Abstract:
A loading and transporting system for a motorcycle the includes a carrier mounted in a transporting vehicle and a ramp removably attached to the carrier, the ramp having an arched shape to prevent motorcycles having a low ground clearance from “bottoming out.” The carrier includes guide rails attached to the vehicle to allow the motorcycle to sit relatively low in the vehicle. Struts made of strong tubing are also provided to stabilize the motorcycle during transportation.

Description:
[0001]     This invention claims the benefit of co-pending U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/493,315, entitled “Loading and Transporting System”, filed Aug. 6, 2003, the entire disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference as if set forth in its entirety for all purposes. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     This invention is directed to a loading and transporting system and, more particularly, to a modular rail and motorized trolley system for loading and transporting personal recreational vehicles such as motorcycles.  
         [0003]     The popularity of personal recreation vehicles such as motorcycles has increased over the years. Many users of such personal recreation vehicles wish to transport the vehicle to remote locations or to carry such vehicles for use during a vacation away from home. There is a need for a system to load, transport, and unload such a vehicle into and out of a transportation vehicle such as a van, truck, motor home, or other automobile.  
         [0004]     Various systems do exist for this purpose. However, such systems are limited by their difficultly of use and/or assembly. For example, many such systems utilize a ramp to assist loading and unloading motorcycles and other craft into and out of an automobile. However, motorcycles or crafts having a low ground clearance cannot be easily loaded and unloaded because the ramp configuration causes the motorcycle to “bottom out.” Additionally, current systems are not compact and, because of the construction of the system that secures the motorcycle during travel, the motorcycle takes up a large amount of space or headroom in the automobile. Furthermore, current systems use various types of securing devices such as straps to fasten and secure the motorcycle during travel. However, such securing devices are difficult to use and often require many adjustments in order to secure the motorcycle.  
         [0005]     Another disadvantage of current systems is that they are typically made of relatively thick steel members and require many parts, which increases the size, weight, and expense of the system. Furthermore, such systems are typically difficult to assemble and store when not in use.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0006]     The present invention overcomes the problems of current systems by providing a loading and transporting system for motorcycles that allows loading and unloading of motorcycles having low ground clearance, that is compact and utilizes less headroom in the automobile, and that utilizes unique struts to secure and stabilize the motorcycle during travel. The present invention additionally provides a loading and transporting system that is lightweight and is easy to install and assemble.  
         [0007]     This invention provides an improved loading and transporting system for safe loading and transportation of motorcycles inside of or upon land-based motor vehicles. The loading and transportation system preferably includes mechanisms and devices for raising the motorcycle, installing the motorcycle, stabilizing the motorcycle, and enabling movement of the motorcycle. A loading ramp for raising the motorcycle onto the motor vehicle is preferably arched in profile and is preferably made of rigid material such as metal. It is preferably an integral unit and directs the travel of a loading trolley and directs the travel of the motorcycle rear wheel. The ramp removably connects to a carrier secured to the bed of the motor vehicle. The carrier is preferably straight in profile and is made of a rigid material such as metal. The carrier is an integral unit and directs the travel of the trolley and also directs the travel of the motorcycle rear wheel. The ramp and carrier are connected together with a connection that is easy to connect and disconnect. A winch is mounted to the carrier and connects to the trolley to load and unload the motorcycle. The trolley immobilizes the front wheel of the motorcycle and vertically braces the motorcycle during transport. The trolley rigidifies the entire unit and interfaces with both the ramp and carrier during loading and transport of the motorcycle. The trolley preferably includes low friction rollers or bushings made of plastic or rubber that interface with the ramp and carrier. The winch preferably contains a power driven cargo-conveying device that connects to the trolley. The winch preferably includes a forward and reverse selectable power interface.  
         [0008]     The loading and transporting system is operated by first connecting the carrier into or upon the transporting vehicle by use of mounting machine bolts inserted through holes in the carrier and holes drilled through the transporting vehicle. The forward and reverse selectable power interface of the winch is then connected to the power source of the vehicle by hardwire. The trolley is then inserted into the carrier and connected to the power driven cargo-conveying device of the winch. The ramp is then connected to the carrier. The forward and reverse selectable power interface of the winch is then set to reverse and engaged until the trolley has come to rest at the bottom of the ramp. The motorcycle is now positioned in such a manner as to orient it with the front wheel directed towards the trolley and is then moved forward until the front wheel becomes entrapped in the trolley. The motorcycle may then be attached to the trolley by a retaining device, which connects to the front axel of the motorcycle and to the trolley. Two additional retaining devices are attached to each side of the motorcycle on one end and to the trolley on the other end. Once the motorcycle has been securely attached to the trolley the forward and reverse selectable interface of the winch is then set to forward and engaged. The movement of the trolley then conveys the motorcycle from the ramp onto the carrier. Movement is terminated when the trolley contacts the forward and reverse selectable interface of the winch. The ramp is then disconnected and placed in the transporting vehicle. The motorcycle is then secured to the transporting vehicle with tie-downs as necessary for safe transport.  
