Car dolly apparatus and method

Abstract

An apparatus and method for supporting a vehicle by accommodating large loads and a variety of floor gradients while preventing shifting and slippage during use. The apparatus comprises a main frame assembly, a height adjustment mechanism disposed in the main frame assembly, and a plurality of casters mounted on the main frame assembly to provide mobility. The apparatus may also comprise a clamping feature to secure a pinch weld section of a vehicle.

1 - 37 . (canceled)  
   
   
       38 . An apparatus for supporting a vehicle comprising: 
 a main frame assembly having 
 a tubular mounting structure,  
 a plurality of tubular extensions rigidly attached to and extending from the tubular mounting structure, and  
 a plurality of caster mounting plates rigidly coupled to the plurality of tubular extensions;  
   a height adjustment mechanism having a portion disposed within the tubular mounting structure and a first vehicle mounting support coupled thereto; and    a plurality of casters mounted on the plurality of caster mounting plates.    
   
   
       39 . The apparatus of  claim 38 , further comprising: 
 a vehicle support mounting plate support rigidly coupled between the height adjustment mechanism and the first vehicle mounting support, wherein a second vehicle mounting support is coupled to the vehicle support mounting plate.    
   
   
       40 . The apparatus of  claim 39 , wherein the first vehicle mounting support further comprises a plurality of orifices for accommodating a device to facilitate translational movement.  
   
   
       41 . The apparatus of  claim 40 , wherein the second vehicle mounting support is adjustably coupled to the vehicle support mounting plate and the first vehicle mounting support.  
   
   
       42 . The apparatus of  claim 41 , wherein the second vehicle mounting support further comprises a plurality of orifices corresponding to a respective plurality of orifices of the first vehicle mounting support for accommodating the device to facilitate translational movement.  
   
   
       43 . The apparatus of  claim 42 , wherein a portion of the device to facilitate translational movement is inserted through the plurality of orifices of the first vehicle mounting support and through a corresponding plurality of orifices of the second vehicle mounting support, such that the distance between the first vehicle mounting support and the second vehicle mounting support is adjustable.  
   
   
       44 . The apparatus of  claim 43 , wherein the device to facilitate translational movement comprises a nut and bolt assembly.  
   
   
       45 . The apparatus of  claim 38 , wherein the first vehicle mounting support further comprises a top surface, wherein a cushion material is attached to the top surface to protect the supported surface of the vehicle.  
   
   
       46 . The apparatus of  claim 45 , wherein the first vehicle mounting support further comprises an inner surface, wherein the cushion material is attached to the inner surface to protect the supported surface of the vehicle.  
   
   
       47 . The apparatus of  claim 39 , wherein the second vehicle mounting support further comprises a top surface and an inner surface, wherein a cushion material is attached to the top surface and the inner surface to protect the supported surface of the vehicle.  
   
   
       48 . The apparatus of  claim 47 , wherein the cushion material is a neoprene pad.  
   
   
       49 . The apparatus of  claim 38 , further comprising: 
 a plurality of height adjustment insertion holes disposed in the tubular mounting structure;    a corresponding plurality of height adjustment insertion holes disposed in the height adjustment mechanism; and    an insertion pin capable of inserting through one of the plurality of height adjustment insertion holes of the tubular mounting structure and one of the corresponding plurality of height adjustment insertion holes of the height adjustment mechanism.    
   
   
       50 . The apparatus of  claim 38 , wherein a pivoting vehicle support mounting plate is pivotably coupled between the height adjustment mechanism and the first vehicle mounting support, wherein a second vehicle mounting support is coupled to the pivoting vehicle support mounting plate.  
   
   
       51 . The apparatus of  claim 50 , further comprising: 
 an insertion hole disposed on the pivoting vehicle support mounting plate; and    an insertion pin capable of inserting through the insertion hole of the pivoting vehicle support mounting plate and a hole in the height adjustment mechanism, such that the pivoting vehicle support mounting plate is capable of pivoting about an axis of the height adjustment mechanism.    
   
   
       52 . The apparatus of  claim 50 , wherein the first vehicle mounting support further comprises a plurality of orifices for accommodating a device to facilitate translational movement.  
   
   
       53 . The apparatus of  claim 52 , wherein the second vehicle mounting support is adjustably coupled to the vehicle support mounting plate and the first vehicle mounting support.  
   
   
       54 . The apparatus of  claim 53 , wherein the second vehicle mounting support further comprises a plurality of orifices corresponding to a respective plurality of orifices of the first vehicle mounting support for accommodating the device to facilitate translational movement.  
   
   
       55 . The apparatus of  claim 54 , wherein a portion of the device to facilitate translational movement is inserted through the plurality of orifices of the first vehicle mounting support and through a corresponding plurality of orifices of the second vehicle mounting support, such that the distance between the first vehicle mounting support and the second vehicle mounting support is adjustable.  
   
