Patent Publication Number: US-2010111659-A1

Title: Racking apparatus for a vehicle and method

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application claims priority on United Kingdom Patent Application No. 0820189.9, filed Nov. 5, 2008. 
     FIELD OF THE APPLICATION 
     The present application relates generally to motor vehicles and, more particularly, to a racking apparatus for use in carrying objects with the motor vehicle. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE ART 
     Racking devices for racking items for transport onto a vehicle are known in the art and are popular for instance amongst sports enthusiasts who want to carry, in an easy and stable manner, voluminous sports items such as, for examples, a fishing boat, a jet ski, a kayak, bicycles, etc., in a piggyback fashion on the top portion of a motor vehicle such as a car, etc. 
     Racking devices generally include roof-racks or trailers. Roof-racks consist in a structure that is anchored to the roof of the vehicle, with a support frame designed to support specific objects. Roof-racks are typically not very ergonomic, because they may be quite difficult to reach for certain people. Roof-racks generally require a person to extend his or her arms to place the object on the roof of the vehicle. This may make objects difficult to manipulate, and may require undue strength or effort on the part of the person. 
     Trailers comprise another form of racking device. Trailers are hitched to a rear portion of the vehicle. However, trailers are typically voluminous and may limit how a vehicle is used or render the vehicle mode difficult to drive. For example, it may be difficult for a vehicle to travel on rough terrain while pulling a trailer. In addition, having a trailer may make it more difficult to drive or park the vehicle. 
     Noticeable examples of the prior art are U.S. Patent application No. 2007/0090139, to R. McKenzie (2007), U.S. Pat. No. 6,336,411, to S. C. Gates (2002), U.S. Pat. No. 6,357,991, to C. L. Hamlett (2002), U.S. Pat. No. 5,108,248, to R. E. Murril (1992), U.S. Pat. No. 3,612,366, to H. J. Schneider (1971), and U.S. Pat. No. 3,550,800, to W. E. Robinson (1970). 
     While these prior art devices generally offer a racking devices which allow the racking of an object onto the rear end portion of a transport vehicle, they also present a number of disadvantages. Prior-art devices generally entail inconvenient frame structures and/or mechanisms which require to be fixed at a number of positions in or around the rear end portion of the transport vehicle. This requirement often leaves the rear end portion of the transport vehicle, i.e. for example, the trunk of a car or the cargo bed of a pick-up truck, inaccessible for stowing and retrieving items. Prior art devices are also generally designed for a specific shape of a rear portion of a vehicle such as, for example, the rear trunk of a sedan car, the cargo bed of a pick-up truck, the high rear cab of a hatchback car or mini-van, etc. These prior art devices therefore lack versatility and may only be used in certain specific situations. 
     SUMMARY 
     It is therefore an aim of the present disclosure to provide a racking apparatus that addresses issues associated with the prior art. 
     In one embodiment, there is provided a racking apparatus for use with a motor vehicle, the racking apparatus comprising: a support frame adapted to support an object to be carried by the vehicle; and a mechanism having one end attached to a rear portion of the motor vehicle and another end attached to the support frame to connect the support frame to the motor vehicle, the mechanism comprising members and joints arranged to constrain movements of the support frame such that the mechanism is operable to reciprocably displace the support frame between a low position accessible to a person from the ground and a high position overhanging the motor vehicle. 
     In another embodiment, there is provided a method for racking an object over a vehicle with a support frame connected to the vehicle by a mechanism, the method comprising: loading an object onto the support frame when the load support frame is in a low position accessible to a person standing on the ground; securing the object to the support frame; raising the support frame with the use of the mechanism to a high position overhanging the vehicle, the high position being higher than the low position; and locking the mechanism such that the support frame is blocked in the high position overhanging the vehicle. 
    
    
     
       DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Reference is now made to the accompanying figures, in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a side elevational view of a racking apparatus according to one embodiment of the present disclosure, here shown releasably fastened to a hitch receiver frame of a vehicle, in a low position accessible to a person; 
         FIG. 2  is a side elevational view of the embodiment of  FIG. 1 , shown here with an object in a transport position overhanging the vehicle; 
         FIG. 3  is a top plan view of a load support frame assembly of the racking apparatus, as seen in the embodiment shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 ; and 
         FIG. 4  is a top plan view of an adjustable wheel assembly of the racking apparatus, as seen in the embodiment shown  FIGS. 1 and 2 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       FIGS. 1 and 2  show one embodiment of the racking apparatus  10  of the present disclosure. The racking apparatus  10  generally comprises a mechanism  8  having one end  22  attached to a rear portion of a motor vehicle  30  and another end  71  attached to a load support frame assembly  14 . The mechanism  8  is operable to reciprocably displace the load support frame assembly  14  between a low position accessible to a person and a high position overhanging the vehicle  30 . 