         [0009]     These and other embodiments are described in more detail in the following detailed description and figures.  
         [0010]     The foregoing is not intended to be a limiting description of the invention as persons skilled in the art are capable of appreciating other embodiments and features for the following detailed description in conjunction with the drawings. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0011]      FIG. 1  is a side view of the loading and transporting system mounted to a motor vehicle shown in phantom.  
         [0012]      FIG. 2  is a top view of the system as shown in  FIG. 1 .  
         [0013]      FIG. 3  is a top view of the ramp.  
         [0014]      FIG. 4  is a side view of  FIG. 3 .  
         [0015]      FIG. 5  is a sectional view taken along line  5 - 5  in  FIG. 3 .  
         [0016]      FIG. 6  is a top view of the carrier.  
         [0017]      FIG. 7  is a sectional view taken along line  7 - 7  in  FIG. 6 .  
         [0018]      FIG. 8  is a top view of the trolley.  
         [0019]      FIG. 9  is a rear end view of the trolley.  
         [0020]      FIG. 10  is a side view of the assembly shown in  FIG. 9 .  
         [0021]      FIG. 11  is an isometric view of the trolley and carrier assembly.  
         [0022]      FIG. 12  is a rear end view of the trolley and carrier assembly with the winch.  
         [0023]      FIG. 13  is a view of one of the struts forming the strut retainer system.  
         [0024]      FIG. 14  is a side view of an alternative embodiment of the ramp.  
         [0025]      FIG. 15  is an enlarged partial view of the hinge of the ramp of  FIG. 14 .  
         [0026]      FIG. 16  is an enlarged partial top view of the hinge of  FIG. 15 .  
         [0027]      FIG. 17  is a top view of another embodiment of the trolley.  
         [0028]      FIG. 18  is a rear view of the embodiment of  FIG. 17 .  
         [0029]      FIG. 19  is a side view of the embodiment of  FIG. 17 .  
         [0030]      FIG. 20  is a view showing a cross section of a preferred embodiment of the carrier and trolley.  
         [0031]      FIG. 21  is a side view of a preferred embodiment of the ramp.  
         [0032]      FIG. 22  is a cross section of the ramp of  FIG. 21 .  
         [0033]      FIG. 23  is a partial enlarged assembly of the ramp and carrier of  FIGS. 20 and 21 .  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0034]      FIGS. 1-13  show a first embodiment of the loading and transporting system  10  of the present, which includes a ramp  12  for loading/unloading a motorcycle to and from an automobile (shown in phantom), a carrier  14  secured to the bed of the automobile for carrying the motorcycle during transport, a trolley  16  onto which the motorcycle is secured for moving the motorcycle along the ramp  12  and carrier  14 , and a winch  18  attached to carrier  14  and connected to the power system of the automobile for pulling trolley  16  along the ramp  12  and carrier  14 . The entire system may be made of a lightweight metal such as aluminum and may be heat-treated for strength. However, the invention is not limited to aluminum and may be made of other suitable materials.  
         [0035]     Ramp  12  includes two opposed arched guide rails  20  connected such as by welding to plural cross members  22 . In this embodiment guide rails  20  are preferably made of aluminum U-channel. An arched center guide channel  24  is formed by spaced members  24   a  and  24   b  ( FIGS. 3 and 5 ) to guide the motorcycle wheels. Members  24   a  and  24   b  are connected such as by welding to cross members  22 . A base plate  26  is hinged to one end of ramp  12  to assist loading the motorcycle onto ramp  12 . Ramp  12  includes a pair of hook-shaped bayonet mounts  28  ( FIGS. 3 and 4 ) at one end for connection with carrier  14 .  
         [0036]     Carrier  14  of this embodiment, shown best in  FIGS. 6 and 7 , is preferably formed of opposed straight U-channel guide rails  30  interconnected such as by welding to plural cross members  32 . Mounting members  34  are similarly connected to guide rails  30  for mounting carrier  14  to the bed of an automobile. Carrier  14  may be mounted into or onto the transporting vehicle or automobile by bolts (not shown) extending through mounting members  34  and into the bed of the transporting vehicle. A U-shaped center guide channel member  36  is located between guide rails  30  and is formed by opposed members  36   a  and  36   b  welded or otherwise secured to a cross member  32  and a mounting member  34  to guide the wheels of the motorcycle during loading and locate the rear motorcycle wheel during transport. A winch mounting plate  38  is welded or otherwise connected to one end of carrier  14  to provide support for mounting winch  18 . Slotted bayonet mount receivers  40  are provided at the other end of carrier  14  for connection with bayonet mounts  28  on ramp  12 .  
