Patent Abstract:
A collapsible rack for supporting an automotive body panel, such as a removable automobile hardtop. The collapsible rack supports the panel and becomes more compact for storage. The collapsible rack has a T-shaped member that is removable for placement of the rack in a truck of an automobile, or for stowage in a neck defined by the frame. In a first position, the frame and member hold the hardtop or automotive body panel upright. In a second position, the member is stowed in the frame.

Full Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention relates generally to ancillary automotive equipment and more specifically to a collapsible rack for supporting an automotive body panel, such as a removable hardtop roof. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Some cars are equipped with automotive body panels that can be removed. Removal of the automotive body panel can either be for short periods of time, such as portions of days or several days, or for extended periods, such as months. A removable automotive body panel gives the automobile owner the ability to reconfigure their automobile for any number of reasons. 
     The removal of an automotive body panel, however, presents the automobile owner with an issue of what to do with the automotive body panel until it is reinstalled on the automobile. The storage location of the automotive body panel must protect the automotive body panel against damage. Therefore, suitable supports and padding must be provided. An additional issue, however, to be considered is that automotive body panels can be heavy and/or bulky making lifting awkward and difficult. Therefore, if the storage location is not proximate to a location to which the automobile can be brought for removal of the automotive body panel, movement of the automotive body panel to the storage location must be accomplished. Movement of the automotive body panel can be difficult and can potentially cause damage to the automotive body panel. 
     One typical method of storing and moving an automotive body panel is to place it in a rack having wheels. However, a rack is typically not in use all of the time and, therefore, must be stored when it is not. For example, hardtop roofs, which are available for some convertible cars, can be typically stored for up to several months and then used for several months. Therefore, the rack must not only have the necessary structure to support and protect the automotive body panel, but it must have provisions to be easily stored when not holding the automotive body panel. 
     Based on the foregoing, it is the object of this invention to overcome the problems and drawbacks associated with the prior art. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention is a collapsible rack for an automotive body panel, such as a hard top. The collapsible rack has a rigid frame with at least two abutment surfaces. A member projects outwardly from the frame and defines a support. The member is coupled to the frame to permit placement of the member in a first position or a second position. In the first position, the support of the member is so arranged to cooperate with the abutment surfaces to define a resting site for the automotive body panel and the member in the second position has the support either located relatively closer to the abutment surfaces, or laid alongside the frame. 
     With the member in its first position, the collapsible rack is designed to support the automotive body panel, while in the second position the collapsible rack is designed to be stored. As such, the collapsible rack takes up a much smaller volume in the stowed condition. In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the frame has a plurality of wheels attached thereto that permit the collapsible rack to be rolled in both the first, with or without the automotive body part therein, and second positions. This assists in bring the empty collapsible rack to a location to be loaded, moving the loaded collapsible rack to a storage location, and storing an empty collapsible rack. As with any collapsible rack designed to hold items subject to damage from scratching due to contact with the surfaces of the collapsible rack, the collapsible rack optimally employs appropriate padding. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the collapsible rack with the member in the first position. 
     FIG. 2 is a side view of the collapsible rack depicted in FIG.  1 . 
     FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the collapsible rack with the member in the first position and with a hardtop positioned therein. 
     FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the collapsible rack with the member in the second position. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     As shown in FIG. 1, the collapsible rack, generally referred to by reference number  10 , has a rigid frame  12  and projecting upwardly therefrom a member  14 . Referring to FIGS. 1 and 4, the member  14  has two positions. The first position, as shown in FIG. 1, is the position wherein the member extends at a right angle from the frame  12 . In this position, the collapsible rack  10  is ready to receive and support an automotive body panel. In the second position, shown in FIG. 4, the member has been repositioned relative to the frame  12  into a position to accommodate easy storage. 
     Returning to FIG. 1, the frame  12  has two abutment surfaces  16  positioned on the frame  12 , with one proximate each end  18  of the frame  12 . Each abutment surface  16  is defined by a bumper  20  that attaches to frame  12 . The abutment surfaces  16  can be created by any number of methods including but not limited to bends in the frame  12 . The location of the abutment surfaces  16  on the frame  12  is application dependent. Where the abutment surfaces  16  are placed at the ends  18  and bumpers  20  are employed, the bumpers  20  can double as end caps for the ends  18  of the frame  12 . 
