Versatile article support device

An article support device that can be arranged in a plurality of architectures to suit the user's needs and can be easily collapsed for storage and/or transported within a vehicles cargo area. The article support device uses a horizontal frame member with a plurality of positions to receive one or more vertical frame members that can be secured into desired positions. The frame members may also be arranged in an architecture to support a raised platform by attaching two or more vertical frame members to the horizontal frame member. Hinge pin receivers may be attached to the vertical frame members. The hinge pin receivers accept the hinge pins that are attached to SUV doors. When the hinge pins of SUV doors are aligned with the hinge pin receivers on a vertical frame member, the SUV doors can be secured to the article support device by lowering the SUV doors and hinge pins into the hinge pin receivers until the doors are in a position resting on the horizontal frame section the article support device. An axle frame and tires may be attached to the article support for easy mobility of the device. A plurality of axle frames may also be added to the article support to increase the load capacity of the device.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a versatile device that can support articles in a range of positions and a variety of applications as defined by the needs of the user. Wheels or casters may be easily attached to the device enabling the user to move the device and articles being supported to a desired location.

2. Background of the Prior Art

Many people who enjoy outdoor activities own sport utility vehicles (SUVs) with doors that can be removed in order to give occupants more outdoor pleasure while riding in the vehicle with doors removed. Some devices are available for storing the doors, but such devices do not offer any purpose beyond this singular function and they are not readily available for use when the SUV owner is away from home. The devices also take up space when they are not being utilized for their intended purpose. Owners of SUVs with removable doors find that they simply lack a compact device which is easy to transport and can support the removable SUV doors at their outdoor recreation destination. Owners of bulky devices that support and store the removable SUV doors have little or no use for the device when the doors are not removed.

Accordingly, there is a need in the art for a device that can increase the overall utility of a SUV door holder so that device has substantial utility to a user beyond the primary function. Such a device must provide support for a variety of articles as defined by the users' needs and also be collapsible when the device is not being utilized for easy storage or transport of the device via the limited cargo area of a vehicle. Such a device must be of relatively simple construction and be easy to use.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The versatile article support of the present invention addresses the aforementioned needs in the art by providing a device that is relatively small in size, such that it can be transported within the cargo area of most midsize SUVs and even many compact vehicles. The device is primarily comprised of rectangular frame members that can quickly be secured to an open position and readily support a variety of articles based on the user's needs. Securement holes allow the user to insert bolts, eyebolts, or hooks through the frame members to secure articles as defined by the user's needs. Casters can also be attached to the frame in order to provide mobility of the article support device.

For example, the article support device can be transported in the cargo area of a vehicle in the collapsed position. Upon arrival at a destination a user can position the article support framework such that the second frame member will be at a 90 degree angle with respect to the first frame member. Hinge pin receivers can be attached in the appropriate holes in the second frame member to align with the hinge pins of the SUV door. An individual who removes the doors from the SUV secures the doors on the article support device by aligning the door's hinge pins to the hinge pin receivers on the second frame member.

The discussion included in this patent is intended to serve as a basic description. The reader should be aware that the specific discussion may not explicitly describe all embodiments possible and alternatives are implicit. Also, this discussion may not fully explain the generic nature of the invention and may not explicitly show how each feature or element can actually be representative of a broader function or of a great variety of alternative or equivalent elements. Again, these are implicitly included in this disclosure. Where the invention is described in device-oriented terminology, each element of the device implicitly performs a function. It should also be understood that a variety of changes may be made without departing from the essence of the invention. Such changes are also implicitly included in the description. These changes still fall within the scope of this invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring now to the drawings, it is seen that the article support device of the present invention, generally denoted by reference numeral10, is comprised of a generally rectangular shaped first frame member12, and a generally rectangular shaped second frame member14.

