Portable vehicle rack

Claim 2

A portable vehicle rack comprising a horizontally disposed rack plate reinforced by stiffening means at its longitudinal edges comprising guides at the longitudinal edges, support legs at the corners of the rack plate, diagonally disposed braces connecting the lower ends of the legs to the rack plate, an inclined ramp detachably connected at one end to one end of the ramp plate and adapted to rest at its other end on the floor, and a signalling device for indicating that a vehicle wheel has reached the ramp plate comprising an arm pivotally supported below the rack plate, said arm having bent portion extending upwardly therefrom through a hole in the ramp plate, said arm in repose being adapted to be disposed at right angles to one of the longitudinal sides of the rack plate with the bent portion extending upwardly through the hole, in which position the arm inclines downwardly from its pivot and being adapted to be raised to a horizontal position by pressure of the wheel on the bent portion of the arm as it moves onto the ramp plate, and a flag on the arm.

Claim 3

A portable vehicle rack according to claim 1, wherein a bolt is fixed to the rack plate so as to extend perpendicularly downwardly from the underside thereof to support the arm intermediate its ends, and said arm is suspended thereon for movement angularly about the axis of the bolt to a position beneath the rack plate to dispose it in a stored position.

Claim 4

A portable vehicle rack comprising a horizontally disposed rack plate reinforced by stiffening means at its longitudinal edges comprising guides at the opposite longitudinal edges, support legs at the corners of the rack plate, diagonal braces connecting the lower ends of the legs with the rack plate, an inclined ramp detachably connected at one end to one end of the rack plate and adapted to rest at its other end on the floor, and signalling means for indicating that the vehicle wheel has reached the rack plate, comprising an electrically operable audible signal fixed to a leg, said audible signal being provided with a terminal, a hollow holder mounted on the terminal with the terminal extending into the interior thereof, a leaf spring fastened to the underside of the rack plate with an end disposed above the upper open end of the holder and yieldable relative thereto, a pin fastened to the leaf spring extending upwardly through a hole in the rack plate, said pin being adapted to depress the leaf spring downwardly when engaged by a wheel moving onto the rack plate, an electric cell mounted in the holder with one end engaged with the terminal and the other end at a spacing from the spring such that depression of the spring completes the circuit through the audible signal device, and a visual signalling device attached to said leaf spring and movable therewith comprising a plastic tube fixed at one end to the spring and extending laterally therefrom and from the side of the vehicle rack.

Claim 5

A portable vehicle rack comprising a horizontally disposed rack plate reinforced by stiffening means at its longitudinal edges comprising guides at the opposite longitudinal edges, support legs at the corners of the rack plate, diagonal braces connecting the lower ends of the legs with the rack plate, an inclined ramp detachably connected at one end to one end of the rack plate and adapted to rest at its other end on the floor, and signalling means for indicating that the vehicle wheel has reached the rack plate, comprising an electrically operable audible signal fixed to a leg, said audible signal being provided with a terminal, a hollow holder mounted on the terminal with the terminal extending into the interior thereof, a leaf spring fastened to the underside of the rack plate with an end disposed above the upper open end of the holder and yieldable relative thereto, a pin fastened to the leaf spring extending upwardly through a hole in the rack plate, said pin being adapted to depress the leaf spring downwardly when engaged by a wheel moving onto the rack plate, an electric cell mounted in the holder with one end engaged with the terminal and the other end at a spacing from the spring such that depression of the spring completes the circuit through the audible signal device, and a visual signalling device attached to said leaf spring and movable therewith comprising a plastic tube fixed at one end to the spring and extending laterally therefrom and from the side of the vehicle rack.

