DOLLY FOR ATTACHMENT TO A VEHICLE HITCH

• US 20200130722A1
• Filed: 07/06/2018
• Published: 04/30/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 07/07/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Inotev, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Inotev, Inc.
• Inventors: Gamache, Yves, Couture, Etienne
• Granted Patent: US 11,643,125 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60D 1/58 Auxiliary devices
• CPC Class Codes: B60D 2001/005 for carts, scooters, or the like
• CPC Class Codes: B62B 2205/104 Detachable wheel units, e.g. together with the wheel shaft
• CPC Class Codes: B62B 2205/12 Collapsible wheels
• CPC Class Codes: B62B 5/0003 Adaptations for loading in or on a vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B62B 5/067 Stowable or retractable handle bars
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 63/064 light luggage or equipment trailers, e.g. for batteries, gas generators, gas bottles, stretchers luggage carriers per se B60R
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 63/065 forming an extension of the towing vehicle, i.e. with two point fixation

Abstract

A dolly for attachment to a vehicle hitch is disclosed. The dolly includes a connection assembly for connecting and disconnecting the dolly to the vehicle hitch. The connection assembly also allows to position the dolly from a ramp position in which the support surface is inclined, to a loading position in which the support surface is raised and parallel to the ground, for loading the object from the dolly to the vehicle. The connection assembly also allows to position the dolly from the loading position to a transport position. In the transport position, the support surface is upright and extends along the rear of the vehicle, for transporting the dolly with the vehicle, once the object has been loaded in the vehicle. A method of operating the dolly is also provided.

Claims

1. A dolly for attachment to a vehicle hitch, comprising:

a support assembly including a support surface, the support assembly comprising two ends and two lateral sides;

at least one wheel operatively connected near one of the ends of the support assembly;

a connection assembly comprising a dolly component and a hitch component, the hitch component having one end connectable to the vehicle hitch and a second end removably engageable with the dolly component, the dolly component being operatively connected to the support assembly, the connection assembly allowing, when the dolly and hitch components are engaged, and the hitch component is connected to the vehicle hitch,

movement of the dolly from a ramp position to a loading position wherein;

in the ramp position, the support surface is inclined relative to the ground,

in the loading position, the support surface is parallel and raised above the ground; and

movement of dolly from the loading position to a transport position wherein;

in the transport position, the support surface extends vertically relative to the ground, for transporting the dolly.

2. The dolly according to claim 1, wherein the movement of the dolly from the ramp position to the loading position is a pivoting movement about a first axis which extends along a length of the vehicle.

3. The dolly according to claim 2, wherein the movement of the dolly from the loading position to the transport position is a rotational movement about a second axis which extends along a width of the vehicle.

4. The dolly according to claim 3, comprising a locking mechanism for locking the dolly in the loading position and in the transport position.

5. The dolly according to claim 4, wherein:

the dolly component comprises a projection extending from one the lateral sides of the support assembly, and

the second end of the hitch component which is removably engageable with the dolly component comprises two segments at angle;

a first segment extending parallel to the ground when the first end of the hitch assembly is connected to the hitch, the projection being secured to the first section when the dolly is in the loading position;

a second segment extending perpendicular to the ground when the first end of the hitch assembly is connected to the hitch, the projection being secured to the second segment when the dolly is in the transport position.

6. The dolly according to claim 5, wherein the projection comprises a projection groove, the connection assembly comprising a rotation pin insertable through the projection groove to guide rotation of the projection when moving the dolly between the loading and the transport position, and a locking pin insertable to the projection groove to secure the projection to the first segment or the second segment, depending on whether the dolly is in the loading position or in the transport position.

7. The dolly according to claim 3, comprising an anti-tilting bar to restrict rotational movement of the dolly about the axis of the projection in one direction.

8. The dolly according to claim 3, wherein the connection assembly comprises a latch and catch assembly wherein:

the dolly component of the connection assembly corresponds to a catch assembly operatively secured to the support assembly, the catch assembly comprising a projection defining a projection axis; and

the hitch component of the connection assembly corresponds to a latch assembly comprising the first end and the second end, wherein the second end is configured to removably latch onto the catch assembly and allow pivoting or rotational movement of the dolly via the projection.

