초록 ▼

Transport accessories useable with a vehicle for supporting cargo and a method of loading cargo onto a transport accessory useable with a vehicle. In one embodiment, the transport accessory includes a base frame connectable to the vehicle, a second frame slidably connected to the base frame and mova

Transport accessories useable with a vehicle for supporting cargo and a method of loading cargo onto a transport accessory useable with a vehicle. In one embodiment, the transport accessory includes a base frame connectable to the vehicle, a second frame slidably connected to the base frame and movable between a retracted position and an extended position relative to the base frame, a carriage pivotally connected to the second frame and pivotable between a substantially horizontal position and an inclined position relative to the second frame, a support frame rigidly connected to the carriage and pivotal therewith between the substantially horizontal position and the inclined position and a transport platform slidably connected to the support frame and slidable between a retracted position and an extended position relative to the support frame. Cargo is loadable on and unloadable from the transport platform when the transport platform is in the extended position.

대표청구항 ▼

The invention claimed is: 1. A transport accessory useable with a vehicle for supporting cargo, the transport accessory comprising: a base frame connectable to the vehicle; a second frame slidably connected to the base frame and movable between a retracted position and an extended position relative

The invention claimed is: 1. A transport accessory useable with a vehicle for supporting cargo, the transport accessory comprising: a base frame connectable to the vehicle; a second frame slidably connected to the base frame and movable between a retracted position and an extended position relative to the base frame to extend a distal end out and away from the confines of the vehicle; a carriage pivotally connected to the distal end of the second frame and pivotable between a substantially horizontal position and an inclined first operative position relative to the underlying surface; a support frame having a central portion, the central portion rigidly connected to the carriage and pivotal therewith between the substantially horizontal position and the inclined position; and a transport platform slidably and pivotably connected to the support frame and slidable between a retracted position and an extended position relative to the support frame, the transport platform being substantially horizontal when in the retracted and extended position, the transport platform operable to support cargo thereon and the cargo being loadable on and unloadable from the transport platform when the transport platform is in the extended position. 2. The transport accessory of claim 1, wherein the carriage extends above and below the pivot point and has a second operative position which is a substantially vertical position. 3. The transport accessory of claim 1, wherein the carriage has a second operative position which is a substantially perpendicular position relative to the second frame. 4. The transport accessory of claim 1, wherein the support frame includes at least one roller rotatably connected thereto, the transport platform engaging the at least one roller when the transport platform is in the retracted position and not engaging the roller when the transport platform is in the extended position. 5. The transport accessory of claim 1, wherein the support frame includes a pair of rollers rotatably connected to each of a first side and a second side of the support frame, the first and second sides being opposite sides of the support frame, each pair of rollers engaging a bottom surface of the transport platform when the transport platform is in the retracted position and neither pair of the rollers engaging the transport platform when in the extended position. 6. The transport accessory of claim 1, wherein the transport platform is slidably and pivotably connected to the support frame and including at least one roller engageable with the support frame to facilitate rolling engagement of the transport platform with the support frame and facilitate movement of the transport platform between the retracted and extended positions thereof. 7. The transport accessory of claim 6, wherein the support frame includes a pair of support members spaced apart from one another and the transport platform includes having at least one roller positioned on each of opposite sides of the transport platform, each roller being positioned within a respective one of the support members and rollable therein to facilitate rolling engagement of the transport platform with the support frame and facilitate movement of the transport platform between the retracted and extended positions. 8. The transport accessory of claim 6, wherein the transport platform also includes a transport frame and a cargo platform connected to the transport frame, the cargo being supportable on the cargo platform, the transport frame being pivotally connected to the second frame and pivoting relative to the second frame as the transport platform moves between the retracted and extended positions thereof. 9. The transport accessory of claim 1, further comprising a drive operable to move the transport accessory between a retracted position, in which the second frame is in the retracted position thereof, the carriage and support frame and transport platform are in the substantially horizontal position, and in the retracted position thereof, and an extended position, in which the second frame is in the extended position thereof, the carriage and support frame are in the inclined position thereof, whereby as said support frame inclines said transport platform telescopically extends to the underlying surface and the transport platform is in the extended position thereof, the cargo being loadable and unloadable from the transport platform when the transport accessory is in the extended substantially horizontal position with the underlying surface. 10. The transport accessory of claim 9, wherein the drive includes a drum and a cable having a first end wound around the drum and a second end, and wherein the support frame includes a pair of rotatable pulleys, the transport platform includes a rotatable pulley, and the second frame includes a pulley, the cable extending from the drum, over one of the pair of pulleys of the support frame, at least partially around the pulley of the transport platform, over the other of the pair of pulleys of the support frame, at least partially around the pulley of the second frame and the second end being connected to the support frame. 11. The transport accessory of claim 9, wherein the drive moves the transport accessory from the extended position to the retracted position and the drive facilitates movement of the transport accessory from the retracted position to the extended position under the force of gravity. 12. A transport accessory useable with a vehicle for supporting cargo, the transport accessory having a retracted position, in which the cargo is transportable, and an extended position, in which the cargo is loadable on and unloadable from the transport accessory, the transport accessory comprising: a base frame connectable to the vehicle; a second frame connected to the base frame and movable therealong between a retracted position to an extended position to a position that has a distal end outside the confines of the vehicle a support frame pivotally connected to the distal end of the second frame and including first and second pulleys; a transport platform connected to the support frame and movable therealong, the transport platform including a third pulley; and a drive operable to move the transport accessory between the refracted position and the extended position, the drive including a drum and a cable windable and unwindable around the drum, the cable extending from the drum and engaging the first, second, and third pulleys. 