Claim 6

A portable vehicle rack comprising a horizontally disposed rack plate, upwardly bent flanges at the opposite longitudinal sides and at one end of the rack plate providing flat vertical reinforcing members at opposite sides and along one end of the rack plate, horizontal flanges along the upper edges of the vertical flanges bent outwardly therefrom and vertical flanges along the outer edges of the horizontal flanges bent downwardly therefrom, a depending lip at the other end having a part bent downwardly from the rack plate and then upwardly to provide a transversely extending trough, a ramp plate having at one end a downwardly bent transversely extending flange for engagement within the trough at said other end of the rack plate such that the upper end of the ramp plate is flush with said other end of the rack plate, a traction member at the other end of the ramp plate comprising a downwardly bent transverse flange having a flat edge for frictional engagement with the surface on which the rack rests characterized in that the rack plate is supported in an elevated position by corner posts with longitudinal bracings between the posts at opposite sides but without transverse bracings each post comprising an elongate angle member having integral right angularly disposed outer and inner tapering legs, the right angularly disposed ends of which are joined at their lower ends by webs, said corner posts being disposed at the four corners of the rack plate with the upper edges of the inner and outer legs of the pair of posts at said one end engaged with the undersides of the horizontal flanges along the sides and end and the upper side of the legs portions engaged with the vertical sides of the rack plate and with bolts inserted through the upper side portions of the legs into the vertical sides of the rack plate and wherein the other pair of posts have at the upper ends of the legs at the inner sides inwardly bent over right angularly disposed flanges such that when said posts are disposed at the corners the upper edges of the legs at the outer sides engage with the undersides of the horizontal flanges, the upper portions engage with the vertical sides and the bent over flanges engage with the underside of the rack plate and bolts inserted through the outer legs into the vertical sides and through the bent over flanges into the rack plate.

Claim 7

A portable vehicle rack comprising a horizontally disposed rack plate, upwardly bent flanges at the opposite longitudinal sides and at one end of the rack plate providing flat vertical reinforcing members at opposite sides and along one end of the rack plate, horizontal flanges along the upper edges of the vertical flanges bent outwardly therefrom and vertical flanges along the outer edges of the horizontal flanges bent downwardly therefrom, a depending lip at the other end having a part bent downwardly from the rack plate and then upwardly to provide a transversely extending trough, a ramp plate having at one end a downwardly bent transversely extending flange for engagement within the trough at said other end of the rack plate such that the upper end of the ramp plate is flush with said other end of the rack plate, a traction member at the other end of the ramp plate comprising a downwardly bent transverse flange having a flat edge for frictional engagement with the surface on which the rack rests characterized in that the rack plate is supported in an elevated position by corner posts with longitudinal bracings between the posts at opposite sides but without transverse bracings each post comprising an elongate angle member having integral right angularly disposed outer and inner tapering legs, the right angularly disposed ends of which are joined at their lower ends by webs, said corner posts being disposed at the four corners of the rack plate with the upper edges of the inner and outer legs of the pair of posts at said one end engaged with the undersides of the horizontal flanges along the sides and end and the upper side of the legs portions engaged with the vertical sides of the rack plate and with bolts inserted through the upper side portions of the legs into the vertical sides of the rack plate and wherein the other pair of posts have at the upper ends of the legs at the inner sides inwardly bent over right angularly disposed flanges such that when said posts are disposed at the corners the upper edges of the legs at the outer sides engage with the undersides of the horizontal flanges, the upper portions engage with the vertical sides and the bent over flanges engage with the underside of the rack plate and bolts inserted through the outer legs into the vertical sides and through the bent over flanges into the rack plate.

Claim 8

A portable vehicle rack according to claim 4, comprising pins fixed to the lower end of the posts at said other end of the rack plate, rigid links pivotally connected at one end to the lower end of the ramp plate said links being provided with notches at their other ends for engagement with said pins and hinged links connecting the notched ends of the rigid links to the upper end of the ramp plate said hinged links when fully extended holding the notched ends of the rigid links engaged with said pins.