     The frame  12  is rigid. It is depicted as manufactured from a tubular element, but other structures can be used depending upon the application. The frame  12  can be made from a single piece  22  or any number of segments  22   a-e . Where multiple segments  22   a-e  are used, the segments  22   a-e  are attached in turn one to the other and are fixed in position relative one to the other by any suitable means, such as welding or through bolts and nuts. The frame can be of any shape, but a simple U shape having two corners  24  is preferred. The U shape defines a plane  26 . 
     The frame  12  has a plurality of wheels  28 . The wheels  28  are attached to the frame  12  by any suitable means, such as threaded fasteners with nuts  29 . The wheels  28 , which define a plane  30 , are attached to the frame  12  opposed to the member  14  such that the wheels allow the collapsible rack  10  to be rolled on the wheels  28  with the member  14  in either the first (loaded or unloaded) or second position. 
     As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, member  14  is T-shaped, and is received in a neck  32  of the frame  12  that positions the member  14  within a footprint  33  defined by the frame  12 . The neck  32  is designed to allow for the member  14  to rotate therein and be secured in the first or second positions by a spring detent  34  positioned in the member  14 . As those skilled in the art will appreciate, rotation is but one option to permit placement of the member  14  in the first position or the second position and the spring detent  34  is but one method of locking it in position. Other options for coupling of the member  14  in the first or second position include removing the member  14  from the neck  32  and placing the member  14  back in the neck  32  in an orientation of 180 degrees to the position shown in FIG.  1 . In addition, other temporary means for securing the member  14  could be used such as pins and the means might only function with the member  14  in one or the two positions. Where the neck  32  and member  14  are shaped appropriately, such as square, no additional securing means may be required. 
     The member  14  has a stem  36  with a free end  38  opposite a support  40 , which in the case of a T-shaped member is a crossbar. Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the support  40  with the member  14  in the first position is generally perpendicular to the stem  36  and parallel with the abutment surfaces  16 . Depending upon the material chosen for the support  40 , grips  42 , made from for example an elastomeric material, can be provided around the support  40  to cushion the hardtop or automotive body panel. The stem  36  of the member  14  is not straight throughout but has a 45 degree bend as shown at a in FIG.  1 . 
     As shown in FIG. 2, the member  14  can rotate within the neck  32  on a swivel axis. Preferably when the member  14  rotates within the neck  32 , the member  14  is capable of rotation from the first position to the second position and back without interference from the U-shaped frame  12 . 
     As shown in FIG. 3 when the member  14  is in the first position, the collapsible rack  10  will support an automotive body panel  44 . The automotive body panel  44  is placed in a resting site  46  defined by the abutment surfaces  16  and the support  40 , in this case more precisely grips  42 . The abutment surfaces  16  are positioned to prevent movement of the automotive body panel  44  in at least one direction. In this case, the abutment surfaces  16  prevent the automotive body panel  44  from sliding along the frame  12 . 
     FIG. 4 shows the member  14  in the second position, such that the support  40  moves closer to the abutment surfaces  16 , but preferably remains within the footprint  33  of the U-shaped frame  12 . In this case, the support  40  is equidistant from each abutment surface  16 . Preferably in this second position, the support  40  defines a line  47  that is generally parallel to the plane  26  defined by the frame  12 . As should be readily apparent, the support  40  is also closer to the frame  12  than when in the first position. The collapsible rack  10  is therefore taking up less volume. In this view, an optional feature of the wheels  28  can be seen. Any one, or all, of the wheels  28  can have a brake  48  for stopping the rotation of the wheels  28  for holding the collapsible rack  10 , in either the first (loaded or unloaded) or second positions, in a location on a surface, such as a floor. 
     Although the present invention has been described in considerable detail with reference to the preferred version thereof, other versions are possible. Therefore, the spirit and scope of the invention should not be limited to the description of the preferred versions contained herein, but it should be construed according to the following claims.

Technology Classification (CPC): 1