         [0037]     Trolley  16  is preferably formed of a pair frame gussets  42  connected between a front axel  44  and a rear axel  46 . Front axel  44  and rear axel  46  each include a pair of guide bushings or rollers  48  made of, for example, nylon, that are slip-fit over the ends of the front and rear axels  44 ,  46 . Guide bushings  48  are inserted into straight guide rails  30  in such a manner as to allow guide bushings  48  to travel inside straight guide rails  30  of carrier  14  and also in arched guide rails  20  of ramp  12 . In order to hold the front wheel of the motorcycle a wheel saddle  50  is preferably welded along its sides to frame gussets  42 . Wheel saddle  50  has a semi-tubular shape and preferably includes a cutout area  50   b  and an angle portion  50   a  to more securely hold the motorcycle front wheel. Wheel saddle  50  is welded at one end to a cargo stabilizer gusset  52 , which is welded to front axel  44 . At the other end wheel saddle  50  is welded to a rear axel gusset  51  that is welded to rear axel  46 . To support angled portion  50   a  a yoke  54  is welded between angled portion  50   a  and cargo stabilizer gusset  52 . Trolley  16  may also include a wheel retainer strap (not shown) made of any suitable strong and durable material and held in retainer strap slot  56  ( FIG. 10 ). The retainer strap is configured to extend through the front wheel with opposed loose ends tied or otherwise secured together to further hold the motorcycle front tire.  
         [0038]     Winch  18 , seen most clearly in  FIG. 12 , may be a commercially available 12-volt motorized strap winch having a two-way control/switch box that is capable of being contacted by trolley  16 . Winch  18  is bolted or otherwise mounted to winch mounting plate  36  and is also connected to the power system of the transporting vehicle through the two-way control box/switch. The strap end of winch  18  may be connected to trolley  16  by inserting a metal hook (not shown) into an attachment hole  58  ( FIG. 10 ) in yoke  54 .  
         [0039]     During transport at least two stabilizer struts  120 , one of which is shown in  FIG. 13 , preferably made of metal, such as aluminum, are attached at one end to corresponding mounting holes  53  located in cargo stabilizer gusset  52  ( FIG. 9 ). The other ends of struts  120  are attached to the motorcycle with metal hooks.  FIG. 13  shows a strut  120  that is representative of plural struts forming a strut retainer system. Strut  120  includes an external tube  122  and a telescoping internal tube  124 . The length of strut  120  may be varied by adjusting internal and external struts  122 ,  124 , and locking them in place by inserting a clevis pin  126  into aligned locking holes  128 . Strut  120  is connected to trolley  16  and the motorcycle by commercially available quick release ball joints. For example, strut  120  includes a ball member  129  at the bottom that serves as a male member that snaps into female mounting hole  53  of cargo stabilizer gusset  52 . The motorcycle is retrofit with a ball member similar to  129  that serves as a male member that snaps into female opening  130  at the top of strut  120 .  
         [0040]     When it is desired to load and transport a motorcycle ramp  12  is connected to carrier  14  by interlocking bayonet mounts  28  in bayonet mount receivers  40 . The strap of winch  18  is connected to yoke  54 . The two-way control/switch box on winch  18  is set to the release mode and winch  18  is engaged so that trolley  16  can be manually guided along carrier  14  and ramp  12  to a stable position on base plate  26 . The front wheel of the motorcycle is guided into wheel saddle  50  on trolley  16  and may be held in place by the retainer strap, which, if used, attaches to the front axel of the motorcycle and encircles wheel saddle  50 . Struts  120  are attached to cargo stabilizer gusset  52  on trolley  16  and the motorcycle by the quick release ball joints to secure the motorcycle in a vertical position.  
         [0041]     The two-way control/switch box on winch  18  is set to the retrieve mode and winch  18  is engaged. As the strap of winch  18  is retrieved trolley  16  travels via arched guide rails  20  of ramp  12  to the point where trolley  16  enters straight guide rails  30  of carrier  14 . Concurrently, the rear wheel of the motorcycle travels on ramp  12  via center guide channel  24 . Once engaged with straight guide rails  30  trolley  16  continues to travel along carrier  14  until yoke  54  contacts stops (not shown) that may be located on either winch  18  or on winch mounting plate  36 . The two-way control/switch box of winch  18  is then manually set to a disengage position. The motorcycle may then be secured to the transporting vehicle by standard tie-downs, as necessary. Ramp  12  is then disengaged from carrier  14  and may be stored in the transporting vehicle for later use.  
