Enhanced loading floor for a funeral vehicle

Abstract

A load carrying vehicle, such as a funeral vehicle, is disclosed having a vibration damper with a first end attached to the vehicle body at a first lateral distance from a longitudinal centerline of the vehicle body and a second end attached to a suspension member which, in turn, is movably attached to the vehicle body. The load carrying vehicle also includes a load carrying floor mounted to the vehicle body and located above the attachment of the first end of the vibration damper to the vehicle body, the load carrying floor having a side edge located at a second lateral distance from the longitudinal centerline of the body, such that the second lateral distance is greater than the first lateral distance. Thus, the side edge of the load carrying floor extends laterally outwardly of the attachment of the first end of the vibration damper to the vehicle body.

We claim:  
     
         1 . A load carrying vehicle having a vehicle body, at least one wheel, and at least one suspension member connected to the wheel and to the vehicle body to movably attach the at least one wheel to the vehicle body, the vehicle comprising: 
 a) a vibration damper having a first end attached to the vehicle body at a first lateral distance from a longitudinal centerline of the vehicle body, and a second end attached to the at least one suspension member; and,    b) a load carrying floor mounted to the vehicle body, the load carrying floor having a load carrying surface located above the attachment of the first end of the vibration damper to the vehicle body, the load carrying surface having a side edge located at a second lateral distance from the longitudinal centerline of the vehicle body, wherein the second lateral distance is greater than the first lateral distance, whereby the side edge extends laterally outwardly from the first end attachment of the vibration damper.    
     
     
         2 . The load carrying vehicle of  claim 1 , wherein the second end of the vibration damper is attached to the at least one suspension member at a third lateral distance from the longitudinal centerline of the vehicle body, wherein the third lateral distance is greater than the first lateral distance.  
     
     
         3 . The load carrying vehicle of  claim 1 , wherein the load carrying surface is substantially planar.  
     
     
         4 . A load carrying vehicle having a vehicle body bounding a load carrying space with inner fender panels located on opposite lateral sides of the load carrying space, the vehicle comprising: 
 a) an opening through each of the inner fender panels; and,    b) a cross-member attached to the vehicle body in the load carrying space, the cross-member extending across the load carrying space between the inner fender panels and having a vibration damper mounting portion aligned with each of the openings in the inner fender panels.    
     
     
         5 . The loading carrying vehicle of  claim 4 , further comprising a reinforcing member attached to the cross-member at each vibration damper mounting portion.  
     
     
         6 . The load carrying vehicle of  claim 4 , further comprising a load carrying floor located in the load carrying space above the vibration damper mounting portions of the cross-member, the load carrying floor having opposite side edges located laterally outwardly of the vibration damper mounting portions.  
     
     
         7 . The load carrying vehicle of  claim 6 , wherein the load carrying floor has a substantially planar load carrying surface.  
     
     
         8 . The load carrying vehicle of  claim 4 , further comprising: 
 a) at least one vehicle suspension member movably connected to the vehicle body;    b) at least one vibration damper having a first end attached to one of the vibration damper mounting portions of the cross-member and a second end attached to the at least one suspension member; and,    c) a load carrying floor located in the carrying space and having a load carrying surface located above the vibration damper mounting portions of the cross-member, the load carrying surface having at least one side edge located laterally outwardly of the attachment of the first end of the at least one vibration damper to the vibration damper mounting portion of the cross-member.    
     
     
         9 . The load carrying vehicle of  claim 8 , wherein the load carrying surface is substantially planar.  
     
     
         10 . The load carrying vehicle of  claim 8 , wherein the attachment of the second end of the at least one vibration damper is located laterally outwardly of the attachment of the first end of the at least one vibration damper to the vibration damper mounting portion of the cross-member.  
     
     
         11 . A funeral vehicle for transporting a casket or the like comprising: 
 a) a vehicle body bounding an elongated casket carrying space having a casket ingress/egress opening at one end thereof, the vehicle body having inner fender panels located on opposite lateral sides of the casket carrying space;    b) an opening through each of the inner fender panels;    c) a cross-member attached to the vehicle body in the casket carrying space, the cross-member extending across the casket carrying space between the inner fender panels and having a vibration damper mounting portion aligned with the opening in each of the inner fender panels; and,    d) a casket carrying floor located in the casket carrying space, the floor having a casket carrying surface above the vibration damper mounting portions of the cross-member with opposite side edges of the casket carrying surface located laterally outwardly of the vibration damper mounting portions of the cross-member.    
     
     
         12 . The funeral vehicle of  claim 11 , further comprising: 
 a) at least one vehicle suspension member movably connected to the vehicle body; and,    b) at least one vibration damper having at first end attached to one of the vibration damper mounting portions of the cross-member and a second end attached to the at least one suspension member, the attachment of the first end of the at least one vibration damper being located laterally inwardly from one of the side edges of the casket carrying surface.    
     
     
         13 . The funeral vehicle of  claim 11 , wherein the casket carrying surface is substantially planar.  
     
     
         14 . The funeral vehicle of  claim 11 , wherein the attachment of the second end of the at least one vibration damper is located laterally outwardly of the attachment of the first end of the at least one vibration damper to the vibration damper mounting portion of the cross-member.  
     
     
         15 . The funeral vehicle of  claim 11 , further comprising a reinforcing member attached to the cross-member at each vibration damper mounting portion.  
     
     
         16 . A method of increasing a load carrying width of a vehicle body having laterally spaced apart inner fender panels, a rear suspension, and first vibration dampers attached to each inner fender panel at first attachment points and to the rear suspension at second attachment points, the first and second attachment points being spaced apart a first distance, comprising the steps of: 
 a) removing the first vibration dampers from the vehicle;    b) removing a portion of each inner fender panel including the first attachment points to create an opening through each inner fender panel;    c) attaching a cross-member to the vehicle body such that the cross-member extends across the vehicle body between the inner fender panels, the cross-member having a third vibration damper attachment point aligned with the opening in each inner fender panel, the third attachment points being spaced from the second attachment points a second distance which is less than the first distance;    d) attaching second vibration dampers between each second and third attachment points; and,    e) mounting a load carrying floor having a load carrying surface in the vehicle body, such that the load carrying surface is located above the third attachment points and such that opposite lateral side edges of the load carrying surface are located a greater distance from a longitudinal centerline of the vehicle body than are the third attachment points.    
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the first vibration dampers each have a longitudinal centerline extending at a first oblique angle relative to a vertical plane passing through the longitudinal centerline of the vehicle body and comprising the additional step of locating the third attachment points such that the second vibration dampers each have a longitudinal centerline extending at a second oblique angle relative to the vertical plane passing through the longitudinal centerline of the vehicle body wherein the second oblique angle is substantially equal to the first oblique angle.  
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16  comprising the additional step of attaching a reinforcing member to the cross-member adjacent to each of the third attaching points prior to attaching the second vibration dampers.