Freight Handling Apparatus

Abstract

A freight handling apparatus includes at least one of a container or a platform. The container has a front to receive freight and a first retaining feature disposed at the front. The platform has a side that may be laterally opposed to the front of the container and a second retaining feature disposed at the side. The platform retaining feature may cooperate with the container retaining feature to releasably retain the platform to the container.

1 . A freight handling apparatus comprising:
 at least one container to receive freight and having a front and at least one first retaining feature carried at the front; and   at least one platform having at least one side adjacent the front of the container and at least one second retaining feature carried at the side of the platform and cooperating with the first retaining feature to releasably retain the platform to the container.   
   
   
       2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the first retaining feature is an opening in a portion of the container and the second retaining feature is a latch member for cooperation with the opening. 
   
   
       3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second retaining features include longitudinally extending first and second guides cooperating with one another such that the platform is longitudinally movable along the container. 
   
   
       4 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein the first and second guides include guide rails. 
   
   
       5 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the container includes a base including risers defining fork channels and a housing carried on the risers, wherein the first retaining feature is carried on one of the risers along a front of the housing, and wherein the platform includes a base including a front and a side, wherein the second retaining feature is carried by the platform base along the side and is configured to be overlapped with respect to the first retaining feature when the platform is retained to the container. 
   
   
       6 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the platform includes a base, a deck carried on the base, and supports depending from the base and including legs attached to the base, feet attached to the legs, and shoes carried by the feet. 
   
   
       7 . The apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein the shoes are composed of a wearable material. 
   
   
       8 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the platform includes a base including a front and handles carried at the front and including removable posts extending upwardly away from the base. 
   
   
       9 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a ramp including a horizontal portion to overlap a portion of the platform, and a locator pin to locate within a locating hole of the platform. 
   
   
       10 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , being adapted to be disposed within a freight carrier having a floor, and further comprising a third guide feature disposed along the floor of the freight carrier in front of the container, wherein the third guide feature is adapted to cooperate with a corresponding portion of the platform to guide the platform along the front of the container. 
   
   
       11 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the third guide feature is a groove in the floor of the freight carrier and is adapted to cooperate with feet of the platform. 
   
   
       12 . A freight handling apparatus for a freight carrier having a floor, comprising:
 at least one container having a front;   a first guide extending longitudinally along the front of the container; and   at least one platform having a side laterally opposed to the front of the container and a second guide extending longitudinally along the side and cooperating with the first guide such that the platform is laterally retained to, and longitudinally translatable along, the front of the container.   
   
   
       13 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein the first guide is adapted to be carried by the floor of the freight carrier, and the second guide includes feet of the platform. 
   
   
       14 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein the container includes a base and the first guide is carried by the base. 
   
   
       15 . The apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein the base includes a riser and the first guide is carried by the riser. 
   
   
       16 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein the container includes a base including risers defining fork channels and a housing carried on the risers, wherein the first guide is carried on one of the risers along a front of the housing, and wherein the platform includes a base having a front and a side, wherein the second guide is carried by the platform base along the side and is configured to be overlapped with respect to the first guide when the platform is retained to the container. 
   
   
       17 . A freight handling apparatus comprising a container having a front, and at least one retaining feature carried longitudinally along the front. 
   
   
       18 . The apparatus of  claim 17 , further comprising a platform having at least one side, and a retaining feature carried longitudinally along the side, wherein the platform retaining feature cooperates with the container retaining feature to laterally retain the platform to the container and allow the platform to be moved longitudinally along the front of the container. 
   
   
       19 . A freight handling apparatus comprising a platform having at least one side, and a retaining feature carried longitudinally along the side. 
   
   
       20 . The apparatus of  claim 19 , further comprising a container having a front, and at least one retaining feature carried longitudinally along the front, wherein the platform retaining feature cooperates with the container retaining feature to laterally retain the platform to the container and allow the platform to be moved longitudinally along the front of the container. 
   
   
       21 . A portable floor surface for use to facilitate unloading a container having a floor, the portable floor surface comprising:
 a body having opposite front and rear ends with a lower surface and an upper surface extending between said front and rear ends, said lower surface and upper surface being spaced a predetermined distance from one another to bring said upper surface into a generally flush relation with the floor of the container when said lower surface is resting on a common floor surface with the container; and   a latch member operably associated with said body and adapted for operable engagement with the container to releasably lock said portable floor surface to the container.   
   
   
       22 . The portable floor surface of  claim 21  further comprising another latch member operably associated with said body and adapted for operable engagement with a second container adjacent the first container and in the same row as the first container to releasably lock said portable floor surface to the second container. 
   
   
       23 . The portable floor surface of  claim 21  further comprising at least one roller operably attached to said rear end, said roller engaging the common floor surface when the false floor is inclined relative to the common floor surface to facilitate transporting said portable floor surface. 
   
   
       24 . The portable floor surface of  claim 21  wherein said lower surface defines a plane and said at least one roller is spaced upwardly from the plane. 
   
   
       25 . The portable floor surface of  claim 24  wherein said at least one roller is spaced from the common floor surface when said lower surface is resting flat on the common floor surface. 
   
   
       26 . The portable floor surface of  claim 25  further including a hand grip adjacent said front end to facilitate lifting and transporting said portable false floor on said at least one roller.