Automobile transporting system including insertable tilt-up rack

• US 5,797,712 A
• Filed: 08/19/1996
• Issued: 08/25/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 12/28/1993
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: G & G Intellectual Properties Incorporated
• Original Assignee: G & G Intellectual Properties Incorporated
• Inventors: Miller, David J., Gearin, Peter
• Primary Examiner(s): GORDON, STEPHEN T
• Application Number:
  US08/698,901
• Time in Patent Office: 736 Days
• Field of Search: 414/498, 414/228, 414/229, 414/234, 414/426, 410/7-11, 410/13, 410/15, 410/16, 410/19, 410/24-26, 410/30, 410/45
• US Class Current: 410/16
• CPC Class Codes: B60P 3/077 Wheel cradles, chocks, or wells
• CPC Class Codes: B60P 3/08 Multilevel-deck construction carrying vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: E04H 6/065 using tiltable floors or ramps in garages for many vehicles E04H6/26

Abstract

Apparatus for supporting automobiles, including racks each capable of carrying two automobiles, one above the other, particularly in intermodal cargo containers, and a method for use of the apparatus. Each rack includes wheels on which the rack is supported for movement when it is in a collapsed configuration, for insertion of the rack into a cargo container. A pair of wheeled cradles carries an automobile by supporting its wheels. One pair of such cradles is supported by an upper pair of longitudinal beams which are each supported by a pivot connection to a collapsible upright at one end and by an upright strut spaced apart from that end. Another pair of cradles is fastened in a selected location to a pair of horizontal lower longitudinal support members of the rack, to hold the second automobile in a desired position beneath the first. In its collapsed configuration the rack is very low, enabling several empty racks to be carried in a single cargo container.

Claims

1. An apparatus for supporting a wheeled vehicle within a defined space, comprising:

(a) a base having opposite first and second ends and including a pair of parallel horizontal longitudinal base members spaced laterally apart from each other and a transverse structure interconnecting said horizontal longitudinal base members with each other at said first end;

(b) a pair of parallel upper tier longitudinal support members located above said parallel horizontal longitudinal base members;

(c) a respective upright support subassembly located adjacent said first end of said base and including an inclined member defining a plurality of positions located therealong at a plurality of available heights for receiving and pivotally supporting a first end of each of said upper tier longitudinal support members spaced upwardly apart from a respective one of said longitudinal base members at a selected one of said plurality of available heights; and

(d) a pair of movable struts interconnecting said horizontal longitudinal base members with said upper tier longitudinal support members, each of said struts having a first end connected pivotably to a respective one of said upper tier longitudinal support members at a location spaced apart from said first end of said respective upper tier longitudinal support members and having a second end movable along a respective one of said horizontal longitudinal base members to a position in which said struts support said upper tier longitudinal support members with a respective second end of each upper tier longitudinal support member at a selected height above said horizontal longitudinal base members.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, said upright support subassembly including an upright support member hingedly attached to a respective one of said parallel horizontal longitudinal base members adjacent said first end of said base.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said upright support subassembly is collapsible with respect to said horizontal base members.

4. An apparatus for supporting a wheeled vehicle within a defined space, comprising:

(a) a base having opposite first and second ends and including a pair of parallel horizontal longitudinal base members spaced laterally apart from each other and a transverse structure interconnecting said horizontal longitudinal base members with each other at said first end;

(b) a pair of parallel upper tier longitudinal support members located above said parallel horizontal longitudinal base members;

(c) a respective upright support subassembly located adjacent said first end of said base and supporting a first end of each of said upper tier longitudinal support members at a selected height spaced upwardly apart from a respective one of said longitudinal base members, said upright support subassembly including a support member defining a plurality of connectors each capable of pivotally supporting said first end of a respective one of said upper tier longitudinal support members; and

(d) a pair of movable struts interconnecting said horizontal longitudinal base members with said upper tier longitudinal support members, each of said struts having a first end connected pivotably to a respective one of said upper tier longitudinal support members at a location spaced apart from said first end of said respective upper tier longitudinal support members, and having a second end movable along a respective one of said horizontal longitudinal base members to a position in which said struts support said upper tier longitudinal support members with a respective second end of each upper tier longitudinal support member at a selected height above said horizontal longitudinal base members.

