Abstract:
A removable vehicle transport rack that attaches to a pickup or similar transport vehicle and provides the user with a means to transport or haul small vehicles like an all-terrain vehicle (ATV) or motorcycle. The rack uses a stinger extending from the transport vehicle hitch and then a removable deck that has pivoting center member which allows the deck to fold and unfold and thereby allowing ATVs or motorcycles to go up or down the deck&#39;s tracks. The tracks pivot or unfold to load ATVs and then fold, partially, once the ATV is in place and is secured. The user is able to take advantage of the extra length to load additional ATVs or other material where in the past one ATVs would occupy the whole of the transport vehicle&#39;s bed.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    None. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    This invention relates to transporting small vehicles, and in particular to a carrier that can be mounted on a pickup truck to carry an all terrain vehicle (ATV). 
         [0003]    There are many recreational ATV users that must routinely transport their ATV&#39;s to different locations. Often users will transport the ATVs on a trailer or in the bed of a pickup truck. Either method of transport works well, but each has its limitations. A pickup bed is limited in size and can usually hold a single ATV. A trailer can carry two or more ATV&#39;s, but a truck and trailer combination is larger and more difficult to maneuver. A need therefore exists for an ATV carrier that can increase the carrying capacity of a pickup truck and avoid the need for a trailer when transporting more than one ATV. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0004]    A frame for supporting and transporting a vehicle comprising: a first elongate member having a first end portion and a pivotable second portion, the pivotable second portion having a first extended position wherein it is supported on an underlying surface, and a second retracted position wherein it is disposed at an upward angle relative to the first end portion; a connector mounted on the first elongate member first end and adapted for being mounted on a tail gate of a transport vehicle; and, a support member having a first end adapted for insertion into a vehicle trailer hitch, and having a second end connected to the first elongate member. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0005]      FIG. 1   a  is a perspective view of the removable vehicle transport rack (RVTR) or rack when the rack is folded and unattached to a transport vehicle. The stinger stanchion is shown with a wheel  37  attached for easy hauling. Tailgate support members  22  are in located at the top of the folded unit. 
           [0006]      FIG. 1   b . is a perspective view of the RVTO&#39;s stinger attached to a transport vehicle. 
           [0007]      FIG. 2   a  is perspective view of the RVTR attached to the transport vehicle—the rack is still folded. 
           [0008]      FIG. 2   b  is a perspective view of the RVTR with the rack in the half open position showing the set of two tracks being unfolded. 
           [0009]      FIG. 2   c  is a perspective view of the RVTR in the unfolded position ready to have an ATV drive up the pair of tracks. 
           [0010]      FIG. 3  perspective view of the RVTR showing one track in a transport mode—track is partially folded to the ATV and the other track is still unfolded. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0011]    Referring now to the drawings, a removable vehicle transport rack (RVTR or rack) according to a preferred embodiment of the invention is shown generally in  FIG. 3 . Referring to  FIGS. 1   a  and  1   b , the RVTR  10  includes a deck  20  that has pair of segmented tracks  25   a  and  25   b  that are attached to the tailgate  16  of a pickup truck or transport vehicle. In the preferred embodiment tracks  25   a  and  25   b  are space frame members for the best combination of strength and lightness, although the invention is not limited to any particular material or specific design of track.  FIG. 1   a  depicts the RVTR in a folded mode with a wheel  37  inserted into a piece of hollow metal called stinger stanchion  27 . The stinger stanchion is the support piece connecting the deck to the stinger  11 ,  FIG. 1   b.    
         [0012]    In the preferred embodiment, the frame and the associated material are made from steel and the pieces are generally welded together. Other materials, such as aluminum, titanium, or other material known for their strength and toughness can be used for the components of the RTVR. There are several means known to those skilled in the art for connecting the various pieces of the RTVR and the description contained herein is not meant to limit the scope of the claims: other means, besides welding, for connecting the various pieces include; riveting, gluing, bolting, nailing, screwing, or other similar means. Generally, the size and weight of the material used in the manufacture will depend on the type of load or ATVs that are to be transported and carried by the RVTR. 
         [0013]    It should also be pointed out that pieces of the RVTR that are not welded together are made such that an operator can dissemble and assemble as needed. This modularity makes it easier for the operator to package, transport or store the RVTR. 
         [0014]    Referring to  FIGS. 2   a  and  2   b  and  2   c , a deck  20  made from tracks  25   a  and  25   b  are segmented to form a front portion  34   a  and  34   b  and a rear pivoting portion  33   a  and  33   b . The front and rear portions are connected by a transverse hinge member  28 . The segmented tracks are attached to the transverse hinge member such that the segmented tracks fold and unfold at along hinge member  28 . 
         [0015]    Tracks  25   a  and  25   b  are connected together by transverse support member  21 ,  FIG. 1   a , on the front end of the forward track segments  34   a  and  34   b . The front portion  34   a  and  34   b  of each track  25   a  and  25   b  is mounted or set on the pickup tailgate  16  by respective tailgate ramp supports  22   a  and  22   b . The tailgate ramp support members  22   a  and  22   b  are attached to the transverse support member  21  by welding, bolting, riveting, pinning or other means known to those skilled in the art. When the RTVR is attached, the tailgate ramp support members will sit or rest on the end of the transport vehicle&#39;s tailgate as depicted in  FIGS. 2   a ,  2   b  and  2   c.    