The horizontally positioned first frame member12having tubular cross bar members13joining the first side24to the second side26by appropriate method (i.e.: welded or bonded) to form the rectangular shaped frame member12. The first frame member12having a first top side16and a first bottom side18. The first frame member12also having a first end20and a second end22. The first frame member12having a plurality of first holes15that pass horizontally through the first frame member12for securing accessories to the first frame member12and also having a plurality of second holes17that pass vertically through the first frame member12for securing accessories to the first frame member12.

The second frame member14having a second top side28and a second bottom side30, the second frame member14also having third end32and a fourth end34. The second frame member14also having a third side36and a fourth side38. The second frame member14having a first tubular cross bar member45connecting the third side36to the fourth side38proximate the third end32and the second frame member14having a second tubular cross bar member47connecting the third side36to the fourth side38proximate the fourth end34. The second frame member14also having an alignment member40attached to the second tubular cross bar member47on the second top side28of the second frame member14. The second tubular cross bar member47also having a plurality of third holes19that pass through the tubular cross bar member47. The third holes19aligning with second holes17of the first frame member12, allowing the second frame member14to be secured to the first frame member12. The second frame member14also having a plurality of fourth holes21that pass through the second frame member14for securing accessories to the second frame member14.

The second frame member14also having a plurality of hinge pin receivers52by an appropriate method (bolts, bonding, or welding). The hinge pin receivers52having a third top side53and a third bottom side54and, also having holes55passing through the hinge pin receivers52from the third top side53to the third bottom side54.

One or more second frame members14can be appropriately attached to the first frame member12in user desired position(s) in user defined fashion such that the second frame member(s)14and the hinge pin receivers52may be used to support SUV doors D when the doors are removed from the vehicle and also support platforms P, for outdoor recreational activities such as a barbeque grill G, and sink based on the user's needs.

Casters C can be attached to the first frame member12when the casters' top plates (not shown) are aligned with first holes15of the first frame member10.

One or more axle frames60may be added to the first frame member12to improve the mobility of the article support device10. An axle frame60having an axle tube62comprised of square tubing having a fifth side64, a sixth side66, a seventh side68, and an eighth side70. The axle tube62also having two fifth ends72. The axle frame60also having legs74extending at a right angle from the eighth side70proximate the fifth ends72of the axle tube62. Each leg74having an inboard side76and an outboard side78and each leg74also having a contact end79. The axle frame60also having a leg support member80. The leg support member80having a fourth top side82and a fourth bottom side84and also having sixth ends73. The leg support member80having a bend proximate the center middle such that the center of fourth top side82of the leg support member80is approximately ½″ from contact with the center of the eighth side70of the axle tube62. The sixth ends73of the leg support member80are connected to the inboard sides76of the legs74proximate the contact ends79.

The axle frame60also having a channel member86. The channel member86having a back side87and an open front side88. The channel member60also having a ninth side89and a tenth side90. Securement holes91align with first holes15in the first frame member12to allow bolts or pins (not shown) to pass through the channel members86from the ninth side89to the tenth side90in order to secure the axle frame60to the first frame member12. The axle frame can be attached to the first frame12in a first position as seen inFIG. 4andFIG. 7by sliding the open front side88of the channel member60onto a tubular cross bar member13on the first bottom side18of the first frame12. In this first position, one axle frame60has an axle (not shown) and tires T supporting the first frame member12and the legs80of a second axle frame60rest on the ground.

As seen inFIG. 8the article support device can be inverted by rotating the axle frame60to a second horizontal position wherein, the first top side18is in a resting position under the first frame12and the first bottom side16is in a resting position above the first frame12. The bend of leg support member80is now in a position such that the versatile article support10serves to support and transport a kayak K.

The axle frame60may be attached to tubular cross bar members13of the first frame12in an alternative positions by aligning securement holes91of the axle frame60with second holes17of the first frame member12. In the alternative position an axle frame60can be used on each of the tubular cross bar members13of the first frame member12as seen inFIG. 9.