CAR SLIDER ASSEMBLY
First Claim
1. A trailer assembly for transporting an automobile, comprising:
- a trailer, comprising;
a housing including a plurality of side walls and a top wall that cooperate to form an interior compartment adapted to house an automobile therein; and
at least a pair of wheels operably coupled to the housing for supporting the housing above a ground surface; and
a ramp extending rearward from the interior compartment and adapted to contacta ground surface; and
a slider assembly, comprising;
a frame assembly;
a deck supported above the frame assembly such that the deck is movable between a retracted position, wherein a majority of the deck and the frame assembly are located within the interior compartment of the housing, and an extended position, wherein a majority of the deck and the frame assembly are located outside of the interior compartment of the housing;
a drive system including a drive motor and a linkage assembly operably coupling the drive motor with the frame assembly and the deck, wherein the drive system moves the frame assembly and the deck between the retracted and extended positions;
at least one wheel assembly movable between an extending position, wherein the wheel assembly extends away from the frame assembly, and a retracted position, wherein the wheel assembly is retracted to a position proximate the frame assembly, the at least one wheel assembly adapted to support the frame assembly above the ramp and a ground surface as the frame assembly is moved between the retracted and extended positions thereof, and wherein the deck remains in a substantially horizontal position while being moved between the retracted and extended positions; and
a controller adapted to control the drive system and move the frame assembly between the retracted and extended positions thereof, and to control the at least one wheel assembly between the retracted and the extended positions thereof.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A slider assembly for loading and unloading a vehicle from a trailer includes a frame assembly movable between retracted and extended positions, a drive system including a drive motor and a linkage assembly operably coupling the drive motor with the frame assembly, wherein the drive system moves the frame assembly between the retracted and the extended positions thereof, and a wheel assembly movable between an extending position, wherein the wheel assembly extends away from the frame assembly and supports the frame above a ground surface and an angular ramp extending rearwardly of the trailer, and a retracted position, wherein the wheel assembly is retracted to a position proximate the frame assembly, and wherein the wheel assembly supports the frame assembly at a substantially constant height above a ground surface as the frame assembly is moved between the retracted and extended positions, and a controller adapted to control the drive system and move the frame assembly between the retracted and extended positions thereof, and to control the wheel assembly between the retracted and extended positions.
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Citations
30 Claims
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1. A trailer assembly for transporting an automobile, comprising:
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a trailer, comprising; a housing including a plurality of side walls and a top wall that cooperate to form an interior compartment adapted to house an automobile therein; and at least a pair of wheels operably coupled to the housing for supporting the housing above a ground surface; and a ramp extending rearward from the interior compartment and adapted to contact a ground surface; and a slider assembly, comprising; a frame assembly; a deck supported above the frame assembly such that the deck is movable between a retracted position, wherein a majority of the deck and the frame assembly are located within the interior compartment of the housing, and an extended position, wherein a majority of the deck and the frame assembly are located outside of the interior compartment of the housing; a drive system including a drive motor and a linkage assembly operably coupling the drive motor with the frame assembly and the deck, wherein the drive system moves the frame assembly and the deck between the retracted and extended positions; at least one wheel assembly movable between an extending position, wherein the wheel assembly extends away from the frame assembly, and a retracted position, wherein the wheel assembly is retracted to a position proximate the frame assembly, the at least one wheel assembly adapted to support the frame assembly above the ramp and a ground surface as the frame assembly is moved between the retracted and extended positions thereof, and wherein the deck remains in a substantially horizontal position while being moved between the retracted and extended positions; and a controller adapted to control the drive system and move the frame assembly between the retracted and extended positions thereof, and to control the at least one wheel assembly between the retracted and the extended positions thereof. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A slider assembly for loading and unloading a vehicle from a trailer, comprising:
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a frame assembly movable between a retracted position, wherein a majority of the frame assembly is adapted to be positioned above a frame of a trailer, and an extended position, wherein a majority the frame assembly is adapted to be located rearward of a frame of a trailer; a drive system including a drive motor and a linkage assembly operably coupling the drive motor with the frame assembly, wherein the drive system moves the frame assembly between the retracted and extended positions thereof; at least one wheel assembly movable between an extending position, wherein the wheel assembly extends away from the frame assembly, and a retracted position, wherein the wheel assembly is retracted to a position proximate the frame assembly, the at least one wheel assembly adapted to support the frame assembly above a downwardly-angled ramp of a trailer and a ground surface as the frame assembly is moved between the retracted and extended positions thereof, and wherein the at least one wheel assembly is adapted to contact a ramp and a ground surface and support the frame assembly in a substantially horizontal position as the frame assembly is moved between the retracted position and the extended position; and a controller adapted to control the drive system and move the frame assembly between the refracted and extended positions thereof, and to control the at least one wheel assembly between the retracted and the extended positions thereof. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
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Specification