Multiple accessory port assembly for a vehicle

Details Multiple accessory port assembly for a vehicle Multiple accessory port assembly for a vehicle

2002-07-23

2004-11-16

Elkins, Gary E. (Department: 3727)

Package and article carriers

Vehicle attached

Carrier attached to the front or rear end of vehicle

C224S547000, C224S555000, C280S491500, C280S500000, C280S514000, C280S515000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06817503

ABSTRACT:

TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates generally to the vehicle accessory field and, more particularly, to a multiple accessory port assembly for a vehicle incorporating at least two accessory ports for receiving and holding any number of recreational and utilitarian accessories such as a bike rack, ski rack, cargo carrier or the like.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Vehicle accessories such as a bike rack, a ski rack, a snow board rack, a folding table, a work bench and a cargo carrier that may be conveniently secured to a vehicle when desired are increasing in popularity. Generally, these devices are secured directly to the vehicle bumper or through a trailer hitch receiver assembly carried by the vehicle. An example of the latter arrangement is disclosed in U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/194,502 filed Apr. 3, 2000, entitled “Trailer Hitch Assembly With Towing Accessory Ports”. The full disclosure of Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/194,502 is incorporated herein by reference.
The direct mounting of a towing accessory to a vehicle bumper is no longer possible in many instances due to the bumper design on many of today's vehicles. Even when possible, many consumers decide against such a mounting arrangement as it commonly results in unsightly and, thus, undesirable damage to the bumper. As a consequence, most consumers install a trailer hitch receiver assembly on their vehicle if they are going to utilize accessories of the nature discussed and then mount those accessories to their vehicle through that hitch receiver assembly.
Of course, many smaller vehicles in the market today are of insufficient size and power to support trailer towing. As such, trailer hitch receiver assemblies are not available for these vehicles. Thus, to date, no mounting arrangement of this nature is available for securing accessories of the nature described to these smaller vehicles even though these vehicles are large enough and powerful enough to transport these accessories and the equipment or materials they hold.
A need is therefore identified for a multiple accessory port assembly for securing to smaller vehicles. Such a device also has useful application on larger vehicles where the owner desires the convenience of an easy and aesthetically pleasing way to secure various accessories to a vehicle yet has no interest in trailer towing capability.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In accordance with the purposes of the present invention as described herein, a multiple accessory port assembly for a vehicle is provided. The assembly includes a frame member, a mounting bracket carried on each end of the frame member for securing the frame member to the vehicle, and at least two accessory ports for receiving and holding one or more recreational and utilitarian accessories. Each of the accessory ports projects rearwardly from the frame member a distance D and includes a circular opening for receiving and holding at least one recreational and/or utilitarian accessory. Such a recreational and utilitarian accessory may include but is not limited to a bike rack, a ski rack or a cargo carrier.
More specifically describing the invention, each accessory port has a longitudinal axis extending in a plane A, the plane A defining an included angle of approximately 10-30° and more specifically 20° with the horizontal. As will be described in greater detail below, the relative orientation of the accessory ports with respect to the frame member and the vehicle to which the assembly is mounted insures ease of accessory alignment and mounting for the benefit and satisfaction of the user.
The present invention will become apparent to those skilled in this art from the following description wherein there is shown and described a preferred embodiment of this invention, simply by way of illustration of one of the modes best suited to carry out the invention. As it will be realized, the invention is capable of other different embodiments and its several details are capable of modification in various, obvious aspects all without departing from the invention. Accordingly, the drawings and descriptions will be regarded as illustrative in nature and not as restrictive.


REFERENCES:
patent: 2468579 (1949-04-01), Vuori
patent: 2672265 (1954-03-01), Milstead
patent: 3463513 (1969-08-01), Burton
patent: 3768837 (1973-10-01), Reese
patent: 4159833 (1979-07-01), Meiners
patent: 4204702 (1980-05-01), Oltrogge
patent: 4326730 (1982-04-01), Tomen
patent: 4348035 (1982-09-01), Wasservogel
patent: 4915276 (1990-04-01), Devito
patent: 4950010 (1990-08-01), Denny
patent: 4971237 (1990-11-01), Davis
patent: 5096102 (1992-03-01), Tolson
patent: 5215234 (1993-06-01), Pasley
patent: 5476279 (1995-12-01), Klemetsen
patent: 5497927 (1996-03-01), Peterson
patent: 5620198 (1997-04-01), Borchers
patent: 5699985 (1997-12-01), Vogel
patent: 6428031 (2002-08-01), McCoy et al.
patent: 6540277 (2003-04-01), McCoy et al.

Affiliated with

Also associated with

Rating

Multiple accessory port assembly for a vehicle does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.

If you have personal experience with Multiple accessory port assembly for a vehicle, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Multiple accessory port assembly for a vehicle will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

Comments { 0 }

Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-3286177