Saddle yoke assembly

Claim 2

An elongated vehicle transport having means for supporting a line of vehicles thereon, said vehicle-supporting means including supports for the front wheels of the vehicles, said supports having upwardly open pockets adapted to receive said wheels, said pockets having front and rear transverse members defining the front and rear margins of said pockets and spaced apart less than the diameter of said wheels to engage the peripheries of said wheels at circumferentially spaced points so as to support said wheels and longitudinally restrain the vehicles, at least one transverse member associated with each pocket including a wheel support mounted for movement between first and second positions, each wheel support having a first wheel-engaging portion disposed tO engage a wheel received in the associated pocket in said first position of said wheel support and having a second wheel-engaging portion disposed to engage a wheel received in the associated pocket in said second position of said wheel support, said first position of each wheel support in said first position thereof being closer to the other transverse member of the associated pocket than said second portion in said second position of said wheel support, and means for holding said wheels in said pockets against upward movement.

Claim 3

An elongated vehicle transport having means for supporting a line of vehicles thereon, said vehicle-supporting means including supports for the front wheels of the vehicles, said supports having upwardly open pockets adapted to receive said wheels, said pockets having front and rear transverse members defining the front and rear margins of said pockets and spaced apart less than the diameter of said wheels to engage the peripheries of said wheels at circumferentially spaced points so as to support said wheels and longitudinally restrain the vehicles, and means for holding said wheels in said pockets against upward movement, said holding means including linear members, and means securing said linear members including brackets each having laterally spaced lugs defining a slot for receiving and retaining a portion of a linear member therein, said slots being open at one end to permit the lateral insertion of the linear members, and retractable members carried by said brackets blocking lateral withdrawal of the linear members from the open ends of said slots, said retractable member being retractable to positions clearing said open ends of said slots.

Claim 4

An elongated vehicle transport having means for supporting a line of vehicles thereon, said vehicle-supporting means including supports for the front wheels of the vehicles, said supports having upwardly open pockets adapted to receive said wheels, said pockets having front and rear transverse members defining the front and rear margins of said pockets and spaced apart less than the diameter of said wheels to engage the peripheries of said wheels at circumferentially spaced points so as to support said wheels and longitudinally restrain the vehicles, and means for holding said wheels in said pockets against upward movement, said holding means including linear members, and means securing said linear members including brackets each having laterally spaced lugs defining a slot for receiving and retaining a portion of a linear member therein, said slots being open at one end to permit the lateral insertion of the linear members, and retractable members carried by said brackets blocking lateral withdrawal of the linear members from the open ends of said slots, said retractable member being retractable to positions clearing said open ends of said slots.

Claim 5

An elongated vehicle transport having means for supporting a line of vehicles thereon, said vehicle-supporting means including supports for the front wheels of the vehicles, said supports having upwardly open pockets adapted to receive said wheels, said pockets having front and rear transverse members defining the front and rear margins of said pockets and spaced apart less than the diameter of said wheels to engage the peripheries of said wheels at circumferentially spaced points so as to support said wheels and longitudinally restrain the vehicles, and means for holding said wheels in said pockets against upward movement, said holding means including link chains, and means for securing said chains including brackets which comprise open frames respectively receiving said chains, spaced lugs secured within each frame defining a slot for receiving and retaining a portion of a chain therein, said slots being open at one end to permit the lateral insertion of the chains, and retractable members carried by said frames and extending across the open ends of said slots to block lateral withdrawal of the chains from the open ends of said slots, said retractable members being retractable to positions clearing said open ends of said slots.

Claim 6

An elongated vehicle transport having means for supporting a line of vehicles thereon, said vehicle-supporting means including supports for the front wheels of the vehicles, said supports having upwardly open pockets adapted to receive said wheels, said pockets having front and rear transverse members defining the front and rear margins of said pockets and spaced apart less than the diameter of said wheels to engage the peripheries of said wheels at circumferentially spaced points so as to support said wheels and longitudinally restrain the vehicles, and means for holding said wheels in said pockets against upward movement, said holding means including link chains, and means for securing said chains including brackets which comprise open frames respectively receiving said chains, spaced lugs secured within each frame defining a slot for receiving and retaining a portion of a chain therein, said slots being open at one end to permit the lateral insertion of the chains, and retractable members carried by said frames and extending across the open ends of said slots to block lateral withdrawal of the chains from the open ends of said slots, said retractable members being retractable to positions clearing said open ends of said slots.