     The mechanism  8  generally comprises a central mounting member  12  and at least one leg member  16  having an end  35  connected to the central mounting member  12 , and an opposite end  71  connected to the load support frame assembly  14 . In the embodiment shown, the mechanism  8  comprises two leg members, a first leg member  16  and a second leg member  18 , which are connected to the central mounting member  12  and to the load support frame assembly  14 , and which are longitudinally spaced apart with respect to the central mounting member  12  and the load support frame assembly  14 , so as to form a four-bar linkage mechanism. In other embodiments, the mechanism  8  may have only one leg member or may have more than two leg members. In one embodiment, it may be desirable for the mechanism to comprise two leg members, in addition to the load support frame assembly and the central mounting member. This may allow the mechanism to comprise a four-bar linkage with parallel members, i.e. a parallelogram linkage, which may permit the central mounting member  12  and the load support frame assembly  14 , to be in selected orientations with respect to one another. 
     In the embodiment shown, the central mounting member  12  is represented by an elongated hollow member generally defined as having a proximal end  22 , a distal end  24  (e.g., with a hitch-ball mount  25 , as seen in  FIG. 2 ) and an upper side surface portion  26 . In one embodiment, the proximal end  22  has a substantially square cross-section that may be slidably coaxially mounted within a compatibly configured square open end of a common hitch receiver frame  28  of a motor vehicle  30 . The proximal end of central mounting member  12  may be releasably fastened within the hitch receiver frame  28  with a locking pin  32  inserted in corresponding transversal holes provided therethrough, or with any other suitable locking mechanism. In other embodiments, the proximal end may be of another shape and may be received by a compatible hitch receiver frame  28 . The proximal end  22  may additionally be attached by any suitable conventional means previously known in the art. In another embodiment, the proximal end  22  of the central mounting member is attached directly to the chassis of the vehicle, without requiring the addition of an accessory to the vehicle  30 . In another embodiment, the central mounting member  12  may be a non-hollow member, such as a cast solid. 
     The first leg member  16  has an end  35  which is pivotally connected to the central mounting member  12  through a first pivot support means  34  which is located at a roughly mid-longitudinal position along the upper side surface portion  26  thereof. The second leg member  18  has an end  37  which is pivotally connected to the central mounting member  12  through a second pivot support means  36  which is located at a substantially midway position between the first pivot support means  34  and the distal end  24  on the upper side surface portion  26  thereof. Both the first and second pivot support means  34  and  36  are for pivotally mounting on a transverse horizontal axis the ends  35  and  37  of the first and second leg members  16  and  18  respectively. In other embodiments, the location of the first pivot support means  34  and the second pivot support means  36 , on the central mounting member  12  may be different than in the embodiment shown, without departing from the scope of the present application. 
       FIG. 3  shows a top plan view of the load support frame assembly  14  that is generally defined as having a front end  40  and a rear end  42 . The load support frame  14  generally comprises a base frame assembly  44  having a plurality of elongated members generally involving a spine member  46  extending substantially the length of the base frame assembly  44  and a pair of substantially parallel side members  48  equidistantly, transversely spaced on each side of the spine member  46 . A plurality of transversely and diagonally oriented cross-members  50 ,  52  are rigidly interconnecting the spine member  46  with each side member  48 . 
     Furthermore, as best illustrated in  FIG. 2 , the elongated portion of the pair of parallel side members  48  occupy a slightly offset parallel plane relative to the spine member  46 , such that an elongated cradle, or concave-shaped configuration is thus created for stably supporting therein an object to be carried, which for example, can be a generally elongated and laterally convex underside shape of a single-hull boat  54 . 
     Within the concave portion of the load support frame  14 , there is provided a pair of elongated plank-shaped members  56  that are longitudinally oppositely disposed in a parallel configuration at a roughly mid-transversal position between the spine member  46  and the side members  48 . The plank-shaped members  56  are preferably formed of a resilient material such as, for example, plastic resin, suitably treated wood planks or aluminum U-shaped struts, which may be covered by a cushioning synthetic fabric, a foam or another absorbent material, to cushion the hull and protect the hull finish from the rigid surface of the members. It is to be understood that the general shape and size of the plank-shaped members  56  may be varied to stably support different particular objects. 
