Abstract: A tailgate protecting device including an elongated section of pipe or other rigid beam forming a structure which is long enough to span the width of the load carrying portion of a pickup truck, a pair of vertical support members affixed to the elongated beam proximate its ends, and a pair of laterally extending brackets for engaging the tailgate and holding the device in position. When in operation, the device is capable of supporting loads extending beyond the bed of the truck and over the tailgate, thereby protecting the tailgate from damage.

Abstract: A car top wheelchair carrier includes a carrier case mounted on the top of a car and open to one side of the car. A moving platform inside of the case is movable between a loaded position entirely within the case and an unloading position where an outer edge portion of it is downwardly hinged at an acute angle to overhang the side of the car. A wheelchair cage is provided for encompassing a folded wheelchair to be stored, and the cage includes a rectangular angle iron back frame member. A top edge of this back frame member is connected by a pair of cables to a pair of winches mounted with respect to the moving platform. The wheelchair cage, whether it encompasses and retains a wheelchair or not, is lifted up onto the platform by the winch means and the platform is then moved to its retracted position inside of the case.

Abstract: The roof rack 1 consists of a load carrying part 13 which is movable between a transport position above the roof 5 of a vehicle and a loading position at one side of, or at the rear of, the vehicle. The load carrying part 13 is pivotally mounted 14 to a carriage 9 which is adapted to slide in guides 7, 7' of a support frame 6, 3, 7, 7' which is fixed to the rain channel 4 of the vehicle roof. The movement of the load carrying part between the transport and loading positions is thus a combination of pivotal movement at the hinges 14 and displacement of the carriage 9 in the guides 7, 7'. Further guide members 17 which curve around the edge of the vehicle roof are usefully provided to help control the movement of the load carrying part.

Abstract: A car top carrier is capable of both horizontal and vertical movement. The carrier has two telescoping tracks for horizontal movement. When the tracks are fully extended a finger in each track mechanically locks into place, thereby preventing any further horizontal movement. The carrier is vertically slidable by pulling a spring loaded plunger. Gravity allows the carrier to descend so that the load can be removed. The vertical descent is controlled by standard pneumatic or hydraulic cylinders. An electrical interlock between the engine ignition and the locked car top carrier prevents the load from sliding off the roof of the car due to centrifugal force.

Abstract: A roof top carrier for vehicles having a frame to be supported by the roof of a vehicle, a transport mechanism supported by the frame, a housing supported by the transport mechanism for transporting the housing away from its stored position on the roof down to the side of the vehicle to its loading and unloading position and back again to its stored position without any substantial change of the vertical or horizontal orientation of the housing.

Abstract: A track-mounted trunk-type luggage-carrier body is longitudinally movable from its transporting position on the top of a station wagon (or van, panel-truck or like vehicle) to its loading position when pulled-down at the back of the vehicle. The tracks are C-shaped in cross-section and the carrier has a pair of wheels adjacent its front end guided therein. Tensioned coil springs may be used to pull the carrier body forwardly. Removable stop means normally prevent the wheels from leaving the rear track ends. Resilient bumpers on the bottom of the carrier prevent damage to the top and rear surfaces of the vehicle. Optionally, roller means can be attached to the vehicle surface adjacent the junction of its top and rear surface portions to protectively and easily guide the carrier body past the junction area.

Abstract: A vehicle mounted carriage and elevating apparatus comprising a support frame secured to the vehicle. A link frame is pivotally secured to the support frame and a post frame is pivotally secured to the vehicle. A carriage which is movably secured to the post frame and to the link frame. Actuating apparatus is secured between the support frame and the carriage and is adapted to move the carriage from a lower inclined position extending rearwardly of the vehicle to a substantially horizontal elevated position wherein the center of gravity of the carriage is positioned above the vehicle and between the wheels of the vehicle.

Abstract: Apparatus to be mounted on a cartop for raising a wheelchair from the driver's seat and orienting and engaging the wheelchair for transport on the roof. The supporting base is mounted on the roof with an overlying frame rotatably mounted to the base above the driver's position. The frame is biased to rotate outwardly of the car and a cable is used to raise the wheelchair, engage the frame for rotation and change the attitude of the chair so that it is flat-lying and engaged by the frame for transport.

Abstract: A foldable vehicle is adapted to be transported in its own container on the back of a motor home, yacht, or the like, or for storage or shipping. The storage container is hingably attached to a motor vehicle, or the like, and has lifting cylinders for swinging the container from a first horizontal loading position to a second vertical storage position. The container is designed to receive a specially designed collapsible vehicle and has means to attach the vehicle to the floor of the container when in a horizontal loading position, and for latching the container with the collapsed vehicle therein to the rear of the motor home in its vertical storage position.

Abstract: A roof top carrier for vehicles having a frame to be supported by the roof of a vehicle, a transport mechanism supported by the frame, a housing supported by the transport mechanism for transporting the housing away from its stored position on the roof down to the side of the vehicle to its loading and unloading position and back again to its stored position without any substantial change of the vertical or horizontal orientation of the housing.

