초록 ▼

An automobiles dolly is provided for connecting to a disabled vehicle in order to facilitate moving the vehicle. The dolly includes a base and a plurality of types of vehicle supports that are selectively attachable to the base. Each type of vehicle support is configured to attach to a disabled vehi

An automobiles dolly is provided for connecting to a disabled vehicle in order to facilitate moving the vehicle. The dolly includes a base and a plurality of types of vehicle supports that are selectively attachable to the base. Each type of vehicle support is configured to attach to a disabled vehicle at a different support location, or is configured to accommodate a unique construction of a vehicle make or model. As such, a single dolly base can selectively be used with a plurality of different types of vehicle supports.

대표청구항 ▼

What is claimed is: 1. A system for temporarily supporting a vehicle having a plurality of vehicle support locations, the system comprising: a generally rectangular dolly base having a longitudinal axis, a length of the dolly base along the axis being greater than a width of the dolly base transver

What is claimed is: 1. A system for temporarily supporting a vehicle having a plurality of vehicle support locations, the system comprising: a generally rectangular dolly base having a longitudinal axis, a length of the dolly base along the axis being greater than a width of the dolly base transverse to the axis, the dolly base being supported by a plurality of wheels and having an upper surface, a pair of first connector portions defined on opposite sides of the longitudinal axis, and a pair of second connector portions defined generally along the longitudinal axis and spaced apart from one another, a distance between the first connector portions being less than a distance between the second connector portions; a first support that is selectively attachable to the first connector portions of the dolly base, the first support having a pair of first support bases, each adapted to engage the upper surface of the dolly base at one of the first connector portions so that the first support bases are at least partially supported by the upper surface of the dolly base, the first support having a first engagement portion adapted to engage a first vehicle support location, the first support configured so that the first engagement portion is disposed between the pair of first connector portions; a second support that is selectively attachable to the second connector portions of the dolly base, the second support having a pair of second support bases, each adapted to engage the upper surface of the dolly base at one of the second connector portions so that the second support bases are at least partially supported by the upper surface of the dolly base, the second support having a second engagement portion adapted to engage a second vehicle support location, the second support configured so that the second engagement portion is disposed between the pair of second connector portions; and fasteners adapted to attach the first or second support bases to the corresponding first or second connector portions; wherein the dolly can be selectively changed between a first configuration in which the first support is attached to the dolly base and a second configuration in which the second support is attached to the dolly base. 2. The system of claim 1, wherein the first vehicle support location comprises an elongate automobile pinch weld, and the first engagement portion comprises an elongate slot for accommodating the pinch weld, the elongate slot extending generally along the longitudinal axis of the dolly. 3. The system of claim 2, wherein the second vehicle support location comprises an automobile wheel lug bolt, and the second support comprises an arm extending from each support base, and the arms extend generally along the longitudinal axis of the dolly. 4. The system of claim 1, wherein one of the first and second supports comprises a pair of separately-formed support members, each support member having a base, an arm, and an engagement member. 5. The system of claim 4, wherein each support base of the one of the first and second supports is attached to the dolly base and the arms and engagement members are configured so that the engagement members cooperate to form the engagement portion of the support. 6. The system of claim 4, wherein the dolly base has an outer edge and a tilted upper surface, the tilted upper surface facing generally away from the outer edge, and each support member base of the one of the first and second supports is mounted to the tilted upper surface of the dolly base. 7. The system of claim 6, wherein the pair of support members are arranged generally in an A-frame configuration. 8. The system of claim 4, wherein engagement members of the one of the first and second supports are elongate and comprise generally flat engagement surfaces so that at least a portion of the vehicle support location is gripped between a pair of engagement surfaces. 9. The system of claim 4, wherein the engagement members of the one of the first and second supports each comprise an aperture for engaging a vehicle wheel lug bolt, and the first support member arm is rotatable relative to the support member base over a range of less than about 20°, wherein the support member base is configured to prevent further rotation of the support member arm. 10. The system of claim 1, wherein wheels are positioned at corners of the rectangular dolly base. 11. The system of claim 1, comprising a plurality of dollies, a plurality of first supports, and a plurality of second supports, wherein the dollies can be configured so that a plurality of dollies simultaneously are in one of the first and second configurations, and wherein a plurality of dollies can be attached to a single vehicle. 12. The system of claim 11 additionally comprising a bridge ramp having a ramp surface configured to accommodate a dolly rolling thereover, the bridge ramp having opposing ends and a crest, the crest being vertically higher than the opposing ends, wherein the bridge ramp provides a path for a loaded dolly to move over a raised obstacle without engaging the obstacle. 13. The system of claim 11 additionally comprising a ramp having a ramp surface configured to accommodate a dolly rolling thereover, the ramp having opposing ends and being substantially flat between the opposing ends, wherein the ramp is adapted to rest on a surface so as to provide a more advantageous path for a loaded dolly to move over than the surface upon which the ramp rests. 14. The system of claim 1 additionally comprising a first accessory adapted to selectively attach to one of the first and second supports so as to modify the configuration of the support, the first accessory configured to engage a different vehicle support location than the support to which the first accessory is attached. 15. The system of claim 1, wherein each of the support bases has an engagement surface that is generally complementary to the upper surface in the corresponding connector portions of the dolly base. 16. A system for temporarily supporting a vehicle, comprising: a dolly base having opposing first and second ends and an upper surface, an inner portion of the dolly base being defined between the first and second ends, the upper surface being generally tilted relative to horizontal adjacent the first and second ends so as to be directed partially toward the inner portion of the dolly base, a first connector portion defined on the upper surface at or adjacent the first end, a second connector portion defined on the upper surface at or adjacent the second end; a plurality of wheels supporting the dolly base; and a detachable support that is selectively attachable to the dolly base, the support having a vehicle engagement portion and a pair of support base portions, the vehicle engagement portion adapted to engage a vehicle, the support base portions each having an engagement surface that is generally complementary to the upper surface of the dolly base so that when the support base portion is engaged with a corresponding one of the first and second connector portions, the support base engagement surface fits generally flush with the upper surface of the dolly and the support is at least partially supported by the dolly upper surface; wherein the support base portions extend from their respective connector portions generally toward the inner portion of the dolly base so that the support has generally an A-frame configuration, and the vehicle engagement portion is disposed generally between the first and second ends of the dolly base. 17. The system of claim 16, wherein the dolly base is rectangular. 18. The system of claim 16, comprising a second detachable support having a second vehicle engagement portion and a pair of second support base portions, the second vehicle engagement portion adapted to engage a vehicle at a different vehicle location than the first vehicle engagement portion, the second support base portions each having an engagement surface that is generally complementary to the upper surface of the dolly base so that when the second support base portion is engaged with a corresponding one of the first and second connector portions, the second support base engagement surface fits generally flush with the upper surface of the dolly and the second support is at least partially supported by the dolly upper surface. 19. The system of claim 16 additionally comprising a plurality of fasteners adapted to attach the support base portions to corresponding ones of the first and second connector portions. 20. The system of claim 16, wherein the upper surface is generally flat in the first and second connector portions.