Abstract:
Apparatus for transporting smaller vehicles using a larger vehicle includes a single-gradient, semi-flexible supporting structure and an attachment mechanism coupling the supporting structure to the larger vehicle. The supporting structure is at an angle with respect to the larger vehicle and is suspended in air in close proximity to but without touching the ground, allowing the smaller vehicle to be loaded, transported, and unloaded without having to stow, store, fold, adjust, unhitch, remove, assemble, or otherwise alter or move the apparatus. The vehicle transportation apparatus provides an efficient solution for transporting smaller vehicles using a larger one that is safe to drive; requires no assembly, adjustment, storage, or removal between loading, transporting, and unloading; and allows a truck or utility vehicle owner to easily carry smaller vehicles without the typical hassle, inconvenience, risk, complexity, or inefficiency of current systems.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    Field of the Invention 
         [0002]    Embodiments of the invention disclosed herein relate generally to transportation of smaller vehicles using a larger one. More specifically, the invention relates to a more efficient apparatus for easily loading, transporting, and unloading smaller vehicles using trucks and other utility vehicles. 
         [0003]    Description of Related Art 
         [0004]    For many years, trucks and other utility vehicles have been used for transporting smaller vehicles, such as ATVs, motorcycles, and off-road vehicles. Generally, there are three traditional methods of transporting smaller vehicles using a larger one. 
         [0005]    First, if the truck or utility vehicle has a long enough bed, the smaller vehicle can be loaded directly onto the bed of the larger vehicle. However, pickup trucks have a truck bed that is typically only around six to seven feet long, and extended cab pickup trucks and many utility vehicles may have an even shorter storing and transporting area. Many times, smaller vehicles are unable to fit into the bed of a truck or utility vehicle without the requirement of other apparatus. Compounding the problem, some trucks also have a toolbox behind the cab that can take up to 18 inches or more. 
         [0006]    Second, if a truck or utility vehicle has the necessary towing capabilities, a large wheeled platform or trailer bed can be attached to the truck or utility vehicle, and the smaller vehicle can be transported on the trailer bed. However, trailers can be dangerous to maneuver when driving, and they require extra stopping room and additional precautions to avoid collisions. Additionally, trailer beds typically require their own brake light and signaling light system, which must be connected using wires attached to the main vehicle. Setting up these lighting systems correctly takes much time and effort and increases the cost of owning the smaller vehicle. And trailers have the additional expense in some states of requiring a trailer license that must be renewed every year. 
         [0007]    Lastly, some truck or utility vehicles have incorporated a hybrid-type trailer system that attaches to the back of the vehicle and allows for a smaller vehicle to be transported without a full trailer bed. However, the current hybrid trailer systems are complicated and inefficient. They typically are constructed using several sets of ramps or gradients connected together that must be assembled before loading; adjusted, stored, or removed for transportation; and then reassembled for unloading. 
         [0008]    Because of the current lack of solutions in the industry generally, it is desirable to have an efficient solution that is safe to drive; requires no assembly, adjustment, storage, or removal between loading, transporting, and unloading; and allows a truck or utility vehicle owner to easily carry smaller vehicles without the typical hassle, inconvenience, risk, complexity, or inefficiency of current systems. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0009]    In accordance with the embodiments disclosed herein, a small vehicle transportation apparatus is provided that substantially eliminates or reduces the disadvantages and problems associated with previous systems. The vehicle transportation apparatus comprises, among other things, a single-gradient, semi-flexible supporting structure and an attachment mechanism coupling the supporting structure to the larger vehicle. The supporting structure is at an angle with respect to the larger vehicle and the ground and is suspended in the air a predefined distance above the ground. Such a vehicle transportation apparatus allows the smaller vehicle to be loaded, transported, and unloaded without having to stow, store, fold, adjust, unhitch, remove, assemble, or otherwise alter or move the apparatus. 
         [0010]    The novel features and construction of the vehicle transportation apparatus disclosed herein, as well as additional objects thereof, will be understood more fully from the following description when read in connection with the accompanying drawings. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0011]    For a more complete understanding of the disclosed embodiments and its advantages, reference is now made to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference numbers indicate like features, wherein: 
           [0012]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a vehicle transportation apparatus attached to a larger vehicle and supporting a smaller vehicle according to embodiments disclosed herein; 
           [0013]      FIG. 2  is a side view of the vehicle transportation apparatus according to embodiments disclosed herein; 
           [0014]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of a support strut for the vehicle transportation apparatus according to embodiments disclosed herein; 
           [0015]      FIG. 4  is a bottom view of a standard receiver hitch with the support strut of the vehicle transportation apparatus inserted therein according to embodiments disclosed herein; 
           [0016]      FIG. 5  is a rear view of the vehicle transportation apparatus according to embodiments disclosed herein; and 
           [0017]      FIG. 6  is a rear view of an alternative vehicle transportation apparatus according to embodiments disclosed herein. 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0018]    Referring now to  FIG. 1 , a larger vehicle  150  is shown with a vehicle transportation apparatus  310  attached and supporting a smaller vehicle  160  in accordance with one or more embodiments disclosed herein. In the example shown here, the larger vehicle  150  is a pickup truck and the smaller vehicle  160  is an all-terrain vehicle (ATV), but the principles and concepts disclosed herein may be applied to other types of larger vehicles and other types of smaller vehicles without departing from the scope of the disclosed embodiments. 
