Package and article carriers – Vehicle attached – Carrier attached to the front or rear end of vehicle
Reexamination Certificate
1999-04-22
2001-02-27
Cronin, Stephen K. (Department: 3727)
Package and article carriers
Vehicle attached
Carrier attached to the front or rear end of vehicle
C224S525000, C224S529000, C224S530000, C224S534000, C414S462000, C414S470000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06193124
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates generally to portable waste holding tanks commonly employed in recreational vehicles, and more particularly to a method and apparatus for transporting such waste holding tanks: the apparatus being engagable with truck mounted hitch receivers for support and transportation of the same. This application claims priority from provisional patent application Ser. No. 60/082,708.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Recreational vehicles are fast becoming a common means of entertainment and travel to remote destinations for people of all ages. In part, the reason for their popularity is due to the fact that recreational vehicles offer a self-contained environment with all the amenities of a home, that can be easily driven from one location to another. Accordingly, one feature found on most such vehicles is a means for collecting and storing waste water. For this purpose, removable holding tanks are commonly included on the recreational vehicle (RV) for waste water collection. One problem that arises with this arrangement, however, is transporting the holding tank to a collection center without having to disconnect utilities from the RV and move the same to the collection center. Because of this, there is a need for a transport apparatus that will facilitate the transportation of holding tanks from parked RVs to waste collection sites.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
As a result of this need, the invention provided is a waste-tank transport engagable with a standard truck mounted hitch receiver for transporting a portable waste holding tank to a waste collection site. Typically, hitch receivers mounted to trucks are oriented along a substantially horizontal receiver axis, and are designed to engage with any appropriately sized and shaped rectangular member. Broadly stated, the waste-tank transport comprises an elongate frame having opposing ends. On one end thereof, a tank receiving seat is mounted for supporting and positioning a portable waste holding tank in relation to the frame. Extending horizontally from the frame is a coupler shaft that, as will be explained below, is employed to transfer the weight of a waste holding tank to the hitch receiver.
Further, a receiver insert assembly engagable with the hitch receiver is provided. The receiver insert assembly comprises a receiver insert arranged for insertion into a hitch receiver for support therefrom, and a support arm that extends substantially horizontally from the receiver insert for rotatably receiving the coupler shaft. With this arrangement, the frame is rotatable from a first upright position for receiving a waste holding tank, to a second substantially horizontal position for supporting and transporting the waste holding tank to a waste collection site.
In another aspect of the invention, the support arm further comprises a vertically oriented leg disposed to selectively engage the receiver insert for placement of the support arm to a plurality of predetermined vertical positions. In this way, variations in height of the hitch receiver above the ground can be compensated for before the waste holding tank is received on to the waste-tank transport.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4234284 (1980-11-01), Hauff
patent: 4561575 (1985-12-01), Jones
patent: 5029740 (1991-07-01), Cox
patent: 5536130 (1996-07-01), Edensor
patent: 5788135 (1998-08-01), Janek
patent: 5857824 (1999-01-01), De Aquiar
Brazil Glenn J.
Wilson Donald L.
Cronin Stephen K.
Friederichs N. Paul
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