US 12,330,730 B2
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 Government of the United States, as represented by the Secretary of the Army, Washington, DC (US)
Filed on Apr. 10, 2024, as Appl. No. 18/631,313.
Application 18/631,313 is a division of application No. 17/375,330, filed on Jul. 14, 2021, granted, now 11,993,329.
Prior Publication US 2024/0253717 A1, Aug. 1, 2024
Int. Cl. B62D 65/02 (2006.01); B66F 3/35 (2006.01); B66F 3/36 (2006.01); B62D 21/15 (2006.01); B62D 25/20 (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 method of installing an underbody kit to a vehicle comprising:
providing a rapid underbody kit deployment crate comprising a pallet, at least one inflatable bladder attached to the pallet, and at least one cover;
removing the at least one cover from the pallet;
placing the underbody kit onto the pallet and the at least one inflatable bladder;
securing the at least one cover back onto the pallet;
transporting the rapid underbody kit deployment crate to an assembly location;
removing the at least one cover from the pallet;
driving the vehicle over the rapid underbody kit deployment crate;
inflating the at least one inflatable bladder with a fluid to vertically lift the underbody kit into installation position;
installing the underbody kit to an underbody of the vehicle;
deflating the at least one inflatable bladder by releasing the fluid from the at least one inflatable bladder; and
driving the vehicle away from the rapid underbody kit deployment crate.