         [0019]    As can be seen, the size of the smaller vehicle  160  and/or the bed dimensions of the larger vehicle  150  may prevent the smaller vehicle  160  from fitting fully within the bed of the larger vehicle  150 . As a result, a significant portion (e.g., up to half) of the smaller vehicle  160  may precariously protrude from the larger vehicle  150 , creating a potentially unstable and unsafe situation during transport. 
         [0020]    In accordance with the disclosed embodiments, the vehicle transportation apparatus  310  may be used to support the portion of the smaller vehicle  160  that protrudes from the larger vehicle  150  in order to provide a more stable and safer way to transport the smaller vehicle  160 . Such a vehicle transportation apparatus  310  may be made of any suitably strong material that can support the smaller vehicle  160 , but is preferably a semi-flexible material such as lightweight steel. The vehicle transportation apparatus  310  in effect becomes an extension of the bed of the larger vehicle  150  that may be attached to and removed from the larger vehicle  150  as needed. This allows certain types of larger vehicles  150  like extended cab pickup trucks with shorter truck beds that would not otherwise be able to transport certain types of smaller vehicles  160  like ATVs and motorcycles easily and conveniently to accommodate such smaller vehicles  160 . Other types of smaller vehicles  160  may include a tractor, a bicycle, a scooter, an off-road vehicle, a motorized car, a moped, a lawn mower, a snowmobile, a trailer, and the like. 
         [0021]    In some embodiments, the vehicle transportation apparatus  310  may be composed of a generally planar, rectangular supporting structure  320  that may resemble a ramp or an inclined plane when viewed from the side. The supporting structure  320  has a first end  321  adjacent to the larger vehicle  150  and a second end  322  opposite the first end  321  that extends away from the larger vehicle  150  when the vehicle transportation apparatus  310  is mounted to the larger vehicle  150 . When thus mounted, the supporting structure  320  may or may not span the entire width of the larger vehicle  150 , depending on the desired transport capacity, but should be centered along a longitudinal axis of the larger vehicle  150  in order to maintain a balanced lateral weight distribution. 
         [0022]    In preferred embodiments, the second end  322  of the supporting structure  320  is and remains suspended in the air by approximately a distance “A” above the ground when the vehicle transportation apparatus  310  is attached to the larger vehicle  150 . The suspension distance “A” will of course vary during transport, but may in general be, for example, about 6 inches to about a foot or more above the ground, depending on the size and/or weight of the smaller vehicle  160  being transported by the larger vehicle  150 . To facilitate loading or otherwise driving the smaller vehicle  160  up and onto the larger vehicle  150 , the suspension distance “A” should be small enough so the supporting structure  320  slopes or angles down from the larger vehicle  150  toward the ground. Suspending the second end  322  of the supporting structure  320  above the ground in this way beneficially avoids having to fold up or otherwise lift the second end  322  prior to starting transport, thereby eliminating the need to provide hinges or other joints, latches or other locking mechanisms and similar components on the supporting structure  320 . The larger vehicle  150  may simply drive off with the smaller vehicle  160  on board, as the supporting structure  320  does not drag along or otherwise touch the ground once it is attached to the larger vehicle  150 . 
         [0023]    Referring to  FIG. 2 , the vehicle transportation apparatus  310  disclosed herein can be seen in profile. As this side view shows, the supporting structure  320  has a single gradient and is coupled to the larger vehicle  150  by an attachment mechanism  330  affixed to the underside of the supporting structure  320 . In the embodiment shown here, the attachment mechanism  330  is attached in two places to the underside of the supporting structure  320 , though fewer or more attachment points may certainly be used without departing from the scope of the disclosed embodiments. In addition, the attachment mechanism  330  is configured so that the second end  322  of the supporting structure  320  is suspended above the ground by the suspension distance “A” mentioned previously, imparting an angular position to the supporting structure  320 . A close-up view of the attachment mechanism  330  may be seen in  FIG. 3 . 
