded condition. The said movable upper
5

deck portion (3) rests on the lower deck (1) of the cargo body with the help of said resting pad when it is in unloaded condition.
The rest pads (5) are attached at the bottom portion of said movable upper deck portion (3).
The movable upper deck portion (3) also includes at least four latching means (6) for latching the two wheeler, in case, two wheeler is to be loaded and carried in the cargo carrier.
Said latching means (6) comprises long members having hooks or loops to latch the two wheelers. Said latching means (6) is hingedly attached at the edge of said movable upper deck portion which can be placed on the surface of said movable deck. When two wheelers need to be carried they are latched with the help of said latching means (6). When latching means (6) is not required, it can manually be folded and vertically anchored with the cargo body of vehicle in rest condition as shown in figure 4.
Said movable upper deck (3) comprises first guide rollers (7) and second guide rollers (8) mounted at the edge of said deck for guiding the said deck when it is moved up and down. Roller of said first guide rollers (7) moves on the vertical frame provided on the cargo body for smooth up and down movement of said movable deck.
Second guide rollers (8) are provided for preventing of lateral movement of said movable upper deck (3) and which also facilitates the provision for vertical straight line movement of said movable upper deck.
Said lower deck (1) and upper deck (1') also comprises suitable latching arrangement and wheel chokes arrangements (9) which are provided on floors of
6

both the said lower deck (1) and upper deck (1') to give necessary stability to the cars during transportation by choking wheels of four wheeler when in loaded conditions.
Cargo body of vehicle comprises seat jammer locking means (10) for jamming seat of two wheelers when in loaded conditions with the help of plurality of long member (10a) having C shaped member (10b) placed over seat and end of the said long member are anchored to jammer locking means (10). Said long members (10a) are anchored on cargo body in rest condition with the help of anchoring means (10c) provided therein.
In this cargo body structure design said movable upper deck (3) moves vertically up and down with the help of precisely synchronized four hydraulic cylinders fitted at the four corners of the movable upper deck to provide stability to the materials other than cars.
The cars are loaded on the lower deck (1) through rarflps (not shown). For loading the cars on the upper deck (V), the said upper deck (f) is brought down vertically through hydraulic mechanisms. Then cars are loaded on the upper deck.
For loading motor bikes, the said wheel chokes arrangements (9) are made flattened and bikes are tied with floor with the help of the latching arrangement. To give more stability to the loaded motor bikes, they are fixed through the fixing arrangement provided in the cargo body.
For loading soft goods the similar methodology is followed and they are arranged properly to maintain stability during transportation.
For loading automobile on the said fixed upper deck portion (2), first the movable deck (3) is lowered and loaded with automobile then loaded upper deck is lifted till
7

in alignment with said fixed deck (2) and the automobiles are shifted to top fixed upper deck.
The said movable upper deck (3) is lowered again for loading and after loading, it is jacked up till in alignment with the said fixed deck (2) and then its locked with the help of fastening means such as pin lock arrangement fastened to cargo body.
For loading the automobile in upper deck and lower deck, conventional ramp is used.
The main advantage of the cargo body structure design is that it can provide multiple utility and reduce the undesired cost being added to the total process. This is achieved by providing additional features at a nominal cost to the cargo body which gives an additional facility to use the cargo body for carrying bikes and other soft goods during the return journey towards the place of car manufacturing plant without causing any disturbance to the main purpose of carrying cars on it.
8
The foregoing description is a specific embodiment of the present invention. It should be appreciated that this embodiment is described for purpose of illustration only, and that numerous alterations and modifications may be practiced by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. It is intended that all such modifications and alterations be included insofar as they come within the scope of the invention as claimed or the equivalents thereof.


We Claim;
1. A multipurpose cargo body for carrying automobiles and cargo, said cargo
body comprising:
a lower deck fixed to a vehicle frame; an upper deck consisting of:
a fixed upper deck portion; and
a vertically movable upper deck portion comprising:
first guide rollers provided to move on vertical frame on said cargo body for smooth vertical movement of said movable upper deck;
second guide rollers provided for preventing lateral displacement of said movable upper deck when moved vertically upwards;
plurality of latching and locking arrangements for arresting movements of vehicles loaded on said upper and lower decks;
said lower and upper deck provided to carry four-wheelers, two-wheelers and/or soft goods packed in cartons.
2. The multipurpose cargo body as claimed in claim 1, wherein said fixed upper deck portion is attached at top front side of said cargo body and said vertically movable upper deck portion is disposed at the rear side of said cargo body adjacent and inline with said fixed upper deck portion in loaded condition.
3. The multipurpose cargo body as claimed in claim 1, wherein hydraulic cylinders are mounted on edges of said movable upper deck for facilitating said vertical movement.
4. The multipurpose cargo body as claimed in claim 1, wherein said movable upper deck portion comprises plurality of resting pads for enabling its resting on the said lower deck in unloaded conditions.
5. The multipurpose cargo body as claimed in claim 1, wherein said latching and locking arrangements comprise a plurality of long members having hooks or loops to
9

latch two-wheelers, said long members being hingedly attached at edges of said movable upper deck portion to facilitate folding and vertically anchoring with said cargo body of vehicle in rest condition.
10
6. The multipurpose cargo body as claimed in claim 5, wherein said latching and locking arrangements further comprise plurality of wheel choke means on floors of both said lower deck and upper deck to give stability to four-wheelers during transportation by choking wheels of said four wheelers in loaded conditions.
7. The multipurpose cargo body as claimed in claim 6, wherein said latching and locking arrangements further comprise plurality of seat jammer locking means for jamming seat of two wheelers in loaded conditions.
8. The multipurpose cargo body as claimed in claim 5, wherein said wheel choke means are capable of being made flattened when two-wheelers are loaded and latched with floor.
9. The multipurpose cargo body as claimed in claim 1, wherein said vertically movable upper deck portion is capable of being hydraulically moved down and rested on said lower deck for loading four-wheelers thereon.
10. A multipurpose cargo body for carrying automobiles and cargo substantially as hereinabove described with reference to the accompanying drawings.