US 11,993,329 B1
Rapid underbody kit deployment crate
Victor Wilhelm Burguess, Royal Oak, MI (US); and Frederick Carl Rickert, II, Royal Oak, MI (US)
Assigned to Government of the United States, as Represented by the Secretary of the Army, Washington, DC (US)
Filed by United States of America, as represented by the Secretary of the Army, Washington, DC (US)
Filed on Jul. 14, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/375,330.
Int. Cl. B62D 65/02 (2006.01); B62D 21/15 (2006.01); B62D 25/20 (2006.01); B66F 3/35 (2006.01); B66F 3/36 (2006.01)
CPC B62D 65/024 (2013.01) [B66F 3/35 (2013.01); B66F 3/36 (2013.01); B62D 21/155 (2013.01); B62D 25/2072 (2013.01)] 9 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A rapid underbody kit deployment crate comprising:
a pallet constructed and arranged to accommodate an underbody kit, wherein the pallet further comprises a floor having a first face, a second face opposite of the first face, a first end surface, a second end surface opposite of the first end surface, a first side surface, and a second side surface opposite of the first side surface, a first support beam attached to the first face of the floor adjacent the first side surface of the floor, a second support beam attached to the first face of the floor adjacent the second side surface of the floor, a third support beam attached to the first face of the floor adjacent the first end surface of the floor, and a fourth support beam attached to the first face of the floor adjacent the second end surface of the floor, and a plurality of skids attached to and spaced apart along the second face of the floor, and wherein the floor further comprises a plurality of first beams and a plurality of second beams interposed between the plurality of first beams, wherein a height of each of the plurality of first beams is less than a height of each of the plurality of second beams;
at least one inflatable bladder attached to the pallet, wherein the at least one inflatable bladder is constructed and arranged to vertically lift and lower the underbody kit; and
at least one cover constructed and arranged to enclose the underbody kit and at least a portion of the pallet.