         [0024]    As  FIG. 3  shows, the attachment mechanism  330  may take the form of a support strut  331  configured to provide support for the supporting structure  320  and allow it to be mounted to the larger vehicle  150 . Specifically, one end of the support strut  331 , namely the proximal end  332 , may have a size and shape that allows it to be inserted into a standard receiver hitch  410  (see  FIG. 4 ) on the larger vehicle  150 . The other end of the support strut  331 , namely the distal end  333 , may be connected to a crossbeam  334  that is substantially perpendicular to the support strut  331 . A mid-beam  335  may also be connected substantially perpendicular to the support strut  331  via a riser  336  extending vertically from around the middle of the support strut  331  and preferably between the middle of the support strut  331  and the proximal end  332  thereof. The crossbeam  334  and the mid-beam  335  may then be connected to the underside of the supporting structure  320  such that the crossbeam  334  provides support for the portion of the supporting structure  320  near the first end  321  thereof and the mid-beam  335  provides support for the middle portion of the supporting structure  320 . Any connection technique known to those having ordinary skill in the art (e.g., welds, rivets, screws, etc.) may be used to connect the support strut  331  to the crossbeam  334  and the mid-beam  335  and likewise to connect the crossbeam  334  and the mid-beam  335  to the underside of the supporting structure  320 . The proximal end  332  of the support strut  331  may then be inserted into the standard receiver hitch  410  of the larger vehicle  150  quickly and easily to attach the vehicle transportation apparatus  310  to the larger vehicle  150  as needed. Alternative connector assemblies besides the standard receiver hitch  410 , such as a fixed drawbar or another appropriate method or device for connecting the attachment mechanism  330  to larger vehicle  150  may also be used without departing from the scope of the disclosed embodiments. 
         [0025]    Referring to  FIG. 4 , a standard receiver hitch  410  commonly provided with most trucks and similar larger vehicles  150  is shown with the support strut  331  of the attachment mechanism  330  inserted according to the disclosed embodiments. When the attachment mechanism  330  is thus inserted, the supporting structure  320  of the vehicle transportation apparatus  310  is cantilevered from the standard receiver hitch  410  of the larger vehicle  150  insofar as the second end  322  of the supporting structure  320  does not touch the ground. Thereafter, no assembly, adjustment, storage, or removal of the vehicle transportation apparatus  310  is needed between loading, transporting, and unloading the smaller vehicle  160 . A locking pin  411  may be used to secure the support strut  331  of the attachment mechanism  330  within the receiver hitch  410  in order to prevent the attachment mechanism  330  from inadvertently coming loose during transport. 
         [0026]      FIG. 5  shows a view of the vehicle transportation apparatus looking from the rear of the larger vehicle  150  according to the disclose embodiments. As can be seen in this view, the supporting structure  320  of the vehicle transportation apparatus may be composed of several parallel and generally planar support members  323 ,  324 , and  325  disposed adjacent to one another. Each of the support members  323 ,  324 , and  325  may be or have a mesh or grid-like surface, or each of the support members may have a solid surface. In the embodiment shown here, there are three individual support members  323 ,  324 , and  325 , though fewer or more support members may certainly be used without departing from the scope of the disclosed embodiments. A brace  326  may be used to connect at least two of the support members to one another, namely, the leftmost the support member  323  and the right most support member  325 . The middle support member  324  may be removed in some embodiments where such a middle support member  324  is not needed for the type of smaller vehicle  160  being transported (e.g., a four-wheeled vehicle). As well, in some embodiments, the spacing between the support members  323 ,  324 , and  325  may be adjusted along the brace  326  as needed for the type of smaller vehicle  160  being transported (e.g., an ATV versus a go-kart). 
         [0027]      FIG. 6  shows an alternative supporting structure  420  for the vehicle transportation apparatus according to the embodiments disclosed herein, again looking from the rear of the larger vehicle  150 . In this embodiment, the supporting structure  420  may be composed of two parallel and generally planar support members  424  and  425  disposed on opposite sides of the vehicle transportation apparatus  310  as shown and connected together via a brace  426 . However, instead of a mesh or grid like surface, each support member  424  and  425  may resemble a ladder or a ladder like structure having a series of crossbars or steps  427  that are spaced substantially parallel and equidistance from one another. In some embodiments, the steps  427  may be constructed of angle iron in order to provide better traction for the smaller vehicle  160  when loading the smaller vehicle  160  onto the vehicle transportation apparatus. In the embodiment shown here, there are two individual support members  424  and  425 , but other support members, such as a middle support member, may certainly be added without departing from the scope of the disclosed embodiments. As before, in some embodiments, the spacing between the support members  424  and  425  may be adjusted along the brace  426  as needed for the type of smaller vehicle  160  being transported. 
         [0028]    Other alterations and modification of the disclosed embodiments will likewise become apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art upon reading the present disclosure, and it is intended that the scope of the invention disclosed herein be limited only by the broadest interpretation of the appended claims to which the inventor is legally entitled.