9. The dolly according to claim 8, wherein the latch assembly comprises a clamp engageable with the catch assembly, the clamp comprising a locking mechanism configured to secure the projection within the latch assembly.

10. The dolly according to claim 9, wherein the support assembly comprises at least one upstanding barrier for confining the object to the support surface, the at least one upstanding barrier being collapsible onto the support surface, the dolly being configurable between a deployed configuration wherein the at least one upstanding barrier is raised, and a collapsed configuration, wherein the at least one upstanding barrier is lowered on the support surface.

11. The dolly according to claim 10, wherein the at least one wheel is part of a wheel assembly, the wheel assembly being configurable between a rolling position and a stored position.

12. The dolly according to claim 11, wherein in the rolling position, the wheel axis extends parallel to the support surface, and in the stored position, the wheel axis extends perpendicular to the support surface.

13. The dolly according to claim 10, wherein said at least one wheel comprises two wheels, the dolly further comprising two wheel shafts pivotable relative to the lateral sides of the support assembly, each wheel shaft comprising one of said two wheels at a first end thereof, the wheel shafts being pivotable between an operating position in which the wheel extend away from the support surface, and a collapsed position in which the wheel lie flat along the support surface.

14. The dolly according to claim 13, each wheel shaft is sized and configured to receive at a first end thereof a handle or a second wheel.

15. The dolly according to claim 10, wherein said at least one wheel comprises four wheels, the dolly comprising two wheel shafts pivotally secured on the support assembly, each wheel shaft comprising a pair of wheels, the wheel shafts being pivotable between an operating position in which the pair of wheels extend away from the support surface, and a collapsed position in which the pair of wheels lie flat along the support surface.

16. The dolly according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the hitch component and the dolly component of the connection assembly is configurable between an extended configuration and retracted configuration, for positioning the dolly closer or farther away from the vehicle, when the dolly is connected to the hitch.

17. The dolly according to claim 16, wherein at least one of the hitch component and dolly component of the connection assembly comprises a telescoping member, configurable between an extended and retracted configuration, for spacing the dolly closer or farther away from the vehicle, when the dolly is connected to the hitch.

18. The dolly according to claim 17, comprising a handle assembly operatively connected to the support assembly, the handle assembly comprising a handle arm pivotally connected at one of the ends of the dolly, and configurable between a stored position where the handle arm is slid under the support surface, substantially parallel thereto, and a deployed position where the handle arm extends away from the support assembly therefore allowing the handle arm to be grasped.

19. The dolly according to claim 18, wherein the connection assembly is sized and configured such that when the dolly is in the loading position, the support surface extends substantially at the same height as the trunk floor of the vehicle.

20. A dolly for attachment to a vehicle hitch, for facilitating loading of an object from the dolly onto a vehicle, and transport of the dolly by the vehicle once the object has been loaded onto the vehicle, the dolly comprising:

a support assembly including a support surface for supporting an object, the support surface comprising two ends and two lateral sides;

at least one wheel operatively connected near one of the ends of the support surface;

a connection assembly operable to;

connect and disconnect the dolly to the vehicle hitch; and

change a position of the dolly relative to the vehicle and the ground, when the dolly is connected to the vehicle hitch,

from a ramp position in which the support surface is inclined, to a loading position in which the support surface is raised and parallel to the ground, for loading the object from the dolly to the vehicle; and

from the loading position to the transport position, in which the support surface is upright and extends along the rear of the vehicle, for transporting the dolly with the vehicle, once the object has been loaded in the vehicle.

21-23. -23. (canceled)

24. A dolly comprising:

a frame having lateral sides, a front end and a rear end;

at least one wheel provided at the front end of the frame;

a handle provided at the rear end of the frame;

a support assembly connected to the frame, the support assembly comprising a support surface for supporting an object and a barrier or wall for confining the object on the support surface;

a catch secured to the frame, the catch comprising a projection defining an axis;

a latch assembly comprising a first end and a second end, the first end being connectable to the trailer hitch and the second end being configured to removably latch with the catch and to allow rotational movement of the dolly about the axis of the projection, the latch assembly and the dolly being hingedly attached to one another allowing the dolly to be adjusted between a loading position in which the support surface is horizontal and a transport position in which the support surface is vertical; and

a locking mechanism for locking the dolly in the loading position and in the transport position.