     At the front end  40  of the load support frame assembly  14 , the spine member  46  and diagonally adjoining cross-members  52  converge towards one another at an upwardly and forwardly oriented angle of roughly 45 degree relative to the general horizontal plane of the cradle-shaped portion of the load support frame  14 . 
     Referring concurrently to  FIGS. 1 to 3 , a keel roller  58  is centrally rotatably mounted on a transverse horizontal axis at the distal rear end  42  of the base frame assembly  44  for supporting and rollably guiding the keel portion of a boat  54  during loading and unloading operations of the latter on the racking apparatus  10 . 
     The distal end of the front end  40  of the base frame assembly  44  is provided with a cable roller  60  rotatably mounted on a transverse horizontal axis for rollably guiding a cable  62  having one end which may be releasably hooked or otherwise releasably attached to an object, such as a boat  54 , and the other end passing round the cable roller  60  and extending along the underside of the spine member  46 , to a cable hoist assembly  64  rigidly fastened to a rear end underside portion thereof. As seen in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the cable  62  may be attached, using for example a hook arrangement or any other conventional attachment means, to the object, such as a boat  54 , so as to secure the object on the load support frame assembly  14 . Furthermore, the cable hoist assembly  64  may be operated so as to pull the cable  62 , the cable thereby also pulling on the object, in order to load the object, such as a boat  54 , onto the load support frame assembly  14 . 
     The cable roller  60  at the front end  40  of the frame assembly  44  may also serve as a conventional bow stop roller for stopping the forward motion of a boat during loading and transport of the boat on the racking apparatus  10 . The rotatable wheels of both the keel roller  58  and cable roller  60  are preferably made of a resilient shock-absorbing material, such as rubber. 
     The first leg member  16  has an opposite end  71  which is pivotally connected to the load support frame assembly through a third pivot support means  70  which is located on an underside portion of the spine member  46  on rear portion thereof. Similarly, the second leg member  18  has an opposite end  73  which is pivotally connected to the load support frame assembly  14  through a fourth pivot support means  72  which is located on an underside portion of the spine member  46  on a rear portion thereof, between the first pivot support means  70  and the rear end  42  of the spine member  46 . 
     In the arrangement shown, the leg members  16  and  18  and joints of the mechanism  8  constrain movement of the support frame assembly  14  between a low position ( FIG. 1 ) and a high overhanging position ( FIG. 2 ). In the low position, the support frame assembly  14  is slanted with respect to the ground, for instance to facilitate loading a boat onto the support frame assembly  14 . In the high overhanging position, the support frame assembly  14  is generally parallel to the ground, for instance to reduce the drag of the vehicle and racking apparatus  10  supporting an object. It is pointed out that other orientational relations may be used between the two afore-mentioned positions. For instance, the support frame assembly  14  may be at all times parallel to the ground. The orientational relations are selected by the sizing of the members and the positioning of the joints in the mechanism  8 , to constrain the movement of the support frame assembly  14 . 
     In the embodiment shown, the load support frame assembly  14  has been described as pertaining to a boat. However, in other embodiments, the load support frame assembly  14  may comprise various other configurations compatible with different sorts of object. For instance, the load support frame assembly  14  may be configured to be compatible for bicycles, all-terrain vehicles, kayaks, canoes, jet-skis, cargo transportation, etc. 
     Furthermore, although the load support frame assembly  14  has been described as using a cable  62  with a hook arrangement to secure the object thereon, the load support frame assembly may comprise various other locking systems to secure the object thereon. For instance, the locking system may comprise a quick release locking system for a bike fork, a rope and knot attachment system, a chain and bolt system, a key and lock system, or various other locking systems previously known in the art. 
     In the embodiment shown, an elongated support bracket  76  is perpendicularly projecting from a portion of an upper side surface  17  of first leg member  16 , in proximity of the end  35  thereof. A cable roller  78  is rotatably mounted on a transverse horizontal axis of the distal end of the support bracket  76 . A cable hoist assembly  80  is rigidly attached to a portion of the upper side surface  17  of the first leg member  16 . A cable  82  extends from the cable hoist assembly  80 , passes around the distal circumference of the cable roller  78  and has its distal end releasably attached, using any suitable attachment means, such as a hook  84  arrangement, or the like, to a portion of the upper side surface portion  26  of the central mounting member  12  and substantially near the proximal end  22  thereof. In other embodiments, the attachment means may comprise other conventional attachment means known in the art, such as a pin, a fastener, etc. 
