BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention

[0002] The present invention relates generally to the field of building module construction and transport. More specifically the present invention relates to a module retaining and supporting cradle apparatus for placement between a concrete building module defining either a complete or partial building onto a vehicle bed such as that of a tractor trailer or railroad car so that the module is retained against laterally sliding off the vehicle bed during transport and is supported along its entire width. The cradle apparatus includes a module supporting structure for placing laterally across a vehicle bed upper surface to at least the lateral extent of the module across the vehicle bed for full module support, stop structures extending upwardly from the module supporting structure for abutting the upright module lateral surfaces and retaining and obstructing movement of the module off the supporting structure lateral ends, and includes a module strap assembly for securing the module onto the supporting structure and the vehicle bed. The supporting structure preferably is a steel I-beam with a plank on top for cushioning the module and the stop structures preferably are steel plates welded to the I-beam longitudinal ends to extend upwardly above the I-beam and the plank.

[0003] 2. Description of the Prior Art

[0004] Concrete building modules have been transported on tractor trailer flat beds from forming sites to construction sites. Typically these modules have rested directly on the trailer bed and have been secured with straps. A problem with this prior approach has been that the module is not well anchored to the trailer bed, and because of the weight inherent in such a large concrete structure the modules have tended to shift, often dangerously, on the trailer bed. Another problem has been that lateral ends of the modules extend well beyond the trailer bed sides without support.

[0005] It is thus an object of the present invention to provide a building module retaining and supporting cradle apparatus for mounting a building module onto a vehicle flat bed so that the module is braced against movement laterally across the vehicle bed.

[0006] It is another object of the present invention to provide such a cradle apparatus which supports module lateral ends extending beyond the lateral edges of the vehicle bed.

[0007] It is still another object of the present invention to provide such a cradle apparatus which can be provided in selectable numbers and spacing along the vehicle bed to support modules of different dimensions along the vehicle bed length and to support modules of different weights, and which can be constructed in several apparatus sizes corresponding to typical module lateral extents for convenient selection to match the given module to be transported.

[0008] It is finally an object of the present invention to provide such a cradle apparatus which is highly inexpensive and easy to manufacture, and which is sturdy, reliable and durable for repeated use.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0009] The present invention accomplishes the above-stated objectives, as well as others, as may be determined by a fair reading and interpretation of the entire specification.

[0010] An apparatus is provided for supporting and retaining a concrete building module on a vehicle bed, including a module supporting structure for placing onto a vehicle bed upper surface extending to at least the extent of the module over the vehicle bed for supporting the module; and at least two stop structures extending upwardly from the module supporting structure substantially adjacent to upright module surfaces for retaining and obstructing movement of the module off the supporting structure.

[0011] The apparatus preferably additionally includes a module strap assembly for securing the module onto the supporting structure and thus onto the vehicle bed. The supporting structure preferably includes an elongate member for placement onto a vehicle bed.

[0012] The supporting structure preferably includes an I-beam having an I-web portion interconnecting two spaced apart I-end portions for orientation on a vehicle bed having a vehicle bed upper surface so that the I-web portion is substantially parallel to the vehicle bed upper surface, and so that the I-end portions extend substantially upright from the vehicle bed. The supporting structure preferably additionally includes a cushion layer secured along the length of the I-beam and against the I-end portions for providing a cushion between the I-beam and a building module resting on the supporting structure. The stop structures preferably each include an end portion plate secured to one of the I-beam longitudinal ends so that each stop structure extends upwardly above the I-beam and upwardly above the cushion layer. The I-beam preferably has a length substantially matching the lateral extent of a module to be transported. The apparatus preferably additionally includes a cushion layer mounting structure for mounting the cushion layer onto the I-beam, the cushion layer mounting structure including at least one cushion layer mounting strut secured between the I-end portions generally parallel to the I-web portion, registering holes in the cushion layer and the at least one cushion layer mounting strut, a cushion layer bolt extending through the registering holes and thereby fastening the cushion layer to the I-beam. The I-beam, the end portion plates and the mounting strut preferably are formed of steel and the end portion plates and the mounting strut preferably are secured to the I-beam with welds. The cushion layer preferably includes a wooden plank.

[0013] A module transport apparatus is provided for transporting a concrete building module, including a vehicle having a vehicle bed; a module supporting structure for placing onto a vehicle bed upper surface to at least the extent of the module over the vehicle bed for supporting the module; and at least two stop structures extending upwardly from the module supporting structure substantially adjacent to upright module surfaces for retaining and obstructing movement of the module off the supporting structure.

[0014] A module transport apparatus is further provided, including a concrete building module; a vehicle having a vehicle bed; a module supporting structure for placing onto a vehicle bed upper surface to at least the extent of the module over the vehicle bed for supporting the module; and at least one stop structure extending upwardly from the module supporting structure substantially adjacent to an upright module surface for retaining and obstructing movement of the module off the supporting structure.

[0015] A module transport apparatus is yet further provided, including a concrete building module; a vehicle having a vehicle bed; a module supporting structure for placing onto a vehicle bed upper surface to at least the extent of the module over the vehicle bed for supporting the module; and at least two stop structures extending upwardly from the module supporting structure substantially adjacent to upright module surfaces for retaining and obstructing movement of the module off the supporting structure.