Claim 7

The transport defined in claim 3, wherein said lugs of each bracket extend in parallel relation across the frame thereof from one end of said frame toward the opposite end thereof terminating short of said opposite end, and said retractable member of each bracket extends across the frame thereof from side to side.

Claim 8

In combination, a vehicle transport having an elongated deck, parallel tracks extending lengthwise of said deck, a plurality of saddle yokes extending between and engaging said tracks for movement lengthwise of said deck, each saddle yoke having a pair of upwardly opening bottomless pockets adapted to receive the front wheels of a vehicle, said saddle yokes each comprising a pair of open substantially rectangular frames defining the pockets thereof, a frame member rigidly connecting the open frames of each saddle yoke member, said open frames having front and rear transverse members defining the front and rear margins of said pockets and spaced apart less than the diameter of said wheels to engage the peripheries of said wheels at circumferentiallY spaced points so as to provide the sole support for said wheels and the sole means for longitudinally restraining the vehicles, and means for holding said wheels against upward movement with respect to said pockets, said transverse members each including a tubular wheel support mounted for rotation between first and second positions, each wheel support having a first wheel-engaging portion disposed to engage a wheel received in the associated pocket in said first position of said wheel support and having a second wheel-engaging portion disposed to engage a wheel received in the associated pocket in said second position of said wheel support, said first portion of each wheel support in said first position thereof being closer to the other wheel support of the associated pocket than said second portion in said second position thereof. 6 In combination, a vehicle transport having an elongated deck, parallel tracks extending lengthwise of said deck, a plurality of saddle yokes extending between and engaging said tracks for movement lengthwise of said deck, each saddle yoke having a pair of upwardly opening bottomless pockets adapted to receive the front wheels of a vehicle, said pockets having front and rear transverse members defining the front and rear margins of said pockets and spaced apart less than the diameter of said wheels to engage the peripheries of said wheels at circumferentially spaced points so as to provide the sole support for said wheels and the sole means for longitudinally restraining the vehicles, and means for holding said wheels against upward movement with respect to said pockets, said holding means including link chains, and means for securing said chains to said saddle yokes including brackets secured to said saddle yokes and comprising open frames respectively receiving said chains, spaced lugs secured to each bracket within the frame thereof defining a slot for receiving and retaining a portion of a chain therein, said slots being open at one end to permit the lateral insertion of the chains, and retractable members carried by said brackets and extending across said open ends of said slots within the frames thereof to block lateral withdrawal of the chains from the open ends of said slots, said retractable members being retractable to positions clearing said open ends of said slots.