13. The transport accessory of claim 12, wherein, the support frame is pivotal between a substantially horizontal position and an inclined position relative to the second frame, and the transport platform is movable along the support frame between a refracted position and an extended position, the transport accessory being in the refracted position when the second frame is in the retracted position, the support frame is in the substantially horizontal position and the transport platform is in the retracted substantially horizontal position, and the transport accessory being in the extended position when the second frame is in the extended position, the support frame is in the inclined position and the transport platform is substantially horizontal to the underlying surface extended position. 14. The transport accessory of claim 12, wherein the first and second pulleys are positioned at an end of the support frame. 15. The transport accessory of claim 12, wherein the cable has a first end connected to the drum and a second end extending from the drum, over the first pulley, at least partially around the third pulley, over the second pulley and connected to the second frame. 16. The transport accessory of claim 12, wherein the second frame includes a fourth pulley, the cable having a first end connected to the drum and a second end extending from the drum, over the first pulley, at least partially around the third pulley, over the second pulley, at least partially around the fourth pulley and connected to the support frame. 17. The transport accessory of claim 12, wherein the drive moves the transport accessory from the extended position to the retracted position and the drive facilitates movement of the transport accessory from the retracted position to the extended position under gravity. 18. The transport accessory of claim 12, wherein the support frame includes at least one roller rotatably connected thereto, the transport platform engaging the at least one roller when the transport accessory is in the retracted position and not engaging the roller when the transport accessory is in the extended position. 19. The transport accessory of claim 12, wherein the support frame includes a pair of rollers rotatably connected to each of a first side and a second side of the support frame, the first and second sides being opposite sides of the support frame, each pair of rollers engaging a bottom surface of the transport platform when the transport accessory is in the retracted position and neither pair of rollers engaging the transport platform when the transport accessory is in the extended position. 20. The transport accessory of claim 12, wherein the transport platform includes a trolley interconnected with the support frame and movable therealong, the trolley including at least one roller engageable with the support frame to facilitate rolling engagement of the transport platform with the support frame and at least partially facilitate movement of the transport accessory between the retracted and extended positions. 21. The transport accessory of claim 20, wherein the transport platform also includes a transport frame and a cargo platform connected to the transport frame, the cargo being supportable on the cargo platform, the transport frame being pivotally connected to the trolley and pivoting relative to the trolley as the transport accessory moves between the retracted and extended positions. 22. The transport accessory of claim 12, wherein the support frame includes a pair of support members spaced apart from one another and the transport platform includes a-trolley having at least one roller positioned on each of opposite sides of the trolley, each roller being positioned within a respective one of the support members and rollable therein to facilitate rolling engagement of the transport platform with the support frame and at least partially facilitate movement of the transport accessory between the retracted and extended positions. 23. The transport accessory of claim 12, wherein the transport platform further comprising a moveable rear portion that is substantially coplanar with the transport platform, the moveable rear portion extends the overall length of the transport platform, the moveable rear portion has at least one wheel engageable with the underlying surface to facilitate movement of the transport platform therealong. 24. The transport accessory of claim 12, wherein the transport platform further comprising side walls and rear wall and front wall that are selectively connectable to the transport platform. 25. A method of loading cargo onto a transport accessory useable with a vehicle, the method comprising: mounting a base frame of the transport accessory to the vehicle; extending the transport accessory from a retracted position, in which a second frame is substantially nested with the base frame, a carriage and a support frame rigidly connected to one another and rotatable together are in a substantially horizontal position relative to the second frame and a transport platform is substantially horizontal and substantially positioned over the support frame, to an extended position, in which a distal end of the second frame is telescopically extended from the base frame to extend out and away from the confines of the vehicle, the carriage and support frame are inclined relative to the underlying surface and the transport platform is telescopically and pivotally extended from the support frame and is substantially horizontal with the underlying surface; and loading or unloading the transport platform with the cargo. 26. The method of claim 25, wherein the support frame includes at least one roller rotatably mounted to each of opposite sides of the support frame, the transport platform engaging the rollers in the retracted position of the transport accessory and not engaging the rollers in the extended position of the transport accessory, the transport platform rolling along the rollers during at least partial movement of the transport accessory from the retracted position to the extended position. 27. The method of claim 25, further comprising activating a drive to facilitate extending of the transport accessory from the retracted position to the extended position. 28. The method of claim 27, wherein activating a drive includes activating a drive a first time, the method further comprising activating the drive a second time to move the transport accessory from the extended position to the retracted position after the cargo has been loaded onto the transport platform. 29. The method of claim 25, wherein the drive includes a drum that is operable to rotate in both clockwise and counter-clockwise directions to wind a cable thereon, the cable having a first end mounted to the drum and a second end, the cable being engageable with the support frame, transport platform and the second frame. 30. The method of claim 29, wherein the support frame includes first and second pulleys, the transport platform includes a third pulley and the second frame includes a fourth pulley, the cable extending from the drum, over the first pulley, at least partially around the third pulley, over the second pulley, at least partially around the fourth pulley and the second end of the cable being connected to the support frame.