Package and article carriers – Vehicle attached – Carrier attached to the front or rear end of vehicle
Reexamination Certificate
2000-02-01
2001-05-29
Garbe, Stephen P. (Department: 3729)
Package and article carriers
Vehicle attached
Carrier attached to the front or rear end of vehicle
C224S282000, C224S519000, C224S523000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06237823
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention concerns that type of cargo carrier supported by a vehicle mounted hitch with a load receiving container swingably positionable to permit access to the rear of the vehicle.
The prior art discloses a number of hitch supported carriers for use primarily on sports utility vehicles to supplement their load g capability. Typically such carriers are detachably engaged with a permanent hitch member of the vehicle and include a closed container mounted in place on a swingable arm assembly to permit access to the load carrying rearward portion of the vehicle. The enclosed containers of such carriers are sizeable and may be subjected to loads up to several hundreds of pounds of cargo. Substantial loads are accordingly imparted to the swingable member of the carrier and the support structure therefor both when the container is in the travel position as well as when swung outwardly from the vehicle for vehicle access purposes. Dynamic loading of such carriers encountered when the vehicle is under way subjects the carrier to even more significant loading in conjunction with laterally directed forces encountered during vehicle travel.
In the prior art, U.S. Pat. No. 5,544,799 discloses a vehicle mounted carrier having a container supporting, swingable arm pivotally supported at one end in a channel segment supported by an arm extending in parallel fashion toward the center line of the vehicle for securement to a hitch insert When the swing arm and cargo carrier thereon are swung rearwardly away from the vehicle considerable load and torque are imparted to the lengthy support arm at its distal end.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,439,151 discloses a carrier having a load container supported by a U-shaped member having upper and lower bracket members coupled to a crosswise member of the carrier by a pivot pin. Substantial loading of the carrier cross member occurs upon the loaded container being swung away from the vehicle and supported in a cantilever manner by the bracket plates and pivot pin at the distal end of the cross member.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,038,983 discloses a carrier attachment for a vehicle wherein a load container is supported on a platform which in turn is supported by a Z-shaped support member terminating forwardly in inserted engagement with a vehicle mounted receiver of a trailer hitch. No provision is made for swingably displacing the carrier away from the rear of the vehicle.
SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION
The present invention is embodied within a hitch mounted load carrier having a main member for parallel disposition to the rear of a supporting vehicle and with a rearwardly directed portion having a distal end supporting a swingable arm member on which is carried a load container and which is additionally supported by the remaining end of said main member when in a travel position. The swingable arm of the carrier moves through 180 degrees enabling fill access to the rear of the vehicle and away from traffic to permit safe access to container contents. A clevis arrangement insures adequate support for the load supporting swingable arm both in the travel and vehicle access positions. Clevis components engage surface areas of the main member providing substantial strength to the swigable arm of the carrier. When in position for travel the swing arm is additionally supported by a forwardly extending plate in rested engagement with the main member and locked thereto to prevent movement in any direction relative the main member.
Important objectives of the present invention include the provision of a load carrier supported by a vehicle mounted trailer hitch with the carrier having a rearwardly directed main member and terminating in support of the swingable arm in a manner without reliance on a lengthy clevis plate weldment imparting severe tortional loading to the rack main member and hence capable of supporting a load of several hundred pounds without distortion of carrier components in the travel or vehicle access positions.
A further object of the present invention is the provision of a swingable arm and member having upper and lower plates which at all times are in virtually full surface engagement with upper and lower surfaces of the distal end of the main member to provide adequate support of the swingable arm when the container thereon is fully loaded.
The provision of a load carrier for a vehicle wherein the swingable container supporting arm member is rigidly locked at two remote locations to confine the swingable arm member and load container therein against movement relative the carrier main member.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4771926 (1988-09-01), Anderson et al.
patent: 4971237 (1990-11-01), Davis
patent: 5038983 (1991-08-01), Tomososki
patent: 5439151 (1995-08-01), Clayton
patent: 5544799 (1996-08-01), Didlake
patent: 5560525 (1996-10-01), Grohmann et al.
patent: 5845832 (1998-12-01), Eichmann
patent: 5881937 (1999-03-01), Sadler
Cox Ryan K.
Stewart James R.
Garbe Stephen P.
Givnan, Jr. James D.
Ironwood Pacific, Inc.
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