Claim 9

In combination, a vehicle transport having an elongated deck, parallel tracks extending lengthwise of said deck, a plurality of saddle yokes extending between and engaging said tracks for movement lengthwise of said deck, each saddle yoke having a pair of upwardly opening bottomless pockets adapted to receive the front wheels of a vehicle, said saddle yokes each comprising a pair of open substantially rectangular frames defining the pockets thereof, a frame member rigidly connecting the open frames of each saddle yoke member, said open frames having front and rear transverse members defining the front and rear margins of said pockets and spaced apart less than the diameter of said wheels to engage the peripheries of said wheels at circumferentiallY spaced points so as to provide the sole support for said wheels and the sole means for longitudinally restraining the vehicles, and means for holding said wheels against upward movement with respect to said pockets, said transverse members each including a tubular wheel support mounted for rotation between first and second positions, each wheel support having a first wheel-engaging portion disposed to engage a wheel received in the associated pocket in said first position of said wheel support and having a second wheel-engaging portion disposed to engage a wheel received in the associated pocket in said second position of said wheel support, said first portion of each wheel support in said first position thereof being closer to the other wheel support of the associated pocket than said second portion in said second position thereof. 6 In combination, a vehicle transport having an elongated deck, parallel tracks extending lengthwise of said deck, a plurality of saddle yokes extending between and engaging said tracks for movement lengthwise of said deck, each saddle yoke having a pair of upwardly opening bottomless pockets adapted to receive the front wheels of a vehicle, said pockets having front and rear transverse members defining the front and rear margins of said pockets and spaced apart less than the diameter of said wheels to engage the peripheries of said wheels at circumferentially spaced points so as to provide the sole support for said wheels and the sole means for longitudinally restraining the vehicles, and means for holding said wheels against upward movement with respect to said pockets, said holding means including link chains, and means for securing said chains to said saddle yokes including brackets secured to said saddle yokes and comprising open frames respectively receiving said chains, spaced lugs secured to each bracket within the frame thereof defining a slot for receiving and retaining a portion of a chain therein, said slots being open at one end to permit the lateral insertion of the chains, and retractable members carried by said brackets and extending across said open ends of said slots within the frames thereof to block lateral withdrawal of the chains from the open ends of said slots, said retractable members being retractable to positions clearing said open ends of said slots.

Claim 10

The combination defined in claim 6, wherein said lugs of each bracket extend in parallel relation across the frame thereof from one end of said frame toward the opposite end thereof terminating short of said opposite end, said lugs being spaced apart a distance less than the width of the chain links but more than the thickness thereof, and said retractable member of each bracket extending across the frame thereof from side to side adjacent the open end of the slot between said lugs.

Claim 11

The combination defined in claim 7, wherein the retractable member associated with at least one of the brackets secured to each saddle yoke comprises an elongated pin extending through aligned openings in the sides of said one bracket, said pin being retractable outwardly, a radially projecting retainer on the inner end of said pin preventing accidental outward retraction thereof, the innermost one of said aligned openings having a radial slot clearing said retainer in one angular position of said pin to permit outward retraction thereof, the outermost one of said aligned openings not clearing said retainer so as to prevent separation of said pin from its bracket, said pin having means on the outer end preventing inward retraction thereof.

Claim 12

The combination defined in claim 8, wherein said last-mentioned means comprises a handle projecting radially from said pin in the same direction as said retainer so that both normally extend in a downward direction by gravity force acting upon said handle, and said radial slot projects upwardly.

Claim 13

A bracket assembly for securing a link chain comprising an open frame having laterally spaced lugs defining a slot adapted to recEive and retain a portion of a chain therein, said lugs being secured within said frame and extending in parallel relation across said frame from one end toward the opposite end thereof terminating short of said opposite end, said slot being open at one end to permit the lateral insertion of the chain, and a retractable member carried by and extending across said frame from side to side thereof, said retractable member comprising an elongated pin extending through aligned openings in the sides of said frame across the open end of said slot to block the lateral withdrawal of the chain, said pin being retractable outwardly to a position clearing said open end of said slot, a radially projecting retainer on the inner end of said pin preventing accidental outward retraction thereof, the innermost one of said aligned openings having a radial slot clearing said retainer in one angular position of said pin to permit outward retraction thereof, the outermost one of said aligned openings not clearing said retainer so as to prevent separation of said pin from said frame, and means on the outer end of said pin preventing inward retraction of said pin.

Claim 14

A bracket assembly for securing a link chain comprising an open frame having laterally spaced lugs defining a slot adapted to recEive and retain a portion of a chain therein, said lugs being secured within said frame and extending in parallel relation across said frame from one end toward the opposite end thereof terminating short of said opposite end, said slot being open at one end to permit the lateral insertion of the chain, and a retractable member carried by and extending across said frame from side to side thereof, said retractable member comprising an elongated pin extending through aligned openings in the sides of said frame across the open end of said slot to block the lateral withdrawal of the chain, said pin being retractable outwardly to a position clearing said open end of said slot, a radially projecting retainer on the inner end of said pin preventing accidental outward retraction thereof, the innermost one of said aligned openings having a radial slot clearing said retainer in one angular position of said pin to permit outward retraction thereof, the outermost one of said aligned openings not clearing said retainer so as to prevent separation of said pin from said frame, and means on the outer end of said pin preventing inward retraction of said pin.

