Package and article carriers – Vehicle attached – Carrier attached to the front or rear end of vehicle
Reexamination Certificate
1999-12-06
2001-01-30
Vidovich, Gregory M. (Department: 3727)
Package and article carriers
Vehicle attached
Carrier attached to the front or rear end of vehicle
C116S02800A, C224S521000, C224S524000, C224S526000, C224S529000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06179184
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
I. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to cargo carriers for vehicles and, in particular, to a hitch mounted carrier capable of adjustment fore and aft relative to the vehicle to optimize the position of the carrier platform.
II. Description of the Prior Art
Article carriers are widely employed to expand the carrying capacity of vehicles while maintaining comfort within the passenger compartment. Rooftop carriers are well known although access can be cumbersome particularly with taller vehicles. Moreover, rooftop carriers are dependent upon the structural strength of the vehicle roof and therefore may be limited in their carrying capacity. Rear mounted cargo carriers have also been employed to increase the cargo capacity of the vehicle. Many require specialized mounting hardware to secure the carrier to the vehicle resulting in undesirable added structure and cost. Some of the prior known cargo carriers are attachable to the vehicle hitch but do not provide any flexibility in the positioning of the carrier to accommodate the wide variety of vehicle configurations. Cargo platforms which simply extend from the hitch assembly could be damaged by contact with the ground as the vehicle moves along an inclined surface such as a driveway. Similarly, the rear portion of the vehicle may include obstructions to full utilization of the carrier such as the spare tire on utility vehicles. It is desirable to optimally position any cargo carrier to ensure full capacity yet minimize the cantilever forces applied to the hitch assembly.
SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION
The present invention overcomes the disadvantages of the prior known cargo carriers by providing a platform which is adjustably attached to a vertically offset drawbar received in the vehicle hitch assembly to allow selective positioning of the platform relative to the vehicle while also raising the platform to increase ground clearance.
The hitch mounted cargo carrier generally comprises a drawbar removably received by a vehicle hitch assembly and a cargo platform adjustably attached to the drawbar. The drawbar has a vertical offset in order to raise the platform above the hitch for increased ground clearance. The outer end of the drawbar includes a bracket for receiving a central beam of the cargo platform. The platform is removably connected to the drawbar bracket by fasteners which extend through apertures in the bracket and one of a plurality of apertures disposed longitudinally along the beam. The position of the platform relative to the drawbar and therefore the rear of vehicle may be adjusted by utilizing different apertures along the central beam. In a preferred embodiment, the apertures extend only along a portion of the beam to reduce manufacturing costs. However, positioning along the full width of the platform can be accomplished by rotating the platform 180° to utilize the apertures.
A preferred embodiment of the platform includes a rectangular frame secured to the central beam and a mesh support surface to minimize accumulation of moisture. Reflectors or lights electrically connected to the vehicle taillights may be mounted along the rear edge of the frame. In order to provide a visual indication of the location of the cargo carrier, corner markers are attached to the platform. The markers extend upwardly from the platform and are positioned directly over the outer corners of the carrier so as to be seen through the windows and rear view mirrors of the vehicle.
Other objects, features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following detailed description taken in accordance with the accompanying drawings.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3863594 (1975-02-01), Gawthrop
patent: 5038983 (1991-08-01), Tomososki
patent: 5330084 (1994-07-01), Peters
patent: 5460304 (1995-10-01), Porter et al.
patent: 5497927 (1996-03-01), Peterson
patent: 5586702 (1996-12-01), Sadler
patent: 5755453 (1998-05-01), Bell
Belinky Jacob S.
Rogers David L.
Young David A.
Brevard Maerena W.
Doigan Lloyd D.
Draw-Tite Inc.
Redman Leon E.
Vidovich Gregory M.
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