         [0042]     To unload the motorcycle, ramp  12  is again attached to carrier  14  through bayonet mounts  28  and bayonet mount receivers  40 . Base plate  36  is then attached to the opposite end of ramp  12 . The standard tie-downs, if used, are then removed and the two-way control/switch box is set to the release mode. Winch  18  is then engaged so that trolley  16  is manually guided along straight guide rails  30  of carrier  14  and arched guide rails  20  of ramp  12  until the motorcycles reach base plate  36 . The two-way control/switch box of winch  18  is then disengaged. Stabilizer struts  120  are then removed from the motorcycle. If used, the retainer strap is then removed and the front wheel of the motorcycle is removed from wheel saddle  50 . The two-way control/switch box of winch  18  is once again set to the retrieve mode and winch  18  is engaged to pull trolley  16  up ramp  12  and along carrier  14  until yoke  54  contacts winch mounting plate  36 . Ramp  12  and base plate  36  are then disengaged from carrier  14 .  
         [0043]      FIGS. 14-16  show another embodiment of a ramp in the form of a folding ramp  108 . As seen in  FIG. 14 , ramp  108  is arched and has a substantially S-shape with an interlocking hinge  110  about which ramp  108  may be folded. Ramp  108  may also include cap ends  112  that serve as stop rollers for the trolley. Preferably, ramp  108  uses aluminum diamond plate stress panel for structure and tire surface. Hinge  110  may be formed of interlocking members  114  and  116  that may be welded to sides of ramp  108  and interconnected by a hinge pin  118 .  
         [0044]      FIGS. 17-19  show an alternative trolley  180  that includes a wheel saddle  182  with a cutout  184  that receives the front wheel of the motorcycle. A drop down entry ramp  186  is connected to trolley  180  through a friction hinge  188 . Cargo stabilizer gusset  190  includes strut mounts  192  with holes  194  that connect to struts  120  through the quick release ball joint in the manner described above. A strap mount  193  ( FIG. 18 ) for connection to the strap of winch  18  is provided at one end of trolley  180  and retainer strap holder  196  may be provided on trolley  180  to further secure the motorcycle, if desired. Trolley  180  is otherwise constructed substantially similar to the embodiment of trolley  16  ( FIG. 8 ) including frame gussets  142 , rear axle  146 , guide bushings  148 , and rear axle gusset  151 .  
         [0045]      FIGS. 20-22  show a preferred embodiment of a ramp  208 , a carrier  224 , and a trolley  180 . Carrier  212  includes rails  220  that are preferably formed of metal rectangular tubes. Carrier  212  includes mounting members  224  similar to mounting members  34  of  FIG. 6 . Mounting members  224  include upturned sides  225  to which rails  220  are welded or otherwise secured on the inside thereof. Additionally, carrier  212  may include cross members (not shown) similar to cross members  32  of  FIG. 6 , which may include upturned sides to which rails  220  are welded or otherwise secured. Carrier  212  includes a guide channel  226  formed by spaced channel members  226   a  and  226   b  for guiding the wheels of the motorcycle in the manner described above with respect to the embodiment of  FIG. 6 . Trolley  280  is constructed substantially similar to the previous trolley embodiments including a front axle (not shown), rear axle  284 , roller or guide bushings  286 , wheel saddle  288 , frame gussets (not shown), cargo stabilizer gussets, one of which is shown at  290 , yoke  292 , and strut mounts  294 . Trolley  280  may also include other features not shown, such as a retainer strap slot and an attachment hole for the winch strap. Trolley  280  includes anti-lift members  298  that are welded or otherwise secured to trolley  280  to extend between rails  220  and mounting members  224  as guide bushings  286  ride on top of rails  220 . Anti-lift members  298  are spaced from the bottom of rails  220  so as not to interfere with the movement of trolley  280 .  
         [0046]     As seen in  FIGS. 21 and 22 , ramp  300  is arched in a substantially S-shaped configuration having a hinge  310  for folding in a manner described with reference to the embodiment of  FIG. 14 . Ramp  300  may include end caps  312  to act as a stop for trolley  280 . As seen most clearly in  FIG. 22 , ramp  300  is constructed in a manner similar to carrier  212 . Ramp  300  includes cross members  310  having upturned sides  312  to which rails  314  are welded or otherwise secured so that trolley  280  moves along ramp  300  in the manner similar to which trolley  280  moves along carrier  226 . As seen in  FIG. 23 , ramp  300  connects to carrier  226  through a release pin hinge connection in which a release pin  320  extends through hole in member  322  welded or otherwise secured to rail  314  of ramp  300  and through hole in member  324  welded or otherwise secured to rail  220  of carrier  226 .  
         [0047]     Persons skilled in the art will recognize that many modifications and variations are possible in the details, materials, and arrangements of the parts and actions which have been described and illustrated in order to explain the nature of this invention and that such modifications and variations do not depart from the spirit and scope of the teachings and claims contained therein.