Apparatus for loading and carrying boats

Claim 1

An apparatus capable of being mounted in a vehicle for loading and carrying loads above a vehicle comprising: a load support means with forward and rearward ends for carrying a load, said support means being longitudinally extensible; an attachment means mounted for longitudinal movement along said load support means for attaching said loads thereto; a forward connecting means for pivotally connecting said load support means forward end to an end portion of a vehicle; a rearward connecting means for pivotally connecting said load support means rearward end to a middle portion of a vehicle; a lifting means located adjacent to said rearward end of said load support means, for raising and lowering said rearward end of said load support means; and a means for lowering and forwardly extending said forward end of said load support means; wherein said forward connecting means rotates through a vertical plane and acting in concert with said extensible load support means for permitting operation of said means for lowering and forwardly extending said forward end of said load support means.

Claim 2

An apparatus capable of being mounted in a vehicle for loading and carrying loads above a vehicle comprising: a load support means with forward and rearward ends for carrying a load, said support means being longitudinally extensible; an attachment means mounted for longitudinal movement along said load support means for attaching said loads thereto; a forward connecting means for pivotally connecting said load support means forward end to an end portion of a vehicle; a rearward connecting means for pivotally connecting said load support means rearward end to a middle portion of a vehicle; a lifting means located adjacent to said rearward end of said load support means, for raising and lowering said rearward end of said load support means; and a means for lowering and forwardly extending said forward end of said load support means; wherein said forward connecting means rotates through a vertical plane and acting in concert with said extensible load support means for permitting operation of said means for lowering and forwardly extending said forward end of said load support means.

Claim 11

An apparatus capable of being mounted in a vehicle for loading and carrying loads above the vehicle comprising: a load support means for forward and rearward ends; a telescoping central rail means having forward and rearward ends with a grooved support member having at least two longitudinal grooves extending from adjacent said forward end to adjacent said rearward end of said rail means, a vertical longitudinal groove located between said longitudinal grooves and extending substantially along a length of said rail means, at least two hollow outer beams with forward and rearward ends with one said hollow outer beam slidably fit in each said longitudinal groove, at least two inner beams with forward and rearward ends with one said inner beam slidably fit in each said hollow outer beam; a forward connecting means for connecting said telescoping central rail means forward end to a vehicle having a substantially vertical support member with upper and lower ends and with said vertical support member upper end pivotally attached to said telescoping central rail means forward end and said vertical support member lower end having a pivotal attachment means for attachment to a vehicle; a rearward connecting means for connecting said telescoping central rail means rearward end to a vehicle, said rearward connecting means having a substantially vertical pivoting means and a substantially horizontal pivoting means; a lifting means locating substantially near said telescoping central rail means rearward end and being connected to said rearward end by said rearward connecting means, thereby enabling said rearward end of said telescoping central rail means to be raised and lowered; a main attachment means having a first clamping device slidably attached to said grooved support member, having a load attachment means which both pivots and folds relative to said first clamping device whereby any load attached to said load attaching means can be rotated relative to said telescoping central rail means and can be moved away from a longitudinal axis of said telescoping central rail means by unfolding said load attachment means; a rearward attachment means having a second clamping device slidably connected to said grooved support member, a rear plate and at least one clamping pad attached to said second clamping device which can be adjusted to hold a rearward portion of the load, and a braking means which controls the rate at which any load attached to said rearward attachment means can slide along said telescoping central rail means; at least one auxiliary support leg pivotally attached to said vertical support member upper end so that when said vertical support member is at a substantially horizontal orientation, said auxiliary support leg can be rotated to contact with the ground stabilizing said telescoping central rail means; and a framework having a housing, said housing containing a winching means to assist in loading and unloading, said lifting means from a single operating station and with at least one vertical leg connecting said framework and said lifting means to said framework connecting means.

Claim 12

An apparatus capable of being mounted in a vehicle for loading and carrying loads above the vehicle comprising: a load support means for forward and rearward ends; a telescoping central rail means having forward and rearward ends with a grooved support member having at least two longitudinal grooves extending from adjacent said forward end to adjacent said rearward end of said rail means, a vertical longitudinal groove located between said longitudinal grooves and extending substantially along a length of said rail means, at least two hollow outer beams with forward and rearward ends with one said hollow outer beam slidably fit in each said longitudinal groove, at least two inner beams with forward and rearward ends with one said inner beam slidably fit in each said hollow outer beam; a forward connecting means for connecting said telescoping central rail means forward end to a vehicle having a substantially vertical support member with upper and lower ends and with said vertical support member upper end pivotally attached to said telescoping central rail means forward end and said vertical support member lower end having a pivotal attachment means for attachment to a vehicle; a rearward connecting means for connecting said telescoping central rail means rearward end to a vehicle, said rearward connecting means having a substantially vertical pivoting means and a substantially horizontal pivoting means; a lifting means locating substantially near said telescoping central rail means rearward end and being connected to said rearward end by said rearward connecting means, thereby enabling said rearward end of said telescoping central rail means to be raised and lowered; a main attachment means having a first clamping device slidably attached to said grooved support member, having a load attachment means which both pivots and folds relative to said first clamping device whereby any load attached to said load attaching means can be rotated relative to said telescoping central rail means and can be moved away from a longitudinal axis of said telescoping central rail means by unfolding said load attachment means; a rearward attachment means having a second clamping device slidably connected to said grooved support member, a rear plate and at least one clamping pad attached to said second clamping device which can be adjusted to hold a rearward portion of the load, and a braking means which controls the rate at which any load attached to said rearward attachment means can slide along said telescoping central rail means; at least one auxiliary support leg pivotally attached to said vertical support member upper end so that when said vertical support member is at a substantially horizontal orientation, said auxiliary support leg can be rotated to contact with the ground stabilizing said telescoping central rail means; and a framework having a housing, said housing containing a winching means to assist in loading and unloading, said lifting means from a single operating station and with at least one vertical leg connecting said framework and said lifting means to said framework connecting means.