5. An apparatus for supporting a wheeled vehicle within a defined space, comprising:

(a) a base having opposite first and second ends and including a pair of parallel horizontal longitudinal base members spaced laterally apart from each other and a transverse structure interconnecting said horizontal longitudinal base members with each other at said first end;

(b) a pair of parallel upper tier longitudinal support members located above said parallel horizontal longitudinal base members;

(c) a respective upright support subassembly located adjacent said first end of said base and supporting a first end of each of said upper tier longitudinal support members at a selected height spaced upwardly apart from a respective one of said longitudinal base members;

(d) a pair of movable struts interconnecting said horizontal longitudinal base members with said upper tier longitudinal support members, each of said struts having a first end connected pivotably to a respective one of said upper tier longitudinal support members at a location spaced apart from said first end of said respective upper tier longitudinal support members, and having a second end movable along a respective one of said horizontal longitudinal base members to a position in which said struts support said upper tier longitudinal support members with a respective second end of each upper tier longitudinal support member at a selected height above said horizontal longitudinal base members; and

(e) a mechanism associated with said base and interconnected with said second end of each of said struts for simultaneously moving said second ends of both of said struts longitudinally along said horizontal longitudinal base members and thereby adjusting the locations of said upper tier longitudinal support members with respect to said horizontal longitudinal base members.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein said mechanism includes a respective pivot bearing assembly supported by and movable along each of said horizontal longitudinal base members and a threaded shaft matingly engaged with and rotatable with respect to an interior thread defined in each said pivot bearing assembly.

7. An apparatus for supporting a wheeled vehicle within a defined space, comprising:

(a) a base having opposite first and second ends and including a pair of parallel horizontal longitudinal base members spaced laterally apart from each other and a transverse structure interconnecting said horizontal longitudinal base members with each other at said first end;

(b) a pair of parallel upper tier longitudinal support members located above said parallel horizontal longitudinal base members;

(c) a respective upright support subassembly located adjacent said first end of said base and supporting a first end of each of said upper tier longitudinal support members at a selected height spaced upwardly apart from a respective one of said longitudinal base members, said upright support subassembly including a support member hingedly attached to a respective one of said parallel horizontal longitudinal base members adjacent said first end of said base, and said support member having a wheel attached thereto, and said support member being movable to a position parallel with said horizontal longitudinal base member wherein at least a portion of said wheel extends downward beneath said base and supports said base; and

(d) a pair of movable struts interconnecting said horizontal longitudinal base members with said upper tier longitudinal support members, each of said struts having a first end connected pivotably to a respective one of said upper tier longitudinal support members at a location spaced apart from said first end of said respective upper tier longitudinal support members, and having a second end movable along a respective one of said horizontal longitudinal base members to a position in which said struts support said upper tier longitudinal support members with a respective second end of each upper tier longitudinal support member at a selected height above said horizontal longitudinal base members.

8. Apparatus for supporting wheeled vehicles in respective upper and lower, vertically spaced-apart positions within a defined space, comprising:

(a) a base assembly having a front end and a rear end and including a pair of base horizontal longitudinal members;

(b) a pair of laterally spaced-apart upper longitudinal support members each having a pair of opposite ends including a front end;

(c) a collapsible vertical support subassembly located at said front end of said base assembly, said front end of each of said upper longitudinal support members being releasably connected to said vertical support subassembly;

(d) a pair of movable struts each having a pair of opposite ends, one of said opposite ends of each said strut being connected to a respective one of said upper longitudinal support members at a location spaced apart from said front end of said respective one of said upper longitudinal support members, and the other of said opposite ends of each said strut being connected to a respective one of said base horizontal longitudinal members, said collapsible vertical support subassembly and said struts supporting said upper longitudinal support members with both of said opposite ends of each said upper longitudinal support member spaced upwardly apart from said base horizontal longitudinal members, said collapsible vertical support subassembly being hingedly attached to said base horizontal longitudinal members of said base assembly and movable into a lowered position parallel with said base horizontal longitudinal members, and each said upper longitudinal support member being movable to a position atop a respective one of said base horizontal longitudinal members when said vertical support subassembly is in said lowered position.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein said upper longitudinal support members lie atop a portion of said collapsible vertical support subassembly when said collapsible vertical support subassembly is in said lowered position.

10. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein said upper longitudinal support members are detachably attached to said base horizontal longitudinal members near said rear end of said base assembly when said vertical support subassembly is in said lowered position.