         [0016]    To use the RVTR, refer to  FIG. 1   b , an operator inserts a longitudinal support or stinger  11  into a hitch  15  of a pickup truck or transport vehicle  17 . The stinger  11  extends rearward and ends in a receiver  14 . The stinger is attached to the transport vehicle at the hitch  15  by a pin and hole arrangement commonly used on vehicle hitches. The stinger is inserted into the hitch and holes located on the stinger  12  and the hitch are aligned and a pin is placed in the holes to secure the stinger to the transport vehicle. 
         [0017]    On the deck, a stinger stanchion  27  is connected to a transverse stanchion support member  26  just forward of the hinge frame member  28  in each track and on the underside of the tracks  25   a  and  25   b . The stanchion support member  26  is connected to the outer and underside of the front portions of track  34   a  and  34   b . The transverse stanchion support member  26  extends from the outer frame of one track  34   a  extending to the outer frame of the other  34   b . Attached to and projecting downward from the stanchion support member is an angled connecting bracket  26   a.    
         [0018]    In the preferred embodiments the angle in which the connecting bracket  26   a  is attached to the transverse stanchion support member is adjustable to accommodate differences in ground height and differences in various transport vehicles tailgate or hitch heights. In one preferred embodiment each track is 7 (seven) feet long, 12 (twelve) to 18 (eighteen) inches wide, and is hinged in the middle, although the invention is not limited to any particular dimension. It should be noted that a segmented track of seven feet means that the tracks when fully open at the hinge member  28  will have a length of fourteen feet. 
         [0019]    The operator attaches rack  10  to the pickup truck by first mounting the stinger  11  in the transport vehicle hitch. The stinger is secured by a pin placed through the hitch hole  12 . The stinger stanchion  27  of the deck is placed into the receiver  14  of the stinger  11  such that the tailgate support members  22   a  and  22   b  rest upon the tailgate  16  of the transport vehicle. The stinger stanchion is secured to the receiver by a pin and hole arrangement similar to the stinger and hitch arrangement: hole in the stanchion and receiver are lined up and a pin is used to secure the deck to the stinger. Other means for connecting or mounting the deck to the stinger can be deployed and are known to those skilled in the art and this particular embodiment in no way limits the scope of the claims made. 
         [0020]    When the tailgate ramp supports  22   a  and  22   b  are resting on the tailgate. Each rear pivoting portion  33   a  and  33   b  is then rotated to place its distal end on the ground, and hinge member  28  is locked into place to provide a rigid track. Prior to rotating or unfolding the rear tracks  33   a  and  33   b  from the front track  34   a  and  34   b , see  FIG. 2   b , a set of locking pins  29  is removed from holes located on the inner tracks of  33   a ,  33   b ,  34   a  and  34   b . The tracks are pinned together in the folded mode of operation and when the pins are removed, the rear tracks are able to unfold. The pins  29  and holes  31  located on the inner side of the inside tracks and are used to position and lock the rear tracks with respect to the forward tracks at specified locations using a set of flat bars  30   a  and  30   b , see  FIGS. 2   c  and  3 . Initially, to load ATVs the rear rack is unfolded until the rear sections touch the ground. 
         [0021]    An ATV is then rolled up along tracks  25   a  and  25   b  until its front wheel rest on the tailgate. The ATV needs to be placed forward of hinge member  28  in order for the rear tracks  33   a  and  33   b  to be rotated forward for a partially folding of the tracks, see  FIG. 3 . Straps or cables are then attached to the ATV and the transport vehicle to secure the ATV into place. Depending on the size of the transport vehicle and the size of the ATV, it is possible to load an ATV or two or other items into the bed of the transport vehicle prior to placing the ATV in the location described above. This invention provides the operator with the extended length of the deck for loading additional items onto the transport vehicle and is one of the objects of this invention. 
         [0022]    Once the ATV is secured in place the rear tracks  33   a  and  33   b  are rotated up and forward to a position at which the flat bars  30   a  and  30   b  can be pinned fixing the rear tracks with respect to the forward tracks  34   a  and  34   b . To accomplish this, holes  31  located on the inside section of the rear and forward tracks are aligned with holes on either end of the flat bars. A pin is placed into the flat bar and then the inside section of the track. The number and placement of the holes in the inside section of the tracks will provide the operator with the various places at which the rear track members can be fixed with respect to the forward track members. 
         [0023]    Once the flat bars are pinned to the rear and forward track members, the rear track members  33   a  and  33   b  provide an additional barrier for the ATV to roll off the back of the transport vehicle, thus preventing the ATV from rolling off the back if the straps or cables break or become undone. The ATV is then supported in the front by the bed of the pickup and in the rear by tracks  33   a  and  33   b.    
         [0024]    In other embodiments of the invention a single track can be used to support a motorcycle in a similar manner, or two motorcycles can be transported on the embodiment illustrated, one on each track. 
         [0025]    While the invention has been described by reference to preferred embodiments, those of skill in the art will appreciate that the preferred embodiments can be modified in detail and arrangement without departing from the scope of the invention.