Claim 9

A portable vehicle rack comprising a horizontally disposed rack plate reinforced by stiffening means at its longitudinal sides which comprises guides at said sides and at one end by stiffening means which comprises an element of a coupling part, legs at the four corners of the rack plate, means fixing the upper ends of the legs to the rack plate, means supporting the rack plate at its opposite longitudinal sides intermediate its ends comprising diagonally disposed rigid brace members pivotally connected at their upper ends to the longitudinaL sides of the rack plate and at their lower ends to the lower ends of the legs, an inclined ramp plate reinforced by stiffening means at its longitudinal sides which comprises guides at said sides and at its ends by stiffening means which comprise at one end an element of a coupling and at the other end a traction bar, the coupling element at the one end of the rack plate comprising a U-shaped upwardly facing gutter extending all the way across the rack plate and the coupling element at the one end of the ramp plate having a downwardly extending flange extending all the way across the ramp plate, said ramp plate being adapted to be supported in an inclined position by engagement of the flange at the one end thereof with the gutter at the one end of the rack plate, linking members connected at one end to the lower end of the ramp plate and at their other ends to the legs and a signaling device for indicating that the vehicle wheels have reached the rack plate, said signaling device comprising a buzzer fixed to a leg, said buzzer being provided with a terminal, a hollow holder mounted on the terminal with the terminal extending into the interior thereof, a leaf spring fastened to the underside of the rack plate with an end disposed above the upper open end of the holder and yieldable relative thereto, a pin fastened to the leaf spring and extending upwardly through a hole in the rack plate, said pin being adapted to depress the leaf spring downwardly when engaged by a wheel moving from the ramp plate onto the rack plate, and an electric cell mounted on the holder with one end engaged with the terminal and the other at a spacing from the spring such that depression of the spring completes the circuit through the buzzer.

Claim 10

A portable vehicle rack comprising a horizontally disposed rack plate reinforced by stiffening means at its longitudinal sides which comprises guides at said sides and at one end by stiffening means which comprises an element of a coupling part, legs at the four corners of the rack plate, means fixing the upper ends of the legs to the rack plate, means supporting the rack plate at its opposite longitudinal sides intermediate its ends comprising diagonally disposed rigid brace members pivotally connected at their upper ends to the longitudinaL sides of the rack plate and at their lower ends to the lower ends of the legs, an inclined ramp plate reinforced by stiffening means at its longitudinal sides which comprises guides at said sides and at its ends by stiffening means which comprise at one end an element of a coupling and at the other end a traction bar, the coupling element at the one end of the rack plate comprising a U-shaped upwardly facing gutter extending all the way across the rack plate and the coupling element at the one end of the ramp plate having a downwardly extending flange extending all the way across the ramp plate, said ramp plate being adapted to be supported in an inclined position by engagement of the flange at the one end thereof with the gutter at the one end of the rack plate, linking members connected at one end to the lower end of the ramp plate and at their other ends to the legs and a signaling device for indicating that the vehicle wheels have reached the rack plate, said signaling device comprising a buzzer fixed to a leg, said buzzer being provided with a terminal, a hollow holder mounted on the terminal with the terminal extending into the interior thereof, a leaf spring fastened to the underside of the rack plate with an end disposed above the upper open end of the holder and yieldable relative thereto, a pin fastened to the leaf spring and extending upwardly through a hole in the rack plate, said pin being adapted to depress the leaf spring downwardly when engaged by a wheel moving from the ramp plate onto the rack plate, and an electric cell mounted on the holder with one end engaged with the terminal and the other at a spacing from the spring such that depression of the spring completes the circuit through the buzzer.

Claim 11

A portable vehicle rack comprising a horizontally disposed rack plate reinforced by stiffening means at its longitudinal sides which comprise guides at said sides and at one end by stiffening means which comprises an element of a coupling support, legs at the four corners of the rack plate, means fixing the upper ends of the legs to the rack plate, means supporting the rack plate at its opposite longitudinal sides intermediate its ends comprising diagonally disposed rigid brace members pivotally connected at their upper ends to the longitudinal sides of the rack plate and their lower ends to the lower ends of the legs, an inclined ramp plate reinforced by stiffening means at its longitudinal sides which comprise guides at said sides and at its ends by stiffening means which comprise at one end an element of a coupling and the other end a traction bar, the coupling element at the one end of the rack plate comprising a U-shaped, upwardly facing gutter extending all the way across the rack plate and the coupling element at the one end of the ramp plate comprising a downwardly extending flange extending all the way across the ramp plate, said ramp plate being adapted to be supported in an inclined position by engagement of the flange at the one end thereof with the gutter at the one end of the rack plate, linking members connected at one end to the lower end of the ramp plate and at their other ends to the legs and a traction element connected at one end to the lower end of the ramp of such length as to be disposed beneath the wheel at the front or rear end of the vehicle when the rear or front wheel of the vehicle is about to engage with the lower end of the ramp.