   
       56 . The apparatus of  claim 55 , wherein the device to facilitate translational movement comprises a nut and bolt assembly.  
   
   
       57 . The apparatus of  claim 50 , wherein the first vehicle mounting support further comprises a top surface, wherein a cushion material is attached to the top surface to protect the supported surface of the vehicle.  
   
   
       58 . The apparatus of  claim 57 , wherein the second vehicle mounting support further comprises a top surface and an inner surface, wherein the cushion material is attached to the top surface and the inner surface to protect the supported surface of the vehicle.  
   
   
       59 . The apparatus of  claim 38 , wherein the casters are made from a hard plastic or steel.  
   
   
       60 . The apparatus of  claim 38 , wherein the main frame assembly having three tubular extensions.  
   
   
       61 . The apparatus of  claim 60 , wherein the three tubular extensions are mounted equidistance from each other on the tubular mounting structure.  
   
   
       62 . A system for supporting a vehicle comprising: 
 means for adjusting a height of the support system having a first means for mounting a vehicle, wherein the mounting means is coupled to the adjusting means;    a frame means for supporting the adjusting means having a plurality of tubular extensions rigidly attached to and extending from the frame means and a plurality of rolling mounting means rigidly attached to the tubular extensions, wherein a portion of the adjusting means is disposed in the frame means; and    means for rolling mounted on the rolling mounting means.    
   
   
       63 . The system of  claim 62 , further comprising: 
 means for supporting the mounting means, wherein the support means is rigidly coupled between the height adjusting means and the mounting means    
   
   
       64 . The system of  claim 62 , further comprising a clamping means coupled to the support means.  
   
   
       65 . The system of  claim 64 , wherein the clamping means comprises: 
 the first mounting means rigidly attached to the supporting means, the first mounting means having a plurality of orifices for accommodating a device to facilitate translational movement; and    a second mounting means coupled to the supporting means and the first mounting means, the second mounting means having a plurality of orifices corresponding to a respective plurality of orifices of the first mounting means for accommodating the device to facilitate translational movement.    
   
   
       66 . The system of  claim 65 , wherein a portion of the device to facilitate translational movement is inserted through the plurality of orifices of the first mounting means and through a corresponding plurality of orifices of the second mounting means, such that the distance between the first mounting means and the second mounting means is adjustable.  
   
   
       67 . The system of  claim 66 , wherein the device to facilitate translational movement means comprises a nut and bolt assembly.  
   
   
       68 . The system of  claim 65 , wherein the first mounting means further comprises a top surface and an inner surface, wherein a cushion material is attached to the top surface and the inner surface to protect the supported surface of the vehicle.  
   
   
       69 . The system of  claim 68 , wherein the second mounting means further comprises a top surface and an inner surface, wherein a cushion material is attached to the top surface and the inner surface to protect the supported surface of the vehicle.  
   
   
       70 . The system of  claim 62 , wherein a pivotable supporting means is pivotably coupled to the height adjusting means and the support means.  
   
   
       71 . A method of supporting a vehicle comprising: 
 providing a main frame assembly having a tubular mounting structure, a plurality of tubular extensions rigidly attached to and extending from the tubular mounting structure, a plurality of caster mounting plates rigidly attached to the plurality of tubular extensions, a plurality of casters mounted thereto, wherein a height adjustment mechanism having at least a portion of the height adjustment mechanism disposed in the main frame assembly and a first vehicle mounting support coupled thereto;    adjusting a vehicle to a preferred height;    adjusting the height adjustment mechanism to the preferred height to support the body of the vehicle;    rolling the main frame assembly under a body of the vehicle; and    lowering the vehicle onto the main frame assembly.    
   
   
       72 . The method of  claim 71 , further comprising: 
 adjusting a clamping mechanism of the height adjustment mechanism;    inserting a portion of the body of the vehicle within the clamping mechanism; and    adjusting the clamping mechanism to secure the inserted body portion.    
   
   
       73 . An apparatus for supporting a vehicle comprising: 
 a main frame assembly having 
 a tubular mounting structure,  
 three tubular extensions rigidly attached to and extending from the tubular mounting structure, and  
 three caster mounting plates rigidly attached to each of the tubular extensions;  
   a height adjustment mechanism having 
 a portion disposed within the tubular mounting structure,  
 a vehicle support mounting plate pivotably coupled to the height adjustment mechanism,  
 a first vehicle support rigidly coupled to the vehicle support mounting plate, and  
 a second vehicle support adjustably coupled to the vehicle support mounting plate and next to the first vehicle support, such that the distance between the first vehicle support and the second vehicle support is adjustable; and  
   three casters mounted on each of the three caster mounting plates of the main frame assembly.