Patent ID: 6969104

Claim:
An adjustable length chassis, comprising: a gooseneck first frame portion for supporting a load, having: a pair of spaced apart side rails each having an â€œIâ€ beam cross section defining a non-engaging portion and an engaging portion, the non-engaging portion having a first overall width and the engaging portion having a second overall width that is smaller than the first overall width; said pair of spaced side rails having an overall length defined by said non-engaging portion at a forward end and said engaging portion at a rear end thereof; a plurality of cross beams disposed across the spaced apart side rails defining a bed portion for supporting the load; a rear second frame assembly portion for supporting the load, having: a pair of spaced apart side main rails each having an â€œIâ€ shaped cross section, an engaging end portion and a non-engaging end portion, said main rails having an overall length defined by said engaging end portion at a forward end and said non-engaging end portion at a rear end thereof; a plurality of cross beams disposed across the spaced apart main rails defining a bed portion for supporting the load; and a â€œUâ€ shaped channel disposed between each of said main rails and forming inward directed protrusions, respectively, each said channel beginning at the engaging end portion of said second frame portion and extending a distance into said second frame portion, said channel being adapted to receive the engaging portion of said first frame portion; a locking mechanism for releasably securing said first frame portion to said second frame portion; and a stopping plate for preventing said first frame portion from separating from said second frame portion; said engaging portion of said first frame portion being slideably received over the protrusions formed by the channels in said second frame portion to reduce the overall length of said first frame portion from an extended, locked length to a contracted length to allow the adjustable length chassis to fit inside of a conventional shipping container.