Transportation rack with suspended support members

A transportation rack, comprising:

• a frame having a base configured for resting on a surface and first and second track members positioned parallel to each other and extending upwardly away from the base between respective lower ends and upper ends;
• a driven support member extending between the track members and respectively slidably connected with each of the first and second track members at opposite lateral ends of the driven support member;
• an actuator coupled between the frame and the driven support member and operable to move the driven support member between a raised position and a lowered position along the track members;
• and
• a plurality of suspended support members including an uppermost suspended support member flexibly connected with the driven support member with remaining ones of the suspended support members successively coupled together by a corresponding plurality of flexible connections such that the plurality of the suspended support members are suspended from the driven support member by the flexible connection therebetween at least when the driven support member is in the raised position;
• wherein the driven support member and the suspended support members each include first and second carriage units that slidably connect the driven support member and the suspended support members with the first and second track members to define the opposite lateral ends of first and second support members, respectively, and a horizontal member extending between the first and second carriage units, each of the carriage units includes first and second wheels, each engaged with the respective one of the first and second track members.

A transportation rack, comprising:

• a frame having a base configured for resting on a surface and first and second track members positioned parallel to each other and extending upwardly away from the base between respective lower ends and upper ends;
• a driven support member extending between the track members and respectively slidably connected with each of the first and second track members at opposite lateral ends of the driven support member and moveable between a raised position and a lowered position along the track members;
• and
• a plurality of suspended support members including an uppermost suspended support member flexibly connected with the driven support member with remaining ones of the suspended support members successively coupled together by respective flexible connections such that the suspended support members are suspended from the driven support member by a flexible connection therebetween at a suspended distance at least when the driven support member is in the raised position and the suspended support members at least partially collapse against the base of the frame such that the driven support member and the suspended support members extend through a height that is less than the suspended distance when the driven support member is in the lowered position.