11. Apparatus for supporting wheeled vehicles in respective upper and lower, vertically spaced-apart positions within a defined space, comprising:

(a) a base assembly having a front end and a rear end and including a pair of base horizontal longitudinal members;

(b) a pair of laterally spaced-apart upper longitudinal support members each having a pair of opposite ends including a front end;

(c) a collapsible vertical support subassembly located at said front end of said base assembly, said front end of each of said upper longitudinal support members being releasably connected to said vertical support subassembly;

(d) a first wheel mounted on said collapsible vertical support subassembly, said first wheel extending downward below said base horizontal longitudinal member when said collapsible vertical support subassembly is in said lowered position parallel with said base horizontal longitudinal member;

(e) a second wheel attached to said upper longitudinal support member for rotation about a horizontal axis, said second wheel extending beneath said upper longitudinal support member;

(f) a movable strut having a pair of opposite ends, one of said opposite ends being connected to a respective one of said upper longitudinal support members at a location spaced apart from said front end of said respective one of said upper longitudinal support members and the other of said opposite ends being connected to a respective one of said base horizontal longitudinal members, said collapsible vertical support subassembly and said strut supporting said upper longitudinal support member in a position spaced upwardly apart from said base horizontal longitudinal members, said collapsible vertical support subassembly being hingedly attached to said base horizontal longitudinal member of said base assembly and movable into a lowered position parallel with said base horizontal longitudinal member, and said upper longitudinal support member being movable to a position atop said base horizontal longitudinal member when said vertical support subassembly is in said lowered position.

12. A collapsible vehicle-supporting rack having a collapsed configuration and a vehicle-ready configuration, the rack comprising:

(a) a base having opposite first and second ends;

(b) a collapsible upright support member attached to said base at said first end, said collapsible upright support member being movable between an erected position in which said collapsible upright support member extends upwardly from said base when said rack is in said vehicle-ready configuration, and a lowered position occupied by said collapsible upright support member when said rack is in said collapsed configuration; and

(c) a front wheel carried rotatably on said collapsible upright support member, said front wheel being mounted in such a position relative to said collapsible upright support member that when said collapsible upright support member is in said lowered position said front wheel extends beneath said base and thus supports said first end of said base.

13. The collapsible vehicle-supporting rack of claim 12, including an upper longitudinal support member movable between a vehicle-supporting raised position and a lowered position occupied when said vehicle-supporting rack is in said collapsed configuration, said vehicle-supporting rack further including a selectively engageable attachment device for fastening said upper longitudinal support member to said base when said rack is in said collapsed configuration, said upper longitudinal support member having first and second opposite ends corresponding with said first and second ends of said base and having a rear wheel mounted on said second end thereof, said rear wheel extending downward from said upper longitudinal support member to a position lower than said second end of said base and supporting said second end of said base when said rack is in said collapsed configuration and said selectively engageable attachment device is engaged.

14. Apparatus for supporting a wheeled vehicle to facilitate transport of the vehicle, comprising:

(a) a first cradle for carrying a first end of a wheeled vehicle, said first cradle having a body including a tire-engaging member, and a plurality of cradle support casters mounted on said body for supporting said cradle during movement thereof along a supporting surface, each said caster including a respective wheel rotatable about a horizontal central axis thereof, at least one of said cradle support casters being directionally fixed with respect to said body of said cradle; and

(b) a second cradle for carrying a second end of said wheeled vehicle, said second cradle having a body including a tire-engaging member and having a plurality of cradle support casters mounted on said body of said second cradle, each said cradle support caster of said second cradle having a respective wheel rotatable about a horizontal axis of rotation and all of said cradle support casters of said second cradle being free to pivot directionally with respect to said second cradle.

15. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein said body of each of said first and second cradles includes a front subassembly and a rear subassembly matingly connected with each other, each of said front and rear subassemblies including a respective one of said tire-engaging members, each said body further including at least one adjustable fastener holding said front subassembly mated with the respective rear subassembly in a selected position establishing a resultant spacing between opposed ones of said tire-engaging members.

16. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein each of said front and rear subassemblies includes a transverse member and a plurality of longitudinal members, said front subassembly and said rear subassembly of one of said cradles being connected with each other by interconnection of said longitudinal members of one of said subassemblies with corresponding longitudinal members of the other of said subassemblies of said one of said cradles, and wherein a plurality of said casters are mounted on each of said front and rear subassemblies, and wherein said casters support said front and rear subassemblies of said one of said cradles in matable orientations with respect to each other.