Claim 12

A portable vehicle rack comprising a horizontally disposed rack plate reinforced by stiffening means at its longitudinal sides which comprise guides at said sides and at one end by stiffening means which comprises an element of a coupling support, legs at the four corners of the rack plate, means fixing the upper ends of the legs to the rack plate, means supporting the rack plate at its opposite longitudinal sides intermediate its ends comprising diagonally disposed rigid brace members pivotally connected at their upper ends to the longitudinal sides of the rack plate and their lower ends to the lower ends of the legs, an inclined ramp plate reinforced by stiffening means at its longitudinal sides which comprise guides at said sides and at its ends by stiffening means which comprise at one end an element of a coupling and the other end a traction bar, the coupling element at the one end of the rack plate comprising a U-shaped, upwardly facing gutter extending all the way across the rack plate and the coupling element at the one end of the ramp plate comprising a downwardly extending flange extending all the way across the ramp plate, said ramp plate being adapted to be supported in an inclined position by engagement of the flange at the one end thereof with the gutter at the one end of the rack plate, linking members connected at one end to the lower end of the ramp plate and at their other ends to the legs and a traction element connected at one end to the lower end of the ramp of such length as to be disposed beneath the wheel at the front or rear end of the vehicle when the rear or front wheel of the vehicle is about to engage with the lower end of the ramp.

Claim 13

A portable vehicle rack according to claim 7, wherein the traction element includes a link chain.

Claim 14

A portable rack comprising a horizontally disposed rack plate having along its opposite sides and along one end vertical and horizontal bearing surfaces and at its other end a horizontal bearing surface constituted by the underside of the plate at that end, and horizontal bearing surfaces along the sides at the one end extending laterally from the upper edges of the vertical surfaces and four posts secured to the four corners of the rack plate to support the rack plate elevated in a horizontal position each post having right angularly disposed webs comprising downwardly tapering outer and inner legs, the posts at said one end being fastened to the rack plate with the legs paralleling the sides and end engaged respectively with the vertical bearing surfaces and with their upper edges engaged with the horizontal surfaces and the posts at the other end having portions of the inner legs parallel to the end bent downwardly from the portions of the outer legs parallel to the sides and being fastened to the rack plate with the legs parallel to the sides engaged with the vertical bearing surfaces and their upper edges engaged with the horizontal surfaces and with the bent portions of the legs parallel to the end engaged with the horizontal bearing surface at the under side of the rack plate and bolts fastening the respective legs to the bearing surfaces and wherein there is a depending lip at said other end of the rack plate bent downwardly from the bearing surface and then upwardly to provide a transversly depending trough and a ramp plate having at one end a downwardly bent transversly extending flange for engagement within said trough such as to support the one end of the ramp plate at an elevation corresponding to that of the rack plate and with a traction member at the opposite end for engagement of the lower end of the ramp plate with the surface on which the rack rests, a means for detachably holding the ramp plate with the downwardly turned flange engaged within said trough.

Claim 15

A portable rack comprising a horizontally disposed rack plate having along its opposite sides and along one end vertical and horizontal bearing surfaces and at its other end a horizontal bearing surface constituted by the underside of the plate at that end, and horizontal bearing surfaces along the sides at the one end extending laterally from the upper edges of the vertical surfaces and four posts secured to the four corners of the rack plate to support the rack plate elevated in a horizontal position each post having right angularly disposed webs comprising downwardly tapering outer and inner legs, the posts at said one end being fastened to the rack plate with the legs paralleling the sides and end engaged respectively with the vertical bearing surfaces and with their upper edges engaged with the horizontal surfaces and the posts at the other end having portions of the inner legs parallel to the end bent downwardly from the portions of the outer legs parallel to the sides and being fastened to the rack plate with the legs parallel to the sides engaged with the vertical bearing surfaces and their upper edges engaged with the horizontal surfaces and with the bent portions of the legs parallel to the end engaged with the horizontal bearing surface at the under side of the rack plate and bolts fastening the respective legs to the bearing surfaces and wherein there is a depending lip at said other end of the rack plate bent downwardly from the bearing surface and then upwardly to provide a transversly depending trough and a ramp plate having at one end a downwardly bent transversly extending flange for engagement within said trough such as to support the one end of the ramp plate at an elevation corresponding to that of the rack plate and with a traction member at the opposite end for engagement of the lower end of the ramp plate with the surface on which the rack rests, a means for detachably holding the ramp plate with the downwardly turned flange engaged within said trough.