Collapsible frame system for loading motor vehicles into standard cargo-carrying enclosures

Apparatus for transporting wheeled vehicles in an enclosure comprising:

• (a) an elongate, vehicle-supporting frame having a pair of transversely spaced, elongate upright sides separated by a distance and a pair of ends defining an interior space capable of enclosing a plurality of wheeled vehicles in respective upper and lower positions vertically spaced one above the other;
• (b) respective upper and lower vehicle supports connected to said sides of said frame for supporting said vehicles in said upper and lower positions, respectively, in a condition physically isolated from one another, said upper and lower vehicle supports extending transversely between said sides so as to maintain at least a predetermined distance between said sides;
• (c) means for detachably connecting said upper and lower vehicle supports to said sides;
• and
• (d) structural means independent of said upper and lower vehicle supports for normally maintaining at least said predetermined distance between said sides, said structural means including means movably connected to said sides for enabling the distance between said sides to be selectively decreased to a distance less than said predetermined distance when said vehicle supports are detached from said sides.

A method of loading wheeled vehicles into an elongate enclosure for transport therein comprising:

• (a) providing an elongate, vehicle-supporting frame having a pair of transversly spaced, elongate upright sides separated by a distance, said sides defining an interior space capable of enclosing a plurality of wheeled vehicles in respective upper and lower positions vertically spaced one above the other;
• (b) positioning at least a portion of said frame exterior of said enclosure;
• (c) while said portion of said frame is exterior of said enclosure, supporting said wheeled vehicles in said respective upper and lower positions on said frame within said interior space in a condition physically isolated from one another;
• (d) inserting said portion of said frame longitudinally into said enclosure while said vehicles are supported by said frame in said respective upper and lower positions;
• and
• (e) prior to step (c) increasing the distance between said upright sides.

A method of unloading wheeled vehicles from an elongate enclosure comprising:

• (a) providing an elongate, vehicle-supporting frame within said enclosure having a pair of transversely spaced, elongate upright sides separated by a distance, said sides defining an interior space and supporting a plurality of wheeled vehicles in respective upper and lower positions vertically spaced one above the other within said interior space in a condition physically isolated from one another;
• (b) withdrawing at least a portion of said frame to a position exterior of said enclosure;
• (c) while said portion of said frame is exterior of said enclosure, removing said wheeled vehicles from said respective upper and lower positions within said interior space;
• and
• (d) thereafter decreasing the distance between said upright sides.