Package and article carriers – Vehicle attached – Carrier attached to the front or rear end of vehicle
Reexamination Certificate
2002-03-13
2004-03-30
Elkins, Gary E. (Department: 3727)
Package and article carriers
Vehicle attached
Carrier attached to the front or rear end of vehicle
C224S498000, C224S503000, C224S507000, C224S519000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06712248
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates generally to cargo carriers for use with vehicles and, more particularly, to a cargo carrying basket that is mountable to a vehicle and selectively foldable or extendable for carrying various articles and optimally distributing the weight load of those articles.
Many vehicles do not have the cargo capacity to transport large or heavy objects. Even modern sport utility vehicles (SUV's) are often found not to have a satisfactory cargo capacity. Various rear mounted cargo carriers have been proposed for increasing the cargo capacity of a vehicle. Although assumably effective for their intended purposes, existing devices either undesirably stick out when not in use or do not allow simultaneous hitch attachment of other devices. Further, existing devices do not provide for optimal stability and load distribution in use.
Therefore, it is desirable to have a cargo carrying basket that is foldable and collapsible when not in use while still mounted to a vehicle. Further, it is desirable to have a cargo carrying basket which provides optimal stability and load distribution during use. It is also desirable to have a cargo carrying basket that enables hitch mounting of other devices while still mounted to a vehicle.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
A foldable cargo carrying basket according to this invention includes a mounting bar capable of being releasably mounted to a hitch sleeve of a vehicle. A support bar connected to the mounting bar supports an elongate main frame member above the mounting bar. The framework of a front wall extends upwardly from the main frame member and includes opposed upstanding struts. The framework of a platform is pivotally coupled to the main support member such that the platform is movable between an extended configuration perpendicular to the front wall and a folded configuration parallel to the front wall. The cargo carrying basket also includes a pair of side walls with each side wall having a framework pivotally coupled to a corresponding upstanding strut of the front wall framework. Therefore, the side walls are movable between an extended configuration perpendicular to and extending away from the front wall and a folded configuration parallel to and overlapping the front wall. When both the side walls and platform are in the folded configurations, the basket is collapsed and does not undesirably stick out from the rear of the vehicle. While in this configuration, a hitch ball on the mounting bar may also be utilized to pull a trailer, etc. A rear wall having a framework may also be pivotally coupled to the platform frame and selectively movable between extended and folded configurations. A mesh material overlies each framework.
Therefore, a general object of this invention is to provide a cargo carrying basket which is mountable to the rear of a vehicle for expanding the cargo capacity thereof.
Another object of this invention is to provide a cargo carrying basket, as aforesaid, having a platform that is vertically foldable when not in use and while still mounted to a vehicle.
Still another object of this invention is to provide a cargo carrying basket, as aforesaid, having side walls that may be folded inwardly when the basket is not in use.
Yet another object of this invention is to provide a cargo carrying basket, as aforesaid, in which the side walls bear a distributive share of the load forces of weight carried upon the platform.
A further object of this invention is to provide a cargo carrying basket, as aforesaid, having a rear wall pivotally coupled to the platform for selectively containing articles upon the platform or allowing elongate articles to extend rearwardly.
A still further object of this invention is to provide a cargo carrying basket, as aforesaid, that enables connection of other hitch mounted devices.
Other objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein is set forth by way of illustration and example, embodiments of this invention.
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Elkins Gary E.
Ream Dale J.
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