Patent ID: 6368034
Filing Date: 2002-04-09
Classification: B60P

Abstract:
An apparatus for storing golf carts vehicles and specialized loads in generally fixed positions relative to one another during transport of the stored vehicles by a much larger over-the-road wheeled vehicle while simultaneously storing conventional-type loads for transport therein, said apparatus comprising:a generally box-like main storage compartment having a floor of generally parallelogram configuration, a pair of spaced apart, generally parallel generally rigid wall members, said wall members being connected to said floor adjacent respective opposite edge portions thereof and extending substantially perpendicularly therefrom, and a cover supported on said wall members in generally facing relation to said floor, the area of said cover bounded by said wall members defining the ceiling of said main storage compartment, a front end formed at one end of said main storage compartment and an access opening formed at one end of said main storage compartment; a shelf disposed interiorly of said main storage compartment and movable therein, said shelf having opposite sides adjacent to said wall members, a front end and a back end, and having a substantially rigid surface for supporting a plurality of golf carts, vehicles and specialized loads, said shelf substantially conforming to the width of said ceiling and having a length substantially less than the length of said wall members; control means for selectively moving said shelf toward and away from said ceiling, and for selectively moving said shelf about a nonrotatable movement axis thereof, said control means being operable to move said shelf between: a loading position for loading the golf carts, vehicles and specialized loads thereon at which said front end of said shelf is disposed intermediate said ceiling and said floor, and said back end is disposed adjacent to said floor, said shelf being disposed generally downwardly inclined from said front end of said shelf toward said floor, a transport position for supporting the golf carts, vehicles and specialized loads during transport thereof at which said shelf is supported and disposed intermediate said ceiling and said floor and generally parallel thereto, and a storage position at which said shelf is disposed in substantially flush relation with a selected one of said ceiling or said floor, whereby said compartment can be used to store bulk material in the portion thereof not occupied by said shelf and store golf carts, vehicles and specialized loads on the portion thereof occupied by said shelf; and mounting means for connecting said shelf to said wall members, said mounting means including shelf supporting means and a pivoting means on said front end of said shelf, said pivoting means in communication with said shelf supporting means for providing for relative movement of said shelf about an axis generally transverse to said wall members, and wherein said pivoting means includes a rod assembly having a hollow, substantially cylindrical outer member, said outer member extending substantially across the width of said front end of said shelf and having opposite open ends; and a substantially cylindrical inner member positioned within said outer member, said inner member having opposite ends extending outward through said open ends of said outer member, and wherein said inner member defines said nonrotatable movement a of said shelf, about which said outer member is rotatable relative to said inner member for pivotal movement of said shelf between said loading position and said transport position.