Abstract: A combination ladder and spare tire carrier for a vehicle in which the spare tire carrier is connected to the inside of the ladder and the ladder pivotally connected to a wall of the vehicle whereby the ladder may be pivoted from an upright locked position into an inclined lower position to expose the spare tire carrier.

Abstract: A weather-protected, self-loading car-top carrier adapted to transport bulky loads and described in an embodiment suited for the transport of small motorized vehicles such as used by handicapped persons comprises a fixed rail assembly and a weather-protected carrier which, in response to operator control, moves along the rail assembly to provide access to a weather-protected storage space encompassed by the carriage assembly and includes provision for the automatic loading, under operator control, of bulky, heavy, awkward loads which would be difficult to handle by most persons and essentially impossible by one having limited or no use of their lower limbs.

Abstract: A self-loading, weather protected carrier for raising or lowering an object to and from the top of a motor vehicle and for transporting the object on a motor vehicle. The carrier comprises a horizontally disposed base adapted to be mounted on the roof of a motor vehicle and having a transverse guide affixed thereto, a carriage extendably carried by transverse guide and movable at a vehicle top level between a load/unload position and a travel position, a generally L-shaped tilt frame, pivotally mounted on carriage and rotatable between a generally upright position for loading and unloading the object and a generally horizontal position for storing the object on motor vehicle, a linkage mechanism attached to tilt frame and responsive to the carriage being extended into the load/unload position to rotate tilt frame to upright loading position, and a hoist mounted on the tilt frame for raising and lowering the object.

Abstract: A vehicle top carrier comprising a carrier frame mounted on track structure for movement from a generally horizontal carrying position atop the vehicle to a substantially inclined loading and unloading position to one side of the vehicle. A strut has its upper end pivoted to the carrier frame. Its lower end has a pivot block which is slidably mounted on a vertical guide on the side of the vehicle. This pivot block is at the bottom of the slide when the carrier frame is in the loading and unloading position. It is raised to the top of the slide to raise the carrier frame from the loading and unloading position to an intermediate position of lesser inclination from which the carrier frame may be easily moved to the carrying position.

Abstract: A device includes a fixed frame over the bed and the cab of a pickup truck, a pair of slanting rails along the sides of the fixed frame, and a folding frame that is detachably connected to the rear portion of the fixed frame. Unfolding the folding frame extends a carrying frame slantingly, rearwardly from the rails to the rear of the folding frame. Folding the frame by operation of a winch moves the front end of the carrying frame up the rails while the rear end of the carrying frame is guided by members of the folding frame to a position over the bed of the pickup truck. After removing locking pins, the winch is again operated to position the folding frame over the fixed frame at the sides of the carrying frame.

Abstract: An apparatus for carrying an article on the roof top of a motor conveyance and for conveniently loading and unloading the article. The apparatus including a main frame, a sliding frame slidably connected to the main frame, a carrier fixedly connected to the sliding frame and a hinge connected to the roof top for rotating engagement with the main frame. The main frame includes a pair of parallel side runs having front and rear ends and spanned by at least one cross member a predetermined distance from the rear ends. The sliding frames also includes a pair of parallel side runs. The sliding frame includes a rear end zone comprising a release/lock mechanism to prevent sliding movement. A front bracket is provided opposite the hinge on the conveyance roof top in line with the sliding frame to prevent rotational movement of the apparatus, thereby preventing premature unloading.

Abstract: Set out herein is a modification to an automobile comprising a plurality of attachment channels deployed either on the interior of a hood or a trunk lid, each attachment channel being conformed to receive a telescoping bar to which a block and tackle may be attached for lifting heavy items like spare tires and the like. The hood or trunk lid may be further modified to include two pivoted braces which may be deployed against serrated supports attached to the automobile body. Thus the hood surface itself becomes part of the lifting structure allowing for convenient withdrawal of heavy items. This lifting structure may be utilized together with a fishnet or canvas sling conformable to various shapes to extend the utility thereof for lifting objects other than the spare tire.

Abstract: Apparatus useful for loading and securing a boat onto a vehicle. Apparatus includes a mounting bolt attached to an end of the boat; mounting bolt having a shaft extending outwardly from the boat and an enlarged head at the outer end of the shaft. A horizontal, tubular bracket is mounted at one end of the vehicle; the bracket has a longitudinal opening extending therethrough, and a longitudinal slot in an upper wall. Mounting bolt engages the bracket with the bolt head within the longitudinal opening. A catch selectively retains the mounting bolt within a midportion of the bracket, or allows the bolt to pass longitudinally along the bracket to an end thereof to engage or disengage the bracket. In further embodiments, the slot is widened adjacent the bracket ends, to allow the mounting bolt head to pass vertically through the slot to engage and disengage the bracket, and stops prevent the mounting bolt from passing longitudinally out of the openings in the bracket ends.