Package and article carriers – Vehicle attached – Carrier attached to the front or rear end of vehicle
Reexamination Certificate
2002-01-29
2003-11-11
Cronin, Stephen K. (Department: 3727)
Package and article carriers
Vehicle attached
Carrier attached to the front or rear end of vehicle
C224S282000, C224S506000, C224S510000, C224S519000, C224S532000, C224S536000, C224S924000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06644525
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to carriers that are configured to be attached to motor vehicles, and, more particularly, the invention is directed toward a bicycle carrier that is mounted to a motor vehicle trailer hitch receiver.
2. Description of the Prior Art
A variety of bicycle carriers that are configured to be mounted to motor vehicles by means of trailer hitch receivers are available in the prior art. Examples of carriers that are attachable to trailer hitch receivers are shown in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,190,195 and 6,206,259.
Bicycle racks, which may be detachably secured to a conventional trailer hitch mounted on a passenger vehicle, typically employ a rectangular base tube that is received in the trailer hitch receiver mounted on a passenger vehicle. A T-shaped bar is secured to and extends upwardly from the base tube. A pair of carrying members is mounted on the top of the T-shaped bar to carry one or more bicycles. Such carriers have been met with varying degrees of success because they are cumbersome to use and store. Other trailer hitch mountable carriers suffer from the limitation that it is difficult to securely fasten the bicycles to the carrier and stop unwanted movement of the carrying member when bicycles are secured thereon.
A need has arisen for an improved, collapsible bicycle carrier that is capable of being conveniently mounted to a trailer hitch receiver that is secured to a motor vehicle.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the present invention to provide a bicycle carrier that does not suffer from the disadvantages and limitations of prior art bicycle carriers.
According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, a collapsible bicycle carrier that is configured to be detachably mounted to a trailer hitch receiver includes a generally horizontal base member that is sized and shaped to be snugly received in the trailer hitch receiver. A frame member is pivotally mounted to the base member. A pin assembly is provided for locking the frame in a generally vertical position, the frame member being movable when the pin is removed.
A generally T-shaped member having a generally vertical upright body and a generally horizontal cross member is secured to an upper end of the upright body. The vertical body is attached to the frame member. A substantially U-shaped carrying arm assembly is rotatably attached at opposite ends of the cross member. The carrying arm assembly has a pair of carrying arms at a forward end for carrying bicycles, for example, and the rear end of the carrying arm assembly is generally U-shaped. A slide member having a tab is constrained for slidable movement on the upright body. One end of an elongated bracket is mounted to the rear end of the carrying arm assembly, the other end of the bracket being mounted to the slide member tab. The carrying arm assembly and the slide member are pivotally movable relative to the elongated bracket. As the slide member moves between an upper position and a lower position on the upright member, the carrying arm assembly moves from a collapsed position to a substantially horizontal position. A pin assembly is provided for locking the slide in its upper and lower positions.
Other general and specific objects, features and advantages of the invention will in part be obvious and will in part appear hereinafter.
REFERENCES:
patent: 5449101 (1995-09-01), Van Dusen
patent: 5529231 (1996-06-01), Burgess
patent: 5615904 (1997-04-01), Van Dusen et al.
patent: 5662256 (1997-09-01), Bryan
patent: 5950891 (1999-09-01), Brungardt et al.
patent: 6085954 (2000-07-01), Bloemer et al.
patent: 6123498 (2000-09-01), Surkin
patent: 6234372 (2001-05-01), Rivera
patent: 6336580 (2002-01-01), Allen et al.
patent: 6443345 (2002-09-01), Bloemer et al.
patent: 6547116 (2003-04-01), Anderson et al.
Allen Alexander R.
Allen Richard A.
Bello Herbert L.
Cronin Stephen K.
R. A. Allen Company, Inc.
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