ALL-TERRAIN VEHICLE TRANSPORTATION AND RECOVERY DEVICE

• US 20200130558A1
• Filed: 10/24/2019
• Published: 04/30/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 10/24/2018
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Bryan Verhulp
• Original Assignee: Bryan Verhulp
• Inventors: VERHULP, BRYAN
• Application Number:
  US16/662,463
• Publication Number:
  US 20200130558A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60P 3/07 for carrying road vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60P 3/127 on a tow dolly
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 53/045 with rigid linkage in the horizontal plane luggage trailers B62D63/064 - B62D63/067
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 63/062 Trailers with one axle or two wheels semi-trailers B62D53/06

Abstract

Off-road incidents, breakdowns etc. require that an all-terrain vehicle (ATV) is recovered. Typically, the environments these incidents occur prevent driving pick-up trucks etc. to them to use conventional trailers. Similarly, prior art mounts for towing an ATV require its placement and attachment which can be extremely difficult during warmer months when caked in mud, leaves, etc. and worse in winter when caked in snow, ice, etc. Accordingly, it would be beneficial to provide users with a means of transporting an ATV within off-road environments allowing not only a simple and easy assembly/attachment of the ATV with the ATV transportation means but also for the resulting combination of the towing vehicle, in all likelihood another ATV, and the ATV transportation means to be driven out of the off-road environment to an on-road environment for subsequent repair, transportation etc. of the broken or other ATV.

Claims

1. A device comprising:

a lower frame portion;

an upper frame portion mechanically coupled to the lower frame and rotatable relative to the lower portion;

at least a pair of wheels attached to the lower frame;

a linking bar at least one of rigidly attached and demountably attached to the lower frame at one end with a first coupling and having a second coupling at the other distal end for demountably attaching the device to a vehicle for towing the device.

2. The device according to claim 1, wherein

the upper frame comprises:

a first frame which is mechanically coupled to the lower frame and rotatable relative to the lower portion; and

a pair of slidable frame members, each slidable frame member mechanically coupled to one end of the first frame and movable relative to the first frame.

3. The device according to claim 2, further comprising

a pair of fittings, each fitting for locking a slidable frame member of the pair of slidable frame members in one position of a plurality of positions with respect to the first frame.

4. The device according to claim 1, wherein

the second coupling comprises:

a first joint mechanically coupled to the linking bar;

a second joint mechanically coupled to the first joint;

a third joint mechanically coupled to the second joint; and

a fitting for coupling to an attachment attached to the vehicle;

wherein

the first joint pivots in a plane aligned with a longitudinal axis of the linking bar;

the second joint rotates around the longitudinal axis of the linking bar; and

the third joint pivots in a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the linking bar.

5. The device according to claim 1, wherein

the height of the first coupling of the linking bar relative to the ground is higher than that the height of the second coupling at the other distal end of the linking bar;

and

the linking bar comprises a strut linking the first coupling to the second coupling;

wherein

when the device is coupled to the vehicle for towing the device a first portion of the strut from the first coupling to a predetermined point proximal the vehicle is substantially horizontal.

6. A method comprising:

providing a transportation device for moving a first vehicle with a second vehicle;

positioning the transportation device adjacent to a pair of wheels of the first vehicle;

disposing the transportation device in a vertical position with an upper frame of the transportation device adjacent to the pair of wheels of the first vehicle and a linking bar the transportation device pointing substantially perpendicular and upwards relative to the terrain upon which the pair of wheels of the first vehicle are disposed;

attaching the pair of wheels of the first vehicle to the upper frame of the transportation device;

transitioning the transportation device from this vertical position to a horizontal position by using the linking bar as a mechanical lever thereby lifting the pair of wheels of the first vehicle off the ground such that they are supported on the upper platform of the transportation device.

7. The method according to claim 6, wherein

the transportation device comprises:

a lower frame portion;

an upper frame portion mechanically coupled to the lower frame and rotatable relative to the lower portion;

at least a pair of wheels attached to the lower frame;

a linking bar at least one of rigidly attached and demountably attached to the lower frame at one end with a first coupling and having a second coupling at the other distal end for demountably attaching the device to a vehicle for towing the device.

8. The method according to claim 7, wherein

the upper frame comprises:

a first frame which is mechanically coupled to the lower frame and rotatable relative to the lower portion; and

a pair of slidable frame members, each slidable frame member mechanically coupled to one end of the first frame and movable relative to the first frame.

9. The method according to claim 7, wherein

a pair of fittings, each fitting for locking a slidable frame member of the pair of slidable frame members in one position of a plurality of positions with respect to the first frame.

10. The method according to claim 6, wherein

the second coupling comprises:

a first joint mechanically coupled to the linking bar;

a second joint mechanically coupled to the first joint;

a third joint mechanically coupled to the second joint; and

a fitting for coupling to an attachment attached to the vehicle;

the first joint pivots in a plane aligned with a longitudinal axis of the linking bar;

the second joint rotates around the longitudinal axis of the linking bar; and

the third joint pivots in a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the linking bar.

11. The method according to claim 6, wherein

the height of the first coupling of the linking bar relative to the ground is higher than that the height of the second coupling at the other distal end of the linking bar;

and

the linking bar comprises a strut linking the first coupling to the second coupling;

wherein

when the device is coupled to the vehicle for towing the device a first portion of the strut from the first coupling to a predetermined point proximal the vehicle is substantially horizontal.