Abstract:
A recreational vehicle tank hauling assembly for transporting waste tanks by automotive vehicle without requiring the waste tank to be lifted from the ground. The recreational vehicle tank hauling assembly includes a connection member adapted for coupling to a trailer hitch, an axle extending from the connection member, a deck assembly rotatably coupled to the axle, and a pin for securing the rotation of the deck with respect to the axle.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to cargo platforms and more particularly pertains to a new recreational vehicle tank hauling assembly for transporting waste tanks by automotive vehicle without requiring the waste tank to be lifted from the ground. 
     2. Description of the Prior Art 
     The use of cargo platforms is known in the prior art. More specifically, cargo platforms heretofore devised and utilized are known to consist basically of familiar, expected and obvious structural configurations, notwithstanding the myriad of designs encompassed by the crowded prior art which have been developed for the fulfillment of countless objectives and requirements. 
     Known prior art includes U.S. Pat. No. 4,162,796; U.S. Pat. No. 5,346,245; U.S. Pat. No. 5,232,135; U.S. Pat. No. 4,434,991; U.S. Pat. No. 4,940,096; and U.S. Pat. No. Des. 409,557. 
     While these devices fulfill their respective, particular objectives and requirements, the aforementioned patents do not disclose a new recreational vehicle tank hauling assembly. The inventive device includes a connection member adapted for coupling to a trailer hitch, an axle extending from the connection member, a deck assembly rotatably coupled to the axle, and a pin for securing the rotation of the deck with respect to the axle. 
     In these respects, the recreational vehicle tank hauling assembly according to the present invention substantially departs from the conventional concepts and designs of the prior art, and in so doing provides an apparatus primarily developed for the purpose of transporting waste tanks by automotive vehicle without requiring the waste tank to be lifted from the ground. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known types of cargo platforms now present in the prior art, the present invention provides a new recreational vehicle tank hauling assembly construction wherein the same can be utilized for transporting waste tanks by automotive vehicle without requiring the waste tank to be lifted from the ground. 
     The general purpose of the present invention, which will be described subsequently in greater detail, is to provide a new recreational vehicle tank hauling assembly apparatus and method which has many of the advantages of the cargo platforms mentioned heretofore and many novel features that result in a new recreational vehicle tank hauling assembly which is not anticipated, rendered obvious, suggested, or even implied by any of the prior art cargo platforms, either alone or in any combination thereof. 
     To attain this, the present invention generally comprises a connection member adapted for coupling to a trailer hitch, an axle extending from the connection member, a deck assembly rotatably coupled to the axle, and a pin for securing the rotation of the deck with respect to the axle. 
     There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the invention in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are additional features of the invention that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto. 
     In this respect, before explaining at least one embodiment of the invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and to the arrangements of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. 
     As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception, upon which this disclosure is based, may readily be utilized as a basis for the designing of other structures, methods and systems for carrying out the several purposes of the present invention. It is important, therefore, that the claims be regarded as including such equivalent constructions insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention. 
     Further, the purpose of the foregoing abstract is to enable the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and the public generally, and especially the scientists, engineers and practitioners in the art who are not familiar with patent or legal terms or phraseology, to determine quickly from a cursory inspection the nature and essence of the technical disclosure of the application. The abstract is neither intended to define the invention of the application, which is measured by the claims, nor is it intended to be limiting as to the scope of the invention in any way. 
     It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a new recreational vehicle tank hauling assembly apparatus and method which has many of the advantages of the cargo platforms mentioned heretofore and many novel features that result in a new recreational vehicle tank hauling assembly which is not anticipated, rendered obvious, suggested, or even implied by any of the prior art cargo platforms, either alone or in any combination thereof. 
     It is another object of the present invention to provide a new recreational vehicle tank hauling assembly which may be easily and efficiently manufactured and marketed. 
     It is a further object of the present invention to provide a new recreational vehicle tank hauling assembly which is of a durable and reliable construction. 
     An even further object of the present invention is to provide a new recreational vehicle tank hauling assembly which is susceptible of a low cost of manufacture with regard to both materials and labor, and which accordingly is then susceptible of low prices of sale to the consuming public, thereby making such recreational vehicle tank hauling assembly economically available to the buying public. 
     Still yet another object of the present invention is to provide a new recreational vehicle tank hauling assembly which provides in the apparatuses and methods of the prior art some of the advantages thereof, while simultaneously overcoming some of the disadvantages normally associated therewith. 
     Still another object of the present invention is to provide a new recreational vehicle tank hauling assembly for transporting waste tanks by automotive vehicle without requiring the waste tank to be lifted from the ground. 
     Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a new recreational vehicle tank hauling assembly which includes a connection member adapted for coupling to a trailer hitch, an axle extending from the connection member, a deck assembly rotatably coupled to the axle, and a pin for securing the rotation of the deck with respect to the axle. 
     These together with other objects of the invention, along with the various features of novelty which characterize the invention, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure. For a better understanding of the invention, its operating advantages and the specific objects attained by its uses, reference should be made to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter in which there are illustrated preferred embodiments of the invention. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The invention will be better understood and objects other than those set forth above will become apparent when consideration is given to the following detailed description thereof. Such description makes reference to the annexed drawings wherein: 
     FIG. 1 is a schematic side view of a new recreational vehicle tank hauling assembly according to the present invention. 
     FIG. 2 is a schematic perspective view of the present invention. 
     FIG. 3 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the present invention. 
     FIG. 4 is a schematic rear view of the present invention taken along line  4 — 4  of FIG.  2 . 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     With reference now to the drawings, and in particular to FIGS. 1 through 4 thereof, a new recreational vehicle tank hauling assembly embodying the principles and concepts of the present invention and generally designated by the reference numeral  10  will be described. 
     As best illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 4, the recreational vehicle tank hauling assembly  10  generally comprises a connection member  20 , an axle  30 , a deck assembly  40 , and a pin  60 . 
     The connection member  20  includes a generally square cross section taken transverse to a longitudinal axis of the connection member  20 . The connection member  20  is designed for coupling to a trailer hitch of a vehicle  2 . 
     The axle  30  includes a generally circular cross section taken transverse to a longitudinal axis of the axle  30 . The axle  30  extends from the connection member  20 . The axle  30  includes a pair of aligned pin apertures  32 . The pin apertures  32  are substantially vertically aligned when the connection member  20  is coupled to the trailer hitch of the vehicle  2 . 
     A plurality of generally L-shaped bracing members  22  is coupled to the connection member  20 . Each of the bracing members  22  includes a first portion extending along an associated corner edge of the connection member  20 . Each of the bracing members  22  includes a second portion extending from a distal end of the connection member  20 . Each second portion is fixedly coupled to the axle  30  for preventing twisting of the axle relative to the connection member  20  during use. 
     The deck assembly  40  is rotationally coupled to the axle  30  for permitting tilting of the deck assembly  40  relative to the axle  30  such that the outer sides of the deck assembly  40  are designed for contacting a ground surface for facilitating loading and unloading of a recreational vehicle tank from the deck assembly  40 . The deck assembly  40  includes: a collar member  42 , a frame portion  46 , a plurality of cross members  50 , a plurality of support members  52 , a planar deck member  54 , and a plurality of connection rails  56 . 
     The frame portion  46  is generally rectangular. 
     Each of the cross members  50  extends between a first pair of opposite sides of the frame portion  46 . Each of the cross members  50  is substantially coplanar with a lower surface of the frame portion  46 . 
     Each of the support members  52  extends between a second pair of opposite sides of the frame portion  46 . A medial portion of each of the support members  52  is bent such that the medial portion passes underneath the axle  30 . 
     Each of the connection rails  56  is coupled to an associated side of the frame portion  46 . Each of the connection rails  56  extends upwardly from the frame portions  46  such that each connection rail  56  is designed for receiving a hook from a tie-down strap. 
     A circumferential lip  48  extends upwardly from an outer perimeter edge of the frame portion  46 . The lip  48  extends upwardly around the deck member  54 . Thus the deck assembly  40  is designed for holding a tank from a recreational vehicle. 
     The collar member  42  includes a generally circular cross-section transverse to a longitudinal axis of the collar member  42 . The collar member  42  includes a pair of aligned holes  44 . The aligned holes  44  can be aligned with the pin apertures  32  of the axle  30 . 
     The pin  60  is used for inserting through the holes  44  of the collar member and the pin apertures  32  for preventing rotation of the deck assembly  40  relative to the axle  30  when the pin  60  is inserted through the holes  44  of the collar member  42  and the pin apertures  32  of the axle  30 . 
     In use, the recreational vehicle tank hauling assembly would be coupled to a vehicle. The pin would be removed from the holes and pin apertures aloowing the deck assembly to rotate from a substantially horizontal position to an inclined position such that one side of the frame portion contacts the ground surface. A waste tank would then be rolled adaject to the deck assembly such that the bottom surface of the waste tank contacts the to surface of the deck assembly. The user then straps the tank to the deck assembly in a conventional manner such as tie-down straps. The deck assembly is then rotated again to the horizontal position and the pin replaced through the holes and apertures. 
     As to a further discussion of the manner of usage and operation of the present invention, the same should be apparent from the above description. Accordingly, no further discussion relating to the manner of usage and operation will be provided. 
     With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by the present invention. 
     Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.