Claim 15

The bracket defined in claim 10, wherein said means on the outer end of said pin comprises a radially extending handle extending from said pin in the same direction as said retainer so that both said handle and said retainer normally extend downwardly by the force of gravity acting on said handle, said radial slot extending in an upward direction.

Claim 16

The bracket defined in claim 10, wherein said means on the outer end of said pin comprises a handle extending radially from said pin and normally extending downwardly by the force of gravity acting on said handle, said retainer, in the position said pin assumes when said handle extends downwardly, being displaced angularly from said radial slot.

Claim 17

A bracket assembly for securing a link chain comprising a bracket having means defining an elongated slot for receiving and retaining a portion of the chain therein, means closing one end of said slot, said slot being open at the opposite end to permit the lateral insertion and withdrawal of the chain, a retractable member carried by said bracket and extending across the open end of said slot to normally block the lateral withdrawal of the chain, said retractable member being axially slidably mounted in aligned openings in said bracket, said retractable member being retractable in an outward direction, a radially projecting retainer on the inner end of said retractable member preventing accidental outward retraction thereof, the innermost one of said aligned openings having a radial slot clearing said retainer in one angular position of said retractable member to permit outward retraction thereof, the outermost one of said aligned openings not clearing said retainer so as to prevent separation of said retractable member from said bracket, and means on the outer end of said retractable member preventing inward retraction thereof.

Claim 18

A bracket assembly for securing a link chain comprising a bracket having means defining an elongated slot for receiving and retaining a portion of the chain therein, means closing one end of said slot, said slot being open at the opposite end to permit the lateral insertion and withdrawal of the chain, a retractable member carried by said bracket and extending across the open end of said slot to normally block the lateral withdrawal of the chain, said retractable member being axially slidably mounted in aligned openings in said bracket, said retractable member being retractable in an outward direction, a radially projecting retainer on the inner end of said retractable member preventing accidental outward retraction thereof, the innermost one of said aligned openings having a radial slot clearing said retainer in one angular position of said retractable member to permit outward retraction thereof, the outermost one of said aligned openings not clearing said retainer so as to prevent separation of said retractable member from said bracket, and means on the outer end of said retractable member preventing inward retraction thereof.

Claim 19

A bracket assembly for securing a link chain comprising an open frame including a generally U-shaped member having spaced parallel legs, a base extending across and secured to the ends of the legs of said U-shaped member, laterally spaced lugs secured within said frame and extending in parallel relation along said legs from said base toward the return-bent portion of said U-shaped member but terminating short of the latter, said lugs defining a slot adapted to receive and retain a portion of a chain therein, said slot being open at the end opposite said base to permit the lateral insertion and withdrawal of the chain, and a retractable member extending across the open end of said slot to normally block the lateral withdrawal of the chain, said retractable member being axially slidably mounted in aligned openings in the legs of said U-shaped member and being retractable to a position clearing the open end of said slot to permit the lateral withdrawal of the chain.

Claim 20

A bracket assembly for securing a link chain comprising an open frame including a generally U-shaped member having spaced parallel legs, a base extending across and secured to the ends of the legs of said U-shaped member, laterally spaced lugs secured within said frame and extending in parallel relation along said legs from said base toward the return-bent portion of said U-shaped member but terminating short of the latter, said lugs defining a slot adapted to receive and retain a portion of a chain therein, said slot being open at the end opposite said base to permit the lateral insertion and withdrawal of the chain, and a retractable member extending across the open end of said slot to normally block the lateral withdrawal of the chain, said retractable member being axially slidably mounted in aligned openings in the legs of said U-shaped member and being retractable to a position clearing the open end of said slot to permit the lateral withdrawal of the chain.