Driven loadable construct system and method for using the same

{
  "publication_number": "US8983740B2",
  "country": "US",
  "kind": "B2",
  "title": "Driven loadable construct system and method for using the same",
  "abstract": "An apparatus, system, and method for a driven loadable construct, the apparatus, system and method utilizing a construct, at least one rotatable wheel mounted for enabling the construct to roll along a surface, at least one motor and power source coupled to the construct to be used to impart rotational energy to the at least one rotatable wheel, and a controller to control the signals for operation of the at least one rotatable wheel which moves the construct.",
  "claims": [
    "1. A device, comprising: a loadable construct having an upper surface and a lower surface, the upper surface being configured for carrying a load, wherein the construct further comprises: a plurality of drive wheels disposed on the construct, wherein each one of the plurality of drive wheels is operatively coupled to at least one motor; at least one power source electrically coupled to the at least one motor; and a handheld controller operatively coupled via one of at least a cable connection or a wireless connection to one of the at least one motor and the at least one power source, the controller being configured to steer the loadable construct by controlling movement of the plurality of drive wheels.",
    "2. The device of claim 1, further comprising at least one additional motor operatively coupled to at least one of the plurality of drive wheels.",
    "3. The device of claim 1, further comprising at least one free wheel disposed below the upper surface of the construct and among the plurality of drive wheels.",
    "4. The device of claim 3, further comprising at least two free wheels coupled to the construct each of which separating at least two of the plurality of drive wheels.",
    "5. The device of claim 3, wherein an equal number of free wheels and drive wheels are disposed below the upper surface of the construct.",
    "6. The device of claim 3, further comprising an unequal number of free wheels and drive wheels disposed below the upper surface of the construct.",
    "7. The device of claim 2, wherein at least one power source electrically couples to the at least one motor or the at least one additional motor.",
    "8. The device of claim 2, wherein each of the at least one power source is dedicated to one of the at least one motor and the at least one additional motor.",
    "9. The device of claim 1, wherein the operative coupling of the motor to the drive wheels comprises one of a system of gears, at least one chain and at least one sprocket, or at least one pulley wheel and at least one belt.",
    "10. The device of claim 9, wherein the system of gears comprises a gear coupled to the at least one motor and a gear coupled to at least one of the plurality of drive wheels.",
    "11. The device of claim 9, wherein the system of pulley wheel and belt comprises a pulley wheel coupled to the at least one motor and a pulley wheel coupled to at least one of the plurality of drive wheels.",
    "12. The device of claim 9, wherein the system of sprockets and chain comprises a sprocket coupled to the at least one said motor and a sprocket coupled to at least one of the plurality of drive wheels.",
    "13. The device of claim 1, wherein the handheld controller couples to the at least one motor via a cable.",
    "14. The device of claim 1, wherein the handheld controller couples to the at least one motor wirelessly.",
    "15. The device of claim 3, wherein a housing coupling the at least one free wheel to the construct houses the at least one power source.",
    "16. The device of claim 1, wherein the construct is pallet.",
    "17. The device of claim 5, wherein between each pair of drive wheels is a free wheel.",
    "18. The device of claim 1, further comprising a sensor to weigh a load placed upon the construct.",
    "19. A method of retrofitting a construct to be a driven loadable construct, comprising the steps of: coupling at least one motor to the construct; coupling the at least one motor to at least one of a plurality of drive wheels; coupling at least one power source to the at least one motor; and coupling a controller to one of the at least one motor and the at least one power source, the controller configured to generate a signal to the at least one motor to rotate the plurality of drive wheels and move the construct.",
    "20. The method of claim 19, further comprising the step of coupling at least two of the plurality of drive wheels to the at least one motor.",
    "21. The method of claim 20, further comprising the step of coupling at least one free wheel to the construct and disposing it among the plurality of drive wheels.",
    "22. The method of claim 21, wherein a housing coupling the at least one free wheel to the construct couples the at least one power source to the construct.",
    "23. The method of claim 19, further comprising coupling the plurality of drive wheels under the construct.",
    "24. The method of claim 19, further comprising coupling the at least one motor, the plurality of drive wheels, and the at least one power source under or within the construct."
  ],
  "description_excerpt": "The present invention relates to driven, load bearing systems and methods for constructing and using the same to move objects placed or stored thereon.\n\nConstructs, such as pallets and skids, which may be used for the support, storage, and transportation of materials, are in widespread usage. The most common types of pallets are constructed from wood, plastic, metal, or paper. Some pallets contain two decks made up from a plurality of longitudinally and laterally extending cross-board members and block members. One or more connecting members hold the upper and lower decks together while distributing the cargo loads placed on the upper deck. Alternatively, those skilled in the art may use skids in place of pallets.\n\nIn the art of material handling, transport devices such as pallet jacks, pallet trucks, end-rider trucks, and center trucks are wheeled devices that often incorporate a lifting mechanism intended for the manual lifting of a pallet, skid, dolly, or other loadable device. Where the loadable construct is a pallet, the load resting on top of the pallet, the pallet itself, and the transport device is moved from one work area to another. Once moved, the transport device disconnects from the recently transported pallet and is ready to grab or lift another pallet and its load resting on top of the pallet to another location. Timely and efficient transportation of cargo loads placed on the upper deck is very important in manufacturing operations.",
  "cpc": [
    "B66F 9/20",
    "B23P 6/00",
    "B62D 51/001",
    "B65D 19/42",
    "B65D 2519/00781",
    "B66F 9/063",
    "G08C 17/02",
    "G08C 23/00",
    "Y10T 29/49716"
  ],
  "ipc": [
    "B23P 6/00",
    "B60K 1/00",
    "B66F 9/20",
    "G06F 7/70"
  ],
  "inventors": [
    "Arthur Eidelson"
  ],
  "filing_date": "2013-03-14",
  "publication_date": "2015-03-17",
  "grant_date": "2015-03-17",
  "priority_date": "2013-03-14",
  "application_number": "US-201313804015-A",
  "family_id": "51531560",
  "cited_by_count": 5,
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    "US20060103094A1",
    "US7661493B2",
    "EP1967484A1",
    "US8322746B1",
    "US8167061B2",
    "US8444166B1"
  ]
}