     The pivotable first and second leg members  16 ,  18 , in cooperative relation with the cable hoist assembly  80 , the bracket  76  and cable roller  78  attached to the first leg member  16 , and cable  82  attached to the central mounting member  12 , serve as a pivotable load transfer means for transferring the load support frame assembly  14  from a low position accessible to a person, as illustrated in  FIG. 1 , to a higher position overhanging the vehicle  30 , as illustrated in  FIG. 2 . In order to displace the load support frame assembly  14  to a higher position, as seen in  FIG. 2 , the cable hoist assembly  80  is operated and the cable  82  pulls the leg member  16  to a substantially vertical position. In order to displace the load support frame assembly  14  to a low position, as seen in  FIG. 1 , the cable hoist assembly  80  is released and the cable  82  supports the leg member  16  while moving to a rearward leaning position. In order to maintain the mechanism  8  in either positions, the cable hoist assembly  80  may be locked, so as to prevent displacement of the load support frame assembly. Other locking mechanisms may be used as well to ensure that the support frame assembly  14  is safely locked into the low and high positions. For instance, a ratchet system (e.g., a two-way ratchet system) may appropriately be used. 
     It is to be noted that the leg members  16  and  18  are of suitable length such that when the load support frame assembly  14  is in an high position overhanging the vehicle  30 , as seen in  FIG. 2 , the underside of the latter sufficiently clears the top rear end portion of an average size transport vehicle  30  such as, for examples, the cargo bed of a pick-up truck or the rear trunk of a car. This provides the load support frame  14  with a relatively high overhanging position above the rear end portion of the vehicle once the racking apparatus is in a transport configuration. This relatively high overhanging position of the load support frame assembly  14 , in addition to the single point of attachment of the racking apparatus  10  to the hitch receiver frame  28  of the vehicle  30 , allow a user to have a relatively free access at all times to the rear trunk or cargo bed of a transport vehicle, such as for example, a sedan car or a pick-up truck. This also allows the towing of a trailer by the motor vehicle  30 , for instance using the hitch-ball mount  25  ( FIG. 2 ). 
     Although the cable hoist assemblies  64  and  80  mentioned above have been illustrated as being of the manually operated type, it is to be understood that any other suitable types of power drive means may be used to operate the hoists such as, for example, electrical or hydraulic power drive means. In another embodiment, the racking apparatus  10  uses a ratchet system to pivot the leg members  16 , 18  with respect to the central mounting member, as opposed to using a cable hoist assembly  80 . In addition, other means of operating the racking apparatus, such as a gear chain system or a hydraulic system, may be used in place of cable hoist assemblies. Moreover, the members of the mechanism  8  may be balanced with counterweights, for the manually unaided displacement of the support frame assembly  14  between the low and high positions. These means of operating the racking apparatus may be used by most people and may not require undue strength. 
     In the embodiment shown, the first pivot support means  34  of the central mounting member  12  is positioned at a suitable distance from the proximal end  22  thereof for allowing the support bracket  76  and cable roller  78  perpendicularly projecting from the first leg member  16  to abut in a substantially parallel configuration against the upper side surface portion  26  of the central mounting member  12  when the first leg member  16  is pivoted vertically in a perpendicular configuration relative to the central mounting member  12 , as illustrated in  FIG. 2 . In another embodiment, the support bracket  76  and cable roller  78  may be further spaced apart from the proximal end  22  of the central mounting member  12 , such that they need not abut the upper side surface portion  26  thereof. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , an adjustable wheel assembly  20  may be mounted to an underside surface portion  19  of the second leg member  18 . This adjustable wheel assembly  20  allows the racking apparatus  10  to tow an object behind the vehicle, such as in a standard trailer device, thereby greatly increasing the versatility of the racking apparatus. Now referring to  FIG. 4 , the adjustable wheel assembly  20  generally comprises a substantially T-shaped frame  100  defined by a longitudinal member  102 , a transversal member  104 , and reinforcing diagonal members  106  joining the two members  102 ,  104 . In other embodiments, the T-shaped frame  100  may comprise other functional shapes, such as a triangle for example. 
