US 5,797,712 A · Automobile transporting system including insertable tilt-up rack

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.

Claims16

Dependent claims

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 more elements

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.

3 more elements

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.

1 more element

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.

3 more elements

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.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Automobile transporting system including insertable tilt-up rack

Life of this patent

Automobile transporting system including insertable tilt-up rack

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims16