Versatile article support device
View Patent ↗A versatile transport rack uses a center frame and one or two outer frames that are pivotally attached to the center frame on opposing sides thereof. Hinge pin receiver pairs, having vertically aligned openings, are attached to each of one or two vertical rails extending upwardly from the center frame and receive door pin pairs of a vehicle door. Landing implements, such as castors or landing gear, are removably attached to the center frame, the outer frames or both. A deck plate can be attached to one or both of the outer frames.
1. A rack comprising:
a center frame having having a pair of coextensive horizontally disposed center rails each having a first upper surface and an opposing first lower surface, the center frame also having a pair of vertical rails, each vertical rail extending upwardly from a respective one center rail;
a first outer frame having a pair of coextensive first outer rails and having a second upper surface and an opposing second lower surface, such that each first outer rail is attached to a respective one center rail via a pair of first pins that each pass through a respective one of the first outer rail and through a respective one center rail with the first outer frame pivoting with respect to the center frame about the pair of first pins such that the first outer frame is capable of rotating between a first unfolded position wherein the first outer rails and the center rails are aligned on first parallel longitudinal axes and a first folded position wherein the first outer rails each abut one of the vertical rails and such that the first outer frame is locked into the first unfolded position via a pair of second pins that each pass through a respective one of the first outer rail and through a respective one center rail;
a first of hinge pin receiver having a first vertically disposed opening, the first hinge pine receiver attached to one of the vertical rails; and
a second of hinge pin receiver having a second opening, the second hinge pin receiver attached to the same vertical rail to which the first hinge pin receiver is attached and below the first hinge pin receiver, such that the first opening of the first hinge pin receiver and the second opening of the second hinge pin receiver align with one another so that a first axis passes longitudinally through the aligned first opening and the second opening, the first axis also parallel with the vertical rail to which the first hinge pin and the second hinge pin receiver are attached.
2. The rack as in claim 1 wherein the first hinge pin receiver has a third opening and the second hinge pin receiver has a fourth opening such that such that the third opening of the first hinge pin receiver and the fourth opening of the second hinge pin receiver align with one another so that a second axis passes longitudinally through the aligned third opening and the fourth opening, the second axis also parallel with the first axis.
3. The rack as in claim 1 further comprising:
a third of hinge pin receiver having a third vertically disposed opening, the third hinge pin receiver attached to the vertical rail that does not have the first hinge pin receiver attached thereto; and
a fourth of hinge pin receiver having a fourth opening, the fourth hinge pin receiver attached to the same vertical rail to which the third hinge pin receiver is attached and below the third hinge pin receiver, such that the third opening of the third hinge pin receiver and the fourth opening of the fourth hinge pin receiver align with one another so that a second axis passes longitudinally through the aligned third opening and the fourth opening, the second axis also parallel with the vertical rail to which the third hinge pin and the fourth hinge pin receiver are attached.
4. The rack as in claim 3 wherein the first hinge pin receiver has a fifth opening and the second hinge pin receiver has a sixth opening such that such that the fifth opening of the first hinge pin receiver and the sixth opening of the second hinge pin receiver align with one another so that a third axis passes longitudinally through the aligned fifth opening and the sixth opening, the third axis also parallel with the first axis and the third hinge pin receiver has a seventh opening and the fourth hinge pin receiver has an eighth opening such that such that the seventh opening of the third hinge pin receiver and the eighth opening of the fourth hinge pin receiver align with one another so that a fourth axis passes longitudinally through the aligned seventh opening and the eighth opening, the fourth axis also parallel with the second axis.
5. The rack as in claim 1 further comprising a first landing implement attached to the first lower surface of the center frame.
6. The rack as in claim 5 wherein the first landing implement is a first castor attached to one of the center rails and a second castor attached to the other center rail.
7. The rack as in claim 1 further comprising a first landing implement attached to the second lower surface of the first outer frame.
8. The rack as in claim 7 wherein the second landing implement is a first castor attached to one of the first outer rails and a second castor attached to the other first outer rail.
9. The rack as in claim 1 further comprising a deck plate attached to the second upper surface of the first outer frame.
10. The rack in claim 1 wherein the first outer frame is lockable in the first folded position.
11. The rack in claim 1 wherein the first outer frame is lockable in the first unfolded position.
12. The rack as in claim 1 further comprising a bumper attached to the second upper surface of the first outer frame.
13. The rack as in claim 1 further comprising a second outer frame having a pair of coextensive second outer rails and having a third upper surface and an opposing third lower surface, such that each second outer rail is attached to a respective one center rail on an opposing side of the center rail with respect to the attachment side of the first outer frame, the second outer frame pivoting with respect to the center frame such that the second outer frame is capable of rotating between a second unfolded position wherein the second outer rails and the center rails are aligned on second parallel longitudinal axes and a folded position wherein the second outer rails each abut one of the vertical rails.
14. The rack as in claim 13 further comprising a first landing implement attached to the first lower surface of the center frame.
15. The rack as in claim 14 wherein the first landing implement is a first castor attached to one of the center rails and a second castor attached to the other center rail.
16. The rack as in claim 13 further comprising:
a first landing implement attached to the second lower surface of the first outer frame; and
a second landing implement attached to the third lower surface of the second outer frame.
17. The rack as in claim 16 wherein the first landing implement is a first castor attached to one of the first outer rails and a second castor attached to the other first outer rail and the second landing implement is a third castor attached to one of the second outer rails and a fourth castor attached to the other second outer rail.
18. The rack as in claim 13 further comprising a first deck plate attached to the second upper surface of the first outer frame.
19. The rack as in claim 18 further comprising a second deck plate attached to the third upper surface of the second outer frame.
20. The rack in claim 13 wherein the first outer frame is lockable in the first folded position.
21. The rack in claim 13 wherein the first outer frame is lockable in the first unfolded position.
22. The rack as in claim 13 further comprising a bumper attached to the second upper surface of the first outer frame.