     A pair of tire mounted wheels  108  are oppositely rotatably mounted at each distal end of the transversal member  104 . The distal end  110  of the longitudinal member  102  is pivotally coupled to a fifth pivot support means  90  projecting from the underside surface  19  of the second leg member  18 , in proximity to end  37 . In another embodiment, the distal end  110  of the longitudinal member  102  may be connected to a pivot support means (not shown) located at the distal end  24  of central mounting member  12 . 
     A conventional manually operated scissor jack  112 , as best illustrated in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , with a rotatable handle  114  oriented oppositely of the longitudinal member  102 , has an end  116  pivotally connected to a sixth pivot support means  92  projecting on the underside surface  19  of the second leg member  18 . The scissor jack  112  has an opposite end (not shown) pivotally mounted to a corresponding pivot support means (not shown) projecting from a portion of the T-shaped frame  100 , where the members  102  and  104  intersect. 
     With the racking apparatus  10  attached to the hitch receiver frame  28  of the motor vehicle  30  and the load support frame assembly  14  suitably positioned in a loading configuration, e.g. a low position accessible to a person, as illustrated in  FIG. 1 , the user may adjust the vertical height of the scissor jack  112  in order to have the pair of wheels  108  stably resting on the ground, independently of the height of the substantially horizontal central mounting member  12  relative to the ground. The adjustable wheel assembly  20  therefore allows a person to adjustably lower to the ground the pair of tire mounted wheels  108  which offer a temporary distal rear end support when the load support frame assembly  14  is being loaded with an object. When the object has been loaded onto the load support frame assembly  14  and the load support frame assembly  14  is raised to a higher position overhanging the vehicle  30 , the adjustable wheel assembly  20  may be engagedly raised upwardly by the scissor jack  112 , along with the leg members  16 ,  18  and thus, is no longer in contact with the ground, as seen in  FIG. 1 . 
     In addition, instead of directly attaching the proximal end  22  of the central mounting member  12  to the hitch receiver frame  28  of a motor vehicle  30 , a ball-hitch coupler (not shown) may be attached to the proximal end  22  of the mounting member  12  such that the racking apparatus  10  may be coupled to a standard hitch ball mount at the rear of the motor vehicle for towing the racking apparatus  10  in a standard two-wheeled trailer configuration, as seen in  FIG. 2 . The racking apparatus is therefore easily convertible to a standard two-wheeled trailer by simply attaching a ball hitch coupler to the proximal end  22  of the central mounting member  12 . In the embodiment shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , it may be necessary to leave the load support frame assembly  14  in a loading configuration, i.e. a low position accessible to a person, as seen in  FIG. 2 , in order to use the racking apparatus  10  as a towable trailer. In another embodiment, the racking apparatus  10  may be used as a towable trailer when the load support frame assembly  14  is in a higher position, such as for example, when the load support frame assembly  14  is overhanging the vehicle  30 . 
     It should be noted that when a ball hitch coupler is attached to the proximal end  22  of the central mounting member  12 , the racking apparatus  10  may additionally be used with various other types of motor vehicles, including smaller sport utility vehicles, such as an All Terrain Vehicle (ATV). This enables the present disclosure to be used on various trips or activities, wherein a change of vehicles may be involved, such as for example, a truck carrying the racking apparatus  10  over a certain distance, the racking apparatus then being transferred to an All Terrain Vehicle. 
     The adjustable wheel assembly  20  may allow the racking apparatus  10  to be used to stably support the rear end  42  of the racking apparatus  10  when, for example, a relatively heavy load, comparatively to the weight of the transport vehicle  30 , is hoisted onto the load support frame assembly  14  using the cable hoist assembly  64 , followed by the raising of the load support frame assembly  14  to the higher transport position overhanging the vehicle  30 , by winding the cable hoist assembly  80  attached to the first leg member  16 . In such a case, the adjustable wheel assembly  20  may provide the additional benefit of counterbalancing the front to rear weight distribution applied to the vehicle  30  when a relatively heavy object is hoisted thereon. 
     It is to be noted that the adjustable wheel assembly  20  may be removed entirely from the racking apparatus  10  since the hoisting of an object generally does not noticeably affect the front to rear weight balance of the transport vehicle  30  while the object  54  is hoisted and transferred above the rear end portion of the latter. 
     The present disclosure may be used with only a single point of attachment between the racking apparatus and the vehicle  30 , which renders the racking apparatus quickly and easily installable on a wide range of transport vehicles having various rear end sizes and shapes including, but not limited to, sedan cars, hatchback cars, pick-up trucks, mini-vans, etc. 
     The various structural members of the racking apparatus  10  are preferably made of suitably rigid material such as extruded aluminum struts or rust-proof metal. It is to be noted that the pivot support means  34 ,  36 ,  70 ,  72 ,  90  and  92  may comprise various types of constraint joints. The simplicity of the structure and of the members and constraints involved provides for a racking apparatus which is relatively simple and economical to produce. 
     Now that the racking apparatus  10  has been described, a method of racking an object with the racking apparatus  10  is set forth. 
     According to a first step, a person loads the object onto the load support frame assembly  14 , when the load support frame assembly  14  is in a low position accessible to a person. The low position involve ergonomically-efficient movements from the person. The loading may be done manually or may be done by using the cable hoist assembly  64 , or another alternative loading means thereof. Alternatively, the object may be loaded onto the load support frame assembly  14  when the load support frame assembly  14  is in a high position, for instance overhanging the vehicle  30 . However, it may be less ergonomic to load the object when the load support frame is in a high position. Therefore, in a preferred embodiment, the loading is done when the load support frame assembly  14  is in a low position ( FIG. 1 ), easily accessible to a person. 
     The person subsequently secures the object onto the load support frame assembly  14 , using attachment means thereof, for instance using a cable  62  and hook arrangement, or other known attachment means in case of a watercraft, or a bike rack or the like in other instances. Alternatively, the step of securing the object to the load support frame assembly  14  may be done simultaneously with the previous step of loading the object onto the load support frame assembly  14 , or may be done after the support frame assembly  14  is raised to the high position ( FIG. 2 ). 
     The following step includes raising the load support frame assembly  14  into a high position, higher than the low position, either manually or with a power-assist system as described above. In one embodiment, this high position may comprise a position which is overhanging the vehicle  30 . The raising of the load support frame assembly  14  is done with the use of the mechanism  8 . For instance, the mechanism  8  may include operating means thereof, which raise the load support frame assembly  14  to a higher position. In one embodiment, the mechanism  8  may include a central mounting member  12 , leg members  16 , attached to said central mounting member  12  and operating means thereof, the operating means being operated to actuate the pivoting of the leg members  16 , 18  with respect to the central mounting member. 
     In one embodiment, the operating means may comprise the cable hoist assembly  80  or a ratchet system. In an alternative embodiment, the step of raising the load support frame assembly  14  may be done prior to the step of securing the object to the load support frame assembly  14 . In such a case, the object may be secured to the load support frame assembly  14  after the load support frame assembly  14  has been raised to a high position. However, this embodiment may be less ergonomically efficient in that it may be more difficult to secure the object to the load support frame assembly  14  when the load support frame assembly  14  is in a position higher than the low position accessible to a person. 
     The person subsequently locks the mechanism  8  using locking means thereof, when the load support frame assembly  14  is in a high position overhanging the vehicle  30 . In one embodiment, the mechanism  8  may be locked by using locking means to maintain the leg members  16 ,  18  in a position which minimizes movement thereof. The locking means may comprise the cable hoist assembly  80  and the cable  82  being locked in a given position, such that minimal movement of the cable  82  is permitted. In another embodiment, the locking means may include a self-locking ratchet system. The locking of the mechanism  8  serves to maintain the load support frame assembly  14  in a substantially stable and constant position, so long as the mechanism is locked. In other embodiments, the mechanism  8  may be locked when the load support frame assembly is in a position other than that overhanging the vehicle. For instance, the leg members  16 ,  18  may be locked when the load support frame assembly  14  is in a low position accessible to a person. 
     According to a subsequent step, a trailer may be attached to the vehicle using the hitch-ball mount  25  ( FIG. 2 ), when the support frame assembly  14  is in the high position. 
     Although the above description contains many details, these should not be construed as limitations on the scope of the invention but as merely providing one illustration of the presently preferred embodiment of this disclosure. For example, the first and second leg members  16 ,  18  may be represented by telescopically adjustable elongated members to custom-adjust the desired height and angle of the load support frame assembly  14  relative to the top rear end portion of a transport vehicle.